The mission in Issiq had gone surprisingly well, and soon the team was on their way home. The journey back home had been quite dreadful. Neither Roam and Fawn liked the desert region of Issiq, and the storms hadn't fully died down yet either, gusts of find slamming into their sides as they walked around. They had ended up in the port shortly, waiting for their ship to arrive and take them back. Both were disappointed to see no sign of Sygale so far, but they supposed it wasn't entirely unexpected, having only met the other once. Maybe they would have better luck when they met again somewhere in the future. Roam was complaining about having to carry some heavy boxes filled with luxury materials that they had bartered for into the boat when a voice appeared behind her. "Need any help with that?" Roam looked around to see where the voice had come from, and quickly found two Tsabhua standing just a bit down the road. "My name is Alastor, and this is Nalla." The other Tsab gently waved at Roam and Fawn, but Roam was more interested in the belemoid that rounded the corner behind them. "Sygale!" he

called out. He walked past the two strangers, excitedly greeting Sygale "We didn't think you'd show up!" Sygale seemed a bit taken aback when he approached, but Roam didn't have the time to process that as Fawn pulled him back pretty much as soon as he closed his mouth. "Roam!" she hissed, dragging him back to where Alastor and Nalla had been. "I am *so* sorry about him, really-" Fawn apologized to the two, before turning her attention back to Roam. "You can't just run past people when they offer to help you!" Roam awkwardly fidgeted with his hands "Ah- uh, sorry, I saw our friend Sygale and got excited but help would be great!" Sygale had joined the group, looking at Alastor and Nalla a tad confused. After recovering a bit, Nalla chuckled "Well I suppose that's reasonable- you guys are from L'hatzif, right? Lovely weather nowadays-" Roam wasn't sure if he's agree with that, the Geshem storms had been hitting quite hard around the colony, and even here in Issiq the ocean seemed restless, waves crashing against the shore of the dockyard. Nalla looked at Alastor "We really ought to visit sometime- maybe that red belemoid has something

for sale-" "Oh, Morgain? I don't think he has many new wares right now- he's been busy trying to win over Carus, I think" Fawn mused. Nalla chuckled in amusement as she heard this. Roam nodded in agreement. "I don't think Carus has noticed yet, but Morgain has been dropping anything to 'help with Carus' research'" he smile fondly thinking of the two. "Morgain?" Sygale chimed in. "Don't think I've heard that name before." "Oh, probably not." Fawn said. "Morgain lived in Mireh before he joined us in L'hatzif, so you probably wouldn't have met." "Hmmm yes that'd make sense, I suppose." Sygale had a slight frown on her face that Roam couldn't quite place. "Are you joining Roam and Fawn to visit Carus then, Sygale?" Alastor asked with a smile on his face. She honestly didn't seem quite sure herself as she replied "I mean ah- I was thinking about it- it's just such a long journey you know. If I come with now, who knows when I'll be back." "Oh I'm sure Carus would love to see an old friend though! From what I've heard he's always so grumpy. Maybe seeing you will cheer him up." Sygale didn't

seem entirely convinced. "You can always come back later!" Nalla said. "Yea!" Roam said, "We'll drop you back off here no issue, regardless." Sygale seemed to consider it. "Alright then. I guess I can come visit for a little while." The five Xunari loaded up the ship together, and then waved goodbye to Alastor and Nalla still standing on dry land. The ship rocked back and forth on the waves, and both Roam and Fawn were sure that the journey would not be as peaceful as they had hoped. But they had, at least, brough home a new friend- even if only temporary for now, and both Tsabhua felt quite accomplished for that.