With Aisha's help (and the cabin lights dimmed to reduce overall shininess), Tasha tries on her new and improved 'dancer' outfit. While it is based on those used in the Harem Club of Abu-Dhabi, certain considerations had to be taken into account for the Vartan-hybrid's build and anatomy. The sequin-festooned bikini top was not exactly flimsy – heavy straps were employed to secure it behind Tasha's neck and below her wings, so that she could actually fly in it. It also covered a bit more fur, and had a row of colorful tassels attached to the lower hem, obscuring some of the woman's lower ribcage. The overall affect was to emphasize curves while downplaying upper-body musculature.

The lower half was more traditional, with a high-cut pair of shorts with attached gauzy pant legs secured above the ankles above her hooves. Like the top, it was a bit more reinforced than flimsy. A 'belt' of more tassels added a skirt-like effect, and the designers decided to omit any excessively shiny bits. Most of the shininess came from beads embroidered into the nearly transparent legs. An inner leather belt was also added to give Tasha something to hang her whip or other equipment on.

"So, what do you think?" Aisha asked once it was done, as she held out a small hand mirror to Tasha.

"Oi! I like it!" Tasha reaches over with an arm and hugs/semi-crushes Aisha to her side. "I' brings ou' me curves an' doesn' look li' I work on a ship. I ge' tired of lookin' li' I jus' go' off a ship! You think those Amazony buns will take well to it?"

After struggling for air, Aisha says, "I don't see how anyone could take ill to it."

Tasha nods to that. "Tha's good sense. I don' think so either. Shoul' I keep i' on, or save it for later?"

"You should try moving around and flying in it while we have time to make adjustments," Aisha responds.

"Alrigh'." Tasha releases Aisha, then saunters – not to mention jingles – towards the door. The woman's tail shifts in time with the swing of the tassels and her hips, almost hypnotically. "A' least is no' colder than me tunic."

"Oh my," Aisha says as she hurries ahead to open the door. "I hadn't thought about whether it would be too cold for you."

"I'm on an airship wit' no shoes, an' jus' a tunic. I don' mind the cold," Tasha insists before stepping outside.

Outside, on deck, the crew notices the change. Aaron jumps up from his sitting position next to Layth, and announces; "It fits!"

On deck, Layth is still helping out the crew with various chores. He's stripped down to just his shorts, leaving his upper body completely bare. In the sunlight, his white fur glints like newly fallen snow, a sharp contrast to his golden furred extremities and 'mane'. He's also taken to having a small strip of cloth tied around his forehead to hold his hears out of the way. He pauses mid-lift of a barrel near the two Lapis and cants his head towards Tasha. "You would be quite the star in the Harem Club," he says approvingly. "Very flashy."

Rat pauses in her own duties in the rigging to admire the outfit, with a distinctly Kavi-covetous glint in her eye. Her brother Dinghy just stands frozen in place with wide eyes.

Tasha shifts her weight to one leg, puts a knuckle on her hip, and looks around at all the faces looking back at her. "You don' look 'alf bad yourself," the woman replies to Layth. Aaron gets the sort of look that usually proceeds Tasha pulling his ears or hitting him, but instead she just says, "O'course it fits!"

Aaron scoots around behind Tasha, and tells her, "Okay, now spread your wings, and we'll see if it stays on."

"Oh, ah, sorry. I did not wish to dirty the new clothing," Layth apologizes. He gives up the barrel he was lifting and lets it fall back to the deck with a thud. "Would you not prefer to be in front if it falls off, Master Lightfoot?" Layth inquires. "To protect her modesty, of course."

"What?" Aaron asks from behind Tasha's wings. "I need to see if the strap ties hold up."

"I'm surprised you're standin' behind me for that," Tasha tells Aaron, before winking at Layth for having the same thought. Then, Tasha spreads her wings. Being a Vartan, Tasha's wings are some of the largest of the Sinaian sentient species, and extend a ways to either direction.

Aaron tugs at the straps and belt from behind, to see if they're too tight or too loose. "They don't look like they're pinching or straining. Try bending over to touch your hooves. Layth, yell if she falls out of her top, okay?" he requests next.

Layth blinks, then suggests, "I would advise not spreading your wings around Amazonians. It may be a bit startling." The Lapi then just chuckles and moves himself to be in between Tasha and Dinghy, just in case.

Tasha eyes Aaron over her shoulder, giving him a sly look as if wondering what he's up to. "Alrigh'," Tasha agrees, before bending over. Reaching down, Tasha's able to touch her hooves just fine, undoubtedly a bonus to all that lifting.

"Hey," Dinghy complains, and scurries around to try and get a better view, ducking under Tasha's wings. But once the Vartan bends over, the Kavi becomes distracted and runs into one of the fishing booms.

After checking that nothing is about to pop, Aaron declares the outfit "safe", and gives Tasha a pat on the rear. "You just need to try flying as a final test."

Inspections over, the half-naked Lapi pads over to Aisha. "Very nicely done, Lady Aisha," Layth tells her with a smile, then leans back against the doorframe.

Aisha smiles to Layth, and quietly says, "If you'd like something similar for yourself, just let me know. We still need to do something about Tasha's hair though."

Tasha raises a brow at Aaron's pat, but doesn't try and hit him. Instead, she straightens, pats his head as she walks by him, and heads for the edge of the ship. "I'll take a lap aroun' the Calligenia, tha' way I can scout too," she says.

