"Okay…I'm all packed up." Lilly had changed into a practical, yet stylish ranch-hand's coveralls and hat, complete with a hawk feather sticking out of the band. Leopold and Amon each flashed her an awkward grin, nodding tentatively, silent. Looking between the two, she lifted an eyebrow, raising her shoulders in agitation. "Is something else wrong, here?"

"Not at all!" Amon interjected quickly. They laughed and shrugged it off, and she lowered her defenses. "We were just discussing the best way for us to travel."

"And what have you come up with?" Lilly seated herself at the end of Leopold's bed. She took off her hat, her attention on Amon. Leopold shifted subtly, pulling more of the blanket over his lap. "Do you really think leaving will keep Emerald Ranch safe?" She didn't appear desperate, but the soft quiver in her voice gave her away - she wasn't ready to leave, yet. Despite this, her resolve seemed perfectly sound.

"I do," Aon nodded. "Leopold and I will go to Rhodes for three days, then move to Saint Denis, where we will stay for one week," they explained, their expression turning serious. "You will tell your employer that you're going to Annesburg, but you will instead take the train to Riggs Station, and then go to Strawberry. Keep quiet and to yourself while onboard. The O'Driscolls still have influence in New Hanover."

"A moment, please, Amon," Leopold halted the conversation. Amon and Lilly looked at him, waiting patiently. "Don't tell anyone you're leaving. The less people know, the better off they will be. If you give anyone any information, true or not, they will want more, and will be inclined to gossip. Your friends here can wait a while before you write to them."

"That…makes sense." She appeared thoughtful, if not grateful for the advice from an outlaw.

"And use a false name," he added, remembering the need for such precautions. I should come up with something, too… He considered this, deciding to think on it later.

"Okay, what should I do when I get to Strawberry?" Leopold's eyes flickered between Amon and Lilly. The Shapeshifter kept their poise, not an ounce of the relaxed, post-passion daze affecting them. Lilly's lips and left eye had twitched at the mention of the O'Driscolls. For a split second, he wondered if she would try to hunt them, like Sadie, then turned those thoughts away, lest they wander in unwanted directions.

"From Strawberry," Amon continued. "Take a stagecoach that will bypass Blackwater through Tall Trees, and take you to Armadillo."

"Woah, hold up," Lilly raised her hands, her expression simultaneously frightened and irritated. "It sounds like you're sending me to my death."

"I'm sorry, Amon, but I have to agree," Leopold started, unable to bite his tongue. They shot him a curious glance, tilting their head slightly. His heart fluttered, and he held back a smile at this behavior of theirs he was growing to adore. He cleared his throat, shaking it off. "Isn't Strawberry a good enough stopping point? Why should she have to risk crossing through all of that wild country?"

"Allow me, if I may, to ask something, first." They looked between them, nodding first to Leopold, who nodded back, and then to Lilly, who stared on silently. "What do you want to do with your life, now that you are free of debts, and have the knowledge that you must run?"

"What do I…want?" The question caught her off guard. She nearly recoiled from it, her visage changing rapidly as she thought it through. Frustration, Fear, sadness, resentment, all passed over her like a churning tidal wave. She cast a brief, murderous glare at Leopold, then softened instantly, her eyes resting on his tightly bandaged shoulder. Then, she met his eyes; his heart skipped a beat, drumming out the tight, painful squeezes of anxiety. When she turned away, a single, rogue tear strayed down her cheek.

"I don't know, Amon." She deflated. All of her fire had been extinguished. "I haven't thought too much about what I've wanted in a few years."

"I understand." They placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering a sympathetic smile. "Take your Time, and give it some thought. If you like Strawberry enough to stay, I hope it's good for you." With that said, they passed her a stack of bills, procured from their mysterious bag. "Take this. Relax for a while. Maybe go explore the mountains and forests while you're there."

"Amon, I-I can't!" She pushed the money away. "You've already done far too much for me!"

"I've also caused you to have to abandon your entire life and start anew." They presented the cash again. When she still refused to take it, they sighed. "Please, use this. It may not be so easy to find decent work as soon as you arrive. And even if it is, it's important to have a way out, if necessary."

"But, it's yours…" She stared at them incredulously, as though they'd grown a second head. For all anyone knew, they could at any moment.

"Yes, and I am gifting it to you." They insisted, holding it closer to her.

"But-"

"Please." They stressed, tensing up a little. "Take it. I don't need it, and you do."

