Drenii was slithering at top speed throughout the Oasis. The race wasn\u2019t until the weekend when the Festival would be over, so she had plenty of time. As she zoomed through the Oasis, she came across a farmer. \u201cWell, hello, Handrey!\u201d she called to the farmer tending to a camel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDrenii!\u201d returned the farmer, Handrey. \u201cOut training, are we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave to keep in shape,\u201d replied Drenii. \u201cNow, who\u2019s the camel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy first Sentina camel,\u201d explained Handrey. \u201cMeet Dwera!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m gonna be racing you this year,\u201d continued Dwera, proving she was a Sentina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, my competition!\u201d chuckled Drenii. \u201cWell, best not keep you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, I\u2019m actually surprised someone with your condition is racing this year,\u201d mused Handrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome again?\u201d quizzed Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, you ain\u2019t feeling well,\u201d explained Handrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…First I heard that,\u201d replied Drenii. \u201cI just went five laps around the Oasis without breaking a sweat. Where did you hear such a…?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere she is!\u201d called a little Naga girl. She and her friends slithered up to Drenii and looked up and down at her. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d mused a Naga boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d remarked another Naga boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI doubt it,\u201d replied a third Naga boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan\u2019t be sure,\u201d answered another Naga girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan I help you kids with something?\u201d asked Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s measure her tail,\u201d suggested the second boy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t try that, if I were you!\u201d warned Drenii as she raised her tail to spook them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen enough,\u201d declared the second girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d agreed the first girl. \u201cWe better convince our parents to put their bets on the Mystery Camel.\u201d They slithered off, leaving Drenii in a confused state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat in the After-realm was all THAT about?\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWord on the street,\u201d insisted Dwera, \u201cis that you\u2019re too old to win anymore. The fastest camel around\u2019s gonna beat you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNonsense!\u201d countered Drenii. \u201cI\u2019ll win this year just like every year!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat IS what folks are saying,\u201d replied Handrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, let them say,\u201d dismissed Drenii. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t bother me. Gotta get back to training. Bye!\u201d She slithered off at top speed, going halfway into the town before bumping into old friends about her age. \u201cHello, Klodii! Hi, Dremir!\u201d she greeted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDrenii, as I live and breathe!\u201d declared Klodii. \u201cWe were talking about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be pushing yourself so hard,\u201d urged Dremir. \u201cRacing while under the weather, what would your family say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not sick!\u201d protested Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know you like being active at your age, but you MUST take care of yourself,\u201d insisted Klodii. \u201cI\u2019m afraid we can\u2019t bet on someone who would kill herself like that.\u201d They slithered off, leaving her gaping in stark shock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I\u2019M NOT SICK! MY DOCTOR CAN PROVE IT!\u201d she shouted. She snarled, then went into a slower slither, the Naga\u2019s equivalent of a jog. As she went nearer to the palace, she saw a young man in a harem outfit. \u201cHello, Jengi!\u201d she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGreetings, My Lady!\u201d he returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJengi, sweetheart, could you do an old lady a favor,\u201d requested Drenii, \u201cand tell me who you and your master are betting on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe WERE going to bet on you,\u201d answered Jengi, \u201cbut, after we heard the news, Master sent me out to scout around for a younger contestant. Have to make a safe bet. Farewell!\u201d He took off to do his master\u2019s bidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Yeah, I guess you do,\u201d sighed Drenii as she slithered slowly to the palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back at the palace, Merrim was regaling Nazay, Arsha and her future spouses, and Megramar with a story. \u201cSo, there we were, right outside the cave and stark naked, our adrenaline just taking over every cell of our bodies, when, I swear, all the adult wyverns came pouring out of the entrance!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re lying!\u201d laughed Malnar. \u201cYou\u2019re lying through your teeth!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo we were booking it, and I do mean BOOKING it, when the Mama Wyvern snuck up behind us, ready to eat us!\u201d continued Merrim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow could a Mama Wyvern sneak up on you?!\u201d replied Megramar with a grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen Draka somehow tripped on sand,\u201d Merrim went on, \u201cso I went back to get him up and said…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShould have turned elsewhere,\u201d joked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly what I said!