Layth's brow goes up. "Would you want to see me in such attire?" he inquires of the doe. "As for her hair, I would recommend a braid. Perhaps two to make them look kind of like lop ears, perhaps."

"Good plan," the captain says. "We're heading nor'east, so keep an eye for ships crossing our path."

Aisha's ears go down, either to imitate the lop-eared look common among Amazonians, or to hide a blush. "It's just that we have some fabric left over. And I like the idea of braids."

"I'd li' somethin' sim'lar for Layth!" Tasha yells just before jumping off the edge of the ship. Spreading her wings, she catches a current off the lake and takes to the air.

Aaron shouts after Tasha, "If anything falls off, try to catch it before it gets wet!"

"Then I would suggest you use the remaining fabric to make something you would find pleasing on me," Layth suggests, then looks back to Tasha and laughs. "Can you braid?" he then asks.

"Not really," Aisha admits. "It isn't the style in Abu-Dhabi, and nobody in my family has long head hair."

Tasha waves vaguely to Aaron after completing her first half-circle, a gesture that could mean anything. "Don' see nothin' ye'!" she yells.

"Well, then I'll teach you. It's not difficult," Layth tells the doe and pats her shoulder. "How long did all that take to actually make?"

"Most of it was done back at the Fedor's," Aisha says. "I had to finish adding the shiny bits to the top, but I know enough to make alterations."

After completing a full lap around the ship, Tasha abruptly breaks from her flight and sails across the deck to land near the captain. "Cap'n, I saw wha' looks li' either a ship wit' a lot of sails, or a few ships wit' less." The woman pauses to tug at her pants, readjusting them after the hasty landing, then adds; "I give 'em abou' twenty minutes, if I reckon it righ'."

Layth quirks a playful grin and then tells Aisha, "Well, then I expect you'll be a bit busy making something for me for the next few days." His head then turns back towards Tasha, having heard that. "I'd better get dressed again," he notes.

"Those could be our contacts then," Captain Duke says. He then announces, "Break out the party favors, and prepare to drop sail."

Tasha turns towards the direction she saw the ships, pointing. "I guess I ought an' take me position. Oi, where is me position?" Louder, she yells, "'Ey Calli! I think your friends are comin'! Wha' do we do?"

Calligenia vanishes into the cabin, only to return a moment later with a rolled up cloth, which she hands to Tasha. "Go up to the lookout, and run this flag on the mast," she instructs.

Tasha salutes, a move very much at odds with her genie-like appearance. "Righ'!" Stepping back, Tasha hunkers down, then leaps in to the air with a brush off of wings. Shortly after that she lands on the lookout and begins affixing the flag to the mast.

Layth ducks behind some ropes and boxes on deck and merges a minute later which his top tunic back on and the Lapi tugging it back into proper arrangement. "How often are ships attacked out here," he asks the Captain and looks to the horizon. "We had better be sure these are our contacts before we display too much, no?"

Shiny distractions forgotten, the Kavi are already climbing through the rigging to get into position to drop the sail, while the captain and one of the other Rath'ani crew carries a chest out of the cabin.

"Well, if they aren't our contacts, we'd better make them think we're Amazonians," Duke tells Layth. "Amazonians always attack unallied ships."

"That would be hard, given there are only three Amazonians aboard," Layth notes, brow furrowed. He pads to the prow of the ship and peers out over the water.

Aaron peeks over Calligenia's shoulder as she opens up the chest. Inside are various medallions, daggers and leather sheaths. The doe hands a bunch of the medallions to Aaron, then heads back into the main cabin.

The symbols on the bronze medallions are more detailed than the abstract one on the flag. The flag symbol could almost be a setting sun with seven rays, if it weren't black on a field of white. The image on the medallions is more clearly a bulbous-bodied creature with seven serpentine heads.

Layth and Aisha are both handed matching medallions, while the Captain and crew get slightly different styles. Aaron's own is also different, noted by the positions of the monster heads. The buck retrieves a leather dagger sheath with an embossed monster on it as well, although it's also different looking in various ways.

Layth slips the medallion around his neck. For a moment, he looks rather apprehensive. The buck then draws in a deep breath and mutters something to himself.

"What do the different styles of medallions mean?" Layth inquires of Aaron, then glances towards the dagger Aaron retrieved.

Calling up to Tasha, Aaron waves the sheath and yells, "You need to strap this to your upper left arm when you get a chance!"

Having gotten a good look at the flag, Tasha glides down to land near Aaron. After walking the rest of the way to the man, she takes the sheath. "Wha's this all abou' then?" she asks as she turns the item over in her hands.

Aaron turns to Layth, and explains, "You noticed that? Good. You and Aisha are official guests of Clan Hydron, so your hydras have their heads all vertical. I'm a guest from an allied Clan, so mine has its heads turned outwards. Tasha gets inwardly turned heads, watching themselves, and an empty sheath to show she's an invited, non-allied visiting warrior. The crew get intertwined heads, to show they are slaves or serfs of Hydron."

Calligenia emerges from the cabin again, wearing her bronze breastplate. It's much more obvious than a medallion.

"Ah. The tribes of the wilds didn't use such markers. At least, none that I remember," Layth notes and looks over to Tasha, then over to Calligenia. "I would suggest, Lady Tasha, that we all just remain quiet unless spoken directly to. And don't forget, you must enunciate correctly."

