A Nagas tale

A Naga's first cruise

Yyvonne and the woman Sienna have been keeping me busy. It's been two days since we've taken off and I only ever get to see Kogen once we are about to go to sleep. This ship is so much like a carnival cruise with a pool and an arcade area. There are so many things one can do to forget about the long trip. At first, I was shocked by how advanced the port city of Zeras was compared to our home. I learned from Sienna that the port city has a bigger population of bears than Ez did. I wanted to ask why more of these bears did not go to our village for the April gathering. She however decided to offer me of all things a margarita. I did not refuse the offer after having sake as the only alcoholic drink recently. Margaritas sounded wonderful for a change. I listened to the girls talk about the pieces of training Yyvonne was about to take once January came around. The chattering of other people around me felt just like a busy store back home. I look at the strawberry margarita in my hands. I feel depressed thinking of how often Aaron and Milton would take me bar hopping to get our minds off of the day-to-day grind. I stop drinking not wanting to get too inebriated. I sigh looking up at the ceiling 'I wonder what Kogen is doing. Where is he? Ugh! I hate how blind I feel without my aura. I can't even see where Kogen is.' I frown feeling like throwing a fit about the silliest thing like having to hide my aura. I push the drink away losing enthusiasm about drinking. 'hm what's the point if I can't tease Kogen?' I rest my head on the table bored out of my mind. 'I don't want to go anywhere because of how blind I feel.' I sigh 'I should have stayed in the room to take a nap.' I close my eyes feeling a little sick to my stomach from how the boat suddenly rocked. "Audrey? Are you feeling okay?" Yyvonne asks. I open my eyes and look at her. She is only 11 and already she's calmed down so much. I frown pulling her into my arms "Why do you have to go!?" I whine ready to cry. "You are still a baby." I start crying not wanting Yyvonne to leave home. She laughs nervously as he grabs my arm. "Haha I'm not a baby Audrey." she refuses. I shake my head "Yes you are! you are my baby why do you have to go?" I whine catching the attention of the others. "Miss Audrey please calm down." Sienna tries to hush me. I look at her and frown "But, Sienna why does my baby have to go train to fight?" I ask upset that this little girl who was so excited for candies just a few months ago is now acting like a level-headed adult. She seemed unsure of what to do with me "Miss Audrey, it's only natural that we in the bear tribe learn to fight as soon as we are 11." she explained. "What's going on?" I turn to Kogen as he walks up to us. "Kogen!? why does Yyvonne have to train at 11? she's just a baby!" I turn my complaint to him. His eyes look at me before moving over to the four empty margarita glasses on the table. He sighs "Alright, time to go to the room." he walks over freeing Yyvonne from my hold. I shake my head "I don't wanna! why does she need to train? she's still so little." I complain some more. He grabs my waist before tossing me over his shoulder. I lift myself off his back and keep complaining. "How about we change the age to 16? Isn't that a good age to start training!?" I try to barter with him. 

"Kogen! I don't want any more of my babies having to leave so early! that's not fair!" I watch Kogen carry the short woman out of the dining area. Her brown eyes lock onto me "Right!? Yuri! tell him! 11 is too young to be separating a child from their mother!" She seeks my aid in her futile argument. I watch her amused by her bartering with the unshakable Kogen. I'd noticed before that her aura was gone but said nothing. 'how has she not died yet?' I wondered as her voice grew distant. "What's with her?" I ask Sienna she giggles "A grieving mother refusing to let her 'baby' leave." she answers. I look at Yyvonne who watched the two with us. "Audrey is so weird sometimes." she giggles. "how so?" I ask. She nods "Well, when she first came here she was saying that 16 was too young to be marrying." she answers with a giggle. I look at the corridor they had been in just moments ago. 'too young at 16?' I chuckle 'How sheltered she must have been living.' "Oh, Miss Audrey forgot her bag." I turn to Sienna. "we can give it to them later." Yyvonne takes the bag. "Audrey can't lose this," she mutters.