Two of this world's unnaturally fast days spun by while Evrith and An-uxhwi healed and recovered strength, largely at Shyriath's insistence that neither of them should be moving around that much. Evrith did not deal with it well; she felt that she should be doing something. More than anything, she felt that she should not be in this world when her task was on Avishraa, but she could not see directly what would happen if she returned and she had no reason to think it was likely to be good.

After a while, she had gotten into the habit of lying down near the edge of the rock shelf, staring blankly across the grassy landscape below.

An-uxhwi, for his part, at least was feeling significantly less wobbly when he tried to stand up and walk around, to the point that Shyriath had grudgingly allowed him to bring up a water bag from a spring he'd located near the base of the rock.

As Shyriath returned, awkwardly dragging the body of some four-hooved animal that he hoped fervently was edible, Evrith abruptly lifted her head, glanced around, and then painfully twisted around to look back at where the book sat on its shelf. Shortly thereafter, Tikke and Unitti wavered into view. Unitti looked depressed; Tikke was muttering and snarling words that, while in a tongue that no one there understood, almost certainly consisted of swearing.

At their appearance, An-uxhwi brightened visibly, in disregard for the glum air that Unitti was wearing. That they had come through the book showed that it had not yet been destroyed, and he couldn't imagine that they had been banished here somehow. Even he himself had been given a choice, after all, and they were no doubt better off.

Which meant that they were here to communicate with them… or they had stolen the book, gotten themselves into trouble, and were upset about the downstream effects that would have for them eventually. Or now. …maybe they not been given a choice about coming here.

“Unitti, Tikke!” he called to them, brightly, at the same time trying to discern if they had taken any damage and needed help.

Tikke spared An-uxhwi a brief nod, during which it became clear that he had a black eye, but this appeared to be the full extent of any obvious injuries on either of them. Then he turned back to the book, continuing his long string of imprecations.

Unitti glanced at him, then meandered over to the group of Chosen. “There was big talk today,” he sighed. “Matriarchs not agree on how to deal with book, so they summon tribe. Some say we should be allowed to take book away, but most of tribe support Ok'ah' and say book should be burned.” He spared a glare, though not a particularly resentful one, for Tikke. “Many heated words. Some fistfights. Tikke get punched by tool-maker.”

“I'm sorry that happened,” An-uxhwi said, gently. “Why are you here if the book is in danger of getting burned?” he asked, part in curiosity, part in concern.

“Tribe said we cannot stay while final choice is made, because we make trouble. They give choice: go away into trees, or go into book.” He shrugged helplessly. “We go into book. We owe you this, and it show what we think.”

“And all our supplies here anyway,” Tikke added sourly. He spat on the ground in front of the book. “They all bunch of miserable crusts!”

“Not Hyd'natt,” Unitti protested. Tikke conceded the point; “No, not Hyd'natt,” he agreed. “But she could speak louder against burning.”

“Not against own mother,” Unitti countered. Tikke just grunted and wandered over to inspect Shyriath's catch. Unitti sighed again and looked An-uxhwi over. “You all right? And Evrith?”

“We have been recovering,” An-uxhwi said, but nodded, making it clear that it was simply a way of saying 'yes, but could be better'. “Can we help you retrieve your things? I do not wish for you to be trapped here on our account. If you can leave with your belongings, then you should. Nothing is owed; if it were so at all, it would be us who owe much to you.”

Unitti shook his head. “We told that if we go in book, we not come out unless sent for. We come back on our own, they tear us apart.”

Tikke added spitefully, “They tell us this after we say we choose book, of course.”

Evrith had hobbled over, and she looked less hopeless than she had in some time - though this was not saying much. She looked at the book, then at Unitti. “It's best, I think, that you came,” she told him seriously. “I think someone else, another xtauh, will be following you here shortly; maybe it means that the tribe will relent.”

Tikke looked up from the prey animal. “Yes?” He barked a bitter laugh. “Maybe Ok'ah' come to piss on us for final insult.”

An-uxhwi grimaced openly. “I begin to think we should consider returning in disregard for the warnings, and simply be ready to bolt. It will mean leaving many of our things here, but as long as we are fast and it comes as a surprise to them, we should be able to escape.” Not that it would be easy, but it seemed better than passively letting Unitti and Tikke be trapped forever.

