14306 sorry I was to tired to post last night so two days in one here.

Wane said. “Just why would you even? I can see teaching them to shoot, all of mine are as well. They need to know the right way to handle a gun and understand that there are times they must be used. I see why she has one on the trails, it is needed there, not all the animals are safe. However to have her carry one in town, concealed.”

Yuma said. “I was never planning on using the permit here, it was for my trip east. I will be traveling alone at least some of the times and I knew enough then to know that would make me a target, even if I wasn’t an Archer. As I am it makes it bigger, so I was planning ahead. However I did see Father’s point and so agreed to carry it before I was planning on doing so. Most do not realize who I am when I am on the ambulance, they just don’t expect me to be there, even if they have seen me, so the risk is small. However I am an Archer and so there is a risk someone might think I could be of use to them. Therefore it makes since that I have a way to defend myself. So I go out armed, it is just easier to have it on every time I go out, as that way I don’t need to make extra trips. Yes, that includes in school, though that did require extra paper work.”  Wane shook his head and was clearly fighting for words. Yuma thought it best to leave before he found them, she had upset him enough. “I will see you in the morning, I am going to try and get a bit more work done before I turn in. I should be able to stay out of the chats rooms now, so I can make some progress on my next two papers.”

She started to the stairs, Samuel said. “Have fun, just try not to stay up to late. There is nothing wrong in checking out the rooms or the boards. I bet they have some fan sites for your books as well, you might want to try looking at them. The ones for Miken West have some decent shorts on them. You need to take some breaks as well, or you will get fed up with the papers.”

Yuma flushed a bit. “Well, um there is an only online story for the Wervine sires that I have been reading, by the author but found to adult to publish as the books are considered teen. I truly don’t see why there was a problem, but the publishers refused it. Jen is considering going self published after the contract, or so the blogs say. I haven’t looked for West yet, are there any for the Wayfare series or just the Judge?”

Samuel smiled a bit, he thought she had read at least a few of them. “There look to be some for both. I didn’t care for the Wayfare books as much so haven’t looked at those stories. I send you the ink to the sites I find best for fan stories. Some are not readable, but others are pretty good for all they are rough.”

As she started up the stairs to her room she heard Wane say. “You mean you have let her read those? They are clearly adult books. No child needs to read of war, and there are times he goes too far. Then the stuff on those fan sights, most of them are open and there are stories of wizards and trash. Sometimes ones containing illegal references fail to get blocked right away.” Yuma winced and hoped it didn’t get to loud, she likely should have stopped sooner, but she was tired of it. She closed her door and so didn’t hear the answer, but she could bet that it wasn’t what her Uncle wanted.

Samuel said. “The open chats are not filtered, she will see hear such talk in them, seeing a bit of a story isn’t going to harm her. She knows the truth, but knows that not all lands adhere to the Word. She is old enough now to handle just what that means. I am not going to hide the realty from her. I don’t bar any of them from any book on my shelves. Their library cards were unrestricted their freshmen year, and remain so. They have both used the adult sections of the library, fiction and nonfiction.”

Wane shook his head. “Tulip you don’t need to worry about, she knows where she belongs. Yuma though is going to bring you trouble, she is far to wild. I don’t see why you can’t see that. It isn’t safe to let them run so. It is bad enough that you indulger her silly idea of being a doctor and let her take a place in classes that should go to those who will use the training. However to encourage her to engage in unfitting talk, to freely let her be exposed to filth, when she so clearly doesn’t understand her place in the world. That is going to bring you nothing but grief! Can you not see the danger? She is going to leave. Mark my words that one is going for the ban. Nothing else will ever come of encouraging such behavior.”