\u201d laughed Merrim. Just then, one of the human men in the Laumfims\u2019 harem approached the group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLord Megramar, Queen Merrim, apologies for interrupting you,\u201d he began, \u201cbut Lady Drenii just came in and isn\u2019t looking very happy. She slithered in at the average Naga\u2019s normal speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, that IS unusual for Grandma,\u201d mused Merrim. \u201cUsually, she slithers at top speed through the palace, calling it agility training.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go see what\u2019s wrong,\u201d offered Megramar. \u201cThank you for bringing this to our attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI live to serve, My Lord,\u201d replied the harem man as he headed off to his other duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me,\u201d bid Megramar as he slithered off to find his mother. He found her by the family\u2019s open garden, looking very sorry for herself as an Elf harem woman sat by her. \u201cMom?\u201d called Megramar. Drenii looked over to see him, then turned back to just staring off into space, resting herself in her tail. Megramar slithered over and sat next to her. \u201cAre you okay?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d mumbled Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Lady, forgive my being nosy,\u201d replied the harem woman, \u201cbut you\u2019re usually chomping at the bit this close to the race.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s right, look at yourself, Mom,\u201d continued Megramar. \u201cYou\u2019re using your tail as a shield and slumping all over. You don\u2019t want your public to see you like this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat difference does it make?\u201d sighed Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou want people to bet on you, right, My Lady?\u201d asked the harem woman. \u201cWell, they won\u2019t unless you look like a winner!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Mom,\u201d wheedled Megramar. \u201cI\u2019ve never known you to be so slouchy! You\u2019re Drenii Laumfim! You LIVE for adrenaline and the course is sure to be the most adrenaline inducing! You LIVE for the challenge!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMegramar, Twella, I appreciate what you two are doing,\u201d replied Drenii, \u201cbut it\u2019s too late. No one\u2019s betting on me this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSays who?!\u201d yelped the elf, Twella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSays the entire Oasis!\u201d answered Drenii. \u201cYou two must have heard the talk going around here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, well, I don\u2019t listen,\u201d replied Megramar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNeither should you, My Lady,\u201d urged Twella. \u201cYou shouldn\u2019t let them get you down. You\u2019ll win this race just like every other race!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re right!\u201d called a nasally voice. A male Goblin then came forward. \u201cDon\u2019t listen to those saps! Think positive!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Since when have YOU been one of my boosters, Tormo?\u201d hissed Drenii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m a friend and I care, My Lady!\u201d insisted the Goblin, Tormo. \u201cPay no attention to your naysayers! You can win! I believe in you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you up to, you green runt?!\u201d snarled Twella as she stood to her full height, which was at least 1\u00bd times the average height of a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d replied Tormo. \u201cCan\u2019t a friend wish their friend luck?\u201d Drenii then blew a loud raspberry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwella, sweetheart, could you prepare the bath?\u201d she requested. \u201cI need to unwind from whatever stress Tormo caused me in the short time he was here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt once, My Lady,\u201d confirmed Twella as she and Drenii departed the gardens. Once they were out of earshot, Tormo sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPoor sap,\u201d he whispered to Megramar. \u201cShe\u2019s going to get her tail handed to her on a silver platter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Are you the one behind the rumors that she\u2019s not feeling well?\u201d hissed Megramar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, if she needed a bath after sitting,\u201d remarked Tormo, \u201cshe\u2019s not doing well. Take my advice, bet on the Mystery Camel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe what?\u201d quizzed Megramar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Mystery Camel!\u201d repeated Tormo. \u201cFastest camel ever! Trust me, a smart man like you needs to make a safe bet!\u201d He then scuttled off, leaving Megramar to ponder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After story time, Arsha and her spouses decided to go their separate ways. She went to the Endeavor<\/em> and completed some paperwork, a must for any captain, regardless of social status. After that, she was invited by Marshii to play some poker with her, Bashoon, and Thengo. Bashoon dealt out the cards as Arsha observed something. \u201cEnsign,\u201d she called, \u201cI\u2019ve just now started to think about how I\u2019ve never seen any female Goblin with their hair down. They always wear it in a bun as I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLoose hair leads to loose ends, thus leading to too many questions,\u201d answered Bashoon. \u201cA bit of Goblin philosophy, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s also tidier,\u201d mused Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s like our own little club,\u201d joked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Bun Club!\u201d suggested Bashoon. She, Marshii, and Arsha laughed at that. Arsha then noticed something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCounselor, is everything all right?\u201d she quizzed, still giggling a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d muttered Thengo as she placed her bet. \u201cI\u2019ve always been suspicious of a woman wearing her hair in a bun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSuspicious?