The week passed by slowly. Hot and humid mornings were a sore prize for making it through the cold and rainy nights. Crusts of earth would crack hardscapes through the day, offering no hint of the stinking mud that had greedily tried to suck their boots away hours earlier. The blazing sun stung their flesh and blistering wind stole away what little moisture remained in their chapped skin.

They trudged along at a steady pace, taking frequent short breaks as needed. For all the frustration Tenya had shown outside of Meru, she seemed to move at the group's pace. She had chosen to stay away from the others. While Busara and Nuru showed no signs of annoyance at being ignored, Amethyst was a little frustrated. Wa Chini would walk over to her frequently and simply talk at her. Amethyst didn't bother offering to translate. Neither of them seemed interested anyway.

Busara had taken over the responsibility of caring for the mules. He was grateful for the gesture and agreed with Amethyst that Tenya was lashing out at the loss of Sven and the anxiety of Ebba still missing. He had resolved to be more patient with her, which he found much easier than anticipated since she was so distant from them, both physically and emotionally. He had confided this and many other things to Amethyst and Nuru as they journeyed the closest to each other.

Nuru mirrored Busara's feelings and was content to remain behind while Tenya remained in front. Her heart ached for the mother who had lost her child, and was searching for another, but she too was frustrated with the attitude Tenya had shown before. Nuru remained in-between wanting to speak with and comfort Tenya, while also wanting to give her the space she needed to grieve.

Wa Chini had no misgivings whatsoever. He either didn't hear the group's complaints or didn't care. Regardless, he never interacted with the comments that Busara and Nuru had made about her. Instead when he heard them, he would trot up to her, and just start talking. Amethyst heard a little of what he would say. Most of the time it was his mere observations, other times he would tell her stories.

Amethyst made the effort to get Tenya to talk as often as her patience would allow her to. Tenya would give short or one word answers, if she would speak at all. Their conversations, if you could call them that, were entirely superficial. Amethyst didn't have any personal stories to share, none that she thought anyone would want to hear anyway. So, instead, she just commented on the relatable things they had experienced together. This normally garnered a "yep" or "ah, same." Sometimes, Tenya would grace Amethyst with "how interesting".

Amethyst refused to give up. She chose to take the little interactions she could. After all, no one really wanted to be alone, right? It didn't matter though, Amethyst would still be there, even if it was just in silence. How else could she pay back the woman who freed her and gave her new purpose? That's what she wanted it to be, but there was something more. Something about Tenya that called to Amethyst.

Amethyst admired her-- a mother who traveled the world to find her children was like an epic tale of a hero off to save the world. Amethyst had always hoped to be saved by her mother, so to see Tenya chasing so aggressively inspired trust and confidence and quite a few butterflies. She found herself staring at Tenya frequently while pitching camp. This was made awkward when she realized that Tenya was watching Amethyst stare at her. Tenya must have thought Amethyst was a creep, or maybe she thought Amethyst was plotting her demise. Amethyst invented all kinds of wild stories, some fantastical and weird, others were more ordinary. None of them came to reality here though.

§

Nabi was not just another village, it was a major crossroads and cultural trading hub. To the south were mostly empty lands except Meru and the occasional traveler from Stone Town. The west hosted many cultures and civilizations separated by warring tribes and hostile wilderness too distant to think about here. The sea lay to the east where more warring tribes blocked the path. The road to Ashara wound northward. The lands north were still fraught with danger. Warring tribes were just as prominent and the roads were poorly maintained. However, Asharan merchants often traveled the roads to Nabi searching for tribal goods to sell at massively inflated prices to the rest of the world. The warring tribes from this point north were less likely to attack or rob travelers in fear of retaliation from the Serpent Guard, Ashara's elite protectors.

Nabi was hundreds of miles from Ashara's official border, but they still claimed the road and its surrounding territories as their own. This made Nabi a profitable frontier town and was, for all intents and purposes, an Asharan territory, even if it wasn't officially recognized as such. The local warring tribes found this frustrating, but also considered it a way for them to gather together to forget their differences-- even if it was just temporary. No one questioned travelers and passersby so no one noticed when a few humans, a hornless Anesdari and one of the cheetah-cat men came strolling through one afternoon.

