It turned out that the men in cloaks were traveling friars who would pilgrimage to the Godstones, and the Sanctum of the Twelve, every year. Hahs'to met up with these sympathetic friars, and joined the group for a time. After the Matriarch apologized for scaring the friars, they bid the group farewell, and left.
Three suns later, the group was still in high spirits; except for, the Matriarch and Matron of the Kaatah family.
It wasn't long until Kiht was asked to talk with Matriarch Raih Kaatah, and Matron Talha, alone. This was unusual because the small group never kept secrets from any of the members. Meetings were always held in front of the entire group. This made Kiht wary when she arrived at a secluded location not far from the Greentear campgrounds.
The Matriarch and Talha were already there when Kiht arrived. She looked to the two of them curiously as they all stared at her with solemn expressions.
“Um, what is amiss?†Kiht asked them.
“I will get straight to the point, young one. The group is disbanding....†The Matriarch said in a neutral tone that only hinted at sadness.
Kiht chuckled at first as she was sure the Matriarch was joking. However, Raih looked to Kiht with a serious expression, and when a tear ran down the Matriarch's cheek, Kiht's expression suddenly went from an amused smile to an expression of utter shock and dismay.
“Y-you are serious?!†Was all Kiht could think to ask.
“Indeed, young one.â€
“Why?! Kiht exclaimed.
“You have brought an issue to this group, Kiht.†Talha interjected. “However, Hahs'to's return is very fortunate, and I feel joy for you and your kin. But, the group disbanding has nothing to do with that.â€
“My kin?? You -are- my kin, Matron! Why do you talk as if the Kaatah and the Jakkya family do not belong to the same group?†Kiht asked Talha.
“Kiht, the Kaatah family is tired. For six years we have been attacked, chased, persecuted, harassed and worked to exhaustion. There hasn't been a single wandering male who has wanted to join our pathetic little group in six years.... That -male-, Lyn Konge, does not count since he refuses to take any other females as mates, other than you.†Talha responded.
Kiht clenched her fists, and was very ready to strike the old woman, but would not do so in front of the Matriarch. “There are too few traditional wandering males left! It has nothing to do with how pathetic you think our group is! And Lyn has proven himself time and again! How dare yo-†Kiht's heated response was cut short by the Matriarch suddenly bursting into a coughing fit. Kiht regarded her for a moment, but didn't think too much into it. She quickly locked her gaze back on Talha.
Talha raised her head in an obstinate gesture. “Lyn has proven time and again that he is a fool who does not consider the consequences of his actions. He has also insulted our family and females of our group by refusing to take any of them as mates. It is as if he is saying that my daughters are not good enough for him!†Talha said in a bitter tone.
“That is not the case! Lyn is simply influenced by Hyur and Lalafell culture. He will adapt to the traditional ways.†Kiht retorted.
“You do not know what it is like to have daughters, Jakkya.†Talha said as her voice cracked. Her tone was suddenly more sad and gentle. “My girls are not getting any younger, and I see the sadness in their expressions. Half the time they are lonely, and wonder if they will ever have children while the other half of the time they quiver in fear of what ever horrors will come to the group next.†Talha paused and shook her head. “Ixal, Wood Wailers, slavers and now assassins? We cannot take this any longer.â€
“You underestimate your own family! And, what other choice is there? If we disband, we will be even more vulnerable.†Kiht responded.
Talha shook her head again. “Our group has made peace with the Gridanians. It is about the one and only good thing you have done for us. The group has been given an offer. If we accept the cleansing of Woodsin, we will be allowed to become Gridania citizens.â€
Kiht's mouth went agape as her expression betrayed her surprise. However, she quickly grew a scowl as her brows furrowed. She was about to say something to Talha, but she quickly jerked her gaze to the Matriarch instead.
“Matriarch, you have chosen this?!†Kiht asked her. The Matriarch tried to talk, but was stopped by another fit of coughing.
“Nay, but I..... The decision will be out of my hands soon, young one.†Raih answered.
Kiht quickly shook her head. “The Kaatah family would sooner listen to you than Talha! Make them understand. If they submit to the Gridanians, they will be made to worship the Elementals. They will be treated like second-rate citizens. Their every tradition and activity will be regulated. They will be made to bow to the horned Hyur while the Elezen scoff at their every move. They will loose their independence.†Kiht lectured.
“Bah, now you are being hypocritical, Jakkya! You who now leads mostly Hyur and Elezen exiles.†Talha retorted.
“The -exiles- are the very victims of the arrogance and self-righteous attitude that is prevalent in their own kind. Do not mistake me; I have learned to judge an individual by their own deeds, but I have seen Eorzea! Our kind are almost always at the bottom of the ranks.†Kiht said as she crossed her arms.
