Britches

A red planet was added between the second and third of a small system. The addition destroyed most of the people on the second planet. A family survived in the North valley. The weather became colder. The father moves his sons and their families now or perish. Crossing the mountains, they find warmth and good soil. Six generations return to the soil and their valley is full.
They search their ancient father’s records. They find a plan to expand and grow from where they currently are. A Royal meeting of the robed Elders prepare for the expansion, rest the land, and mix their blood. It requires 50 seasons to complete the move, a short time as they count generations.
A head strong female wishes adventure and is a direct descendant from the North valley. In her schooling she finds an ancient scroll before the red planet was added to their system. After much study she decides to try and find the lands mentioned in the scroll.
She rides a horse better than most men and have little use for any man. She is impossible to find no less court. Her attitude is “If they can catch me, they may court me.” A stranger arrives at her home after she has left. The father provides horses and help to the stranger to overtake his daughter on her adventure.
They meet at the harbor and she wishes nothing to do with him. However, he has purchased the animals and supplies she needs. It is either take him and the animals or not go. They sail the Mother of all Waters for many orbs and are left at the mouth of a huge river.

They explore the smaller rivers and he insists they bury supplies so their return will be easier. They continue to disagree on every item, and she falls in the river trying to help him catch fish to dry. She considers him a crude, rude, fish eater. He insists fish meal be added to everything to stretch their supplies.
His remarks that she needs to lose weight to help her horse results in dishes being thrown.
They find in a huge valley many mounds grown over with tress. One building has observation slits and the sights still usable. He makes many readings and predicts where and when many stars will appear. All except one, the one they sail by?
She digs the largest mound but finds the door and wall at ground level are now at the top of the not so small hill. They clear the top and find in a stone chest a leather scroll written in an incredibly old language like the one at school. She takes the scroll from him.
They have been gone many, many cycles of the lessor orb, and their supplies are gone. They ride back to the waters, digging and eating nothing but fish. They are found by a boat going to port before the stormy season starts.

Back in the city it is the Joining time and the city is full of people being Joined. He tries to find a room but there are none. He happens to find a room when a couple leaves early. He finds the man hater and they go to the room. She is happy then furious. The room is the largest, most spoken of all Joining rooms. Famous blood lines all started here.
He brings planks, ropes, and blankets to divide the room. He is fast asleep which makes her only madder. In the morning, most things are broken, widows nailed shut, blanket torn apart. She throws his boots out the widow, he tosses her best riding britches out and climbs down the wall to leave. They meet on the street and he orders her to pay for the room next year. She does, expecting him to return her britches. But he does not. They will stay for a season in the middle of the road, protected by a shelter, and waiting for the next Joining period.
He returns to the North valley; she studies the ancient scroll. Soon she can make better metal than any factory. Then using the extra heat, she makes bricks stronger than anyone.
Time rolls on and it is time for the Joining to start. Her britches are still on the street in a small enclosure to protect them. Will this Joining take and what will their future generations accomplish?
And what of the stronger bricks?