Gather in Dunbach. Mourn the losses of the south, and return with the Noonbright's corpse if you can. We will offer his blood to the hazoma and his body to the forest. With his strength, he will guarantee that Dunbach's trees' roots go deep and Huldtar's light continues to warm us.
–missive from the Allmother to the remnants of the secondary attack force on Fort Thnufir.
Sybil's half of the bed was empty, though still warm as I stalked out of the small space we'd slept in. Once out in the cold light of morning, I looked up at Brutus, who watched as Leera and Greel fought. Greel was winning, though he'd sustained a couple bloody wounds on his flank. The frozen ground crackled as they rolled back and forth, their arguments forgotten in the fight.
Seeing that Brutus was uncaring, I didn't worry and, as I fought to calm my unnecessary anger, simply asked, "What happened?"
"I think Trai did something. Rather, I know Trai did something, but I'm not quite sure what. I'm sure she's pitted them against each other for her affections, though I trust she also remains wholly unwilling to actually bestow said affections on anyone."
"Of course." I replied. "Why would we expect young males to be reasonable when it comes to the affections of their object of their idolization."
"Indeed." Brutus said, then, as the fight entered a standstill of sorts, Greel's jaws on the back of Leera's neck, Leera's fangs holding Greel's knee, Brutus intervened. Though both of the males standing there were full-grown khatif, before the might of a Keel Hak'Tal, there was nothing they could do but be pulled into the air. They both exploded into excuses.
"Leera was over there and he was running his mouth, that he—"
"Greel came out of nowhere and launched himself at—"
Brutus cut them both off with a thundering roar. They went silent and he dropped them to the ground with two unceremonious thumps.
"I don't give a dead keelish's toenail's worth of importance to why you're fighting. Barring Nievtala herself telling me that this argument means anything, you might as well be two hatchlings fighting over their favorite corner to sit in. Now shut up. If you want to fight about how to get Trai's attention, do it when you're not on duty. You've been given a hefty measure of respect and privilege because I brought you on the Zaaktif's journey north. You're embarrassing yourselves and me. Apologize to the Zaaktif, then leave."
Both males bowed to me, their snouts nearly reaching the ground.
"I'm sorry, Zaaktif!" They spoke in concert, not even shooting each other accusing looks as they did so.
"Leave." Brutus commanded as soon as they'd spoken and I nodded my approval to him. "I apologize for their foolishness."
"Don't worry." I replied, staying where I stood in my doorway. "I think that it's a sign of our people getting more civilized."
"Why?" Brutus asked, his face disbelieving.
"Well, if they're just wanting to mate, then they're not focused on survival. That shows that, even though we need to keep fighting to keep ourselves safe, the young are stable enough to devote themselves to pursuing whatever vain idea crosses their minds."
"I may be wrong, as my memories as a young one are limited, but I recall that happening in Redael's swarm as well."
"Somewhat." I allowed. "But even then, there wasn't any huge drive to impress potential mates. You didn't fight me for Sybil's affection or Foire for Treel's."
"I was largely uninterested at the time." Brutus flicked his tail as I finally stepped forward to walk through the city. I figured that the middle of the city was the best place for me to find food, as an hour after breakfast was when Sybil had promised my presence to Ytte. Brutus stopped me, saying, "Food will be here soon for you. The Kha'Tal are excited to serve you."
I flared my frills and acknowledged what he was saying. With a tilt of my head, I called him into the small building, stepping aside as he walked into a corner.
"If you'd like, you can bathe as we wait." I offered. After taking a moment to decide, the large male grunted and stepped into the bath. He nearly protested when I walked forward to scrub his back with handfuls of sand, but I cut him off before he could speak.
"You can't clean yourself entirely without help, and we haven't had access to any good baths since we left."
"Nothing big enough." Brutus agreed as I rubbed the sand between his scales and helped the dead skin and filth from months of travel come free.
"Why haven't you pursued anyone?" I asked as I continued to help clean his back.
"Took is uninterested." He replied flatly. "No others have appealed to me."
"Mmm." I fought to keep myself from laughing. "She is rather… set in her ways."
"Indeed." Brutus replied. Instead of languishing in the bath, he'd scrubbed himself with a businesslike efficiency until clean. He stood and left the bath, though he nodded his thanks to me as he walked to the door.
"There isn't any active threat nearby." I laughed as he looked out the door, meeting eyes with a couple other Alqat.
"Probably not." He agreed. "However, we want to be ready, to provide what protection we can. None of our lives compare to yours in importance, so we'll put them on the line to ensure your survival."
"He is correct." Sybil said as she walked in. She carried two ant carcasses, and Yamal behind her carried two more. "You are the future of our people, and though you are also our strongest member, you must be protected. Brutus, please, sit and eat with us. There are various parts of the city that you should be apprised of."
Thus began the long breakfast that was mostly Sybil providing me information as I asked various clarifying questions.