"Ehn! Solus! She'cu! Resol!" The clash of sabers filled the warm afternoon air as the two women spun and disengaged. Dav stepped in between them and nodded in satisfaction. "Good work. Much better parry, Zas, although your recovery is still slow."

Zace removed her helmet, a spare one borrowed from Rana, strands of hair clinging to her sweaty forehead, the saber hanging loosely from one hand. "Shades, Rana, it felt like you were trying to break my arm!"

Rana, laughing, removed her own buy'ce. "And what do you think the other chakaar's going to be doing? K'atini!"

Zace rolled one shoulder. "Doesn't make my arm hurt any less." She squinted up toward the sun. "What d'you think, Dav, one more try before we call it off?"

Dav nodded. "One more try. And no holding back! Rana, you too."

Rana rolled her eyes as she replaced her helmet. "As if I ever hold back! Say that again and you're next, ner vod."

Dav held up his hands defensively as he backed out of the circle. "Not me, Ran'ika. Save it for Zace."

"Oh, thanks, Dav." Zace's voice from within her helmet was muffled, but there was no mistaking the dry tone.

"Kih'parjai. Like you mean it this time! Ready, go!"

Zace's world narrowed to a T-shaped slit and her opponent's kad. Muscles she hadn't known she possessed just a few months before worked smoothly together now to block Rana's blows and deliver her own. Her kama billowed out from her legs as she lunged, stepping quickly back to counter Rana's strike, then twisting her wrist quickly. Rana quickly switched her saber to her right hand, swearing colorfully in Huttese as blood oozed from between her left index finger and thumb. Zace sheathed her own saber, dropping her helmet as she rushed to Rana's side.

"Oh, shades! I'm sorry, Ran. Let me see it."

Rana shook her head, bringing up her kad to rest the point against Zace's neck. "No, it's fine. You just… surprised me. Next time, don't aim so low, and don't put up your weapon until you're sure the other guy's out of commission."

Dav reached them, slapping Zace's backplate and shoving the helmet into her hands. "Clever girl!" he said lightly. "You've been paying attention. You sure it's fine, Rana?"

Rana made a slightly exasperated noise. "Yes, Davrel, I'm sure." She pulled off her armored glove, holding out the hand in question. "See? Just a scratch. Stop worrying."

Dav inspected it. "Fine then, atin'ika. Time for lunch anyway."

As the three made their way back to camp, Dav and Rana arguing cheerfully about something or other, Zace let her mind wander. Had it only been a few months? She doubted if N'karr or any of the others would recognize her now. She had put on muscle, and her now-crooked nose was brown from the brilliant sun. Sometimes it seemed like she'd lived here forever, and then sometimes Dav or Rana would use some word or phrase she'd never heard before and she would realize again just how much she didn't know. Her Mando'a was getting better every day; she was a decent shot with a blaster rifle, making progress with the kad, and Orade had called her ner vod a few days ago. She smiled, and Dav stopped mid-sentence.

"What are you grinning about?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. You two." She had been slightly jealous of their apparent closeness at first, but she had found that Dav and Rana were cousins, his grandfather and hers being brothers. But Dav still treated her like a younger sister. She had been abjectly grateful those first weeks, when he and Rana had taken her under their wings, teaching and introducing and helping her settle in. She had become quite enamored of him, following him around and, she realized with chagrin, acting like a besotted child. No wonder he treated her like his little sister; ignoring her feelings, if he'd even noticed them, was easier and less painful than acknowledging unrequited infatuation. She had originally hoped that it was just infatuation, and would fade, but her private fit of jealousy over his and Rana's relationship shattered that idea. She sighed unconsciously, and Dav gave her another look.

"Credit for your thoughts, Zas'ika," he said lightly, but his eyes- those lovely golden-brown eyes- betrayed more concern. Her heart somersaulted, just like it always seemed to when he called her little Zace.

"Oh, just thinking," she said, smiling. "About tonight. We'd better still be going hunting; you've put it off long enough."

He grinned. "Good thing you reminded me. It's going to be clear and not too hot. What d'you think, Rana, you in?"

