Dawn came, and with it, the heat of the sun had swept over the grass sea. The day had grown hot and dry. The five's pace had dimensioned and traveled at a slow rate. "Say, Young Clayton, how far is your home?" Francisco asked as he wiped his brow. Clayton replied, "Four more days' worth of travel. But we should come across a small community soon." "That is a relief to hear." Kira shouted from the front of the group. Diomede called out to Francisco, "Will you be able to conceal both you and Kira?" Francisco grunted, "Yes. I should be able to hold the spell as long as I get some rest beforehand." "What about you Cub? You and your men were disguised back when we first met." Diomede called out the back of the group. Clayton's head turned to the front, he wiped his brow and replied, "No for that I am no use, the spell was a prayer done by one of my brothers." The day dragged on as the five baked under the sun. Diomede reached the top of a medium-sized hill, He gazed out over what remained of the tall grass-covered field. It was more of the same, except for a small dot of water that lay further out. The rest of the group reached the top of the hill and stopped. "Just a few moments my good man and we will be right as rain." Francisco said as he plopped to the ground. Clayton stood beside Diomede, "Speaking of rain, where was the rain you were worried about?" Diomede cut his eyes toward Clayton. "It's unbecoming of a knight to speak with such pettiness behind his words." Clayton gave a small chuckle, "Technically, I'm not a knight anymore." The two shared a look of amusement. "There seems to be a pond further out. Once we make it there, we should take the time to have a full day's rest." Diomede explained. Clayton nodded in agreement. Lily and Kira picked up Francisco and pushed him down the path. "Please, my legs will not make it. Just leave me here to dry out and become Nesfundur jerky for the animals to feast upon." "Diomede said there is a pond further out, we plan to rest for a day when we reach it." Clayton whispered into the heat-ridden Nesfundur, as he placed Francisco's arm around his shoulders. After a few hours, the five reached the pond just as the sun hung above the horizon. "Oh, the gods bless us with this merciful body of water!" Francisco shouted as he dropped just out of reach of the large pond. He began to crawl to the edge of the water. Diomede grabbed Francisco's tail stopping the Nesfundur bard from touching the water. Francisco turned to Diomede standing over him. "Why?" Francisco asked with a weak voice. Diomede rolled his eyes. "We need to check to make sure nothing has claimed this pond as its home." Francisco buried his face into the dirt and began to wine. Diomede removed his bearskin cloak, the heat that was trapped underneath it released and the heat fumes danced off his shoulders. The air pushed across Diomede's sweat-riddled back, his shirt had become one with his back. Diomede walked into the pond, the cool water filled Diomede's clothes. Even he admitted the water was welcoming. He drew his greatsword and stopped when the water reached his waist. Diomede allowed his sword to sink into the water in front of him. The others watched from the shore, ready if anything came out and attacked them or Diomede. Moments turned to minutes. Nothing happened, Diomede began splashing about, upsetting the surface of the water, and casting ripples across the once-still pond. Nothing responded. Diomede turned and made his way back to the shore. "I don't think anything lives in the pond, not even small fish." The rest of the group relaxed. "We'll set the tent up on the other side of the path, we shouldn't sleep beside the pond and have the risk of animals roaming into the tent." Diomede said as he shook off the water. The group began to build their camp and settled in for the evening. Though the sun had long passed the horizon, and the stars shone in the sky. The heat from the day still lingered in the air. Kira wiped her brow, she felt her hair had matted and tangled, and she could feel the sweat trapped under her clothes and gear. A breeze filled the tent, and Kira felt the cool air engulf her heated body. She looked to the water, the wind had pulled portions of cool from the surface of the pond. She nudged Lily who lay beside the back area of the tent. "Do you wish to join me in the pond?" Kira asked. Lily lifted her head and peered out the entrance of the tent. Her face felt the cool air flowing in. Lily nodded with eagerness. The pair exited the tent, and Francisco noticed the pair walking toward the pond with determination. "Where are you two heading?'' the bard asked. "We plan to take a dip into the water and refresh ourselves. Francisco chuckled, "I suggest you move down the shore a bit, to prevent any unwanted onlookers." Kira looked past Francisco, to the sight of Diomede and Clayton sharpening and cleaning their weapons. "His right, I do not wish to blind our companions for their untamed urges to gaze upon us." Lily let loose a deep sigh, "Who cares if they see us, it's just our bodies?" "It's not like we will be presenting ourselves to them like a dog in heat." The blunt and brashness of Lily's words shocked both Francisco and Kira. Kira took hold of Lily and the pair walked a short distance from the camp stopping just far enough to still hold large details of the others within sight. The pair began to undress. Lily pulled her black and red leotard revealing her back to the cool air. It sent a chill through her body as it ran across her sweat-covered skin. Kira noticed Lily's body, her skin was pale like the moon on a clear night. Lily's body was lean, far too lean to be able to weld such a weapon as a great axe. Across her body were tribal markings covering every inch of her, stopping at the base of her neck. Lily felt Kira's sight upon her and turned to meet the Boarkar princess' eyes. "I thought you were worried about the others seeing our bodies, or was that a ploy for you to be the only one to enjoy my body's form?" Kira averted her sight and continued to unstrap her leather bindings on her gear, 'I was only looking at the markings on your body. I have not seen such a thing before." Lily watched as Kira undressed, in an attempt to return the look of hers. The Boarkar princess's body was detailed from her muscles and curved nature, like the moss-covered statues