Ponáei's courtyard was mostly secluded save for a few passers by on the street. The gates were open wide and Amethyst could see an assortment of slaves, Serpent Guards, along with all sorts of travelers. They peeked into the courtyard on occasion. But were not interested in the dried and decaying fountains and dead garden beds mostly covered in sand. But they were more likely to stare whenever Amethyst and Tenya were training.

The sandy ground was uneven and full of stones and rocks from years of neglect. The girls had spent half a morning clearing a circular clearing near the battered well the house shared. The clear ground reflected the raging sun back up, cooking them from all sides. Practice would normally end when the sun rose to its zenith. Each passing day still grew hotter than the day before. After the months of traveling through the scorching heat, there was no reprieve in sight, at least not while the sun swam slowly through the blue sky above.

The cold nights on the other hand were like icy glaciers of wind that melted away with the rising inferno on the western horizon. Any rest found from day's slumber would be short lived. Small fires would dot the courtyard for a while, but the chill would soon steal all the warmth they had. But it wasn't just the courtyard, Venders opened for all those going home, and until the chill set in they were hard at work peddling.

Like the rising and setting of the moon, those fickle profiteers would disappear without any announcement leaving the city in a subtle drone, which fell asleep shortly after. The silence of the Qahirah's night brought another kind cold snap which left one feeling alone and hollow. The people passing through the night were abundant in the streets, but their eyes were distant shimmers, hunting in the darkness.

Those frosty evenings set loose vampires of a kind, who had slunk away for darker harbors when all else fell quiet. They were snakes with silver tongues and a glittery appeal which strangers would find alluring. They, being the outcasts of society, mostly composed of humans and what the locals called Half-breeds and had their own law, not so different from the rough justice that the snakes of the Serpent Guard so lovingly refer to as "peace keeping".

Amethyst and Tenya had wanted to at least get some air, but whether in the day or the night, they as outsiders, would find no friends here, even Ponáei had reservations. Aside from her blatant aggression to Tenya, she tended to stay clear of all of Hofu's guests. Amethyst could tell Ponáei only tolerated their presence.

§

As the night was slowly suffocated with the light Amethyst and Tenya took once more to the courtyard to work themselves into exhaustion. The morning passed quickly as the long dragging afternoon sunk its fangs into them once more.

The inside of Amethyst's mouth was dry and somewhat sticky. Gritty sand had built up over the last few hours anywhere it could. She had nice smooth skin in some places and rashes along with minor abrasions where sand rubbed the flesh apart. Her thighs and nostrils were the primary targets of the sands assault. Now that she had been eating properly Amethyst had noticed her figure growing, and so too was her strength. She couldn't recall a time in her life that she had felt so good, while simultaneously feeling the anguish of sand tearing at her sunburns.

To Amethyst, the last couple of days had been going well with Tenya, she had been attentive of the behavior and attitude she exhibited, or at least she was being kinder and taking more time to respond instead of just blurting out the first thing that came to mind. Neither had brought up Amethyst crying the other day which is just how Amethyst wanted it to stay.

"That was a hell of a hit." Tenya said as she spat a muddy concoction of sand and less desirable body fluids.

"Thanks," Amethyst said with a smile heaving with exertion. She also tried to spit, but was unable to produce any moisture. She had also stopped sweating and felt a headache coming on. "Water?" She said breathlessly.

"For the best, I'm dryer than the sand after that pounding." Tenya chuckled, stretching her arms as she stumbled a little forward.

"Phrasing!" Amethyst giggled. She twisted the handle to the well. The rope groaned as the few remaining threads hauled the bucket slowly up as Tenya wandered close by Amethyst. "It's super convenient having water right in the middle of the house huh?"

"Oh, yeah. It's like being home I guess." Tenya grabbed the bucket as it peaked above the ledge of the stone wall protecting the well. She dipped a wooden ladle in and slurped it down quickly. She took a second ladle and poured it onto a cloth she used to cover her mane of hair, which had lost much of its curl and sheen since Stone town. Tenya ladled a third scoop, then offered it to Amethyst, who took it, giving a little nod and a smile.

