Chapter Two

The sun was slowly climbing into the sky, and those that were resting slept soundly except for the occasional ruckus from outside the wagon. The Chocobo walked around the area poking at the ground. Those awake realize that they need a plan, something to keep them safe from the ever watchful eyes of those that serve Gundaga. With the events inside Camea behind them, and the coming morning overshadowing the events with the wolves, you all know that keeping on the move is your only way to stay safe.

As the Chocobo picks at the ground, its sensitive ears hear something in the distance and [it] lifts its head to look around. The soft footsteps from the grassland land opening has gotten its attention. Everyone awake only sees the Chocobo looking around, but you all do not know why.

Taran looks at Turbo, who's looking around. "What's the matter, boy? You hear something?" Tubo let out a "WARK!!" Taran looked around. He didn't notice anything. He leaned over to Serena. "Should we stop and see what it is? I think he would have panicked it had been more wolves or something..." Taran pulled back on the reins slowing them down a bit. "Up to you..."

Dawn had come and the group began to walk down the path as the forest cleared somewhat. Except for a few trees growing here and there, most of the open land was grass. At the other end [they] see the continuation of the forest. Not far from the hills and forest [they] find [themselves] in, [they] can see the city of Camea.

From the other side of the forest [they] can hear voices. Not sure of what is ahead, [they] all start[ed] to slow down. Realizing there is not much to hide behind, [they] begin [their] approach to the voices slowly.

Serena: "I don't know.... It might be a trap. Keep going for a bit but slow down some. I'll go wake Los and have him keep a look out. If you see anything, and I mean ANYTHING suspicious, take off and wake the others. I know Alouen needs her sleep but her powers may be the one thing that keeps our hides safe."

She gets up and starts to make her way on to the top of the cart. Stopping half-way, she looks down at Taran.

"Be careful. I still need you."

'Ooooh...' Taran thought, 'She needs me??' Some VERY interesting thoughts ran through his head. However all he said was, "Slowing down." he then pulled back on the reins. Turbo obediantly slowed down, letting out a loud "WARK!!" He seemed to be focusing on a more specific area. Taran kept a keen eye on that directon,hoping it wasn't a trap.

She climbed the rest of the way to the top of the wagon. Crawling over to where Los was sleeping she gently shook him.

"Los... Wake up... Something's up. I need your help keeping an eye out for anything dangerous."

She continued to shake him a little more violently with every shake while trying to keep her voice down.

"Whatever it is, I think it[']s getting closer." Taran called out trying to keep his voice down.

Serena: "Use your judgement..." She called down.

"Don't let "it" get too close.["]

"All right..." Taran pulled the reins. Turbo happily walked to the other side of the road from whatever it was. Taran scanned the sides of the road. He really hoped it wasn't an ambush. He'd hate to have to defeat a bunch of bandits before breakfast. Yeah, A big wagon, only visable protection a boy and a gorgeous woman, this was the kind of chance bandits loved! Of course, Taran knew he could hold off a bandit, and had no doubt Serena could. Los and the Imp Knight would be worth at least 3 bandits. So anything short of a direct bandit gang attack, of the sort that wouldn't be cost-effective to drop, they should be able to repel. Still he kept a very alert watch on were Turbo seemed to be paying attention.

'Gawd first a psyco boss, then a madman burning the house down, then wolves and now this... What next?' Serena's thoughts raced in her heard. Los happily snored away while Taran and Serena's hair stood on end.

Even the two imp children began to get a little nervous. Looking down at Taran, she gauged where he and the chocobo were focusing their attention and she too looked. Scanning the surounding area quickly, she looked back at the same spot, anxiously awaiting what happened next....

Bitey meditated silently in preparation for morning exercises. Feeling very much at peace, he opens his eyes to find his charges stumping around the cart, subdued. Looking them over sternly, he begins, {Impish: It seems that one of you has not waited for his breakfast...}, but thinking a moment, he continues {but it is my own fault. You should not have to suffer because of my inattention.} He opens his pack and begins to divide up rations for the boys. The children take the food he offers greedily and then watch him expectantly. {Now, let us give thanks to the Divine for...} he says, raising his eyes to the roof of the cart and trailing off when he sees the action taking place there in silhouette. 'I wonder just how much weight this canvas can support...' he thinks to himself while making his way to the front of the cart. He pauses, and turns to the boys, {Lads, be loyal soldiers and watch over the good prophetess and her guardian. They are counting on you. Defend them with... well, hide in those sacks and come get me if anything happens, ok?} He exits the cart. The boys look at each other and then tear into their food.

Los was breathing, Los wasn[']t moving despite being prodded and his vacant eyes stared up at the sky. "I[']m awake." His breath was stale like the air of a crypt. "Go back down." Los hardly seemed to move as he curled over onto his stomach and surveyed below the horizon level. [...] Los hadn[']t been asleep all this time, Taran's walking chicken dinner had more sense than the rest of the party so at the first squawk Los had brought himself to attention. Perhaps the Chicken was more useful alive than on a plate.

Slyde was about to lunge at his oppenent but suddenly a blinding flash came off from his right. His sight now gone, Slyde lost his posture and dropped his guard. As his eyesight returned he realized that the ninjas were gone. Even the bodies were gone of those that had fallen. All that was left was the overturn[ed] carriage, the blood on the ground, and the stunned looks of Viva and Kobie. Mort appeared to be on the ground, unconscious.

"Where did you go!? Come back here you cowards!" Slyde yelled as his lust for battle began to dwindle. Dropping to his knees, his new found guilt hit him. He had failed in his duty as a knight. The baron and his child were now dead. As was the general. 'I can't just stay here and weep, I must avenge you.' Slyde wiped the blood of his blade on his cloak and placed it back in its sheathe. He headed towards Mort and began to feel for a pulse. It was there, he just seemed to be in trauma or some catatonic state.

Slyde picked up the man and removed him from the road. He carried him a sort distance to a nearby tree and left him there to rest. Looking around at the destruction, Slyde knew there was still some things to do before they would have to head out again. 'Where will we go?'