"Fair 'nough," says the Vartan. Mystery explained, if indirectly, she busily goes about tying the sheath to her upper arm. "Nice to see you wearin' tha' again," she remarks appreciatively to Calli as she works.

Tasha grins toothily, then quickly squelches the expression. Instead, she wags. "Righ', "I'm a turnip, don' poke me wit' a stick" – I'm a regular scholar," says Tasha to Layth

The Amazonian princess gives Tasha a confused look, since the comment doesn't make much sense to her, but she doesn't pursue the matter. "Tasha, can you see the flags on the approaching ships yet?" she asks instead.

"Good, we've finally established you're as intelligent as a vegetable," Layth deadpans, then grins briefly and winks.

"Le' me go look." After swatting at Layth, Tasha walks over to the bow and leans forward to look, squinting.

Layth oofs a lot more than the swat was likely worth. "Concerning me," Layth says and glances towards Calli. "Should I refer to myself as Lady Aisha's guardian?"

"Guardian carries a specific meaning in Dianus," Calligenia explains. "A person would not have an individual guardian in the sense you mean. It would be simplest to merely say you are her consort or attendant."

Tasha turns around and balls her fist in front of her, then puts her other hand behind it while making her fingers wiggle. "Bla' an' white, circle in the wit' wavy lines comin' ou' it. Kind o' li' a one of them suns."

"Understood," Layth notes with a short nod.

"That sounds like Gogran, alright," Aaron comments on Tasha's description.

"Drop sails as soon as they see us," Duke relays to the Kavis in the rigging.

"Are you feeling all right, Lady Aisha," Layth asks the other doe. "Not nervous or worried?"

Aisha looks up from her medallion to meet Layth's eyes, and he can tell she's frightened, but hiding it. "I'll be fine, Layth. Really," she claims.

Layth places his hand upon Aisha's shoulder and squeezes it lightly. "Yes, you will be. No one will harm you so long as I am around," he tells her. "Just stay close."

"I've never qui' done somethin' like this," Tasha says as she rejoins the others. "Now, I've been all aroun' the world, 'cept Babel an' far near snake city, bu' this is right different, isn't it." Tasha glances over her shoulder, then adds, "One o' 'em's comin' for us at a righ' clip. Go' somethin' shiny on fron', too, an' somethin' big to either side eatin' up the lake."

Aaron looks at Tasha oddly for a moment, then his ears both go up. "Oh… Tasha, it might help if you sort of… hunched forward a bit? Bend your knees and hold your arms like this," he says, then demonstrates by holding the backs of his hands near his chest, with the fingers curled forward, then hunching down until he looks like he's about to tip forward.

"Apparently, Master Lightfoot wants you to join the circus," Layth comments and shakes his head. "Or, look like a dumb monster."

"Not like a monster," Aaron snorts. "Like a Vykarin. With her wings folded on her back, and in this pose, she'll look like a young one from a distance. She's already got the hooves and tail and snout for it."

Tasha gives Aaron a very unconvinced look, brows up, muzzle curled in a mix between a smirk and a wry twist of the mouth. "I'm jus' goin' to ask Calli," she tells him after a moment, before glancing at Calligenia. "Calli, is tha' righ'? Do I 'ave to hunch over the 'whole trip?"

"Hydron doesn't have Vykarins," Calli admits. "But it would not raise alarms among the Gograns until they were closer and could see you are dressed and feathered. You would not need to keep up the ruse all the time, but if you feel people are getting nervous around you, taking on that pose may calm them. You would just be a sort of mutated adolescent Vykarin to them then."

"'Ow abou' I jus' go an' sit over 'ere," Tasha offers, pointing at a nearby bucket.

"I suppose Layth and I could start braiding your hair if you were seated," Aisha tells Tasha.

"Well, it could be worse," Layth offers in the way of an apology to Tasha. "I guess what they're trying to tell you, is that you need to look like something they know until they get to know you and learn you're not a threat. Otherwise, they might just attack. Lady Circerae and Master Lightfoot mean well." He then nods to Aisha.

"Good, if I 'ave to stand li' tha' for very long I'm goin' to ge' a back ache. You're a small lot, you are, bu' I've go' this," Tasha points at her chest, " … an' this," she further points at her wings, " … to manage, an' I can' stan' li' that. An', oi, i' looks righ' embarassin'." She reaches over and grabs Layth. "Jus' act li' you can strangle me wit' me 'air at any moment, I be' they'll think you got me covered."

Layth nearly jumps, obviously startled at being grabbed. But, he recovers his composure quickly and asks, "One braid, or two?"

"Wha'ever keeps you braidin' my 'air so i don' 'ave to stan' li' that," answers Tasha. After sitting on the bucket, she folds her hands on her lap and tries to look small – for a Vartan, anyway.

Layth taps Aisha's shoulder and leads her over to Tasha. Digging in a small side pouch, he produces a brush and starts to try and untangle Tasha's hair. "Do you ever brush and wash your hair?" he asks her as he deals with several snags.

Once the approaching ship in announced, the Calligenia drops her sails and coasts, making no attempt to outrun the Amazonian ship. When it gets close enough for the regular crew to make out, it becomes apparent that it isn't any larger than the Calligenia, but sports a nasty-looking bronze-tipped ramming spike mounted to its prow and gets its speed from two somewhat skeletal paddle-wheels. It sails have also dropped now, and the faces of curious Lapis can be made out on the deck.