"Okay…thank you." At last, Lilly accepted the money. She appeared ready to cry, but held herself together. Amon merely smiled, relaxing their posture. She embraced them abruptly; the giant chuckled softly, and wrapped their arms around her shoulders. "I'll never forget your kindness, Amon." She kissed their cheek - the act was innocent enough, but Leopold couldn't stop the jealous pang that rocketed through his heart at that moment. It passed as soon as she let go of the Shapeshifter and stood, putting her hat back on. "I should probably leave soon." She faced Leopold, then, her expression unreadable. "Thank you, for last night."

"Thank you, for your hospitality." He paused, considering what else to say. He'd wanted to thank her properly for the chicken soup, but could not find his voice the previous day. "Your soup was wonderful. I feel much better; I don't feel feverish anymore, and my cough has not returned."

"It's an old family recipe," she smiled, softening momentarily. "Guaranteed to cure all that ails you. And, while I am grateful for your intervention and your advice," she iced over a little. "I still don't want to see you ever again."

"Understandable." Her words touched a tender spot; he looked away from her, exhaling softly. "Be well, Miss Millet."

"Take care of yourself, Mister Strauss." She opened the door, then paused. "And stick with Amon. I think a friend like him would do you a lot of good." Upon her exit, signaled by the click of the door handle, Leopold turned back to Amon. The giant locked the door, and returned to his bedside.

"Forgive me, Amon," he shrank back, afraid they would be upset with him. They gave him a look of bewilderment, as though they couldn't understand what he was saying. "I-I directly opposed you, in front of Miss Millet…"

"Please, Leo," Amon smiled, shaking their head. They brought him in for a warm embrace, resting their head on his. His heart beat fast, his arms coiled around their waist. "Don't apologize for speaking up. I'm glad you did, because you made some excellent points that could very well save her life someday." They began to pull back from him, and he reluctantly loosened his hold on them. "As for you and I, we will take a train to Rhodes. We should leave at sundown, so we arrive by dawn. Until then, get some rest, Habibi."

"Wait!" He took their hand, just as they were about to stand up. "I have so many questions!"

"I know, my dear, but I have work to do, and plans to make before we leave. We can talk on the train." They coaxed him into lying down, bringing the blanket up over his chest. "Sleep well, Habibi." They left him with a lingering kiss before exiting the room. Smiling to himself, and with a blissful sigh, he allowed himself to doze off. However, his slumber was less than restful, as he witnessed a hazy, visceral nightmare of a massive Black Pharaoh, upon their grotesque throne of black stone and gold. Piercing wails, and dismal cries in alien tongues filled the space between them, carried along the infernal winds of the desert.

The Pharaoh had four arms, ringed with many bands of gold, and six burning red eyes. They wore an ornate headdress of gold, and white, blood-stained silk. They grinned at him, the visage of their gory needle-teeth engraining itself in his Mind. A scream lodged in his throat; a pitiful squeak escaped, but no more. The Pharaoh's mouth moved, seeming to speak to him, but their voice was, perhaps mercifully, drowned out by a high-pitched whine in his head. His vision shook, and he trembled violently, falling to his knees before their terrible majesty.

Leopold woke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. Sitting bolt upright, he looked around the room in a panic, as though expecting the Pharaoh to show up. Instead, he was alone; the light of the setting sun crept through the curtains, giving the room a soft, golden-orange glow. There was a light knock at the door, and the person who stepped through could have been mistaken for a younger, healthier Leopold. He shifted uncomfortably, as the image of the Black Pharaoh's face flashed through his Mind, then slowly faded as the newcomer approached.

"Err…do I know you?" He watched them carefully, unmoving.

"I would hope so!" They laughed, a smile lighting up their face. Leopold's heart fluttered at the sight of it, and he couldn't help but smile, too.

"Amon?!" He started in disbelief. They nodded, taking his hands. "You look like a music composer!" The two shared a small laugh. Indeed, the Shapeshifter sported a stylish suit of black and white, complete with a vest, elegantly embroidered with gold thread. A frilled cravat adorned with a yellow jewel hung from their neck, and a silver pocket watch chain draped over their left hip. Their shoulder-length charcoal hair was swept back, revealing a prominent widow's peak, and a pair of round spectacles sat atop their crooked nose. They had high cheekbones, and a strong but narrow jaw. Their aquamarine eyes could have pierced the darkest night, and as they gazed into his, they flashed pink briefly. His heart shuddered and raced as he felt their affection rolling off of them in waves, permeating his senses, warming him from the inside out.

