Nyssa slowly regained consciousness and felt immense pain throughout her body. She was covered in cuts and her left wrist was in a brace, likely sprained. At this point in her experience with the League, pain at worst was merely an annoyance - not a real setback. She bolted upright in bed when her memories of the day before started flooding back...

She remembered watching Sara hit her head and slip away. When Nyssa let go of the root she streamlined her body feet first so she could reach Sara as quickly as possible. The last thing she could recall was catching up to an unconscious Sara, with fresh blood trickling down her head. She hoisted Sara onto her own body, like it was a sled, so that Nyssa would take the brunt of the force as they shot down the mountain. She wrapped her arms around Sara in a vice-like grip to hold her in place and tried to stay awake, but only lasted for about a minute before she blacked out as well. Nyssa could remember nothing more.

Her eyes adjusted to the early morning light that was streaming in through the windows and she saw that she was in her own bed at home. She threw her legs over the edge and stood up to make for the door. She groaned at the weight being put on her battered legs but ignored it and made her way to the infirmary.

She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Sara on one of the beds. She was unconscious, but the fact that she was hooked up to an IV meant she was still alive. Nyssa slowly approached the bed and cringed at the sight of her injured body. She had stitches in her forehead where she had struck the rock, and her body was covered with gauze and bruises.

Nyssa sensed someone approaching behind her and turned around to see her father.

"What happened? I hardly remember anything after the rockslide. We were about nine miles up that mountain when it started."

"You are both lucky to not be in far worse condition. When we saw the rockslide, a group was sent after you. You were both found at the base of a thick tree which likely kept you from falling the last few miles down the mountain. Even while unconscious you still had your arms protectively wrapped around her."

Nyssa hoped she was concealing the blush she could feel rising in her cheeks.

"Thank you for finding us. And don't worry, I'll make sure Sara is still ready for her first mission in three months."

Ra's just nodded his acknowledgement and was silent for a time. Nyssa could see he was thinking deeply about something as he looked at Sara and the monitors surrounding her. He started to open his mouth and speak, but seemed to decide against whatever it was. After a few moments he pointed out, "You should be getting rest as well."

With that, he exited the room and left Nyssa to her own thoughts. There was nowhere else she wanted to be, so Nyssa spent the next few hours sitting at Sara's bedside. She would occasionally let herself move Sara's hair away from her face or even place a hand on hers. Sometimes she talked to her, mostly in Arabic, encouraging her to heal.

Nyssa had drifted to sleep in the late afternoon when she was suddenly awoken by her hand being squeezed. She gasped, not only because of the movement, but also because she never had intentionally interlocked their fingers. She squeezed back and looked to see if her eyes would open.

"Sara," she whispered with a sense of urgency. She needed to know she was okay. "Sara, are you awake? It's Nyssa. I'm here."

Sara let out a barely-audible groan and her eyes slowly opened. "Nyssa." She smiled, but it quickly became a grimace. "Why am I in so much pain?" Her eyes opened wide with faint memories of the previous day. "The mountain! What happened? How did we get here?"

"Shh, relax, Sara. You're okay. You're safe now. We were both knocked unconscious, but a search party was sent for us and we were brought home."

Nyssa could feel the tension leaving Sara's body. She realized their hands were still locked together and she started to pull hers away, but Sara squeezed them together again. "Don't leave me. Please. Not yet."

"I'm not leaving. I'll be here as long as you want me."

"Good," Sara whispered. She looked like she was about to fall asleep again, but then her eyes fluttered open. "Nyssa? How do you say 'canary' in Arabic?"

Nyssa thought for a moment. "Hmm. I don't know that we have a direct translation for 'canary', but 'yellow bird' would be the closest. It's 'ta-er al-asfer'."

"Ta-er al-Asfer." Sara smiled as she repeated the words. That is the name I choose, Nyssa. My Arabic name. For the League.

Now Nyssa smiled. "It is beautiful. What is the meaning behind your name, Ta-er al-Asfer?" Nyssa loved the sound and feeling of those words now that they were associated with Sara.

"There's a lot of meaning for me. When I was ten, my dad bought me a canary." She laughed. "It drove everyone else crazy but I loved that little bird. Then after the Queen's Gambit went down and I was stranded in the water, thinking everyone else had died and that I would die soon too, I saw a beautiful canary land close to me. I thought I was dead or dreaming at first, but when I knew it was real it gave me hope. Then just as it flew away I looked up and saw the Amazo, and I was saved. So, I guess for me the canary is a sign of hope and rebirth."

"That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing those memories with me."

Sara nodded. "You're welcome. Now I think I need to sleep some more. I can barely keep my eyes open."

"Then sleep, Ta-er al-Asfer. I'll stay here with you."

In a week Sara was back on her feet again and training lightly with Nyssa, and within four weeks they were both back on Sara's schedule to be ready for her first mission, which would ultimately decide her fate in the League.

