The days passed, coming ever closer to the time to depart.  Sani and Jess had talked to Sasari Sari, Sani’s twin sister, and she decided she would come as far as Horizon to meet with their father for a bit, enjoy a meal together, and then part ways the next morning.  Sari would bring along any necessary records and pay for the extra members of security; she would not, however, be joining them on the trek, deciding she would “not be a burden on the caravan,†putting herself or her sister in danger.  She did promise that the next time she would go, after much archery practice with Jess.
The day arrived and Sani, Jess, and Sari left early from Ul’dah to make the trek out to Horizon before the summer sun climbed too high into the air.  They made good time, deciding to walk in order to save Sari from the horrible teleport sickness she so often got.
They arrived in Horizon a little before midday and were met by the girls’ father, a wide smile spread on his face and a cold waterskin in his hand.  He passed the skin to the girls, Jess first out of respect for one visiting the caravan, and she took a measured drink before passing it to Sari and finally Sani.  They were brought indoors, out of the sun, where a small banquet of fruit and juice had been spread on a long, low table.  Everyone sat around, sitting on cushions, enjoying the company and companionship.  Sari sat to their father’s right and Sani to the left with Jess seated next to her.
“So this is the woman who has captured my daughter’s heart,†their father said, grinning proudly at Sani and Jess.  “I can see why, you are truly beautiful.  I would like to be the first to welcome you to our little family.  Please, make yourself at home†he continued, popping a grape into his mouth and pointing at the food placed on the table.
Sani quickly followed his implied command, loading her small plate with a wide array of fruits from rolanberries and pineapple to apples and grapes.  Once she had her pile of fruit, she topped it with freshly made whipped cream. Her eyes caught Jess’ and she smiled, “I’m glad you were able to come along,†she whispered once they were sitting again.
After lunch, the girls’ father, Sasanecco Vavanecco, took them around to introduce Jess to the rest of the caravan members.  Some were longtime members that the girls knew from the time they had spent living with them, while others were new faces trying to make a place for themselves in the world.  Each family had a story to tell, some about the hard times of the chocobo blight, others of the calamity destroying livelihoods, but all with one thing in common; the girls father had come just in time to save them in one way or another.  To band them together as a family and a community.
The girls also had a chance to look at the wares of some of the members.  Some were traders of textiles, others in armor, a few did various types of jewelry, some herbs and spices, and an elderly fortuneteller who would read the cards for a person for a small fee.  Jess smiled as she went along, mystified by the surrealness of it all.  “Caravans stopped in my village all the time,†she explained to Sani as they moved through the gathering.  “I always thought the peddlers exotic and foreign...this is like stepping into my childhood again.â€
After meeting each of the families, Sari and their father had other business to attend to, looking over the ledgers and attending to the pay for the extra protection that their father had hired on for the dangerous journey.  Sani and Jess took the opportunity to stow their gear in Sasanecco’s wagon.  Neither of them had brought much with them other than the necessities, so they were able to rest a little before dinner.
Sasanecco called everyone together for one last dinner in Horizon, the last large gathering that would be had inside of at least a week. Â And, oh, what a dinner it was! Â There was meat from every kind of beast in Thanalan, many kinds of bread, cheeses galore, popotos made in a multitude of ways, and no less than a dozen different salads, from your fresh garden variety, to a pasta salad with olives, a popoto salad. Â So much food filled the tables, the air was a conglomeration of wonderful aromas of cooking and food, and sounds of laughter and excited conversations filled the air. Â Everyone was restless and ready to go. Â They had been here in Horizon for the last four moons and they were ready to be on the way again.
Once again, the girls sat at their father’s table to dine with him.  Before the meal, he stood and cleared his throat.  All of the other conversations immediately died, and all eyes were on the small caravan master.  “I have an announcement to make!  As you have all may have noticed, my two little girls are here with us this evening.† He motioned towards the twins with outstretched arms, a proud smile on his face.  “They and their friend have come to meet each of you, to hear your stories.  While they may live outside the caravan, they are still one of us.  Sasari ensures that all of our hard work does not go unpaid.  Under her watchful eye, the caravan has near doubled our yearly income!† There were a few cheers and a small round of polite applause, causing the timid woman to shrink somewhat more, looking down at her plate.  “And Sasani,†he continued, “she has joined us every few moons to help ensure that we make it safely on our trip.  This year she has brought someone special to her who will also be helping to defend us this trip.  So, as you can see, even though they aren’t with us the whole year, they are here for us the whole year.† He smiled warmly at his daughters and Jess, before turning back to the gathering.  He waved his arms, laughing a little.  “Please, everyone eat, drink a little, enjoy the evening and get to bed early.  Tomorrow, we head out towards Camp Drybone.â€
Their father ended his speech and sat down again. Â Everyone waited respectfully until Sasanecco began to eat to start their own meals. Â The room was once again filled with conversations among the families and the hired hands. Â The meal ended early and each family retired to their own wagon or room to rest for the night, preparing for the coming week. Â The girls had a room together and after making a few final preparations, the three fell asleep.
