Conversation had been kept to a minimum as they made their way on the long road. They were both rapt in thought, trying to sort out what the previous night's events meant. It wasn't that it was anything they were opposed to, but it had been far from something they'd expected, and certainly nothing they'd intended to seek out.

Their distraction was enough to attract the attention of an unsavory crowd. H'aanit leapt before Primrose, before the dancer had noticed a thing. It was only then that she heard the telltale sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath. Glancing about, she could see men positioned around them. Bandits.

No doubt they'd tried their hand at Victor's Hollow, and been sent home empty-handed. The two of them had stopped for lunch in the town. It was possible that they'd been followed, but if Primrose hadn't noticed that, then she was confident that H'aanit would have. Besides, Linde would have certainly dealt with the pursuers if they'd both somehow both been too preoccupied to notice something so blatant.

One of the men stepped forward, a jaunty grin plastered under hardened eyes as he sauntered over to them, his hand on his hip, mere inches from his scabbard. The road was clear of obstructions, save for the trees that his friends were using for cover, though the nearby river may have masked the initial sounds of their movement. "Afternoon, lasses. Sure is a shame to see two beautiful women travelin' alone like the two of ye."

Primrose could hear the huntress before her let out a low chuckle. They had been through far worse than this. These fools didn't know what they were walking into. "Aren we alone?" H'aanit asked. "I see Linde alongside me. I appreciate thy concern, but I assure thee that we aren fine."

Primrose had almost expected her to just set on the man without another word. She hoped it wasn't that she was worried about her. She could handle herself, and she had well proven that over their travels together.

His smile faltered for a moment before he was able to restore it. "I'm just trying to do ye a service. So tell me, why don't you just hand over your coins, and we'll make sure that you get to the next town safely."

"A generous offer. Wouldst thou otherwise strikest us down?"

"Only if it was necessary."

At that, Linde leapt on the man, ending his life in an instant. His companions leapt out to defend him, far too late, and a flurry of arrows ended four, while the remaining two were brought down by Primrose's daggers. She had given them time to reconsider their actions. It was no fault of theirs that the bandits were too foolish to realize that they were outmatched.

They stepped around the bodies, Linde falling in behind them. With H'aanit, it often seemed that the monsters would just leave them alone, that they respected her, unfortunately, humans were never quite so wise. Their journey always did its best to stay exciting.

The fight had not delayed them long, but the sun was growing low by the time they had reached the outskirts of S'warkii. "Do you want to stop for the night?" Primrose asked.

H'aanit gave a nervous glance to the road. If they continued on this path, they would bypass her village, but would not reach Flamesgrace until well past sunset, and she was growing tired. She had originally planned on stopping by her home, but after their night in Duskbarrow, she hadn't wanted to risk her master learning of the new development before she had decided what to tell him. "Perhaps," she offered, uncertainty warring within her.

"Are you worried?" Prim asked, stopping within arm's reach of her friend – or whatever they were now.

She nodded.

"Is there anything that he needs to know?" She knew H'aanit well enough to understand her concerns. Even someone who cared about her as much as Z'aanta did could still react unpredictably to such a revelation, and they weren't even sure what it was that they would potentially be revealing.

"I am not sure."

Shivering lightly in the evening breeze, Prim did her best to look unconcerned. "It's up to you. We can keep moving if that's what you'd like." She had only stopped in the village briefly on their travels, she hadn't had the opportunity to look around it, and she had so much new context for that exploration now. She would love to see H'aanit's home, but it had to be her decision.

"Thou wouldst likest a bed, I presume?"

She tried to keep herself from shivering. She didn't want to guilt her friend into this. "We can camp if you want."

H'aanit sighed heavily. She seemed to have made up her mind and turned slightly in the path, toward the fork. "I woulde love for thee to seest my home."

Prim tried to ignore her heart skipping a beat, much as she tried to ignore the butterflies swarming around inside her belly. This was what she wanted. It was not a feat that she'd ever desired before, she had never allowed herself to grow so close to anyone – she hoped it was exclusively that she had been too consumed by her quest, and not that she had thought she was waiting for Simeon. She was going to meet the woman she – she cut off that thought. That wasn't true yet, she wouldn't allow it to be. She was going to meet her friend's adoptive father and hunting master, and that was all there was to it.

A short hour later, they had arrived in the village of S'warkii. Several people swarmed H'aanit, leaving Primrose unattended off to the side. It seemed she'd been missed. "It's beene so long," the village elder announced.

"It hast," she agreed. "Dost thou knowest where master beth?"

Primrose scratched behind Linde's ear and received a prompt glare in response. Apparently she had not earned that privilege just yet. She took a step back.

"He beth at home."

"Wilst thou teachest me to shoote a bow?" an eager child asked, before they could proceed any further. He was not the only one, as another ran up. "I am olde enough now, am I not?"

"Perhaps another time," she offered, placing her hand on his head. "Thou hast grown, but we only stoppen here for the night."

He looked behind her to see Linde, and found Primrose as well. He quirked his head curiously. Apparently H'aanit didn't often bring home guests. She waved in greeting. He waved back, confusion still clear on his face.