"Now an' then. I' jus' gets all mussed, an' I don' 'ave time to work i' out. S'why I usually leave i' braided," Tasha answers. Tasha sits, mostly patient, as the other vessel approaches, looking up only when her curiosity gets the better of her. When she spots the row after row of Lapis, especially the size of the Lapis, both her brows and her ears shoot up. "Oi, loo' at 'em allll … I mean, I'm no' sayin' anythin'. Please don' shoot me," she says, voice dropping in intensity rather fast as she speaks.

The Kavis stay up in the rigging, and try not to move, and all but Captain Duke of the Rath'ani crew hide behind various deck structures and peek out at the approaching boat.

"No turning back now," Layth mutters to himself and nudges Aisha, trying to get her to keep attention on him and not the arriving Lapis. "When you braid, you do it using three sections of roughly equal amounts of hair," he instructs as he separates Tasha's hair in such a way as to imply a double braid.

"Uh… yes," Aisha says, trying to focus on the task at hand.

Stealing a glance at the arriving ship now and then, Layth goes about trying to instruct Aisha how to braid. He goes slowly, showing how each of the three section braid overlap.

Tasha stares intently at the floor, wings rustling now and then in a nervous twitch.

When the Gogran ship comes alongside and the paddlewheels stop churning, there is a splash as one of its crew dives into the water and swims across to the Calligenia, where Aaron gamely helps it up onto the deck. The Amazonian is big, matching Layth in height, and gaining another foot from the impressive rack of Cervani-like antlers that grow up out of his head. The buck is naked and covered in thick red fur made darker by the water, but probably brighter than Tasha's own coloring when dry. He looks over the crew, then nods to Calligenia. In Olympian, he quietly says, "Calligenia of Hydron, Clan Gogran honors its agreement and is prepared to transport what you wish to Dianus."

"Relax, Tasha. You'll be fine," Layth whispers to the Vartan. Quickly finishing one braid, he moves to the other.

Tasha's head jerks up, she blinks at the giant naked red Lapi, then she looks right back at the floor. "I'm feelin' better," she murmurs to Layth.

"Remember also that they won't likely be interested," Layth says quietly, guessing at what Tasha might be thinking.

Calli gives a nod back to the antlered buck, and replies, "I have four guests to transport." She gestures towards Aaron, then the trio centered on Tasha.

The red buck eyes Tasha for a moment, then turns back to Calligenia and asks, "No cargo?"

Layth does all he can to not look concerned about being pointed to. He does, however, glance up now and then at the red buck.

"Not at this time," Calli replies, the conversation still conducted in Olympian. The buck then turns towards his boat and makes some hand gestures. From the rear of the Gogran vessel, a longboat is lowered to the water.

"I can look," Tasha insists, quietly, although probably not quietly enough to hide from a Lapi. "Or … maybe I can'. I … better jus' look at this 'ere deck."

"Wise," Layth observes quietly.

The transfer to the Amazonian boat is uneventful, and quiet. In fact, everything about the Gogran fishing boat is quiet, save for the sounds of the ship itself. All of the crew are Lapis, of course, of various sizes and ages, although all of them have antlers and come in shades of red. There are even children, as the boat is apparently crewed entirely by a single family. A few of them wear water-resistant aprons as they gut fish, but mostly the Gograns simply do with leather tool harnesses or belts.

The guests of Calligenia are given a relatively fish-free place on the deck, and informed that they will be arriving in Dianus at dawn. Their host then leaves them to their own devices.

"That went better than I expected. I presume we are expected to sleep on deck?" Layth inquires and looks to the others. With periodic quick glances, he looks at the other Lapi on deck, concerned of what they may be thinking about Tasha.

"Can I look up now," Tasha asks. She's been staring at the deck ever since Layth told her it was wise to do so.

"Belowdecks are reserved for food, fish and the Vykarins," Calli explains. "Everyone sleeps above deck, for the most part."

"They're all naked," Aisha whispers in dread. She can't seem to stop staring at a maroon, antlered doe sitting across from them, taking a nap against the railing while nursing two pink-furred conies held in her arms.

"I would think so," Layth tells Tasha. He then looks to Aisha and says, "Master Lightfoot did explain that. Just ignore it. The culture is different and that is common." He even tries to turn her head so she quits staring.

"You'll get used to it before you do the fish smell, Aisha," Aaron promises. "Even Tasha will, I'm sure. And if not, I've got something to help you relax."

"I noticed that," Tasha remarks, as she inspects her hooves. Once Layth tells her it's okay, she looks up and reaches to rub the back of her neck. "Oi, they are all naked. Well, I don' mind – especially since most of 'em are lookers."

"Of all the Clans in Dianus, the Gograns are the most used to seeing outsiders," Calli explains. "They sometimes bring back hides to trade along with the fish."

"Are they skinning other people?" Layth asks Calli bluntly.

"Calli, remember when we talked about what wasn't really appropriate to mention to non-Amazonians?" Aaron asks the doe.

Tasha's muzzle wrinkles at the mention of 'hides,' and she absently reaches to hug herself by the shoulders. "They're lookin' more sinister now, they are," she mumbles.

