Hello again. So, a couple of interesting things happened today.

First of all Julius is back! Poor little buddy stumbled back into the House of Dancing Wings just as the sun was setting. He was exhausted and filthy. Looked like he had been bathing in ash and dirt. He was also skinnier than I remember. Judging from how he scarfed down the fresh veggies I got for him he must have been starving.

I introduced Julius and Onica. She was kind of distracted though. See, Onica and Esmeralda had met earlier today. It didn't go well.

I wasn't there but according to eyewitness reports, Lena, as soon as they saw each other sparks started to fly. Words like 'mangy cat' and 'little bug' got throw around. Then fists got thrown. Then knives. Ugh, Lena managed to pull a repeat of the other day with the ice prisons, but I doubt the two fiery women will cool off.

So when I introduced Julius to Onica she was mixing poisons and sharpening her brand new knives. She seemed interested in Julius and she was polite, but when a lady is mixing a poison that causes you to go temporarily insane; and sharpening a stiletto with extreme focus. Well, conversation is strained and dies quickly.

Lena was super happy to see Julius. She captured him and took him off with her to bed. Lena went back to the Black Market today. Her friends let her in and she came back with more gems and a wicked looking dirk she wears on her hip like a little sword. She gushed about her friends and the games they played. I think she robbed a merchant caravan. She had fun though so its okay.

As for me, after I introduced Onica to Tara she wanted to have a chat with me. Tara, not Onica. We settled in a small room with comfy chairs and a table for tea.

She sat in her seat, being all serious and boring. "Thank you for agreeing to see me mister... we really need to give you a name." Taras brow furrowed and she tapped at her chin with her finger. Getting distracted so easily from her serious discussion atmosphere. Is that alright?

"I guess. Being called mister is kind of awkward." I said with a shrug. I guess I could use a name. I could have given myself one. But a name is how others call you. So I think others should give it to me. It was decided we would ask for ideas from the ladies here and my companions.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

After we finished getting sidetracked by somehing as silly as my name Tara got all serious again. Now that I know its just a thin cover over her usual breezy blissful attitude I was much more relaxed.

She began again "Okay, so. I am the spymaster of the ruler of Papil. Just thought I'd get that out there first." She stopped and looked at me intently.

Why? Was I supposed to have a response? "Ok. What is a spymaster?" Seriously. I don't know things. I thought that had been established. Tara visibly deflated after my response. She slumped and her forehead met the tea table in between us with a smack that made me flinch.

"Uuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhh, You know I have been super stressed about how to tell you this, right? Cause you're a super crazy strong fire monster who could burn this whole city down in an afternoon, right? And I didn't want to alarm or piss you off so I have been walking on eggshells for days. You get it right? Its ok for me to be depressed about overthinking it right?" She droned out into the smooth wood.

"Um, yeah. It is ok. Sorry I scared you?" I offered hoping to stop her from slamming her head on anymore tables. I was getting a sympathy headache from the last one.

Tara lifted her head just enough to make eye contact. "You are forgiven. What happened to your eyes by the way? Or wait, were they always purple? And glowing? I feel like I would have remembered that? And where did you get a Ferox Champion? There are only twelve in the world and they never leave their tribe. AND WHAT IS WITH YOU, LENA, AND JULIUS!!! You are all crazy monsters disguised as a man, child, and fluffy animal right? Why are you all together? What is your goal? What will send you into a frenzy of destruction? How can I save my city from you? You do know that something has been destroying nearby cities right? Why does all this crap happen now! I was almost retired! It is okay if I am depressed right? Three years from retirement and suddenly there are monsters everywhere. It was bad enough when it was just that old lady in the hills. She was reasonable, mostly, but you three? An amnesiac who refuses to learn social norms, a child who has a more devious mind than most bandit 'kings', and a freaking rabbit who can turn everything I love and worked for into ashes. Uuuuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhhh!!" I think Tara just blurted all her fears into my ears. Then she started to cry.

I don't know what to do with a crying woman. If it is Lena I would pick her up and cradle her to my chest while telling her its all going to be alright. This feels different but I went with it anyway. Tara froze in shock when I picked her up but she started crying into my shirt when I told her it would all be ok. This went on for a long time.

Once she was done she looked up at me with a tremulous smile. "Thanks, I needed that." She said before stretching her neck and touching my lips with hers.

The world exploded, I think? Anyway, someone must have put it all back together because it is still there. The rest of the day is a blur to me until Julius showed up.

I really liked that.

Goodnight.