Shyriath looked at An-uxhwi. “That might be the case if we were all in good health. But you're still barely in a state to 'bolt' right now,” he said, “And so is Evrith. If we come out into the middle of that encampment of theirs, it isn't going to take much going poorly for them to catch up with at least the two of you.”

Evrith mulled it over. “Let us see what this upcoming visitor says first. I think it will be important. After that…” She hesitated, glancing at An-uxhwi. “…after that, we may indeed have to go back, regardless of what it waiting. Or at least I will; I have things to do, and if I cannot do them, it doesn't much matter what happens to me.”

Evrith's comments crinkled An-uxhwi slightly, but it was to be expected. Most of the reason he was with her was that she was pursuing something noble, after all. It went without saying he would follow, if only to distract the villagers, should it become necessary. But for now, he waited for the mysterious other visitor that Evrith said would come.

They waited. Tikke distracted himself by assisting Shyriath with an attempt to cook the meat from the creature he'd caught; this proved a little difficult, since there wasn't much wood nearby. The others made some attempt to gather together some essentials that might prove useful in the event of an escape attempt.

Eventually, as Evrith had predicted, another xtauh appeared near the book, and it was clear that she had found the experience fairly terrifying. Her dark brown scales looked familiar to An-uxhwi, and he recalled that the healer back in the camp had looked much the same. Apparently she was familiar to Unitti, too, who leaped up with a cry of delight and ran to her.

Tikke looked somewhat relieved. “It Hyd'natt. Maybe that good sign; she a decent girl.”

Hyd'natt had brought with her a sort of heavy bag, or possibly had just used a piece of leather to wrap up a bundle; she set it on the ground as Unitti fussed over her. He attempted to herd her toward the rest of the group, but Hyd'natt made an impatient gesture and spoke urgently to him; he began translating for her.

“<The tribe decided to burn the book,>” she said, “<but I convinced Mother that it should be cleansed with sacred herbs first and she let me take it. I got it out of the camp and hid it in a hollow tree, but it won't be long before they realize I'm not coming back and come looking.>”

The number of people getting entangled with this matter was evidently increasing. An-uxhwi might have complained about it, if there was much of a way of doing anything to stop it; so, instead, he said: “Thank you. What will they do when they find you? Would you prefer to come with us instead?” He was ready to leave; if they did it quick and took the book with them, they didn't even need to figure out what to do about Unitti and Tikke's stuff. In fact, it might have easily been best if only the fittest of them went back and fled with the book, until at a safe distance.

“<Yes,>” was the emphatic reply. “<These two said something about the tribe maybe moving into this world to have a safe place; and even if they aren't interested, I am. There's no future back there, not with idiots like my mother in charge->” Unitti broke off, and added, “Hyd'natt is daughter of Ok'ah'. They, er…” He hesitated as Hyd'natt said, “<She's a bitter, senile old bitch. You tell them I said that. You use those exact words, Unitti.>” “…they have disagreements,” Unitti finished lamely.

Evrith listened to the translation with fascination. Unitti turned to her nervously, and added, “May she stay here? I know we did not properly ask, but…” he made a helpless gesture.

Evrith screwed up her face in concentration, and then, to the surprise of everyone there, spoke - very haltingly - in Hyd'natt's own tongue. “<You… may.. stay. We thank… for help.>” She paused, and looked at Unitti. “And for your sake, I shall not mention the looseness of your translation.”

Seeing the shocked expressions, she added, “I met another speaker of that language, long ago. We can talk about it later, if you really want to know. …how likely is it that escape would mean stealth rather than speed? I can't move very fast right now, but I can see danger coming.”

There was a very brief conversation with Hyd'natt, after which Unitti replied, “Give few rests to get further away and down into valley,” he said, “but we can use guidance after that.”

Evrith nodded, then looked to An-uxhwi. “I suppose that you will want to come as well, when I go back out?”

An-uxhwi regarded the entourage that would be heading out, then shook his head mildly. “I trust you are in good company. It will be better for you and the others if you are not made a larger target,” he said.

Evrith looked slightly relieved. “Good. That will give you an opportunity to recover some more.” She looked at Hyd'natt. “<When you… ready, I come out.>”