The morning after, Rose found Aberash in with her pile of stallions, the older mare dozing soundly. Her mussed up mane, along with the musky scent in the air, hinted at what happened while Rose was out. The fact that she had somehow slept through it surprised her. The smallest pang of jealousy caused her to nose Xolani, trying to wake him gently. He woke promptly with a small yawn and gave her a loving nuzzle, which caused her to smile.

“You have fun?” She asked him quietly.

“Xolani had a pleasant time with Aberash.” He nodded with a warm smile, before offering her a kiss.

Rose glanced down at the sleeping mare, before looking to her stallion with a conspiratorial expression. “How was she~?”

“She was delicious.” Xolani nickered softly and lay his neck over Rose’s.

His mare chuckled softly and basked in his affection for a few moments, her jealousy assuaged. “We should start breakfast soon.” Rose whispered softly, her tone of voice telling him to take his time.

“Soon.” He agreed with a soft nod, “Shall we cook together?”

Rose smiled. “I was thinking carrot-cakes.” She suggested, knowing how big a hit they were with them.

“Xolani approves of this choice~” He declared with a bright smile.

After a few minutes of just enjoying each other’s company, Rose and Xolani worked together to make carrot-cakes for breakfast. Rose assumed that Aberash would like them as much as her stallions and this did prove to be the case, the older mare showing clear delight at the sweet little treats. Following that, Rose saw to it that both Aberash and herself were thoroughly cleaned after the night before, the older mare taking clear enjoyment in the act. Once that was done, it took some doing, but the pegasus managed to cajole the Medicine Mare into showing her around the tribe for the day. The two setting out about the same time as the stallions, Zephania leading his fellows off on some unspecified errand.

When they had parted ways, Aberash took her time, slowly showing Rose anything she could think of to show off her tribe’s culture. Within the next few hours, Rose witnessed a number of activities from stallions trotting on beds of hot coals, to mares dancing and twirling with flaming sticks for their stallions’ delight. The young pegasus seemed rather surprised at how many differences she was picking up between the Mwezi Wafuasi and the Kuchomwa, though the two didn’t live that far apart. This inevitably lead to Rose asking Aberash about the tribe’s past. It was then that she discovered the Kuchomwa knew surprisingly little about their past and their origins as a tribe. Beyond their most recent history, the most they knew was that they had come from farther south after some great clash of tribes many generations before. The fact that they knew so little shocked the pegasus - who could remember the tales of pre-unification that predated the Princesses by centuries, and even Equestrian history was fairly accurate back to the time of Discord more than a millennium back. The only thing that seemed to make sense to her was that whatever had driven them from the south must’ve been cataclysmic, at least as terrible as the windigos.

It was during their wandering and chatting that one of the burlier looking warriors trotting over the coals casually crossed one of the burning beds to approach Rose with a confident grin. The pegasus mare looked toward the approaching stallion with curiosity and soon found him standing nose to nose with her.

“Well aren’t you a pretty thing~” He nickered softly, his grin suddenly becoming far more suggestive.

Rose blushed softly in surprise, her ears folding backward a little at the suddenness. “Thank you~” She offered uncomfortably, while Aberash backed off uncertainly.

“I saw you having fun with Olabode last night~” He hummed and planted a bold kiss on her cheek, “He was just a simple warrior. Why don’t I show you what a Champion can do~?”

“I’m sorry, I’m not about to sleep around without my stallions’ blessing.” Rose gently turned him down, still admittedly feeling a little unsettled at how easily she had given in to Olabode’s advances.

He furrowed his brow in disbelief then and pressed in a little closer, puffing out his chest right against hers. “I’m sure they won’t mind~ You don’t even have to tell them~”

Rose’s brows furrowed and she glared indignantly at him, standing firm to the stallion invading her space. “I don’t know how your tribe does things, but a pegasus does not keep secrets from her stallions.”

“So let them know if they want.” He shrugged with another confident grin, causing her to frown.

“I’ll make you a deal, if my stallions say yes, then we’ll talk.” Rose retorted curtly.

