A day after Aaron's short visit to Snowshoe's Tavern, Anisa's mother presents her with "wonderful news." Apparently, Kelsey von Kabril, having caught wind of Anisa's entrepreneurial ambitions, made mention of this to her own mother, who in turn mentioned it to someone else, and in turn, somehow this has transformed into an "opportunity" for Anisa to see a woman representing the "Women's' Entrepreneurial League," or something stuffy-sounding like that, for some advice on how to go about how a young woman might start a business in the male-dominated markets of Rephidim.

Anisa's mother strongly urged her to show up at an obscure place in the Noble Quarter known as the "Secret Garden." Judging from how much trouble she's had trying to find the place, it's an apt name. It's still morning, approaching noon, and if this meeting or whatever it is turns out to be mercifully short, perhaps there will be some time to check on the vendors. (Something smells good.)

As per her mother's advice (and nagging), the young Lapi doe is currently wearing a simple business style blouse and vest, along with – to her dismay – a business style skirt. The rabbit would have much preferred a pair of business slacks, which she deems just as good for the occasion, but Beatrice's constant insistence finally wore her down. Smoothing out the annoying garment, Anisa enters the establishment, taking extreme care not to knock anything over. "Hello? Anybody here?"

Standing behind the counter is a white-furred, black-haired Khatta in a high-collared, low-hemmed dress. The Khatta seems preternaturally skinny, and it's just as well, for only a creature as thin as her could be able to fit comfortably into the narrow oasis of space to be found between the counter and cases of knickknacks wedged in behind it.

She's somewhere in her teens, just shy of being considered an adult, and has a look about her of one low-born and uncomfortable in the nicer part of town, and the dress is probably more a uniform for her station here rather than her personal attire. There's nothing so convenient as a nametag, though the store is sophisticated enough to feature an older prototype Chronotopian mechanical cash register.

The cat forces a smile when Anisa enters. "Welcome to the Secret Garden," she says in a rehearsed tone of voice. "Feel free to look around, and if you have any questions, I'll be right here."

Making her way carefully to the counter, and forcing herself not to linger from store browsing, the doe returns a smile. "Hello! Oh, I'm not here to shop, I'm here on business. I was told to meet someone here for the Women's' Entrepreneurial League. You wouldn't happen to know who that is, would you?"

"Oh! Right, she must have put up posts for the new position. Hi, I'm Hazela. She's out right now, but if you could cover me for a moment… " Hazela slides out from behind the counter, and even she has to suck in her gut a bit, which emphasizes the lack of space even more.

"Cover… you?" Anisa blinks, but shrugs as the feline leaves. She slides behind the counter to fill in for the cat, for once in her life glad that she's small enough to easily get through tight spaces.

"I have really got to slip out for a smoke," Hazela explains. "I'm overdue on my break. Just stand behind the counter, and if anyone comes in, well, 'Welcome to the Secret Garden,' and help him look around." This is all said at a fast pace, with hardly a moment for Anisa to get in a "but" or a "wait a minute," and before the rabbit is able to fully register it, the cat has slipped out the door to the street.

With one ear flopped in annoyed confusion, the Lapi sighs and rests against the counter with her elbow. "'Position', eh? Wonder what the heck Mama has gotten me into now. Stupid dress."

Hardly a moment passes before someone else comes in – a small lady Gallee with collie markings frosted with white and gray, squinting at the world through wire-rimmed spectacles, and bundled up in a fur-lined coat. "Oh!" remarks the collie immediately as she steps inside. "Looks like a new one working behind the counter. What's your name, dearie?"

Anisa sinks her ears back behind her head in embarrassment. "Oh, I'm not really- er… My name is Anisa, ma'am." She gives the Gallee a sheepish smile. "Can I help you with anything?"

"Clarissa!" the Gallee repeats. "What a lovely name! I have a niece named that, you know, though you don't look a thing like her. She has much smaller ears, you see, for starters, and – Oh yes! Why, I just got a new lovely figurine from my nephew who just came back from some quest of his – or maybe it was a friend of his who went on a quest, I forget – and I simply must find a new end table to perch it on to display it in the foyer."

The Lapi begins to correct the collie on her name, but decides to let it drop. "Well, what kind of table did you have in mind?" The rabbit squeezes out from behind the counter, and stands by the Gallee. "I'm sure we have… quite a selection." Biting her lip, the rabbit looks around for a tables section.