Slyde rumaged through the remnants of the generals supplies and found what he was looking for, a shovel. Finding a area along the roadside near a tall and elderly tree, Slyde began to dig three graves. Upon completion, he went over and lifted the General into his arms. His face was a look of contentment. Slyde removed the blood from his face and placed him his grave. Drawing the Generals sword from the ground where it lay, he placed it over the generals body in his hands clasped over his chest. Next Slyde brought the Baron and his child out in respective order. Though they were not warriors, Slyde still put there hands clasped across their chest[s]. He thus began to fill in the graves. Slyde finished up the burial and stood in silence looking at the graves. "Though I knew you not for a long time, you were indeed honorable. And your deaths were in vain, it is my solemn duty and vow to avenge your deaths." Finishing his sentence, Slyde drew his blade and held it skyward, "Zrak Xieth Dranor Cilarg."

With the funeral at an end Slyde replaced his blade and began his final task here. Slyde began rummaging through the supplies left and assessing what should and shouldn't be taken with [them] and what the horses can carry. "Viva and Kobie, come give me a hand with finding supplies that we will need. Just the essentials. We'll pile it all here and then decide what to take with us."

With the others, they managed to stabilize the carriage so that it won't tip over even if someone is inside, but because neither Kobie or Viva knows much about logistics, they have no idea if it was still useable. Quickly afterwards, Kobie held the bleeding Viva inside the carriage while kicking the dead people out. Sitting down, Viva made a quick check on the wound he got, and found that it was already beginning to heal.

"Are you alright?" Kobie asked Viva while moving his weapons to a hidden handle on his back.

"I'm *cough* fine..." Viva said, "I just need to rest a bit..."

"I'm glad." Kobie replied as she carefully probed the wounded area.

"Ow!" Viva exclaimed. "I'm fine, but that HURTS!"

Giggling, she looked over the things that they found, and her eyes stopped on the doll. Picking it up, she cleaned it of the dirt and sat besides Viva, and snuggled into it.

Viva quickly filched a bag of gold and opened it to see. His curiosity rising, he quickly went through the packages until he found the bag of clothing. Inside, he was about to find some boy's clothing that fit both him and Kobie. "Let's change into these." Viva said, while looking at his torn shirt. "I'll keep the pieces of the clothing to bandage me."

Working quickly so that the others don't notice too much, they quickly changed their tops with those inside the bag, with Viva wearing an extra thin layer beneath to hid his weapons. Ignoring the others, they continued to rummage inside the carriage for other things of use.

"Oh, and Kobie?" Viva asked.

"Hmmm?" Kobie replied, turning to him.

"Let me hold on to your boomerang for now. You hold the doll."

"Awww... do I have to?" Kobie said in her whiney/pouty voice.

"For now." Viva said, trying to be stern.

In the end, Kobie complied, but she muttered something about her having to protect him, so he passed one of his Tanto to her.

"Keep it inside your shirt." Viva said, and smiled.

Slyde saw the documents about the mission and immediately grabbed them before Viva or Kobie could recognize them for what they were. 'Don't want to bring these kids into something they can't handle. Though they are more superior than any kid I've met, I don't want them to get caught up in this affair...' "I'll carry the maps for now, and maybe when Mort is feeling better, I'll let him be the navigator." Slyde replied as he placed the maps aside. 'I'll show him those documents too, seeing as those that ninja said something that affected him pretty bad in the mind. He might wish to join me to search out those that killed the General along with the Baron and his child.' "I believe we should divide the dried meat up evenly along with the flasks of water. Those extra two will be our reserves should we run low. The gold was for me and Mort, but seeing as our employer is now dead, we should divide that up fairly too. I'll place the kindling along with the maps to the side."Slyde replied as he placed the extra water flasks and kindling to the side with the maps. Slyde each placed a pouch with 125 gold pieces beside the four piles of

food. "Now onto the last things. I'll just take a blanket, and the armor polish. [...] I say we should take those arrows with us too, even though we don't have a bow, those could be sold for some gold in the next town we come across."

Slyde looked back at the two children. He was amazed by how quick their moods had shifted, one minute they were raging fighters, the next they were just as they appeared, normal children. Though after seeing them in two battles, Slyde knew there was much more to them then meets the eye.

Shaking the thoughts out of his head, Slyde focused again on his task and begain to place the meat into bags that held nothing. He also placed the flasks of water in them to. But then got distracted by his thoughts. He turned and counted the remaining horses. There were two strapped to the carriage still, but as for their own mounts, they were no where to be seen. 'Must have taken off when the fight broke out.' 'Lets see, two horses, four bags full of goods of adequate weight, and still four people have to ride them. This just wouldn't work.' Slyde reasoned as he judged how long the horses could manage that. 'Well I suppose we could try to fix up that carriage into working order. But then we couldn't exactly move unnoticed. However, we would be able to carry everything, the horses wouldn't be strained as much and Mort would have a place to lie down till he recovers. Well the pros most definitely out way the cons. I guess that's the best decision.'

"Hey Viva, Kobie, how much strength do you guys still have in you? Cause I want us to get that carrage back on all four wheels, it will be easier for us to move about with all this gear." Slyde said as he began to walk towards the two. Then suddenly he stopped, Slyde felt a very powerful force in his mind, telling him that danger was indeed near. Looking around and listening, Slyde realized that he could hear voices, a little while away. "And I think we should get it up as soon as possible, I think something is on its way." 'Or my mind could be playing tricks on me...'

Both Viva and Kobie looked at Slyde with a curious glance. Focusing his ears, Viva could also hear what Slyde was saying. Nodding to Kobie, he went out and looked around.

Seeing Mort dazed, he quickly took one of the extra flasks of water and went over to him. Opening the top, he splashed the man in the face saying "Wakey wakey!" with is cute childish voice. "Could you help us?"

Smiling impishly, he runs, ignoring the slight pain of his bandaged wound, back to Kobie and whispers, "I think we should stay with them for now."

Kobie nodded, thinking back to the battle, and looked at the carriage. "I don't think it should be *too* hard to tip it back over..."

