The harbor of Yedlihmad was young Yazka’s favourite place. Fearlessly he ran along the docks and between the crates, merchants, fishermen and sailors. Everybody knew him here. That sassy blond Miqo’te Boy that always wanted to hear new stories, taste the food travelers brought from distant lands and in return loved to help with the cargo, the ropes and introducing them to Yedlihmad. He belonged here like every citizen of this small town and Yazka knew that he wanted to work here as soon as he grew up. He was a lad of 14 summers when the “Serpent Dive” a ship from Hingashi, visited Thavnair again and with her: Ira, a Miqo’te sailor. 16 year-old daughter to the two merchants that steered this vessel between the two continents for trade. The last time Yazka had seen Ira was about a good year ago and when he saw the sails of that ship arrive on the horizon, he felt his heart give a surprised little jump. In Yazka’s eyes, Ira was the most beautiful person he had ever met. She had long light brown hair while her ears were black tipped like the starless night. A long tail just like his, but while his own was tipped almost white, hers was black as well. She moved with an elegance he admired and had never seen in the other people he knew and met. She was Miqo’te, like him. Her pupils slitted like his and with a dark blue color like the sea. This time Ira and her parents stayed for 3 days in Yedlihmad, and Yazka showed her around, always wanting to make her smile and laugh and learn about her family and way of life. When he held her hand he liked the softness of her skin. So scaleless and gently tanned by the sun.The two young Miqo’te liked each other’s presence and spent every possible minute together.

Until the third day came all too soon and Ira had to say goodbye to the thavnairian boy once more, who helped her family load the ship, until that work was done too and Ira gifted him one of her bright and beautiful smiles as she took his hands in hers. Yazka held still, too sad already to find words. In his young naivety he would have sailed with her, but at the same time knew very well that he also belonged here. To his auri family. His mother, father and two beloved sisters. But Ira represented that part of him that was yearning. For something he had lost and something he feared to forget more and more every day. Something he was but not always wanted to be. The girl leaned forward and gave the boy one more gift. His first kiss. Right there at the docks of Yedlihmad at a late morning hour, while the summer air smelled of hope and opportunities and the rising sun warmed their skin. Yazka kissed this girl with a shy admiration and careful gratitude. As long as he dared, as if he knew that this would be the first and last time their lips would touch, and he wanted to be able to keep this memory for ever as clear as possible. She waved him goodbye when the “Serpent Dive” turned its stern towards Thavnair again and the blond Miqo’te waved back until he couldn’t make her out on deck anymore. His right ear hang low, while the left one stayed frozen and he smiled his saddest smile.