The stallion rolled his eyes then with a dismissive snort, before turning away with what sounded like a muffled swear in zebrican. Rose’s ears perked up, trying in vain to catch what he was saying. She was more than a little surprised about what just happened and the fact that the stallion seemed so put off with her. She had yet to see a zebra so insistent so...entitled.

Meanwhile, Aberash stared at her in shock as the stallion trotted away. “You...turned him down?”

Rose turned back to her with a determined expression, her feathers ruffled. “I didn’t like the way he suggested I keep secrets from my stallions.”

“That was Munashe...our tribal Champion.” Aberash replied, looking a little pale, “No one turns him down.”

“Does he always treat mares like that?” Rose asked incredulously, “I mean I might expect that from a pony stallion, but Munashe is the first zebra stallion I’ve seen with that particular attitude.”

“Well...” The older mare swallowed and composed herself, “As I said, he is our Champion. He defends us and helps my husband to provide for the tribe. It is well within his right to expect attention from our mares-”

“It’s his right?” Rose bristled - though many pony stallions expected sex in exchange for attention, Rose had never met any stallion who considered sex some sort of right.

Aberash winced and raised her forehooves in a placating gesture, “It is our way. We of the Kuchomwa are devoted to the stallions that defend us and provide for us.”

“So you’re expected to just lift tail for him any time he wants?” Rose asked in disbelief, her voice slowly starting to rise from conversational to something a little louder.

“Rose, please...” Aberash glanced nervously at some of the zebra passing by, “Calm yourself. We are happy to devote ourselves to our stallions. Typically, Munashe would only go for unclaimed mares, but you are an exotic beauty that has caught many stallions’ eyes.”

“So, an unclaimed mare of your tribe is supposed to give herself to any stallion that wants her, regardless of if she wants him?” Rose asked more quietly, but could not, remove the edge from her voice.

“You do not understand...” Aberash shook her head slowly, letting her ears fall back, “We are happy with our place. Most mares find a husband quickly anyway.”

“Find, or are taken, Aberash?” Rose asked her pointedly, lightly stomping a hoof in irritation.

Aberash hesitated for an uncomfortably long moment, before replying, “Find.” Rose sighed deeply then; she had no way to prove it, but she was starting to have a sneaking suspicion that stallions like Munashe were the norm, not the exception, and mares were not finding husbands. Aberash took a deep breath and leaned in for a tentative nuzzle, “May we move on now, Rose~?”

Rose looked to Aberash as if to ask why she wanted to leave, but instead merely nodded and acquiesced, giving the older mare a stressed nuzzle in return. Aberash, said nothing more on the matter as they trotted along, leading Rose toward the center of the tribe with a thoughtful, slightly worried expression. They continued in silence for a while, the older mare leading the younger through the center of the village, where they passed a double yurt decorated ornately enough it could only belong the the Chieftain. While passing by, out trotted a pair of young mares chatting amicably with one another, one of whom was the spitting image of Aberash.

Rose hesitated then, “Uh...Aberash~?”

Aberash stopped and followed Rose’s gaze, before her eyes went wide as they darted between the young mare in question and the yurt she’d emerged from, “Abeni!”

The young mare stopped and looked to Aberash in surprise, just before the older mare rushed over, a stream of zebrican babbling from her lips. From what Rose could understand of it, Abeni was Aberash’s daughter, and she definitely wasn’t supposed to be there. Though at the speed with which Aberash spoke, she was lucky she caught that much. Rose looked thoroughly uncomfortable at the scene in front of her, feeling rather like she was witnessing something that she wasn’t supposed to; as such, the mare politely turned her ears away and took a step backward to give them a moment. The other mare with Abeni seemed to notice her and gave her an apologetic look as Aberash ushered away a sheepish looking Abeni. Once the she was gone, Aberash sat down with a sigh and exchanged a few quiet words with the other young-mare, who nodded with what seemed to be a thankful expression, before disappearing into the yurt.

When Aberash looked back to Rose, the young pegasus mare turned back to her elder and was looking at her with a skeptical expression. “Your daughter?”

Aberash’s ears folded back when she realized Rose had witnessed the whole thing and she trotted back over with a very sheepish expression. “Yes. I am...sorry you had to witness that.”

“Isn’t that your yurt?” Rose asked gingerly, gesturing toward the one Abeni had just come from.