"If they catch them in their fishing waters, yes," Calligenia answers, ignoring Aaron. "They usually have old scars though, so I imagine they are from pirates."

Layth leans towards Tasha. "Just remember that horns can make great handles if you need to bash a few heads," Layth whispers.

"Oh," Aisha says, oddly calm. "It's okay if it's pirates."

"I was wonderin' abou' them horns," Tasha admits. She eyes a nearby buck consideringly. "I ain't never seen a Lapi wit' horns before."

So far, the most attention Tasha has gotten from the Gograns is directed at her clothes. That is, until a hatch in the deck opens up and a red-shelled Vykarin half emerges, staring blatantly (or maybe not, it's hard to see the eyes behind the chitin visors) at Tasha while eating a large fish.

"A thousand pardons, Lady Circerae, but I would ask for Lady Aisha's sake that you omit any other acts of brutality the Amazonians commit while we're visiting, please?" Layth inquires.

"Common stable mutation in this part of the world," Aaron explains. "The ancient Olympian word for them is 'satyr', and they were considered bad omens."

Calligenia looks at Layth, and says, "I haven't mentioned any brutality. We are not brutal people."

"I … I think it's starin' at me," remarks Tasha, who has never actually seen a Vykarin before. She even points at it, hesitantly. She blinks at Aaron's reply, turning to give him a look briefly. "Isn't tha' like one of them plays?"

"Skinning others is considered brutal in other societies," Layth points out.

Aaron thinks for a moment, then nods to the Vartan. "Yeah, only they put hooves on them in the costumes, and the horns are different, but that's just because of artistic drift over time. And yes, I think the Vykarin is staring at you, Tasha. They aren't the quickest thinkers, and it's probably still trying to decide what you are."

"Aye, well, as long as' 'e's … or is i' she's? … no' abou' to go at me, I guess it's alrigh'," says Tasha with a nod. A moment later she quickly glances at Aaron again, and asks, "It IS alrigh', righ'?"

"I have read that the Gallisians hunt their lower castes for sport and often skin criminals alive," Calligenia notes. "In Abu-Dhabi, a petty thief may be permanently crippled if caught. Those are brutal acts. Amazonians kill quickly and cleanly, we do not torture."

The apothecary can only shrug. "I really don't know much about Amazonian Vykarins. They may be a different breed, but I think they can still talk. They understand commands."

"Skinning is debasing as it treats an individual as if they were not a person," Layth remarks before standing. "I never said other societies didn't do horrible things. I simply asked that you please refrain from talking about any such activities around Lady Aisha."

Tasha runs a hand back through her hair, finds it braided, and stops. "Commands in Olympian, is it? Well, I'm goin' to give i' a go. I need all the frien's I can get aroun' 'ere." Stepping forward, Tasha waves to the Vykarin and calls out her best "hello."

"A dead body is not a person," Calligenia points out. "Aisha is a grown woman, she does not need to hide from the world."

"'Roo?" the Vykarin grunts after taking the remains of the fish out of its mouth. It comes out fully onto the deck, dwarfing Tasha and everything else. It snuffs curiously at the Vartan.

"Why do they need those on a fishing boat?" Aisha whispers to Layth while staring at the Vykarin.

"A thousand pardons, but Lady Aisha's safety and such was entrusted to me by her family. What she is exposed to concerns me greatly. I've made a simple request; I humbly ask you to honor it," Layth says, then turns his attention to Aisha. "Those? Servants to do basic work, I believe."

"'Oly!" exclaims Tasha, once she gets a good look at how gigantic the Vykarin is. Leaning back, looking up, and staring, Tasha holds her hands up, as if to show she's harmless – or maybe to ward away being eaten. "I Tasha," she tells the giant in her rough Olympian, pointing at herself once she manages to lower her hands.

"They turn the big paddle-wheels, when the wind isn't enough," Aaron adds.

"Rasha," the Vykarin repeats, then gives Tasha's cheek a big, fishy slurp.

"It likes you," Layth explains to Tasha.

Tasha wobbles, having been licked by the biggest tongue she's ever seen. "Oi, you go' a big one there," she comments. A moment later she explains to Layth, "Always good to make friends wit' the biggest man … or woman? … o' the ship." Then, after turning back to the Vykarin, Tasha reaches over and rubs the fur on its chest.

The Vykarin rumbles and makes some clicking and whistling sounds. This draws a second one up out of the hold, which takes one look and then chomps down on the first one's tail.

"I would recommend care in developing a friendship, it may think you're one of them," Layth notes to Tasha.

The big Vykarin whines, then pats Tasha on the head and backs its way back into the hatchway, presumably being tugged along by the second one.

"I'd guess that was the first one's mate," Aaron says. "Tasha must be similar enough to inspire jealousy, at least."

"I think the other was jealous," Layth observes with a shrug and a nod to Aaron. "If we glued all of Tasha's fur into plates, she could probably pass for one."

Tasha's ears shoot up when the first Vykarin gets bitten by the second. "Wha'd I do?!" She turns and looks at Layth for help. "What'd I do?! What's wrong- … " She blinks unsteadily after begin patted by the large paw. "Oi … what … what was I sayin'? Righ', better one of them than a monster?"

The Vartan looks between Layth and Aaron, then shakes her head. "I wasn't flirtin'! An' no glue!"

"You were rubbing him. It's sort of like flirting," Layth points out with a grin.

