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Lim Vao has tended the herds of the great beasts since she was young, as did her mother and her mother's mother. Sacred to the mother goddess, only women tend the animals, following them on their slow migration north. As a result, she rarely sees her father and brother, and sometimes wonders if there was a better vocation she could have taken.

Sample:
The beast lowered its head, bigger than her entire body, and delicately enveloped her hand in its lips. Lim Vao knew the fistful sugar must seem like very little to a creature so large, but they seemed to like it anyway, as evidenced by the low sound that rumbled from its throat.

Something struck her in the middle of the back, and she staggered forward, nearly into the great beast's leg.

"I already gave you yours," she said, turning and planting her hands on her hips.

The calf was born twice her height and would only grow from there, until it towered above them like its mother. It bent its head to nose at her more gently this time, and she stroked its soft fur, murmuring nonsense as it whuffled at her.

"Lim."

"Yes?"

"Mahn is gathering the last supplies. Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes." She had packed the night before and cleaned her rooms in preparation for the long months of emptiness. "Fal and I teamed up."

Her mother smiled. "That was probably wise."

Lim gave the calf a final pat and joined her mother, who turned to walk back toward the compound.

"I can help Mahn, if she needs it." She tossed her braid over her shoulder.

"I don't think so. We should put our belongings where she can find them, though."

"They're in front of my door."

Her mother nodded, reaching out to tuck her arm around her shoulders. "So responsible."

Lim made a face. Fal was a year or two older than her and hated moving preparations. "Teaming up" had mostly involved Lim nagging her until she filled her satchel and put away her winter things.

"Do we know when we're moving?"

"It could be as early as today. The tall one has been restless."

The tall one led the herd on its travels, though it was getting older and had been challenged once or twice by younger males. Lim was glad enough it was still leading, though -- it was gentler than the other males and had a great understanding of the mountain trails they would be walking.

"Will father and Ran be seeing us off?"

Her mother's smile saddened. "They may be working, Lim. But they will try."

"Oh." She made a face and quickly smoothed it away, and her mother leaned over to kiss her temple.

"We'll see them again," she said. Even if "again" was in six months, when the herds returned.