“My husband’s yurt, yes...” Aberash nodded, rubbing one hoof against her other leg uncomfortably, “My daughter was supposed to be tending to a few sick foals on the other side of the village.”

“Aberash, I get the distinct impression that Abeni isn’t supposed to be here.” Rose declared, leaving her statement for the other mare to correct if that was not the case.

“As I said, she has duties elsewhere.” Aberash assured her.

“That’s not what I meant.” Rose sighed.

Aberash sighed as well and rubbed her neck with one hoof, “Abeni is also my best assistant as a Medicine Mare, she’s supposed to spend her time studying at my yurt if she’s not working.”

“Sure.” Rose murmured, still no closer to understanding what she had witnessed, but also damn sure that Aberash was not being entirely truthful - the fact that Aberash corrected her on the yurt’s ownership first and foremost.

Aberash donned a forced smile and wrapped an arm around the pegasus, “Rose, everything is perfectly fine. There is nothing for you to worry your pretty head over.”

“The last time I heard that, was right before my last stallion threw me out on the street.” Rose huffed, gently removing Aberash’s arm, “I know it’s none of my business what happens in your family, or your tribe, but if you need any help, you can count on me, Aberash.” Rose smiled confidently to her, “Ekua- I mean the Medicine Mare of the Mwezi Wafuasi, seemed to appreciate my assistance, and it’s the least I can do for the language lessons.”

Aberash smiled softly and nodded thankfully, “I will keep that in mind, Compass Rose. Thank you for your generous offer. So...how long will you and your stallions be staying before you move on to find your fellow ponies?”

“A few days.” Rose shrugged, “We can’t stay too long if we want to catch up to them.”

“I understand.” Aberash nodded slowly, “I wish you the best of luck when you leave to find them. Until then...” She leaned in to offer her a tentative nuzzle.

Rose snorted softly in amusement, “You wouldn’t last a week in Canterlot, Aberash~” Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, she pressed her snout to her ear, “Is that your way of asking for our hospitality~?” She teased.

Aberash blushed and nuzzled her with a warm smile in return, “I...may have been wondering if I was welcome again~”

“So long as it doesn’t cause you problems, Aberash.” Rose nuzzled her neck in a friendly manner.

“No! No...” Aberash shook her head firmly and gave Rose’s neck a kiss, “You have brought nothing but happiness for me, Compass Rose.”

“What now…?” Rose asked curiously.

“For now?” Aberash sighed and gave her a soft kiss, “It might be best if I return to my duties.”

Rose stretched out her wings then, “I guess a short flight’s in order...” She shrugged.

Aberash stared at her wings for a moment then and released her with a wistful smile, “It must be nice to have wings~”

Rose nodded softly, “Want me to do a stunt for you?” She asked eagerly.

Aberash grinned and nodded eagerly, “I think I would like that.”

The pegasus grinned and bolted, her wings flared open with a pomf of air and she shot up into the sky…

Rose had swooped down, tackling Uzoma off his hooves and landing on his belly, meaning to take advantage of her stallion. Leaning in, she had him pinned and was gnawing playfully on his neck as she straddled him. Her stallion was nickering excitedly and she could feel his hard cock against her belly. It was as he made to return her flirtations that she noticed a familiar green mare standing nearby, watching with a knowing smirk.

“Celestia damn it.” Rose huffed, noting who it was watching her, “It has to be a dream, doesn’t it?”

“A very good dream, I’d say~” The Grassy Mare replied with a soft titter. “You should try that with him in the waking world. I’m sure he’d love it~”

“Pouncing on him from out of the blue?” Rose asked skeptically.

“Taking charge~” The spirit replied confidently.

Rose blushed guiltily at that, “I want to keep my stallions, thank you.” She shook her head, before fixing the mare with a pointed expression, “I thought you didn’t watch intimate moments in dreams?” She reminded the spirit of their first encounter with a raised brow.

“Why, Compass Rose, I just arrived.” The Grassy Mare replied innocently, “And I have a very valid reason for being here.”

“Long enough to oogle my stallion~” Rose accused the mare, only just keeping a growl from her lips.

“Rose, if I wanted to ‘oogle’, I would be perfectly capable of watching you within the waking world.” The spirit replied with a skeptical expression.

