Yeah, but Rymar probably wouldn't even notice. He'd find the pattering of hail and rain relaxing. He loved thunderstorms. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy crawled back into bed and took an afternoon nap. Then again, he'd definitely check on Ayla first.

But when we reached our street, I did not expect the sight before me. Drenched from head to toe, covered in mud and who knew what else, Ayla was spinning in the middle of a puddle, stomping her feet hard to make the water splash even more.

And beside her? Rymar and Tamin. The boy was carrying a little toy boat, trying to make it float in rivulets that were much too shallow for it, so Rymar was digging them deeper with his toes. That made me laugh, but it wasn't any of the "kids" in the street who noticed.

"Oh, come to play too?" Saveah yelled from her porch. "You're soaked enough!"

Laughing, I jogged over, aware Zasen was still heading for Ayla, Rymar, and Tamin. "We were working on the defense," I explained, holding out my arms for the baby she was holding.

"You're going to soak her blanket," she chided just as Zasen roared out a laugh.

"And you know you want to go play with the kids too," I taunted.

She all but thrust her daughter at me, smiling playfully. "Just remember you offered!"

And then she was off. Chuckling, I eased myself back to where she had a pair of chairs. How many times had she and Tasult sat here, calling out baby names across the street at us? Now, the babies were both born, and Tasult wasn't here to enjoy it. I figured that meant Saveah should get the chance to have fun when she could.

"Your momma needs more time to laugh," I cooed at Taris. "Yes, she does. And you're a good baby, aren't you?"

The little girl stuck her tongue out, making adorable faces at me. Inside her lightweight blanket, she kicked, then Taris cooed some more. Saveah was so worried about her getting sunburned, so she kept her wrapped up outside.

"I think you're gonna grow up and look like your daddy, hm?" I teased. "Make your big brother chase off all the boys and girls who want to flirt with you?" Letting her grip my finger, I wiggled her entire arm. "And we'll make sure all the Moles are gone by then so you can be safe. Yeah, we're gonna take good care of you and your brother, baby girl."

She made that face again, then farted loudly. Laughing, I lifted her up, letting her pretend to stand on my thigh for a bit while I watched my friends acting like children out in the street. Zasen had taken over Tamin, lifting the boy up to "fly" him through the air like a bird. Rymar was trying to catch them, doing his best to splash in puddles to get both Tamin and Zasen wet.

Then there were the women. Side by side, Saveah and Ayla were wiggling their un-clawed toes in the mud and laughing when it squished through them. Seeing them so close, I realized how similar they were. Ayla's hair was golden blonde. Saveah's was honey blonde, only slightly darker. The same was true for their skin.

Ayla had changed a lot in the short time she'd been here. She'd adapted. She'd gotten tan - or tanner. Looking at her next to Saveah, I realized she was no longer truly orin-colored. Sure, she was still pale, but now I thought it would be more true to call Ayla a blonde.

But that wasn't where the similarities ended. Saveah was no more than an inch taller. Their frames were similar. Like this, playing in the rain with the three "boys" out there? Ayla fit in perfectly. She didn't look foreign or strange. She looked like one of us.

Then Taris farted again, and this time there was a stench with it that proved she'd just filled her diaper.

"Saveah?" I called. "Where are your diapers?"

"Oh, no!" Saveah groaned, turning like she was going to come handle that herself.

"I got it," Zasen promised, passing Tamin over to Rymar and then jogging over.

He blew right past me, entering Saveah's house as if he lived here. After only a few seconds, he was back. Scooping Taris out of my arms, he set her on the table between the chairs, and began changing her.

"I could've done that, you know," I grumbled.

"I know where she puts the dirty ones too," he explained. "Just easier, Kanik." Then he looked over and smiled. "You know, you can go play with her if you want."

Which was his real reason for coming over. Okay, that was cool of him, but not necessary, so I shook my head.

"I think I make her nervous."

"I think you make you nervous," he countered. "But yes, Rymar said she was terrified. She thought the Devil was rising up. The dark sky had to be billowing out of Hell, and whatever other mumbo jumbo they brainwashed her with."

"Of course she did," I grumbled.

Zasen finished, hefted Taris to his hip, and vanished inside the house again. When he came back, he still didn't pass her over, but he did claim the second chair.

"Do you think she's right about the next attack?" he asked softly.

"I think she'll be close. Maybe off by a day, depending on how long it takes for them to travel."

He made a noise for the baby even as he nodded. "Yeah, me too. That's why I got her a bow."

"A real one or a child's bow?"

"A real one," he admitted. "The draw is light, so she should be able to handle it, but I got something meant to kill Moles."

"Yeah..." I breathed. "I hate to say it, but that's a good call."

"And I made arrows for her." He chuckled. "Some for you too, but I couldn't find purple feathers. You got black."

"Broadheads?" Because those tips made a big difference.

"Mhm." Then he smiled. "But Ayla's are all fletched in yellow. I figure she's Dragon's gold, right?"

"Thought she was the Wyvern's gold," I teased.

He shrugged. "I mean, I'll take it."

"Make her your shadow," I suggested. "You can keep them from killing her and make sure she's not going to get herself killed."

"I'm hoping to keep her inside," he admitted.

I scoffed at that. "Right."

"I said hoped."

I turned and lifted a brow. "Zasen, you know as well as I do that Ayla wants to help. Now, if you want to send her over here to protect Tamin and Saveah? I think that's a great idea. If you think she's going to simply stay inside?"

"I know."

"Because she hates them as much as we do," I went on. "So make sure she can aim with a damned bow. I'll help Drozel with the tactics and training if he needs it. But hell, man. Sending her out into the streets in the middle of that alone? She stands out almost as much as Rymar."

"No," he assured me, "she doesn't. Kanik, she's fucking invisible. That girl? She knows how to not be noticed. It's what kept her alive this long."

"Least there's that," I said.

"Yeah," he breathed. "But there's one problem with all of this."

"Hm?"