"There it is finished." Rath said, looking over the new weapons he and Ja-Kal had been working on for the past day. "I just hope Jade will appreciate all of the hard work."
"Of course she will, Rath. You know how much she values everything you've done for her." Ja-Kal answered as Rath wrapped Jade's new weapons in a piece of bandage torn from Rath's arm.
"I certainly hope so. Still I will not know until I bring these to her." Rath replied as he climbed to his feet only to sway and he quickly pressed the parcel into his hands, afraid he'd drop it as Ja-Kal moved to his side.
"Rath, you have been working non-stop for a full day." Ja-Kal told him and Rath raised his eyebrows at his friend. "Maybe you should rest and give them to Jade later." He suggested as he walked Rath back to his sarcophagus.
"But I promised Jade that I would...whoa." He gasped, tripping over his own feet and Ja-Kal shot forward steadying his friend who clutched the parcel tight. "Y..you are right, Ja-Kal. I will leave these with you while I rest in my sarcophagus. I want to give them to Jade myself so will you promise me she will not find them?" Rath asked, handing them to Ja-Kal once they reached Rath's sarcophagus.
"Of course, Rath. I promise Jade will not set eyes on these until you are ready to hand them to her yourself." Ja-Kal promised and Rath nodded, pulling open his sarcophagus' lid and once he stepped inside Ja-Kal closed it behind him.
"Thank goodness. I did not realize how long I had been working." Rath sighed, crossing his arms over his chest before he closed his eyes.
"I'd better find somewhere safe for these until Rath wakes. I can't let Jade see these weapons." Ja-Kal muttered looking up when he heard footsteps. Thinking fast he hid the wrapped weapons behind his back suddenly worried until he saw Nefer-Tina approaching him and he let out a breath.
"Hey Ja-Kal, there you are." She said stopping when he saw him pulling something from behind his back. "What's that?" She asked once she saw the bandages.
"It's a gift from Rath to Jade but I promised him I would keep it well hidden until Rath could hand it to her himself." Ja-Kal explained, keeping the parcel against his chest.
"So where is Rath then?" Nefer-Tina asked and Ja-Kal pointed to Rath's sarcophagus. "Yeah he has been working pretty hard. Wait that's what he's been working on?"
"Yes, Nefer-Tina. I have been assisting Rath but he did most of the construction himself. But he is worn out and so I'm keeping these safe and away from Jade until he can give them to her." Ja-Kal explained, looking down at the parcel in his hands. "The only problem is where to put this until Rath is rested."
"I can help you with that, Ja-Kal." Nefer-Tina answered and he nodded following her further into the sphinx. "Right now Jade, Armon and the prince are playing hacky sack so Rath's secret is safe." She added, already going over several places that would work in her head.
"Heads up, Jade!" Presley called and I grinned, watching as the hacky sack flew towards me. Still smiling I kicked it sending it high into the air and as it fell back towards the ground Presley kicked it back towards Armon. Distracted by the game I didn't see Nefer-Tina and Ja-Kal walking over as Armon the hacky sack sending it straight towards them.
"Hey heads up!" I called out but Nefer-Tina reacted first knocking it back to Presley who kicked it back and forth between his feet. "Sorry about that." I apologized as they joined us.
"That's alright, Jade. It was an accident." Nefer-Tina answered and Ja-Kal nodded. "Can we play?"
"Of course." I told them and she grinned as Presley kicked the hacky sack towards Nefer-Tina leaving Ja-Kal looking slightly confused. "What's wrong, Ja-Kal?"
"How do you play this hacky sack?" He asked and I looked at Nefer-Tina as she kicked it to Armon. "It does not look too complicated."
"It's really fun, Ja-Kal. You should play with us." I said to him and he just shrugged, giving me a nod. As we played together I couldn't help wondering where Rath had gotten to.
Hopefully he comes out soon and joins us. He seemed a little preoccupied when I mentioned learning to use a weapon. I hope he's alright wherever he is.