"Fare thee well," H'aanit bid him, as they moved past. Her master's house was nearby, they only had to push past the throng of curious onlookers. A wolf howled in excited bursts as they approached.

The door flew open and the dire wolf jumped out, bounding towards H'aanit. "Hagen!" she called out.

He rubbed his head against her and gave a short crisp bark before turning to Primrose. She stared down at him, already worried just how the dire wolf may respond to a new person encroaching on his property. Fortunately, he seemed to recall her from their journey. He nudged her with his shoulder and led them up a short path to the door.

"H'aanit!" Z'aanta greeted them. He picked her up in his arms, hugging her tight to him. "It hath beene too long."

She yelped, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Settest me down, Z'aanta!"

He blinked, dropping her on her rump. He stared down at her. "Beth that any way to speakest to thy master?"

"I thoughte I was thy equal now," she groaned, rubbing at her rear while she made her way to her feet. "I savede thee, did I not?"

"That beth not the way I remember it."

"Thou werest petrified."

He turned his back on her and made his way inside. "Thou wouldst do best not to remind an olde hunter of his follies. Wouldst the two of ye liken tea?"

So he had noticed Primrose. They made their way inside, with Hagen rushing between them and Linde following after. "Greetings," Primrose offered. She felt every bit as awkward as she had feared. She knew this was insane. There was nothing to be awkward about. She'd helped save the man's life, if she wasn't a welcome guest, then no one was. It just didn't change that she had essentially kissed his daughter the previous night. "I would love some tea," she finally managed.

"I wolde as well.

In the small house, the two women gathered around a table as the older man set the kettle on a stove. He shoveled a few logs into the stove and began preparing the beverage. They had time. Primrose just had to relax.

She looked over at H'aanit and was somewhat relieved to see that she seemed to be doing no better. She was biting her lower lip and fidgeting with the hilt of her axe. It wasn't too obvious, but she'd spent the last few months with the huntress. She just hoped that the man who'd spent twenty-five years with her wouldn't notice the same.

Reaching out, Primrose gripped her friend's hand. She hadn't even realized she'd been going to do it. She squeezed it reassuringly, willing them both to believe that everything would be okay. It was scary, but there was nothing really to be afraid of. They just had to have tea and stay the night. What could possibly go wrong?
By the time Z'aanta had poured their tea, Primrose was starting to feel a bit better. From everything she'd heard, he was far more likely to talk their ears off than try to read their body language for every iota of detail. They'd be fine. "So, doth this mean that thy journey hast finally ended?" He asked, his hand smacking the table jovially. "It is good to see thee again, H'aanit."

"I have missed thee." Her smile was genuine. It tugged at Primrose's heart to think that they were keeping something from him. She'd be desperate to tell her father if he was still around. "We travelen still, however. Primrose and I willen to journey more." Her eyes fell on the other girl, her hand subconsciously reaching for her under the table. The normally hard and alert grey eyes softening as she beheld her. "She beth my friend." She swallowed, the admission seeming to take from her. Her eyes fell away, returning to her master.

Z'aanta faltered, his cup clattering against the table as he set it down in the midst of picking it up. His eyes narrowed, studying his prentice before turning to Primrose. The latter of whom had an almost irresistible urge to bolt from his scrutinizing gaze. Before she could give in, however, his aged face split open in a maniacal grin, as his fist pounded upon the table again, tea sloshing out of his cup. "'Swounds, H'aanit. I've heard thee not sayest such since thee were a babe. Primrose, been it?"

Primrose was not sure she'd ever heard anyone from the Woodlands use the exclamation. It was so much more common in the Sunlands, where she'd spent most of the last decade. He did get around. Watching H'aanit avert her gaze as she tried to form her response, Primrose could feel her affection for the older woman growing all the stronger. They'd both been alone for so long. Only now, after they'd left the other six, did it finally seem that that loneliness was truly over.

H'aanit took in a breath, turning back to the old man. "Thou embarrassest me, Z'aanta. Needest thee speakest so?"

Primrose chuckled wryly at the comment. She was always floored by just how forthright H'aanit was. "And here I was thinking I was just another in a long line," she teased, prompting her friend to immediately turn red.

Z'aanta's laughter only grew

"I can see why thee wouldst likest her. If I was only a bit younger, I think I wolde be quite fond of her myself."

Gnashing her teeth, H'aanit tore her cup from the table, silencing any response she may have been formulating. Primrose sipped her own tea, studying the huntress. Was she jealous? As she couldn't reach her hand without being too obvious or spilling her tea, she gave H'aanit's thigh a quick reassuring squeeze through the heavy pelts. She wondered if that meant that there was something of which to be jealous.

"Now pray tell," Z'aanta continue, as if he'd not noticed his words having any effect, "What haven ye encountereden on your journey? Slayen you any strange creatures?"

The cup clanked quietly on the table, as the once again composed H'aanit's smile returned, her teeth bared in an eager challenge. "We haven encountereden creatures the likes of which thee wouldst never dreamest."