of old. The details of her body would make one believe a sculpture had a hand in her creation. "I again apologize for my unwanted gaze." Kira said. Lily entered the water, "Don't be, Like I said it's only a body." Kira threw her gear onto the shore and followed behind Lily, the pair reached the point where the water stopped at their shoulders. Kira rubbed the water across her arms, feeling the sweat and dirt leave her skin. Lily broke the surface and dove under, she returned with her now undone ponytail it had been in. "I hate it when my sister puts my hair back so tight." Lily frustratingly said and she ran her fingers through her straight hair. Kira untangled her curly thick hair and asked, "Where is she now? Back with your tribe?" Lily stopped and floated along the surface of the pond, "No, all of my tribe is dead." Kira moved closer, Lily noticed the ripples and met the gaze of the Boarkar. "You mentioned your sister, I only thought-'' Lily adjusted herself, cutting Kira off. "Thought what? That there may have been others?" Lily's voice grew with anger. "I am the last of my people, last of clan Half-Moon!" Kira could feel Lily's anger but she also felt her pain and grief. Kira attempted to place her hand on Lily, but the grieving warrior pulled from Kira's touch. "Don't take pity on me, I am a proud Halfead! And I carry my tribe within me." Kira was shocked to hear those words. "Lily, I do not pity you, I only wish to comfort you." Kira said as she continued to lay her hand on Lily. "COMFORT ME!" Lily shouted with rage. "I do need it, I am the daughter of the great chief Conrad the Unbreakable. Younger sister to the Shadow Master, and the great huntress Emilia." Lily stopped, tears welled and poured from her eyes. Kira pulled Lily back closer to the shore and pulled her into a tight hug. Lily unleashed all of her sorrow into Kira's arms. The muffled cries traveled down to the camp, capturing Clayton's attention. "Are they in trouble?" The young knight asked as he stood to his feet and started walking to the sounds of pain. "No." Diomede said as he pulled Clayton back. "Those are the cries of someone who could no longer hold back their grief." Francisco looked on toward the direction of the cries,"I do believe that is Lily." "It is." Diomede stated. Clayton sat back down, and as he did he asked, " Panagiot said she was a Halfead?" "Yes, she is." Diomede replied. "What is that exactly?" Francisco cleared his throat. "The Hafeed are a people who walk along the edge of both this world and the next." The information captured Clayton's attention like a child hearing a legend of old at bedtime. "No one knows how or why they have a close relationship with the other world but many in this world fear them. Due to the nature of necromancy and the foul magics that some use to control the dead." "Others view the Halfead as one of the same." Clayton spoke out. "Why is that?" Francisco looked to the young knight, "They are able to call on the aid of their dead tribal men." Clayton thought back to when he saw her fighting in the tavern and again when fighting Ruffguard and Panagiot. "Is that what was helping her before?" Clayton asked with eagerness. "Yes, I assume the aberration we saw was that of her father." Francisco began digging into his bag, "You see they don't just call upon the dead and pull them from the otherworld, the dead are absorbed into them. Granting them a mark of some kind they can use to summon them for-." With a thud a jumble of gear plopped down, startling Francisco. Kira and Lily stood over the others clenching blankets around them and covering their naked bodies, "What are you speaking of Nesfundur?" Lily asked. Clayton stood up to the bard's defense, "He was only answering the question I had." Lily's head snapped to Clayton, she stood close to him, nearly touching his face with her own. "And what pray tell was your question?" The rest of them looked on waiting to see what would happen, would the two come to blows? Clayton looked Lily in her eyes, he could see both her anger and pain. He held his chin high and replied, "My question referred to what a Halfead was." Francisco covered his face in shame, and Kira cut dangers to Diomede in disappointment. Diomede held a smile across his face, he was filled with pride for the young knight for being truthful, he eagerly waited to see what would happen next. Lily stared deep into Clayton's eyes, she could see he had no ill will and malice behind them. Only a concern and curiosity for her. Kira felt a small spark of joy and pride burst from Lily, though her face showed no sign of such feelings. Lily backed away from Clayton and allowed her shoulders to rest. "What did he tell you then, so I can correct any misinformation?" Lily said as she looked at Francisco. Clayton repeated what he had heard, Lily nodded in agreement to everything that was said. "I am surprised bard, I thought you may be like the others who spin untruthful tales and rumors." Francisco now sitting with his chest puffed out, "That would be a disservice to my profession and make me an unreliable source of information and worse! A Liar!" Diomede let out a giant laugh. The others were shocked to hear such a laugh come from their large companion. "So it's true? You carry your fallen within you?" Clayton asked. Lily gave him a look confirming the information. "Does that mean your whole tribe is within you?" Clayton asked. Diomede struck the young knight in the back of his head. "What kind of question is that to ask someone?" Diomede shouted. Clayton looked around at disappointed faces, apart from Lily's. She looked at the young knight with an amused look, one a sister would give her younger brother. "Yes, my tribe is with me always." Lily said as she looked around herself, seeing all from her tribe circling them in the shadows of the night. "Here my fair friends, I have some clothes for you to wear while you wait for your things to dry and a few brushes for you as well." Francisco said as he pulled two red evening dresses out from his bag. Kira grabbed them and led Lily into the tent,, as she past Clayton she flicked his ear with anger. He turned rubbing the pain away. "Well they are finished, we best knock our bath out as well." Diomede said as he walked toward the water. Clayton and Francisco followed behind. "No peaking you two." Francisco said as he united his shirt.