Rana smiled back wolfishly. "Have you ever known me to be out?"

Dav stepped inside Ruusaan's house, savoring the blast of cool air while slipping off his boots. Zace tossed him a bottle of water and stepped into the back, presumably to change out of the beskar'gam. He slumped into a chair, twisted off the lid and took a long drink, nearly choking when Ruusaan stood up from looking through a cabinet. She watched with one eyebrow raised as he gasped.

"Ruusaan, how do you do that?"

"When are you going to do that girl right? I raised you, Dav'ika, and I've been watching her too. Tell her."

"Ruusaan, I can't! She's not- she wouldn't-"

"Oh?" Ruusaan's sarcasm could drop a gundark at twenty meters. "And of course you would know much more than I about such things."

He shook his head. "I didn't mean it like that. Just- I can't."

She placed a hand on her hip. "Have it your way, then, but don't come crying to me. Rana knows, though she hasn't said anything about it to you."

The bedroom door slid open to reveal Zace, dressed in a fresh tunic with her hair pulled back off her neck. Dav was suddenly reminded of how much she had changed. She seemed to sense that something was amiss. "Ah, forgot my boots," she said, and started to duck back into the room, but Ruusaan stopped her.

"No, you didn't. They're right here by the door like always, and Davrel has something to tell you."

Zace padded barefoot over to the table and sat, gazing expectantly up at him. Dav was aware of a warmth that seemed to be spreading up from his neck and coughed. "Um, well-" Ruusaan was standing over him, hands on hips, which only made it worse. His ears were burning now. He started again. "Zace, I, ah, have a question for you."

Zace sat watching the tips of Dav's ears turn red, wondering what he was about to ask. Surely he doesn't- he can't be- Ruusaan said something- No! Ruusaan was glaring down at him like Death Itself, and as he hesitated, she gently prodded the back of his head. He closed his eyes, took a breath, and opened his mouth just as Rana burst in. She took in the scene with interest. "Sorry, Ruusaan. Dav, they're coming!"

"Who's coming?" Dav asked, the color receding from his ears. He seemed determined not to make eye contact with either Ruusaan or Zace.

Rana shrugged. "Slavers maybe, but they've got a h-" She glanced at Ruusaan. "A lot of troops."

Dav stood up, swearing absently. Ruusaan flicked his ear, and he winced. "Sorry! ETA?"

"Several hours. Sunset, maybe."

Dav nodded. "Right. I'll get my things."

Zace stood. "Me too."

Dav turned on her. "No!"

She drew herself up, coming almost to his shoulder. "Why not?"

"Because-" He stopped. "You haven't been trained, for one, and you don't even have your own armor-"

"You trained me," she pointed out. "You said I was a good shot."

Rana exchanged a glance with Ruusaan before slipping back out. "Yes, but being a good shot and actually shooting someone-"

"Well then, I won't shoot. I can be a medic. Ruusaan said I was good."

He shook his head. "It's too dangerous!"

She glared at him. "I want to help, Davrel! Do you even know? I don't want to lose any part of my family when I can do something to stop it!"

"Neither do I!" he fired back. "Putting an untried soldier in a situation like this is tantamount to murder!"

"Then I'll stay back!" Her eyes were starting to burn. "I'll stay back and take care of any casualties, or drive your speeder, or-" She blinked hard, and a large tear slid down her cheek. She angrily dashed it away, but Dav's expression had softened.

"Zas'ika…"

She glared at him. "Don't you 'Zas'ika' me right now, Davrel!"

He sighed. "Zas, you don't know what it can be like. I'm doing you a favor."

"I don't want your pity," she snapped. "I have just as much right and duty to be out there as you!"

His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine. Come then. But you will not be fighting! You will stay back and be a medic."

"Fine!" She whirled and stomped into the bedroom, waiting for the door to shut before she collapsed on the bed and burst into tears. He's going to hate me now. I can't stand it! I ruined everything again. There was a tap on the door.

"Go away, Dav!" she called, sitting up and sniffing hard.

The door opened to reveal Ruusaan. "Jhas'ika, he only wants the best for you."

