It has been an uneventful couple of weeks on the Morning Star as it makes its journey to Tarsus. The skies have been clear, and there's been little sign of any danger of pirates or Babel raiders. The island itself is still nowhere in sight, but there has been promise of arrival soon.

An old Savanite carrying a tray walks up on the deck, she smiles to a familiar face, Leeta, and then goes about distributing food to the shiphands. Tahir sits on a crate nearby, watching a large Jupani mend some frayed ropes.

Leeta smiles at the one-eared slave, rising to meet her and flashing a quick, "Hi Naoko, need help?"

The older slave looks down at her tray and shrugs her shoulders helplessly, her arms too full to sign. Finally she bobs her head up and down and looks intently at a package wrapped in brown paper, then back to Leeta.

The red-maned Savanite reaches over and takes the brown package off the tray. She turns it over a few times, looking curiously at it, then at Naoko.

The package feels slightly squishy, probably a sandwich inside. Naoko shifts the weight on her tray enough to free up one arm, and uses it to point to a familiar robed figure having a conversation with a pair of Eees who seem to be taking a short break from their work. "It's his, if you could give it to him for me I'd be most grateful." she manages to sign before having to grab the bottom of her tray again.

Her tail curls slowly behind Leeta as her blunted claws slide over the paper, making quiet crinkling noises. She nods, "I will." Keeping her gaze downwards she approaches Rhys and the two Eees, stopping when she is close enough to be noticed, and not enough to interrupt.

"It's quite an experience, let me tell you, to find yourself suddenly four feet shorter than you remember and… " Rhys stops as he notices the Eees glancing behind him, and turns around to see what's gotten their attention. He smiles at Leeta and holds out a hand, "Ah… breakfast. I always did enjoy having breakfast on deck. Thank you, my dear."

Leeta holds out Rhys' sandwich for him to take. She doesn't lift her gaze, and does her best to behave in a normal manner. Rhys is uncomfortably too similar in appearance to Tahir, and she doesn't want him to know how much this still bothers her.

Rhys stands there, awkwardly holding his hand out while Leeta does the same. With a gentle chuckle he takes the package out of Leeta's hands, "My compliments to the chef and suchlike." he says, turning the sandwich over in his hands. "I can't say I miss Temple food, there's nothing like what they feed you on ships."

"Nothing at all." one of the bats grumbles, prompting another chuckle from Rhys.

Leeta nods in response to Rhys' comment, then suppresses the motion. She folds her hands together in front of herself and waits to be dismissed, or handed the wrapping, or called away.

The human turns away from Leeta and unwraps his meal, pocketing the paper. He offers a wedge of the sandwich to one of his companions and resumes his idle chatter. He ignores Leeta completely, although the two Eees cast curious glances towards her and Rhys now and again.

The Savanite's left ear starts to twitch slowly. She doesn't want to eavesdrop, so waits only a moment longer before giving a short bow and retreating.

"So what are you gonna do if you become the next Astromancer?" one of the bats asks the human child.

Leeta's ear flicks at the question, but she forces them forward and heads over to Tahir, trying very hard not to listen to the answer, even though she wants to.

Rhys just shrugs, "I'll outlaw reading books chocked full of useless… " his voice fades out as Leeta departs.

Tahir is where he always was, perched atop a crate. "So you weave them with your own hands?" he asks the Jupani. "Amazing."

"I think I see it up ahead!" a Vartan squawks from the bow of the ship. "Oh no… wait. It was just a cloud."

The red-maned Savanite approaches Tahir in a similar manner, stopping behind him and a little off to the side. She stands there and waits, listening to his conversation with the Jupani, looking up to see what the Vartan has spotted.

A Vartan's eyes are strong, usually able to see things long before others… although Leeta is just able to make out a grayish blotch far in the distance. Tahir sits oblivious to this, just quietly watching the rope getting braided, mimicking the motions with his hands.

Leeta looks past the bow at the strange blotch. She watches it for a while then glances around the deck, at the ropes the Jupani are working on, over at Rhys and the Eees, then back down at the crate Tahir is sitting on. One hand fiddles with the rope of her robe, and she wishes again she hadn't left her mandolin in the cabin.

Tahir looks up. "Oh… good morning Leeta. I was just watching this fellow work, it's been so long since I've done anything with my hands."

The Savanite gives a short bow to Tahir and looks to see how much the Jupani with him are watching her. She keeps her hands folded for the moment.

The Jupani doesn;t seem to be paying much attention to Leeta, and doesn't seem to be paying much attention to Tahir either.

Leeta frowns, the Jupani is looking down at his ropes, but she keeps her signs low and as unobtrustive as possible. "He's being rude Tahir, you should find someone more interesting to talk to, one of the officers."

