[b]The Cindorayi, Population: 91, Year 7 IL (Inland), Age of the New Moon[/b]

[u][b]The Path Is Set[/b][/u]

It has now been a hundred moons since the Cindorayi first landed, and as the growth of the village of Lunysvet continued, most of them had become accustomed to life on land. Once a Cindorayi saw a bird-like creature flying overhead from the direction of the sea singing. This, some said, was a sign from the sea that told them they had made the right choice. Others said it was just a sign that someone had had a bit too much fruit ferment. The argument stands.

Viktorya, the self-declared chief inventor of the burgeoning Cindorayi civilization, had success in sharpening some large rocks with a harder variety of stone that she found, and upon teaching the method (which required mind-numbing quantities of patience) to her fellow Cindorayi, they began to produce stone axes to replace their pearl tools, made by lashing the stone tightly to thick wooden sticks. With this new tool, the process of cutting down trees became much easier. At one point, Viktorya remarked on how strong buildings would be if they could be built out of stone, and there was a chorus of agreement.

One day, Viktorya arrived at Ekatyrina's cave house, to discuss an important matter.

"Hello, Viktorya. How are you doing this evening?" asked Ekatyrina, as Viktorya knocked on the side of the wall and strode in. Ekatyrina bowed as a sign of respect to the other leader.

"Quite well, I thank you." Viktorya bowed equally deeply. "I have come with a proposal."

"Oh?" Ekatyrina raised her eyebrow. "Go on."

"It is ridiculous for our two villages to remain separately governed, when we are of the same people. We should have one leader."

Ekatyrina nodded, and thought for a second. "How would we decide which one of us it should be, if it should be one of us at all?"

"Let us have a vote, as you described. The Cindorayi people should be the ones to decide, and they are well enough acquainted with both of us to make a logical decision."

"That would make the most sense to me." Ekatyrina's eyes slightly glimmered, as she had little doubt she would win such a vote. "But how would we communicate decisions between our two villages? We must travel several versya to get to it through the forest."

"That is where my idea comes in. We can use the stone axes to cut down all the trees in a narrow... path, if you will, between our villages. A fast Cindorayi would only take minutes to travel it, without all of the trees and underbrush in the way."

"An excellent suggestion." Ekatyrina nodded thoughtfully. "I will tell my village of the plan, and we can begin clearing this path at once."

"I am glad you appreciate it. Thank you for your time," responded Viktorya.

"And thank you for yours." They both bowed to each other, and Viktorya departed as the sun grew lower in the horizon.