"I'm ready to keep going when you are." Amethyst said jokingly as she looked over to Tenya who was looking at her with a fair smile. The smile was a new feature Amethyst was excited to see. That and, of course, Tenya trained with few clothes. The glistening of her oily body had Amethyst losing focus frequently. Today's victory was like a turning point. Amethyst watched with her own smile, feeling happier than she ever had been.

"One more deep drink!" Tenya put the bucket to her lips and started to raise it above her.

Amethyst watched the clench of her throat and the trickle of water roll down her chest before Tenya dumped the rest of the bucket over herself.

Tenya, drenched, looked at Amethyst with a wide smile. "Fuck, that's good! I'll pull one up for you too!"

Amethyst replayed the fierce look Tenya had when they marched to Katili. She saw only half the fire. Here, she saw Tenya brighter than the sun itself, and hotter than any brand she had received. Without considering her words, Amethyst blurted, "You have a beautiful smile."

Tenya looked like an accurate representation of a fire quenched by water. All the luster was gone and what remained was shock. Amethyst could see the gears in Tenya's mind were churning. After a moment that went on too long, Tenya looked around. She then pushed the bucket into the well and hastily walked away.

"Wait, Tenya?" Amethyst watched her walk away. Tenya turned her head towards Amethyst as she walked away. Amethyst's tail whipped about before landing in its familiar hold. She twisted at it, then sat against the well wall.

The next day, the bright Tenya seemed dim, and the more aggressive reflection of Tenya stood in her place. "Hold your stance, the enemy isn't going to hold back!" Tenya called as she approached Amethyst.

The girls had been training their hand to hand combat-- or so that's what they were saying. Amethyst felt like today was an excuse for Tenya to take out rage on her.

Tenya's hands were raised in front of her face as she shuffled forward, Amethyst knew what she was going to do, but just because you know a horse will buck, can you stop it?

Amethyst found herself on the ground, again. She slammed down her fists in frustration, both with being knocked down, and for Tenyas' drastic shift. She was surprised to see a hand reaching out. It wasn't Tenya's hand offering assistance, but Busara's. Amethyst looked over to Tenya who was walking away, then gripped tightly to Busara's hand as he hauled her up.

"You should dodge more." Busara joked. His wide smile and relaxed body were a welcome relief to Amethyst. "You would find yourself on the ground much less frequently."

She let out a deep held anxiety, her shoulders dropped, and the slight ache of decompression rose in the small of her back as the exhaustion forced her back to the ground.

"That was a lot of tension, you were just holding Amethyst. You would make more progress if you were not the punching bag." Busara's smile thinned into one of concern as he handed her a ladle of water.

Amethyst took it gently, as she shakily raised it to her lips. She let her head fall into her hands as she let out a long groan before falling back into the sand, the sun blinding her even with her eyes shut. "She is right, no one would hold back against me if the fight was real." She turned her face towards Busara, and covered her eyes with her arm.

"Practice is not meant to be a place you are beaten into submission, it is where you learn." The concern in his voice radiated through Amethyst's mind.

She considered his words. Nothing came to her tired mind, She looked at him and saw no room for argument in his woody eyes, still she attempted a response. "Sure, but--"

Busara closed his eyes and lifted his hand palm forward. Amethyst glanced away and clenched her jaw. "I know that in a battle for life, the rules are different... Let me teach you how to hold your stance, so that when next she attempts to push you over, she will be dusty on the ground."

His calm response brought an odd sense of peace. Amethyst nodded her head and stood resolutely, though still a bit shaky. Busara started with the very basics, to train her stance. Just talking at first, then he moved to practical demonstrations.

He had pushed her over a few times before she was able to hold herself more like the battered well, beaten, but not defeated. After a couple hours of pointers and stories of battles he had participated in, and the boys he had trained into the tribes version of men as well as his final battle against the giant. He conceded today's battle and had to rest. Slowly as he sunk to the ground, thick pops and crunching sounds erupted from too many achy bones.

"Ah, that was less pleasant than it once was." His smile returned faintly.

"You overdid it my friend." Amethyst started to raise the bucket out of the well once more. "I am grateful."

"Let me teach you the most important lesson I have learned in fighting so many."

"Of course." She ladled out water, then held it to Busaras lips to show her respect as her grandfather had expected.