"Please, call me Felix!" They spoke in a jovial tenor, with a rich, Viennese accent. "Felix Hoffmann."

"Okay, Liebling," Leopold chuckled, shaking his head. "Why the new look?"

"Well, I gave it some thought," they began, giving his good hand a gentle squeeze. "And as much as I would like to give the Lemoyne Raiders a headache, your safety is my top priority while we are traveling together. So," they let go of his hands, reaching for their peculiar bag, and procuring a mirror. Holding it up, they moved over next to him, so they could see one another's reflections. Leopold noted how tired he still looked, and how the bandages over his shoulder were starting to loosen up. "Tell me," Felix said, capturing his attention again. "Do you think we look like we could be related?"

"Actually, yes." He glanced back and forth repeatedly between his reflection, and theirs. "Do we need to?"

"To protect your identity, yes." They put away the mirror. "Have you considered your own false name?"

"Not yet, but I will." He gave it a brief thought. "Tacitus Kilgore" was definitely off the table. He considered the Shapeshifter's resemblance to him, and it clicked. "How about 'Franz Hoffmann?'"

"Perfect!" They clapped their hands, their grin almost off-putting. Leopold could have sworn he saw the Pharaoh again. His vision rattled, and his heart raced briefly, until they spoke again. "Now, while I'm 'Felix,' I will be your nephew, who is taking you to Rhodes for a few days so you can rest and recover."

"Wait, Amon - err, sorry, Felix. What about your missing person?"

"Don't worry about that. I can handle it." They seemed confident enough, but Leopold couldn't shake off his concern. "You need to regain your strength before we go to Saint Denis."

Leopold sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His feet touched the cool floorboards, sending a burst of pain up his legs. Attempting to ignore it, he stood, and promptly fell back, his knees giving out. Dejected, he sighed and looked away from Felix. "Go on without me," he muttered, barely audible, even to himself. "I'll only slow you down, and finding your person is more important than having me tag along with you." A glimmer of hope touched his Heart, and he glanced back to the Shapeshifter. "Couldn't we arrange a rendezvous once your mission is complete?"

"No, Leo." Felix's voice was firm, yet their expression remained friendly. "I'm going to make sure you're taken care of."

"But-" They cut him off; one hand under his chin, their thumb brushing his lips gently. His cheeks burned, and he shivered, heart racing, his eyes trained on theirs. Although tempted to lean in for a kiss, he refrained, instead waiting for them to speak.

"Please trust me. Everything will be okay."

"I do trust you." Again, he thought of Anna, and had to fight back tears. "But…how can you be sure?"

"I'm sorry…" Their voice fell to a whisper; a faint waver crept in, suggesting an underlying sadness. "I can't explain. I just am."

"You know," he began, taking both of their hands. His eyes never left theirs - his heart leapt into his throat as they gave him a serene smile, disarming him completely. He grinned, unconsciously pulling them closer to him. "There's so much I want to know about you, Liebling."

"And I want to share…I do." Felix pressed their forehead to his, sighing softly, shutting their eyes. "But please, be patient, my dear."

"Can you tell me one thing?"

"Possibly." Their eyes snapped open, startling Leopold with their brilliance. "It depends."

"Did you ever make it to the Southwest?" It wasn't the question he'd intended to ask, but it was the first one to come out. Once it did, he could no longer remember what the original question could have been.

Felix beamed, brighter than ever before; Leopold's heart fluttered yet again as they leaned back, laughing. "Idid, and it is glorious!" Bringing his hands to their lips, they kissed his knuckles softly, sending a tremor through him. "And if you'd go with me," their eyes lit up as they gazed into his, their grin stretching from ear to ear. A faint blue blush touched their cheeks. "I'd Love to show you someday!"

"Ich würde überall mit dir hingehen." The sincerity of his own words alarmed him. He gazed at the Shapeshifter in awe, a light blush creeping across his face. How do you captivate me so? I don't understand you, and yet…I feel like I do.

"Then, please…" They leaned in again, planting a soft kiss on his lips. His heart jumped, and his Mind scrambled as he melted into them. A quiet groan and blissful sigh escaped him. Felix chuckled in response, pulling away, leaving him wanting for more. They caressed his face, rubbing his cheek with their thumb. "Go with me to Rhodes, and then Saint Denis."

"Very well, Liebling," he conceded, giving them a dazed, half-smile. "Shall we get ready, and head to the train station?"

"Ja!" Felix beamed again. "Lass uns gehen!"