Their house in Mist was just about the most beautiful thing Allumette had ever seen. Sidonia picked the spot—they’d initially looked a little deeper into the center of the Ward, but there was a house nestled at the top of the hill, and if they just stepped out to the back, they would see a glorious, beautiful sunrise.

They hadn’t enough to make the house right away—but land was land, and they set up tents while they pooled gil together. It was the next day that their house was erected, and Allumette tried her hardest to fashion beds for everyone. (Weaving <i>was</i> worthwhile, she found—rather than just being a means of relaxation.) In sleep, Allumette reached her hand out for Kha’li’s and found herself feeling right at home as she slept.

The next day, it was time to explore the beach, and she hung back as everyone changed into their swimsuits and pranced out from the sand to the water.

She swallowed hard as she looked at its murky depths, hands fisted and curled against her chest.

Whoever called back caused her to jerk her head up, breathe shakily in, and shout: “I can’t swim, I never learned how!”

<center>xxx</center>