Rose spent most of the following day with Aberash, still trying to weasel out what was going on, only returning to her stallions as the sun began to settle low in the sky. Still, despite her efforts, she was no closer than before.

When she returned, she found Uzoma staring out into the grasslands, his expression now stern and attentive as he stared straight ahead, “Rose, I need you to follow me.” He waved for her to join him at his side as he spoke.

“Is everything alright, Uzoma?” She asked quietly, leaning up against his side to follow.

“That is what we are going to find out.” He replied evenly as he led her out into the grass, motioning for her to keep low, as though trying to avoid being seen. It took a few minutes to reach their destination, before Uzoma stopped and gestured to two freshly moved, oval piles of earth, “What do those look like to you?” He asked her calmly.

Rose blinked curiously at the disturbed earth a few times, trying to meet out a meaning, before shrugging. “I don’t know.” She shook her head and looked to him confusedly, “I didn’t think that zebras dug holes for any reason.”

“This far from the mountains, there are only two reasons to do so,” Uzoma explained slowly, his eyes still fixed on the piles, “Graves and finding useful roots...” He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, “Those are far too big to have been dug for roots.”

She squared her jaw looking as if she was going to be ill, “Y-you think they’re in there…?” Rose inquired, referencing the travellers.

Uzoma hummed thoughtfully. “Possible, but there are only two graves.” He declared, giving her a pointed look.

“So one of them- The third has to be here.” She declared.

“If these are the ponies’ graves.” Uzoma nodded slowly.

“Well,” Zephania’s voice washed quietly over her from behind, “according to the few warriors I could convince to speak with me, they haven’t lost anyone recently.”

“If they’re not digging for food, then they must be graves…” The pegasus trailed off then, slowly approaching the mounds of dirt, “I’ve never actually seen a grave before.” She murmured.

Stepping forward from behind, Zephania placed a hoof on her shoulder, “I believe it’s time to have another talk with Aberash.”

Turning her head back to Zephania, she fixed the stallion with an icy glare - though her words made it clear it was not intended for him. “Have you ever heard of a zebra stallion using a fertility yurt?”

Zephania bore a grim expression. “Only mares use them to entice stallions...” He gave her a soft kiss and motioned for them to follow him back toward the yurt.

Rose looked back in the direction of the two graves convinced that she now knew who they contained, and her wings rustled. “I swear I’ll kill them.” She growled in a deep, angry voice.

“Compass Rose,” Zephania stepped closer and gently wrapped an arm around her, “I need you to remain calm for me.” He urged her, laying his neck against hers.

“If they murdered those two stallions, I swear I will kill them.” Rose stated in a positively frigid tone.

“The crime will not go unanswered...” Zephania reassured her with a cool tone, “But we cannot just rush in. We do not match the numbers of a whole tribe.” He slowly pulled back to look her in the eyes, her piercing steely-grey eyes.

“Numbers don’t mean a damn when the sky becomes your enemy.” She hissed back in a positively predatory manner.

“There are no clouds to be seen.” Uzoma noted carefully.

“But I have a plan.” Zephania reassured her, “I think you and Uzoma need to pay Aberash an early visit.” He flashed her a confident smile, “Do you trust me, Rose?”

Rose sighed then, “Uzoma will have to do the talking,” She replied, letting Zephania see the wrath in her eyes, before glancing toward her other stallion with a malicious grin, “I don’t need clouds to fight.”

“That’s fine.” Zephania nodded, “I just need the two of you to get as much information out of her as you can, before we decide how to proceed. While you’re out, Zuberi and I will try to pack up as many supplies as we can. We may have to leave the yurt itself if we wish to leave quickly.” Rose nodded simply in understanding. “Good.” Zephania grinned and gave her a firm kiss. “Good luck, Rose.”

The mare hesitantly kissed him back, not really in the mood, but at the same time, she was not about to snub any of her stallions. “You stay safe.”

He gave her a reassuring nod and a farewell, before rushing off, as Uzoma ushered her away from the graves, “Now,” He spoke softly as they made their way into the cool, evening air, “stay close by me and do as I say until we get there.”

“You lead and I’ll do my best to follow.” Rose assured him.

With that, they were off, moving quietly back into the village and through the yurts, careful to avoid the other zebras. If there were any guards about, they must have all been watching the other side of camp. Thus it was that they found themselves in the clearing of Aberash’s yurt. Leading her slowly up to the wall of the structure, they leaned against it and could hear two voices in zebrican. The first was that of a male, gruff and almost as deep as Zuberi’s, speaking loud and heatedly. Uzoma pressed his ear to the cloth wall and motioned Cover Art closer.

