A couple of centuries have passed, the females had been accepted to live among the original clan, little suspecting the disillusion and conspiracies that had awaited them. A place where it wasn't safe to lead with one's heart.

"All this deceit and malice will make me a nervous wreck!" Rin wailed.

"It's not easy for the rest of us either." Liat allayed her.

Overtime the females had soon gotten better - acquainted if you will, with the other bipedal races of Thra: mainly the gelflings and podlings. Especially since many of them were voluntary servants or apprentices of the Skeksis lords. The small humanoids had been quite surprised to see four more Skeksis residing with the original clan more so upon learning these were pure female.

Liat and Rin thought the two races adorable, Arra preferred to remain reserved when interacting with them. They were in the midst of the throne room preparing for the choosing of gelflings applying for apprenticeship.

SkekMeh scoffed, "Ignorance seems to be a common disease among all these little people."

Rin elbowed her so as not to be rude. As she did so, she didn't see the scout suddenly freeze up then become lost in thought. That was odd. Why isn't she reacting?

"SkekMeh?" SkekArra questioned.

What she didn't know was that the Scout was remembering something. She saw a large female gelfling with wavy, honey locks much like her own, talking with two other females – the words were rather spiteful. This scene, why did it feel so awfully familiar?

Then SkekMeh is jolted out of the memory and annoyed at a gelfling child for interrupting what she felt was a much needed conversation between her sisters. "You have some nerve sneaking around like that!"

SkekLiat stopped her as the little one looked scared out of its wits. "Now, now, Meh. He meant no harm." she turned to the child and spoke gently to him, before the child's flustered mother rushed over.

"Vuk! I hope he's not annoying you, m-my ladies?"

"Surely not." SkekLiat reassured her, "Quite the contrary, I love children."

"You certainly were sweet." SkekArra said with a teasing smirk after the two left.

"I meant what I said." The Barrister said firmly. Then she turned to SkekMeh, "What's wrong, why did you suddenly freeze up like that?"

"I don't know I saw… it was like a dream while I was still awake." She explained what she'd seen

"I've been having strange dreams as well." SkekRin admitted, and in each one she had a nagging feeling that she's forgetting something.

Nevertheless, the mysterious recurring dreams would be the least of their problems for now. Overtime, the others skeksis did continue their ploys at either undermining their confidence, dishonest tactics then centuries later, the ingratiating advances. In fact one prime example was happening right now.

They saw the Hunter, SkekMal, lean forward to speak to Arra.

"I can't hear a thing from this distance." grumbled SkekMeh

"Let's get a little closer but be discreet." SkekRin mumbled back.

They did so in time to hear the conversation take an interesting turn.

"Because I'm female?!" SkekArra snarled back indignantly. "What makes you all think males have a monopoly on skill? You forget I'm a warrior too and a good one!"

"Does it matter? We could be great together you and I."

"Why you- let go of me! How dare you?!"

"I like your spirit. I like things wild and free. More of a challenge...Don't worry, my pet, I'll soon have you housebroke."

"In your dreams!"

"I believe this is the part where ought to step in and give her a helping claw?" SkekRin questioned uncomfortably.

SkekMeh looked around, "No need. The choosing will begin soon, furthermore it seems Arra's doing well on her own."

If the sight of the Sentry roughly pulling herself loose with a warning hiss was any indication.

The choosing for gelfling apprentices took place – where each young member of the known tribes would be assigned to a specific lord and /learn. Each of the females had a mix of genders in those they took under their metaphorical wings so to speak. However there were apprentices that worked well with them.

Barrister SkekLiat saw much potential in one of them – a female named Inbal; Herald SkekRin in one called Etan.

Perhaps there was some form of hope for this kind of life. None of them knew of the pain and horrors yet to come.

It's been months, SkekMal the Hunter hadn't given up his sporty pursuit of the fiery sentry. Now SkekArra wasn't the only one having troubles with – dare she even say it- wooers.

She'd seen how SkekSa the Mariner hoped to persuade SkekRin about her joining him in his expeditions or how the Satirist tries to get a smile out of the reserved Herald.

The Barrister herself, had been approached by General SkekVar, in an awkward attempt at trifling.

Above all, how said suitors or several of the others made an effort to get the females they set their eyes on as their dancing partner during the balls hosted in the castle.

SkekLiat did half-heartedly hope she was simply overthinking all this. Not that the females hadn't any interest in the others. SkekRin kept giving the imperious Ritual-Master SkekZok looks of longing every so often. SkekArra was more than happy to partake in verbal coquetry with SkekGra the conqueror especially if it was meant to spite SkekUng the Garthim-Master. Such displays seemed to work well by infuriating the foul-tempered brute.

However SkekMeh is the only one who scarcely showed any fanciful interest whatsoever.

While the Barrister herself, regarding the original clan… She can only see the Ornamentalist as fellow gossiper – one of the 'girls' if you will, as she did her sisters. Furthermore, it's clear (at least in she and her sister's eyes) he and SkekAyuk, the Gourmand were an item. The Ritual-Master and Treasurer were too aloof for her taste. The Scientist, SkekTek, and SkekLach, the Collector made her skin crawl – Eugh, she's not even going to mention what they're into. The Emperor – no, just no. Besides, he's already personally committed to an agamic lifestyle.

In matters of desirability, she cared not for the more virile skeksis, they were uncouth and narrow-minded ruffians. No, it's the shrewd thinkers that turned her head such as SkekSil, the crafty chamberlain or the SkekOk, the erudite historian. SkekLiat tried every feminine trick in the book to make either one conscious with her; learned to fit their every moods, silent when angered, sympathetic when somber, vivacious when happy. She's dropped more than enough subtle hints that she's interested… except neither of them have caught on.

So is it any wonder why she's so moody this fine evening?

The attitude of the original 16 skeksis in recent decades… something about it all nagged at the back of her mind, like some forgotten memory. But what?

Nevertheless, the second sun had just set, and there was still work to be done. She turned to her apprentice and asked the gelfling to hand her some scrolls located to the left hand side. Perhaps, if she, SkekRin and their gelflings continue they may be finished in a couple of hours…

Just then they all jumped when they heard a female voice snarl: "Get your filthy claws off me! You're wasting your charms on me and I don't care for it at all!"

SkekLiat's eyes widened then exchanged alarmed glances with SkekRin and their gelfling apprentices.

Did SkekMal try to pursue SkekArra inappropriately?

"Stay inside, Inbal." The Barrister ordered her novitiate, then she cautiously took a step outside.

At that moment, SkekMeh hurried from a hallway corner and nearly crashed into her.

"I've got to hide, he's after me!" The usually confidently catty Scout grunted.

"Who?"

"The Collector! I spurned him but he refuses to acknowledge my answer!"

The Barrister was stunned for a moment then ushered her sister inside. Next she walked out and diverted SkekMeh's unwanted suitor to another direction.

Once he was gone, she dismissed the gelflings early so they would retire for the evening. She and her sisters wished to discuss things in private.

Sadly their troubles were just beginning.

To be continued...

Author's notes: Now that they've all had a couple of centuries to coexist under the same roof and get to know each other, that left plenty for any of the others to start "noticing" the females in a new light - an instinctive action. The females are now having trouble with several suitors.