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"Lali? Oh, she's always like that. Don't let her bother you too much."

"I'm not bothered."

"No? It's okay if she does. A lot of us think she's weird. Even for an Elaria."

Heike only pursed her lips at that, keeping her mouth shut on any comments. Who was she to judge the oddness of an Elaria, When the only role models of her Sister tribe that she had known were her eccentric mother and her optimistic cousin. Two very different women, who couldn't be more so. Kioko would not have approved of how Doesina carried on. Heike wasn't sure if she did, either. It just didn't seem healthy to look at the world with such unwavering faith in it. She'd never see trouble coming until it was too late. Until she'd put her whole trust in someone who took advantage of it. Being a strong, well-trained warrior woman wouldn't protect you from that.

Still, what was it any business of hers? She wasn't going to remain about her cousin forever. Heike fully intended on returning to Kiros one day. Alone. Doesina had her home with the other Elaria. She belonged with the Elidae. Still. She couldn't help thinking how much she'd get along with Lali had she been here. Heike found their kind of cheerful nature uncomfortable. She wasn't used to being around it. Sometimes she felt like she never would. Maybe she was always destined to be on her own.

The Elidae opened her mouth to say something back, to continue to disagree that she didn't find Lali so weird that she bothered her, when the world seemed to also disagree. The ground gave a little shake, enough to make Heike sway a little on her feet. Next to her, the shelf of dried pottery waiting to be painted jangled against each other, causing Lae, who was still sitting at the wheel, make a strangled sound in her throat. There were at least 40 small pots on that shelf, all of them made by her own two hands. To loose all that progress would surely send her soft little heart into a tailspin. What would she do if she lost all of her progress? Those pots were great for carrying small amounts of water around the town or even planting a single plant to decorate a window.

The world was quiet for many minutes after. The two women went back to talking, the older Alkidike sounding nervous the entire time. Another tremor was sure to follow that one. And, sure enough, there was another one, stronger this time. Heike reached over to the wall of the twin's house to steady herself. A sound came from Lae, much louder and more frantic than the first. A single pot rocked back and forth before smashing on the ground at the Elidae's feet. Lae at once stood up and rushed over to the others, pulling them off the shelf and into baskets, boxes, piles of clothing for the line, anything she could find that would keep them safe from more tremors. Heike thought about lending a hand, but insecurity got the better of her. She hadn't been here for very long, maybe Lae wouldn't want someone else touching her hard work. Maybe she'd put the pots in the wrong place. Maybe she'd drop one.

Not that Lae seemed to need Heike's help anyway. Fast as she'd ever seen someone move, Lae was taking down pots and putting them away. Just over half the shelf was gone.

Than came the biggest shake of them all. Despite all her efforts, the shelf was now trembling on its legs. Bracing it with two hands, the Alkidike tried her best to keep it up. Another tremor caused her own body to waver on the spot and she leaned forward, accidentally pushing the shelf down to its doom. All the pots left shattered upon impact, the pieces flying in all directions. Heike winced at the sound and destruction, feeling bad for all the lost time making all those pots. At least this was a hobby. Lae would soon have those shelves full once more.

After she got over the loss of this batch.

While the Alkidike woman continued staring as the massacre on the ground, Heike went into the house to grab a broom. Returning outside with one, she made for the pieces of pottery that was farthest away and began sweeping them into a pile. Lae snapped out of her misery long enough to enter the house for a broom of her own. She also carried with her a basket to put all the broken pieces into. Had she only broken a few pots, she might have been able to fix them. As it were, they were now only useful by the sisters with more creative hobbies. Someone would use them as mosaic pieces and make beautiful art with them. At least they wouldn't be wasted.