The lake is fairly calm, with only a gentle roll and mild breeze at this time of day. Still, the ferry keeps within sight of the shoreline as it makes its way north. The highlands of Parthos have faded, replaced by more rugged looking grassy plains with sparse forestation.

"Hungry?" Roland asks as he pulls out a loaf of bread and a jar of honey from a sack.

"A little bit," says Anisa, "thanks. How long does it usually take the ferry to get to where it's going? I need to stretch my legs a bit."

Slicing off some of the bread for Anisa, Roland looks up and turns his whiskers into the breeze. "This time of day, should take less than an hour. You're welcome to swim alongside though if you want some exercise. The water is pretty safe along this route."

The doe tears off a piece of the bread, and pops it into her mouth. "Swim? Not likely!" She peers over the side at the water. "I didn't even bring a bathing suit."

At the rear of the ferry, Aaron changes from his vest into a plain looking gray tunic.

"A what?" Roland asks, after spreading some honey on his own bread.

Aaron comes forward and snatches some bread from his cousin. "It's a foreign thing, Roland, don't worry about it."

Anisa looks at the large buck oddly. "A bathing suit – you wear it to swim in." She smirks. "You weren't suggesting I just dive in like this, were you?"

"Swimming in clothes?" the larger Lapi chuckles, and punches Aaron in the arm. "You're pulling my leg! Oh, I brought a tunic for you too, Anysia. You don't want to look too foreign in Dianus."

The white doe's smirk fades as she takes the tunic from Roland. "You mean … just swim in the buff?" She looks at the buck oddly. "You're kidding, right? Right in front of everyone?"

The "captain" spits over the side of the boat at the mention of foreigners.

The question just makes the mostly-black buck look confused.

"You can just wear that over your regular shirt, Anisa," Aaron says. The tunic is a light gold, and doesn't feel like any material Anisa's encountered on Rephidim; it's light and soft.

Anisa exchanges mutually confused glances with Roland for a few seconds more, then snaps out of it. "Oh, right." The doe slips the tunic on over her shirt. "I was just about to ask where I could change. There doesn't seem to be a dressing room or anything like that."

"More sky island strangeness," Roland says, then lays back on the deck to enjoy the warm morning.

The doe gives Aaron a look as if to say, "He's calling me strange?" then sits back down. "So will my speaking Standard be a problem, or do they speak Skeek here?"

Aaron smirks, and switches from Skeek to Standard to tell Anisa, "Remember, these people have never lived with other species, so don't have the same mores we do on Rephidim … or just about anyplace else really. Stick to Skeek and you'll be understood; use Standard if you just need to talk to me, although my parents speak it too."

"You mean it's all Lapis?" says Anisa in Standard. "I thought there were a few others?"

"Vykarins," Aaron says, pointing back towards the rowers with his thumb. "Might be a Skreek or two doing business, but they don't live there."

The doe nods. "You'll have to give me warnings to make sure I don't do any more faux pases, I can already tell things are gonna be a bit different."

"It shouldn't be too bad," Aaron says, finishing his bread and sitting at the bow so he can dangle his toes in the water. "Just try not to act too surprised," he advises.

Anisa nibbles on the last piece of her bread, and nods. "I'll try." She turns to Roland, and switches back to Skeek. "So, you said there's another Snowshoe there? What makes you think she's related to me?"

Tilting his head up to look at Anisa, Roland says, "Well, she looks just like you, only bigger. Same color eyes even."

Aaron perks an ear at this, and comments, "White fur and blue eyes aren't uncommon up near Valkyria. It's covered in snow most of the year, after all."

Anisa perks her ears forward in curiosity. "She does? Weird; I've got to meet her now." The doe shakes her head. "I never knew we had any ties to Amazonia – I mean, I'd never even heard of it until I met Aaron. What was her whole name again?"

"Lucia Circeros Snowshoe," Rolan says, sitting up now. "She doesn't talk much, and didn't bring anything with her, so she probably got kicked out of her Clan for something."

The ferry passes the ruins of a long-submerged castle, and a bright spot can be made out on the shore farther ahead.

The doe splays her ears. "That doesn't sound promising. I can't say as I recognize the name, though; at least I've never heard it at any family reunions or anything. Then again, my family's so huge I could have missed her." She thinks for a bit. "Then again, I doubt I'd miss someone who looks like a huge version on myself, and I doubt she gets out of her homeland much. Ugh, my head's hurting."

"Amazonians don't travel much," Aaron says with a nod. "Snowshoes could have come here from somewhere else also. But then, your brother Gibson is pretty big, and you're stronger than a typical doe, Anisa."

"I always thought it was from the hard work," Anisa says, "but it would explain Gibson, I guess. We always just thought that he was sort of a freak, although this doesn't lessen that any." She grins.

"There's nothing freakish about being big," Roland says, sounding a bit hurt. "You can't be a guardian without being large enough to challenge a warrior."

Anisa pats the buck on the knee sympathetically, and stifles a giggle. "I was just joking, Roland. I'm his little sister, so it's my duty to tease him." She grins. "You guys gotta have that rule in Amazonia, don't you? It's innate!"

"My sisters never teased me," Roland admits, rubbing his chin, "but I usually teased Xavier."

"Everyone teases him!" the doe laughs, winking at Aaron. "But seriously, I love my brother. He taught me most of what I know when it comes to fighting, but still, it's a little sister's duty to pester her big siblings. I got plenty of pestering from my little brothers, after all."

"Hey, I get some respect you know," Aaron says in his own defense. "I can see the city now up ahead."