Meanwhile: While all the 'action' was happening around her, Alouen was still sleeping like the dead. Mille, on the other hand, was beginning to stir from all the talking and movement going on. Her eyelids finally cracked, and she yawned, and stretched, and looked around the cart. Noticing the small Imp children, she wishes them good morning, and then carefully rolls over and watches Alouen sleep for a moment. Mille could tell Alouen hadn't been sleeping long, and saw that Alouen's eyes were still slightly red. Wondering why, Mille stood up, and walked to the front of the cart, and then sat up next to Taran. Bitey quietly draws steel, flipping the sword into a reverse grip and partially hiding the blade behind his back. "What is it?" he asks, more to the chocobo than to Taran when Mille emerges.

Mille: "Morning...what's going on? Why are we stopped, and who made Alouen sad? I know someone did." Looking around, she notices everyone watching a certain area down the road. "What's happening now?"

[Bitey] turns, puzzled. "She speaks... a lot!" A look of chagrin passes over his face. "Now is perhaps not the time... I hope you are better armed than you appear to be, guardswoman. Friend Chocobo has sensed something out there." He relaxes slightly, and shrugs. "They should have attacked when Bitey was asleep... it would have gone better for them. Bandits or beasts worth anything would have made a move long before now." Furrowing his brow, he says, "Perhaps we should have a scout?" and he looks to the others, grinning, "I volunteer!" Jumping down from the wagon, he begins to walk towards the source of the disturbance. 'The prophetess has her guardian and the lads to look after her, making the wagon secure... reasonably. Wish I had a few loyal archers covering my back...'

Serena remained at her perch on top of the wagon.

"Anybody see anything yet?"

Hearing Bitey's words about a scout, she carefully crawls down off the cart and begins to make her way towards the noise.

"Taran, if you let me die, I'm going to come back and haunt you...." She half smiled as she made her way through the grass.

Bitey's jaw dropped as he watched Serena careen into the wilderness and disappear. He looked at Taran, disbelieving. "Partners, lad? Would that make you the brains of the outfit?" He grips his blade tightly and quickly pursues the wayward woman.

"Pretty much," Taran said, "Although to tell the truth, I'm not entirly sure if this is a 'brains' type of outfit. Well nothing ventured nothing gained, I suppose."

Slowly, she crept forward. Her heart raced with fear as to what she might be facing. All alone.. No one to back her up. This was either the single most brave thing she had ever done, or the stupidest.

Taran also jumped down but instead snuck quietly around to the rear of the unspecified group. Bitey could keep Serena safe. He hoped...

[Serena] neared a clearing and heard voices. Human voices. It sounded like a man and two children. Carefully, she crept through the clearing and out into the open.

'Blasted so-called mercenary!' Bitey scrambled through the brush... he shakes his head, clearing it of negative thoughts. Without warning, he suddenly finds himself in a clearing right behind his quarry.

Peeking towards the 'strange' woman, Viva and Kobie giggled at the way Serena was dressed.

Serena: "HELLO THERE! Be you friend or foe?"

Slyde whirled around to see the woman appear from nearby, instinctively he drew his sword and pointed it at her. "I believe that is the question I should address to you. I know not whether you be a friend since you crept up on us, which is most certainly a trademark of a bandit." Looking over Slyde saw Viva and Kobie were near Mort and out of sight from her. 'She might have heard their voices but generally she has no clue where they are. Should she pose a threat, I would rather have her subdued than hurt. She may even information on who attacked us. Or....' Looking up and down at her attire, 'She may simply be one of the ninja's sent back to finish the job. Either way, until I get a straight answer, I better keep my guard up.' "I mean you no harm, but know it that if this be any trick I will make sure to protect myself." Slyde said as he noticed that the woman was unarmed. Lowering his weapon, but keeping it drawn Slyde awaited her response.

The pair giggled some more at the stupid idea of announcing yourself to an unknown target. If they wanted, the pair was sure that this woman will not live though the day.

Bitey groans... He quickly surveys his surroundings, taking in the soldier [...] and the apparent battlefield with a bit of alarm. He switches grip on his sword and sticks it into the ground, casually leaning on it. 'Seems like Destiny's hand is already in motion. Let's see how she handles this.' He sighs, looking grim, but watching the clearing before him with an intense gaze.

Taran snuck quietly around behind the clearing. He peeked out and noticed the battlefield with a touch of suprise. If they were bandits, they were awfully good. But then who were the children? Assuming they were bandits there was only one answer, they were captives or slaves. If they weren't bandits then the children would probably be simply the children of one of the adults. Either way, he could probably get the information he wanted from them. Taran snuck silently up behind them. He was in luck! They didn't seem to notice him.

A glance from Viva told Kobie to continue her 'innocent little kid' act, and she hugged her doll more, still giggling at the complete 'open-ness' of her clothing.

Viva turned the pair away from Serena and took out the flask of water. He opened it and began splashing little droplets of water across their cheeks. Kobie then pinched their wet cheeks and to make the effect of them crying.

Wiping most of the water off their face and leaving marks on their sleeves, the ninjas focused their mind of the pain at the cheeks (or the wound in Viva's case) and forced themselves to cry a bit.

Viva then put the flask of water back into their packs and glanced at Kobie. At her nod of approval, they slowly turned their head back towards Serena, and did a forced giggle, while sobbing a bit, like that they just stopped crying.

Once [Taran] got fairly close he abandoned the sneaking, and merely walked up. "Hello," Taran said. "What's going on?"

"Who..." Kobie, with the cuter voice, asked a bit loudly, "who are you?"

Viva and Kobie were quite shocked at hearing someone else besides themselves, but they hid it by giggling a bit more. Both of them have the same thought in their minds. Did he see us?

Deciding not to care about that for the moment, they continued their little game. Acting as if they were calming themselves, Viva leaned over and kissed Kobie on the forehead (remember she's in boys clothing) and hugged her protectively.

Kobie, while Viva hugs her and blocking the view of the others, put her face on Viva's shoulder, looking at the people who appeared, and quietly reached into her shirt, using the doll as a cover, left her hands close to where she hid the tanto, but not touching it.

Kobie: One sudden move...

Slyde: 'Hmm, judging by the way that man is dressed and by is outward looks in general, he must be a fighter of some kind and an Imp at that.' Glancing over his shoulder towards where he heard a second hello Slyde saw another male near Viva and Kobie. 'Damn, so much for them not being spotted... I sure hope these aren't more ninja's or even a different group of bandits.'