“My warriors tell me the big one was asking questions.” Uzoma whispered alongside the voice, “I know you’ve spent time with them and their mare. Has she been as...curious as he was?” The next voice to speak as Uzoma translated was Aberash’s, only unlike before, she sounded almost meek, submissive even, “No, Abidemi. She has been sweet and polite. She doesn’t suspect anything.”

“She thinks me a fool.” Rose whispered.

Uzoma shushed her, before continuing his translation from the male’s end, “You’re not telling me the truth, Aberash.” The voice on the other side of the wall became low and dangerous, “What did she say? What did she ask?” Aberash was quick to reply, “Nothing. She didn’t say anything. She is no threat to you.”

“I don’t like this, Uzoma.” Rose whispered to him, sounding agitated.

Uzoma placed a hoof on her shoulder reassuringly and went on with his work, “Mare, if I find out that you’re lying to me...” The stallion in the yurt practically snarled and the sound of pottery shattering echoed through the night. Aberash’s voice was shaking when Uzoma next translated for her, “My mother made that jar...” Uzoma snorted angrily as he translated one last line for the stallion inside, “It won’t be the last thing I break if you turn on me.”

Uzoma then pushed Rose further away from the yurt’s entrance as the sound of hooves thudded heavily through the yurt, until the entry flap was thrown open and out stomped Abidemi; Rose grit her teeth and bristled at his appearance. When the stallion had marched away, Uzoma tugged on her foreleg and slid forward to slip quietly into the yurt.

Inside, the sight that greeted them was much the same as the one that had greeted Rose on her first visit. Only this time, Aberash was kneeling before the shattered remains of a colorful clay jar and the herbs that appeared to have been its contents. Her once tidy mane was disheveled, as though someone had been pulling on it. She took a slow, deep breath, clearly trying to fight back tears as she gathered up the shards of her mother’s jar.

“Hello, Aberash,” Rose called quietly from the threshold of her yurt, “I have a question for you.”

Aberash’s gaze shot up to the pair of intruders, her eyes wide in shock, “C-Compass Rose? Y-you’re back early. We weren’t supposed to meet again until tomorrow.”

“I saw the graves, Aberash.” Rose hissed softly, narrowing her eyes at the older mare, “Who were they?”

“The graves...” Aberash looked down to avoid Rose’s gaze, “They- I-” She shut her eyes and shook her head with a pained grimace, “They were from the trading party.”

The pegasus’ little ember of rage was no longer so little, as she loosed a steady breath that sounded much like a stallion’s snort of irritation - a very angry stallion - and almost immediately, Uzoma’s arms were around her, holding her tightly.

“No, Rose!” He commanded with a hiss, “Control yourself and think.”

Aberash swallowed and finally looked up to meet Rose’s gaze, “My mate, Abidemi drove them off, but those two returned. I tried-” Aberash choked back a sob, “I tried to make him spare them...to let her go.”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill him.” The pegasus practically snarled in rage, only barely keeping her voice low. Aberash remained pointedly silent, lowering her gaze back to the shattered jar, and Rose’s lip twitched in loathing. “He’s your stallion, the father of your filly and you don’t even care if he dies?”

Aberash raised her gaze just enough to meet Rose’s, a dark look in her eye, “You don’t know what happens in this tribe when visitors are gone... My daughter Abeni is the only good thing to ever come from him.”

The pegasus suddenly understood and her wrath suddenly turned into something different, something dangerous. “I am going to kill him.” Rose stated calmly, matter-of-factly, “And anyone that gets in my way will join him. Keep them back.” The pegasus looked to Uzoma with an expression that commanded him to let her go.

“Rose, if you try now, you will call down every warrior in the tribe. We cannot keep them all back and escape when you are done. If you try to call upon the weather, can you control how many homes are hit? Think of the foals, there are still innocents here.” Uzoma reminded her quickly, tightening his grip on her, “We need to make sure we finish our task, then we may come back and deal with him. Trust us, Rose. This is our homeland, our people, our culture. We know how to deal with stallions like him.”

“Are you done?” Rose blinked back at him impatiently.

“Only if you’re ready to listen to me and do as I say.” Uzoma shot back.

“Uzoma, I might not be very smart. I might not be the fastest flyer, or anywhere near Wonderbolt material,” Rose admitted with a deep sigh and a grinding of teeth, “...but these are my people that have been wronged, my people that have been murdered. Abidemi will learn this lesson by my hooves, in my way.” She looked back at her stallion with a steely expression, “Now are you going to trust me?”