Anisa stands up, and peers out over the water at the city.

"I suppose there was some teasing when we were children," Roland says, and turns to look toward the bright patch in the distance. "Aye, that's Dianus, shining in the sunlight."

The city doesn't appear as much more than that from this distance – a bright patch on the shore. But waterborne traffic increases, as several larger boats converge on the same route. The smell of fish is carried on the breeze.

The doe peers for a bit longer, hand over brow. The smell of fish, however, starts to get to her, and she sits back down woozily. "Ugh, I think we need to hurry up and dock, or I'll be sick."

Aaron blinks at Anisa, and looks at the calm waters. "You can't be getting seasick already?" he asks.

Anisa shakes her head. "It's not the boat, it's the smell." She sniffs the air a bit more, and winces.

There's a loud BLAAT as the ferry captain signals the nearest fishing boat with a horn. A moment later an answering blow comes back, and the larger sailed vessel begins coming closer.

"I just smell fish," Roland comments, standing up to wave to the fishermen. As the boat comes closer, it's clear that it is crewed entirely by Lapis.

Putting her hand over her muzzle, the white Lapi nods. "That's what I mean!" She peers upwards at the boat despite the smell, and is slightly astounded. Even she has never seen so many of her kind in one place.

Once the larger boat begins to pass the ferry, more of its crew cluster around the stern. A thick tow-rope is thrown across and caught by one of the Vykarin on the ferry, who quickly ties it to a ring on the bow. The ferry picks up considerable speed from the tow.

Anisa almost topples over from the sudden jolt, and steadies herself against the side. "Do you … eat the fish?"

"I guess we'll make port faster than we thought now," Aaron says. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the fish-smell in the least.

Roland looks to Anisa in confusion again. "The Vykarin eat it. We use them for fertilizer and oil mostly, as well as medicines. Sometimes warriors eat jerked fish when they are on the move, so that they don't need to carry too much food with them."

Anisa looks slightly relieved, but only slightly. Once she gets used to the boost in speed, she peers over the side at the city again. "We'll be there in no time now."

It isn't too much longer before the harbor breakwater appears – a long line of broken ships and boulders. Once the fishing boat and ferry are through into the harbor itself, the city can be seen more clearly. It rises up on a small hill, and the same Olympian architecture looms over the fortified walls. At the top of the central hill is a truly huge building of a kind Anisa has never seen before. Its curved outer walls seem to be built entirely of archways.

The doe stares hard at the building, mouth agape. "What's that there in the middle? It's pretty."

Aaron raises a hand up to shield some of the glare off of the marble buildings. "That's the coliseum. It's pretty amazing, but I can't say I care for what goes on inside it."

With a snort, Roland pokes Aaron in the shoulder. "You liked it fine when we snuck in as coneys, Xavier. You nearly ran out onto the field, I remember."

"Coliseum?" Anisa looks at the patched buck. "What happens there, games or something?"

"Blood sports," Aaron says, twitching his whiskers.

"Great games of skill and bravery!" Roland says, almost simultaneously.

Anisa's ears wilt. "You mean fighting?"

Both bucks nod in answer, making them seem like color-reversed twins.

"No offense or anything, I love a good fight and all," the doe says, "but I draw the line at killing. Are we going there anytime soon?"

"It's prevented a few clan wars in its time," Roland says in defense of the place. "I'm sure it can be arranged if you wish, Anysia. Our clan does not field gladiators, but Hydron does, and they are allies at the moment."

Anisa sits back down in the boat. "That doesn't mean you have to fight though, does it?" The white Lapi adjusts her tunic. "How many clans are there anyways?"

"There are five clans which maintain Dianus," Roland explains. "Our own Clan Kerebos, Hydron, Gogran, Kimera and Cyclon. We're being towed by a Gogran fishing boat right now," he notes, pointing up to the flag flying from the ship's mast, which depicts some sort of tentacled monster.

"Only gladiators fight in the games," Aaron explains. "Warriors fight there in duels, or to settle disputes between clans."

"Speaking of which," the doe says as she reaches into her bag, and pulls out the necklace and dagger, "I guess I'd better put these on. Don't want any mix ups." She slips the emblem over her neck, and props her foot up on the side of the boat to tie the dagger. "So I guess that means Snowshoe is a clan, only in Valkyria?"

As the boats near the docks, the ferry captain undoes the tow rope and waves to the fishermen. The two Vykarin begin churning the waterwheels once more to guide the ferry to its own slip among the piers.

"They are a family, associated with Clan Loki," Roland says, and tosses his sack onto the pier before jumping up after it, "just as I am of the Athenae family belonging to Clan Kerebos."

Aaron finishes strapping on his own dagger, and tosses his duffel up to the pier as well. "Ready to enter a new world, Anisa?" he teases.

Anisa slings her own bag after the bucks', and smirks to Aaron. "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't! Let's go." The doe leaps from the boat after Roland.

Once past the unloading fishing boats and usual dock chaos, the Lapis pass through the main gates to the city.

Aside from the artistic differences, Dianus sets itself apart from any other city Anisa has experienced by its lack of noise. The market is just as crowded and hectic as the Rephidim Bazaar – more so even, given that Lapis tend to run more than walk – but haggling and conversation is kept to the level of whispering, causing only a susurrus of sound.