"We even slew a dragon," Prim added.

"Thou hast already told me of thy dragon, many times that night, haven you slain nothing since? I bestede a beast Fifty fathoms in length, with horns that touchedeth the skies. 'Twas the mightiest of beasts. I've no doubt that it wolde putteth your hunts to shame."

"Fifty fathoms? Thou surely jestest."

"Nay, 'tweren Fifty fathoms if it weren an inch."

Leaning forward and almost knocking over her tea, H'aanit met her master's eyes. "We've foughte a beast twice that size. Its head blockede out the night sky as we fought, and it tooke a hundred arrows to bringeth it down."

"I'd have it in two. One through each eye."

"It hade a dozen."

His hands folded behind his head as he leaned back in his chair, answering her with a warm grin. "Thou art truly my prentice. No other hunter couldst be thy equal."

"That wouldst include thee, master."

"So it wolde." His smile only grew larger, showing yellowed teeth.

Smirking, she drained the rest of her tea. Z'aanta's praise seemed to have given her a greater confidence than she'd ever known. Primrose found it more than a little alluring. Her foot brushed against H'aanit's and the two exchanged glances that neither of them could read. There were so many emotions they both wanted to convey and neither of them could settle on a single one.

"Now, Primrose," Z'aanta announced. He really didn't shut up. "I neede to knowe who this woman with whom my prentice travels beth. We met but briefly."

There it was. She truly was meeting H'aanit's father. This was a deed she'd been avoiding her whole life. She'd never allowed herself to grow close enough to risk it, even if that hadn't quite been the reason. "My name is Primrose Azelhart, daughter of Geoffrey Azelhart."

Clearly he recognized the name. His eyes narrowed as he studied her, finishing his tea. "Just what art thou draggingest my prentice into?"

She flushed. That was just embarrassing. She'd been put in far less pleasant positions and been substantially less bothered. The truth was that she was scared she may indeed be dragging H'aanit into danger in a world that she didn't understand. Primrose just knew that she didn't want to have to go through it without her. "Nothing that she can't handle. Your apprentice is more than capable enough. H'aanit is the strongest woman I've ever known."

That seemed to placate him. His smile returned. "Indeed she beth. I coulde not be more proud."

Primrose had expected that he would continue grilling her. It was exactly what she'd been dreading and it seemed inevitable at that point. Instead he launched into a tale of some great hunt he'd been on in his youth. Then another. And another. At some point he seemed to fall asleep in the middle of a tale, only to continue telling it.

Before he could start another story, H'aanit rose. "We both been tired from the road. We shall taken my bed. Rest well, Z'aanta." She hesitated before calling her master his name, but being his equal had seemed to mean a lot to her. Even if he was a father to her, that respect was worth more than addressing him as such.

She led the way to the bed in a small corner of the house. It was scarcely big enough for one of them. Primrose choked down a lump in her throat as she swallowed the meaning of this. H'aanit wanted to share a bed with her again. With Z'aanta mere feet away. they would obviously go no further than the previous night, but it meant that they would not even start out with the pretense of separate beds.

Once in their nightclothes, Primrose found herself in the older woman's arms, hot breath warming her, along with the large woman's body heat. Her own breath caught in her throat. This was all so unlike her. She could scarcely believe what H'aanit reduced her to. She was like a child with a crush. When H'aanit's lips pressed against her hair, she thought she may well go mad.

"I thanke thee. I am sure that was most unnerving. Thou didst not speakest a word of –" she trailed off, "of us."

Primrose rested her own hand on the one over her belly. She searched for her voice. She knew that she had to have left it somewhere around there. It could not have gone far. "Us?" she finally managed to ask.

"That beth to say – I meane, if thou willest – unless… Primrose?" She asked, her voice faint in the still night. Linde and Hagen slept on the floor nearby and they could hear Z'aanta snoring a small distance away.

"You don't need to worry." She turned, her eyes meeting the frightened grey ones of her lover. "I don't know precisely where we might be going with this, I'm sure we want different things in life, but I am entirely willing to see where this goes."

Warm lips met hers for the briefest instant before H'aanit pulled away a fraction of an inch. "I have just never – not really."

"Nor have I." Her hand strode down H'aanit's side, resting on her hip. "We have time. Let's enjoy our travels. We can figure everything out."

"Thou art right. I shoulde not worry so."

"It's cute."

H'aanit's body heat seemed to only grow. When Primrose cupped her friend's cheek she could feel just how heavily she was flushing. "Thou art far cuter and more beautiful."

It was a long while before either of them could relax enough to sleep. So much lay before them, and finding just what it may be seemed both the most enticing and terrifying of journeys. Their former quests seemed to be almost nothing in comparison, though they both knew that they would only feel that way in the moment. Before long, no matter what answers they found, they would see just how foolish they'd seemed in that moment, thinking this was more overwhelming than the pursuit of vengeance and the salvation of a loved one. In that moment, however, nothing could have seemed more important. They had each other, in whatever way it was, and they wanted nothing more than to find out just where this new road would lead.