She rubbed her eyes. Ruusaan's Mando'a pronunciation of her name was oddly comforting now, an audible sign of her acceptance. "I don't want his pity. He doesn't know what happened- what I've been through- I've lost my family once before. It's not happening again."

Ruusaan moved to sit on the bed by her, laying a gentle hand on her hair. "As he has." Zace faced her sharply.

"What?"

"Have you never wondered? He's adopted too. He was much too young to remember, but I took him from the ruins of my cousin's home and raised him as my own. I wonder that he's never told you."

Zace's face betrayed her shock. "No. I- I never even wondered. Never even thought-" She shook her head. "I'll go tell him I won't go."

Ruusaan held up a finger. "Don't stay because of him. If you feel you need to be there, then be there. He would move worlds for you, you know." She stood and slipped back out, leaving Zace confused but dry-eyed.

Dav slumped into the pilot's seat of his speeder and cradled his head in his hands. She was impossible. Impossible to talk to, to reason with, to stop thinking about! He shouldn't have shouted. He should've guessed that would make her even more determined to go, in spite of everything he could say. He cranked up the speeder, steering it carefully through the bustle to Ruusaan's front door. Zace was already outside, pulling on her boots. She looked up, seeing him, and stood, scooping up a bag of medical supplies. She slowly approached the speeder, still red-eyed. "Dav, I'm sorry."

He slid over to the passenger's side, and she mutely climbed in. He sighed. "Don't be. It's my fault-"

"No! I mean- you don't- you're right, I don't know what it's like. But I still want to help."

He nodded. "I know. I shouldn't have yelled at you." And I still don't want you out there, but I'm not going to fight with you about it.

She offered one leather-clad hand. "Pax?"

He frowned. "Me'ven?"

"Oh, sorry. Wrong planet slang." She grinned crookedly. "Friends again?"

He took her hand. "More than that, ner vod."

She raised an eyebrow. "Shall we go show these hut'uune what happens when you mess with Mando'ade?"

He grinned. "Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur."

For Zace, the rest of the afternoon was a blur of armor and weaponry. She knew that Mando'ade were warriors, but it was still impressive to see just how many exotic pieces of ordnance they had picked up. Rana's particular pride and joy was a Verpine shatter gun she had named Kyram'ika. She placed it gently in the padded rack behind Zace's seat and caressed it lovingly before turning to Zace.

"If anything happens, that gun better be safe. Verps don't bounce."

Zace nodded, unsure of what precisely she was supposed to do about it.

Orade slipped a rifle into the rack beside the gun. "Really, Rana, to hear you talk, you care more about that gun than you do about most people!"

Rana raised an eyebrow. "That's probably true, vod'ika. How many people do you know that can kill silently and puncture armor at the kind of range Kyram'ika has?"

Orade nodded, mock-serious. "Good point. I still can't believe you named it, though."

Rana shrugged. "How many Verps do you see every day? Ky is special."

Orade shook his head, about to reply as Dav walked up with an armful of ammunition. "Cut the chatter, you two. This stuff won't load itself."

Rana sighed exaggeratedly. "Oh, but Dav, I was just getting warmed up!"

Dav rolled his eyes and thrust the box of ammo into Rana's arms. "You too, Zas'ika. Go grab a few of those holdout pistols, and a belt and holster for yourself."

Zace slid obediently out of the speeder. "I thought you didn't want me fighting."

"I don't, but I don't want you defenseless either."

Rana shoved the ammo into Orade's arms and mimed strangling Davrel from behind. Zace bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing, and Dav frowned. "What?"

"Nothing," Zace lied, turning quickly toward the pile of blasters in the grass, smiling quietly.

She had little idea of what to look for, and simply picked the first three off the top of the pile, with a belt and holster. "These good?" she asked Dav, holding them up. He glanced at her distractedly.

"What? Oh, yeah. Go ahead and put the belt on. The strap at the bottom of the holster goes around your leg."

