"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

  - Aristotle

  Spirits were high despite the ork attack the previous day. They were well and truly in the highnds now, and they could begin their search for the Razortails that afternoon.

  Gaius had allowed Tullius to walk that morning. The man was recovering quickly thanks to Gaius's care, though it would still be some time before he would be able to do any strenuous activities. He was able to use his left arm like normal, but his right side was still bound in bandages, so he couldn't carry anything heavy.

  They had stumbled up a high hill above the main road just as dark was beginning to set in. The spot where Gregorios had chosen to make camp was situated at the top of a grassy stone ridge, in the midst of old ruins of what Aurelia took to have been a small fort once upon a time. It had views of the surrounding forest for miles around. A little uncomfortable to sleep on, but the added protection of the ruins protected them from the wind, and being above the tree-line was definitely worth it. Collectively they had decided that at least two people would always be in camp, with Tullius being one of them. The rest would venture out in search parties.

  Gregorios had allowed them an easy morning, which Aurelia was grateful for, so she and Thessa spent the time zing about and exploring what they could of the old ruins they found themselves in. It wasn't much aside from a few low walls made of crumbling stone bricks, but she enjoyed imagining what they might have looked like in their prime.

  Aurelia kicked a small, loose brick in front of her as she paced. Nearby, Thessa was sat on the remains of a stone wall, her feet swinging idly. Aurelia could tell she was lost in her own world. She had been quiet ever since the attack, and it didn't take much to understand why. It must have been a very simir attack which had dealt a grievous blow to her st adventuring party, and the memories it conjured couldn't be good. They had taken assurance in each other's bodies that night, vigorously burning off the lingering shock of the battle. But even still, Aurelia could tell that there was a lot weighing on her Tauren lover.

  "Hey, you alright?"

  Aurelia stepped closer, and sat down beside her on the ruined wall. It was uncomfortable seating, but fortunately they both had plenty of natural padding. And this was likely going to be an uncomfortable conversation anyway.

  Thessa looked up at her, awakened from whatever thoughts had been clouding her mind. She nodded at first, but then she shook her head and leaned over so that she was resting on Aurelia's arm. Aurelia felt as silent tears welled up into Thessa's eyes, then dripped down her face and onto Aurelia's arm. Thessa didn't seem to notice, so Aurelia stayed still. If she needed this, then Aurelia would wait as long as she needed.

  They sat like that for a long while, just enjoying the silence and physical contact. Thessa's tears had since dried, but it seemed she was finally ready to talk.

  "It feels kind of weird, to be telling you things about me... I mean, we already share a tent, a bed, in some circles that means were practically already married... If two women could marry."

  Aurelia draped her wing over Thessa, and gazed out over the forest from where they sat. Underneath her wing she began to rub Thessa's back, sliding her hand underneath her robe to touch skin directly. Aurelia was about to speak, about to comfort her lover, but the Tauren kept going.

  "We were shepherds, my family. I'm sure you've gathered." Thessa nuzzled Aurelia absentmindedly as she spoke. "It was a simple, if hard life. But we lived it with our heads high." She paused for a moment, taking a deep, shaky breath before continuing. "About six months ago, I was returning to our fields from Rome after buying some medicine for my sister... when I found everyone gone. All my family, all my friends, the flock, everything. It was only after visiting a neighboring tribe that I found out what happened." Aurelia began to run her fingers through Thessa's hair, letting her get it all out. "Apparently, some patricians found it offensive for their horses to share the same nd as us non-humans. Don't want to dirty their steeds, do they. So they offered some money, I don't know how much, for my tribe to leave that same day." A single, fresh tear ran down Thessa's face. "I never got the chance to go with them, or even say goodbye."

  Mentally, Aurelia was reeling from Thessa's story. It didn't make sense for a Tauren tribe to just abandon a daughter like that.

  "Your folks up and left, just like that?!"

  Thessa turned her head, and pressed kisses against Aurelia's chest. "I don't think my parents would have left me, but it wasn't them in charge. It was my uncle, and he never liked that I hadn't married by fifteen, like a good woman."

  "After they left, I had no trade, no craft, no sheep with which to earn my bread. So I walked my way into the city, and stepped into an Adventuring Hall... the rest you pretty much know by now."

  Aurelia squeezed Thessa tighter, she was gd her lover was opening up to her now. It's a big world out there, and Aurelia resolved that Thessa would always have a pce by her side. Whether it was a shoulder to cry on, an arm to carry her, a heart to fill, or a bed to warm, they would support each other. Because love shared is love doubled.

  [Interlude]

  Livia groaned, and rubbed her temples. It seemed like no matter how hard she worked, there was always another list to check, deliveries to verify, accounts to audit.

  She sat in a courtyard filled with marble columns and gardens. It had captivated her when she had first entered into the service of the cudii, and she enjoyed spending time here when she could. It helped calm her mind when otherwise she wanted to throw her wax tablet to the ground.

  As time had gone on, occasionally she'd notice something odd which stuck out to her. Two reports she filled which contradicted each other, fellow servants which stared a little too long, feeling a gaze which scratched at the back of her head, but turning to see that she was alone. It wasn't much, and she really wanted to overlook those small discrepancies considering the prestige of the cudii, but there was a little voice in the back of her head screaming at her that something was wrong, that she would ordinarily never have been considered for her role as a common temple rat.

  She just hoped that she figured out what was wrong before something untoward happened. Maybe she should talk to Augustus, he had been the one to offer her this spot in the household. He had always seemed kind and understanding, surely he could sort out her worries.