"The Mules and the resources to feed them properly along with all of you have depleted my coin." Tenya was matter of fact, her tone wasn't accusatory. "We can take a few days to resupply and make some money here, then we are off again."

"Busara says he will go find some masonry work around town, Nuru says she will go seek out the sick. Hopefully some of them can give donations. Wa Chini will keep watch at the camp and do hunting when possible." Amethyst didn't have very many skills, but she had a few things she could do. Her mother would entertain in camp as a dancer, now that she has been eating better over the last few weeks, her skin was darker and her figure healthier. There were surely places around her for those kinds of services. Her grandfather acted as a Sin-eater, but she doubted her Hypirian rituals would fetch a price in a land unfamiliar with them. Someone could be in need of a translator, but it was unlikely, so she would need to take the entertainment route it seemed.

"You need to come with me." Tenya's voice was monotone as she continued. "I knew the merchants of Stone Town spoke my tongue, I am wholly unfamiliar here, so you will need to act as my voice." Tenya looked expectantly at Amethyst. Her arms were folded and her right leg stuck out a little as she leaned against a sturdy wall.

Amethyst didn't hear a question in Tenya's statement. She wondered for a moment if she had the power to refuse, but why would she? Sure, she wanted to make some money and be useful, but Tenya essentially gave her an order. She would obey, whether Tenya was her master or not. She was happy to just be around her. Amethyst nodded her head quickly.

"Good, let's see what we can do." Tenya pushed off of the wall and started passing through the crowded market. Amethyst watched the sway of her hips for a moment before jogging up to her side.

"What are we looking for, Tenya?" Amethyst's voice was tinged with curiosity as she walked in step, her tail whipping mindlessly up and down. She looked over to Tenya, her eyes wide and bright. Tenya walked in silence for a few moments. Amethyst thought maybe she hadn't heard, so repeated her question again.

Tenya shrugged. "I'll know it when I see it."

"Okay... uh... should I point anything out to you?" Amethyst asked hesitantly.

Tenya seemed to be distracted as she rubbed her scarf covered arm. Amethyst considered asking again, but decided Tenya likely wouldn't give her a real answer anyway. So she decided to start looking around, there was so much to see. Traders shouting out, calling for people to try their wares and buy from them. There were merchants stepping up, offering samples, trying to put merchandise in her hands. "So cheap!" they exclaimed, but moved on quickly as the next possible buyer entered the merchants territory.

The evening rains drove the markets to close quickly as everyone tried to get in their last minute flash sales that were "heavily discounted" or so they said. Tenya and Amethyst made their way back up to their camp. The group shared their meager earnings for the day. It wasn't much, but would keep them going for a bit. They would need to try again tomorrow.

Nearly two hours or so after noon the next day, Amethyst saw what looked like massive brown and gold snakes with arms slithering around the market. Their heads and chests remained perked high about six feet off the ground, the remainder of their bodies which must have been about seven or eight feet long bent in what she felt was an awkward and even creepy way under them. She wondered how they could move around like that. It seemed so impossible to her she couldn't help but stare.

One noticed and slithered over to her holding a paper in one hand and a spear in the other. "Have you sssseen thissss man?" It took her a moment to realize what the scratchy voice had said. The serpent held the paper up to Amethyst's face. The face of a young man was sketched in great detail before her.

"I have not seen him." She stammered quickly.

"One thousssand alive, half if dead." The serpents traveled around the market quickly. This one shifted the paper to Tenya, who stared at it closely. She shook her head no and the serpent moved on silently.

"What was that?" Tenya asked.

Amethyst shrugged, "One thousand alive and half dead--" Tenya turned and jogged towards the serpent that had asked them. It showed her the poster again and she studied it closely, then went back to Amethyst.

She had a shadow of a smile on her face, "Let's go find him!" She proclaimed.

