Garden of Morpheus
There are many places in the idyllic temple garden to meditate in private. A few areas are more public, or meant for group activity, such as the 'petting zoo' which holds a fluffy Rughrat calf and a creature that resembles a furry snake with a cat-like face. One spot has several children – some accompanied by adults or older coneys – sitting in a half-circle before two older Lapis in gray robes seated under a wide-canopied tree.

"Your sister tells us that you sleep has been troubled, Melina," the priest under the tree says to a light-brown coney in the circle before him and his priestess companion. "Is this so?"

Layth has been following Chloe for the past fifteen minutes doing his best to try and de-fluff her fur, much to the doe's probable embarrassment. As he's passing the garden, he pauses and tilts his head, hearing the comment about troubled dreams.

The coney looks up at the older doe sitting next to her, most likely the aforementioned sister, before looking back at the priest and nodding a bit vigorously, "Yes… I've been having some bad dreams… "

"Please share with us what you remember of them," the Priest requests. In the pen nearby, the Rughrat bleats for attention.

Lost in her own thoughts, Tasha walks along with her head down and eyes slightly narrowed. Occasionally she rubs her abdomen, grimacing and hinting at discomfort. When she passes the talking group, she swivels one ear to listen out of reflex.

"Are those storytellers?" Aisha whispers to Layth, having not caught the mention of dreams, as she had been distracted by the animal pen.

Reflexively, the brown coney Melina holds onto her sister's hand before explaining, "There's lots of shadows in my dream, and eyes, like I'm being watched… all the time. I can't see them though. And it feels like something is following me, but no matter which way I go it ends up in front." Melina's ears skew back a little bit as she finishes.

"No," Layth whispers back to Aisha, "They're discussing dreams. They must be Priests of Morpheus. Do you want to go listen? I would like a chance to speak with them later on volunteering here now and then to learn from them. With your leave, of course. If you need me, that matters more."

Turning his attention now to the older coney, the priest asks, "Olena, does Melina make sounds or movement during these dreams?" The lighter-colored doe nods in reply, and says, "Sometimes she whimpers, and often there is kicking."

Tasha pauses to reach up and scratch her ear, looking up as she does so. She looks over the crowd of Lapis and their dream interpreter with a neutral expression, ears perked, muzzle creased in a slight frown.

"How many of you sleep together?" the priestess asks, speaking for the first time. "Usually… perhaps ten?" Olena replies.

The two priests whisper to each other for some time after asking their questions.

"Come, we may as well sit," Layth says quietly to the does and Tasha, as everyone seems to be watching the dream discussion anyway.

"That dream sounds familiar," Chloe whispers to the others.

The young coney looks down a bit as the priest questions her sister, seeming uncomfortable, or maybe a little ashamed of her bad dream.

"What's goin' on?" Tasha asks of Layth when he asks her to sit. She moves to follow along, head tilted curiously, tail wagging in time with her steps. "'Ow does it sound familiar?"

"This is the Temple of Morpheus, God of Dreams. I imagine they are interpreting," Layth says quietly as he finds himself a seat. "It would explain why they're asking questions of the dream. Perhaps it means something. Perhaps not."

Finally, the priest speaks up again. "It may be a sign that Melina is afraid of being smothered or crushed by so many others. We suggest spending three nights with just the two of you sleeping together if possible. If on the third night, the dreams continue, please return to us."

"You really think I ought an' be sittin' here, Layth? If she's 'avin' nightmares I might be a bi' much." After sitting, Tasha flicks her tail in to her lap and begins picking at the tip idly.

"They're used to larger creatures than you. I doubt you would bother them much. Just don't smile at them," Layth advises as he folds his hands into his lap and watches with interest.

The older coney looks to the younger one, and asks, "Do you want to try that, Melina?"

Tasha runs a finger along her lips, indicating her mouth will remain smile free. "I've 'eard of dream interpretation before. 'Ave some shady sorts that dabble, witches an' the like, in Underside," she comments.

Chloe seems to agree with the diagnosis, giving a slight nod of her head. "Being surrounded… I had dreams like that when I was little too," she whispers. Aisha just scratches at her left ear, perhaps missing her usual jewelry, and says, "So… dreams mean things?"

