Adara had grown worried just standing and waiting for Akilah to return. She knew that Akilah had told her to stay put, but she just couldn’t stay still any longer. It had been a while since Akilah had left and there was still no sign of her, and Adara was starting to get increasingly worried. She began heading in the same direction that Akilah had gone, she knew she wasn’t supposed to, but she couldn’t just idly standby any longer.

When Adara arrived on the site, she saw a few men laying on the ground, and in the middle of it all was Akilah, with her back facing her.

“W-what happened” Adara asked, sounding worried.

“Ugh, I told you to say put sister” Akilah answered with her back still facing Adara.

“That is not the point Aki, what-” Akilah turned around making Adara stop mid-sentence “I-is that blood?!” Adara ran up to Akilah and frantically tried to remove the blood from her face. Akilah held her wrist and looked up at Adara

“It’s okay it not mine” Akilah answer nonchalantly “Moreover, they are in more need of care than me” she said and pointed at the two girls, huddled together on the ground.

“Oh, are they the ones that yelled?”

“Yeah, I think so, I haven’t talked to them yet”

Adara looked a Akilah annoyed.

“What?” Akilah “You know I’m not a people-person. It’s a good thing you came actually, I was about to go back to you”

“Back to me? You mean come get me calm down these girls”

“Umm yeah sure” Akilah answered with no conviction behind her words.

Adara sighed “I’ll deal with you later” she said and walked towards the two girls. The two girls were sister, aged 14 and 16. It turned out that both girls were from the town Adara and Akilah sometimes visited, they had gone out to get firewood but then got corned but the soldiers, by chance, Adara and Akilah had been passing by and heard their screams for help. The girls were visibly shaken by the events and Adara comforted the girl and offered to walk them home, the girl took her up her offer. Akilah who had been quietly observing them chipped in the conversation.

“I assume the task of walking them home also falls on my shoulders”

“Akilah do not be ridiculous, of course we are going to help them”

“I never said I wouldn’t, but before we continue on, we need to clarify something first. Akilah said and looked at the two girls “Tell no one about what you saw today, not about us or the fight you just witnessed; we clear on that?”

The oldest sister nodded and spoke.

“Of course if that’s what you want then we’ll be quiet about this, but…” She said and looked down at the tear on her dress “How will I explain this?”

Adara chipped in “Just tell them that you got attack by a wild animal”

The younger sister then spoke up “But how will we then express our gratitude towards him if we don’t say that he saved us. We have to tell out parents so that the can thank you properly”

‘He’ Akilah thought, she was momentarily shocked as she had forgotten that she had disgusted herself as a man.

“There’s no need for that” Akilah said firmly.

“But of course there is!” The younger sister blurted out “We have to thank our savior” She said with sparks in her eyes.

Akilah glanced over at Adara who was trying to suppress her laughter.

“There is no need, we’ll just escort you guys back and that’ll be that.”

“If that’s what you wish for, then that’s what we’ll do” The older sister replied.

The younger sister butted in “But at least then tell us your name sir!”

“My name…There’s no need-”

“Oh come on now Akilah, there’s not need to be shy” Adara said with a devious smile and a wink, as she put her arm across Akilah’s shoulders.

The younger sister brightened up instantly “Akilah so that’s you name sir!”

Akilah sighed and shook off Adara’s arm, she have her a look of annoyance before looking back at the youngest sister.

“Yes-” Akilah couldn’t finish her sentence before the younger sister interrupted.

“My name is Rae” she said proudly, then pointed at the older sister and said “And her name Etila”

“Right we have not been officially introduced, I’m Adara he- I mean his older sister”

“Okay that aside, now” Akilah said and looked back at I “Do we have a deal?”

The sisters looked at each other and nodded

“Yes, we do” The oldest responded.