Anaera had been walking for a long time. Neither she nor Orpheus knew where they were or where they were going. They were somewhere in the Konan countryside, enjoying the trees and streams, almost forgetting they were involved in an ongoing battle.

“Do you think we should take a lunch break?” Anaera asked the mouse in her hair.

“I think so,” Orpheus responded. “I can just make out a nice little lake up ahead. That’ll be a splendid spot for a break.”

Anaera shuddered at the thought of a body of water as large and deep as a lake. Orpheus, being on her head, felt it and chuckled. “I’ll get into human form and check to see if the water is shallow along the shore.”

The Guardian leaped from her head and transformed in midair. Ever since hearing “his” story, Anaera kept half-expecting to see a brown-haired woman before her instead of the tawny-haired man. She started a little and then smiled. “Thanks,” she said.

“No problem!” he called back over his shoulder. He walked to the shore and looked into the water. “Nothing to worry about, hammer-girl! It’s not deep here!”

Anaera tried to look offended, but couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “You’re such a wonderful Guardian! If I was afraid of dogs, would you give me piggy-back rides through dog-owner’s yards?”

“Not a chance! You look all bony, but you weigh a ton!” The two laughed for a while, when a small splash in the lake caught their attention. Orpheus smiled and delightedly exclaimed, “Fish! Break out the poles!”

“Did you pack them?”

“But of course! Remember, I’m the wonderful Guardian who remembers everything.”

“And I’m the bony Otaku who only remembers her name because she’s had it so long.”The two started laughing again as they searched her HammerSpace for the fishing poles. It took a couple minutes, but they found the two identical black poles and a purple tackle-box.

“Bait or lure, do you think?” Anaera asked Orpheus.

“Do you want to handle creepy-crawlies?”

“Quite right! Lure-fishing it is!” Anaera pulled two shiny lures out of the tackle box and set to stringing them to the lines while Orpheus moved along the bank in search of the perfect spot.

She finished preparing the poles and he found the perfect place to cast from. She handed him his pole and they both drew back and cast. While they were reeling the lines slowly in, Orpheus commented, “Oh, by the way, I have something someone wanted you to read. Actually *She* wanted you to read it, but *She* still won’t talk to you for some reason.”

“Snob.”

“I think so, but it’s probably somewhat important that you read this book. It’s a book on Buddhism. *She* marked out the sections on Nagarjuna and the concept of ‘emptiness’ for you. As for myself, I recommend the section on Tantric Buddhism, as well. Those Vajryanists wrote some interesting stuff!”

“Whatever. I guess I can take a look while we cook any fish we catch.” Anaera stopped speaking and sighed. She finished reeling in the line and cast again in the direction she heard more splashes coming from. This moment felt so peaceful. And despite the close proximity of a disturbing amount of water, she felt very much relaxed and at peace. Until she was seized by a sneezing fit.

Orpheus frowned and said, “Someone is thinking no glad thoughts about you, I think.”

Anaera got very anxious. “I have a bad feeling about this,” she commented as she finished reeling in her line, fast.