Melina looks up at her older sister, presenting a vigorous nod of confirmation at the suggestion, and a small smile of apparent relief. The coney then looks over at the new group as they sits down,  and at the sight of Tasha her jaw drops, though more in an expression of childish awe and interest rather than fear.

"Well, I suppose that depends on who you talk to," Layth notes to Aisha and Chloe. "Personally, I don't believe all dreams have meanings."

"'Ere we go again," Tasha sighs when she's looked at oddly. The Vartan lifts a hand and wiggles her fingers in greeting to Melina.

Aisha nudges Tasha and suggests, "Maybe you could sit in the pen, and then they'd all want to come and pet you?"

The coney hesitantly raises her hand and gives a little wave back to the Vartan, smiling, captivated by the strange creature for the moment.

The priest and priestess also note Tasha's arrival with interest. "Are you also troubled by dreams?" the priest seems to ask the group in general.

"Lady Aisha, behave," Layth whispers to the doe. Layth then looks up and asks, "Does the absence of many dreams have any significance?"

Tasha's eyes flick towards Aisha, then narrow, and then she starts to smile. Long rows of sharp pointy teeth begin to appear, until the woman suddenly closes her mouth and looks away. "I'm no' a monster or a pet," she declares, irritatedly.

The priestess smiles to Layth, and says, "An absence of memorable dreams generally means you are content or at peace with your life."

The coney very quickly returns her attention to her older sister Olena as Tasha begins to smile, fidgeting a bit.

"It was only a suggestion," Aisha says, and turns her attention back towards the others.

Layth smiles slightly and offers a small nod to the priestess. "Thank you. May the glories of the world continue to shine upon you," he tells her.

Olena eyes Tasha more warily, and says to Melina, "We should go now, and get back to our chores."

Tasha 'hrmphs,' continuing to stare off at nothing in particular.

"I did warn you," Layth whispers to Tasha. "You need to find peace within yourself and just let things go. If you allow everything to frustrate you, well, it does not do you justice."

The coney looks at the group with Tasha again curiously, but obediently says, "Yes Olena." and starts to get up.

"There's someone I'd like to 'justice,'" Tasha grumbles. She picks at her tail a bit more, pulling a few hairs free, then she shoves it from her lap and leans forward to watch the priests. "I'm fine. My dreams are fine. Everything is fine," she says with sudden emphasis. After another sigh, and a glance at Layth, she adds sheepishly in a mumble, "An' I may 'ave a vision I want to ask abou'."

"I have dreams," Aisha pipes up, although a bit quietly. Looking a bit embarrassed, she says, "In them, nobody understands what I say, or act as I have said something different. They smile and pat my head."

"A vision?" the priest asks Tasha. The priestess, looks to Aisha instead, and says, "Perhaps you feel that people do not treat you seriously, or think of you as a child still."

"Please forgive my friend," Layth says louder after Tasha speaks to him and motions towards her. "She has been troubled by many things of late. But, she is not good at asking for herself. Will you grant her an audience? She needs to find peace."

"I 'ad this vision. In the Tempe of Abaddon," Tasha explains, somewhat more quietly than Layth.

Aisha looks thoughtful, and thanks the priestess. The priest looks between Tasha and Layth, and asks Tasha, "Have you spoken of this vision to a priest or priestess of Abaddon yet?"

"I do not think you a child," Layth whispers to Aisha and puts an arm around her briefly to hug her, "I hope such thoughts please you."

"'Aye,'." Tasha's 'ayes' don't come out in Olympian, making them impossible to interpret beyond a 'yes noise.' The Vartan seems to realize this – probably because she does it all the time and is used to the listener's confused reaction, and fixes, saying, "Yes. He was there – the priest, I mean. He wanted me to see it, I think."

"Oh, so it was a guided vision?" the priest asks.

Tasha seems to think on that, ears flicking, then she simply nods.

Aisha looks to Layth and seems mixed in her acceptance of his statement. "I can dress myself," she whispers to him. "I can do a lot of things without any help."

