Four Colonies: Fall Of Saranina

16

Ashanti POV

I wake up at dawn and go for a run. I'm early so no is up to join me. I scream by myself just to start the day. Then I shower and go to breakfast. I eat by myself. The only time of day I do this.

When I'm finished, the horns go off to wake the colony. I go to the temple and wake Joanna up by smothering her with kisses. She stretches and asks me to get back in the bed. I decided whether I will or not. Today, I will not because I have to change into my sparring gear.

We make the bed and I go down to the center of Yarashi. I train with the Omega squadron. Hand to hand. Then I train with the the children of Yarashi. They are with batons.

Before lunch, I have to spar with Mother. Staffs. I'm getting better. I've learned to disarm her and rely on my hand to hand to subdue her.

Then it's time for lunch. I eat last. My food is tested and served to me. After lunch I have an hour to myself which I spend with Father and Hunter talking about Hunter's new life.

Then DeLeon and I talk to the Esterians about building a medical tending area and a few more housing quarters for the Esterians. DeLeon will try to get me to open up about my relationship with her daughter, I will not.

On my way back to the Temple, I saw a game being played by the Esterian children and the Yarashi children. They were kicking around a ball to these sticks and scoring whoever could get the ball past the stick.

They see me watching and I get dragged into kicking the ball around with them for a while. I need a nap but I can't because now, I have to sit and listen to the Yarashi complain until dinner. The Yarashi are peaceful and pleasant but when they start complaining it takes a while.

After dinner, I walk with the other heirs to each house in Yarashi starting from the furthest house. When I reach home, I have a few minutes before the Temple guard changes. During those few minutes, Mother and Father say good night.

Father doesn't go to sleep until maybe an hour after we go to bed. He roams to make sure Joanna stays in the other room. Which gives me enough time to take another shower and get into bed.

When Joanna walks in I'm either already asleep or on my way there. Depending on which mood I'm in, we'll sleep or have a very quiet rendezvous. Tonight, I'm asleep.

Joanna POV

"How does Yarashi run without her?" Lian asked. "I imagine smoothly. They aren't entirely dependent on her. Ashanti is just a major part of their day. Halo functions perfectly without her around to hug him good night."

"Halo doesn't sample my drink before I drink it or test my food before it gets to me. He doesn't protectively stand behind me when I'm preaching worship to Istaria. He only does that in Yarashi for Ashanti." She said. "I bet you don't listen to his worries for thirty minutes at night or teach him how to evade a baton being thrown at him. He can only get that from Ashanti."

"Why does this not phase you?" Lian asked. "It did at first. It still does sometimes. Ashanti knows this because we talked about it. I love her and Yarashi is her. Just like it's Halo and Hunter. No matter how far they get away from it, Yarashi is in their hearts."

Hunter and Halo enter the room smiling and covered in sweat. Halo walks over and kisses Lian. Then he shakes his hair and she screams at all the sweat he go on her. Then Ashanti enters also drenched in sweat. Only she's angry. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Hunter broke my staff."

"In my defense, I had no other option." Hunter defended himself. "And you still won." Halo said. "Only because she was too quick to be stopped and Halo's sweep was too predictable." Hunter said. "At least you still have your bow." I said. "That was my staff." She pouted.

"Aw, come here." I held my arms open for her and she walked over to me. I held for a little. "So." Hunter said. "When are you two getting married?" He asked and Ashanti chased him around the temple. They blew passed their parents who acted like this was just like old times.

Lian POV

Before bed that night, I decided to take Joanna's advice and talk to Halo. "Halo, let's talk." He kisses me and gives me his full attention. "I don't like who you become when you're home in Yarashi."

"Okay." He says. "Okay?" I reply. "You don't have to like who I become. This is who I am." He says. "I've never seen you act like this before." I told him. "Act like what? What exactly is it that you hate?"

"You being overprotective of Ashanti." I said. "She is the Commander and heir of Yarashi. By keeping her safe we ensure that Yarashi and it's traditions live on for centuries to come." He stated like I hit a reset button. "Is this what they teach in Yarashi or something?"

"Are you jealous of the Commander? She allowed us to be married and pulled the ceremony together herself in two weeks while her father lied wounded on his bed. She even attended instead of sitting by her father's side." He reminded me. "She did do that." I remember. "Maybe I should be a little more grateful." I admitted. Oh no. I'm changing. I was wrong and I all but admitted to my husband of all people.

Oh my Gods, I'm so normal. I need to crawl up inside myself and let death take me. Death is so far away. No. Kill me now. Oh wait I probably shouldn't think that the Yarashi might here me. Put me to sleep.