Though the Hamanti were not a horse culture, they cared for Moshtok's animal for him while he recuperated with his comrades and under their hospitality. For several days he and his foreign party were treated to food and drink, giving "the stranger" his strength back. This was, of course, much to Branka's delight, as she saw her man respond healthily to the nourishment and rest. Both he and Tsudros' beards had grown out and their hair was considerably longer. This as they had been in flight from the Scythian domain for several weeks.

While guests of the Hamanti they were allowed and encouraged to venture out of the protection of the settlement's walls on several occasions to bathe and relax under the protection of several armed guards, always returning them under their escort. Though they had insisted they would be protected by an ancient treaty from molestation of the Daughters of the Moon, they were told a number of other threats remained in their region which they perennially had to deal with, at the threat of their lives. In addition to other nomadic invaders, these dangers were the natural hazards of the wooded region, namely nightly packs of wolves and an occasional protective mother bear, historically know to attack and kill their citizens.

Zaria made it known to her fellow wanderers that they should be leaving the small society soon and continue on their way to the Western frontier. There they all knew the deeper forests and cooler weather awaited them. And that it was now still early summer, all understood it was the best time to pass through the mountain ranges which stood majestically in their path.

On one warm morning with the smell of summer blossoms still in the air, their armed escorts left them to themselves near a mountain stream which emptied into a clear, shallow pool. There the four felt compelled to disrobe and modestly wade into the cool water to bathe and wile away their travails. Moshtok took Branka in his arms and unashamedly kissed her passionately in the sunlight, while Tsudros smiled and did the same to his lover. The couples submerged themselves up to their shoulders and closely met in a circle to talk.

"The Hamanti have been good to us," Zaria said. "But I am not sure I totally trust them."

Tsudros concurred, but added, "Yes. But if they wanted to harm or kill us they would have done so by now."

"Their men do not look at us like we have been used to," Branka said. "I don't believe they would ever molest us. They have a goodness about them . . . and respect that we are women as they do their own mates and daughters."

"Still, men are men," Zaria added. "We must never give away our trust."

Tsudros smiled. "I see the Amazons have had a bad effect on you girls. You have learned to suspect all men of being evil."

"Yes, And Soon you will not even trust us," Moshtok whimsically added, smiling.

"And for very good reasons," Zaria exclaimed, playfully dunking her lover's head under the water. Tsudros resurfaced and sprayed her face with a stream of water from him mouth.

Moshtok then took Branka by the shoulders.

"I think it's time I showed you just what you must be vigilant about," he said in jest, pulling her up out of the water, stopping just before her breasts were exposed. He  then took her by the hand and gingerly guided Branka to the river bank, where he unabashedly led her, un-protesting, into the forest. Tsudros and Zaria knew their friends needed this time alone and smiling, did not object to their seclusion into the bushes.

Zaria and Tsudros could still see that their original armed escorts were no where in sight. They proceeded to use the opportunity themselves to embrace each other with tattooed arms in the soothing water. As they moved their naked bodies together while submerged, they each enjoyed the sensual feeling of such a close and intimate embrace. After kissing again, Zaria whispered into her lover's ear just how much she truly loved him.

After some time their came shouts, and a scream from the direction where Branka and Moshtok had disappeared. This was followed by a deep and angry growl. The bushes rustled while the couple ran out panicked toward the bathing pool--still fully naked. Now in hot pursuit of them was a large and ferocious brown bear. She showed her teeth tauntingly and thrashed the bushes while charging with her deadly forefeet,  a lethal flash of claws. Again the loud bellowing growl filled the area with a hair-raising sound as Branka and Moshtock splashed, then dove into the water. Both men began picking up river stones and hurling them at the bear as it threatened to enter the water to attack them.

Soon a sound of loud voices could be heard as the Hamanti warriors re-entered the scene, clapping their hands and whistling to hold the huge animal at bay. The distraction of such unfamiliar nose and the men's shouts continued until the bear dropped back down on all fours. It slowly left the river's edge, while still vocally protesting the group's intrusion into her territory.

Once the danger seemed to have passed, both couples delicately covered their private parts with their hands and in the presence of the guards returned to the river bank. While Tsudros and Zaria dressed, one of the warriors quickly went into the forest in the direction Moshtok directed, and returned with their garments as well. For this Branka and Moshtok, though thoroughly embarrassed, were truly grateful. After finally dressing and composing themselves, Moshtok asked the few armed men why they had not shot the bear with their arrows. All of them gestured emphatically, explaining that the bear was not to be killed. From what they then understood, it was a sacred animal to their people, and deserved the utmost protection.

That night Zaria and Tsudros approached the special abode of the Hamanti leader, Queen Thessa. They stood in her presence while she sat on her colorful mats. She was flanked by two majestically garbed priestesses who received them--one the familiar face of Kani. They made it clear to the queen and her staff that the four would depart in the early morning to continue their pilgrimage homeward.

And when that time arrived the next day, Moshtok's horse was brought to him, still fully loaded with the group's remaining supplies. His bow and quiver of arrows was surprisingly still attached to the animal's neck. The elderly queen and two assists came out to see them off that morning, taking their hands in theirs and touching each of their guests' foreheads with a concoction of perfumed ash in the shape of a circle. This custom left the couples with an ephemeral mark of remembrance, obviously  intended for their future journeys—however profound or however brief.

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