1-20: Oh no! Something VERY VALUABLE was stolen!
Balhira was continuing to work on her craft, slowly developing new colors and techniques. It was always a bit of a competition, even if she wasn't one to compete. She loved the thrill of developing something the artisans hadn't done in the area. It wasn't like it was master work, but she felt that she was beginning to be noticed, especially to the travelers who occasionally made their way deep into the waters of the Menehune settlements. So, she was earning her keep, able to spend more to purchase new tools, dyes, and more, to create something really beautiful that would make her ancestors proud.
Now, she was traveling to sell her wares at the market, surprised that so many people were here. Maybe it was a traveling group, or a troupe. Either way, Balhira avoided them and the energy they brought, unimpressed and unexcited at the thought of so many outsiders. While many of the Menehune were embracing the world outside, Balhira continued to follow the old ways and ensure she was keeping to the practices that were required by her tribe.
As she began to prepare to trade her bag of glass, she suddenly realized the bag wasn't there. Panic gripped her heart and caused her stomach to drop as she spun around a little bit before it was very apparent that the bag was not with her. She knew she hadn't left it at home, she checked multiple times before heading to town, and she knew she didn't drop it because she always secured things. It was impossible to find anything if it fell into the murky waters of the Elehune, so Menehune were quick to develop ways to secure any and all accessories to their person.
That could only mean one thing - that it was possible an outsider had nicked her bag when she was passing by. Her heart stopped at the thought - all of the hard work. And as she turned to look back into the large crowd, she knew it was hopeless to figure out who had her items and when they were taken. All that hard work, suddenly gone and with nothing to show for it.
Balhira wasn't one to become emotional, she was quite stoic in that way, but still she felt the warmth of anger, shame, and hopelessness mix deep in the pit of her belly. Quickly she rushed to get under the murky waters, where it was safer to have such expressions and where no one was likely to follow. Her breathing was a bit strained as it truly sunk in, and she realized she might be having a bit of a panic attack.
The best thing to do in this case was to take slow breathing and calm herself, and so the Menehune took time to close her eyes and slowly picture herself doing her work. The soothing practice of watching the dried weeds burn down into the coal, using special tools to mix it together into a paste that could be used to make the glass beads. It was all a worthwhile practice that she could do with her eyes closed. And she mentally found herself relaxing as she walked through the steps, before she raised herself up and once more looked across the market.
Looking around, the outsiders she noticed were seemingly gone. The market was closing down for the day, and they surely had found a way to get out with what goods they nicked. If she had to guess, she assumed such outsiders wouldn't return to the scene of the crime again, which meant she was out a good deal of funds without anything to show for it. They probably didn't realize the value that the stones held, the time and sweat she had put in to preparing such things, nor the impact of her trades as she would need to take a loss just to backfill the lost stock. No, they might even have thrown the items out if they didn't think they were valuable at all. That thought was one she pushed away quickly, less she make herself sick once more.
Settling on the fact that she was not going to see them again less she decide to go hunting well into the night, Balhira decided it was best to just return home. She'd have to figure out how she could cut spending to tide herself over as she remade the items, and be a bit more aware of her surroundings the next time she decided to go to the market.
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