The day arrived and Sani, Jess, and Sari left early from Ul’dah to make the trek out to Horizon before the summer sun climbed too high into the air.  They made good time, deciding to walk in order to save Sari from the horrible teleport sickness she so often got.
They arrived in Horizon a little before midday and were met by the girls’ father, a wide smile spread on his face and a cold waterskin in his hand.  He passed the skin to the girls, Jess first out of respect for one visiting the caravan, and she took a measured drink before passing it to Sari and finally Sani.  They were brought indoors, out of the sun, where a small banquet of fruit and juice had been spread on a long, low table.  Everyone sat around, sitting on cushions, enjoying the company and companionship.  Sari sat to their father’s right and Sani to the left with Jess seated next to her.
“So this is the woman who has captured my daughter’s heart,†their father said, grinning proudly at Sani and Jess.  “I can see why, you are truly beautiful.  I would like to be the first to welcome you to our little family.  Please, make yourself at home†he continued, popping a grape into his mouth and pointing at the food placed on the table.
Sani quickly followed his implied command, loading her small plate with a wide array of fruits from rolanberries and pineapple to apples and grapes.  Once she had her pile of fruit, she topped it with freshly made whipped cream. Her eyes caught Jess’ and she smiled, “I’m glad you were able to come along,†she whispered once they were sitting again.
After lunch, the girls’ father, Sasanecco Vavanecco, took them around to introduce Jess to the rest of the caravan members.  Some were longtime members that the girls knew from the time they had spent living with them, while others were new faces trying to make a place for themselves in the world.  Each family had a story to tell, some about the hard times of the chocobo blight, others of the calamity destroying livelihoods, but all with one thing in common; the girls father had come just in time to save them in one way or another.  To band them together as a family and a community.
The girls also had a chance to look at the wares of some of the members.  Some were traders of textiles, others in armor, a few did various types of jewelry, some herbs and spices, and an elderly fortuneteller who would read the cards for a person for a small fee.  Jess smiled as she went along, mystified by the surrealness of it all.  “Caravans stopped in my village all the time,†she explained to Sani as they moved through the gathering.  “I always thought the peddlers exotic and foreign...this is like stepping into my childhood again.â€
After meeting each of the families, Sari and their father had other business to attend to, looking over the ledgers and attending to the pay for the extra protection that their father had hired on for the dangerous journey.  Sani and Jess took the opportunity to stow their gear in Sasanecco’s wagon.  Neither of them had brought much with them other than the necessities, so they were able to rest a little before dinner.
Sasanecco called everyone together for one last dinner in Horizon, the last large gathering that would be had inside of at least a week. Â And, oh, what a dinner it was! Â There was meat from every kind of beast in Thanalan, many kinds of bread, cheeses galore, popotos made in a multitude of ways, and no less than a dozen different salads, from your fresh garden variety, to a pasta salad with olives, a popoto salad. Â So much food filled the tables, the air was a conglomeration of wonderful aromas of cooking and food, and sounds of laughter and excited conversations filled the air. Â Everyone was restless and ready to go. Â They had been here in Horizon for the last four moons and they were ready to be on the way again.
Once again, the girls sat at their father’s table to dine with him.  Before the meal, he stood and cleared his throat.  All of the other conversations immediately died, and all eyes were on the small caravan master.  “I have an announcement to make!  As you have all may have noticed, my two little girls are here with us this evening.† He motioned towards the twins with outstretched arms, a proud smile on his face.  “They and their friend have come to meet each of you, to hear your stories.  While they may live outside the caravan, they are still one of us.  Sasari ensures that all of our hard work does not go unpaid.  Under her watchful eye, the caravan has near doubled our yearly income!† There were a few cheers and a small round of polite applause, causing the timid woman to shrink somewhat more, looking down at her plate.  “And Sasani,†he continued, “she has joined us every few moons to help ensure that we make it safely on our trip.  This year she has brought someone special to her who will also be helping to defend us this trip.  So, as you can see, even though they aren’t with us the whole year, they are here for us the whole year.† He smiled warmly at his daughters and Jess, before turning back to the gathering.  He waved his arms, laughing a little.  “Please, everyone eat, drink a little, enjoy the evening and get to bed early.  Tomorrow, we head out towards Camp Drybone.â€
Their father ended his speech and sat down again. Â Everyone waited respectfully until Sasanecco began to eat to start their own meals. Â The room was once again filled with conversations among the families and the hired hands. Â The meal ended early and each family retired to their own wagon or room to rest for the night, preparing for the coming week. Â The girls had a room together and after making a few final preparations, the three fell asleep.
