"I knew that obe worked as translators, but I never expected that they learned Sulasian this far east," Tarrin told the Faerie. "We're still a thousand leagues from the Sandshield."

"We are trained to serve, and serve in all ways," Denai told him. "I would be of little use to my chief if I could not speak the Western tongue."

"I'll give you that one," Tarrin told her.

"Well, what are we going to do with her?" Sarraya asked.

"Send her on her way, I guess," Tarrin told her. "She can't be far from her tribe."

"I have blood debt to you. I will serve until that debt is paid."

"I won't allow it," he told her ominously. "I'm moving on, and I'll be long gone from here by tomorrow."

"Honor is honor," she said pugnaciously. "I know this region. If you are moving west, as it sounds you are, then I can help guide you around the desert's dangers."

"No," he said flatly. "I don't like strangers."

"I am not a stranger anymore," she told him calmly. Then she smiled. "I have told you my name. That makes us more than strangers, does it not?"

This little one was almost charming with that smile of hers. He looked at Sarraya, but the Faerie only laughed.

"Don't look at me. I don't have the backbone to argue with her. You do it."

"How do you know I'm moving west?" he asked curiously.

"You said you were still a thousand leagues from the Sandshield," she replied. "The sandshield is west, and it sounds to me that it's your destination."

"She's quick," Sarraya said in praise.

"She wouldn't be obe if she wasn't," Tarrin told her absently. Part of him absolutely could not believe what the rest of him was thinking. It would be good to have her show him where the Selani were in the region, as well as the more dangerous areas. It would save him time and potential danger. Part of him didn't trust her… but part of him wanted to trust her. She was Selani. That gave her a measure of trustworthiness right there. She wouldn't lie or connive. She'd say her mind and be confident in what she said. Besides, he was pretty sure that this determined young lady wasn't about to take no for an answer. She had honor to repay, and he wasn't going to be able to stop her until she felt that honor was satisfied. If he rebuffed her, she'd probably follow him. And she was so young, having her tag along behind him wouldn't sit as well as putting her where he could see her and keep her out of trouble.

Besides, travelling with her would be a challenge to the feral animal within, a decree to it that he would not be ruled by it forever. Just like the girl in that Saranam city, the one that gave him the scarf, he was receiving something of a positive feeling from this little Selani. If he was ever going to break his feral chains, he had to start somewhere, just like Mist did. Mist reached out to him. Maybe he could start by seeing how well he could tolerate this Selani. If he could conquer his fear of her, perhaps there was hope he could conquer his fear of all strangers.

"What do you think, Sarraya?"

"She'll be better conversation than you," Sarraya shot back with a grin. "Besides, a little guiding through this region may not be a bad thing. She'll keep us from going into any box canyons."

"I only did that once," he protested as he started to clean the blood off of him. His clothes were pretty well torn, but that would have to wait. He didn't want to linger near so many dead carcasses. They would probably attract scavengers, scavengers not afraid to add a Selani and a Were-cat to the menu.

"Once was all I'm going to give you," Sarraya winked. "But the choice is yours. She'll cause you more problems than me."

"Cause problems? How will I do that?" the Selani demanded.

"By being here," Sarraya told her. "My large friend here isn't too comfortable around people he doesn't know. Your presence may upset him."

"I see the truth of it," Denai said. "He turned on me after killing the inu as if I were his next foe."

"He's like that, but don't let it confuse you. He's really a little pussycat, once you get to know him."

"Sarraya!"

"Well, it's true," she grinned. "You may be better off walking away, Selani. Travelling with the likes of us won't be a very fun experience, and honor will be satisfied because you'll do it with his blessing."

"Honor does not come to us without sacrifice," she said, quoting an old Selani saying. "It is paid for in sweat and blood."

"You'll earn it, girl," Sarraya said soberly. "Believe me, you'll earn it."

"I don't run away from my responsibilities."

"Give it a few days, and then say that again," Sarraya said with a grin, then she laughed. "I take it you're willing to give this a try?" she asked Tarrin.

"May as well. She may cut some time off our journey. I'll risk a little anxiety for that."

"Well, then," Sarraya said, then she laughed. "This should be fun."

"Only for you," Tarrin said, cleaning his sword. Then he sheathed it. His tail was slashing back and forth, and like almost everyone who first met him, her eyes were drawn to it almost immediately the first time he looked away from her.

"I need to tell my chief and my tribe what I do," Denai said. "They're only a short run to the north, and we should go that way to avoid the Great Canyon. So it's not out of our way."

" Great Canyon?" Tarrin asked.

"A canyon so vast and so deep that nobody can cross it," she replied. "We have to go around it. If you're going to the Sandshield, you'll need to go northwest anyway. You can't cross in the south during this time of year."

"Does every Selani know that?" Sarraya asked, just a bit tersely. "Var said the exact same thing! How do Selani living on this side of the desert know about how to travel on that side of the desert?"

"Common knowledge," Denai shrugged. "It pays to know the paths of the desert, even the parts of the desert you rarely visit."

"Makes sense, on what I know of the Selani," Tarrin told Sarraya absently. "If we're going to go, let's go. But one word, Denai. I don't slow down. If you get left behind, then go back home. I won't wait for you."

"That sounds like a challenge," Denai said with a smile.

"It's a warning," he told her. "Nothing more, nothing less. You should also know that I'm not human. I'm nothing like you've ever encountered before. I have impulses you don't understand, and I'll do things that make no sense to you. Don't let your guard down around me, girl. I tell you right now that if you surprise me or come to me when I'm not ready to deal with you, or if I'm very angry for some reason, I might attack you without warning."

"That's no concern for me."

"Just so you know. Consider yourself warned."

"Fine, I understand your warning. If I'm to travel with you, may I know your name?"

"Tarrin," he answered as he started at a strong pace towards the north.

"Better move, girl," Sarraya said as he left them. "He wasn't joking. He'll leave you where you stand."

"Nobody in my tribe runs faster or further than me," Denai called. "I'll show you. I'll be stride for stride with you once I find my sword."

"Whatever," he said noncommitaly.

It was insanity. He knew it was. Taking on this Selani was a bad mistake. She was a stranger, and being around her made him anxious. But another part of him wanted to feel that way, wanted to face his feral fear and conquer it. The only way to do that was to have someone there to fear. Besides, she reminded him of a child in many ways, and something in him wanted to protect her. She could help them, if she was as well versed in the region as she led him to believe. All he had to do was tolerate her presence long enough to take advantage of it. He was both drawn to her and repelled by her at the same time. He hoped it stayed that way. And he hoped fervently that she kept up her guard around him. She'd been warned.