The other primary difference is in the people: there isn't a single non-Lapi to be seen. But the sheer variety of Lapis helps make up for the lack of diversity. There are rabbit-morphs of every color, shape and size (although no giants yet). Many look normal, dressed in tunics or togas, but some sport fur that is so lush, long or fluffy that they make do with loincloths or simple belts to hang things from. There are short-eared Lapis, lop-eared Lapis, and even a few antlered Lapis. Decoration includes jewelry, colorful scarves, patterns of dyed fur and even shaved designs for some.

Unclothed, fluffy children and adolescents are everywhere, and half of the adults wear large daggers. At a nearby fountain, several does nurse infants and chat quietly among themselves, while an antlered buck carrying a huge woven basket stops to get a drink.

Anisa stares around dumbfounded at all the rabbits, blushing several times on behalf of the unclothed Lapis. She also stares at the antlered Lapis, never having seen them before. "This is so… weird," she whispers to Aaron. "I feel like I should be fitting in here of all places, but it's just so … alien."

"It's just how Lapis live left to their own devices," Aaron says with a shrug. "They don't have to conform to the habits of other races. But I find it all a bit odd too, personally. I'd never want to settle down here."

A section of the crowd parts for a group of veiled, black-furred Lapis that are swinging a smoking censer ahead of them. A tall, black buck is in their center, bedecked with laurels and necklaces made of flowers.

The doe can't help but grin. "Left to our own devices, eh? I guess I've just been tainted by Rephidim, then." She stops, and turns to watch the strange group. "Is that the king or something?" she whispers.

Roland glances at the procession, then shakes his head to Anisa and explains, "They are the priests and priestesses of Dagh. They are parading around their chosen sacrifice for the Apex tomorrow."

"I'd forgotten about the Apex," Aaron says with a frown. "Will the family be sending anyone to attend?"

Anisa looks aghast at Roland, "They're going to sacrifice him?" She turns to Aaron. "I thought you said people didn't like Dagh around here!"

"Warriors often depend on stealth and cover of darkness," the large buck notes. "Some of ours will surely attend, but it will depend on whether or not Esai arrives with the offerings in time."

"It's more that we don't take his name in vain here, Anisa," Aaron says, "because he just might show up if you invoke it."

The doe grimaces, and shoulders her bag without another word on the subject. She's clearly uncomfortable, however.

Roland begins leading the Rephidimites away from the procession, following the curve of the city wall towards the north. "Have you brought gifts this time, Xavier? Everyone enjoyed the mages you brought last time."

"We were supposed to bring gifts? I didn't bring anything." She looks at Roland. "How do you give a mage as a gift?"

"Xander and Springer performed magic for the party," Aaron says. "I brought a few things for people, though. You've brought your novelty, Anisa."

Anisa grins. "Except I guess I'm not unique, if there's another me running around somewhere. Besides, I can't do half the stuff Hotfoot and Meadow can."

A large gate in the wall appears, topped by a bas-relief of a huge, one-eyed monster. Vykarin-pulled wagons move in and out, causing a minor traffic jam that Roland has to guide the others through.

"But you're from somewhere else, Anisa," Aaron says with a grin. "You'll be interestingly strange."

"Oh, so now I'm strange," the doe mocks, poking Aaron playfully. "Who are we staying with, anyway? Your mother and father don't live here anymore, right?"

The white doe does draw the occasional glance from the various Lapis rushing about, even though they don't seem terribly different from Rephidim Lapis in terms of build.

"The Clan estate," Aaron says. "My uncle Xerxes – Roland's father – runs it. My mother is probably already there."

Anisa notices some of the glances, feeling somewhat awkward, but not letting it show. "Ah, so I get to meet her so soon then." The doe grins wickedly at Aaron, then looks to Roland. "I hear she's quite the lady."

"She is an impressive warrior, and the reason our family leads Clan Kerebos," Roland says, and then points to a gate in the distance. "That is our gate coming up. I hope you won't upset her again this year, Xavier."

Aaron just grumbles in response. "It's not my fault if she chooses to be upset."

The doe blinks at the exchange, but doesn't pry. She peers forward at the gate.

The traffic is thinner here, and the relief over the Kerebos gate is that of the same three-headed creature that appears on Anisa's medallion and on the breastplate of the armor at Aaron's house. Roland waves down a wagon headed in the same direction, which pauses to let the trio climb aboard.

Roland offers Anisa a hand up into the back of the wagon, which is filled with baskets and terra-cotta jugs sealed with wax.

Anisa climbs into the wagon with the large buck's help, and sits besides him, looking at Aaron. "Okay, I gotta ask. What did your mom get upset about? It wasn't the family line thing was it?"

"It's always the family line thing," Aaron says, settling down as the wagon begins moving again. "I think I get all the guilt dumped on me because I'm the only son that shows up anymore."

"You are getting on in age, Xavier," Roland points out. "Both of us are. But at least I will be retiring from my position in a few years, and can have a family of my own."

"So your brothers don't really count then," the doe says. "They ought to pester your brother with the harem; he's bound to have a few daughters." She looks to Roland. "How old are you, if I may ask?"

"I am the same age as Xavier, twenty-nine," Roland says, leaning back against a basket. "We even have the same birthday."

Anisa smirks. "Are you sure you guys aren't brothers then? You guys sound like my mother, though. Twenty-nine's not too old. I'm twenty-five, and I'm not married yet."

Roland blinks at this, and gives Anisa another looking-over. "You seem much younger, and surely you've had children … although you do walk like a maiden, now that I think of it."

The doe looks to Aaron, remembering how he had warned her of this. "No, I've never had kids," she says, shaking her head, "and I'm twenty five years old, not a year younger."