"Do you know what he did?" she called after.

"Who cares?" Tenya said, pulling hoods off of random people as she searched for her new prey.

"I do." Amethyst whispered before following after.

Amethyst followed Tenya as she went around the market, double and triple checking everybody she passed. Amethyst was worried about Tenya's enthusiasm about going after this man she knew nothing about. The serpent didn't even say what he had done, and when she tried to ask later the response they gave was just the reward. So when Amethyst saw the man, she considered ignoring him, did they really need the money? But she thought about Ebba, she didn't want her to live the life of a slave. Amethyst pointed him out to Tenya.

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"Good catch!" Tenya said with a genuine smile. Amethyst's cheeks felt hot when she heard the compliment. Tenya's nose crinkled and she touched Amethyst's face before chasing after the man. Amethyst had forgotten about him while lost in Tenya's gleeful face. "Come on!" Tenya called, waving Amethyst over.

They followed the man as he crept from wall to wall. Tenya prowled slowly behind, stealthily gaining on the unaware man. He was peaking patiently around each corner before moving on. He stopped suddenly and slid down the wall he had chosen for cover. He dropped a small pouch that jingled as it struck the ground. A moment later three of those serpents came slithering past him.

Tenya took this opportunity to pounce. "Don't move." She said calmly, pressing her ornate knife to his throat.

"That's all the money I have!" He replied shakily, "You can take it!" His hands were high over his head. The sweat which dripped from his chin mixed with tears as he started to beg incoherently.

"Wait, Tenya!" Amethyst pleaded "He is not a bad guy, look at him!"

"Maybe it's an act." Tenya hissed.

"Let me talk to him." The words hung in the air.

Tenya's face twisted in frustration. "Your heart is too big." Tenya backed away from the man who started to cry in relief. She slid down the wall opposite of him, knife firmly in hand as she stared him down.

"What's your name?" Amethyst asked, kindly.

"Hofu." He sniffled.

"Hello Hofu, I am Amethyst." She smiled "That's Tenya-- I mean, Tennessee. Why are you on the run?"

"I ran away from home, My father has some power over the Serpent Guard." He stammered as he wiped the snot from his face and dried his tears. "But I can't go back, what he asks is unfair."

"Why would he want you dead?" She tilted her head.

"Dead!?" His eyes darted around in confusion as he shook his head. "He wouldn't!"

"One thousand alive, five hundred dead." She said as though delivering a terminal diagnosis. Hofu took the information that way as well. His head fell into his hands and he started crying again.

"What's he whining about?" Tenya spat.

"Tenya, who issued the reward on the paper?"

"Uh... Umboomboo? Maybe it was Ungombo?" She said hesitantly.

"Uongo..." He said quietly.

"That's the one!" Tenya snapped her fingers at his mention of the name "Uongo. It was written in like four different languages." She pointed to her head. "Gotta get the juices flowing," she said with a little giggle.

Amethyst stared at her for a moment. She just couldn't keep up, Tenya was nice some days and a bitch other days. She would be snappy and hostile randomly, and giggly in others. Amethyst didn't think she was crazy, but she was certainly not normal either. She turned to Hofu. "Is that your father?"

"My uncle. But it doesn't make any sense, he is the one who encouraged me to run away." He looked up into Amethyst's eyes.

She studied his features. He was young, maybe in his late teens or just twenty. His face was glistening and dripping while he pulled himself into a ball. His eyes were a deep midnight and the tears made it look like stars were twinkling. His lips trembled as he muttered incoherently.

Amethyst scratched at her itching ears as she listened to him. "Tenya, he is but a boy, and his uncle is the one who told him to leave."

"What the hell? Why would he put a bounty on him then? He is probably a liar."

Amethyst had no interest in responding to that so she turned back to Hofu. "Where are you going and why?"

Hofu blew his nose into his sleeve before answering. "Stonetown, my--"

"Do not go there!" Amethyst commanded. He flinched away from her and she could see his fear. She hardly believed she snapped at him like that, but who in their right mind would go there? She composed herself before speaking, "Why there?"