"Well, see as we are both neither hostile nor friendly, I shall ask my question once more, this time to all three of you. Who be you, friend or foe? We have been struck once already and if you have the same idea I suggest you walk away. Unless you want to throw your life away..." Slyde said as he tightened his grip on his sword. A strong wind came up and caught his red hair, its long strands blew in the wind in the uncanny silence between the two opposing groups. The ruffle of Slyde's cloak and Kobies sniffles could be heard faintly in the standstill.

Serena straightens herself up.

'At the end of a sword. Typical for me....'

"I am Serena. This noble knight behind me is Sir Bitey. And he..." She points to the youth near Kobie and Viva, "is Taran. We mean you no harm, provided you do not harm us."

She looks around the site. Spotting Mort, she walks slowly and cautiously over to his side. Reaching down, she checks for a pulse.

"From the looks of things I doubt that will happen either. Your friend here seems to be in trouble. If you would be so kind as to help me carry him, we can bring him to our Cart where he can rest and heal with the others of our group."

She stands up and heads towards Slyde slowly. Her face is stoic but shows no signs of aggression.

"Forgive me, but I do not believe we have been properly introduced. You know my name, might I partake in the knowledge of yours?"

She holds an outstretched open hand towards Slyde. Suprisingly enough, she's well within sword range of the man but shows no sign of fear.

Blaize had been quietly sitting in the back of the cart[...] [H]e had been content to sit back and let Serena talk, though he didn't like Taran going out. [...] [H]e thought, "Good God! I can't believe I allowed this to happen, but I won't let her die.' [...] [O]nce someone threatened them, he decided it was time for him to take action, thinking, 'if these people are from Gundaga, well, either they'll die, or we will' He [...]paus[ed] beside Bitey to say, "If this turns ugly, I want you to protect Alouen and Millie. I'll watch after Taran and Serena, & I think Los should be able to take care of himself. [U]nderstand?" then [...] [he] jumps out to stand next to Serena, his sword clearly visible and his hand near it, "I am Blaize Qadan. [J]ust as Serena said, we will offer aid to your wounded. But," as he walks face to face with Slyde, his flaming eyes burning with controlled fury, "I do not take threats lightly, we'll not harm you if you do the same for us."

Slyde now saw that things were going as he had hoped, they were not the ninjas. However the sudden appearance of yet another man, referring to himself as Blaize had caused Slyde to suddenly realize the error in his previous statement.

Bitey feigned indifference as the people bantered back and forth. He looked closely at his free hand, still keeping his suspicious eye on the new humans. 'It looks like dumb luck prevails in the face of adversity. Humans...' Sighing, he put his sword away and approached the press of humans around Slyde cautiously.

"Please, forgive me for my rudeness, my lady." Slyde says as he bows and takes Serena's hand, he gives a small quick kiss to the back of her hand while maintaining eye contact. Just as quick as he had done the kiss, Slyde was standing straight and brought his sword down to his side once more. "I am Slyde. I did not to be so rude, but we were recently attacked by ninjas as you can see. During the battle my friend," Slyde explains while he holds his hand out to Mort laying against the tree, "seemed to have some sort of trauma amisdt the confusion of the fight. We also lost our leader and the passengers we were protecting...." Slyde's eyes wandered towards the graves that were only moments ago dug out of the earth. Staring back at Blaize, Slyde looked at his sword, "Please, I explained why I acted as I did before, so please don't draw your blade. I wish to draw no more blood today. And my companions, Viva and Kobie, are in need of some rest." 'I hope that Viva and Kobie managed to get there act together.' Slyde gestured towards the carriage where the two remained innocently, "We found these children only a night ago in the woods, and I hoped to get them to the nearest town when the journey was complete, but as you can see our transport is ruined."

Slyde walked over to the ruined carrage, "I was hoping to at least get it off its side to see if we could at least make it to the next town. I would not want to be any extra encumbrance upon you and your journey, though your offer is noted, perhaps you wish to accompany each other? But we would really like to take the carriage with us perhaps you could lend us a hand?"

Serena: "Pleased to meet you Slyde." She smiled some.

Looking back towards Blaize, she grinned slightly.

"You can put your weapon away dear. I really don't think he or the two children or their injured companion are going to kill us. I thank you for the protection though." Bitey [...] steps forward. He bows low with his eyes still on the [soldier], "I am Sir Bitey, Emissary of the Imp Queen, Knight of the Upper Kingdom." He straightens, "Well met, Mister... Slyde. You... are not dressed as an average soldier, and you bear an insignia of rank." He casts a glance at the fresh graves, and quickly thinks. "You must be your unit's captain..." then seeking some words of condolence, "It is a commander's honor to sacrifice for the unit. It is Destiny." He looks curiously at the blood on the field and the conspicuous absence of bodies and soldiers while Serena putters about the cart. "Indeed, enough of death, noble Captain... where is the rest of your unit; it is best we group all together."

Slyde: "Ahh, a fellow Knight. It is good to see such a man of expertise and honor in these parts. I am unfortunately am not a captain of any squad, let alone a member of an army. My past is... how would you say?.... Cloudy, for i have no remembrance on how or why I have such abilities. But enough about that. [...] Our leader fell before he could even defend himself, they fought with no honor, for he was killed without seeing his opponent. As for our 'unit' as you would say, we are the last ones alive. Well, Mort and I it seems. For the children were just a recent addition last night. But you already heard that. I too, think that it is best to band together. Perhaps maybe down the road you and I could have a duel. Just to keep in practice."

Bitey's mood clearly brightens. "You are a knight, as well? That explains much." He picks up a rock and looks under it. ["]No ninjas here... whatever ninjas are. Killed to the man. Dreadful.["] He turns curiously at Slyde's duel comment, and appraises the man. 'He is... challenging me. Perhaps this is one of those barbarian rituals that I hear so much about.' He smiles weakly. "Yes, perhaps we will enjoy this rich... tradition..." He trails off.