"People live longer and enjoy better health on the sky islands," Aaron tells Roland. "Anysia is just … very healthy," he explains, and winks at the doe.

"Ah," Roland says, nodding. "I imagine she has many suitors to choose from then, if I understand the backward ways of the outside world correctly."

Anisa smirks, but nevertheless crosses her arms. "Suitors? Not really. We don't really do it that way on Rephidim anymore. People get to know each other first, and if they like each other, then one thing leads to another."

The countryside beyond the city walls rolls past; cultivated fields, orchards and vineyards as far as the eye can see, full of farming Lapis.

"And your parents do not arrange it?" Roland asks. "There are many does I have my eye on, that I have known all of my life."

Anisa watches the scenery go by outside of the cart, but keeps talking to the buck. "They can try," she says with a smirk, "but we get the final say. At least it's that way in my family."

"Things aren't quite as ritualized on Rephidim as they are here, Roland," Aaron adds, then leans towards his cousin and whispers something into his white-furred ear which causes his eyes to go wide in amazement.

Roland just shakes his head in disbelief and mutters, "No wonder you are so concerned about clothing."

The doe furrows her brow, and perks forward to try and hear. "Hey, no whispering here!" She arches a brow at Roland's comment however.

Aaron folds his ears back and looks apologetic to Anisa. "Sorry, not something I was comfortable talking about in front of you. I'll explain to you in private later, okay?"

Anisa sits backwards, and nods with a smirk. "I guess. Just better not have been anything about me." She grins.

"Oh no, just about … lifestyles on Rephidim," Aaron says, trying to look innocent.

Ahead of the wagon, a large stone wall with battlements and watchtowers looms. The sun glints off of the bronze helmets worn by the Lapi guards that patrol it.

The doe nods dubiously, and looks out the wagon towards the gates.

"Ah, home!" Roland says as he turns to see where they are. The bucks manning the watchtower wave to him as the wagon passes by.

"Wow," Anisa muses to herself as she peers at the estate. "This place is beautiful. To hear Aaron – I mean, Xavier talk about, you'd think it was a shack!"

As in the city, Lapi rush about on errands, often dodging or leaping over children as they go. Wisps of steam rise from one of the larger buildings, and several Vykarins are digging sleeping pits in a bare patch of earth set aside for them.

Aaron's ears droop again. "Well, there isn't much in the way of plumbing," he says quietly.

The doe looks to Aaron, her own ears wilting slightly, "You're kidding… right?" She bites her lip. "So, um … where are you supposed to … go?"

The wagon comes to a halt near the entrance to the villa – a huge arched doorway between marble pillars, with the now-familiar monster looming over it.

"There are chamber pots and special rooms," Aaron notes, and leaps down from the wagon with his bag.

Anisa tosses her bag over her shoulder and leaps from the wagon. "Lovely. I guess it'll be like camping out in a way. That's not so bad." She stretches, popping her back a couple of times. "Lead the way, you two. It's your turf."

"XAVIER!" booms a voice from the entryway, and a giant black Lapi strides outside. Before Aaron has a chance to escape, his mother picks him up by the back of the neck and hugs her to her boiled Zaki-leather armor. "My favorite, more loyal son!" she says, putting an almost threatening emphasis into it. Her huge, lop ears fall down her broad shoulders, and there is a flash of gold in her smile. She stands well over six feet tall.

"Ack, Mom!" Aaron sputters as he struggles in his mother's grasp.

"Aunt Linnea!" Roland says, bowing respectfully to the woman. "I've brought him, safe and sound, as promised."

Anisa does a double take at the enormous Lapi, at first taken aback by the giant doe. She slowly falls to giggles, however, as Aaron is snuggled up by his mother.

Holding her son out at arm's length, Linnea looks him over. "What's happened to you? You've gotten so hard! Have you been fighting?" She glances past Aaron's shoulder to Anisa when she hears the giggling. "And who is this pretty young thing? Not another mage, I hope."

"Let me down and I'll explain everything!" Aaron pleads, his feet dangling.

Letting out a small squeak as Linnea's gaze falls upon her, Anisa does what she hopes is a respectful bow of her own. "My name is Anisa – er, Anysia Snowshoe, ma'am. Xavier invited me."

Slinging Aaron over her shoulder for the moment, Linnea steps closer and leans down to get a good look at Anisa. For a woman that's in her sixties, Linnea the Black isn't showing much in the way of elderliness. She looks to be only a little older than Anisa's own mother. "And what is your relationship to my son, Anysia Snowshoe?" she asks politely.

Anisa feels tiny compared to the hulking doe, and even more so with her gaze bearing down. "We're … uh … we're good friends! I'm also his personal trainer of sorts. I've been teaching him how to fight." The small Lapi's fur stands on end, on par with her nerves.

The older doe sniffs Anisa, then asks, "Friends, eh? But you're still available?"

"Mom!" Aaron protests from Linnea's shoulder.

"W-Well, I … er… " The smaller doe's ears turn bright crimson in embarrassment.

"Thought so," Linnea says, and gives Anisa's upper arm a squeeze with her free hand. "Good muscle tone. You fight professionally?"

Anisa blinks as her arms are suddenly grabbed. "Not really. I spar every now and then when I can find s-someone … but I do know how to fight."

With a grin that exposes gold-capped canines, Linnea says, "Well, I'll have to introduce you to Epimethius the Trainer then." She finally lets go of Aaron, who lands on his tail rather ignominiously. Straightening up, the warrioress looks at her son and shakes her head. "At least you've brought someone with potential this time, Xavier."

