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The sound of hammering was an almost constant sound around the town lately. Where before it was thought that only shelves had been knocked over, a few roofs already weak and in need of repairs had collapsed, the owners now hard at work trying to fix it so that they could do their part in the days of harvest. It was hard to hear anything but a constant ringing in the ears, but Heike tried her best not to complain about the noise. She wasn't used to being around so many people all at once. The wilds were her home. In fact, she was planning on taking another private hunting trip later. She still felt a bit irritated at being left behind the first time. The solitude and concentration would do her mind some good.

Grabbing her bow from its spot against the wall of the guest bedroom, the Elidae went outside to sit down and repair it for the upcoming trip. As she was sat there, restringing it, footsteps approached. She looked up to see one of the twins there.

"Hey," Sae started, clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah, we're about to leave. Coming along?"

All Heike could do was stare. Now she was being invited to go along, when just yesterday they had all left her behind and she had gone out by herself.

"We know you have that bow and...Never got to see you use it," added Sae, rubbing at a spot on her arm out of clear nervousness.

"What she's struggling so unnecessarily hard to say is we apologize for yesterday." Lae walked up to her sister and rested an elbow on her shoulder, giving a small smile. Leaning in slightly, she covered one side of her mouth with her hand and whispered, "I love her, but she's not very good at speaking" in a whisper, making Sae puff out her cheeks slightly in annoyance. All Lae did was giggle at her sister. "You are our guest. We didn't want to make you do more than you already were doing. I appreciate your help on my shelf. And, while you come from somewhere far away, you're not that far down the family Tree line. And no Alkidike would pass up the chance to shoot something, would she?" Pointing behind her, where a group of women could be seen gathering near the edge of town, Lae added, "We're just over there if you want to join us" and left Heike to her thoughts, Sae following quickly behind.

It wasn't a difficult decision. The Elidae quickly finished restringing her bow, strapping it and her quiver on her back as she made her way over to the others. Other than the twins, she recognized a few others. No one she'd spoken to for a long amount of time. Not enough to remember any names. It didn't appear like Lali was among the women here. Considering how large the town was, it was likely she was just apart of another hunting group.

The twins greeted her warmly upon her arrival, among some of the others. It felt nice to be wanted somewhere.

Introductions were made all around. Soon Heike's head was spinning with all of the new names. She'd never remember even half of them after today. Nor would she honestly seek out most of these women to talk to after. The three she was currently acquainted with was all the socializing she could handle.

"You don't choose to train with the bow?" one of the new faces asked, a woman with a long braid who stood much shorter than Heike did. "I've seen you with the spear and you're good. But how are you in archery?"

The unintended praise sent a spark of happiness through the Elidae. The Alkidike was on the older side, old enough to be showing grey in her hair. Naturally she'd be a bit apprehensive about Heike joining them when she hadn't really showed any skills in the bow before. She wouldn't take the comment personally. At least not that one.

"I used to hunt a lot back on Kiros," came her answer, a hint of pride in her voice. Sure, she was good at the spear now, but the bow had technically been the first weapon she'd mastered. Unlike Doesina, Heike hadn't been too fond of using it in training or potential battles. It was just a hunting tool for her.

"Ah, ease up on her, Priola," came Sae's voice. "Didn't you see all the Spitorogs she brought back yesterday from her solo hunting trip? She knows what she's doing."

Priola merely grumbled, muttering "We'll soon see."