Slyde looks back at the Imp and lets a little laugh, "I see in Imp Country you don't get much of the dark side of life. I mean no offense here. Ninja's are highly trained assassins. Skilled in stealth, subterfuge, and of course, sudden death moves. I'm guessing by the wound on my friend they tried to do so. But he lives, so they must have failed or meant only to bring him down to near death. Perhaps to slowly watch him die, their reasons for even attacking us, baffle me."

Bitey: "Ah, yes, we have those where I come from. We call them... squirrels..."

Heading over to the unconscious Mort, [Serena] begins to lift him up.

"Blaize dear, would you give me a hand and help me carry him to the cart?"

Slyde took a look around and saw that Serena was helping Mort out. "

"Tradition, ha, I just want to spar with another of equal strength. I just thought that you being a Knight, you too would have the same ambition to see how you match up against another. Well, either way, lets start to get this stuff all packed up. I sense a great adventure in store for us all." Slyde said as he looked around at the goods scattered nearby on the road.

Taran, smiling and acting friendly, walked up towards the two kids. "So, What's happening?" he asked.

Viva was not a trusting type of person, and his actions more or less reflected it.

Putting himself in front of Kobie, he twisted, giving Kobie ample time to continue her act, and stood protectively in front of her. "Nothing. Go away." he said, using his 'trying to sound tough' voice.

Kobie, on the other hand, just kept herself hidden behind Viva. The doll, now hers, was used to block off people from seeing the other hand, which was currently near where she hid the Tanto inside her clothing.

The pair did not use any hostile glances at anyone, but their mutual feelings were easily described in their stances. They didn't trust anyone here.

Heading over to where Slyde was standing near the carrage, [Serena] took in the scene.

"Hmm... I don't think we're going to be able to use this carriage without some major repairs. As I said before, we DO have a cart of our own that could carry most of us. The others who are not injured can walk. There's plenty of room for the children and your companion onboard. As it just so happens, we too are on our way to the next town."

Slyde scans over the the carriage once again, "I guess our attempts to repair it would be futile, seeing that the rear axle is in poor condition. I guess we have no choice but to use your cart." Slyde replied reluctantly.

Bitey gives the soldier and apologetic look and shrugs. "I am sure the wounded and children will all be fine in the 'cart'. As will any goods, I believe. If I am not mistaken, those are riding beasts. They are not chocobos, but I am sure they will do."

Slyde: "Ah, yes. I hope that they should have an easier time on the road, since I am used to such things already. Perhaps that 'cart' that you speak of will at least comfort them on this journey." Slyde looks over towards the two horses, "Yes, those are horses. By the way of your suggest you sound as if you have never seen them. Am I correct to say this? Either way, I'm used to riding them. And please, just call me Slyde, I have no rank, or one that I am aware of[...]"

Walking over to the horses, Slyde calm the beast down and brushed its mane. "I shall ride this then, along side the cart of yours, do bring it closer so that we can load our provisions on it so that we may move before the wolves come to see if the blood they smell holds them a fresh meal." Drawing his sword, Slyde cut the straps that binded the horse to the cart and held onto the reins. "What should we do with the second horse? Do any of you wish to ride this? If not I'll release it into the wild. Perhaps it will join up with the others that ran in fright."

Bitey examines the second horse and raises an eyebrow. "Oh no, I have seen these creatures before. The human traders I met on patrol often had them. They often carried the traders' supplies." He looks up at the horse dubiously. "They seem larger than I remember them." He grabs the horses tail and heaves himself up onto the animal's back. Standing on its rump, he looks around the clearing. "Yes, this is very high. I do not care to travel by horse." He gets down on all fours and looks for a safe place to jump off.

"Ah, yes, I suppose you would see traders with horses. But they may have been using maybe younger ones, which are generally called ponies, or they could have been using a donkey. Well, such things do not matter. Either way I shall use this horse." Slyde says as he nears the horse and pats it.

"Sir Slyde," [Bitey] says jumping off of his mount. "A Knight remains a Knight, regardless. Imp or no, none shall deny the virtue within."

"Your words are indeed true, that I can't deny. I am indeed, a Knight." 'But of what Kingdom or of who?' Slyde thought, a brief dizzy spell hit Slyde and he saw a quick glimpse of a bearded old man in gleaming armor. Though he was old, he appeared to still have the strength and vitality of a youth. The image swirled about and Slyde thought for a moment he saw a young boy nearby, trying to left up a big sword. Catching his balance Slyde shook his head, "I'm alright, just a little fatigued from the battle. 'What was that, I keep having these and yet at the most inopportune times. I'll have to worry about this later.'

He hurries to examine the scene, stops, and addresses the soldier once more. "Have you any weapons to spare, Captain Slyde? I should like to see another member of this alliance and the lad there better armed. Blades preferably..." He looks over the battlefield...

Slyde: ["]As you can see by the remnants of the battle field, the ninjas left nothing. They took their fallen comrades and only left us with our dead.["]

The kids giggled a bit at the knight, but still holding a somewhat hostile/neutral stance against everyone else.

Kobie was repeating in her mind Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away. Go away.

Heading over to the unconscious Mort, she begins to lift him up.

"Blaize dear, would you give me a hand and help me carry him to the cart?"

Looking back at Slyde, [Serena] continues.

"It's settled. We're not "ninjas" sent to kill you nor are you here to kill us. That being said, you're traveling with us. It would seem that we would all benefit from each other's company. Safety in numbers after all."[...]

In the brightly lit sky, the sun was climbing over the mountains and over the towering trees in the forest. The few spots where few trees grew were brightly lit by the burning sun. After what had happened the previous night fighting wolves it almost seemed surreal.

The damage from the battle around were the only signs that anything had taken place. The overturned cart, its belongings tossed the strewn over the matted grass.

Bitey watches helplessly as the group picks up their things and trudge off to the cart. He follows along behind them as the group reaches the cart. "Come along, now, lads," he says to Viva and Kobie.

Once they reach the cart, Serena places Mort in the cart. She carefully tends his wounds some with the remainder of her bandages she was using.

"Mille, please make sure he is looked after and tended for. If there is anything you need don't hesitate to ask. You did such a good job helping me I'm sure you can help him too."

Serena then heads back to the front of the cart and takes her place next to the driver's seat.