"Ta-er al-Asfer, have you decided on your primary weapon yet?" Nyssa asked. "You will need to choose one soon so we can intensify your training in that area. Though you will choose one primary weapon, you will continue to train and master them all so that you know how to defend against them, as well as how to use each in the event that you are without your primary. You have become quite proficient with each one we have trained with - sword, gun, dagger, javelin, throwing knives, bo staff, axe, bow and arrow, and batons. You are doing very well. Three of these may be primary weapons - the long sword, bo staff, and bow and arrows."

"Right," Sara agreed. "I have been thinking about it lately, and I'm gonna go with the collapsible bo staff."

Nyssa smiled. "I wondered if that would be your choice. It would have been my suggestion, actually. You have truly excelled in hand-to-hand combat, and the beauty of the staff is that the swinging, thrusting, and striking techniques often resemble empty-hand movements, following the philosophy that the bo is merely an extension of one's limbs."

"Yes, and I love that! It just feels so natural to me. My movements with the staff are starting to become more reflexive and less of something I really have to think about."

"Perfect." Nyssa grinned. "And now that we have that established, I have something to show you." Nyssa brought out a box and presented it to Sara.

"What is this?" she asked with a quizzical look.

"A potential option for your League fighting attire."

Sara smiled. "No way!" She grabbed the box and stepped into a nearby room to try on the clothes. She emerged a couple minutes later and asked, "What do you think?"

Nyssa hadn't realized how fabulous Sara would look in that low-cut top and hoped she wasn't blushing. "It's perfect." She cleared her throat. "Now why don't we go spar and see how you like fighting in your new gear?"

Sara smiled. "Alright! I'm getting pretty good with my staff. I want to go up against you with your best long sword."

"Done. And I hope you know I won't be going easy on you."

"Ha! Admit it - you stopped going easy on me a week ago. I'm definitely not your equal, but I bring some good competition."

Nyssa's usual sly smile returned. "Prove it."

Sara and Nyssa were laughing together as they left the training room two hours later.

"That was the first time I've knocked you flat on your back!" Sara exclaimed.

"I'm pretty sure my wrist is still sprained..."

"Whatever! You know it's been healed for weeks. Lame excuse."

"Alright, alright," Nyssa laughed. "I'll admit it - you have a fantastic trainer."

Sara jokingly punched her in the arm, and before she could even blink, Nyssa grabbed her arm and flipped her so she landed face-up on the ground.

Sara coughed as the wind was knocked out of her.

"Now, what were you saying?" Nyssa teased.

"Whoa." Sara coughed again, then smiled. "That doesn't even count. I was totally unprepared."

A low, authoritative voice came out of nowhere: "You must always be mindful of your surroundings, Ta-er al-Asfer. No reason is good enough for you to be caught off guard. When you step outside these walls, losing your focus can mean death."

Sara immediately got to her feet. She bowed her head in respect to the Head of the Demon. "I understand," she replied.

"Hopefully, in the next two months you will fully understand that principle," Ra's said. "Your initiation mission quickly approaches." He paused, studying the two women before him. "Ta-er al-Asfer, will you leave us? I need to speak with my daughter."

Sara nodded. "Of course."

Once she had left, Ra's turned and began walking in the opposite direction down the long hallway. Nyssa followed.

When he spoke he was very matter-of-fact. "You know, that first night after the rockslide last month, Ta-er al-Asfer was saying your name all while she slept."

Nyssa remained quiet. She wasn't sure where this conversation was going...

"Then after observing the two of you these past few weeks, it seems clear to me that you are her weakness. Is she yours?"

This completely caught Nyssa by surprise. Her eyebrows furrowed with a mix of concern and confusion. "I don't know."

What exactly did he mean? Did he guess how she felt for Sara, and did he think she felt the same way? What would he even think of that kind of relationship?

"I warn you to be very cautious of your emotions, my daughter. They are not easily ruled by logic and are far more powerful and treacherous than you may realize."

Nyssa nodded and he turned to leave. "Father," she called out before he was gone.

Ra's faced her again.

"Do you remember the day of Ta-er al-Asfer's evaluation when we talked about change?"

Ra's nodded. "Of course. You said you sensed a shift was coming."

"Yes, and you said change is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it makes us stronger."

"Indeed. And do you remember what I also said?"

"Yes. Change that weakens us is unacceptable."

An uncomfortable silence rested between them. They often talked like this - speaking more in metaphor than literal meaning, while still knowing exactly what the other was saying.

Nyssa spoke again. "So if I deem a change to be one that will make me stronger, will you stand by me?"

"I will not stop you from making your own choices, my daughter; it doesn't mean I agree with you. I only stand by what time proves to be true."

Nyssa matched her father's piercing gaze. "Time will prove it."

"Then so be it."