Samuel said. “I have no problems with her behavior. I want my children to express their views not parrot mine. I have told them all that they have the right to say they disagree with me as long as they do it reasonably. Sadly I will agree it is possible that Yuma will find that it is easier for her to be happy, to live her life in England. I do wish it wasn’t so, but I can see that it might be the case. There is just too much here that is asking her to be someone she is not.  I would much rather have her be true to herself then act like someone she is not because a fad says she must. There is no reason that a female is any less capable of dealing with the Truth than a male is. They should not be hidden for the realties of the world. As to Medical school, I promise you that Yuma will be making full use of her degree. She has a calling, and I will not let it go to waste just because she is not male! There are and never will be any laws in this land that limit professions by gender, race or religion. The first act of the Contusion says that all citizens have the same rights, will be answerable to the same rules. That there can be no exceptions made to this, as forming of separate classes helped the fragmentation of the old nation. As you should know, with your degree in history. Not that you do anything with it.”

The shot went right by Wane, he was to focused on the fact that Samuel had admit Yuma would be going to England. “So you admit that she is going to be banned, yet you shelter her. What kind of stamen is that? I do not see how you can even tolerate it, and let her have a noticeable role. You should at least see she is quite so there won’t be as much blow back.”

Samuel shook his head. “There will be no ban involved. It is not a crime to immigrate and there are no restrictions incurred for doing so. In fact immigrants can keep their citizenship as long as they vote in the elections and are in this nation four weeks over the course of the year. I do not know what she will decide to do, but she has the right to choose. If she should go to Oxford and find that she likes England, I will be sad but I will not stand in her way. I will never force my children to chose between family and their heart. If I could find her I would ask Rachael to come stay. I would love to know where she is and how her life is going. I will not throw any of my family away.”

Wane said. “How dare you! You have no right to even say that name! They and their filth are dead! As any reasonable person would do. You know what that is! How could even suggest that? Of all the. No wonder that girl is so turned.”

Samuel said. “She was attacked, beating and raped. It was not her fault. There was no reason to cast her aside because she wished to keep the child. It was a miracle she was able to have one and there is no shame in the fact she was able to find it in her to love the baby.”

Wane said. “You know that is not what I am talking about, but what she did to get attacked.”

Samuel said. “There is nothing she did that caused the actions. There is nothing to blame her for.” Wane turn and stomped out of the room, a lot like Tulip had earlier.  Samuel looked at his back and realized just what he had said. He meant it, but it was to far, he knew better than to push those battens, yet he had. “I am sorry Mather and Ileana I went to far, let my anger speak. I will tell him so when he will hear it.”

Cap. 8 Saturday’s hike.

Yuma looked around the table and wondered again just what had went on after she went upstairs Thursday. It hadn’t been loud enough that she heard it, but her Uncle had barely said a word to anyone since then. Well it was none of her business, but she didn’t like the worry in her mother’s eyes when she looked at her. However there was nothing that would change it. She wasn’t going to take back her words, she meant what she had said, No matter if it troubled her mother to have it confirmed. Her breakfast done Yuma stood up and took her dishes to the sink, then move towards the locked storage by the door, where the guns and emergency goods were kept, as well as her hiking gear.  “Today I am not to go near the clink so will be on the trails. Joe is meeting me at the base and we are going to be out most of the day. I’m going to high pass, hoping to see a few dragons before coming down by the Gyphons’ valley. I think that Joe is planning on us going back to the campus for a bit, as he said he would bring me home as close to eleven as he could mange. If that is alright, that is?” It still seemed strong to plan on missing supper. It had been so drilled that it wasn’t to be missed, likely as that was when they were drilled on their Family obligations. Uncle Wane might not see the importance of it, but Father did, and he expected them to take the responsibly seriously, which she could understand. For all it made government a bit dull, as they had known most of it by heart before they took the class.

Samuel nodded. “Just try to be in by midnight, remember there is church in the morning. Have fun, and enjoy, it looks to be a good day.”

Wane looked at them, and with the rage there was a bit of disbelief. “She says she is going on an isolated trail with a boy and you just tell her to have fun?  She is going to be alone in private with a boy for hours and then going home with him as well. Just.”

