The encounter with Zamokuhle and other members of Dawn had brought everyone back to Earth. The lazy attitude that they had explored the field with was gone, a nonviolent encounter for sure, but one that reminded them of their precarious situation; that things could go wrong at any time.

Lukho and Asive had been feeling that particularly hard. Their positions had gone from confident to feeling like they could not step up when needed, especially when confronted by numbers. There is a qualitative change in a practitioner's arsenal when they acquire their focus, an application of nature's forces that are wielded with every breath and action, a personification of water and fire expelled with every movement. To be without was to have something lacking and the sooner they rectified that the sooner they would feel safer and more prepared.

Sadly, such assertions ask for compromise, to gain without giving is a selfish person's pursuit, no matter how unwilling one may be. The sacrifice for this goal was Lwazikazi's involvement with the group, they had to leave the novice enchanter behind for the clawing and gnawing that was to come. Hoping that they would find another secluded area they could exploit for themselves seemed like a longshot and they all knew it.

Lukho tried for a tactful explanation of the situation as he looked at his friend, but she beat him to it before he could utter a word. "You've already done enough for me. You all have. I would be battering what I found today to get a proper focus if it wasn't for you."

Lukho stood there taken aback, not expecting the honesty and vulnerability showed to him. "Well," he said, a bit of embarrassment in his voice, "you're welcome. That's what friends are for."

They continued onwards on their way back to their main camp and on the way they encountered many a cautious face. Eyes were wide open in alert, scrutinising every movement and sound that reached their senses. And in this tightly packed area there were practitioners bound to bump into each other frequently. A quick look of the eyes would tell if a fight was about to break out or if diplomacy won the day; a quiet retreat and a quick stride to safety.

When they made it back to camp they were greeted with buzzing activity, some practitioners lying on top of cloth stretchers being treated and others passed out. Some were more fortunate with only bruises and damaged armour that could be mendede. There was fury on these faces, defeat in some and yet others looked ready to call it a day, focus or not. The four friends shared a look, realising just how lucky they had been to find that small wonder land. They decided to not get in the way, avoiding inviting any animosity having escaped whatever turmoil the others had been in and dispersed, making a quick retreat in different directions.

***

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Lukho re-emerged into the camp a couple of hours later, eyes darting around the now quiet area and heading towards Asive's pavilion. Arriving at the threshold he reached for the hanging bell and jingled it once, producing a faint sound of bells that wouldn't make noise for the ones at rest. Asive popped her head out of the tent before opening a flap to one side and letting him in.

"Where did you run off to?" She asked Lukho as he sat down on a dark polished chair of wood, the design effortlessly simple in its make, expounding only in functionality.

"Here and there," Lukho elaborated succinctly.

"Perhaps you should try being a lot more vague," Asive replied, bringing along with her two cups and a bottle of amber liquid to the nearby table. She poured one glass for Lukho and then another for herself. Sitting down in front of him she took a sip and spent a moment savouring the liquid, waiting for the wordsmith to continue.

He promptly changed the subject.

"It's going to be a lot more chaotic when we go out again tomorrow. There's a scramble to be first to any resourceful area and people are going to start wanting to take from others instead of finding for themselves."

Asive rolled her eyes at the obvious deflection but drifted like water through the conversation, accepting that her friend wanted to keep secrets and there was nothing she could do about it. She obliged him with an answer, "It's expected. Many people are going to have to start considering second choices soon and when they become expectantly unhappy at being forced to make a decision they are going to make targets of those around them."

"I guess there's no point in asking if you're ready. It sounds like you've already kicked someone's ass and kept their bones around for sport. Where did you hide the body, Asive?"

Asive laughed at the joke, sounding thick and short from the belly. "It's inevitable. Being ready for it is the least of what you can do."

"I can't argue with that. You found out anything interesting while I was away?"

A sly proud smile graced Asive's lips, important news lurking at the tip of her tongue like a salivating predator. She took another sip of her drink and looked about her tent as if contemplating something. Drawing out the moment.

"Seriously?" Lukho croaked.

Asive displayed another smile. This one more joyous with its display of many teeth. "What focus do you want?"

Lukho sighed looking at her, his head falling to rest on his palm, exasperated at the woman's poor use of tenacity. "A light aspect."

The giggles coming forth were hard to block out as much as he tried. "So? What did you find out?"

"Your friend Asanda shared a location with me earlier, there's a series of caves to the north of here, descending under the earth. She mentioned tunnels but she didn't explore them with her group. There's a high chance that what I'm looking for is down there."

Lukho nodded along to the news, recalling the days before the treasure hunt began when Asive had shared with him the type of focus she was after. At the time, he had yet to make a decision, something he had deliberated on until he arrived at the jungle. But now he had his own answer and hopefully he would not struggle in finding what he was after. The two of them spent some more time enjoying one another's company, speaking of the future and things they hoped to achieve as well as cultivation progressions, conversing until it was time to hit the sack. Tomorrow was going to be an eventful day and proper rest was in order. Lukho left for his own tent and bid his friend farewell.