Alouen was sleeping soundly in the carriage, but, even in her deep slumber, the motions of putting Mort into the cart were enough to waken the sleeping woman. Opening her eyes, she stared at darkness for awhile, then promptly began rousing herself. Her clothes were disheveled, as was her long green braid, which she began reworking. Sitting on the sacks, her stomach grumbled and she listened intently to the happenings around her. Because there were many people with them, she did not know who or where anyone was in the cart, so she sat, peering into the void of nothingness. Curiousity crept into her, and she wondered why there were so many voices. "Mille? Mille, what's happening? Where are we? Where are you? Mille?" Millie, who had been up front, bounces into the back, and gives Alouen a helping hand, leading her to the front of the cart, out of the way of the people trying to put the one known as Mort in the cart. Sitting Alouen down, Mille tells her [...] simply that there are some new travellers, and one is hurt. Alouen, interested at the prospect of new travellers, gets Mille's aid in climbing down, and makes Mille takes her to Slyde. Carefully. Approaching him, Alouen's eyes dart left and right, hoping for a glimpse past the darkness, in futility, of course. Addressing the individual, Alouen speaks so, "Traveller? Am I to understand you are to journey with us? If this is so, I welcome you."

Taran grinned again and jumped in the driver seat. Waving his hands at the two kids he yelled, "All aboard!! Everyone on who's coming!!" Taran paused for a second. Then he asked, "Hey, where are we going anyway?"

Two green capped heads peek out from the cart, then disappear. "Children in the cart... So you will be driving, lad?" [Bitey] says to Taran. He looks over the group assembled, lingering on Kobie for a moment. 'Something's off...' He banishes the thought as he hears Alouen introducing herself to Slyde. He dashes forward...

The woman in the blue and green dress, embroidered with leaves, dips a curtsey in front of the man known as Slyde. "My name is Alouen Van'Heirshin, and this is my guide Mille T'mile. It would please us greatly to have more company in our journeys. Wherever they happen to lead." Her smile is pleasing and warm, and even with her face 'slept on a sack morning fresh' you get the sense of tremendous beauty. Even through the dress, you can tell that a shapely form is hidden underneath. "I great you, Sir, I believe?"

"Sir Slyde, Prophetess..." he inserts himself deftly between the two. "Sir Slyde, this is the Prophetess... Alouen... and her faithful Guardian, Mille... and Prophetess, this is the Human Sir Slyde. He is a Knight." He says, slightly reprovingly. "You did not tell me that humans had knights, prophetess."

Slyde [...]gave a slight bow and held her hand. Once again he gave a quick kiss on the back of her hand, all the while keeping his eyes on her. "I am Slyde, a Knight. A prophetess? If I am correct you can see things, like that are in the distant or near future, perhaps even in the past? Please correct me if I am wrong, its just that I have never met anyone with that talent." Slyde replied as he shifted his weight and stood back up. 'Just who are these people? A prophetess, a imp knight, another kid, a warrior with a easily enraged temper, and scantily clad woman. Not to mention the others I have no clue about that are around that cart of theirs.'

"Perhaps, we should get going, it will be noon if we stand here and do nothing at this rate." Slyde remarked as he walked towards the still strapped to the carrage horse. Drawing his sword again he cut the straps and then began to remove the reins and saddle. "There you go boy, go find the others." And with that the horse galloped into the woods. Grabbing the reins of the other horse still nearby, Slyde lead it over a bit and tied the reins to the axle of the carrage. Slyde bent over and put some of the meat into his saddle bags along with the water flasks. He took his gold and added it to his belt bag and tighted the draw string. He took the belt bag and tied the strings around his belt in a manner that they would stay on for the ride. Bending down one last time, Slyde picked up the two blankets he put aside and his polish. He placed the polish in the other saddle bag and managed to get one of the blankets in there too. Seeing that the other blanket wouldn't fit, Slyde took it to the cart and just placed in the back. "Viva, remind me to grab this later on when we get to the town or if we have to camp again."

Viva and Kobie glanced nervously at the assembled group. They had already decide that they would stick with the group for now, but they had to act the situation out, or else what fun is that?

Kobie took her hands out of the hiding place of the Tanto and wrapped both her arms around the doll. She whispered "We should go and join them now..." to Viva, before nudging him forward.

Viva glanced towards Kobie and grimaced. He knew that they had to join the group for safety, but was rather reluctant. In other words, he's shy.

The pair slowly walked towards the others, and you can actually see on his face that Viva is trying to collect some courage to do whatever he is going to do.

In a small voice, a bleary eyed Kobie asked, "you... you're not going to leave us here, are you?"

Taran rolled his eyes. Then he thought about it for a second and grinned. He said, in his most condecending voice, "Of course we're not going to leave you here. Here, hop in." Taran offers his hand to help them into the cart. As he helps Viva in he whispers in Viva's ear, "Nice change from your tough-guy act... I bet you got all the adults fooled." Then as he's helping Kobie in he gives her a wink, and a grin.

Viva wasn't too shocked when Taran said he knew, so he was ready with a retort.

He stuck his tongue out at Taran.

Of course, then he quickly got into the cart, sitting besides Kobie, and glared playfully at Taran.

We're too similar to each other... He thought cryptically.

"So," [Taran] says again to the adults, "Where are we headed?"

Bitey looks around for something to do. He happens to look in the cart and see the injured man. 'Ah, the injured man...' He hops inside the cart. {Lads, bring the medical... oh wait, that's no good. Stay put and watch carefully lads.} He looks the man over... 'I wonder what this character's story is... he is odd, like the rancid one on the roof' Bitey attempts to tend to Mort's wounds.

"Where are we going anyways?" Slyde asked as he hopped up onto the horse and brought it towards the Chocobo drawn cart.

Viva decides to speak up at this moment. "Does anyone have a map?" He asks in the shiny eyed innocence that could only be achieved by either someone who's so young as to not have seen any of the corruption around them, or an extreamly craftly kid who is young enough to be mischievous enough to play practical jokes every second. "Maybe then we can go away from this place!"