  [End of Interlude]

  Aurelia and Junia emerged along a small game-trail they had been following, and into a small clearing. Thessa was back at camp with Tullius, and the others were exploring in pairs of two as well.

  Aurelia looked up at the sky now that it wasn't obscured behind the canopy of leaves, she guessed that it was a bit past noon, judging by the position of the sun. Junia pulled out a waterskin, and offered it to Aurelia after taking a sip herself.

  "What do these birds look like again?" Junia asked her as they began walking along the edge of the clearing. "I get that Gregorios said that it'd be easy to identify them by their call, since it's by far the loudest, but I feel like we should at least have an idea of what they look like before we try and touch something called a Razortail."

  "You're speaking nothing but sense." Aurelia chuckled. "That's why I asked about it. Apparently, they're dark green in colour."

  The pair looked around, this deep in the forest, everything was a riot of greens. Underneath the shade of the trees, it would be nearly impossible to try and spot anything unless it moved.

  Junia groaned in frustration.

  "Hey." Aurelia commiserated. "At least the males have a bright green belly."

  The pair continued follow the edge of the clearing, keeping their eyes peeled for anything interesting.

  "Why couldn't we have decided to look for a pink and orange bird instead?" Junia bemoaned as they peered into the brush. "Maybe we'll find a nymph who'll be kind enough to point us in the right direction."

  "I think a nymph would be opposed to us strolling by and harming creatures in her domain." Aurelia pointed out.

  "Oh hush you, we'll just be charming. You could preen and show off your feathers in front of her, while I sneak behind her and find those damned birds."

  The pair continued to espouse more and more ludicrous scenarios involving them encountering nymphs to help them on their quest. Time passed quickly, and Aurelia was enjoying Junia's company.

  "So you and Thessa are a pair?" Junia asked absentmindedly.

  "Uhh... yeah. We're friends, and a team." Aurelia responded, a little unsure where Junia was going with this.

  "Just friends?" She gave Aurelia a knowing look. "Sharing a tent every night, bathing together, I don't know how people are raised in the Temple of Ceres, but to some that means quite a lot."

  "Plus..." She leaned in conspiratorially. "I'm a light sleeper."

  Aurelia's cheeks reddened as a blush warmed her face. She and Thessa had been trying to keep it quiet, but there was only so much they could do in the throes of passion. And if Junia knew, it was likely that the others knew too. No wonder Comak had given her that look when he caught her sneaking back, it was all but certain he knew exactly what she had been doing.

  "I'm not judging, quite the contrary really." Junia reassured her. "I get why you guys keep it on the down-low, I'm just saying that in the future you might want to be a bit more discrete."

  Aurelia was slightly mortified, but as she looked into Junia's face, she saw that Junia was also flushed, and breathing heavy. After a hard look, a grin began to spread across her face.

  It seemed like someone found the mental image of Aurelia and Thessa together to be... exiting.

  Aurelia brushed a rge spiderweb away with her hands, and continued walking with Junia.

  "Hmm, feel free to duck your head into our tent whenever." Aurelia tested Junia, wanting to how far she would go. "If we're keeping you up at night, all you need do is ask, and I'll make sure to keep Thessa from being too loud."

  "I might just do that!" Junia replied, not willing to back down yet. "You sound like you need pointers anyway."

  "You'll have to come with us, and show us exactly what to do, Lady Petronia." Aurelia said, using Junia's family name for greater emphasis. "I'm sure you could help us quiet down, say if you sat on Thessa's face."

  Junia made a choking sound, obviously taken aback at Aurelia's bluntness. But before either of them could continue, a rge chitinous shape lept at them from the brush, bowling Junia over. She screamed as she fell back, and Aurelia lept after her, dropping her spear in favour of a short knife.

  [Warning: Spider]

  Junia was pushed back, and she stumbled, losing her feet. Her back smmed against the grass of the clearing floor, and a heavy weight pressed against her chest. She felt a sharp pain in her ribs, but pushed it aside for the moment.

  She looked up at her assaint, and was greeted to eight angry eyes staring back at her. She screamed and tried to shove it off. But it's many legs held it firmly on top of her, her arms were pinned to her sides, and Junia was held still underneath it's bulk. Two pedipalps inches from her face reared back, revealing fangs dripping a sickly yellow fluid. Just as it drew back to strike at her unprotected face and throat, a sickening crunch sound filled her ears as a white blur threw off the dark spider.

  Junia could breathe again, but it took a second for her to rise to her knees. Two of the spider's eight legs had been broken off where they joined the thorax, and were still pinning her clothing to the ground. She gnced over to see Aurelia stomping what remained of the spider's head into the ground. Each time Aurelia brought her foot down, a harsh crack sound pulsed through the air as chitin shattered, and vomit-inducing insides were squeezed out of it's shell.

  After another couple moments of head-clouding fury, Aurelia relented. All that remained of the creature's head was a spt of mush pressed into the grass.

  Satisfied that the spider wasn't going to keep moving, Aurelia returned to stand over Junia. The sun haloed her beautiful face as she looked down at Junia, who was still on the ground. They were both dirty, with spshes of spider yuckness covering both of them, but Junia didn't care. In that moment she knew exactly what she wanted, and it had wings.

  She just hoped Thessa was willing to share.

  SpoilerFor those who skipped: A rge spider leaps on Junia, pinning her to the ground. Just as it's about to deal a vicious blow, Aurelia kicks it off, and crushes it beneath her feet. Junia looks up at her savior with the beginnings of genuine affection, and more than a little lust.

  [colpse]SarcasticMisfit