"Oh, yes, he's quite able, I say," the collie says, nodding amiably, peering at the world through heavily squinting eyes. She then sniffs at the air. "Goodness gracious, but do you smell that? Oh, dreadful, it smells like alcohol from some cheap tavern." She sniffs loudly. "And … salad? How bizarre! My stomach turns at the thought. Never a bit of salad for me, no, my dear."

Try as she might, Anisa is having trouble spying anything in the immediate vicinity that looks like an end table. Quite likely she's going to have to walk through the store and look around herself – though the collie is so stooped and squints so much that Anisa is likely to still have a great advantage in spotting anything before the customer does, as unfamiliar as she may be with the store.

Anisa grimaces, but quickly forces her expression back into a smile. "Yeah… the things some people will eat." Eyes darting left and right, the doe tries to spy some tables. "Why don't we have a look around and see if anything catches your eye?" She offers a paw to the canine. "I'm sure we have just the right piece."

"Oh, you have something for me already?" She leans forward, peering at Anisa's offered hand. "No, that's silly, you haven't anything at all in your hand! Not trying to play a trick on dear old me, are you now, sweetie?"

The doe can't help but grin a bit at the poodle, and raises her voice only slightly, while trying to keep it courteous. "No ma'am, I meant I'd show you around and see if we could find anything in particular that you'd like."

"Oh! Yes, a round table is exactly what I'm looking for," the collie says. "Where do you have it?" She looks around expectantly.

Drawing her hand back, and suppressing a sigh, Anisa begins to walk through the store's wares and look for the desired product. "Let me see what I can find you. I'm certain we have a selection somewhere in here."

And there, supporting a chitin lantern and a model of a military airship, is the most exquisite little round marble-topped end-table Anisa has ever laid eyes on – more pedestal than table, and as great a place to mount some trophy of a "quest" as anyone could hope for.

Sighing in relief, the doe walks over to the table. Carefully and cautiously, she scoots the table outward to make it more visible. "Is this the kind of thing you were looking for, ma'am?" she asks with a slightly raised voice. "It'd be perfect as a showpiece."

"Oh, lovely!" the collie says, but then pauses, looking pensive. "But … oh dear, it's the wrong color. Do you have anything in green?"

Anisa frowns. It's unlikely that the store has any other tables fitting the bill as well as this one does, and quite frankly it was hard enough just finding this one. "I believe this is the only one we have, ma'am, although if you don't mind waiting, we could probably have it painted for you, or fixed in some other way."

The collie giggles. "Oh, dearie me, painting over marble!" She stands up a little straighter. "But, as they say, the customer is always right, now isn't she, Miss Snowshoe?"

"Yes, that is tr-" Anisa blinks, furrowing her brow and cocking her ears to the side in confusion. "How did you know my name?" The rabbit stands up from the table, and stares at the dog as she seems to lose several years of age in the standing.

The collie just giggles again, still obviously much older than Anisa, and by far the shorter of the two. "Hermoine du Lac, at your service. I believe you are interested in starting a – what was it – 'fitness center' here in Rephidim?"

The doe cants her ears forward in curiosity, her nose twitching wildly as she cracks a small smile. "Anisa Snowshoe, but I guess you already know that." The Lapi offers a paw to the collie. "And yes, I hope to start a fitness center some day with my equipment. Mama and Daddy are getting me ready. I guess this was some kind of test?"

The collie nods, accepting Anisa's paw and shaking it gently. "Ah yes, and I'm so sorry for the deception, but, you see, I had to be certain just what sort of character you might have, young lady. The Snowshoes are a respectable family, but I'm afraid the young Miss Snowshoe has her best reputation as … ah … someone a little less than refined, in some quarters. I wanted to be certain I could discount the rumors." She winks again. "You've impressed me just fine, tolerating a difficult customer – and you weren't even promised to get paid for your time! That shows character to me."

Anisa frowns a bit at the comment about refinement, but brightens up as the canine continues. "Well, just because I'm not Little Miss Dainty doesn't mean I can't take care of my customers." She smiles. "But I'm glad a passed the test! Um, one question though… " The doe scratches the back of her head. "What exactly was the test for? I haven't really even told why I was supposed to come here."