"Thank him for his time and lets go. The others are talking to Rhys as if he will be the Astromancer, you need to make a strong impression as well." Leeta signs, checking the other group to make sure she isn't being observed.

The Inquisitor candidate opens his mouth to reply, then quickly shuts it again and nods. "Well, thank you for your time. I guess I'll be going now." He hops down from his crate and slowly walks toward the hatch that leads belowdeck.

The wolf just grunts in response. Naoko zips past him with the empty tray under her arm and heads down as well.

Leeta heads for the hatch, moving up beside Tahir where he can see her signs. "No, you should stay on the deck, talk with Rhys or something. You need to be seen Tahir." She steals a glance at his face to see what his expression is.

Tahir rolls his eyes comically and grins. "Torture me, why don't you." he signs with a wink and looks over towards Rhys.

"I don't like it much either, he's so much like you but different as well. Will you be able to joke and talk with them without me? I can't really give you any hints in such plain view, and I wanted to speak with Naoko for a little bit about things." The red-maned Savanite looks down the hatch, "It shouldn't take long, I could be getting you a drink or food, and come back soon."

"I'll be fine." Tahir whispers. "I worked with Rhys for years, he hasn't changed all that much, meet you back in the cabin?"

Leeta smiles, her eyes shining bright. "Make him scared Tahir, don't let him get to you. I'll see you back at the cabin." She gives a quick bow, waiting for him to turn back to Rhys.

Tahir nods his head and spins on his heel, heading for Rhys and his two Eee companions. Rhys' eyes widen in surprise, then a grin spreads across his face and he motions for Tahir to join him.

The Savanite goes below, waiting out of sight in the shadows. {Please Star, let him make a good impression, don't let him start off on the defensive.} She listens, hoping.

"Hello, brother" comes the voices from the deck. "Sleep well last night? The air got a bit choppy." Unfortunately there's one flaw in listening to the two humans from a hiding place, not only do they look similar… but their voices are exactly alike.

"I slept just fine, thank you. You know me… sleep through a meteor shower." the sound of laughter rings in Leeta's ears.

Leeta's ears depress into her mane. {I hope you were on duty when that happened Rhys… if it was Rhys… This is no good, I can't tell whos who. There's no sense worrying here.} The Savanite turns and heads for the kitchen.

The kitchen is fairly easy to locate. Naoko is cutting vegetables on a counter while one of the cubs Leeta saw earlier quietly watches on.

The fire-haired Savanite slips in and looks for something to help the older Savanite with. She pets the cub as she moves past, then signs, "Hi Naoko, do you have any good news? I could use some."

The one eared Savanite puts the vegetables into a nearby pot and wipes her hands off. "Good news? Well, I hear we will be landing on Tarsus soon. I have been told that it is an island of wonders."

Leeta nods, "I think I saw it, there was something ahead of us. The Vartan said it was only a cloud though. I was hoping maybe you'd heard something about the candidates, I'm worried about Tahir."

"Your master?" Naoko signs. "What has you worried, my child?"

"He's just… " Leeta shrugs, waving her hands. "I don't know what it is. I think the death of Delwin is still bothering him… and the crew, they don't seem to be treating him like the Astromancer candidate. He should be doing much better than this… "

Naoko pauses to give a sugarfir leaf to the Savanite cub. "I think he needs to learn about method. The Jupani he was speaking to today was very busy… your master was making a nuisance of himself, even if he did not mean to."

"I guess he's just used to everyone paying attention to him, it wouldn't occur to him they have something else important to do. I'll tell him that Naoko, thank you." Leeta smiles, peering over to see if there's an extra leaf. "I hope I'm not bothering you too much Naoko, I don't know if I'll see you after we get to Tarsus. I just… " She lets her signs trail off.

"Of course you will, silly girl." Naoko signs. "I'm coming WITH you. Someone must cook for you afterall."

Leeta grins, still looking for another sugarfir leaf. "Great! I can be underfoot all the time."

Naoko pulls a leaf out of her apron pocket and offers it to Leeta. "I got to spend some time with the other child, the one you gave the sandwich to. He needed me to copy a letter for him."

The fire-haired Savanite takes the leaf and leans back against the counter. She pops it into her mouth and sucks away, signing "He's had you do that for you a few times now hasn't he? Do you remember what they were about?"

"This was the first, although I have also fetched books and served him meals in his room." Naoko signs with one hand while she scratches the cub's ears with the other. "The letter was some sort of personal progress report, telling about how he was doing fine and how the ship was nice and how he can't wait to get to Tarsus. It was addressed to someone in Underside. Probably some rich friend."

"Underside?" The fire-haired Savanite straightens up, her muzzle creased with puzzlement. "I don't see how he could have met someone from Underside… and what I've heard doesn't make it a nice place. Can you remember the name at all?"