"These visions are used to impart a story or some idea the priest thinks you need to learn," the priest explains. "It is a powerful method of teaching."

"Just because someone offers to help does not mean they think the person cannot do something for herself. I am trying to make this trip an enjoyable vacation for you, Lady Aisha," Layth whispers to the doe. "It is a form of showing affection and concern for the other person."

The Vartan glances at Aisha and Layth as they hug, then returns her gaze to the priest before nodding. "I learned a lot. No' sure why Nike said she didn't blame me for Babel, though. I 'avn't been to Babel in a long time," the woman says.

"For help understanding that, you may need to speak with the one who crafted the vision for you," the priest says, with a somewhat apologetic smile.

Aisha melts a bit, and says, "Well… thank you then, but please ask next time."

"As you wish," Layth tells the doe. His attention returns to the priest and priestess.

"I will, bu' … " Tasha's eyes widen suddenly. "Oi! I don' know 'o 'e is! 'E jus' vanished, like. Rrr, I'll find 'im. I need to meet 'im again anyway."

"After the vision, did he ask you to think about something before returning?" the priestess asks next.

"Perhaps that is the point, a test. Perhaps the journey will show you the meaning," Layth whispers to Tasha. "The purpose of your life is a journey, not a destination, after all"

"Ay- … Yes, I'm supposed to think on a question 'e gave me," Tasha answers.

Tasha glances at Layth and nods slightly. "It seemed like I was s'posed to learn, an' I did. Bu' there's a lot I didn't understan' and a lot left to learn," she tells him.

The priest and priestess nod. "This is fairly standard in the early training of clergy. It is meant to help tear down old assumptions so that new philosophy will land in fertile ground," the priest explains.

"What was his question?" Layth asks Tasha.

"Nike called me Tisiphone, an' told me about my Sisters," Tasha adds, nodding again. "Does this mean the Temple accepts me then? I mean, really-like?" Aside to Layth, in a very quiet voice, Tasha answers, "We who follow the Gods – whom do we ultimately serve – tha's it. Don' tell anyone, I'm no' sure I'm s'posed to share."

"It is not a question of the temple accepting you," the priestess notes. "But if you are ready to accept the temple."

"Ah. I know how I would answer that question," Layth says to Tasha and nods. "But, I am not sure I should share that."

"S'my question to answer," Tasha tells Layth. Louder, she tells the priestess, "I am. I'm jus' new to all this, I keep worryin' I'm no' doin' it right, or say the wrong thing, or … I … " The woman bites her lip, glances at nothing in particular, then shrugs. "I 'ave to be worthy. I made a promise."

"You cannot say the wrong thing, unless you say what you think the priests want to hear, instead of what you believe yourself," the priestess notes.

"Do not worry about your performance," the priest adds.

"Then do it. No worries, no concerns. Just do. Fate will judge accordingly," Layth says quietly to no one in particular. He then nods towards the priest.

"But isn't wha' I think the priest wants to 'ere what I should say? With Cap – … With another I worked for, I always told 'im what 'e wanted to 'ere, otherwise 'e'd yell at me," Tasha asks, looking between Layth and the priests.

"To find your spirit, you do not look into others," the priest says. "You look into yourself, for that is where it lives."

"So what if he yelled at you? You would have been true to yourself. If you wish to convey a message, Lady Tasha, you have to learn to say it without allowing worldly fears to alter it," Layth says simply. "Otherwise, well, you are just a storyteller."

Tasha wrinkles her muzzle, confusedly. "Inside? My spirit?" She then blinks, asking, "Is tha' what the relaxation pool acolytes meant? Tha' they used the pool to find themselves?" She gives Layth skewed-ear look, one ear perked the other ear back, then blinks at him too. "I … think I understand tha'."

"The meditation grotto is a good place to find one's center," the priestess says. "Awareness of your body and physical state are also helpful. There are many exercises one can do to bring about this awareness. Even Warriors and Guardians train in them here."

"Finding yourself is one of the hardest journeys in life. You will not find it in one day, one week, or even one year. It is a lifetime of self-exploration and learning," Layth says and waves his hand in almost a Khatta-like way. "As I've said, it's a journey. If it were easy, well, we would all have found enlightenment and be amongst the Gods, no?"

