In the dim light of the setting sun, Esti sat before her tent, tending a small fire she'd built to cook with. Long doeskin breeches clung to her legs, loose at the ankles where they covered the tops of her bare feet. The skin had been dyed to a deep maroon with boysenberries; the process had taken days, and had to be dyed twice - once after it was tanned and once again after it was softened, and intricate patterns made with beads had been sewn to the waistband and hems. The brown tunic she'd been wearing when she went riding with Inaki a few days ago was laid out beside her, a bone needle and horsehair thread had been tossed upon the cloth. There was a long rip in the side that needed mending. So, instead of a tunic, a simple band of leather contained Esti's breasts, still displaying the hair of the horse that had owned it with a pretty brown-and-white spotted pattern. Much like her Haizea.

Esti knew that the fading light wasn't good for mending, but there was dinner to attend to. Amaya had been so furious at her for disobeying her that she had refused to allow Esti to eat with her - and after all, as a full-fledged woman of the tribe, Esti should be able to cook for herself. A bronze pot hung over the fire, supported by a spit; inside horse's milk bubbled around green vegetables and cubed rabbit meat. In Esti's lap rested a small wooden mortar and pestle, and she ground dried black pepper and basil together into a fine powder, adding it to the mix before slowly stirring it with a spoon. The meal was enough for two, not that anyone would likely come along to share it with her.

Esti drew a hand across her brow, wiping away some of the water that dripped from her still-drying hair. For once, it was loose, and hung in a thick, coarse curtain around her as she bent forward to brush out the remnants of the spices into the fire, setting up little sparks. The stew would need to simmer some more, but while it cooked, she could sew. She set to work with the needle and thread, succeeding in pricking herself several times with the needle and saying a few words that would've made Amaya's ears bleed.

Her brothers would be preparing for their raid, now. It made her heart sick to think of Inaki going off to fight the interlopers - yes, he was a man now, and a man who wanted to bring honor to his father and his tribe - but she couldn't help but worry. Xanti was going, too, and would probably be in more danger, but somehow her mind skipped over that. She was consumed by thoughts of Inaki lately, and prayed that it was a mere phase, as he'd suggested. But the fact that she couldn't talk about it, not even to her mother (especially not to her mother) only made the feelings worse.

She was so involved in her thoughts, in fact, that as she drifted further into them, she stretched out and her feet got a bit too close to the fire. Esti jerked back, pulling her knees to her with a curse and blowing on her singed toes as though it might help. Now in a fully sour mood, she took the pot off the fire and ladled some of her stew out into a wooden bowl, setting it to the side to cool.

[OOC; This thread is open to all, but if Xanti would like to reply they can have their awkward thread and Kai will be happeh. xD]