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Okay, here’s the next part with Altan and Tawny. @dakota @naiya-dyani @esmeralda-gramilton @emberynus-the-dragonslayer @mayacat @urwen-starial

Altan shifted his gun to his back. The weapon was large and awkward, but it was also what set him apart and identified him as what he was, an officer of the law. No, he didn’t serve the government, at least not in the way that the other law enforcement did, Altan served the law.

And right then a law, with more power than that of the government, demanded that he stand in that street and help a young woman clean.

“Do you need more water?” he called to her.

She looked up from where she’d been violently scrubbing who knows what off of the cement. “I think I don’t need more just yet,” she looked at the brown pool surrounding the spot, “soon though.”

“It is ready, just let me know when you want it,” Altan replied. She nodded wearily. She’s working harder than she’s used to, Altan realized. She’s going to wear herself out.

“When you’ve wiped away that spot we should break for lunch,” he said.

“That sounds wonderful,” she replied breathlessly.

Altan fiddled in his pack. There should be enough for us. He finally pulled out two packs of issued food. He’d just go hungry tomorrow.

The girl walked over and sat on one of the crates that was clean enough to keep. “I think that a bucket of scalding water will wash away the remains,” she said, referring to the spot.

Altan poured her a cup of water from his supply, “Here’s to another foe vanquished.” The toasted and drank. Altan passed her a pack of food.

“Where are you from,” she asked Altan.

“I’ve been living in this area ever since I got my assignment,” Altan replied.

“What assignment are referring to?”

Altan settled down onto a clean patch of road and stretched out one leg, “I’m a law officer.”

“That does seem to fit with your companion,” she commented, her eyes shifted to the gun sticking out past Altan’s shoulder.

“Can’t go any where without her,” Altan explained. He couldn’t help but excuse his gun, it just seemed so unnatural to bring it with him when he was just going to talk to a friend. “Where do you work?”

“I’ve got a job at the central government office,” she replied, almost shyly.

Altan puzzled for a moment. Why would a government official be shy about their achievement? “You were one of the ones who discovered the rebel meeting!”

“I didn’t discover it,” she was quick to clarify, “I just helped get things moving.”

Altan nodded. “What’s your name?”

“My name?”

“We were never introduced,” Altan reminded her, “I’m Altan.”

“I’m Tawny,” she smiled at him.

Altan tried to think of something to say. Had he seen her before? There hadn’t been any sort of recognition before, but there was something about her name.

“Nice to meet you, Tawny.”

She stared at him. Awkwardly. How did that bring back something too?

Altan cleared his throat, “You can finish eating, I’ll go scald that spot.”

She nodded a bit dumbly at him and stuffed another bite of food into her mouth.