"Mmm." Tasha looks between and the priests again, then nods, leaning forward. "Alrigh', I wan' to learn then – the exercises, I mean. I'm ready," she insists.

Layth rubs the bridge of his nose and sighs.

"Over there," the priestess says, pointing off to one corner of the garden.

"Are they saying you can meditate by exercising?" Aisha whispers to Layth.

Tasha hops up. She looks back to walk off, then pauses. "Oi, sorry," she says, sheepish, before adding, "Thank you for the lessons priestess, priest," and bowing slightly.

Layth nods to Aisha. "You can. I've done it while practicing fighting styles back in Abu-Dhabi. It is not unlike dancing. You move and flow, feel the muscles as they extend, where your body falls when you step, how your body balances, and so on. I could show you some time if you like?" he asks her.

"That just sounds wrong somehow," Aisha says. "You meditate with your head… "

The priest and priestess nod back to Tasha.

"You meditate with the whole of your being," Layth corrects Aisha.

"Ma'am, sir," Layth then says and turns his attention to the priest and priestess. "May I speak with you a moment? I will try to not take much of your time."

"Afraid o' a little workout?" Tasha asks Aisha after leaning over and whispering in her ear. The Vartan doesn't wait for a reply, though, because after waving to the priests she's off walking speedily towards the corner of the garden.

"We are here to answer questions," the priest tells Layth. Aisha gets halfway up, then sits down as Chloe goes after Tasha.

"I was curious if I can volunteer and help out here at the temple now and then, as my other duties may permit. I would like to learn the various techniques your temple teaches in meditation and relaxation," the buck replies with a light bow of his head.

When Chloe catches up to her, Tasha glances at her and remarks, "You're lookin' more brushed. Sorry abou' ravagin' your fur li' that. I was jus' distracted, is all."

"Oh, you want the proctor of internships," the priest says, a bit casually. "I think she may be teaching the body awareness group now, just follow your red friend."

"Well, it is better that you ruffled me up than a priestess," Chloe says. "I am at your service, but also I must try to keep you from causing a disturbance."

"This Milk is drivin' me up a mast. I swear if Aisha made another catty remark, I was goin' to feed 'er 'er tail," the Vartan explains to Chloe. "It's 'ard to concentrate wit' this stuff. I 'ave to be nice, an' meditate, an' this an' tha', but I'm jus' gettin' mad."

Layth stands and bows to the priest, saying, "May the light of the sun forever grace your life." He looks down to Aisha and asks her, "Will you honor me and accompany me to the corner?"
"Of course, why do you even ask… oh, right," Aisha says, taking Layth's arm.

Layth merely nods to the golden doe and the two walk over to the corner to join Chloe and Tasha.

Speaking of feeding someone's tail to themselves, the first group encountered in the corner appear to be attempting just that. Others are in even stranger contortions, and a few stand about like slow moving statues, keeping their balance while moving very slowly through complicated poses.

The most active group consists of several obviously pregnant does sitting lotus-style, while an instructor doe guides their breathing.

Tasha glances at a doe that resembles more pretzel than bunny. She opens her mouth to comment, pauses, then just frowns as she can't find the words. After a moment, all she manages is, "Oi, ow."

Layth looks for the lead instructor.

Another doe in a blue toga moves among the various Lapi, occasionally correcting a pose or aiding in achieving one.

"Pardon us," Layth says politely and quietly to the doe. "My friend here is interested in participating," he says and then motions towards Tasha. "I am, as well."

The Vartan looks between the sitting Lapis, eventually joining Layth before the blue-dressed doe. "Ay- … Yes, s'what I'm 'ere for. Need to relax an' find meself," she explains.

The instructor's ears go up at the sight of Tasha, then fall back down along her back. The doe then walks up and presses her hand onto the Vartan's stomach.
The sudden rising of the instructor's ears startles Tasha, causing her to lean back and blink. Either she's too surprised to protest or Tasha's sued to people touching her by now, but she doesn't protest when the priestess puts a hand on her stomach. "I'm no' pregant, if tha's wha' you're lookin' for," the Vartan explains.