"Uncle said it's a place of freedom and opportunity..."

"From my own experience, I promise that's not the case." Amethyst locked eyes with Hofu before continuing, "It is where freedom dies, and slaves are born."

"Why would he lie?"

"I don't know, but we are getting as far away as we can go."

"Are we done yet?" Tenya asked impatiently. "We have a payday to collect."

"Hold on." Amethyst said to Hofu before turning to Tenya. "This is a boy!" She exclaimed. "We are not going to collect a payday on him." She looked angrily at Tenya. "I understand you want some money, but it's not worth a good boy's life."

"Bullshit, you don't know this kid. He could be a con artist."

"Could? Will you stake his life on maybe?"

Tenya sat quietly chewing over those words. Her face tightened in frustration again "Fuck it. Fine, so what are you gonna do with the kid, huh?"

Amethyst shook her head and sighed. "I'll figure it out, but I am not going to turn him in." She turned to Hofu. "Tenya won't turn you in. You really shouldn't go to Stonetown." She stood as if to leave.

Hofu grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"

"Land of the pyramids in Western Ashara."

"I... I need to go back and find out why... or.." He smacked his cheeks hard and took in a deep breath. "I need to see if this is true." He stood up, in response Tenya stood also. "Let me go with you. If it’s coin you need, I can give you much more than a thousand coins once we get there."

"We don't have enough coin for ourselves I'm afraid, let alone you."

"There is five hundred, it’s all I have now, consider it a down payment and if you help me back I'll pay you more."

Amethyst looked to Tenya, "He will give us five hundred to take him back to Ashara now and more once we arrive." Tenya looked on for a moment then folded her arms and nodded.

"We will help you then, since we happen to be going that way as it is."

"Thank you. When can we leave?"

"I'll talk to my group. Meet us at our camp on the northern road about one mile or so past the market."

"Agápi and I will be there!" He said, excitedly.

"Agápi?"

"She is my love, and the reason I had to escape my father's will. I'll tell you more tonight." He threw his hood up and looked around diligently before sneaking off.

"Where is he going?" Tenya inquired.

"Off to get Agápi, his love, and they will meet us at camp tonight."

Tenya's tone was dismissive. "Interesting. We will see." She hastily walked in the opposite direction of Hofu.

"He will be there. You should have more trust."

"Trust?!" She turned and yelled. "How the hell can you consider trusting anyone?! You were a slave, you know you can't trust people."

"I trust you..."

Tenya's face softened for a moment before hardening again. "Well you shouldn't."

Amethyst and Tenya walked back to their camp in a stressful silence. Wa Chini was processing the hides of small game animals he had caught. Nuru had returned briefly before heading out to pray to the ancestors, and Busara hadn't returned yet. Tenya dropped to the ground away from where the others would be. She focused on her knife, viewing it at every conceivable angle. Amethyst sat next to Wa Chini.

"How are you, my friend? Looks like a fair haul." Amethyst watched Wa Chini as he prepared meat for the night's dinner.

"Good and good indeed," he chirped. His smile was wide as he looked at Amethyst, but dropped slightly when he saw the mood Tenya was in. "Another hard day? Don't worry we will have better luck soon, my whiskers can feel it."

"Your whiskers?" Amethyst laughed. "Maybe good luck is coming, we will talk about it once everyone gets back."

Amethyst stretched as she rose, then went to settle onto the clear patch of earth that Wa Chini had put all of her traveling gear the day prior. She took inventory of what she had as she waited. Tenya continued staring at the knife as though she were trying to change its shape with her gaze.

After a short time, Nuru returned from her prayer. She told Amethyst and Wa Chini about all the people she had helped earlier that day, and how generous they were with their donations. Though the meager amount wouldn't sustain the group for more than two days, it was two more days than they had before.