"Th-thank you, ma'am." Walking over to the buck, Anisa helps him to his feet wordlessly, ears still blushing.

"Thanks, Anisa," Aaron says, brushing off his trousers.

With a rumble of clawed hooves, a group of Vykarin bearing armored does comes around the side of the villa, raising a dust cloud.

"She seems like … quite a woman," the small doe whispers in Aaron's ear in Standard. She blinks at the arriving group. "What's this?"

Once the dust settles, the lead rider hops down and salutes Linnea. "Our raid was successful, commander!" the giantess reports. "We captured three families from Cyclon, all Angors."

Anisa perks her ears at the conversation, then looks to Aaron in curiosity.

A white-shelled Vykarin carrying a white doe finally rounds the building, leading a group of golden, long-furred Lapis behind it.

"Slaves," Aaron whispers to Anisa, then nods at the long-hairs being led by the trailing Vykarin. "Your tunic is woven from the fur of Angors."

Anisa begins to reply to the buck, but her gaze is torn away by the emergence of the large white doe. She stares dumbfounded at the warrioress and her small train. "That … must be who I think it is."

The newly captured slaves aren't bound or restrained in any way, and are obviously grouped into several families. They don't seem particularly concerned, tired, or upset about their situation. The warrior leading them hops down from her mount, and stands out from the others. She's shorter, and instead of leather and bronze her armor is of a shiny, silvery metal. Her helmet has horns instead of the blade-like crest of the others as well, and her fur is indeed as white as snow.

"How did the newcomer perform?" Linnea asks the lead warrior, nodding her head to indicate the white doe.

The Rephidimite wrenches her gaze away from the large doe just long enough to look at the long haired Lapis. "They don't seem too worried," she says to Aaron. "Were they slaves already?"

"Adequately," the leader answers.

Aaron shrugs. "Maybe, but probably just serfs. They can always visit their relatives back in Cyclon lands if they want to, though. Slaves aren't really property here."

Anisa flops an ear in total confusion. "So … they're slaves, but they're not slaves?" She looks to Aaron, then goes back to studying the white doe again. "How are they considered enslaved?"

Several normal-sized Lapis appear from the villa to lead the new slaves inside and help them carry their belongings.

"Because they were captured," Aaron says, looking like he doesn't really understand it all himself. "They don't belong to Clan Cyclon anymore, and they aren't officially part of Kerebos yet, so they're slaves for now."

Shaking her head just slightly, Anisa keeps studying the larger version of herself, or so it seems. "I still have a lot to learn, that's obvious." She squints. "What do you think: … cousin?"

The white warrior approaches and bows to Linnea, while the rest unsaddle their mounts and send them off. Lucia the Valkyrian also glances towards Anisa.

"Distant cousin, maybe," Aaron guesses. "If you're from the same family, it's probably been a dozen generations since your ancestors were in Amazonia."

Anisa's ears shoot upwards when the larger doe looks her way, but she keeps her face blank and stays silent.

"You are making progress, Lucia," Linnea tells the doe. "I see that you will earn your way into Kerebos within a season."

"Thank you for the chance to prove myself, Linnea," Lucia responds, and bows again to the taller black doe. This seems to be the signal for formalities to end, as the warriors begin entering the villa.

"I'll see you at dinner," Linnea calls to Aaron and the others, and follows the rest inside. Lucia, meanwhile, begins to unsaddle her Vykarin.

"She's pretty exotic for Dianus," Roland tells Aaron and Anisa, while he watches Lucia work.

"A dozen generations at least, if we've shrank this much," Anisa finally whispers to Aaron. "Should we go talk to her, or would that be a breach of protocol or something?"

"How about introducing us to her, Roland, instead of just ogling her?" Aaron asks his cousin.

"Oh, right!" Roland says, and leads the two over to the armored doe. The white Vykarin gives him a slurp on the cheek once he gets close enough.

Anisa follows the large buck, and almost lets out a laugh at the giant buck's greeting, but manages to catch herself just in time. She looks at the doe, feeling even smaller now that she's up close, then looks to Roland expectantly.

"Welcome back, Lucia!" Roland says cheerfully, patting the Vykarin on the snout. "I'd like to introduce you to Linnea's son, Xavier Athenae, and his companion from far off Rephidim, Anysia Snowshoe."

Lucia takes off her helmet and shakes her ears out, finally smiling to Roland and the others. "Well met, although I had expected the son of Linnea the Black to be taller," she jokes, and takes a moment to look over Anisa. "And you must be my long-lost little sister?"

The smaller doe smiles up at the larger one. "It's a pleasure to meet you and, er … good job out there!" She laughs at the comment. "Maybe so, we could pass for it, it seems. But unfortunately all I have are brothers. I didn't expect to meet another Snowshoe here."

"Where I am from, you cannot swing a decapitated head without spattering one," Lucia says, still smiling, "although I do admit it warms me to see someone who looks familiar, and does not tower o'er me or have antlers."

"Anysia is a bit of a warrior herself," Aaron says, patting Anisa on the shoulder, "although she doesn't look for trouble. At least, she won't admit to doing so."

"Anysia" blinks at the decapitated head comment, but doesn't let her smile falter. "Well, kinda. I know how to fight, that's all."

Lucia looks between Aaron and Anisa and asks the doe, "You are marrying into the clan, then?"

Anisa shakes her head. "Um, no, we weren't planning on it." Her grin widens as she looks to Aaron.