“Indeed!†The weary Matriarch said in a voice as loud as she could muster. “Listen Kiht, what I meant, is I will soon no longer be able to continue as Matriarch....I am stepping down...â€
“You mustn’t, we need you now more than-â€
“I am dying....†The Matriarch cut Kiht off, mid-sentence.
“But....Why?...How?†Kiht asked in a saddened tone.
Talha was quick to interject. “Indeed, and she deserves to spend her final Suns in comfort and safety.â€
“Gridania is not so bad, is it? Indeed we will have to adapt to their ways, and we will have to stand up from under the pressures of their bigotry. But it is not impossible. The Kaatah family will rise up to form our own place in Gridanian society. We will do so with the benefits of security and prosperity that our daughters and sisters deserve.†Talha said with a tone of finality.
Kiht went quiet. She didn't know what to say. Even though she disagreed, she could tell there was no changing Talha's mind. “It had already been decided before now, hadn't it?†Kiht asked.
“While you were off with your exiles, we have been discussing the fate of the group.†Talha said then paused. “The old ways are done, and so is the Shriekshroom Moon-keepers.†Talha concluded, nodded her head then walked off to rejoin the group at the campgrounds.
Kiht looked to the Matriarch for confirmation. A sad frown had grown on her face and it took all the discipline she had to prevent her eyes from welling up with tears. The Matriarch looked back to Kiht with a weary stare. “Young Kiht, I must apologize for Talha... However, what the Kaatah are doing is acting on a decision they have all made. Regardless of my condition, the group would still be disbanding.†The Matriarch responded to Kiht's unasked question.
“Tell me, please, why are you dying? How do you know?†Kiht asked in an insistent tone.
It was then that the Matriarch explained that she had a disease. It was something common amongst older people, and it was incurable except maybe with Pajal Magic. However, the Gridanians would not help. Matriarch Raih Kaatah had lived a life that they saw in disservice to the Elementals. However, she would be allowed to live out her final days in Gridania, and her family would be allowed to become citizens. In a way, it was a generous offer. As long as people followed the strict and rigid laws of the Elementals, Gridania was a rather safe and peaceful place.
After the Matriarch was done explaining her condition to Kiht, she looked to her and asked one question. “What will the Jakkya family do?â€
Kiht took a moment to think. The Jakkya family would be vulnerable on their own, but Kiht refused to surrender tradition. She did not want to give up her people's freedom and honor. However, she had to consider the well-being of everyone in her family.
“I can not make the decision right now. I need one sun to explore our options.†Kiht finally said after a long moment of thinking.
Kiht turned, and was ready to storm off. “Wait...†The Matriarch said to her then began yet another coughing fit. This time, the coughing fit was so intense that the Matriarch almost fell over. Kiht stopped, and turned around to regard the Matriarch.
“Kiht, there is something you should know before you decide what the Jakkya family will do.†Raih said as she reached into her robe and pulled out a small leather-bound book. She handed it to Kiht with a shaky hand.
Kiht grabbed the book as her expression grew curious. It was a very old book that had no symbols or writing on the cover. She slowly examined the book and gently rubber her fingers along the leather. “Is this Jakkya leather-work?†Kiht asked.
The Matriarch nodded her head. “It is more than a book made by a Jakkya... It is your grandmother's lore book.â€
Kiht's eyes grew wide with awe. “Why am I only being given this now?†Kiht asked.
“My deepest apologies for only giving you this now... I did not want to have the knowledge in that book corrupting the Jakkya family.†Raih responded. Before Kiht could ask the next series of questions that would appropriately follow, the Matriarch started to speak again. “You see...The Jakkya family joined with the Kaatah during your mother's lifetime.... They were not always part of the Shriekshroom Moon-keepers.â€
“Then who...†Kiht asked.
“The Jakkya family was once part of a group that is now known today as the Raptor Poachers....†Raih answered.
“You can not be serious!†Kiht said with an expression of utter shock.
“Listen...†Raih said as she struggled to prevent herself from coughing again. “The Jakkya family had only been in our Shriekshroom group since your mother joined as a adolescent. That book documents their history before the joining with the Kaatah family. It documents their old traditions, their way of life, their joys and their horrors. It is stated that half of the Jakkya family could not bear their destructive way of life any longer...... Half the family split and joined with the Kaatah family while the other half stayed with poachers.†Raih managed to finish before she let herself go, and began coughing once more.
Kiht gripped the book firmly in her hands as her expression was locked in shock. She had planned on reading every word in the damn thing. However, she had a major decision that she would soon need to make. The book would have to wait, for now.
“Kiht.... I did not tell you because I was afraid you would seek out the Raptor poachers if you knew. You must not go to them. Our Shriekshroom group were called poachers because we hunted a few animals that were legally protected species. That is nothing compared to the Raptor Poachers... They are ruthless, and act more akin to pirates. They are what gives Moon-keepers our bad reputation.†Raih said then paused. “However, I now believe you have a right to know. The book is yours now. May Menphina guide your decision, Kiht....â€