Busara hobbled up to the camp as the sun was setting. The deep glow on the eastern horizon boasted the departure of the light vibrantly. Around the small fire, Amethyst recounted her day's events. The rest of the group didn't quite know what to make of it. They often looked towards Tenya as she recounted the eagerness to capture Hofu. They understood her desire, but thought her much too eager to turn in someone she had no information about-- except for Wa Chini, who had chosen instead to sit next to Tenya as the story was told.

Not long after Amethyst had finished the tale, Hofu approached, a shy Agápi trailing slightly behind him. It wasn't easy for Amethyst to make out her features with the fire light dancing across them. She could tell that Agápi's skin was a bit lighter than Hofu's. She had long black hair, longer than Amethyst has seen anyone wear. It easily surpassed her knees, and she wasn't nearly as short as Amethyst.

What stood out to Amethyst the most were Agápi's ears. They were situated near the top of her head and resembled a cat's ears. Though the light didn't help to define her features, if she were half as pretty tomorrow as she seemed today, Amethyst was sure she'd have to be an angel stolen from heaven.

"This is Agápi." Hofu said hesitantly.

"I am Amethyst." She stretched her hand out to the girl hiding behind Hofu.

Agápi averted her eyes from Amethyst "It is good to meet you my lady." Her voice was dainty and soft, but she was well enunciated, so Amethyst had no trouble hearing her with the hushed tone she spoke with.

"No need for formalities." Amethyst twisted her outstretched hand to show the mutilated brand that marked her a runaway. "There are no masters here."

Agápi's ears which had been drawn back slightly perked up and she immediately came out of hiding. She stepped closer to Amethyst, her eyes blazing with curiosity as she took Amethyst's hand. "Why would a beautiful elf such as you be branded?"

Amethyst's breath caught in her throat as she heard the words. They dashed around in her mind for a moment. She had never been called beautiful before. "You mistake me," a nervous laugh escaped her before continuing, "I am Anesdari, my horns were cut away just before my branding."

Agápi pulled Amethyst's hand to her lips and kissed the brand gently, then nestled the hand to her forehead. Amethyst stood uncomfortably for the display. "I understand, I once made a serious error myself, and they peeled the bottoms of my feet away."

She said it so casually Amethyst had half thought she made a bad joke, but the glimmer in Agápi's eyes told her that she was serious. "I hope I don't have to kiss your feet now." They both giggled together.

"Not at all, I shouldn't have assumed your traditions were like mine." Agápi said, her smile fading slightly. Amethyst imagined the pain she must have felt, and how it mirrored the pain she had felt when her horns were ground to her skull. She shook the memory away and looked down at her hand, which had grown clammy in the time Agápi was holding it. Agápi realized too at that moment how long she was holding Amethyst's hand. She quickly dropped it and both girls giggled again.

The rest of the evening was spent with pleasantries, each talking about the things they liked and disliked, and attempting to find common ground in the relatable stories they told. Hofu was quiet through most of it, but would pitch in to correct or support Agápi's comments and stories. Tenya remained towards the far end of the camp away from the fire, and didn't care to converse with anyone.

Amethyst had felt a little relief at her desire to remain away. Not because she wanted to exclude her, or had any issue translating, but because it would mean she would walk with Tenya tomorrow and recount the evening to her. Amethyst blushed at the thought, a whole day to walk and talk with her. She already felt nervous to be around her again. They hadn't done much talking, and although she had been brisk earlier, she knew Tenya was just in a hurry to find her child. That wasn't something crazy. Any mother would be distraught, and she was worlds away from home and had no way of understanding anyone around her. She must have felt so alone on top of the grieving. That thought made Amethyst shudder, the fear she must have felt was covered in anger. So, Amethyst decided to once again remain understanding, and allow her to hide behind a wall of rage.

Later as Amethyst lay in bed, she thought about Tenya. She wondered just how far Tenya could go if pushed into a corner and that scared her... at first. Then, as the idea took root, her imagination bloomed into tangling vines of scenarios in which Amethyst found herself in trouble, and Tenya would be like her white knight coming to save her. Her thoughts withered away as she slipped into sleep.**