Five days passed since Rand and Merc fought near and in the stream. And to the surprise of Mentokka, Tosh and Gunner. She moved and acted like a totally different person. In training, she matched Mentokka's speed, which ended up beating her with several blows to Mentokka's face that she never saw. She nearly matched Tosh in a test of strength. Tosh won, but he knew it was nothing to brag about, for it easily could be him on the losing side the next time. And Gunner?....... She took him down with one shot.....{as usual}

Seeing that Merc was more or less doing much better. Mentokka decided it was alright for her and Tosh to finally head back home and re-stock there supplies. As the three watch Rand correcting Merc's stance sitting several yards away, Gunner and Mentokka was in discussion about they were seeing. And Tosh was in lost in thought.

"You know something, Mentokka," Gunner said. "Is it me or does it look like Merc enjoying the hard training that Master Rand is putting her though?" Mentokka nodded in agreement. For she clearly remembered passing out the first time she went though Rand's advanced training.

It was during the time that Mentokka asked him to train her in secret. The strain he put her under, with the long amount of time in the proper stances and striking a target with everything she had was just too much for her at that time. Yet Merc seemed to be phased very little by Rand's training.

"I wonder if it's her natural strength that's helps her?" The two nodded, for the both were on receiving end of that strength.

"What do you think, Tosh?" Mentokka asked. But she noticed that Tosh seem to be miles away in deep thought. She nudged Gunner and moved close to her brother. When she no more then a few inches from her brother's face, she whispered his name. "Oh, Tooossshhh!"

"Huh?" Tosh said, turning his head to see his sister right in his face. Before he could say anything or react, she gave him a little kiss on the nose. "Hey!" he shouted. But as soon as he tried to rise to his feet, he stumble over himself and fell over onto the ground.

"Phased again." Mentokka said sweetly. "I've lost count, dear brother..... Fifty?.....A Hundred?....A Thousand?" With that her and Gunner broke out laughing.

Tosh stared at the two of them. Anger clearly etched on his face. But soon he joined in the laughter.

"Can one of you tell me what was that all about?" Gunner asked, still chuckling.

Mentokka told him that Tosh made a bet with her saying if he was ever lost in thought, she would do something like that and he wouldn't be phased in any way. "And as you can clearly see.......He gets Phased ever time." Mentokka said.

"I bet you can't phase me, Mentokka." Gunner said. His eyes wide with excitement. "Try it on......"

"I wouldn't do that if I was you." Tosh said. cutting his words off. "The last person that asked her to do that other then me, got his lights seriously punched out."

Gunner looked over at Mentokka. She gave him a pretty smile, then promptly cracked her knuckles on both hands. Gunner said nothing at first. No doubt letting the thought run around in his head.

"It's worth it..........Pucker up, beautiful!"

"Gunner, my friend." Tosh said, turning to face him. "You're a glutton for punishment." The three shared a laugh again.

"What were you thinking about, Tosh?" Gunner asked. Tosh thought about it for a second.

"I was just thinking, why does Uncle Rand want us to walk back home?"

"He wants us to gather more supplies." Mentokka said.

"No, sis, I know that much." Tosh said. "I mean, why do we have to walk there?" Her eyes went wide for a moment, but she said nothing.

"I mean, Uncle Rand could port us back home, and we'd be back with in an hour."

Still, Mentokka said nothing. Tosh could only think that she did not put much thought into what Uncle Rand asked them to do.

"That's funny," Gunner said. "Master Rand wants me to head up north to a fishing town and meet up with a trader for him in a couple of days."

"What is going on?" Mentokka asked. "If I didn't know better, Uncle Rand want us somewhere eles for him to be alone?"

"Alone? With who? Merc?" Gunner asked.

"Maybe he's sending her somewhere also. Maybe he does want to be alone." Gunner said. "But you know, Master Rand is standing very close to Merc. And he seem to be touching her all over her body, correcting her stances." The three looked at Rand more closely.

"Guys! Let's not jump to conclusions." Mentokka said. "He did that to me when he trained me."

"Guys?" Gunner spoke up. "Answer me this......Do you think Master Rand is.....you know, lonely?"

"What are you talking about? He has us." Tosh said.

"I mean, when is the last time Master Rand been alone with a women?"

Tosh looked at each other and the two of them smiled. "The last time he was 'with' a women.......He 'Was' a women." The two of them broke out in laughter. Gunner looked totally puzzled at the two of them laughing.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Gunner." Mentokka said to him. "It's a inside joke. I promise to tell you about it sometime."

"Don't you three got places to go?" Rand called out to them. "Let me know when your ready to go."

"Is Merc going any where, Uncle Rand?" Tosh said, rising to his feet.

"No. I want to teach her a new technique. I do not wish to be disturbed when I'm training her. It's best done alone." The three shot quick glances at each other.

"Alone with Merc." Gunner muttered, getting to his feet.

Several hours later, Rand, Merc and Gunner went to see Tosh and Mentokka off at the city's front gate. Gunner would leave in the morning, and be back in a couple of days. But Tosh and Mentokka would be gone a little more then a week.

You two be careful." Rand said hugging the two of them. "If there's a problem. You know how to get in touch with me." They both nodded.

"You know.....It seems that You two are going to be alone..... Don't do nothing I wouldn't do." Gunner said, practically grinning from ear to ear. Tosh and Mentokka looked at him with crooked grins.

"Yeah, like we can possible grasp what you won't do." Mentokka said. "But now that I think about it, Gunner. Your going to be 'All alone'.....Don't do nothing I wouldn't do, pretty boy."

Gunner hated when Mentokka turned the tables on him. But it only lasted for a few seconds. Mentokka-Tor was a tough nut to crack. But he knew his charm will win out and she would be his............Someday...........He hoped.