"Would you like to join us as well?" Layth asks Aisha. Aisha looks with alarm at the contorted figures, and looks genuinely frightened by the prospect. "You… you learned this?" she asks Layth.

"Breathe," the doe instructs Tasha.

"Not precisely this, but the positions and stretches are similar to things I have done," Layth says with a slight nod of his head. "If you speed up some of the transitions in those poses, for example, you can actually map them to a way to fight or a way to dodge."

"I'm already breath- … Oh, more." Taking a deep breath in, Tasha holds it, then lets it all out in a ragged breath.

"Deeper," the doe demands, and prods Tasha lower on her abdomen, right below her navel. "Slow, deep, into your tail."

Tasha's brow raises at 'into your tail,' but she tries to do so anyway. She can't help but wonder if she can even breathe like a Lapi.

The doe reaches up and tugs Tasha's shoulders lower, and pushes at her back to make her stand straighter. "Exhale slowly. Use your stomach, not your shoulders."

"So, do you wish to join us, or would you prefer to just watch, Lady Aisha?" Layth asks the doe again.

Tasha does so, but not without frowning for it. Her ears splay at being pushed, prodding, and nudged.

Aisha watches the doe boss Tasha around without fear, and twitches her whiskers. "Well, I can try," she says.

"Then let us wait for her to finish with Lady Tasha and we can hopefully participate," Layth says quietly to Aisha.

"No frowning," the instructor says. "Only breathing. Innnnn, ooooouut. Exhale frustrations. Breathe in calmness."

Tasha's frown dissolves – partially. It makes her look like she's giving a reversed smirk until she manages to drop the frown completely. "In calmness. In calmness," she says every time she breathes. "Am I calm yet?"

"Practice," the doe says, "in silence." Then she turns to Layth and Aisha. She takes a quick glance at Layth's posture and stance, then stares at Aisha until the golden doe starts to fidget. "Don't fidget!" the instructor snaps, and pushes Aisha's chin upwards until she's forced to nearly stand on her toes. "Breathe."

Layth's brow arches slightly when the instructor snaps at Aisha. The buck, however, does not interfere and merely waits quietly and interlaces his hands together.

Tasha eyes the instructor as she walks away, but she continues to practice – in silence. Glowering silence.

Aisha tenses, but does try the breathing even while still feeling unbalanced. The instructor lets her go, and watches her breathe. "Alright, sit down, like so," she says next, in a softer tone, and assumes a lotus position on the ground. She nods to Layth as well to join them.

Layth at the moment feels the odd one out. He didn't get yelled at. He dips his head to the instructor and settles himself down and folds his legs into a lotus position.

It takes Aisha a moment, and she has to pull her legs into position with her hands, but she does get into position. "Good," the instructor says, then holds her arms out straight to either side, palms out, while keeping her shoulders low. "Raise your arms," she instructs Aisha and Layth.

As time goes on and she has no real focus to be angry at, Tasha's glowering eases, until it vanishes completely. She watches Aisha and the instructor without looking angry. Uncomfortable, yes, but not angry.

Layth checks that he won't hit Aisha or the instructor, then up go the bucks arms as he also relaxes his shoulders and holds his palms outward, mimicking the instructor as best he can.

Aisha raises her arms, then corrects her shoulders and elbows to match the other two. "Now," the instructor says, softly, "Breathe in. Breathe out slow, pull with your right hand." She makes a fist, and the muscles of her right arm tense as if she's pulling against an invisible pole. "Release, breathe in. Pull with left, breathe out."

Getting into the proper rhythm takes Aisha a few moments, until she's finally breathing in and out in correct time to her 'pulling'.

Layth breathes in slowly, letting his chest expand as his stomach draws in. The muscles in the buck's right arm ripple and tense, forming definition even through the thick fur as me mimics the pulling. This takes Layth a bit to get in proper sync too, but he also manages it.

Looking a bit bored, now, Tasha's eyes begin to wander. She glances at Layth and Aisha, at other others, to the sky, then around the garden idly.

The doe nods, and says, "Keep it up," then gets up and returns to Tasha.