"Oh, that!" The collie smiles. "Well, you see, it's a matter of seeing whether our little sisterhood should help you start your new business. Business in Rephidim is all about knowing people – and as you know, most large businesses are dominated by men. We're very interested in seeing to it that any women that start a business in the sight of all will be respectable – and competent. No sense endorsing a project that is doomed from the outset."

"I'd like a chance to speak with you more on the particulars," Hermoine continues, "but don't be worried. I'm already satisfied you'll make a fine addition to the Guild – It may not be my decision, but I still carry a little weight these days."

The doe's smile widens. "So this is a way of introducing me to 'people', I guess? It's not like the business school, is it?" She relaxes her ears, nose slowing its pace. "And thank you! I didn't even realize organizations like this existed, especially for women!"

"Well, it's nothing officially recognized," Hermoine says, sounding almost apologetic. "We're just the women of the Merchants' Guild, you see. A circle within a circle. And you, my dear, have potential – not all that I've heard about you is bad, lest I worry your pretty head about it. You've gotten quite a few good marks from some quarters – quarters that matter. I think, if you really have the ambition, you might even be able to find yourself a place right here in the Nobles' Quarter. It'd be a lot of work – and you'd have a lot of expectations to live up to – but believe me, it's worth it."

"A place in the Nobles' Quarter?" Anisa blinks. "I never expected to be able to get that! I figured I'd have to get some low-rent in the Bazaar or something." The rabbit grins. "So it's basically the girls looking out for each other?"

Hermoine laughs, and says, "You have it exactly, my dear!" She opens a door, revealing a room in the back decked out like a tea room in some old woman's mansion – or, in this case, some old woman's knickknack store. "Care for some tea or mateh?"

The young rabbit smiles, and follows the collie into the room. "I'd love some, thank you. Wow, this place is amazing; I never even knew about it."

The collie giggles again. "That's why I call it the Secret Garden! It's something of a hobby, you see, more than a serious business. I just always wanted a store like this since I was a little pup… " She leads Anisa in and offers her a seat, and gets out the tea service.

Taking a seat, Anisa smiles as Hermoine gets out the refreshments. Finally, she feels she's starting to get somewhere in the world.

There is the usual afternoon lull in the tavern, as the last of the lunch crowd have finally left and the kitchen begins preparing for dinner. Several of the Snowshoes are taking the respite to have their own dinner now, including Abram and Beatrice and their grandchildren.

The tavern's front door creaks open, and Anisa emerges into the kitchen still wearing her business attire, as well as a broad smile. "Hello, everyone!" She takes off her vest, setting it on an unused chair, and takes a seat at the table. "What's for dinner? I'm starved."

"Beet soup and bean salad," Beatrice says, smiling her usual smile as she sets out plates. "How did your little errand go, dear?"

The younger doe flashes a knowing smile at her mother. "It went very, very well. Thanks for having me do it, Mama." Still smiling, the white Lapi quiets down, knowing her mother gets the gist. "Haven't had bean salad in a while."

Ranit and Coal take their seats, and Quinn brings Petal to the table as well. (Bessy usually feeds the baby around this time, back in their room.) Today it's Royce and Tyson's turn to clean up the lunch mess in the kitchen.

"That's good to hear, Christina," Beatrice says, passing the soup tureen to Anisa while Abram starts serving the salad. "Aren't you glad you dressed up nicely now?"

"How was the rush today?" Anisa smoothes out her skirt. "Well, yeah. But I still say slacks would have been just as well." Anisa takes the offered vessel, and doles herself out a helping of the soup. "These dresses are clumsy. Still, I guess it worked." She passes the tureen down the table.

Quinn takes the soup from Anisa, and ladles a little bit into the cup that serves as Petal's bowl. "Oh, nothing unusual today," the elder brother comments. "Had a group of Rhians show up, though. At least we don't have many leftovers to worry about now!"

The younger doe tickles her niece's foot, then slurps a spoonful of the soup. "I'm so hungry, I could have probably eaten any leftovers!"

"I heard that your friend Aaron got into a fight," Ranit whispers to Anisa. "Some customers said he had a black eye."

Anisa looks at Ranit with a furrowed brow. "A fight? That doesn't seem like him. Besides, he always has a black eye."