\u201d repeated Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, like they\u2019re hiding something,\u201d elaborated Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHiding?!\u201d yelped Bashoon, a little offended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t be absurd!\u201d snapped Marshii as she called. \u201cThe bun is an ancient and proud tradition!\u201d Thengo hummed half-heartedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome of the most distinguished women in history have worn their hair in a bun, Thengo,\u201d helped Arsha while she called as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know,\u201d conceded Thengo, \u201cit\u2019s just that, after the advent of women\u2019s rights, buns became something of a fashion statement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am NOT concerned with fashion!\u201d hissed Bashoon as she raised. \u201cTo a Goblin woman, a bun is a symbol of neatness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf order,\u201d supplied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSure, like there aren\u2019t any distinguished women that let their hair down,\u201d mumbled Thengo as she called Bashoon\u2019s bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThengo, it sounds like you think of the bun as an affectation,\u201d observed Marshii as she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI do,\u201d confirmed Thengo. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing wrong with that, it\u2019s like men with beards. I just think you bun-wearers should admit it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy bun is NOT an affectation!\u201d replied Arsha, hotly, as she called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen you wouldn\u2019t mind letting it down?\u201d asked Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn a Falgreth minute!\u201d boasted Arsha. \u201cI\u2019ve just grown used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen let\u2019s up the stakes a bit,\u201d declared Thengo. \u201cIf I win, you bun-wearers let your hair down for the rest of the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t do one-sided bets,\u201d replied Bashoon. \u201cWhat are you giving up if you lose?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to see her natural hair color,\u201d mused Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy red hair is a shade that clashes horribly with my pink wardrobe,\u201d answered Thengo. \u201cCouldn\u2019t wait to dye it when I was old enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow I\u2019m curious,\u201d chuckled Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, if one of you wins,\u201d replied Thengo, \u201cmy hair goes back to its pumpkin orange color for the rest of the festival. Are you in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m in!\u201d declared Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe too!\u201d replied Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna lose,\u201d remarked Arsha. \u201cI\u2019m in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnsign, your hand?\u201d offered Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFour of a kind,\u201d replied Bashoon as she revealed four 8\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeat my flush, will you?\u201d grumbled Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLooks like Bashoon has the hand to beat,\u201d remarked Arsha as she set her full house down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re bluffing, Counselor,\u201d declared Bashoon. \u201cDalengor has a contact that can supply you with hair dye remover.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTell her to hold off on that,\u201d countered Thengo as she revealed her straight flush. Marshii whipped out her scanner and checked for any hidden cards. After she got the readout, she drooped her shoulders, sighed, then undid her bun, letting her hair fall. Arsha and Bashoon grumbled as they did the same. After she did, Arsha repined her hairpiece near her ear. \u201c…You know, you girls pull off the long hair pretty well,\u201d praised Thengo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThanks,\u201d mumbled Arsha. Just then, Nazay slithered in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, I need to…\u201d he trailed off as he saw the now bun-less ladies. \u201cEr…did you three lose a bet or something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou had a question, Commander?\u201d quizzed Arsha, not wanting to answer that one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s about what Drenii and I have heard in Barmek\u2019s,\u201d explained Nazay. \u201cNo one\u2019s betting on her! There\u2019s some camel that\u2019s supposed to be the fastest camel alive! On top of that, a Goblin named Tormo\u2019s saying she\u2019s not feeling well! It\u2019s starting to affect her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTormo?\u201d repeated Bashoon. \u201cShort for a Goblin? Wears a thin mustache? Pudgy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly. Someone you know?\u201d asked Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy ne\u2019er-do-well uncle on my mother\u2019s side,\u201d groaned Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAny members of the crew believing the rumor and not betting on Drenii?\u201d asked Arsha, pinning her hairpiece to her waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommander Sindii, Lieutenant Drolo, Lieutenant Ganthar, and Ensign Drega,\u201d replied Nazay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBashoon and I will have a chat with them,\u201d declared Arsha. She got up to find the crewmembers with Bashoon following her.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drenii was slithering at top speed throughout the Oasis. The race wasn\u2019t until the weekend when the Festival would be over, so she had plenty of time. As she zoomed through the Oasis, she came across a farmer. \u201cWell, hello, Handrey!\u201d she called to the farmer tending to a camel. \u201cDrenii!\u201d returned the farmer, Handrey. 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