He sipped slowly, then nodded his gratitude. "Sit first and listen while *you* drink," Busara waved his hand towards her. "If you are forced to fight, the best thing you can do is run away, hide-- avoid the fight at all costs if you can."

"Odd technique. to win." She smirked.

"Shh" Busara swatted at her with a smile. Amethyst looked to him as she sipped the water. "There are many who view honor in death and war. " Busara parted his robe a bit to show his hip, twisted and disfigured. "I believed my honor would be found in death and war, but Death chose to take the boys instead, and left me to ponder." He looked off as though seeing some far off battle.

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Amethyst remained silent as he relieved some distant memory.

He looked back to Amethyst. "Only fight if you must. There may be honor to some in death and battle, but there is also honor in surviving and living." He nodded at his words. "Yes there is much more good in living."

Amethyst's smile had faded as she considered his words. the weight behind them. His years of experience paying for an honor that never was rewarded. His battles defended some, but in the end, Those he wanted to defend ended up dead and missing.

"I agree with your words." Wa Chini chirped. He was sitting on the wall of the old well. His nose was slightly scrunched, as a soft look was etched on his face. "If you can escape, you should. Live to fight another day." Wa Chini cocked his head slightly, "I saw you were being bullied by Tenya earlier-- you should not let her do that."

Busara let out a hardy laugh, ending with a short coughing fit, while Amethyst responded.

"She was not bullying me. We were practicing our fighting."

"Like cubs who are learning to hunt!" Wa Chini said confidently. "I see. In such a case, you were playing too rough then."

Busara's cackle caused him to wheeze, then resume his coughing.

"What is so funny?" Wa Chini asked, his ears flattening sadly.

"Busara..." Amethyst started as Busara wiped tears from his eyes, "agrees with your assessment that she is being too rough." She sighed. "She *is* being too rough, but she is struggling, so it's understandable." Amethyst's face was soft as she started to consider Tenya.

"So let us train for real." Wa Chini suggested, his ears returning to their comfortable position. His tail, which had been still, swayed side to side, matching Amethyst's.

"Wa Chini, are you a fighter?" Busara's fit had ended, and he seemed invested in Wa Chini's story.

"Poachers seek our fur and the pelts of those in our lands, so we hunt them as they hunt their prey." Wa Chini had a smile, as though reminiscing on sweet memories. His teeth chattered slightly as he thought, his claws extended and retracted. "We tore through them frequently, at least once a month or so we were tracking poachers. They had weapons unlike any we had, but our claws and teeth were more than enough."

"We fought by shield and spear." Busara said proudly.

"So you could both train me so that I am useful?" Amethyst's question was genuine.

Wa Chini and Busara looked at each other, before Busara commented. "You are useful. But if you wish to fight I can teach you with a spear, and I have some knife practice as well."

"I can teach you how I hunt and catch my prey." Wa Chini squeaked.

"I need to retire today, but tomorrow I'll teach you of what I can." Busara grumbled as he struggled to stand. "Get good rest, I'll see you in the morning for practice and at dinner tonight." He patted her a couple times before limping slowly towards the house.

Amethyst watched after him, grateful for his knowledge, but saddened by the way life taught him. Her thoughts drifted as she watched Busara slowly enter the home, landing on the search for his son as well. He hadn't found anything about his son yet, but he was kind enough to take time from searching to help her too. She remembered Wa Chini and flinched as he was standing beside her.

"He is a good man!" Wa Chini proclaimed. "You are a good woman." His smile was small, difficult to see. She had watched him and his expressions enough to become familiar with the other language he spoke, one spoken with his body. the light flick of his tail and the forward ears. There were subtle signs in his face and stance that she had just started to learn.

"Thank you, Wa Chini. You are sweet." Amethyst smiled in comfortable silence as they both observed each other. "So," she broke the silence, "what do we learn?"

"You have done a good job at getting this, I shall help you learn to use a prey's momentum against them. This will help give you time to escape." Wa Chini, clasped his paws together and started rubbing them aggressively. "Okay, come now."