Petal giggles and splashes her spoon into her soup, causing Quinn to sigh and reach for a napkin.

"I know that," Ranit says, twisting his ears. "But the guy said it was his other eye."

Anisa cracks a smile, and hands Quinn a napkin. She then turns to Ranit, her expression sobering. "His other eye? Did the guy say why he got into a fight, or who with? And who told you this anyway?"

"Probably nothing," Abram says from the head of the table. "Christina has been teaching him self-defense after all, so it probably wasn't from a fight."

"Well, the guy said he figured it was from a fight," Ranit says, after drinking some soup from his bowl. "That and he figured it was because of all the 'uppity acting Lapis' lately," he adds, smirking a bit. "I don't think he knew I could hear him."

"Yeah, but I've never actually hit him." The doe frowns. "I hope he's alright. I can't imagine who he'd get into a fight with; he usually avoids fights." She scratches an ear. "Is that 'cold shower' stuff still in shortage?"

Ranit and Quinn both shrug, but Beatrice says, "I hear it is available, but rather pricey at the moment."

Anisa's frown deepens, and she takes a bite of the salad. After swallowing, she wipes her mouth off on her napkin. "I'll have to go pay him a visit, then. I hope he doesn't think he can go around and get into brawls just because I've been teaching him to take care of himself."

"Maybe you could bring him some soup, Christina," Abram suggests as he eats his salad.

Anisa nods to Abram. "That sounds like a good idea, Daddy. I'll do it after we're done. You won't need me tonight, will you?"

"Well, I don't want you to stay out all night," Anisa's father says, "but we can spare you. We've already made plans to cover for you while you're off on your trip, after all."

The daughter Lapi smiles. "Thanks, Daddy. I won't be out all night, just long enough to see if he's alright." The doe takes another sip of her soup.

The proprietor of the shop sits idle behind the counter, with a poultice covering his right eye. A young Savanite woman busily sweeps the floor in the absence of any customers or browsers.

Knocking lightly, Anisa pops her head in through the door, and looks over to the counter. "Hello? Aaron?" She lets herself in, and closes the door behind her. In her arms she carries a ceramic bowl with a lid placed tightly atop it. Spying the poultice, the doe rushes quickly over. "What happened? Did you get into a fight?"

The Savanite's ears blush and she scurries behind the counter and into the back of the store with her broom, while Aaron jerks to attention. "Oh, hello Anisa! A fight? Oh… uh… no, not exactly… "

The doe flops an ear in curiosity, and places the bowl onto the counter. Reaching over to the poultice, she pulls it back just slightly. "What did you do then? Fall or something?"

Aaron winces a bit as the poultice is removed to reveal a slightly swollen eye… not quite black, but a little blue. "Oh, I was thinking about the trip to see my family and sort of … forgot that I don't live here anymore."

Confused, Anisa replaces the poultice, and hops up to take a seat on the counter. "Don't live here anymore, how do you mean? Oh, and that's for you," she motions to the bowl, and takes off the lid.

"Well, Creen-Catcher's husband was a bit surprised when I started to come up the ladder into their bedroom," Aaron says, ears folded back. His nose twitches as he smells the soup. "Beet soup! Thanks, Anisa," he says, with genuine gratitude.

"Courtesy of Mama, via Daddy's suggestion." She giggles at the story, folding her own ears back in humor. "So you didn't get into a fight, that's a relief. I figured you might have started to thing you were Lapine Warrior Boy, since I've been teaching you to fight. He must have hit you pretty hard. Are you gonna be okay?"

"I'll be fine," the apothecary says, waving his left hand as if getting punched in the face by a Savanite were an everyday occurrence. "The swelling should be down in another day, with this poultice," he notes, putting said poultice back into place. "You didn't get all dressed up just to bring me soup, did you?"

Anisa smirks, self-consciously smoothing out her skirt. "You wish. I had a bit of a meeting of sorts this afternoon, and Beatrice insisted that I wear it. It's a pain, but I'm glad I did. It really worked out and might help me down the line with the gym."

Aaron's ears go up and perk forward. "Oh?" he asks, resting his elbows on the countertop. "What sort of help?"

