Shakha had been sitting on that spot, just outside the house for a few days and saw nothing of note.

With every passing day, he waited for the thief to make their move.

Something else also troubled Shakha's mind as he sat in the heat of the day.

Khal.

He thought back to what she said.

What she wanted.

He hadn’t properly spoken to her since then and he was beginning to worry.

Even though he couldn’t say it.

Shakha sighed before standing up and making his way back into his hut where he found Khal laying on the bed.

He took a few deep breaths before walking up to her as she blankly stared at the ceiling.

“Follow me.” He instructed.

Khal complied.

She followed him out of the hut and into the Oasis.

The two then made their way deep into the Oasis where some of the water from the northern stream passed through.

A few Rendaro could be seen doing various things near the stream, but Shakha led Khal to a spring that was hidden behind several trees.

The spring had crisp clear water that came from somewhere deep underground.

Shakha took off his jacket and his loincloth before stepping into the spring, all while Khal stood and watched him, her head lowered.

“So, are you gonna ignore me forever?” Shakha asked as he undid the knot that held his long black hair up.

Khal remained silent as Shakha sunk into the spring.

He playfully floated around before facing her.

“What do you want me to say?” He asked.

“I… I just want to do something with my life- the life that you gave me. Would being a mother really be the worst thing I could choose?”

“Mmm… get in.” Shakha instructed.

Khal undressed before joining Shakha in the spring.

He floated toward her and undid the knot that held up her long hair.

Stolen story; please report.

“No matter what decision you choose to make, I’ll stand by you. However, motherhood is something that I think requires a lot of forethought.”

“Do you think the others ever had a choice?” Khal asked.

“Hey, that’s the way things are for our people. That’s how they’ve always been.” Shakha said, but Khal looked away.

“And yet you took us in.”

“I gave you all a choice. You didn’t have to stay with me.”

“But then you’d be all alone.”

“It's never just been about me. This is why it bothers me when Laïn calls me things like selfish or knucklehead. I think about things… sometimes.” Shakha said as he offered Khal his hands.

“Well, you know how she is,” Khal said with a faint smile as she floated into Shakha’s embrace.

“So, have truly thought about it? Because if you say yes, I’ll stop at nothing to make you happy.” Shakha said as he pressed his forehead on Khal’s.

“Mmm… I still want a child, but I’d like to ask for something else while we carefully consider everything.”

“Anything. Just say the word.”

“Can I be a part of your troop?”

Shakha’s eyes widened.

“I- why are you asking me this? I’m not an Arcus. I can’t lead a troop.” He said, but Khal simply wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Ah-ha, but we’re not technically part of the tribe anymore. We can do whatever we want.” Khal said teasingly.

Shakha’s eyes trembled.

“This is payback, isn’t it.” He said with narrowed eyes, but Khal simply floated away before washing her hair.

“What do you mean?” Khal giggled.

“Mmm… even if we start our own little troop, it’d just be the two of us. Not only that, if the Foph were ever to engage in a large scale conflict, we wouldn’t be allowed in any of the unified formations.”

“Ah… fortunately for me and your other future subordinates, you’ll have it all figured out by then,” Khal said with a faint smile.

“I…”

No. He thought.

If this was how she was going to deal with her feelings, then so be it.

“You place far too much faith in me. That being said, I am he who was once known as Skullcrusher, commanding a troop is nothing!” Shakha said with a weak laugh.

Khal nodded before leaving the spring.

She then sat on a patch of grass as the morning sun slowly dried her body.

“Do you think I’m not worthy of motherhood? That I wouldn’t be capable of raising a child.”

Shakha rolled his eyes before joining Khal on the grass.

Their bodies hidden behind a wall of trees.

“Listen, I can’t say whether or not you’ll be a good mother or not, but I think that you’re stressing yourself out way too much about all this. You’re young. The time will come when you birth a child-“

“Our child.”

“Yes. The time will come and I’ll be there to catch you if you stumble. Now stop sulking and prepare yourself for tonight.” Shakha said with a grin causing Shakha’s ears to perk up.

“Prepare for what?” She asked nervously.

“I’ve been watching the storage hut for a few days. I have a gut feeling that the thief is going to strike tonight.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because I’ve been watching every guard and taking note of all of their rotations. Tonight will be the final rotation and since there haven’t been any thefts yet, either the thief will strike tonight or they have become aware that they’re being watched.”

“OK, and where do I fit in all this?” Khal asked with raised, panicked brows.

“Don’t you remember? You said that you wanted to be the first member of my troop.” Shakha said with a grin as he stood up.

“I… I didn’t mean it. I was just trying to pressure you into-“

“Ah-ah. No excuses. Come on. Let’s head back.” Shakha instructed as he and Khal got dressed.

The two then made their way back home where they saw Laïn and Eshi lazing about.

“Hoh? Have you guys made up already?” Eshi asked as Shakha plopped onto the bed next to her.

“In a way, yes. Khal said she’d be joining my troop.”

“But you can’t have one,” Eshi said.

“According to who?” Shakha asked.

“According to Foph custom… which we are no longer bound by… oh.” Eshi droned.

“Exactly.” Shakha said as he rubbed Eshi’s short and curly hair.