Nearly a month had passed since leaving Busara's village. Sticking to the road as they could, they remained outside of settlements as a group. Busara and Nuru would retrieve what supplies were needed, inquiring about the rumors of Hofu and his uncle, Uongo, who had by this time likely taken his brother's place.

Hofu was more afraid to go into towns as the presence of the Serpent Guard had increased steadily as they approached the Asharan border. He and Agápi made sure to keep well hidden as they traveled. Apparently, his face was well known throughout the land. His father was a vizier to the Pharaoh. His family had served for generations and held great sway and power over the daily lives of the people. As they grew closer, it would become more conceivable someone would recognize him.

Tenya had no interest in interacting since she didn't speak the languages the locals did, nor did she have any appreciation for their culture. She felt like an outsider-- that wasn't helped by the general refusal to deal with her. The people didn't appreciate her being there either, so she chose instead to just stay back.

Wa Chini would take this time to go out into the wild, hunting. His success was unpredictable. Sometimes he could come back with a large kill. Other times, he would have quite a few smaller creatures. He did return empty handed sometimes, but that wouldn't be until long after the sun had set. He became quieter as they got closer to his tribe. After Nuru and Busara, even his high hopes seemed to set.

Amethyst was trying her best to keep a brave face and remain optimistic. Frustrated with Tenya and feeling sorrowful for her friends' failed homecomings, even she felt her hopes waning. She ran herself ragged with chores and to-dos. When that was not possible she would engross herself in conversation with anyone who would talk to her. Most of this talk was surface level, but that didn't matter. She simply didn't want to be alone with her thoughts. Wa Chini was best for this, as he would mostly narrate what was around them to Tenya, allowing Amethyst to focus on that instead. Hofu and Agápi spent most of their time close to each other, but would on occasion interact with the rest of the group.

Tenya was still hot and cold. She would be cheerful and bubbly one moment and in the next, the sound of Amethyst's footsteps would be enough to overwhelm her. So, they did this little dance, Amethyst would find that day's line and step back before being bitten. Tenya did open up a little at least. She'd had three kids. Sven was the oldest: a smart, brave boy who would spend his nights telling stories or playing with his siblings. Ebba was her only daughter, and the middle child. She was a little devil in the best ways. Mischievous and outgoing, she had an attitude like her mother. The thought scared Amethyst, but she was still excited to meet her. Then there was Wilhelm, he was her husband's favorite child, and he didn't bother hiding that fact.

"It's probably because he looks so similar." Tenya had explained. "He is still a good boy, but I can find it difficult to be around him." She grabbed her arm tightly and ended the conversation after that.

Amethyst let her go. She had heard about Tenya's husband. She couldn't quite tell what type of person he was, but she had the feeling that Tenya wasn't overly excited to be with him. Tenya told her that it was arranged because of compatibility, but what had that actually meant? Sven was nearly thirteen when he passed, which would make Tenya rather young when having him. She wouldn't pressure Tenya into talking about it, that would only push her further away.

Tenya would ask Amethyst about herself sometimes. "What does that mean?" pointing at Amethyst's runaway brand. She seemed sad listening to the explanation, then grew mad as the story continued.

"Somehow the clasp came undone, and my horn gored him." Amethyst rubbed the remaining nubs of her horns. "He fell off of me and I dressed quickly and just... ran." Amethyst looked away in shame. "I was out for nine days, but I couldn't pass the walls, so I was trapped in the city. It was the water that did me in." She said with a half smile, thinking before continuing. "I got sick and they used the rune on my back to catch up to me. Then, they cut my horns away, and I spent the next couple years really paying for it. This tells everyone I ran, so don't do business with me alone."

"Just... Awful!" Tenya had bared her teeth, and squeezed her fists tight.

Amethyst's cheeks flushed, the anger felt on her behalf felt so... vindicating. Not to mention, Tenya looked... well, she looked authoritative and passionate.

"Did it hurt?" Tenya inquired, softly.

"Well... yes. Have you ever had a dog?" Amethyst asked, hesitantly.

"Yeah a few."

"It's like when cutting their nails."

Tenya had a confused look on her face.

"Have you not cut their nails before?" Amethyst questioned, genuinely.

"Well... I've never... I..." It was Tenya's turn to look away in shame.

"Wa Chini?" Amethyst called. Wa Chini was by her side mere moments later, his face inquisitive. "May I see your claws?" Wa Chini held his padded hand out. Amethyst pressed, and his claw unsheathed itself. "These are a little different, but the principle is the same." She showed Tenya the razor Wa Chini was born with. "See this coloring at the base, it's called the quick and it's like a nerve. Very sensitive, and in the same way I had something similar in my horns." Amethyst continued to hold Wa Chini's hand, which he slowly started to pull away.

"So, very painful." Tenya looked sad, but that hint of rage remained. Wa Chini was still lightly pulling as his face started to lower towards Amethyst's hand.

"Yes, there was blood and just the most terrible smell." Amethyst had absently begun petting Wa Chini's furry paw-like hand. "They made sure the clasp was firm." Wa Chini slowly opened his mouth and gently took Amethyst's wrist in his maw. "Use your words, not your teeth, Wa Chini."