The young pegasus blushed furiously then, “Well if you’re after a piece of my stallions, I’d appreciate it if you asked me first~!” Rose declared imperiously, trying to distract from the idea that the Grassy Mare had been watching them every time they had gotten it on.

The spirit giggled at Rose’s blush, “I will be sure to keep that in mind, but that is not why I am here.”

“Then why are you here?” Rose asked patiently, wondering if she was going to be able to get the reason out of her in less than twenty questions.

“Oh, that would be simple.” The spirit replied with a shrug, “I believe you and yours are in danger. As I have watched over you, I have felt a dark presence here in the tribe.”

Rose whinnied a battle-cry, her wings flaring in surprise as she took to her hooves. “What? Where?”

The Grassy Mare raised a placating hoof and maintained her calm demeanor, “Calm yourself, Rose. If I knew exactly where, I would tell you, but it hides from me.”

The mare snorted angrily, “I don’t like this…”

“Neither do I.” The spirit shook her head, “I warn you so that you may keep a closer eye out for me and watch to see who or what this presence may have attached itself to.”

“Who?” Rose asked worriedly.

“Yes, who. Spirits, particularly malevolent ones, will often attach themselves to individuals.” The Grassy Mare explained, “For us, it is a way to experience the delights of mortality.”

“I-” Rose hesitated, admittedly a little frightened of both her and Zephyr now.

“You need not fear I or my husband, Rose.” The spirit declared with a soothing tone, “There are rules to be followed, courtesies to be observed. We cannot and will not bond ourselves to you without permission.”

“But there are those who would…?” Rose asked hesitantly.

“Who would, but in the vast majority of cases cannot.” The Grassy Mare nodded slowly, “Those with the strength to force themselves upon an unwilling host are very very few and far between.”

“But you think this one is?” She asked warily.

“No.”

“You said who first.”

“I did.”

After a moment of simply watching the spirit, Rose broke her silence. “I find your choice in words disconcerting.”

“Unfortunately, often enough those spirits I mentioned find willing hosts.”

“Who would willingly host something so...dark?” Rose asked worriedly.

“That is what worries me as well, Compass Rose.”

The Grassy Mare’s response only served to make Rose’s frown deepen in concern. “Now I’m not sure if I want to sleep here.”

“You would do well to be cautious.” The Grassy Mare nodded slowly, “But something here in this tribe is wrong.”

“I think- I think the Medicine Mare is hiding something. No, I practically know it, I just don’t know what it is yet.” Rose sighed.

The Grassy Mare hummed thoughtfully for a moment, “It would make sense if she knew something.”

“Do you think she is the source of the problem?”

“I do not know enough to say.” The elder spirit shrugged, “She could be victim or the guilty party for all I know.” Once again, Rose sighed. “I will leave you to think on this Rose. For now, rest assured that I will be watching over you as best I can.”

Though Rose nodded to the Grassy Mare, her mind had already begun to stir and she soon found herself awake and looking for someone to reassure her. She found herself once more in the middle of a pile of her sleeping stallions, plus Aberash, all curled affectionately around her. As she stirred, Zephania cracked one drowsy eye open and pecked her lips with a loving smile. Immediately, she latched onto him, letting her worry flow out, hanging onto him for protection and reassurance.

“Bad dream~?” Zephania murmured, wrapping her in a tight hug as the others snuggled in around her.

Rose shook her head and pressed lips to his ear, “Grassy Mare.” She whispered to him, “Now I’m afraid~”

“I see...” He hummed thoughtfully, before kissing her ear in return, “Well, whatever it is, your herd is right here for you.”

“I feel like I’m drowning and I don’t know what to do, Zephania…” She whimpered.

“Just hold onto your stallions.” He declared with a warm, sleepy smile and a kiss to her forehead, “We’ll keep each other afloat.”

“I hope so...I can’t lose you.” Rose murmured, pressing her head into his neck and did as he suggested, holding him close.

“And you won’t, Rose...” Zephania shook his head and hugged her a little tighter, “You won’t lose any of us.”

Rose sighed in relief, Zephania’s words giving her exactly what she needed to ease her back to a dreamless sleep.