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Keke's feet found footholds easily on the rough terrain. Uninjured himself, it was easy to focus on where he was going, as well as how. He knew how to walk well on the craggy stones of the Expanse, and he instinctively knew the right route to take through the maze like mountains. He could smell the Settlement close at hand, and he really hoped that Xenosa hadn't expired on his back, because he was pretty sure this was the idea that would save her...

Keke nearly tripped in when she spoke, yelping in surprised delight. So she was alive! Oh good, he had made it in time. He knew the pass, and could feel the feet of many khehora tantalizingly close by. He would come upon it soon, and she would be saved.

He was doing good.

“I'm taking you to a healer!” he said by way of explanation, clambering over a ledge as best he could, “She's very good, and she lives around here. She's a Ysali khehora and is usually an alchemist, but she might owe me a favor...” he said. Might. If she forgot that she sort of kind of paid that favor, long ago on that Ayran mountaintop. “She's well known around here. She can do a lot of things, and I think I heard that she healed a magecian before...” he babbled, “Anyway, we're close, so...”

Yes, he could smell them ahead – the first khehora of the settlement. Probably guards, if he remembered how the settlement worked. He didn't think he would have trouble getting past them.

That cough was concerning. “Hang on, all right?” he said, anxious, “Maybe try thanking me later?”

There. The guards were in sight and... Keke winced... they looked very unfriendly. “Hello!” he said, as they paced towards him, their stance threatening and very much a warning, “I'm here to see Malta... uh...” he tried to remember the name, “Of Katangi! My friend here...” could he call her a friend? Well, frankly, anything could be a friend and he had called many people friends. At least he knew her. Besides, if she didn't like the distinction, she could argue it with him when she was better, and, ultimately, he would accomplish what he was trying to do. “My friend needs her help.”

A grim-faced Diabi khehora stepped forward. “Does she know you?” he said gruffly.

“Yes!” said Keke, taking his gamble, “Tell her Kekeovonnai of Samael is here, and remind her that she owes me a favor...”

“Of Samael?” murmured one of the warriors, a green beast with red stripes, “From that Kiandri/Gaili tribe in the mountains? The Khehorian with the houses?”

“Yes. He's my father.” Keke had forgotten about the status that his father had in the area.

“Very well...” the Diabi gestured at the one that spoke, “Escort them to the...” he thought for a moment, “Escort them to the potionmaster. If she is not there, fetch her from her garden. If she is not there, either...” he hesitated, “Consult Maike of Katangi.”

“Yes sir.” said the green warrior. Keke began to follow him.

“Listen, Kekeovonnai of Samael.” growled the Diabi, the cold glow of his eyes eerie in the evening light, “You are welcome in our settlement, but should your friend cause trouble...” he rumbled, the threat implied.

“No problem there, I'm sure!” said Keke cheerfully, trying to defuse anything.

“As long as you understand.” the Diabi said, returning to his post.

“Well...” whispered Keke, hoping Xenosa could hear him, “That wasn't so bad...”

~~~

Malta was lingering at the apothecary, reluctant to leave before her teacher had returned. He was a pleasant khehora, beneath the growling grumpiness, and she wanted to wait for him to come back from a potion delivery to one of the hunting groups. Maybe, she hoped, they could spend some time together, perhaps have a long walk that she so desired to have with him. She was so glad they were courting now, and that the other suitors were giving her a break. It was a relief to not have so much attention lavished on her before she was ready. Maybe one day she would be.

She began to clean up while she waited, putting things away in their proper places, unaware that history, in a sense, was about to repeat itself...

Somehow, Keke doubted that Xenosa would have managed to kill the guard, but he wasn't really taking a chance – he was getting her to help. “Just ahead, I think!” he said. He could smell the chemical scent of potions being brewed, of months of herbal juices spilled. And, most of all, through the mire of scent, he could smell someone familiar.

“Malta, excuse me, Malta!” he called, trotting up to the lair, “I need your help!”

~~~

Malta jumped awkwardly, her growing body not as responsive as it usually was. She was gravid, full of eggs, though not ready to lay yet. Still, she felt them inside her, growing until they were ready to enter their shells.

She squinted at the large, black khehora, his scent more familiar than his body. “Kekevonnai?” she said, calling up the memory of the young Orakoir, accusing and perky, on the mountaintops of Ayr. “What do you want?” she asked, taking a quick inventory of her potions, before she caught another scent that chilled her with fear.

Orderite

She hissed and drew back. “What is this?”

~~~

“Please? She's my friend and she needs help...” Keke didn't want to say 'dying' because that was too pessimistic for the Orakovan. “She's very badly hurt, you can help her, can't you?”

~~~

Malta paced nearby, a safe distance away from the feathered monster. “Why?” she said, uncharacteristically cold, “Orderites are very bad.” she admonished Keke, “They steal your will and bind your soul with their magic. They are powerful and dangerous. It is better if she dies...”

~~~

“Please, Alchemist Malta...” Keke said, beggingly, “It's not like that. Please...” he took a deep breath and set Xenosa down in front of the Ysali. “You owe me.” he said, “So do it. Please.”

~~~

Malta looked at him with glowing blue eyes. “I repaid that debt.” she said, finally.

~~~

Damn. She remembered. “Then I'll owe you a favor.” he said, “Please?”

~~~

Finally, she relented, nosing at the Orderite cautiously. “I hope you do not regret this, Kekeovonnai.” she said. Her magic flowed into the Orderite's broken body, seeking the injuries and stimulating Xenosa's body to grow anew. Broken bones straightened and knit together, flesh regrew, blood restored itself and was removed from where it should not be. Nerves wove into their usual thick, vital cords and, bit by bit, Xenosa healed.

~~~

“That's 'Teacher' Kekeovonnai to you, Alchemist.” he said, softly, angry at having had to barter over a life, “And thank you."

Malta muttered something unhappy under her breath in dragonic and gave Keke a cold look before walking away. “Please remove them before I return.” she said, to no one in particular, as she retreated to her garden to calm down and clear her head. She had not trusted that Orderite when they were at death's door, and she would not trust them healed. Not when she was with eggs. Her garden was safe.

She hoped that Keke did not regret his choice to help this Orderite, but in the end it was out of her claws. He had made his choice, and again, had made another in his pressuring of her. Malta would not forget his debt to her, as he had not forgotten her debt to him. She huffed as she entered the sanctuary of her plants, and settled down, grumbling about fools and monsters...

~~~

Keke, figuratively, hovered nearby worriedly, moving aside somewhat as she stood. “How do you feel?” he asked. Not dead, obviously, which was great: it would have been such a shame to lose such an interesting friend. “Good? Better?” he prodded, “Not worse, I hope...”

Keke let out a puff of relief. “Oh good...” he said, smiling relievedly. Yes... he supposed they ought to go... He looked off in the direction that the gravid khehora had gone, a little sadly. He wasn't so welcome here anymore, was he? But, if his forcefulness had saved a life, it was worth it. “Do you need me to carry you out?” he asked.