A few of the conies that have been watching Tasha's antics giggle, while some of the adults turn and stare at the noisy monster. Tasha's normal voice is probably six times louder than the typical Amazonian's speaking volume.

Tasha, oblivious to being noisy, goes right on talking. "I was jus' bein' friendly! I ain't never met a Vykarin before, I ain't. I just' though' what wit' bein' four legged an' all tha' … Oi! Nevermind," she complains.

"Relax, Tasha," Layth says, trying to calm her. "You could just go down and try to talk to them in the hold. No harm was done and you amused the children."

"Well, you couldn't scratch behind his ears or pet his shell," Aaron notes. "So I would have gone for the chest too," he says, despite grinning.

Tasha gives the two Lapi an irritated look, and then finally just shrugs. "This is worse than my first trip out o' Rephidim," she admits, sighing. Then, after rubbing Layth's head with a hand, she says, "Thanks for tryin' to cheer me up. I may jus' go do that. The Vykarin's don' make me as nervous as the Lapi. I mean, the Amazonian Lapi. I mean, 'ell, you know what I mean."

"You should not venture after the Vykarin," Calli suddenly says, after being quiet for some time. "They probably live down there, and you do not enter someone's home uninvited, especially if one has already exhibited a territorial claim."

"She could knock and ask permission to enter, then," Layth notes with a glance to Calli. "Tasha is very uneasy and she really could use something to relax her."

"Oh, righ', territorial claim. 'Ow could I forget territorial claim." Sarcasm almost dripping from her fangs, Tasha folds her arms and plops down on a upended bucket. "Should I announce meself? Pee on a door?"

"Please," Aisha says softly, "let's not be so tense? Layth, couldn't you rub Tasha's back or something to relax her?"

"Your lessons on cultural understanding have not been very effective, Master Lightfoot," Layth notes to the other buck, not being very specific on who's lessons. He then stands up and walks behind Tasha, asking, "Would you like a massage, Tasha? Lady Aisha's suggestion may indeed help relax you."

"I'm alrigh'!" Tasha insists, holding back a growl. "I jus' don' like people starin' at me – in a bad way, I mean. It makes me upset, like." She folds her arms, eyes Layth, then nods. "Yes, thank you."

With a short nod, Layth finally places his hands on her shoulders and traces the muscle bundles for a bit. "Please do not think badly of them, Tasha. They do not understand you and are curious. It does not make you a freak, only an unknown to them," he says quietly, then starts to dig strong fingertips into the muscles along Tasha's shoulders, following the flow of the muscle.

"I know, I know! It jus' bugs me. S'not like they've come up an' said, "Hello, Tasha! You're a hideous monster!" or anythin'. It's jus' somethin' tha' gets me tail in a kink." Tasha rolls her shoulders, then, after looking back, leans back against Layth. "I do rather like that Vykarin, he … or she? … was rather friendly like. I jus' … oh … nevermind. Ahh."

As evening approaches, the three fishing boats draw closer together, until ropes and lines are passed across to lash them all together side by side. Plank bridges follow, and different crews begin to mingle a bit. The others do not all sport antlers, and those few that do are not brightly colored. Most of the other Lapis don't stand out from the norm at all, looking just like Lapis everywhere. "They're preparing for the evening meal," Calligenia explains. "The boats will stay lashed together through the night."

"I'm practically starving," Aisha comments. "Uh, will there be fish?" she then asks nervously.

"I presume we are not welcome to dine with them?" Layth inquires as he finally sits down. "Or rather, it would be less disruptive and disturbing if we dined by ourselves?"

"Of course we will dine with them," Calli says.

"Well, are you sure that is a good idea? Tasha has been rather uneasy thus far," Layth points out, then just shrugs to Aisha about if it'll be fish or not.

Tasha, who is still leaning against Layth, says, "I'm feelin' pretty good!"

It isn't long after that baskets of food are being passed around. The main entree seems to be sort of baked or steamed potato stuffed with chopped up vegetables, and wrapped in a lettuce leaf. There are also several kinds of bread, some of them rather spicy, and large jugs of small beer. A few of the people from the other boats sit down next to the Hydron group, and a coney even offers to share his (or her) soup with Tasha.

Layth just eats quietly and observes throughout most of dinner. He does, however, act as translator for Tasha and Aisha now and then when they get curious as to whatever may be being discussed.

Not about to turn down a friend, Tasha scoots away from Layth and sits down next to the coney. "I Tasha," she tells the coney as she examines the soup. Then, carefully, the woman tries some.

Layth's golden markings garner a certain amount of attention, until it becomes known they are natural and not the result of some dye. Tasha's feathers, more than anything else about her, get a lot of attention (and a lot of stroking and fluffing) as well. Aisha and Aaron, conversely, simply draw the attention of a few Lapis curious about who they are. Calli always seems to have two or three people in quiet conversation. The soup is a bit sweet – it may be made from corn – and has a lot of rice in it.

Layth watches Tasha for the moment, his expression a bit pensive, worried that the coney's parents may not like Tasha talking to their child. But when it seems to be going over well his attention falls back to his own meal. "Has dying fur become popular?" he inquires of Aaron.

"This is good," Tasha tells Layth as she dips random breads into the soup. "I li' this soup, an this bread an' … " she takes a bite out of a new bread, grimaces, grins really fast, and adds, " … an' this one is so spicy my mouth is burnin'. I'm goin' to keep smilin'. 'And me somethin' to drink fast, I can' do this forever!"