Naoko shakes her head. "I do not remember the name. I am sorry."

"Its someplace rich people go for holidays… I just don't see how he could know anyone from there. Tahir never got out of the temple." The Savanite's tail curls from one leg to another in futile frustration. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble, but if he asks you to write something else later… could you remember the name for me?"

Leeta turns the leaf over in her mouth a few times with her tongue. "Its just a little strange… "

"I will try." the one eared Savanite signs. "There was nothing bad in the letter. It almost reminded me of a message someone would write to their family while away from home."

The red-maned Savanite looks wistfully distant at the mention of family. {Where are they all now, and are they safe?} "But, he can't have family. Neither he or Tahir have any other relatives except Delwin… maybe its some sort of code. Maybe its just something he's doing because he suspects you'll tell me, maybe its some kind of test. I don't know, the last few months have been unending like this Naoko, you don't know how much I missed things being predictable."

"Poor child." Naoko signs. She goes to the cupboard and takes out a glass, and then pours Leeta a glass of lemonade. "Here," she signs with her free hand. "Now, tell me why you're so nervous about this? What has been happening to change you so?"

"Everything, someone tried to kill… " The cheetah puts the glass down to sign, "… Tahir." then takes it up again. "He survived because he had changed places with his brother. Before that, I knew some things I shouldn't have, and my sister, the bad one, she was around too. Some things are better now, like my sister, but there's just been so much One-Ear that I never could be sure about. Who to trust and who not to, and I didn't have any friends. I thought I'd left it all behind on Rephidim… " Leeta holds the glass in both hands and sips slowly.

The glass of lemonade shakes, threatening to spill over, despite both of Leeta's hands around it.

Naoko frowns and cover's one of Leeta's hands with her own. "You can't let yourself become so afraid that you become useless. What would have happened to Reseth if you had allowed yourself to become so afraid that you did not rise to help her… or me for that matter." She gives Leeta's hand a gentle pat.

Leeta calms with the touch, trying to relax with a shrug and almost succeeding. "Thank you, I know, I'm trying. Things are much more dangerous than they ever were before. I have to keep moving faster and hope they won't catch me. It's just hard… I'm glad you're here, I don't feel so alone."

"Sometimes you must not move fast, you must move quietly… just as we did at night when Master Nartak was asleep and we all snuck into Reseth's room to greet her when she first came to the house." Naoko glances at the cub on the counter, who sits quietly and chews on his leaf. "You must not always be faster… you must be trickier."

The fire-haired Savanite chews her own leaf between her teeth, watching the signs. She licks her muzzle moving the pulpy treat from one side of her mouth to the other, and smiles, "I remember that, she was so surprised she nearly barked everyone awake. Running is easier, but I can be tricky, I just have to work at it."

"Reseth always was a noisy one." Naoko signs, grinning. "As for you, the Star has blessed you with sharp ears and good eyes, and you don't forget things as easily as most. The star never puts you where you might be unprepared."

"And fire red hair so trouble will know to find me." Leeta grins back, finishing her lemonade and putting it down. "Don't forget that, oh Naoko, the Star has sent so much my way, it would take days to tell you. I will, on Tarsus, right now though… do you know where the letter you wrote is?"

Naoko's ear lays back as she thinks. "I think he may still have it. It will go with the rest of the mail when the ship departs back to Rephidim."

Leeta purses her lip, thinking, and accidentally swallowing the leaf in the process. Her eyes flick open wide briefly, and her tail sways behind her. "There aren't any dirty dishes left in Rhys' room are there, or a meal he needs delivered? I could do that for you."

"He just had breakfast!" Naoko signs. "Perhaps later though… " She looks thoughtful.

One of Leeta's ears flicks forward as she leans closer to watch Naoko's signs, "Later… ?"

"I fetch books for him now and again, and clean his room." the old Savanite pauses to rub her chin thoughtfully. "We have some time before the ship lands. I'll see if I can arrange to get you to clean his room for him… would that be alright?"

Naoko quickly adds, "Just don't get yourself into trouble! These are my duties afterall."

Fire-Mane bobs her head in agreement, "Yes, that would be fine, and I'll be careful. I don't want to get you in trouble either."

The fire-haired Savanite looks over her shoulder, out the kitchen curtain. "I think I should go back to the cabin for a while. Tahir said to meet him there, and I don't know how long he and Rhys will jab at each other."

Naoko nods, "Give me a couple of hours, I'll let you know when I need you."

"Sure," Leeta smiles and hugs the older Savanite. "Just tap on the door when you need me."

The red-maned Savanite slips out of the hug to leave, and gives the cub a small pat and a quick scritch behind the ears as she goes by. She exits through the curtain with her tail subtly curled behind her. {Now, if only Tahir's conversation went as well, that would make the day good.}