"Paw." He said gently, his mouth unmoving. She let go, and he did too.

"Thank you, Wa Chini." Amethyst responded as he walked back towards the front of the group.

Amethyst and Tenya remained quiet as they walked for a while. Amethyst noticed in her peripherals that Tenya glanced at her several times. She looked at Tenya and smiled. "All good now, you want some jerky?" Amethyst offered a piece of meat to Tenya. Amethyst could see hesitation, as Tenya smiled in return and accepted the offer.

§

A few foundations remained. A mud chimney here and some outlines there. No structure was really left fully intact. Only a few dozen mounds of rocks all nearly equal in height, yet varying in length. Charging clouds swam above them, cutting through the watery sky, obstructing briefly the light's path towards the earth below-- a cool reprieve in the moments of shade. The dark veil of rain was slowly approaching. For the first time in weeks, moisture would fall again from the sky as they stood in the center of what was once Wa Chini's home.

The storm moved in slowly, offering the time needed, yet still pressuring the group to move. Though no one did. Wa Chini stood for a while looking around before visiting a few of the shadows that were once huts. He dusted where perhaps a doorway might have stood. He then made his way over towards a tree which was missing large sections of bark. Wa Chini grabbed the tree and dragged his paws up and down, gauging his claws aggressively along its rough trunk.

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"It's been abandoned." His voice remained high in pitch as though he were not sad, but simply stating a fact. "Most, if not all, have likely gone west."

Tenya grabbed onto Amethyst's elbow, indicating she wanted translation.

"We can go look." Tenya said, quickly. "If we can pick up a trail then we can search."

"That is not necessary, they have passed too far, and we won't be able to find them now." Wa Chini looked towards the west, the clear blue sky slowly being devoured by gray blankets that engulfed the earth in rain and wind.

They remained for a short while more before Wa Chini turned north and started marching onwards.

"We can at least rest." Tenya called after "Stay awhile if you need." Her words fell onto deaf ears. Amethyst watched as Tenya trotted up to him as he had for her many times and started to chatter at him.

"They did not simply leave, they went West as mine did." Busara said to Amethyst. He didn't try to keep his voice from breaking.

The final blow had been struck to the three weary travelers whose homes were now gone. They had been gone for a while, but the hope Nuru, Busara, and Wa Chini had to be free from their slavery was only half fulfilled. Now with nowhere to go, they embarked forward with Amethyst. She would be their family now, and Amethyst had no intention of ever leaving them alone.

The cave Wa Chini led them too was filled with paintings. They depicted animals, small cat-like forms and many landscapes, but along one wall were small paw prints. He explained they would come here when a new baby was born and their paws were recorded and made members of the tribe. The wall was packed full, nearly bursting. A shaman warned a few generations ago that when the wall was full, their tribe would come to see its last baby born.

Wa Chini lay at the back of the cave, Amethyst could see his shuttering form. She sat behind him and placed her hand on his arm. He grabbed her hand tightly and scooted back to be closer to her. They stayed there until he fell asleep.

§

"Let's go!" Wa Chini yelled.

"If my dad catches us, he is going to be mad," said Garba. His little black ears twitched and his bright, yellow eyes beamed.

"Don't be such a scaredy cat!" Ikheji purred. Her mane hung over her eyes, as she pulled Garba along.

"I mean it, my dad would be so mad!" Garba reaffirmed as he tried to pry Ikheji's paw away. His sleek black fur, though soft, was not slippery enough to deter the lioness Ikheji. She was, after all, the strongest cub in her village.

"It's this way. I'm telling you, it's the prettiest place ever!" Wa Chini said excitedly.

"How do you know about this place, anyway?" Garba asked again, a small tremor in his voice and his fur raised slightly.

"Daddy says it's a sacred place only meant for the closest of friends and family, where we can commune with those of the past." Wa Chini said with a smile.

"That's so cute!" Ikheji squeaked. "You want us to go there with you?" A large smile bore her enlarged teeth, as sharp as needles.

"My dad--"

"Doesn't like this blah blah blah, we know Garba" Ikheji laughed.

"Just don't tell him, he won't know if you don't tell him." Wa Chini chirped. His slender frame effortlessly slid between an open crack.

"How did you-- fit in here?!" Ikheji asked as she squeezed in giggling.

Garba looked around before following after. "It's pretty, um, dark in here" Garba said, his high-pitched voice cracked and became even higher when he was scared, which was often.

"Daddy used to come here when he was a kid." Wa Chini said, feeling his way through the narrow passage.

"Should have brought us here... *before* lunch Wachi." Ikheji grunted, wiggling between the tight rocks.

"What if the roof falls in and we get trapped forever?" Garba asked, shakily.

"We die!" Ikheji mocked.

"We won't die!" Wa Chini exclaimed. "We will be fine, I promise Garba, I'd never lie to you." Wa Chini had stopped to look towards Garba, his dark form nearly invisible except for the hints of gold in his eyes.

"Really, we will be okay." Ikheji reassured Garba.

"Okay." Garba said, slowly.