Tasha's coney babbles at her in incomprehensible Olympian, colored by a child's accent. The Vartan can pick out words like 'Vykarin' and her own name, and an often repeated word that sounds like 'Bray' that could be the coney's name.

Aaron helpfully hands over a jug of the weak beer for Tasha.

Aisha doesn't seem to be having any trouble fitting in, and looks a bit more at ease than she did earlier. "It's like a big family gathering back home," she tells Layth.

Tasha quickly drinks down the beer, relaxes in relief, then rubs Aaron's head. After that, she tells 'Bray,' "That's very interestin'." Turning to Layth she asks, "I 'avn't a clue what she's talkin' abou'."

Layth can't help but chuckle a bit at Tasha's sudden discovery of the spicy food. "I'm glad to see you more relaxed" he says to the doe in response. He then holds up his hand and returns his attention to Tasha and the kid, trying to listen and translate what he can for her.

Layth leans over and whispers quietly into Tasha's ear. "Bray is very talkative. Part of what he said is, well, describing how he helped make that soup by squishing the ingredients with his feet. And, uh … that the coney believes you're from some border tribe where demons have, ah, to be polite about it, had their way with the Vykarins. Is there anything you'd like me to tell you how to say back?"

Apparently stunned, Tasha sloshes her cup of beer around as she looks at Layth with a blank stare. At length, she tells him, "Oi. There's tha' demon bit again. I've never met a demon, an' they seem to be everywhere." She glances at the coney, then tells Layth. "I guess demon Vykarin isn't 'alf bad. Or 'alf good. Tell 'er … I don' speak Olympian well, an' she's got to slow down – aye, an' 'er feet soup is good." Seems Tasha doesn't mind feet soup. Then again, considering where she eats sometimes, feet soup must be an improvement.

Layth lets out a short laugh, then proceeds to translate Tasha's statements as best he can to the coney. He can't help but grin when he calls it 'feet soup'.

The coney starts talking very slowly after that. But still with a little-kid voice and lack of grammar. Bray seems to want to know if Tasha's wings come off.

Layth translates that as well. The buck then suddenly demonstrates they don't by giving one of Tasha's wings a firm tug.

Tasha swats at Layth for pulling on her wings, then points to the one he tugged. This time, Tasha also tries to explain, telling the coney that she was born with them. Or, well, trying to tell the coney she was born with them, anyway.

Layth oofs at getting swatted twice in the same day. He sighs a long-suffering sigh and comments, "It's not as if I deserved that."

"It means I like you," Tasha insists.

Bray accepts the explanation, then asks if Tasha's clothes are also part of her, if she gives milk, and why her tail sparkles.

"So, does she give milk?" Layth asks Aaron in a whisper … just to see how the buck reacts.

"I'll try an' ge' this one," Tasha tells Layth. After thinking a moment, Tasha answers that she can give milk – if pregnant, which she isn't! – that her clothes aren't part of her, and that her tail sparkles because sparkle is good. Although nowhere near as fluent in Olympian as Layth, Tasha gives it her best shot.

Aaron nearly chokes on the piece of bread he as chewing on as Layth whispers to him. "I hope not," is all he manages to cough out.

Since children are used to talking to (and sometimes understanding) other children, Bray seems to get what Tasha says. She then asks, "Do you like cheese?"

Layth looks satisfied at Aaron's reaction and resumes eating a bit of bread. He glances towards Calli and when she is not in another conversation, he asks her, "Is everything going well, Lady Circerae?"

"'Course I like cheese," Tasha responds in Standard. Catching her mistake a moment too late, she corrects by repeating herself in Olympian.

"Yes, Layth, why wouldn't it be?" the doe replies.

Bray stares at Tasha for a moment, than starts a rapid-fire tirade about how nasty cheese is, and why it shouldn't be on the boat even if it does keep well and that it stinks worse than the fish, sticks to her teeth but it's okay to leave out in the sun to get soft because you can stick things with it.

"Merely checking that no other surprises have come up," Layth replies, then resumes just observing the table and the other Lapis. He shifts as if feeling a bit uncomfortable.

Tasha stares at the child, leaning back slightly at the speed of it all. "Oi," is about all she can say, even with catching half of what's being said.

"Do you need to visit the head?" Calli asks Layth.

"No," Layth comments and rubs the bridge of his nose. "I'm … just uncomfortable, is all. It is nothing."

"An allergy?" Aaron suddenly asks, butting in. "Something you ate?"

"It better not be cheese," Tasha warns Layth. "I think this lil' Amazonian girl will kill ya if it's abou' cheese."

"No, no, no. Just being here," Layth says, then promptly shoves some bread in his mouth so he doesn't have to say any more.

"Well, let me know if you need something to help you sleep," Aaron offers. It is getting darker now, with more of the light coming from the procession than the glowing post-sunset horizon. Things are getting put away for the night as dinner is cleaned up, and Lapi begin to return to their respective boats.

"I'm not sure I will be sleeping," Layth comments to no one in particular. He almost offers to help clean up from the meal, but then decides against it and returns to the spot they were shown to earlier.

"Are we really going to be sleeping out in the open?" Aisha asks, sounding nervous again as Lapi instincts kick in.

