Daanarri Meorrrei fled from the tiia'haa'ko meal into Jovan Station's promenade, hoping to lose herself in the crowd. Full of anger and confusion, the fifteen year old Cizeri girl dashed hot tears from her eyes and tried not to run into anyone.

Why did her mother have to be so infuriating!? Daani had been happy enough to accept Taataani's proclamation of her impending marriage to some male she'd never met before. Not happy, exactly, but she accepted it. Having her mother pick a husband was preferable to whoever the Sun Palace would place her with, and Daani was not ignorant of the political implications of the Pride Mother being interested in who Daani married. Taataani had been hard, even cruel during dinner, but somehow Daani had not been surprised by her actions.

Her older sisters, however, long held in high regard by the much younger Daani -- they were a complete disappointment. T'yeellaa, the original family rebel who had thrown away her place in the family business in order to pursue her dream of being in the Navy, had less backbone than a Mon Cal jelly. Rai'faani seemed like a spoiled brat, not a cool, fashionable icon.

Daani found a lookout point, a section of the station set up for star gazing, or watching ships come in, and planted herself in the middle of the rows of benche. She stared blindly out into space while her mind raced.