Throwing his arms around all three of the smaller Lapis, Roland says, "You seem to be getting on well! I will put Anysia and Xavier into the room with you and Coeus, if you like Lucia."

The warrior blinks, but says, "I have no objections to the company."

"Sounds good to me, I suppose," the small doe replies, even if it is weird to share a room with so many people. The ways of her own kind, she supposes. "Who's Coeus?"

"The coney which tends to the room," Roland explains. "A sweet lad."

Aaron seems slightly relieved to have more people in the same room, rather than being stuck alone with Anisa. "Sounds good to me."

"Well then," says Anisa, "I guess we'd better go on inside. Your mother must be waiting on us, and I still haven't met your dad."

"I'll show you to the room so you can drop off your belongings then," Roland says. "Esai should be arriving before dinner, if he is on schedule."

Aaron whispers to Anisa, "Esai is my father."

"I will see you all later then," Lucia says, and waves as she leads her Vykarin off.

The small doe nods. "So he's not here yet?" She shoulders her bag, waves to her near-twin, and walks behind Roland. "Do they not travel together?"

Leading the way into the villa, Roland says, "He left some time ago to procure the offerings for New Year from far off Sylvania."

Anisa sticks out her tongue. "Sylvania, now there's a dreary place, or so I've heard." The doe takes the time to admire the villa as they enter. "Amazing. Was this all done by the Amazonians, or was it already here?"

The main hall of the villa runs for a good hundred yards, and is wide enough for four Vykarins to walk side by side. Fluted columns along the sides support the high ceiling and an upper walkway, with narrow tapestries hanging from them. There is an indoor fountain midway down, and various bits of sculpture scattered about.

"I think it is a former Olympian estate that they … uh, liberated," Aaron whispers. "I'm sure it's been rebuilt to suit Lapis over time."

"It's really beautiful. I could just linger here all day," the doe muses.

"We built the watchtowers and the wall," Roland says proudly. "Nobody will be taking this place from us anytime soon."

Anisa smirks at Roland. "I hope not, at least not while I'm here."

The same group of warriors that were outside stride across the hall and through an archway, stripped of armor and clothing now, which a few adolescents are cleaning near the fountain.

Anisa tries not to let her gaze linger, still somewhat amazed at the lack of modesty as her ears blush again. "They won't expect us to do that, will they?" she whispers to Aaron. "That'd be a bit … awkward."

"Your room is this way," Roland says, leading them towards another archway on the courtyard side of the hall. A short stairway leads them downwards below ground level, where thin windows high up let in sunlight.

"We aren't expected to follow warrior traditions, no," Aaron whispers back. "Only Lucia will have to do that."

Anisa breaks into a grin despite herself, but forces it away. "This must be nice during the summertime, underground and away from the heat. Seems … appropriate for some reason."

The hallway is lined with curtained archways leading into rooms, and Roland brings them to one six rooms down and pulls aside the curtain. "Here you go," he says. "There's a washroom at the end of the hall."

A fuzzy-furred tan coney, perhaps eight years old, meets them at the entry, and bows. "I am Coeus, your attendant." Looking up to Roland, he asks, "Will Lucia still be staying here? She's nice and warm."

Rubbing the top of the boy's head, Roland says, "Yes, Lucia will be staying here still. This is Xavier, son of Linnea, and his friend Anysia from a faraway land. Take care of them for me, okay, Coeus?"

The doe relaxes at the mention of a washroom, and stops just short of smacking into the younger Lapi as she gets near the door. "A nice wash up sounds good. I- what? She's warm?" The doe looks at the small coney. "What do you mean?"

"Okay!" the coney pipes up, and smiles to Anisa. "She's warm to sleep against," he explains, and takes the doe's hand to lead her inside.

Smirking, Aaron follows.

Anisa looks dumbfounded at Aaron, but allows herself to be led inside the room by the young buck.

Beams of sunlight enter the room from the high, narrow windows, but most of the light comes from fish-oil lamps. The walls are bare stone, save for a few decorative tapestries, and the floor is made of clay tiles which give off a surprising warmth. An ornate wooden wardrobe stands near the entrance, easily big enough to hold the clothes of a small family, and next to it is a "bed" that could sleep one. The bed is composed of a layer of Rughrat furs covering hay, and covered with several woven blankets that look – and smell – like they are woven out of Lapi fur. The far wall holds a table and several chairs, along with a washbasin. Several decorated chamber pots are stacked near the washbasin.

The final piece of furniture is low, wide bench covered in padded leather.

Aaron drops his duffel near the wardrobe, and sits on the bed, sinking in a ways. "Comfy, isn't it?" he smirks to Anisa.

The doe takes the scene of the room all in, and places her bag against the wardrobe. "I only see one bed. Where is everyone gonna sleep? Oh, wait… " Her ears wilt as the answer makes itself apparent in her head. "All of us … on that?"

"It's big enough," Roland says, giving Anisa an odd look. "Surely you don't need more room than that? Or is this more of that foreign stuff Aaron told me about?"

"It's not a matter of room, it's just … well… " The doe shifts her weight uncomfortably, but shrugs with a sigh. "I'll get used to it. Just different from back home is all."

"I'll explain it to you, Anisa," Aaron says. "And yeah, you'll get used to it. You just have to see it from an Amazonian viewpoint."

Anisa smirks. "I think I'll have to see a lot of things from an Amazonian viewpoint, but then again, that's part of why I'm here." She grins at Aaron. "And I think I already get it. I think." She takes a seat on the bed, and relaxes backwards. "At least we're finally somewhere we can relax for a while."