Amethyst followed Wa Chini and looked up to the second story balcony where she saw Tenya looking down at her. Tenya quickly turned away and disappeared into the veil of darkness hidden from the sun. Amethyst sighed in defeat, but her worry faded as Wa Chini started teaching. "When they are on the ground, you take the advantage to either run away, or strike until they cannot move."

"That's aggressive."

"You must be ruthless. If you are to fight, you are prepared to kill. Otherwise, you run."

"Do you run?"

"No, they run, I chase."

"Should I run then if they chase?"

"Humans and those very similar to humans rarely give chase unless they have the advantage in number. Even if more powerful, it is just too much effort for them." Wa Chini was making crushing motions with his paws as he spoke. "But I have always been the aggressor. If you are being chased, you must fight to kill."

"I don't really want to kill anyone." Amethyst said shyly.

"I hope you never have to." Wa Chini said in his normal chipper voice, It sounded wrong to hear something so dark from a voice as soft as his. "I will be there to help if ever needed."

"Thank you." Amethyst steeled herself and the two started training.

§

Amethyst was retreating to the last decorated room in all of the house. She passed by men and women of all sorts as they went about whatever secret mission they were assigned. She imagined each of them as spies, watching Uongo's every move. Their stoic visage made them look like moving statues.

As Amethyst made her way up the mosaic steps, she noted the many shades of blue and white that looked like water flowing freely down the parched steps. Many of which were pale and faded, some were missing. She turned left down the hall at the top of the cracked stairs, entering her own room of solace, where most of the others had no interest in going. A well decorated room in the style of Melydæsian royalty with a wide balcony overlooking the courtyard below. A golden statue of what Stochastís called a Minitour stood six feet tall, and was made of real gold apparently.

Stochastís had gone on in length about them, creatures of myth and legend he believed were poor people who had been corrupted by concentrated magic. The concept was interesting, but the delivery was long. Though Stochastís had a knack for good stories, his explanations were the best cure for insomnia.

"Oh gods." Amethyst groaned as she fell into a chase. She rubbed her ribs where Tenya had struck that morning. She could feel her whole body aching from the conditioning Busara and Wa Chini had her do; after Tenya bullied her. She poked at the bruises on her leg, each poke resulted in an "ow, ow, ow."

"If it hurts, why poke?" Stochastís asked.

Amethyst felt a surge, letting out a gasp as she looked over to a pillar on the balcony. She could see Stochastís leaning there in the narrow path of shade. "Stochastís!" She exclaimed "You startled me!" She ended with a short laugh.

"Apologies," Stochastís said, though he looked to be entranced. "I was thinking."

"Thinking? About what?"

Stochastís sat staring at something in his hand. He stood, then walked over to Amethyst, never letting his sight leave whatever was clutched in his hand. "Have you ever had an apple?"

"I have had a few, why?"

"Look at this." Stochastís held up an apple.

"Okay?"

"How can you be sure?" Stochastís asked slowly, twisting it in his hands out of Amethyst's sight.

"I guess... because I have seen them before?" Amethyst had already been fighting through a confusing day. Stochastís was now pondering an apple as though it were the key to understanding why everything remained upon the earth's surface. "Is that not right?"

Stochastís looked to Amethyst. "looking is half the battle." He handed the apple to her.

She didn't know what he was getting at. "It's an apple, with your teeth marks in it." She raised the apple to Stochastís.

"No, No, No, look closer." Stochastís was staring at her intently.

Amethyst, looked down again and turned the apple in her hands, she looked it over as thoroughly as she could. "I don't get--" As she handed the apple back, her thumb grazed one of the marks left by the bite Stochastís started. She noticed the apple was dry, she looked at the spot and pressed her sharp thumb nail into the flesh of the apple. She felt shocked as she started to observe it again. Amethyst looked up to Stochastís, who had a big smile on his face. "It's a candle!"

"It's a wax apple!"

"You bit into a candle!" Amethyst laughed.

Stochastís laughed as well. The two of them looked over it some more, the wick stem, and the mixed wax which looked exactly like an apple. Even the weight of it was nearly perfect. Amethyst laughed for a bit with Stochastís.

"Quite the shock." Stochastís said.

"You are a scholar."

"I have been called worse." Stochastís smiled with a bow. "I am a thinker."

"What's the difference?"