"Well amidst all the clutter of all the equipment from the carrage I can upon these maps," Slyde says as he reaches to his belt and pulled out the three maps all rolled tightly together, "However I do believe they just pertain to the route we were taking to with the Baron. But it might pertain some other information useful such a journey."

Kobie then begins to pull on Viva's sleeves, and whispers to him, "So... where ARE we going?"

After Slyde had backed off a bit, Blaize also decided to lighten up, if these people would be traveling with them it may be best to trust them. 'Fate must be sending us more allies. how many more until the prophesy will become fullfilled?' He hear[d] Slyde's conversation with Bitey, only to learn that Slyde has no memory of his past. 'Interesting, it appears as though this Slyde has the same affliction as myself, I wonder why Fate has allowed events to happen as they have, surly there must be reason?' he walks to the rear of the carriage to ponder this.

Bitey tends to the injured the best that he can. {Dire wounds, lads. He will not awaken.} "You're a stubborn one, aren't you? Probably in better shape than your companions..."

He turns his attention to the two children. 'They don't appear to be twins after all...' "*Ahem*, I am Sir Bitey, Knight and Emissary of the Imp Queen... as I believe you know. These over here," he says, pointing to the two imp children," are my nephews, Rudy and Rusty." {Lads!} The twins look up quickly and hide whatever they had just been playing with. "Now I did not catch your names previously..." he pauses expectantly.

Kobie politely says, "I'm sorry! My name is Koie[...], and my... brother's... name, is Viva."

{Play nice now, lads.} "Watch them, they are very... exuberant..." The twins look at the new children with intense and almost malicious eyes. Leaving the children to get acquainted, Bitey looks over the last minute adjustments and sees Blaize standing aside. "You did not care for the horse travel either, eh?" He grins and makes his way to the front of the cart.

[Kobie] then blinks a bit before saying, "Ano... what is exuberant?"

Viva's head seemed to pop out of the most unexpected places. This time, it was behind a bunch of baggage. "OOoo! Let me see!"

Peeking at the map, his eyes run across the coast-lines, and he spots a city. "Oh! I want to see the Sea! Let's go to that... Port E...u...ron? Evuron? Ummm... whatever that is." He says, pointing at the mark that symbolized Port Evron.

"How 'bout it?"

Seeing Slyde's maps, Bitey speaks up. "There is a town or center near here, I heard tell. We could perhaps find haven there. I think the name of it was Camea."

"Camea??" Taran asks, "Oh No... You don't want to go there. That's where we came from. No haven to be found there..." Taran looks over at Slyde. "Where else does the map mention? Maybe we should try for somewhere along the coast..."

As the words coast come out of [Taran's] mouth, Alouen visibly pales. "T..T...Ta..Tara...Taran....I...I..don't....th...think...that. ..the...the co....co...coa...coast.....is...a...good...id...idea. N..no..no....not...at...all." Blushing Alouen turns away and stares into the distance, fanning herself with her hand[,] [...] swallowing audibly.

Taran gets up and stretches a bit. It looked like the adults would be discussing where to go for a while yet. He wandered on over to Bitey's nephews. He leaned over to Kobie "Watch out, they bite!" he said quietly, with a wink. "Oh and they're very stubborn... Keep attacking you all day, they will."

Serena: "HOLD ON everyone!!! Let's get some organization here."

Serena held her hands up as if to gather everyone's attention.

"First and foremost. Alouen, you and Mille are more than welcome to sit up front but I would suggest that you try and get some more rest so as not to weaken yourself. Blaize, anything on that scroll of yours as to where we're supposed to go? Slyde, what's your map say as far as a route?"

She stopped and pondered for a moment.

"There are a few ground rules here. Camea is off limits. We just left there because of the recent outbreak of crime. Alouen apparantly does not want to go to the port town so I for one will not question why but only honor her wish. That leaves the mountain town of Burath. Now before we go galavanting around the country side, we need to prepare ourselves. There's a town just up the road a ways. I suggest we get started and spend a day or two there. We can get proper rooms and supplies there. I don't know about the rest of you but I surely can't survive on gun powder. No matter what we're going to need food, bandages, water and other basic necessities to survive."

Taking a piece of the dried meat in the cart, she makes her way to Alouen. Placing the meat in her hand, she smiles a bit.

"Here you go dear. It's not much but I know you're hungry. If you're thirsty, I have a skin of water from the stream."

Turning towards the rest of the group, she continues.

"That being said, let's move out."

[Alouen] absently accept the food, and mumble acceptance to the flask of water. "Yes...yes water...in..a flask...will be...fine. Thank you." Accepting both, [she] eat[s] and drink[s], and then hand[s] the flask to Mille, who in turn takes some, and passes it back to Serena. "Yes, going to a town to prepare would be good." [Alouen] slowly regain[ed] [her] composure, but the quiver still remain[ed], barely pushed under tight restrain. "Hmm, is going to a town wise with people chasing us? This cart is laden with enough things to take us far, and what we don't have here, I'm sure nature can provide." Nodding a little bit, [she] continue[d], "I think we should travel as far as we can as fast as we can....wait, we have injured? Maybe...instead..maybe we should pass near the town, and just sent one person to pick up supplies. One person is less likely to draw attention than a whole cart full of injured and other assorted...people. Mille is the most inconspicous of us, so i'm sure she would be able to go into town and bring back things while we skirt the town." Shaking [her]self lightly "But, that's just my idea. I am neither General nor leader...I am a simple blind woman." Trailing off, [she] let[s] [her] words float in the air.

Slyde eyes Serena and lets a smirk cross his face, 'She's certainly likes to be the attention of the group, even likes bossing people around.' Rolling out the maps Slyde flips through them to find which one holds the route to the mountain town of Burath. "Before I start marking out a route and everything, is it agreed that we are going to the mountain. Oh, and the idea about gathering supplies at the next town is a great idea. Surely we can unload some of the things in that cart of yours that are of no use to us, and make a good sum of money to cover the expenses that we'll need for the journey." Slyde looks over the scrolls to see if there is any other information written on the maps.

Taran, gazes critically at the wagon's internal food supply. It was a lot of food, but then the party had grown exponentally since yesterday. Back when it had been just him, Killjoy, and the beautiful Serena. He turned toward her. "Since you brought it up, how long do you think that food," as he gestures towards the food in the wagon, "would last us?"