This time both of her parents seemed to be fighting not to laugh, realizing that her Uncle was truly worried about it Yuma said. “I am sorry, I should have been clearer Uncle. I forgot you don’t know Joe as well as my parents do and would be concerned about his intentions. I don’t know if you even realized that it is Joe Rocfield that I am talking about, but even so you barely know the family. He will not try anything, but we will not be alone. One of his professors wish to get a look at the dragons and will be joining us on the hike, then on campus we will be in the common areas, I just don’t know if it will be in the game room or at the cafe. Might end up being both, depending on when we get back to campus. He does live in the dorm but would never even think of asking me to go to his room, not that the school would allow such.”

Wane shook his head. “I don’t know if it is better or worse that there will be two males with you on the trail. I suppose it is something that you won’t be alone. Just what do you know of this other one? I know the Rocfield’s are a solid family, but boys can get caught up and forget their behavior. Still he did have the presence of mind to see that another person went.” Yuma coughed a bit, but thought it best to let that go. Likely her Uncle would be more upset to know she had been the one to suggest it. “Is the professor married at least? It seems as if you are always with a group of boys.”

Yuma smiled a bit. “I don’t know if Dr. Inkols is married, it is his first year teaching at Stanford but he has three PhDs and is a medical doctor as well. He is volunteering at the clink some now that he has permission to practice in this State. I haven’t had many shifts with him, but Even is satisfied that he knows what he is doing, which means a lot. I am young enough to be his child and that is what he sees me as. He was a bit startled when he realized that I was taking some classes with Joe, didn’t think I would be ready for the advanced courses at my age.” She took her gun out and put it on, then grabbed her bag, the crossed to the sink and filled her canteens. There would be places to fill them at the start of the trail on at the used stops, but she felt better having the full before starting out.

Samuel said. “Just how did the professor learn that you going? I just can’t see Joe randomly asking him to come.”

Yuma said. “He asked if there was a place around here they could be seen as he would like to see what types we had. I wonder what he will make of the stop at the Gyphons, I just bet he hasn’t been close to any before, and they still come to me. He said that access to the forests was restricted where he was from. He hadn’t thought to see if there were trails here, but did go out a bit and see what they are like after learning that there were some.”

Samuel nodded. “I wonder why they restricted them. Have fun and see when you get in. Try not to lose too much in the card games. Best grab some extra candy, just to be safe.”

Yuma laughed. “I put some in my bag last night as well as some trade goods. It is early yet, but Rizera might be open and if so there is bound to be something one of use has to have. See you tonight.” Yuma nodded and made out the door before her Uncle could ask what Rizera was.

The others were at the ranger station when she got there. Yuma smiled and waved at them, glad to see that Professor Inkols had some good boots and a pack with water bottles. That made her feel better about this. She was always a bit nervous taking a new hiker up to the high pass. It was a long hike and less devolved then the easy trails. “Let me check in and we can get started, the crowds will thin out once we are past the first turn sir. Most of these are just here for the low ones, and bit of a stretch.”

Mike smiled, it was nice to see that the trails were used, they were working on get some at home. He would have to bring his brother out here so he could get some pictures to show that it didn’t harm the forest. Something more to tell him about, they likely have some details of how they were made. “I am just pleased to see they do get used, there weren’t a lot here the other times I came up. I was wondering if that was why the forest didn’t seem impacted by the trails. There have been talks of building such at home, but the studies were still being done. They are just coming in good and we don’t want them damaged. So you need to check in for the high trails?”

Yuma said. “They are busy on the weekends, and will see a lot of traffic during the holidays. We find that the trails keep damage down as they limit the number of people going into the forest. Those that go into the trees, off trail, now are those that know how to, those that have the training to see the impact is limited and the danger minimized. Granted there are ads out there explain the dangers of going in to the forest as well, which help see that people stay to the trails. I check in anytime I’m here, as I always stop by the griffins, and those visits need to be recorded. If there is a new ranger they won’t know me see it is easier on everyone if it is on the log before I go. Then to it sees I know if there is any licensed hunting going on, so I don’t go running after hearing a gun shot.” Joe laughed and Mike looked startled, only then noticing her gun, but he didn’t get a chance to ask as she went into the station.