"I am still thinking about it." Stochastís took the apple and made his way back to the table.

"You are not from Ashara, forgive my ignorance, but why are you here?"

Stochastís set the apple down into the bowl of identical apples, he walked back over to her and sat on the floor across from her. "Not to get too deep, I came to learn, nothing specific, just learn, then return home."

"You came, just because you could?"

"Well I have known Hofu for a long time, so I was wanting to visit, but... my... friend, she told me it would be good for me."

"Sounds like she was trying to get rid of you."

"She was and is trying to help me learn and grow."

"Were you two... never mind, that's too personal."

"We were not romantically involved, but that will change when I return." Stochastís had a forlorn look, he was a million miles away, back home, and Amethyst knew it from the tears welling in his eyes.

"I am happy you have family to go home too."

"As am I."

"Can I ask your advice on something?" Amethyst asked quietly.

Stochastís lit up, he smiled a little before forcing it away. Hints of it still remained anyway.

"There is someone I like, but they are a bit aggressive."

"Ah the boundaries again?"

Amethyst felt the heat rising to her cheeks. "Yeah, I told her she had a beautiful smile and she freaked out."

"Sounds like she has an issue with self confidence."

"Self confidence?"

"Absolutely, either that or she has been controlled and degraded for a part of her life and that's stuck with her."

"Isn't that the same thing?"

"Similar," Stochastís raised himself up and collected the apple once more, showing it off. "Like with the apple, they look the same."

"Okay?"

"If she has self confidence issues, She is likely to not believe she has a beautiful smile. But if she is being degraded, she may believe her smile is pretty, but isn't allowed to acknowledge it." Stochastís twisted the apple, "They look the same, but their core is quite different. Only way to know for sure is to bite."

"I wonder which she is."

"What did you mean by aggressive by the way?"

"She has been hitting hard during practice, she is hot and cold, and sometimes is nice and other times … not as much."

Stochastís tickled his chin as he looked up at the ceiling. "Ah--" He thought longer, remaining in a state of ponder. Amethyst watched uncomfortably as he sat like a statue.

"She is hurt, so it's not really her fault, I just need to know how best to help."

"Well you can't change someone, they need to change themselves."

"I know, but I'm not trying to change her, just be there and help her heal."

"Your kind heart will come back to hurt you, but I respect you sticking to your convictions." Stochastís had a wide smile as he gently shook his head.

"You don't get it though. Let's say, you see a cat... with a broken leg out on the street... wouldn't you help it?"

Stochastís pondered on the thought too. "I suppose I would, *If* the cat let me that is." He looked at Amethyst, who could tell his thought was incomplete. "The cat is unpredictable at best, it may let you approach, but in my experience an animal in pain tends to lash out."

"But it is hurt, Stochastís. It doesn't know any better."

"Precisely the point, because it doesn't know any better, it does not know you are there to help, *and* if it was hurt by a person, the cat may lash out at any people coming too close."

"Even so, I *can* help and so I will, or at least give it my best shot."

"I suppose there is no reason to not try, but don't let the... cat... bite you."

Amethyst smiled a little. "She might bite or scratch a little, but once the cat realizes I'm there to help, she will come around."

Stochastís's smile wavered for a moment before he exhaled a soft chuckle. "Well, the... cat... whether scared or not is still prone to bite, and if *the cat* doesn't want the help and bites you, you should let it go.. "

"Then the cat would be all alone."

"It's your choice to help the cat, but if it bites, the wound may become infected, and you may lose a part of yourself."

"If you happen to cross paths with one in need, and you can help, you should, there needs to be more people like that in the world." Amethyst lowered her head slightly, "I hear what you are saying, I won't let *The cat* bite me." Amethyst gave a little bow. "My liege."

"None of that now, people will get the wrong idea!" Stochastís looked around as if some unknown entity were watching.

Amethyst laughed, "I'll see you later my friend." Amethyst laughed as she left feeling more relaxed than when she entered, Stochastís was right, she needed to set some rules for and with Tennessee, so they could both move forward from their burdens.

"Don't let the cat bite you!" Stochastís called after her.

"I won't Stochastís." She said looking back at him. She smiled and waved exiting the room. "I won't let her bite any more!" She said quietly to herself.