Am?thyst sat within the shadow of Ardane?s porch. Sun-warmed breezes pushed across her cheeks; pulling at her olivine hair and ruffling the pages of her time-worn sketch book. Stubby crayons rolled across the table top and clattered on the wood plank floor. Her annoyance was brief?chased away by her Wind Sib?s ephemeral tickling fingers that found the tender places behind her ears and nape of her neck.

?Quit it,? she giggled, shoulders rolled upward to ward off their attack. Instead, the gentleness of the breeze turned into a late-fall gust, but without the biting promise of Winter to give it weight and cruelty. Her companion, Neano, lifted his shaggy head with a snort from his paws. The Hishn wolf gave her a baleful eye. He, clearly, was not as amused by the Wind?s antics.

Amthy splayed her hands and shrugged. It wasn?t her fault. She couldn?t control them any more than Neano could. Their attention, however, brought warmth to her heart. A pang of bittersweet longing squeezed her chest. The rain-laden scent ofher sorrow settled on her and brought a cloud to her otherwise idyllic day. She felt the nip of Neano?s teeth on her ankle. He wouldn?t allow her to feel sorry for herself?at least no more than she absolutely had to.

Lantern-like green eyes dropped from the table top to the ground. ?Wha? do you think?? She asked him. Deftly, she folded back a fluttering page in her notebook, and turned it toward him. It wasn?t anything to write home about; a scribbled figure with the makings of an outfit. After some advice?some good and some not so?from the denizens of Ardane, Amthy thought she had a firm idea on what Mealla should wear for her date.

Neano?s brow furrowed as he looked up at her and the paper. He didn?t commit one way or another. Fat lot help he was, she thought.

?I think the vest is a too much,? Cayt said over her shoulder, ?but the star is a nice touch.? She added to smooth her critique. ?A vest is a big commitment.?

Her sister circled around the table and plucked a crayon from the ground. Caytlin dropped it back on the table after giving the faded, ripped wrapper a cursory glance. ?I asked around,? Cayt began as she dropped into a chair adjacent to Amthy. ?And it looks like there?s a place that might work.? she flipped her long, blonde braid from her shoulder and wagged her finger against Amthy?s hopeful expression. ?I said might. I can?t make any promises. I?ve never even seen or heard of the place before now.?

??s sommat worth hopin? ov?r, though,? Amthy gushed warmly.

?I suppose so,? Cayt nodded begrudgingly.

?You want some tea?? A voice called from inside the house.

?I?d love some,? Amthy chirped to Gina Benalkin, one of her sister?s riders.

?She wasn?t talking to you,? Cayt replied drily. ?Yes, please, Gina.? She paused. ?Do you think you really should get involved in someone else?s date?? She redirected her thoughts back onto Amthy.

?How d?you know?? Amthy puffed, mirth dancing in her eyes. Her dark brows perked upward and her lips thinned happily. Her answer appeared to work just fine for both questions, and the Nymph-pix left it at that.

?I just??Rora!? Cayt?s argument was interrupted by the brief appearance of her daughter. ?I didn?t expect you to be back so soon.? Even as Cayt spoke, the dark-haired woman changed stride mid-way and retreated into the manor. Cayt stood and hastily tucked her chair back into the table giving chase to the disappearing shadow of Aurora Blackmoon. She pointed a finger at Amthy, ?We aren?t through here,? she warned. ?No tea for me, after all, Gina,? Cayt?s voice echoed back onto the porch.

?Neano will drink it,? Amthy replied as she patted the top of his head. He grunted in return.

Gina brought out a tray heavy with sweaty glasses and thudded it down on the table. ?He?ll have to change, then.? She observed as she removed the glasses. Two were placed easily within Amthy?s reach.

?D?you think it?s a bad idea, too?? She asked sullenly.

Gina looked side-to-side. Her expression was like a caged animal?s. ?Er.?

?I think it?s a good idea.? She offered helpfully to Gina as if to sway the woman?s opinion.

?Of course,? she answered neutrally. There wasn?t much that was secret at Ardane. With a manor full of political refugees and pegasi jockeys, word got around. It wouldn?t have been polite to let Amthy know there was betting pool about the outcome her latest endeavor. Gina had friendly bit of money in the pot already. Discouraging Amthy wouldn?t help her odds.

?Ev?ry?un deserves a good first date,? she declared with a thrust of her finger up toward the sky. She paused and scratched at her ear as Neano?s snort turned into a sneeze. ?How do you feel about vests??

?Like the water kind??

?Nooo, the leather kind.? Amthy?s eyes widened as she warmed to the idea.

Gina seemed to mull it over. ?For a man or a woman??

?Ah, a woman.? She nodded firmly. ?Yes, a woman.?

?It takes commitment.?

?Why does ev?ry?un keep sayin? tha??? She sighed and dropped her chin onto her hand.

?I wouldn?t worry too much, Amthy. You?ll figure it out.? Gina patted her hand comfortingly as she sipped her tea. ?I have complete faith in you.? Not to mention a nice bit of change riding on it, Gina thought.

Neano gave Gina an amused look. One might even think the Hishn wolf had read the pegasi rider?s mind.

Later

?I simply have t?meet him.?

Amthy had been developing a plan for Mealla and Rory. And now there was enough of one that she and Jinx could act on it. Unfortunately, nothing could happen until she made the necessary connections. Connections that Cayt had that she didn't. Details could be such a nuisance.