"Jade, look out!" Ja-Kal called out just as the hacky sack bounced off the side of my head, making me blink. "Sorry about that."
"No problem, Ja-Kal. I was somewhere else." I replied, picking up the hacky sack. "You wouldn't happen to know where Rath is would you?"
"Oh he's in his sarcophagus. He needed a rest after working on..." Ja-Kal trailed off when Nefer-Tina nudged him and he just shrugged. "Well he needed a rest."
"That's okay I was just worried about him." I replied, trying to get my mind back to our game though something about the way Ja-Kal avoided the question had me thinking. Sometime later Nefer-Tina drove Presley back home and while they were gone I walked back into the large room where we sleep sneaking away from Ja-Kal before I wandered over to Rath's sarcophagus.
As carefully as I could I reached for the lid only to hear someone clearing their throat and I looked back to see Ja-Kal standing on the steps. Once he saw what I was doing he slowly shook his head and with a shrug I stepped away from his sarcophagus, moving down the platform.
"Jade, you should let him rest." Ja-Kal scolded though he had a tiny smile on his lips when he said it. "Though I understand that you are worried about him."
"I wasn't trying to wake him up but I was worried. I haven't seen him since yesterday when I mentioned wanting to learn to fight with weapons. I hope he didn't tire himself out for me." I replied as I stood beside Ja-Kal.
"Rath was working on something the last time I spoke to him but he didn't tell me what it was. Though as soon as he wakes up I'm sure he'll tell you." Ja-Kal promised and I gave him a quick grin looking back at Rath's sarcophagus. "He will be fine, Jade."
"I know I just worry about him." I replied as we walked back outside to join our friends. "I mean he can take care of himself so I really shouldn't worry."
"There is nothing wrong with taking care of someone." Ja-Kal answered and I felt my cheeks warming up as we returned to our game.
I headed back inside the sphinx making an excuse to get a drink though once I entered the doorway I quickly made my way into the sarcophagi room. Tiptoeing in bandages wasn't easy but I managed it making my way as quietly as I could towards one sarcophagus in particuar.
"I know I shouldn't be waking you up, Rath," I whispered reaching out before I ran my fingers along the lid of his sarcophagus, "But I just can't resist." Gently I pulled open the lid poking my head inside only to find the sarcophagus empty. A little surprised I gently closed the lid thinking as someone observed me, carefully making their way towards me as I crossed my arms.
"Where could you have disappeared to?" I whispered just as someone wrapped their arm around my waist the other hand quickly moving to my mouth, stifling my cry for help.
"Jade, calm yourself. It is only me." Rath whispered and I immediately calmed, unable to turn my head though once he saw my eyes narrowing he sighed. "If you will relax I will take my hand away." Once I managed to give him a tiny nod he took his hand away from my mouth, both arms now wrapped around my waist.
"Rath, you scared me." I complained and his lips curled into a smirk as I crossed my arms. "That was not funny."
"It was only a joke and besides you have been trying and failing to sneak up on me, Jade so fair is fair." Rath responded, relaxing his grip so that I could turn myself around.
"Alright that was kind of funny. You are very sneaky." I commented and he chuckled as I draped my arms around his neck. "I never knew that about you, Rath."
"There are many things about me that you do not know, Jade." Rath replied as he leaned in close enough to leave us nose to nose. "I am sure I could teach you a few things about myself if you care to learn?"
"I would like that very much, Rath." I whispered liking the way he smiled at me though once I noticed him looking past my shoulder for a few seconds I frowned. "Is there something wrong, Rath?"
"Everything is perfect, Jade." He answered, taking a hand from my waist. Rath cupped my chin titling my head to one side before he brushed a light kiss to one side of my neck. I didn't react right away even as Rath kissed his way down my neck pausing at my throat, fixing me with a raised eyebrow until I finally sighed.
"Yes...yes it is." I agreed and he chuckled faintly leaning in and I sighed, tilting my head back when he pressed his lips to my throat.