"Well, I'm not sure if I'm really allowed to talk about it," the doe says. "It's a kind of a business organization, but with, er, selective standards. They only let certain people in, and give them a hand when they need it."

The buck's eyes narrow at the hint of secrecy, but then he relaxes in realization. "Oh, you must have made an impression on Kelsey at the party then," he comments.

Anisa perks one of her ears at the buck. "You mean you know about it already? I thought it was secret!"

Aaron smirks this time. "Secret societies are my hobby, Anisa. And I know a few of the daughters of that particular group. You are one of the daughters, actually," he notes, chuckling.

The doe crosses her arms, smirking at Aaron. "So you know about the Women's Entrepreneurial League? And what do you mean I'm one of the daughters? Somehow I doubt Abram is a member."

"Of course Abram isn't a member," Aaron says, flicking his ears in amusement. "Beatrice is. At least, a junior member."

Anisa furrows her brow. "She is? Since when?" The doe's ears splay outwards. "I've never really considered her a businesswoman, and she's never told me she was a member of anything. Although she did seem to know quite a bit about it, I guess."

"A lot of the members are noblewomen or wives of businessmen; only a few of them actually run their own businesses," Aaron explains. "That doesn't mean they aren't business savvy, though."

The doe nods. "Well, looks like I'm in good company then. I was under the impression that the League wasn't that well know though." The Lapi smoothes out a patch of fur on her arm. "It seemed nice enough, and Hermoine was very kind."

"Ah, Hermoine is the one you met?" Aaron asks, and then points to one of the shelves near the door. "She likes that rose-scented soap over there, if you want to get her a thank-you gift."

Anisa smirks. "You seem to have a lot of connections yourself. You'd better let me in on them, if you know what's good for you." The doe winks playfully. "I'll have to stop by her shop once in a while too. It had a lot of nice things; I'd never even noticed it before."

"It's the sort of shop that nobles know about," Aaron says. "And I can't let you in on all my secrets! I had to find them out for myself, after all."

"You're no fun," the doe teases. "I doubt I'll get many nobles at the gym, but you never know. I like the idea of a women's guild; it gives you someone to relate to. And by 'you' I mean 'me.'"

Aaron grins. "Quite a few nobles would be interested in a health spa, I think. You have to remember that the nobility primarily exists for military defense, no matter how … foppish … they may seem at times. If you get into one of their houses, try counting the suits of armor, swords and battle-axes you find on display."

Anisa nods. "Good point. I guess I just assumed they'd have their own weight equipment, away from the common rabble and such. Never been inside one of their houses, so I couldn't tell you what's inside."

"They tend to collect things," Aaron says. "If you think I have a lot of strange junk, you'd be amazed at the things filling up a noble's townhouse or manor. Are you ready for the trip to the surface still?"

"You betcha!" The doe smiles wide. "I've had to fight the urge to pack all my stuff, and the shifts are seeming longer nowadays while we wait. I can't wait to meet your family and see what Amazonia is like!"

Aaron just shakes his head, and mutters, "I can't believe I'm going back there, but family is family."

Anisa pokes the buck's shoulder with a finger. "I bet you'll have a great time, and besides, I'll be there to keep you sane this time." She grins. "And it's only for a week, so I doubt it'll kill you. A Lapi always needs to be around family once in a while."

Grinning, Aaron nods. "Yeah, there is that. I miss them, for all their strangeness… Maybe I'll bring back a blanket this time too."

Anisa grins. "There you go. Dunno why you'd just want a blanket to bring back, though. I'm tempted to take an empty pack for souvenirs alone!"

"Well, we'll see about souvenirs," the buck chuckles. "Amazonians aren't known for making trinkets, really. But I'm sure you'll find something memorable."

"I always do," suggests the grinning doe. "Anyway, enjoy the soup. I'd better get back before Daddy starts to worry. I just wanted to check on you and make sure you were alright. You had me worried."

"Worried?" Aaron says in surprise, and lays his ears back to hide a blush. "Yeah, thanks for the soup! I'll drop off the container in the morning. Say 'hi' to your folks for me, okay?"

Anisa smiles warmly. "Yes, worried. And think nothing of it. I'm happy to deliver a home cooked meal now and then." The doe hops down from the counter, and makes her way to the door while waving a paw. "I'll tell them you said 'hello.' Good night!"