Joe said. “Yes she has gone running before, and hat would be towards them not away. As long as she knows there is someone out there legally she won’t unless she hears screaming or gets a call, but otherwise she tells the folks with her to stay put and heads off. If they should be shooing she wants to be sure they are caught, and if they had a reason she wasn’t to be sure that they hit what they intended to. There is seldom any problems on the trails, but if you are off them you can run into some that would as soon attack you as run. Those that try once will try again and here they need to be eliminated, that is the only legal reason to be shooting near the trails, but sometimes the legal hunters don’t realize they are close and take a shot they shouldn’t have. Those are forgiven as long as they have the right tags, which they won’t if they didn’t check in.”

Yuma nodded. “There are none in the area, nor should there be any this time of year. However there was a sighting of a large cat like thing by pheasant stop that wasn’t acting right. Nope, no idea, they were arguing about who had to go see what a large cat like thing was, and if it was a problem or not. It is nothing we need to worry about. However there has been a large red seen at view already so there is a real good chance we will be able to see a few more at high pass. Also Rizera is open and run a half menu for all it is early in the migration. So we are going to go a ways off trail, and will defiantly see at least two dragons sir. Though those will be tamed ones, they are natives.” She started walking so they did.

Mike shook his head a bit. “Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore you do so. I didn’t think there would be any tamed ones here. I do know that they can be, but where you have no magic users I did expect there to any tamed dragons here. It is typically them that the dragons will stay with.” He looked at the gun again but wasn’t sure how to ask about it, so went with his other question. “I hope this isn’t offensive but I was wondering if news announcements like the one last night are normal. That is the only time charges make the news at home is when the crime did, so I was a bit lost. Is it just that there were so many arrests across the states?”

Joe said. “It is most just those that live out in the smaller communities that have dragons. Certain breads are considered farm animals. They take well to being around people, some are raised for meat, and others work as draft animals in the communities that shun cars and other trappings of modern life.” He looked at Yuma the legal stuff was more her line, but she might not want to go into this.

Yuma said. “It was the fact that books on witchcraft were found at each and they were in so many states that cause the Nat announcement. They are not typically done for Justice madders, just Legislative or elections. Most of those will be advertised well in advance. If it wasn’t for the interstate issues it would have been just a local announcement, not even a state one would be deemed needed, unless the Governor felt that the books warranted it, but that is unlikely. He wouldn’t want to cause fear so unless materials were found in another place he would just leave it to Father. Sorry, I got off track, that isn’t what you asked. The charges in this case would have been announced as they are going to open the court to reports for the adult trials. Anytime minors are being charged in the adult system it is broadcast on the local news by law, that way those who think they have something to offer can seek the family out and ask to be put on the witness list. It is not something anyone wants to see happen and so pains are taken to see that child has everything possible to minimize the sentence. If there is any way it can be kicked back to the Juvenile system the lawyers need to know it. No one wants to see anyone punished more than they deserve. Normally arrests and charges seldom make the news outside of the court section of the papers, and some don’t even make that. This is not normal as all of the defendants are from the upper families, some with ties to government Families, so it is best that everything be as public as possible. It might not help a lot but it will do less damage then if nothing was said. It was a mess before the other cases were known. So many are insistent that anything like this has to start with the poor, it is a riot waiting to happen.”

Joe looked at her and frowned, wondering just what she wasn’t saying. Just what had she heard being whispered? “I am sure that they are watching, and will be running ads. It is going to be rough for a bit, but should ease up once the trials start. I hope our guns aren’t alarming you. They won’t be needed, but as much as she goes off trail her Father insists she has it. Before she could carry she had to be with someone who did when she was on the mountain, and that ended up being me a lot of the time so it became a habit for me to have one. She has never gone more than three weeks without making it out here for at least an hour. The only reason she went three was because there was a bad storm and then once the weather cleared she got sick.”

Yuma laughed and then said. “Say, that is a good reason why I can’t run off to Oxford with you. What would I do without the time in the trees? I would be lost, best stay here where the forests are open.”