Day Two

Thepa awoke to the early light of the dawn to find Gamma standing over her. A coy smile playfully formed across the human's face, holding her hands loosely together and lightheartedly swaying her hips. It was rather uncharacteristic of her human friend, the simple action having reminded her of a Keylee trying to keep their secret.

"Sleep well?" Gamma teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Thepa blinked, disoriented. She had in fact slept well, perhaps too well, but now that the sun was starting to come about, she could feel its heat quickly spreading across her body. Her now dried clothes awkwardly stuck to her salted skin and something heavy was weighing on her lap. She was hotter than she should have been. The day was still early and a gentle breeze was making its way through. However, her back felt like it had spent the night facing the firepit.

"Yes," Thepa said as she tried to shift her body, but couldn't, the unfamilar weight on her lap pulling her down. She tilted her chin in its direction and as her eyes found moppy hair and rigid horns tucked into its tangled mass, a sudden burst of adrenaline coursed through her body, sending her heart into a pounding dance that was spiraling out of control.

At the realization of Thepa's revelation, Gamma grinned with the fullness of her lips. No longer coy, she now shook with excitement, as she all but shout-whispered a question she already knew the answer to.

"You want to be alone? I can come back later."

"No!" Thepa blurted, her voice sharper than she intended.

Yes, her heart screamed.

The strange sensation of longing had once again returned, but now it felt different, like butterflies flapping about her stomach with no way of escape. And worse, it felt... intoxicating.

"We were just talking last night," Thepa said, forcing nonchalance into her tone. "I must've been more tired than I thought. I don't even remember falling asleep."

Liar, her inner voice taunted. Stop pretending.

Gamma rolled her eyes, shaking her head with amusement. "Uh-huh. Well, you two certainly look cozy. But if you're ready to get up, we're here."

Thepa shifted her gaze, trying to peer past Roan's sleeping bulk. The soft calls of seagulls told her they were close to shore, though she couldn't yet see it. Her heart protested as she gingerly lifted Fokin's head, carefully laying it down beside her. When she finished, she rose to her hooves, feeling a prickling numbness in her legs.

"You alright?" Gamma reached out to steady her as Thepa wobbled.

"Yeah, just... give me a second." Thepa leaned into Gamma for support, her gaze fixing on the stretch of sandy coastline ahead. No docks. No signs of civilization. But it was as she expected. They would row to shore and head out on foot. "Is Wilran ready?"

Gamma glanced back toward the bow. "She's with the captain. Last I saw, he was showing her how to tie knots."

Thepa raised an eyebrow. Knots? She wondered if that was a euphemism, but then again, Gamma wasn't the type to use one. However, after the Anchor's brazen offer to poach her friend, Thepa wouldn't have put it past him to try something.

"Go collect her," Thepa said, brushing aside her thoughts. "I'll wake Fokin. We need to go over the plan one last time before we disembark."

Gamma gave a playful wink before heading off, leaving Thepa to compose herself. The tingling in her legs slowly faded, but the warmth that bloomed in her chest the moment her gaze fell back on Fokin... that heat refused to leave.

She crouched down, shaking his shoulder lightly. "Fokin, wake up. It's time."

Fokin stirred, groggily rubbing his eyes. He blinked, looking up at her with hi golden eyes—eyes that sent her heart fluttering once again.

"Adorable," she muttered without thinking, the word slipping out before she could stop it. Her face flushed, and she turned red with embarrassment. Fokin looked down to pick himself off the ground and turn towards Roan.

"What was that?" He uttered.

"Um ..." Thepa said trying to think on her hooves, but was floundering badly against the two sides of her mind mentally waging a war. The reasonable one chastised her with questions like what's wrong with you? However, reason was losing. The calm voice that carried the bulk of Thepa's character was currently being beaten into submission by the one that was shouting at her to say it again with confidence. You are a female of confidence . Own it.

Before Fokin could press her, Thepa quickly straightened up. "We're ready to go. We just need to run through the plan again." Her voice cracked slightly, betraying her internal chaos.

By then, Wilran and Gamma had already joined them from the opposite side of the ship. Gamma continued to wear her coy smile, while Wilran's expression was more bemused. Thepa hoped whatever was brewing between the two of them had nothing to do with her, and if it did, they had the good sense not to mention it.

"Alright," Thepa began, attempting to regain control of both the situation and her own swirling emotions. "Just to be clear, we have five days left to reach the fields outside Goldale for the coordinated attack. Three days to find Zuna, one day to get to Lightmount and meet Einkidi, and another day to board a skiff to the shores near the field. Any questions?"