?I kind of got that,? Cayt said in a combination of annoyance and amusement.

?So how do we do it??

?I would think like any other normal person would.? Cayt cast a glance over her shoulder, spying through the wisp webs of her pale blonde hair at her heart sister, Amthy. The Nymph had thrown herself with melodramatic flare into a chair adjacent to the now dead fire place. ?It?s not the end of the world.? She couldn?t keep the smile from her voice as she walked passed Amthy, and hit the bottom of her bare?and dirty?foot. The gesture was both in play and in reminder to keep her feet off the furniture. At least until she had a chance to wash them.

?Oh, Sissy, it is!? Amthy whined, clutching her hand to her chest. One arm was thrown against her eyes; shielding their bright depths from seeing the roll of Cayt?s eyes. ?Duncha remember wha? it was like to be in love?? She drew out the word turning the sound of it into something else entirely.

?You said this is their first date. I hardly think they are in love,? Cayt reasoned.

Amthy sat up pertly. Her feet thudded to the ground. Her fingers gripped handfuls of her crimson gown, crushing the velvet. ?But they could be. One day. ?s a precious thing, tha? sort o? maybe.? She let her hands relax and rubbed her palms straight down to her knee. ?An? we mus? do it quickly. If I could; I would have done so already an? tha?s wha? we would be talkin? about jus? now. At this moment.? Amthy pointed at the Study floor before her feet for emphasis.

Cayt sighed as she opened and closed desk drawers. They whispered on their rails one after another. Eventually, she pulled a stack of sheets from one, and a well and quill from another. A vial of sand was procured from the last. She set each article out deliberately. And then she sat. Idly, she scratched at one ear. ?Everything in its due course, Amthy.? She unplugged the well, and dunked the quill. ?Dear Sirs.?

?Wha? if it?s a lady??

Cayt?s eyes slid to the side in annoyance. The nub made a scratch against the vellum and spat ink upon the page. ?Okay, let?s just say this is the practice page.?

Amthy moved to stand behind Cayt. She rested her chin on her shoulder and laughed. The sound was soft and airy. Much like the little Nymph-y Pix?s head. ?Are you writing a letter??

?How else do you think to get word? Mind speak?? Cayt turned partially in her chair. ?And I?ll have you know he is well beyond my range.?

A sheepish blush streaked across Amthy?s cheeks sand nose in a shocking shade of lime and honeydew. ?I hadn? really thought ?bout it.?

Cayt cleared her throat. ?To whom it may concern?? She posed experimentally to Amthy.

?Ooh, I do like tha?. It does sound elegant.? Strands of gradient green mingled with silvery blonde; their heads hitting together in an affectionate butt. She watched Cayt?s practiced hand flow across the page. The neat, even script held no meaning for her; no more legible to her than a child?s scribble. ?Make us sound rich,? she chirped excitedly. ?Merchants love rich people.?

?We are rich,? Cayt said, amused.

?Then he ?or she?should know it. Maybe we should find some golden ink.?

?That?s a complete waste of money.?

?But it sends a message.?

?Yeah, that he can overcharge us for half the service.?

?If he does, you can show him your boobies.?

Cayt snorted as she dragged the quill across the page. ?Practice page.? She reminded Amthy. ?And I don?t see why it would have to be me.?

??cause you?re pretty.? Amthy grinned and puffed a breath mischievously at her sister?s ear.

A feeling of dread sank into Cayt?s chest. The feeling was amplified by the emotions that played along the mental rapport she shared with Amthy. ?Oh, no,? she warned as she stood, waving a warding finger at Amthy as she backed away. ?I do not need a date. You can get that right out of your head right this instant. You can meddle in these poor kids? lives, but mine you stay out of.?

?But Cayt,? Amthy because in a needling tone. It begged for the Shifter to listen to reason.

?Uh-ah. I said no.? Cayt asserted firmly.

??m no? a puppy.?

?If you were I?d smack you with the paper.?

?So mean! I jus? thought maybe you might think to consider---.?

?Ha!? She cut Amthy right off. ?You can keep your romantic notions to yourself, and to these people. Or whatever.? Cayt fumbled a bit as she tried to sort through what she was trying to reply to Amthy. ?I?ll help you, but that?s it.?

Laughing, the mischief faded from Amthy?s bright, unblinking eyes. She threw her arms around her sister and gave her a squeeze. ?Thanking you,? she crooned. The scent of cherries and roses filled the air, but the scent was quickly dying as Cayt had snipped her tomfoolery in the bud. ?You should try an? sound pretty, too.?

?What??

?In the letter. People like pretty people.?

?I already told you: no dates.?

?I know,? Amthy answered pertly as she untangled from Cayt to stand back beside the desk. ?But tha? doesn? change the simple truth tha? people like pretty people.?

?How do you sound pretty in a letter??

Amthy shrugged. ?I dunno. Dot your words with hearts??

Cayt gave her a lethal look. ?I am not dotting my words with hearts.?

?I think you should.?

?But you aren?t me.?

?But you are writing like you are me,? Amthy reminded her.

The argument brought back memories of the nights she spent transcribing passages into Amthy?s diary. She sat back down in the chair with a heavy thump. Grumping to herself like the old wolf she sometimes pretended to be?and sometimes turned into to run beneath the moon?she grabbed the quill and scratched a heart at the place of a period. ?Satisfied??

?Immensely,? Amthy laughed.