Rephidim Bazaar
Rephidim is by no means a less-than-diverse city, but you can't find a more random collage than in the Bazaar. The brightly clashing colors and the distinct differences of the classes who (almost) bump shoulders almost scream this out to those who don't come to this revelation by themselves. Musicians this way and that … Barkers selling everything you 'need' or could ever want – even love … Kids playing in the streets and getting in the way … Nobles and their bodyguards cutting swathes through the crowd … There are plenty of places to get lost, and plenty of interesting persons to find.

The streets change daily, or so it seems, the way the booths are set up and taken down so quickly. Much of the credit goes to the frantic entrepreneurial spirit of the Kavis, who can be found in greater density here in the Bazaar than in most other places in Rephidim. Any given Kavi merchant likely has at least three businesses he runs during the course of a day, his booth being taken down, moved, put up, replaced and done all over again through the daily cycle.

Through the mayhem walks a black Khatta with a lot weighing on his shoulders. He could get lost easily, except for two things: First, that big nonfunctional clock tower provides a handy landmark. Second, since his father has one of the few stores located in this part of town (rather than a mere booth), he is more familiar with this place than most.

Jynx walks about the booths, looking for somewhere to spend a few shekels and maybe get a bite to eat. Most importantly, he avoids going near his father's shop, and also has an eye out for any crazy Templar knights.

A corner of one building has been smashed away by some long-forgotten catastrophe, resulting in a crumbling overhang that serves to shelter a rubble- filled space underneath – a space that a black bat in dark garments has taken advantage of, playing an eerie melody on her flute, while accompanied by an over-enthusiastic Vykarin drummer.

Jynx, always a lover of music, decides to take a look at the interesting duo. He pads over to them, and keeps a bit of a distance so as not to be rude.

By the bat's appearance, and by the increased frequency of Eeees … it would seem that Jynx has wandered into the fringes of Little Babel again. Of course, he knows the streets like the back of his hand, but the details of what actually FILL those streets change from day to day. Unfortunately, this means that most of the fare he will find here will either be fruit, sweet candy … or bugs.

A quick glance at the clock tower would reveal that it's now noon. Of course, wait five more minutes, and it would STILL reveal that it's noon, but for right now (or, that is, at the moment you started reading this line), it's correct. Now, you'll just have to wait another twelve hours for it to be correct again.

As Jynx's attention is focused on the pretty bat and her not-so-pretty assistant … there comes an insistent tug on the black Khatta's tail, followed by a second yank in rapid succession.

Jynx, looking both at the bat and for a place to eat lunch, jumps a bit at the tug, and turns to view the perpetrator.

As Jynx turns about, at first he finds … nobody. Then, a glance down reveals a white Khatta kitten, about ten years of age, with impossibly big and expressive eyes which blink curiously back at Jynx. She wears a faded dress that has been resized and patched several times, and she clutches a doll that looks like it has suffered even more abuse. In fact, it looks like it has been mauled by a wild beast.

Jynx's heart jumps into his throat… (Oh no… It can't be her… )

The kitten swings back and forth, the limbs of her "dolly" flopping, as she scrutinizes Jynx a moment longer. Then, she mews, "Are you a GHOST?"

Jynx looks around to make sure the kitten isn't accompanied, then snatches his tail back from the kitten. "No, I'm not! Go home, Eve!"

The kitten swings her dolly back and forth again, still looking Jynx straight in the eyes. "I don't wanna. You look a lot like my big brother, except he's dead, but are you sure you're not a ghost, because you sure look like him? But you don't smell like a ghost, and if you were my big brother, you wouldn't tell me to go home because you'd be real happy to see your sister who has been all worried about you so you must not be."

Annoyance and temper rising, Jynx rolls his eyes at his little sister. "Okay, fine, I'm glad to see you. Happy? Now, go home!" He still keeps an eye out for the kitten, and his own mother.

The kitten does indeed appear to be unaccompanied – which isn't unusual. Her attire is a lot more humble than what her parents can afford, but it's what one might call her "Here, wear this because if you wear any of your nice dresses, you'll just get them messed up" dress. Plus, it causes most to pay her less notice.

Jynx, seeing that his little sister is unattended, turns and begins to walk away from the little kitten.