Uzoma was silent for a moment, before sighing and kissing her cheek, “Can you promise me you won’t cause more damage than necessary?”

The pegasus snorted. “You have no idea how pegasi fight, do you?” She grinned and pecked him back.

“No, but I know how zebra chieftains and their warriors fight and I know that you can command the weather.” He gave her a serious look, “I cannot imagine anything but carnage if you put the two together.”

“Uzoma, he made this personal when he killed my kin and abused his mare. I’m doing this the old fashioned way, with my hooves.” Rose snickered.

Uzoma rolled his eyes with a rough growl, “Fine. Let me fetch the others first. Maybe then you will be less likely to get yourself killed.”

He kissed her cheek again and let her go. Giving her neck one last nuzzle, he turned and trotted out of the yurt, leaving her alone with Aberash.

The older mare took a deep breath to calm herself and stood to her hooves, “I am sorry, Compass Rose.”

“You lied to my face, Aberash.” Rose fixed Aberash with a lazy glare, “I hate liars.”

Aberash flinched as though struck and lowered her gaze back to the floor, “I never wanted to be a part of this...to be Abidemi’s mate, to witness the things he’s done.” She looked up once more with a meek expression. “W-we’ve been trying to help her. I, my daughter, and some other mares. We try to distract the stallions, make sure she’s clean and comfortable as she can be.” Aberash took a long, shuddering breath, “I tried to let her go, but when I did-” She grimaced and looked away.

“You had your chance to be one of the good mares, and you fucked it up.” Rose growled, grinding her teeth before adding, “Just like my sister.”

“I’m sorry.” Aberash’s voice was barely above a whisper as she took a hesitant step around the fire pit, “Let me-let me help you.”

“I’ll let my stallions decide if that’s a good idea.” The pegasus snorted dismissively.

Aberash remained silent for the rest of the time that they waited for Rose’s stallions. It wasn’t long before they filed into the yurt, each of them bearing their masks, while Zephania carried his staff and Xolani wore his belts of jars and pouches. Zuberi and Uzoma each took a place by the door, watching it carefully while Zephania and Xolani moved to kiss Rose’s cheeks from either side. She promptly returned their affections with brusque nuzzles.

Zephania was the first to speak up, giving her a stern look. “Rose, what is this madness Uzoma tells me? You wish to fight Abidemi, in the middle of his own tribe?”

“That’s about the sum of it.” The pegasus nodded grimly.

“I’ve seen you spar with Zuberi before, Rose.” Zephania quirked an eyebrow at her with a cool gaze. “You can only manage to win half the time. How can you be certain you’ll beat a Chieftain?”

“Because of two things, I’m certain he’s never fought a pegasus, and I want this stallion to hurt.” Rose glanced to Zuberi then, “You know how much harder it is not to hurt your sparring partner, Zephania?”

“I do, and so does Zuberi.” All four of her stallions shared a skeptical look, before Zephania sighed, “Compass Rose, have you thought about what is going to happen if you manage to defeat Abidemi?”

“Nope, still working out the staying alive part.” She admitted frankly, “Thinking about after is your job.”

“Then allow me to do your thinking for you.” Zephania sighed in frustration, “By zebra laws and traditions, if you defeat Abidemi without being killed, you will be the new chieftain with all of the worries that entails. Including having to deal with trying to control all of the stallions that have been allowed to act as beasts under his rule.” He poked her chest pointedly, “Are you prepared to run a tribe while worrying about the possibility of one of his followers plunging a spear into your back? Into one of your friends backs?”

“Why not make her chieftain?” Rose pointed to Aberash.

Aberash had just enough dignity not to ‘eep’ when Rose declared her intentions. Zephania and the other stallions stared at Rose in a deadpan.

“Culture and law states that the Medicine Mare and the Chieftain may not be one and the same.” Zephania pointed out.

Rose wheeled upon the stallion and poked him in the chest. “Their culture also allows their stallions to use their mares.” She growled, “Things are about to change.”

“But they can’t just change overnight.” Zephania snapped, “You put Aberash in charge and no matter what happens with Abidemi’s stallions, you’ll be giving her a death sentence!” This time, the older mare did ‘eep’, “That is, unless we stay and protect her...and even then there’s no guarantee!” Zephania stopped and took a deep breath to calm himself.

“What of the other mares?” Rose asked him pointedly, trying not to yell at her stallion after being brow-beaten, “You expect me to just leave them? Abandon them?”

