This is really short, but I have writer's block, so I wanted to give you what I had. I wrote the last chapter, hoping it would help, but I'm still having trouble. So, enjoy what I have here, because it may be a long time before another chapter gets posted. Thanks!


"What does it mean?" Nefret asked, sniffing as she finished her story. The sun was high in the sky now. Atem sat on the sand, looking out at the blue waters of the Nile. Nefret sat close to him, watching him as he sat contemplating her predicament.

"It seems that you really are special, Nefret," he said softly, smiling, keeping his eyes out towards the water. "When I realized you'd been captured, I had my priests look into why. Your ka is that of Bastet, which gives you the gift of communing with cats, whether consciously or not. While it has proved a blessing in the past," he said, turning to look at the lioness behind them. She turned to look at her master, amber eyes watching him with a hidden wisdom. He smiled, shifting his gaze to Nefret. "It seems this time it was instead a curse. I am just thankful we reached you in time."

"It shouldn't have happened at all," Nefret said, tears returning to her eyes as she remembered Djer. She would never be able to forgive herself for his death. Atem seemed to understand where her thoughts had drifted.

"It is not your fault he died," he said quietly, watching her as she cried silently, face buried in her arms as she pulled her knees up to her chest. "It isn't Djer's fault either. I will send someone to find his body, and we will give him a lord's funeral. If it is what you wish."

"He wouldn't want it, but it is what he deserves," Nefret said softly, her voice muffled by her arms about her face. She paused, before looking up into Atem's deep violet eyes. "I think it would be wonderful."

Atem smiled at her. He just couldn't look away from her face. Sure, it was covered in filth and blood from her horrible ordeal, but to him there was nothing in the world more beautiful than she. He had not realized at the enormity of his heartache until she was with him once more. He felt whole again, though he had not realized a part of him was missing.

There was a deep growl from behind them. Both looked around, and saw the lioness was watching a single figure approach warily. He seemed unwilling to get too close, but seemed determined to do so. Atem frowned, wondering why his order had been ignored.

"I apologize, Pharaoh," the Captain said, eyeing the lioness sitting between himself and Atem. "But I really must speak with you."

"Very well," Atem said with a sigh, turning back to Nefret. She was wringing her hands, staring down at her bare feet nervously. Smiling, he stood, holding out his hand.

"Come. You look like you could use some sleep." Nefret took his hand as he helped her up. Atem did not let go once she stood, but led her gently towards his tent. She followed obediently, her wariness obvious as her toes dragged through the sands. She made no effort to free her hand from the Pharaoh's grasp, just let him hold it loosely in his.

"Isis, will you help Nefret get comfortable?" Atem asked his priestess, who was standing a short ways off from the Pharaoh's tent. She smiled, and came over, indicating Nefret to enter the tent before her. With one last look at Atem, she did so, leaving Atem outside to tend to his duties.

"It is good to see you again, Nefret," Isis said softly as soon as the tent flap fell shut. "We really have missed you."

"Thank you Isis," Nefret said with a small smile. It did not reach her eyes.

"I will have some servants draw you a bath and bring you a clean set of clothes," Isis continued, her voice all business now. "Then you should take a nap. You have been through a lot."

Nefret just nodded, suppressing a yawn as she did so. Isis smiled, and left the tent again to fetch a servant.

After taking a bath and slipping into the clean tunic she was brought, Nefret felt infinitely better. Her thoughts were still haunted by the vicious priest and his cohorts, but the visions were already starting to fade. She climbed up onto the bed that had been brought for the Pharaoh, and proceeded to snuggle up into the large pillow. She closed her eyes, and in moments fell into a peaceful sleep, unhampered by nightmares and dark illusions.

Not long after sleep took her, Atem stepped into the tent, followed by the lioness. He smiled, watching as the enormous cat climbed up onto the bed, and lay down, her head resting on the sleeping girl's side. She purred happily, amber eyes merely slits as she lay there, content.

"I agree with you Sekhmet. Things just haven't been the same since she left, have they?" The cat purred loudly in response. Atem just shook his head happily, and made his way to a chair in the corner of the tent. He sat down and leaned back, letting his weary eyes close, but not before taking in the beautiful scene before him: the merchant girl with a smile on her face, her enormous cat lying at her side, the pair of them the only two women he had ever truly loved. It was a vision he would carry with him always.