No one spoke, but Thepa had expected as much. They had already gone over the details the previous day while the Sisterhood tracked down Fokin, much to her embarrassment. His presence had given the Sisterhood pause, but what Thepa said went. She needed them there to protect the Beachwick, but she also needed assistance in finding Zuna to execute the sneak attack against the beast's horde. She was a good tracker, but in unknown lands, Roan would have been more useful, not that her heart minded the druid would tag along.

"Fokin, once we're ashore, I'll be counting on Roan's nose to track any signs of the Beachwick, the Sisterhood, or any other life."

"Gamma," she turned to the the human, "if the lights in the north blocked magic outside communication, maybe you're magic will work better once were inside it. Did you save your message spells like I asked?"

Gamma's eyes flashed with annoyance. Thepa inwardly winced.

Sorry, Gamma... it's for the mission.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Yes," Gamma replied, her tone clipped.

"Thank you," Thepa moved on quickly. "Wilran, I know it's not the strongest spell, but can the goddess at least point us in the right direction if Roan can't get a bead on where we're going?"

Wilran sighed. "The wheels of fate are tricky. All I can tell you is if we're on a good or bad path. It's one of the most frustrating things about being a cleric – all the divine power in the world, and I can only talk to my Goddess when she feels like it."

"Still better than nothing," Thepa noted. "I'll look for tracks, but Roan will likely do better."

"And what if we don't find this Zuna?" Fokin asked, frowning. "Or what if we do? Let's say we stay on schedule and arrive in the beast camp in six days. How are we going to get infuriate their army without them knowing who we are?"

Isn't he cute when he's worried? Thepa thought, noticing how more and more how her sensibility seemed to slip away faster than a halfling at a wine tasting.

"A good question. That is where Einkidi comes in. She will meet us in Lightmount with a potion that will turn us into goblins for the better part of a day. That gives us enough time to hit key targets in their camp. Hopefully, we can time it right as the Goldale, Lightmount, and Clayborn forces converge for battle."

"And how will we know who the leaders are?" Fokin pressed. "Do they wear something distinctive?"

"They'll be marked with white paint on their faces. Don't worry," Thepa added, her hand resting on his shoulder without thinking. Fokin didn't seem to mind. "Once the battle starts, we'll eliminate or capture their leaders. Beasts aren't exactly known for their intellect."

Fokin nodded and once Thepa was sure there were no more questions, they headed out on two separate skiffs. Fokin and Roan boarded one boat, while Thepa, Gamma, and Wilran took the other. Both casters motioned toward their skiffs, summoning large glowing hands that propelled the boats forward. Thepa was briefly startled by the eerie, translucent shapes, but as she tore her eyes away from Fokin's broad shoulders, she realized she had seen the glowing digits before. It was another reminder of Rory.

Onwards the two boats raced across the calm waters of the deep blue. Rushing wind blew around them as light splashes of water broke into a fine mist that cooled Thepa's face against the ever-rising sun. She closed her eyes to feel its watery breath, but what should have been a peaceful moment for her instead, brought a sudden image Vivian, standing on the docks, whispering the same words echoing in her heart.

A Warbol belongs in the Matriarchy. It is her duty. It is her birthright.

Thepa sighed inwardly, pushing the thought away and trying not to glance at Fokin again.

This is ridiculous. We've only just met. Whatever this fixation is can't be healthy. Pull yourself together girl.

"We're almost there," Gamma announced. "We need to slow down."

"I'm trying," Wilran replied, panic creeping into her voice.

Thepa turned and saw them frantically moving through the somatic movements, but no magical energy formed. Behind them, the large glowing hand flickered, losing form as their speed toward the shore increased.

"I can't control it!" Gamma shouted. "The spell—it's like it has a mind of its own!"

The hand vanished. Faster and faster than closed in on the shore with no chance of stopping. They were going to crash, and Thepa knew it. Springing into action, she pulled both of them to the bottom of the skiff just as the skiff plowed into a dune.

The impact sent Thepa flying, knocking the wind from her lungs. Wood from the boat went flying in all directions. She narrowly escaped a large chunk of it by rolling to the right, but for her efforts, she was rewarded with a mouth full of sand. From her postion, she could see the tracks of the second skiff, which missed the dune altogether, but where it went, she didn't know, and not knowing worried her.

"Thepa!" Gamma shouted, rushing to her side.

Gamma's hands moved in the familiar motions of healing magic, but when she placed them on Thepa's chest, nothing happened. Panic flashed across her face.

"Wilran, can you use magic?" Gamma called.

"No," Wilran replied, her tone grim. "Try a potion?"