"I'll stay awake all night. You can sleep safely," Layth tells Aisha. "Or, if someone will loan us a blanket, I can try to fashion you a small tent."

Tasha bids goodbye to the coney, then turns to face the rest of her party. "Well I'll be sleepin'. I feel better now, knowin' I go' to talk to people an' such. I'm no' sure wha' to think abou' bein' petted, 'course I did much the same to tha' Vykarin, so I guess I know 'ow 'e feels now." She shrugs unknowingly.

As the tables are broken down, some of the coneys begin bringing out large padded bedrolls from storage lockers on the deck. These are rolled out next to each other to form a roughly square padded area on the deck.

"Hmm, you might be able to sleep belowdecks if you wanted to Tasha," Aaron says. "They think you're part Vykarin, and Vykarin tend to sleep buried in the ground." Elsewhere, adults begin to take one of the sails and actually spread it across the laid out padding like a big blanket.

Tasha nods slowly as Aaron talks, then asks, "Won' I get trounced if I go down there? Now I'm confident o' me fightin' skills, bu', well, you saw 'er. What abou' territory," she asks.

"Well, there's the hold too, if you don't mind sleeping with fish," Aaron points out. "Otherwise you'll have to sleep up here with the crew."

Calli begins to unstrap her breastplate, looking a bit relieved to get out of it. "I am looking forward to sleeping properly for a change," she comments.

"They're going to sleep all together," Layth explains to Tasha. "One big bed. I haven't slept like that in a long, long, time, I must admit."

"I guess I'll stay 'ere then, don' wan' to cause a fuss wit' the Vykarins. I can always sleep wit' my back against somethin', I do it all the time on the Rake. Or, hm." She glances towards the door down below, then stands up. "I guess I'll go ask. If i' goes bad I can always fly."

Aaron seems a bit uncertain. "Calli has to sleep with them, of course, since she's a guest. But we're her guests, and aren't under the same obligation," he notes. "Besides, I'm worried about getting poked with an antler. They looked pretty sharp."

"You prefer to do the poking, not be the poked?" Layth asks Aaron, then shrugs. "I'm just going to keep watch all night most likely … so sleep however you wish."

Calligenia finishes shedding her clothes, and asks Aisha, "If you want to sleep separate, I can ask if they have extra bedding."

Tasha glances at Calli as she walks by, then, very determinedly, looks at the door she's walking towards. Once at the door, Tasha opens it carefully and peeks inside. "Can I sleep down here," she asks in Olympian.

"Could you?" Aisha asks. "If they don't… well, maybe later I'll come along," she says.

The hatch opens partway, and a snout sticks out to take a big sniff. Finally it opens the rest of the way, and the smaller, presumably female Vykarin looks over Tasha (or moves her head up and down at least) before clicking something and backing back down the ladderway. She leaves the hatch open though, to let Tasha know it's okay.

Not everyone crawls under the sail into the big family bed. A young buck and an older doe stay out and alert, apparently the chosen sentinels for the night.

"I guess tha's a yes," Tasha comments aloud to herself. To Layth, Aisha, Calli, and Aaron, she yells, "I'm sleepin' down 'ere!"

Layth waves to Tasha. "Good eve to you, then. Sleep well," he calls out.

"Good luck!" Aaron says.

Tasha waves back, then folds her wings back and heads down below deck.

"So, where do you wish to sleep, Lady Aisha?" Layth asks the doe.

Calli manages to get a blanket for Aisha. "I suppose I'll just sleep here," Aisha says, and proceeds to use Aaron as a pillow while she wraps herself up in the blanket. "I can sleep anywhere," Aaron answers, and has the look of someone who's had to play pillow in the past.

Layth chuckles. "Ah, so I am on my own, then," he says. The buck then walks over to a nearby deck rail and just sits down and leans against it. "Good night to you two," he tells them.

"Try to get some sleep, Layth," Aaron advises, while Aisha looks up and asks, "Do you have to be so far away?"

"Well, I don't expect Aaron would want me leaning on him," Layth points out.

"I've been leaned on by bigger bucks," Aaron says. "But if you're going to be up for a bit, try to check on Tasha and make sure she's okay."

"She's probably fine. We haven't heard any noise from belowdeck and they did invite her in," Layth says as he pushes himself back up and heads back over to Aisha and Aaron. He settles down on the deck heavily beside them.

"In the morning we'll be in Dianus," Aaron says quietly. "It will be… well, not less strange, but different strange," he promises. "And no fish smell."

"As I said earlier, no turning back now. I just hope nothing goes wrong as we'll probably be there for a long time," Layth notes and settles himself in for the night. His instincts will keep in up a fair amount longer, but sleep will even eventually overtake him.

Down below, Tasha finds a large bin filled with straw, with two red Vykarin backs protruding like boulders. There might be enough room to squeeze in and hope the Vykarins don't squish her, or she can just sleep against the curve of the hull. At least it's dry.

"Oi," Tasha laments. "Well, naked Lapi or a dry room. I guess I better listen to Aaron for once, an' sleep down 'ere." Walking over to a corner, Tasha folds her wings around herself and leans her head back. "Should 'ave grabbed a blanket."

"At least sleepin' on a hard floor on a ship is familiar." Tasha sniffs. "So's the smell. Here's too adventure." Rolling over, Tasha lays her head on her wings and tries to fall asleep.