"Very good," Layth whispers to Aisha. The buck then continues the slow breathing as he holds his arms outward, muscles tensing and relaxing in slow rhythm.

Looking at Tasha's legs, the doe seems to decide against the usual sitting position for the hybrid. "Lie down," she asks.

Tasha nods, then lowers herself to the ground. Once on her bottom, she lies back and spreads her wings across the floor, tucking her arms behind her head.

"No," the doe corrects, and tugs at Tasha's arms. "Hold up," she explains, and holds her arms out forward with the palms out.

The Vartan copies the other woman's position, letting her legs slide out along the ground so that she's completely lying back now.

Looking around, the instructor spots Chloe just standing there, and gestures for her to come over. The young doe obliges, but hesitates when instructed to sit on Tasha's outstretched hands.

Tasha blinks, looking up, when the small Lapi comes over and sits on her hands. She actually grins, albeit briefly.

"Breathe," the instructor says, and watches Tasha to make sure she's doing so correctly.

As instructed, Tasha breathes. She even breathes correctly, perhaps concerned she'll be yelled at, prodded, or sat on in some other way.

"Very good," the doe says, getting back to her feet. "Continue for as long as possible," she concludes, and then walks off to check on others.

"How long is that supposed to be?" Aisha whispers to Layth between breaths.

Tasha continues to breathe and lay there, although she does raise her brow when the instructor tells her to maintain the position as long as possible. She even glances at Chloe, who's bottom is on her hands, wondering how she feels about all this.

"When your arms hurt too much to hold as you are now," Layth instructs, "Close your eyes and feel your arms. Feel the muscles tighten and relax in them. Learn how each reacts." The buck then resumes breathing slowly and peacefully.

Aisha closes her eyes and tries to 'feel' her muscles. Chloe isn't exactly sitting still on her perch, almost constantly shifting or making some adjustment to keep her balance (and occasionally knocking her heels against Tasha's arms or upper chest).

When Chloe squirms a bit too much, Tasha grabs her bottom. "I'm tryin' to relax," the Vartan explains between breaths. "Can you sit still please?" After that, Tasha closes her eyes and tries to follow Layth's instructions.

Layth continues on for a bit, but can't help and open his eyes to observe the instructor briefly again, trying to determine is she carries any Amazonian blood or is a more ordinary Lapi.

The instructor – and most of the rest of the students – appear to be normal Lapi. But then again, so does Aaron, so that is hardly indicative of breeding. Aisha finally stops the exercise after several minutes, and squeaks in alarm.

Layth stops as well and looks over to Aisha. "Lady Aisha?" he asks her, brow furrowed with concern. "What is wrong?"

"I… can't lower them," Aisha whispers, her arms still sticking out.

"Why not?" Layth asks.

Tasha's eyes snap open when Aisha squeaks, and she glances over curiously. "You can't?"

The doe's arms dip a bit, but then raise back up. "They don't want to. When I relax them they… oh, wait… " This time, they go down – just a bit slowly. By the time Aisha has her hands in her lap, she's blushing furiously. "I guess I shouldn't complain that my feet have gone to sleep now should I?"

Layth chuckles and shakes his head, "No." He looks over to the instructor and calls out a bit quietly, "Ma'am? I think my friend here has gone as long as she can." He nods towards Aisha.

The Vartan barks a laugh, and then closes her eyes again. "I'd try my arms, but my 'ands are nice an' warm," she jokes.

The instructor returns, and feels Aisha's upper arms. "Sore? Numb?" she asks at several points. Aisha's replies are mostly 'sores' until the trainer gets to her legs. "Stretch out on your back, relax," the woman says, then looks to Layth. "How are you?" she asks.

Layth considers the question, rolling his shoulders a bit. "A bit stiff, admittedly," he answers.

Tasha shifts to adjust her wings a bit, but otherwise remains breathing and stretching as instructed.

The instructor does the same poking and asking session with Layth's shoulders and back as she did with Aisha. "Ah, you're okay. Good and limber already."

"How are you, Chloe?" Tasha asks in a easy tone.

"I feel the urge to run," Chloe says.