The kitten frowns … and stubbornly sticks right with Jynx. "What's it like, being dead? Does it hurt? Do you get your own star in the Procession now? What color is it? It can't be black, because then you can't see it."

Jynx rrrs, "It's red with yellow polka-dots. Now leave me alone! And don't tell Mom and Dad you saw me!" He quickens his pace.

The kitten skips right along. After all, Jynx can't make a full dash in this thick of a crowd. He's agile enough to weave around, but she's small enough to make up for it.

Jynx stops and scowls at Eve, "Were you put on Sinai to annoy me? You must be!"

The kitten, unfazed, mews, "Are you gonna haunt the Bazaar? If so, can I find you at night and you can point out the red yellow pokey-dot star for me? And are you gonna haunt your room? I hope so, because Papa rented out your room to this big smelly Jupani, and he thought Beatrice was a thing called a 'chew toy'… "

"Look, I'm alive, okay? If I were dead, I – " Jynx's eyes go wide. "Dad did WHAT?!"

The kitten bites her lip, shaking the dolly back and forth. Then, she quietly mews, "You don't have to YELL at me."

Jynx sits down and puts his paws to his forehead with a sigh. "Sorry." He looks up. "Where are Mom and Dad at now?"

The kitten mews, "At the store, and your girlfriend is there, and I don't like her, so you should dump her."

The kitten adds, "And I didn't know you had a girrrrrrrlfriend!" She wobbles back and forth, sing-songing, "Jynxie's gotta GIRLFRIEND! Jynxie's got a GIRLFRIEND! La la la la LA LAAAA!… "

Jynx blinks. "My what? Girlfriend?" He thinks it over, then makes an angry face at his sister. "Don't call me that! And who is this 'girlfriend'?"

Eve looks up to Jynx and mews, "Say the magic word?"

Jynx just ignores Eve, and thinks it over. ( Who could it-, wait, it couldn't be her… nah. ) Then, he finally concedes. "Okay, please tell me?"

Eve smiles. "Okay, big brother." She pauses a bit, then whispers loudly, leaning over so Jynx can just barely hear her above the din, "She's named BLOSSOM!"

Jynx smacks his head with a moan, and begins to fall backwards.

The kit lets out a light "eep!" and squeals, "Don't fall over!"

Jynx stumbles back just in time to catch himself, then takes a wobbly seat on the ground. "Now I REALLY can't go home," he mutters. He looks at Eve, "Look, do NOT tell Mom and Dad you saw me, okay?"

Eve looks at Jynx, and says, "Okay. I'll tell Mama and Papa that I didn't see you." She smiles brightly. "But I'll be fibbing and my nose will get long and they'll find out and I'll get a paddling."

Eve adds, "Your girlfriend is gonna get an ekersister." She nods solemnly, as if trying to appear that she has a clue as to what that means.

Jynx grabs Eve by the ear in sibling forcefulness. "I MEAN it! If you tell them, I'll feed your doll to that Jupani!" He snatches the doll from her paws to get his point accross.

Eve bawls, and snatches for the doll. "BEATRICE!!!"

Jynx loosens his grip, "She's gonna get a what?"

Eve just cries loudly.

Jynx sighs, and hands the doll back. "Here. Now what is Blossom getting?" He lets go of Eve's ear.

Eve snuggles the battered doll, sniffling, and mumbles, "An ekersister."

The kitten says more loudly, "She says she's gonna DISPOSE of you!" She then sticks out her tongue.

"Tell me something I don't know, fox breath." He scratches his head. "What's an 'ekersister'?"

Eve says, "Maybe you should ask your girrrrrrlfriend!"

Jynx swipes a paw at his sibling. "Shut up! Remember what I said I'd do to Beatrice!"

Eve cowers, then says, "I don't know any ekersister, except it's gonna DISPOSE you."

Jynx stands, and begins to walk back through the Bazaar, head down in contemplation.

"Wait!" squeals the kitten, and she pads after Jynx. She then wraps her arms around his waist and hugs tightly, her doll dangling from one hand.

Jynx jolts as he's brought out of his thoughts. "What?" he says in an annoyed fashion.

The kitten mews quietly, "I'm glad you're not dead, big brother." Then she lets go, and dashes away, disappearing into the throng.

Jynx stops, and with a feeling of guilt watches his sister run off until she disappears. "So am I… " He walks off, deeper into the crowds.