Editing Nika Earhart

Nika Gwendolyn and her twin Nala Guinevere (don't ask, her mother was something of an oddity in her reading habits) were born on a large ranching spread on Boros, about three days' horseback ride from the main spaceport in the middle of one of the worst snowstorms that had ever whipped through the region. Their mother Fern barely survived the birth, and she was sickly for much of the girls' childhood. That left their father Jon, whose focus was on keeping the ranch solvent, to figure out how to teach two little girls all they needed to know to live on the rough prairie.

Nika Gwendolyn and her twin Nala Guinevere (don't ask, her mother was something of an oddity in her reading habits) were born on a large ranching spread on Boros, about three days' horseback ride from the main spaceport in the middle of one of the worst snowstorms that had ever whipped through the region. Their mother Fern barely survived the birth, and she was sickly for much of the girls' childhood. That left their father Jon, whose focus was on keeping the ranch solvent, to figure out how to teach two little girls all they needed to know to live on the rough prairie.

Nika and Nala are a classic case of opposite sides of a penny. While Nika excelled at and enjoyed the outdoor part of their life, Nala was happier with more 'ladylike' pursuits. Both girls were given a stellar education, including languages, music, social graces, and more. All the things well-brought-up young ladies of the Core should know. They were both also taught the business end of the ranch. Nala showed talent early on for the bookkeeping side of things, while Nika's talents lay in actually running the place. Jon spent a lot of time with the girls, though more with Nika because she tended to ride the herd with him, learning to shoot rifles, pistols, and even a bow and arrow with him. When the girls were ten, Fern passed away. Jon, feeling the girls needed a mother, remarried quickly -- a good friend of Fern's named Tanya. Tanya was a good stepmother -- no stereotypical issues here. She continued on in the vein that Fern had wanted for the girls, but she also encouraged them to pursue their own interests. To that end, Nika was finally given the opportunity to fly -- and she took to it like a bird takes wing, all instinct and grace. Jon, surprised by Nika's talent in this area, went ahead and let her take as many lessons as she could.

Nika and Nala are a classic case of opposite sides of a penny. While Nika excelled at and enjoyed the outdoor part of their life, Nala was happier with more 'ladylike' pursuits. Both girls were given a stellar education, including languages, music, social graces, and more. All the things well-brought-up young ladies of the Core should know. They were both also taught the business end of the ranch. Nala showed talent early on for the bookkeeping side of things, while Nika's talents lay in actually running the place. Jon spent a lot of time with the girls, though more with Nika because she tended to ride the herd with him, learning to shoot rifles, pistols, and even a bow and arrow with him. When the girls were ten, Fern passed away. Jon, feeling the girls needed a mother, remarried quickly -- a good friend of Fern's named Tanya. Tanya was a good stepmother -- no stereotypical issues here. She continued on in the vein that Fern had wanted for the girls, but she also encouraged them to pursue their own interests. To that end, Nika was finally given the opportunity to fly -- and she took to it like a bird takes wing, all instinct and grace. Jon, surprised by Nika's talent in this area, went ahead and let her take as many lessons as she could.