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Chapter 9 continues straight on from chapter 8, which ended on the morning that Belena, chief of the Mariners, was banished. Calliope, the new leader, sent Kalyndra and Devon to light the smoke-signal to summon the Woodlanders to a special meeting the next day.
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1 A new friendship
Kalyndra and Devon walked in silence across the hot plain to the meeting-place by the forest, keeping up a fast pace, raising dust with their sandals, neither wanting to be the first to slow down.
It took an hour and when they got there, they built a fire from the logs the Woodlanders had stored. They threw the grey powder on the flames, sending up clouds of dense white smoke. When the plume was higher than the tree-tops and rising steadily, they sat down on a log to eat their lunches, waiting in case any Woodlanders nearby saw the signal and came to investigate.
There were no Woodlanders nearby but, in the forest-camp ten miles away (from the meadow beside the small vegetable plot), a thin wisp of smoke could be seen on the western horizon, trailing hundreds of feet into the cloudless blue sky. Mirselene received the report with interest and gave her orders for next day's special meeting with the Mariners.
Back at the meeting-place, the girls finished their lunches quietly and, at last, Devon wanted to talk.
"Well, Goliath?" she said.
"Well, Shrimp?"
Neither insult was fair. There was barely three inches in height between the women.
"Well," Devon repeated, "just because the factions have made up, it doesn't mean we have to be friends."
"Of course not. Rivals forever?"
"Forever!" Devon agreed.
"Because you'll always be in awe of my big womanly breasts," Kalyndra said.
"And you'll always envy my strong beautiful legs."
Kalyndra nodded. "Your legs really are your best feature."
Devon stretched them out, pointing her toes and pulling up her short skirt to expose her thighs.
"I do have rather fine pins," she admitted. She stood and put one foot on the log and show off her calf.
"Yours aren't too bad ..." Devon added.
"Thank you."
"... only they're too long. They make you unbalanced. That's why you're so clumsy."
"It's better to be clumsy than a short-arse."
"Is it?"
Devon began to roll the log with her foot, unbalancing Kalyndra, who started to fall backward. She tried to steady herself but Devon pushed again and Kalyndra began to fall. She reached out and grabbed Devon's skirt, pulling the girl with as she toppled over, laughing.
Devon laughed as well, falling forward onto Kalyndra. As the girls lay together, their arms, legs and hair entangled, they could smell the scent of each other's skins, glowing from the heat of the day. Devon acted first. She put her hands on Kalyndra's shoulders as if to push herself up but stopped, sank down and put her mouth on Kalyndra's, sucking on her lower lip. Devon didn't know whether the kiss lasted one minute or five. Eyes shut, heart pounding, she felt only Kalyndra's full soft lips. Then the dream faded and she was aware of a warm body under her. Devon came back to reality and pushed herself up.
"I'm so sorry, Kalyndra, I couldn't help myself."
"Come here," Kalyndra said, grabbing Devon's shoulders. She pulled her back down.
Now Kalyndra kissed Devon, just as passionately, with open mouths, smooth tongues entwined, a suppressed longing finally released. With Kalyndra's hands holding her tightly around her waist, Devon felt her love returned. Her fear vanished.
They lay on the ground, not caring about the leaves in their hair or the mud on their skirts; kissing, cuddling, occasionally stopping to breathe or to laugh.
Eventually Devon wanted to talk again.
"So, how long have you loved me?" she asked.
"How long have we been rivals?"
"About three years."
"Then, about three years."
"Really? Why didn't you say something?"
"You were so bitter, so angry at us all, especially me."
"It must have seemed so, but I was never really angry at you, Kalyndra. ... And now things are different," Devon said with satisfaction. "It'll take me some time to find my balance but I will; and then I don't think I'll be unhappy again. Not now."
Kalyndra stroked the younger girl's shoulder.
"I won't let you be unhappy, if I can help it. ... So, how about you?"
"How long have I loved you? As long as I can remember. You were always a bright presence in my life. You wafted about the camp, beautiful as a goddess. Everyone looked up to you."
"Wafted, did I?" Kalyndra asked, very amused.
"Like a goddess."
"Despite being so big and clumsy?"
"Uh, huh! A big clumsy goddess."
They laughed and Kalyndra rolled them over. Devon lay back and wrapped her rather fine pins around the taller girl's waist.
"So why didn't you ever say anything to me?" Kalyndra asked.
"I couldn't. You were so remote, so far above everyone."
"Well, I'm above you now."
"Yes, and you can stay there as long as you like."
"Oh, I will."
They kissed again and, comfortably relaxed, Devon wanted to know more:
"Can I ask you something?"