"Thank you," Layth replies with a smile. "I have a question for you, if it is not too much bother? I would like to volunteer some time in this temple and learn what it has to teach me. Would I be welcome and what must I do to become an assistant here?"

The doe looks at Layth again, and asks, "Gladiator?"

Tasha opens her eyes slightly, looking up. "Run?"

"Ah, no. Bodyguard for Lady Aisha. I believe a somewhat descriptive term would be Guardian, but not quite," Layth tries to answer.

"I am also her personal attendant," Layth adds as an afterthought.

"Unarmed combat?" the doe asks next.

"I like running. Sitting around makes me feel restless," Chloe notes.

"Yes. I have been trained in such," Layth says with a nod.

"What else?" the instructor asks.

"Oi, I thought you meant run from me. I'm a lil' worried abou' tha' some times," Tasha admits before closing her eyes again.

"I also am a musician trained to play the lyre fairly well and I have also been taught various forms of massage. If it is of use, I can speak and write several languages," Layth continues on. "I cannot claim to be a master of any skill, though, and continue to seek ways to improve myself."

"I would never run from you, Aldara," Chloe promises. "I would be afraid that you would start chasing me."

"Useful," the instructor says. "Come around when you can, ask for the Proctor of Interns to receive a position helping an instructor."

Tasha opens her mouth to comment, but just starts laughing instead. "Haha – ow. Ha – ow." She folds her wings across her chest, trying to resist buckling from the laughs.

Noticing that Tasha's breathing is off (laughing does that), the instructor turns to the Vartan and asks, "Calm now? Relaxed?"

"Thank you. May I ask your name and the name of the Proctor?" Layth asks the instructor.

"I am Proctor Zenia," the doe replies to Layth, and tugs on her blue toga. "If you do not see me, look for one in blue."

"Haha – yes, I – ha – I'm fine now. Chloe 'elped me a bit," Tasha responds. "I think my arms are stiff. My 'ands are still warm. It was rather relaxin'."

Zenia helps Chloe down without having to step on Tasha's tummy. "That is good," the instructor says. "I will not have to tickle you."

Layth bows slightly. "It is an honor to meet you, Proctor Zenia. May the Gods bless you for your kindness," Layth says with a smile. "I am Layth."

Tasha quirks a brow, peering at Zenia. "You wouldn't," she insists, sounding uncertain.

The Proctor returns Layth's bow, then arches an eyebrow at Tasha. "I know many ways of breaking someone from an unproductive mood," is all she says.

Tasha stares the other woman in the eyes for a long moment, then grins. "I believe you," she says, relenting. Then she tries to sit up – and her arms stick out in front of her like some sort of mummy.

"You need to train to be more limber," the doe remarks to Tasha. "To drape like a rope, or snap like the beak of a Zaki."

"I'll come back – I said I would. I can come with Layth when I'm no' at the Temple of Abaddon," Tasha promises. She slowly eases her arms in to bending, then rolls her shoulders. "What's a Zaki?"

"How are you feeling, Lady Aisha? Less nervous?" Layth asks the golden doe.

"The sacred animal of Dianus," Chloe explains. "A horrible monster with a nasty beak that attacks everything it sees."

"Sounds like my kind of monster," Tasha admits, laughing lightly.

"We may wish to be getting back to the Circerae estates soon. We must clean and prepare for the dinner with Tyche Circerae and her daughters," Layth notes and looks a bit disappointed, really.

"Oi, right. I 'ad almost forgotten about talking with Tyche. It seems like a lifetime ago, it does. I 'ad wanted to ask abou' ships an' trade an' … " Tasha shrugs. "Now it doesn' seem so importan' anymore."

"Dinner," Aisha says, hopping up to her feet. "We haven't had lunch yet!"

"Let us see what we can lunch on here, then head back," Layth suggests. "Perhaps we can go through the marketplace on the way and you can see what wares are for trade."

"I'm for that. I'll stay in front, then you won' 'ave to worry abou' crowds," says Tasha, and she laughs again.

"Or worry about anyone trying to sell anything to us, either," Layth says with a small grin. "Master Lightfoot would approve."