"Well, I'll leave you in Coeus' paws then, and go take care of a few things," Roland says, smiling. "I'll catch up to you before dinner!" he promises, and heads back through the curtain to the hallway.

"Could you get us some fresh water to drink, Coeus?" Aaron asks the coney, who quickly nods and dashes off.

The doe waves to Roland as he leaves. "See you later! It was nice meeting you!" She watches the young Lapi run off as well, and lays back on the bed, her legs dangling over the side.

Switching to Standard, Aaron says to Anisa, "Okay, ready for the explanation?"

Anisa nods. "Sure, although I think I'm already getting most of it. What do I need to know?"

"Well, first off; beds are strictly for sleeping in, and families usually sleep together," the buck explains. "Sleeping alone is a punishment. There also isn't any sexual connotation to not wearing clothes, or bathing together. Amazonians just don't see each other as sex objects in the Rephidim sense, and the act itself is fairly ritualized and serious, so there's no casual hanky-panky to worry about."

"Which isn't to say people don't get affectionate," Aaron adds. "You can expect to see lots of hugging and kissing, even between males, as expressions of friendship or affection."

"Maybe I should get in trouble then," Anisa grins, but shakes her head. "Just kidding. Like I said, it's just weird is all. You forget how different the world is when you spend most of your life in one place. Nevertheless, I still think I'll be wearing a nightgown to sleep tonight."

"Heh, trust me, sleeping with a stuffed toy is nowhere near as comfortable as having a coney curled up against your chest will be," Aaron promises with a grin. "You'll miss it when you get back to Rephidim … but then, you could probably just borrow Coal if you wanted to."

"I'll be sleeping on the opposite side of Lucia though, I think," the buck notes. "And I'll be wearing shorts, too."

Anisa flops her ears at this, smirking slightly. "We'll see, besides, I don't have much choice in the matter if I wanna sleep I guess." She sits back up, swinging her legs back and forth over the side of the bed and chuckling at the buck's comment. "Coeus isn't a slave, is he? He didn't look like one of those Angoras."

Coeus runs back into the room, carrying a tall glass pitcher of water with some fruit floating in it, as well as several glasses, all balanced on a wooden platter. It's amazing that someone that young could manage it all without spilling any.

"Children are children. They're a class by themselves," Aaron says, before switching back to Skeek and saying, "Welcome back, Coeus, and thank you!"

The doe smiles at the young rabbit, and takes a glass. "Thank you. So, your name is Coeus, right? How old are you again?"

"I'm eight!" Coeus says proudly, after setting down the platter near the adults. "Are you Lucia's daughter, Anysia?"

Anisa takes another glass and hands it to Aaron before pouring herself a glass. She lets out a small laugh at Coeus's comment, and shakes her head. "No, I think she's a bit young for that. We may be related, though – not sure yet." She takes a sip of her water. "So you've been sharing a room with her? What's she like?"

Aaron plucks a plum out of the glass Anisa hands him, and takes a bite out of it.

"She's nice. I hope she gets into the clan," Coeus says, and looks like he'd wag his puffball tail if he could. "Then she can have children, and I can play with them."

The doe laughs. "So she's a good person? That's a relief to hear. It may not be any of my business, but why did she have to leave her old clan?"

"Her babies weren't strong enough and all died," the little coney says, "so she came down here where it's always warm and nice so her next ones would be okay."

"The climate at Valkyria is very harsh," Aaron whispers to Anisa.

Anisa's smile fades, turning into a frown as her ears set back in dismay. "That's … terrible. They kicked her out for that?" Her ears wilt. "Poor thing, she must be having a hard time of it."

"Oh no, she came on her own," Coeus says, still smiling. "She'll be accepted and have lots of babies, I just know it! Maybe they'll all be snow-colored like you and her! That would be nice, I think."

"Yes, white fur is nice, but hard to keep clean," Aaron says to the coney, and gives him half of his plum, after taking the pit out.

Coeus gets plum-juice all over his chin as he eats the sweet fruit.

"So she wasn't kicked out?" The doe perks up an ear. "That's a relief. Wouldn't like to think that my distant relatives were that harsh." She grins at the little buck, and can't help but ruffle his ears. "Yeah, white fur is a pain. Be glad you don't have it."

"It's nice though," Coeus says, after wiping his chin with the back of his paw. "Do you have lots of children, Anysia? Are they all white like you?"

Anisa laughs once more, shaking her head. "No, no kids yet for me. I dunno if they'd be white or not. Both my parents are brown. My oldest brother is black like Xavier's mother, and all of my other brothers are different."

"My little sister is blue!" Coeus says, and then pats Anisa on the knee. "Don't worry, I'm sure someone will want to have babies with you eventually."

Aaron tries not to snicker.

The doe's ears blush, but she can't help but laugh. "Well, I hope so. Maybe I'll get a son as outgoing as you, and he can come visit you some day." She playfully glares at Aaron.

Aaron tries to look innocent, with his ears lopping down at his sides.

The curtains part again, and Lucia steps inside … then immediately gets down on one knee and holds her arms out to catch Coeus as he throws himself at her.

Anisa smiles as the larger doe enters, the smile getting bigger as the coney jumps into her arms. "I think you have a fan for life," she says to Lucia.

Laughing, Lucia hugs the coney and sits kneels down fully. "I'm glad to see you too! Now help me with my armor, Coeus."

"Mind if I have some of that water?" the warrior asks, while Coeus busily undoes the various knots and straps holding her armor together.