The three made their way through the narrow cave carefully. "Here! It's right here!" Wa Chini yelled.

"Are you sure?" Garba asked, his voice still shuddering. He didn't hear any answer, and didn't need to.

"Wow!" The three exclaimed in unison. Before them, a cavern deeper than a mountain was tall and stretched on and on. The walls were glowing and glimmering, and a large spire of crystal stood as the master in the center. The three sat on the ledge and looked down.

"Wa Chini!" yelled Wa Chini at the top of his lungs. Ikheji covered her ears as the name echoed and reverberated through the cavern.

"What are you screaming for?" Ikheji asked.

"Yea what the heck!" Garba asked looking at Ikheji for reassurance. She nodded in approval of his question.

"Daddy says it's a ritual, you yell your name as loud as you can." Wa Chini said with large gestures. "After we all say our names, the cavern echoes back. It binds us together, and we will always be friends and always find each other again!"

"Ikheji!" She roared. Her smile was wide as she looked between the two boys. Her voice echoed throughout the cavern before all went quiet.

"Seems silly, it's not a prank right?" Garba asked quietly.

"No, I wouldn't do that, you're my friend, and friends take care of each other." Wa Chini said.

Ikheji took Garba's hand. She smiled softly as she squeezed tightly.

"Garba." He said, his voice raised just above normal. No echo came.

"No, you gotta yell as loud as you can or we will never be able to stay together!" Wa Chini said, with fear in his voice.

Garba looked down, embarrassed, but he stood up and took a deep breath and screeched out "Garba!" His name echoed through the cavern.

"There you go!" Ikheji said happily.

"Yay! We are gonna be together forever!" Wa Chini exclaimed, a smile spread widely.

They sat in silence looking out at the crystals. "Friends until we die." Garba said. "That's what--"

"Dad always says!" Wa Chini and Ikheji said together with a giggle.

"I hope it's longer than that." Wa Chini said softly.

A wind whirled around them and in a deep rumble from the crystal in the center came. "Wa Chini, Ikheji, Garba." The three screamed, running out of the cavern laughing all the way.

§

The weeks stretched on and on, each step they took forward, they wondered if their destination stepped back also. The oppressive heat had found a way to burn even more than before. The landscape shifted as they passed the Asharan borders. Grass and trees had crumbled into sand, and piled in great mounds that swallowed every step they took. The road was gone, but defined clearly by tall spires of iron that guided travelers towards the river.

Once they overcame the dunes, a wide river stretched out, winding northwards into the horizon. There were palm trees and fields of food growing along the banks. Barges drifted up and down the deep blue waters.

"Welcome to Ashara. Well, maybe 'welcome' is not the right word." Hofu said, no hint of humor on his face. The trees and water were a welcome oasis. The rest of the journey would be made along the river here and they had places to stay along the way. "May not be the friendliest to outsiders, but at least you are in civilization again."

"Is that what they call this?" Tenya laughed at Amethyst who wisely chose not to translate.

They passed several small communities along the way until they got to the walls of Qahirah. The walls were no longer for defense, but decoration. They had paintings and pictures along them, similar to those along Katili's walls, but with a different style that Amethyst found intriguing, though somewhat unsettling.

"Hofu, why does the man with a crocodile face have a human child in its mouth?" Amethyst inquired, uncomfortably.

"There was an uprising back when humans were slaves, and as punishment the Pharaoh at the time devoured many of their first born." He said this with little inflection, as just a fact of the past. "No worries, that was a long time ago. The Moon came and struck down the leaders of the temple in retribution and the new line was established."

"Oh, how interesting." Amethyst said, nervous.

"Human sacrifice has not been practiced in a while. Not officially." Hofu said the last bit with a smile.

It was now June 26th, Amethyst had traveled more than 120 days since their journey began in February. The grueling and rather disappointing journey so far had taken a toll on the group. But for Amethyst, she was healthier than she had been in nearly two decades. Plenty of food and water, sleep, and good exercise. Though she felt weary, and was hurting pretty much everywhere, she had never felt better physically.

"Okay, what's the plan now?" Hofu asked.

"What do you mean?" Busara questioned, a little annoyance in his voice.

"You said you knew what you were doing." Amethyst said in a hushed tone, looking towards Tenya.

"Well, I kinda do, but I don't know exactly yet..." Hofu stammered.

"Oh gods, Tenya won't be happy." Busara retorted.

"Okay, well, I might have friends that could help." Hofu said with his hand on his chin.

"What's the plan then?" Tenya asked, as if she understood them.

Amethyst cleared her throat, "Hofu," she said pointedly at him, "has a friend..." She looked at Hofu and asked him. "What friend?" Her tone was hurried.

"Uh, Stochastís!" He said as though just making it up.

Tenya squinted her eyes as she looked at them.

"Stochastís." Amethyst smiled.

"Well, let's get a move on then." Tenya said, irritated.

"Of course." Amethyst maintained her smile, turning to Hofu. "To Stochastís then."

Hofu nodded, then started off down a side road away from the main fairway. Amethyst followed, looking back to Tenya-- she looked angry.

"You okay?" Amethyst asked.

"Let's just hurry so I can find Ebba."**