A calm breeze carries its way across the steppes. The gentle wind whistles in the air as it flows through; It ruffles grass and cuts through the rocks. Alone on a hill overlooking is a young woman. She sits, in silence as the wind shifts her ornate dress and her black locks. The various pieces of metal adorning her robe shimmer and glow in the moonlight.As she sits she looks out and takes in the view. It's all familiar to her, every cliff face and river, every twist and bend. She dangles her legs off the cliff and kicks them absentmindedly as the sights blur. She can't focus as negativity begins to seep in. Her breathing tightens and black clouds of thoughts take over her quiet mind. Feelings wrestle for superiority in her gut as she tries to make sense of her rapid mind.When the thoughts feel they're at their worst there's a crunching of grass behind her. Heavy steps press down as an older man with a cane comes towards her. He stands for a moment. He's taking in the view as the young woman begins breathing again. Eventually he lowers himself down and joins her on the floor."Breathing taking view, rivers shimmer blue, on days brand new." The man hums.She sits in silence."Tapestries made in your name, of your future fame, and yet you exclaim..." He sings.She moves her legs up and hugs them tightly."I don't care."He waits. Yet no more follows."No more song? Won't finish your verse? The old maidens tale says you'll be cursed""I don't care! I don't want to take up the mantle! I don't want the responsibility, the... Pressure! This stupid.." she trails off."Singing? Indeed it's a chore, we'd accomplish more, if we sung with heart." He sighs out.He looks back out to the vast mountainous range and breathes deeply."Empty platitudes they all sing, knowing not that they cling to tradition as old as dirt."She looks towards him. His face is stoic as he continues looking out."Yet the Qalli is tradition, they're all full of ambition with an empty position.""You'll sit at the head of it all, prevent our downfall, lead us to the morrow."He turns to her and their eyes catch each others. He reaches his hand out and firmly places it on her shoulder."Kana. If you love her, go. They won't understand, they'll never know. A young girl's place is not on a throne."She's unable to maintain eye contact. She rears her head down as tears well up."B-but..." She begins stammering out. Her breathing quickens again as she hugs herself tighter."What if I'm wrong? What if she's not the one? What if it doesn't work, we're too different... It..." She sputters out over lumps in her throat."Oh, if only love was certain, there'd be no hearts burdened!" He chuckles."She's captured your heart and won't let go, you never go you never know.""If I leave I can't come back..." She cries out."The tribe won't be laid back. But is a life worth living if you know what's missing?" He responds.The line hums in the air as it's weight hangs over the both of them. Kana thinks of her life with and without the viera. In one she rejects her, becomes Chief of the tribe and is miserable. Endless days of diplomacy and untold pressure to keep thousand years long tradition. Good moments will sprinkle themselves over a dish of melancholy and disdain. Then she thinks of the possibility of leaving. She elopes with her and never returns to the steppes. Hand in hand they travel the world, no one but each other to lean on. It's hard not to imagine in all the ways that same relationship could sour. Disagreements and spats could leave her in a empty world with no guiding hand.She looks back out to the steppes. Mountains scrape the sky and cut the clouds apart. Banners wave in the air lit by the full moon's gentle light. Below them people sing and step as they work. The river nearby flows serenely as tribe members clean their robes. Tents dim their lights as the night grows long. Kana grabs the grass at her sides. She feels the blades go through her hand and the dirt against her finger tips. Her dress suddenly feels tight and over bearing. Her locks come into view as they tickle the sides of her face.The wind surges and blows through the both of them. It's whistle makes the tribe members below exclaim loudly that the hills are alive with music. She breathes again, this time structured as she tries to regain her composure. She smells the flowers near her. The flagrant and light wafts together with the scent of a spiced cooked meal.She tastes the bile in her throat that threatens to come up.She turns to the man and hugs him tightly."Thank you, father." She eeks out at a low register.He takes her in his arms and chuckles. "Anytime, my dear."She waits. Yet no more follows. She slowly leaves the embrace."If you don't finish your verse..." She teases."You're the last person to tell me such a thing."They laugh uproariously together. Long moments pass as the two enjoy each other's quiet company. The man eventually gets up, leaning heavily on his cane to do so."I'll leave you to it. But whatever you choose, do it with full conviction. For yourself and no one else."He walks away. His steps crash down heavy on the grass and are almost rhythmic in timing. The wind that was once pervasive through the night calms down. Decorations no longer faintly jingle in the distance and the grass is still. Kana looks forward.All is quiet on the steppes.