"Don't waste it," Thepa wheezed, pushing herself up. "I'm fine. We'll need those potions later. Anyone see Fokin and Roan?"

On cue, Fokin and Roan rushed over as Gamma helped Thepa to her hooves. Fokin's amber eyes were filled with concern, but as she met his gaze, a surge of adrenaline swept through her. The pain from the crash evaporated, leaving behind a powerful urge to reach out and cup his face. Before she realized it, her hand was already moving toward him.

Just then, Gamma stumbled on the sandy dune, bumping into Thepa and snapping her out of the trance. She quickly pulled her hand back, masking the awkward motion by rolling her shoulders, feigning a stretch.

"Well, this complicates things," Thepa said, avoiding Fokin's gaze. "But it doesn't change the plan. We still need to move forward. Fokin, why don't you and Roan take point?"

"Yes, Sister Thepa," Fokin replied.

Ouch.

Though Thepa couldn't see him, she felt his stern gaze descend on her. A small amount of sweat formed on her forehead whether from the relentless sun or the intensity of his stare, she couldn't tell. Anxiety clawed at her, and she forced herself to start walking, hoping it was in the right direction.

Hours passed, and the desert stretched endlessly before them. The desert was a lot larger than Thepa had expected, rolling on as far as the eye could see. From dune to dune, the five of them traveled, often struggling to find good footing, all the while their water supply dwendling. At one point, she wrapped a small cloth around her blistering horns to shield herself from the oppressive heat, but it offered little comfort.

Frustration gnawed at her. She was irritated by the desert's sheer size, by their lack of magic to combat the searing heat, and most of all, by herself. Her body reacted like the new recruits who fawned over the battle-hardened men she'd once commanded as Captain of the Goldale Guard. And each time her thoughts strayed to Fokin, it only made things worse.

The longer she glanced in his direction, the stronger the fire inside her burned. She no longer fought the pull—it had melted away like everything else under the desert sun. In the first hour, Gamma had caught her staring and teased her with a few playful remarks, but even the heat had silenced her.

At least watching Fokin's backside certainly makes the trek more enjoyable.

"I think—" Wilran began, but her sentence was cut short as Roan sprinted ahead, disappearing over the next dune. Gamma shot Thepa a puzzled look, but when they both realized what had excited Roan, they hurried after him.

Did he find something? Please let it be good!

At the top of the dune, Thepa could see rocky hills in the distance. The sight gave her hope—maybe shelter, maybe a sign of civilization. As Fokin chased after Roan, she could see near the bottom of the dune fanning trees that reminded her of those found in the jungle. A small cluster of them had formed around a watering hole where someone had set up a hitching post to tie up wayward animals.

Relief surged through her. She almost tumbled down the dune, her legs barely keeping pace with her excitement. Laughter erupted behind her, a sound that echoed the joy swelling in her own heart.

When she reached the bottom, she saw sparkling water reflecting the sun, casting light across scattered rocks. Roan had already dived in, paddling like a playful pup, while Fokin splashed behind him. It was then reason completely abandoned her, and she tossed aside her bow, quiver, and bag, jumping into the cool water without hesitation.

The oasis water was blissfully cool against her skin, washing away the sweat and grime of the journey. She drank deeply, the slight mineral taste lingering on her tongue, then dove to the bottom where shimmering stones glowed beneath the surface.

To her surprise, what she thought were rocks were actually ionic crystals—just like the ones she had seen in the jungle clearing on Esha.

Thepa somersaulted off the bottom, rushing to the surface with a shard in hand, excitement bubbling inside her. Water filled her nose, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the discovery she had just made.

"Look!" Thepa shouted as she broke the surface.

Gamma and Wilran, who had been standing by the water's edge, turned toward her. They too were holding crystal fragments.

"Are these ionic crystals?" Wilran asked, wide-eyed.

Before Thepa could answer, Fokin swam over, to her. He gently took the crystal from her hand, and the soft brush of his fingers against hers sent a shiver cascading down her spine. The desire she had tried so hard to suppress flared within her, no longer a quiet flame but an uncontrollable blaze. Something deep inside her had awakened, a powerful yearning that only Fokin's tender eyes and soft lips could soothe.

Her heart pounded, drowning out any rational thought. She was no longer in control—her body, her emotions, everything surrendered to the moment. Had reason not fled, she might have turned away, might have stopped herself from doing what she knew could change everything. But now, nothing else mattered. In all the completions of her life, she had never felt love overwhelming pull, and yet, she knew with absolute certainty she would never regret what she was about to do. Finally giving into her heart's desire, she leaned in, closed her eyes, gently pressed her lips into his.