"Do you think Jade found her present yet?" Nefer-Tina asked Ja-Kal, walking alongside her friend and leader as they walked back inside the sphinx just in front of Armon and Presley.
"I hope not, Nefer-Tina. We went through a lot of work to hide it for Rath." Ja-Kal answered and Presley looked at Armon who shrugged just as lost. "He really wanted to give the weapon to her himself."
Once they walked into the sarcophagi room they all gasped four sets of eyes widening as they came across their teammate and his possible girlfriend standing in front Rath's sarcophagus, arms wrapped around each other.
"Well it looks like Jade found Rath." Ja-Kal finally managed to say and Rath lifted his head, holding me tightly in his arms as he searched for the source of the interruption. With my nose currently buried in Rath's neck I cracked open my eyes wondering why he'd stopped kissing me until I saw our friends staring at us.
"W...we can explain...I believe." Rath stammered, his arms slipping from around my waist and I sighed my arms moving to my sides as I chewed my lip.
"All I wanted was a moment alone. Do the gods of Egypt hate me or something?" I muttered and Rath cracked a smile, gently patting me on the shoulder.
"I doubt that very much, Jade." Rath commented and I just shrugged, liking the way he draped an arm around my shoulders. "You will feel better once I give you your gift."
"Ohhh a present? What is it?" I asked and he laughed, nodding towards Ja-Kal who gave him a quick nod back leaving the room and I snorted. "Aww don't leave me in suspense."
"I asked Ja-Kal to hide the present until after I rested and could give it to you myself. You just need to be patient, Jade." Rath chuckled and I sighed, tapping one foot against the cold floor as I waited for Ja-Kal to return. "That is not being patient."
"You're lucky I haven't torn the sphinx apart looking for my gift." I retorted and he sighed shaking his head as Ja-Kal returned holding something in his hands wrapped in a torn piece of bandage.
"Calm down, Jade. Just give me a moment to bring this to you." Ja-Kal told me as I ceased tapping my foot looking on as Ja-Kal handed the wrapped package to Rath.
"Here you are, Jade." Rath said handing the present to me and I barely gave him time to pass it to me before I started to unwrap it soon revealing two daggers no longer than the distance between my index finger and my wrist , the hilts inscribed with a small jackal head and something written in hierogliphics. As I looked at them sitting in the palms of my hands my eyes widened and I broke into a huge smile, running my fingers over the hilts.
"Jade, what do you think?" Rath's voice finally interrupted and I lifted my head clutching them by the hilts before I stepped forward and he blinked, his cheeks darkening when I planted a kiss on his cheek. "Do you really like them?"
"Of course I do, Rath. They're beautiful." I replied and Rath nodded, trying to ignore the sniggering from his friends. "Just wait until I get to use these on Scarab."
"Hold on, Jade. You must learn to crawl before you can walk." Rath warned and I snorted at him, gripping them as I pretending to attack Scarab. "Jade, are you even listening to me?" Rath sighed and I straightened giving him a sheepish smile.
"Of course I am, Rath I'm just excited to be able to defend my friends now." I replied and he gave me a smile moving to my side and I blinked as he grasped my arm, moving my hand around. "What are you doing?"
"Showing you the correct way to defend and attack with your daggers. It will take practice but I am sure you will get the hang of this." Rath promised and I coughed, glancing down at his hand and he finally removed his fingers. "Of course I will teach you." He added as I cleared my throat.
"Whenever you want to teach me just let me know, Rath." I replied, hoping no one could see me blushing. Of course everyone could judging by the barely contained sniggering as Rath walked over to retrieve his sword.
"How about now?" Rath asked, spinning his own weapon in a tight circle. "You cannot learn to use your own weapons, as our prince would call it, on the fly."
"Cool then let's go. I'm ready whenever you are." I laughed as I hurried over to the spot on the floor where Presley and I practiced Egypt-Tsu. "Bring it on, Rath."
"You may come to regret those words, Jade." Rath responded as everyone followed the wizard, taking a spot a few feet away to watch us practice.