“Leave them? Yes. Abandon them? No.” Zephania replied in a lower voice, “What we need right now is support.” He explained. “We either need to get back to the pony colonies, or better yet, find a sympathetic tribe. Someone with the numbers and the strength to keep his stallions in line, until your changes can be made. We can’t save them all right now, Rose. If you try, you will likely die and then there will be no one to help them.” He gently took her by the shoulders then with a pleading expression, “This tribe is sick, Rose. You can’t just sit someone new at the top and magically expect it to become better. We need to escape and find help. It’s not as if we’re going to leave that poor mare, we can free her and then find the nearest tribe for safe haven and bring back as many warriors as we can convince to follow us.”

“Pretty it up as you will, use whatever words you want, you’re asking me to leave other suffering mares behind. You know how hard it is for me to even think about leaving them?” Rose grit her teeth, seeing the right answer and hating it, “What do you think Abidemi will do to them when his prize escapes his hooves? To her?” She asked, pointing to Aberash, to give her stallions a face to those they wanted to leave behind.

“I would personally welcome Aberash to come with us.” Zephania nodded, looking to Aberash, whose eyes had gone wide once more. “The others will likely not suffer more than they already do. Believe me when I say I do not like this, Rose. However, I will not stand by and let our herd to die without actually accomplishing anything and we will die if we do this without help.” He gave her a very stern, very worried look then, “For you, it might be worse than death.”

At Zephania’s suggestion, Rose’s expression soured subtly. “She lied to me- us. Covered for Abidemi and his crimes.” She reminded them, making her feelings toward Aberash clear.

“She also covered for you against Abidemi.” Uzoma replied softly, staring back at Aberash, “Scared, abused mares sometimes do things they don’t want to.”

“Too many tribes hold a harsh view on how to deal with liars. I will not punish a frightened mare.” Zuberi declared firmly, “I have seen enough innocent blood for one life...”

“I’m not suggesting we hurt her, Zuberi.” Rose frowned, before glaring at Aberash, “Don’t forget what she’s done. Had their scheme not been so feeble, Aberash’s lies would’ve hidden the truth and Burnished Bronze would be doomed!”

“We’re not forgetting.” Zephania shook his head slowly, “We’re showing a little understanding and offering a second chance.”

“Xolani suggests allowing her to work for forgiveness.” Xolani hummed, stepping forward to take one of Aberash’s hooves, while the mare stood in awe. “The mare we wish to rescue will likely need much attention while we move and after her experience...Xolani thinks it will be best to have as many mares nearby as possible.”

For her part, Rose just stood there in awe, even by pony terms they were being unusually forgiving.

“I think she’s a victim here as much as anyone.” Zephania spoke softly and gave Rose an encouraging nuzzle.

“I’ll ask you if you still feel that way after we get Burnished Bronze to safety.” Rose retorted skeptically, bumping him to keep him on track.

“Very well.” Zephania nuzzled into her mane soothingly, “Now, here is what I suggest. Me and Zuberi will go to the side of camp closest to Abidemi, with a pair of Xolani’s smoke pots and raise as big of a ruckus as we can to draw away his warriors. Xolani and Aberash will go to fetch her daughter and then head toward the end of camp where you and Uzoma will have snuck in and released the imprisoned mare. Take another of Xolani’s smoke pots just in case you need a distraction of your own.”

Rose shook her head. “Let me be the distraction. I will go to the fire pit, keep all the zebra’s attentions and when the time comes, I can squelch the fire and escape through the smoke.” She preened at the sound of her own plan, “They won’t even know what’s going on until it’s too late…”

“No, we need a mare to be there when the mare is rescued.” Zephania insisted, “We don’t have time to wait until after Xolani and Aberash retrieve her daughter and it will be best to have a pony mare there for her.”

“Aberash, is there any way you could give some sort of token to one of my stallions to get your daughter to follow?” Rose looked to her curiously.

“Oh! Yes!” Aberash removed her hoof from Xolani’s grip and dashed to a pile of her belongings. A moment later, she came back holding a small pouch decorated with colored beads and threads mimicking many of the symbols etched onto the yurt. It hung from a string which she held out to Xolani, “This was my mother’s medicine pouch. It is said that wearing one will grant you the strength and wisdom of your ancestors.”

“She should trust them,” Rose gestured to Aberash with a hoof, “they’ve been taking care of her.”

“Alright. Then Xolani will retrieve Aberash’s daughter and Aberash will go with Uzoma. If you’re intent on performing this distraction yourself, what do you need us to do?” Zephania asked, cocking an eyebrow and gesturing to himself and Zuberi.

“How quickly can you tear down camp?” Rose asked simply.

“Not quickly enough.” Zephania shook his head grimly, “We packed a few bags and they’re waiting just outside.”

