Author: Elizabeth
Rating: A saucy PG-13... cause that's all I can write... and no more, else you'll be highly disappointed with my knowledge thereof.
Disclaimer: I wish I did... but I don't... wish I was one of the official writers, but I'm not... and never will be <sigh>... so, is that good enough to disclaim my non-existent ownership of W/T?

So, what did I miss?

"Tar'airah... so nice of you to join us," Caranthia swallowed her smile and plastered a smirk on in its stead, "what, pray tell, kept you?"

Caranthia just got caught gloating by Tar'airah and now they're having a comeback death match.

"I lost my guards. Had to escort myself."

"Ah, well isn't that a pity. Shows what bad breeding does to others."

Ouch. That was harsh.

"You'd know most of all."

Eyes locked for a moment.

Ooo. Death stare.

After Caranthia recovered she slowly lowered the 'wretch' to stand on its own. She had bigger fish to stake.

"Well, then, wouldn't want to waste our women's time. I think you should prove yourself to your kin once and for all."

"Fine by me," Tar'airah walked past Caranthia, and then after passing within an inch of Willow's body, turned around pushing the redhead out of Caranthia's grasp roughly, "wouldn't want you to kill off my prey, now would I?" As she spoke, she subtly lowered her hand down to Willow's left arm and squeezed it gently. A sign of comfort. Willow made no move in recognition, and kept her eyes down.

On the inside she was dancing at the touch - being grabbed roughly by some strong amazon woman, feeling completely vulnerable was not a feeling she willingly enjoyed... most of the time.

Caranthia made no response. Instead she decided to address the rest of the crowd to begin the fight, "sisters, the ceremony shall now commence, as Perhamia has taken ill this morning," a few questioning expressions rose at that, "she passed the commencement rights on to me."

Caranthia stood up before the crowd on a small platform and began speaking methodically,

"Warriors, as you have grown..."

Tar'airah's mind buzzed as she let the ancient words drip past her ears. All that she cared about at the moment was the girl standing awkwardly, face down next to her. The same girl that wasn't moving, speaking, or doing anything that would qualify a living being besides breathing. And Tar' had slowed down her own nervous breathing just to painfully hear, check the redhead was too. After a few slow seconds she heard a sharp inhale.

Thank the goddess, she's alive.

Tar'airah finally breathed.

Willow noticed out of the corner of her eye the witch that had grabbed her was now standing on a tiny stage, so all the tribe could see her and hear her more.

Don't they have different people to do each job?

Keeping her face downward, it was hard to see much beyond feet and the brunette on stage. Thoughts swirled within her brain; ideas, plans, flashes of memories (several involving Tara) went in and out of her imagination. But the most troubling thought, above being grabbed again by the woman that was quickly being dubbed The Brunette Bitch, above being slaughtered by hundreds of pissed off, PMS-ing women, was one simple thought.

What if I never get to tell Tara I love her?

She sharply breathed in, against her own will and shuddered at the thought.

She wouldn't let it come to that.

Come Hell and... well, Hell, she'll know, even if I'm in her arms dying of nasty frog-bites, she'll know...

She promised.

I promise.

"We've got to get to Tar'... we can still stop it... I... think."

"How?"

"Fa'aith, just shut up and follow me."

"No need to get pissy, missy, I'm just not sure we can do anything at this point, or rather, should do anything."

"What? Are you kidding?! Tar's girl is going to get killed whether she does it or not."

Fa'aith, contemplating the sentence for a moment and then deciding to forget it slowly said, "I saw her touch her."

"What?" Buf' became flustered by the last comment, willing herself to forget it. What kind of pervy thing is she on about now? I mean, HELLO, if she's going to find one of her friends attractive, why is it never-

"I saw her touch her, just now."

Buf'aneah was now thoroughly confused, "What are you talking about?"

"It wasn't much, but when she was telling Caranthia to 'not kill her prey'...? I... I don't know, I could have sworn I saw her hand touch Red's arm."

"What? Really?"

"I don't know, I could've imagined it, but I think Tar' knows what she's getting into... and if she doesn't..."

"Yes?"

"...she'll find out the hard way."