Nodding, Anisa picks up a glass, pours some water into it from the pitcher, then walks over and hands it to the doe. "That stuff must get hot. It doesn't look too comfortable."

Aaron watches in fascination for a moment, then splashes some of his own water at his face and says, "I, uh, I'm going to take a little walk! Be right back!" He dashes out of the room before any more of the armor can be removed.

"It's supposed to get hot," Lucia says after having a drink, then twitches her whiskers at Aaron's retreat. "That's an advantage up in the mountains, but not much use down here, I guess."

Anisa swivels her ears curiously as the buck runs from the room, smirking in an amused manner. "And I thought I had a problem." She chuckles to herself, and takes a seat back on the bed. "I guess that would be nice up where it's snowy, but yeah, down here you're lucky if you don't boil." She watches the coney remove the armor, somewhat fascinated at the designs it displays. "So, you're trying to become a clan member here? You seem like you're doing alright."

Lucia nods, and takes another drink. "I still have to prove myself more as a warrior, though. It is very peaceful down here, so it could take awhile. What sort of armor do you wear up on Rephidim?" the warrior asks as she peels off the breastplate finally and fans her matted fur.

The smaller doe tries not to smirk or laugh, still unused to the different form of modesty here. "Armor? I don't wear any, myself. I'm not really a warrior, at least not in the same sense as people here are." She slicks her ears back, and takes another sip of her water. "The knights wear armor, but it's more decorative than anything.

"Decorative armor? How strange that anyone would wear this to look pretty," Lucia remarks, and goes to the wardrobe to get a tunic and shorts to wear.

Coeus takes the armor to the bench, and starts to clean the dust and sweat from it with a rag.

"Are there any warriors or knights in your family then?" Lucia asks the smaller doe. "The Snowshoes are renowned in Valkyria for their fighting prowess."

"Well, there's not much battle up there. It's usually peaceful as well." Anisa fishes a strawberry from her glass, and pops it into her mouth. "I don't think they wear it so much to look pretty; it's more to show off their power. They pretty much run the show up there." She shrugs at the question. "None that I'm aware of, not in the war sense at least. We're all pretty good fighters though, my brothers and I. I'm teaching Xavier how to fight as a matter of fact, and I guess you could consider my big brother a warrior of sorts."

The smaller doe cocks her head. "It's strange though, I'd never heard of Valkyria before, or Amazonia. I wonder if there's a way to find out of that's where we're from. My family has been in Rephidim for a long time."

"Ah, I hear that Rephidim is a frightening place," Lucia says after she finishes dressing. "Living with so many strange beings must be hard. But surely even there Lapis track their ancestry? I'm sure if your parents were of Amazonian stock, they would lord it over the lesser Lapis as would be their right."

"It's not that bad. I've lived there my entire life, so I don't find it that scary." Anisa perks an ear. "They might have an ancestry record somewhere. Lord over the lesser Lapi? Umm, it doesn't really work that way up there."

Lucia raises an eyebrow at Anisa, and crosses her arms across her chest. "The strong do not dominate and protect the weak? Who rules in place of Lapis then?"

Anisa blinks, her ears shooting upwards. "Er, the Temple does." The doe fidgets slightly. "No one race really rules everybody. It's all mixed. Usually it's a human at the head, but he never does much."

The Valkyrian curls her lip at the thought. "Well, you are in a better land now. Once you tell your family of what you see here, perhaps they will rise up and overthrow this Temple, or at least return here where Lapis live properly."

The smaller doe bites her lip, stifling the amused expression that fights to get out. "Maybe so. We'll have to see." She fidgets uncomfortably for a bit, then decides to change the subject. "Say, I've only seen a bit of this place." Anisa jumps down from the bed. "Wanna show me around, or is there anything we need to do first?"

Lucia glances up to see where the sunlight falls on the wall, and sighs. "The warriors are still bathing, so we can't go to the baths yet, as much as I need it. What sort of things are you interested in seeing?"

A pair of ears – one black, one white – poke through the curtain before Aaron's head appears to see if it's safe to return yet.

Anisa smirks as the buck reappears. "We're all decent, Flopear. You can come on in." The doe looks back to Lucia. "Just the place in general, I suppose. All I've seen is what I saw on my walk to the room."

As Aaron comes in and glares at Anisa for calling him Flopear, Lucia leans towards the doe and whispers, "Are all bucks so timid in Rephidim?"

Anisa grins, leaning to whisper back, "Not all of them, no. Xavier's just weird that way. It's why I'm trying to toughen him up."

Aaron twitches at the whispering, and says, "It's not fair to conspire against me already you know."

"Perhaps you will enjoy the gymnasium," Lucia says. "Epimethius' class should be ending soon."

The smaller doe leans back, and grins at Aaron. "Turnabout is fair play, my boy!" She looks to Lucia with ears perked. "A gym? I'm all for that! Xavier's mother mentioned Epimethius to me, so I guess I should meet him."

"Turnabout?" Aaron mutters, wondering what he did to Anisa. "Gods, Epimethius is still teaching? He has more scars than I do!"

"Coeus, could you fetch us when the baths are free?" Lucia asks the coney. "We'll be at the gymnasium in the meantime."

"Scars build character," says Anisa, grabbing the buck by the hand. "Maybe he can give me some gym pointers. Let's go see!"

"I'll come get you, Lucia. Don't worry!" Coeus pipes up from the bench, where he's still working the gunk out of Lucia's armor.

"Just don't hurt me," Aaron mutters as he's dragged along by Anisa.

"Don't worry, I won't," replies the doe, "… much!"