“If the two of you split the load, you should be able to make good time. I suppose there’s only two things we need then...a rendezvous location and a signal.” Rose looked to Zephania, hoping he had an idea.

“We can meet at our last campsite.” Zuberi suggested. “Me and Zephania will follow Aberash and Uzoma a ways and help them get past any guards. Once they’re in, we will leave.”

“As for the matter of a signal, I cannot think of one that would not draw attention to one team or another.” Zephania shook his head with a sigh, “The best I would suggest is a time limit. Fifteen minutes before you start your distraction so that everyone can get into position and ensure that their attention is on you for three. That should be more than enough time for everyone to make it out into the grass. We will all break for the old campsite and when we make it, we will wait there for a full day. Anyone who is not there after that, we will have to come back and search for.”

The pegasus frowned, she wanted some sort of signal to know when to distract the zebras, but without it, she had to hope her timing was impeccable; too early and the zebras would be put on alert before they had a chance to flee, too late and they might be caught…

“Xolani?” She turned to him, “Is there anyway you can whip together something that when added to a fire causes a lot of smoke? Or sparks?”

“You must ask Xolani?” The stallion in question, gestured to two small pouches on his belts while feigning a wounded look, “None is greater than Xolani the shaman.”

Rose grinned pridefully. “Then make two as small as you can. I want to hide them in my wings.”

“As our winged beauty decrees.” Xolani nodded and turned back to Aberash, slipping the pouch she’d given him over his neck, “Would you help Xolani in his task?” He asked her with a grin.

Aberash took a steadying breath and nodded determinedly, “I will help you as best I can and show you my ingredients.” Taking his hoof, she pulled him over to a set of containers and the two of them went to work, giving him directions to her daughter all the while.

Rose had a sudden look of inspiration and hoof pumped, before turning to the zebra mare. “Aberash, can I take a fragment of your mother’s broken jar?” She grinned deviously, “Abidemi’s cruelty will be his undoing…”

Aberash looked back at her and nodded with a grim grin of her own, “Do what you must. I am sure my mother would be proud to see her work used, even when shattered.”

Rose nodded and moved to the pile of broken ceramic and selected a piece that she deemed of decent quality to fly and scooped it up. Quickly trotting over to Uzuma, she hoofed it to him. “Here is your signal. When you are ready to move the mare, throw it toward the fire. When it lands, I will know it is time.”

“This shard shall fly like a bird.” Uzoma assured her, giving her cheek a peck and taking the broken pottery piece, “Though perhaps not quite like you.” He offered with a grin.

Rose gave him a quick, but sweet kiss on the lips in return. “Sweet cheeks.” She whispered to him, before turning back around to everyone else. “Does everyone understand what we’re doing?” She was greeted with a chorus of nods and affirmatives, before Xolani finished tying a pair of small pouches and hoofed them up to her. She took them and quickly stashed them in her wings. “When the distraction goes off, don’t doddle.”

“We will move swiftly.” Zephania reassured her, leaning in to give her a kiss of his own, “Stay safe. Don’t make us have to rescue you a second time.”

Zephania smiled softly and turned to slip out of the yurt, followed by Zuberi, but not before the big stallion gave her a quick squeeze. Rose gave him a quick peck on the cheek before they parted and she smiled reassuringly. Aberash and Uzoma were the next to file out, Aberash stopping briefly to speak with the pegasus.

“Thank you, Compass Rose.”

“What should I say if the stallion asks where mine are? What is he most likely to believe?” Rose asked her, ignoring her thanks, her inner-thoughts clouded regarding what she currently thought of the other mare.

Aberash looked away with a sad sigh. “Tell him what we were planning before this.” She shrugged, “I went to visit your yurt and you left early...to let your stallions have some fun without you.”

“You expect him to believe that?” Rose asked her critically, not entirely sure she bought it, “You don’t think he might think you are conspiring with them?”

“He doesn’t really think I would turn on him.” Aberash snorted derisively, “He thinks I’m too weak...but he also knows how I seek the attention he won’t give.” She explained in a somewhat small voice.

“Here’s your chance to show him how strong you are.” Rose grinned deviously, then motioned toward the door with her head, “Time to move.”

Aberash smiled softly and without warning, she darted in to kiss Rose’s cheek, before dashing out after Uzoma, closely followed by Xolani. By the time Rose made it out, the rest of the group was already dispersing into the night. She paused outside the yurt and took a deep breath to steel herself; she never expected she might be in a situation like this when she left home, but now that the moment was here, she wasn’t going to turn away from it.