She fumbled with the belt for a moment. It was heavier than she had expected. She fastened all the clasps and slid one of the pistols into it, taking an experimental few steps. It was heavy, but with the secure heaviness of her armor or a good coat. She smiled. She could get used to this…

"Zas'ika, have you suddenly decided to become left-handed? I know you look up to me and all, but that's a bit extreme."

She whirled to find Rana behind her, smirking. "Blaster goes on the dominant side, kad goes on the opposite. Good try, though. Here, trade with me." Rana tossed her another belt.

"Oh. Um, right." Zace smiled. It was easier to get on this time, and she handed the other belt to Rana, who inspected the blaster in it.

"Dav didn't tell you which one to get, did he? This one's nearly as old as I am. Go get one of the shiny new ones."

Zace took the pistol back, holding up one that seemed newer. Rana nodded approvingly and vanished back into the crowd. Zace returned to the speeder, feeling slightly lost around so many people who knew what they were doing. Despite all she had learned in the past months, she was getting more and more used to everyone knowing more about everything than she did. Keb's younger brother Ijaat especially enjoyed beating her in target practice, or using some new word or phrase she hadn't heard before. Not that it was a bad thing, after all, just… different, like everything else in her new life.

The sun was low as Dav jogged over to the speeder. Zace was still sitting in the pilot's seat, polishing her blaster pistol with a bit of oiled rag. "Hungry?" he asked.

She looked up, startled. "Um, I guess."

"We're eating before we move out. Come on." He was surprised to see how grim she looked, but remembered how he'd felt before his first battle. Poor Zas. I was trained my whole life to be ready, but she has no idea.

She slipped the blaster into the holster and smiled wanly up at him. "You don't have to go, you know," he found himself saying.

"Oh, I know," she said quietly. "I know."

Dav coughed. "Rana is saving us a place. We'd better go." She followed him mutely to the center of the camp, where a huge fire was blazing. Rana, sprawled on the grass, waved to them, and Dav sat next to her.

Rana grinned. "Eat up, Zas'ika! Can't fight on an empty stomach."

Dav thought Zace looked like she'd rather not have anything in her stomach at all, but she accepted a bowl of stew from Rana anyway. Dav wolfed down his own, watching Zace. She was eating, if slowly. Rana, finishing her bowl, glanced up at the sun. "Not long now. Got your medkit and night vision?"

Zace paused. "This stew was the first thing I ever ate here."

Rana looked questioningly at Dav. He shook his head, patting Zace's shoulder. "You'll be fine. We may not even need you. Hit 'em in the dark, make a few eyes water, and we're gone."

Zace took a deep, shuddering breath. "I'll be fine."

Rana smiled encouragingly, slapping Zace's back affectionately. "You'll be fine, vod'ika."

Zace met her eyes and almost managed a smile back. "I'll be fine."

Dav stood and offered Zace his hand, pulling her to her feet. "Off we go then."

Rana grinned wolfishly. "Better hurry, or there won't be any left for us."

Once behind the speeder's controls, Zace seemed to steady visibly. Rana, in the back seat, was singing an unprintable drinking song under her breath while sharpening a few more projectiles for Kyram'ika.

"Ran," Dav said, turning half around in his seat, "is that entirely necessary?"

"We never care who wins the- What?" She looked up. "What's the matter, you don't like this song?" she asked, grinning wickedly.

"Not really, no."

Rana raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you insist." She tucked the projectiles into a belt pouch and leaned her head back against the seat. When he glanced back at her a few moments later, she was cradling Kyram'ika and appeared to be napping. Dav shook his head. It was always hard to tell, even for him, whether she was being sarcastic from nerves or if she really enjoyed fighting. He suspected the latter.

"Zas-"

"I know what you're going to say." She ran a hand distractedly through her hair. "And I really appreciate that you're trying to make me feel better, but I'd rather take the intent than the action right now, so just- don't." She gripped the throttle tightly, keeping her eyes on the area of grass immediately ahead of the speeder.

"All right. I won't." They rode in silence for a few minutes more, until the dim lights of what might have been campfires began to show on the horizon. Dav slipped his helmet on.

"Cut the lights, Zas, and follow Orade. We're almost there."