Blaize, lost in thought, is startled by Serena's question & is slow to grasp the concept of it. After a few moments he mumbles, "no, it's kinda vague on details, somebody said the mountains, that should be alright." A few minutes after that, he completely understands what she wanted and answers coherently, "Let's just get to the next town and then figure out our final destination." "You may have a point about not having all of us go, but I don't like the idea of just Millie going into a strange town all alone. It would be better if perhaps a group of, ummm, 3, maybe 4, would go. That way, if something does happen, we'd have a better chance of surviving." Blaize walks around to the front of the cart. "I'll volunteer to go, it makes no difference to me who the others are, but I think we should get going soon."

Taran, looked at [B]laize with pleading eyes, "Ohhh, can I go? can I go? Hmmmm? Pleeease?"

Viva sulked for a moment. The problem with being young is that people tend to listen to someone who has more experience (read: age) than you. "And I wanted to see the ocean..." he muttered under his breath before going back to where Kobie is and whispered, "Too bad we're not older.."

Blushing, Kobie looked around to see if anyone heard him, then whispered back, "I wish that too... oh," she continued "use my nickname."

Viva nodded and sat down in his seat, sulking.

Bitey sits patiently at the front of the cart, having already staked his number two position. He barely hears the bickering over places to travel while he sits, comtemplating . 'Don't want to go back to Camea... what to believe.' He puts his chin on his hand and waits.

Inside the cart, the imp children watch Taran as he talks. However, several seconds pass without him taking any interesting action and they turn back to the "brothers". One removes his cap, revealing a small, unruly mop of hair and what appears to be a wedge of cheese. He holds the cheese out in front of him and weaves around the new children, speeding up until he is running full tilt in looping circles between them. He overbalances and falls on his face with a small splat. In the moment of distraction, the other managed to partially climb the side of the cart and he flings himself on Ko[b]ie, missing by a fair margin and nearly landing on his brother. The first brother stands dizzily and extends his cheese-covered hand to Koie, saying, "Gah!"

Kobie cringed away from the fallen Imp children in an effort to cover her blushing face. She did not want to admit it, but they scared her in their own playing. She looked up at Viva, and saw that he was reacting with an amusement that he was not supposed to have for a person of his age. She quickly jabbed him in the ribs to remind him of his 'act'.

Viva snapped out of his amusement when he felt Kobie's sharp jab in his ribs. Unfortunatly, it was the place where the previous Ninja hit him. He doubled over in pain as the pain receptors worked double time to tell him what he already knew: He was hurt bad. "Arg..." he groaned in pain.

Kobie immediately 'felt' the pain he was in, seeing that he groaned in pain did help. She quickly picked him up to cover the fact that he was hurt, and gentlely asked in his ears, "Are you Ok? Anything I can do to help?"

Viva grunted a bit and sat back against the seat. Pulling Kobie besides him, he shakes his head and whispers, "I'm going to sleep a while... wake me if anything interesting happens." And with that, he closes his eyes to rest.

Ignoring the commotion, Bitey leaned towards Turbo and said quietly, "WArk! WarK!" The chocobo opens his eyes and regards the imp coldly. Bitey flushes slightly, "Well, what did I say? Is it the accent?"

Turbo glared at Bitey for a moment, cocked his head to one side, then the other. Then [a]pparently deciding that this wasn't an evil forest creature, he let out a "WARK!" and butted Bitey with his head, seeing if Bitey had a carrot for him.

Bitey smiled wanly. "Yes, well, I know what that means..." He looks around suspiciously to see if anyone is watching. Having escaped the group's attentions for the moment, he quickly pulls a carrot out from under his cap and gives it to Turbo. "Now that's the only one I had, so don't go asking for seconds." He pets the bird while the carrot is eaten. "All right, I gave you what you wanted, now I want something in return. This Taran is your boy, is he not? He needs someone brave to watch out for him. I will do what I can to protect the boy, but I need someone I can count on to keep an eye on him at all times, especially when that Serena woman is with him. I do not think she cares for him the way I do. Or the way you do... but who can I trust to keep Taran safe?" Bitey frowns for a split second and then smiles brightly at Turbo. "Why, I can trust you, can't I fellow? That is what you can do for me... But you would do that for your boy, anyway, wouldn't you? All right, let me know if you see her doing anything suspicious and watch her when she's with him. Together we will take very good care of that lad."

Hearing the idea of only sending a small group to the town. "Ahh, that would be a better idea. But what about the excess supplies in here that are of no use to us, such as the gunpowder? That will be hard to carry. Well, either way, I plan to go to the town. Who else wishes to accompany me. I have no quarrel against Blaize or Taran coming." Slyde waits patiently as the commotion continues, "But, I still think we should at least come to an agreement on where we going so I can see the best routes on these maps as well as make sure to get supplies that will be necessary on the travel there."

Serena: "You're right. We should get going. If you believe Mille is able to retrieve the supplies as we pass by, I won't question it but I'd feel better if someone else went with her as well. It's just that I'd like to have someone with her to ensure she is kept out of harm's way."

Looking at Taran, she continues.

"While we do have a fair amount of supplies, it won't last us long with all these people. We still need flasks for water, bandages and other such supplies. Slyde has a point, we could make a few coins selling some of this stuff that we don't need. I for one wouldn't mind getting rid of a little of this gunpowder."

"At any rate, get Turbo moving. We can continue our discussion on the road. The longer we wait here, the more we put ourselves in danger....."

As the group seems to be getting ready to move on, Bitey flags down Sir Slyde on his horse. He again clambers up via tail and stands unsteadily on the rump. "Perhaps we can talk away from the cart a moment, Sir Slyde." He attempts to find a way of sitting that doesn't put him at immediate risk of falling off of the horse, becoming rather pale during any movement. "We haven't much time and I have much I would say... Sir Slyde, it is not by accident or coincidence that we have come to be here. That you do not know your past is a sign to me that it is so. I have a few ideas about that, things in the books of legends from home, but I have no time to go into it... but I know where the answer lies. It is in the Prophetess' book. I have seen her vision, but I could not understand it and she cannot explain it yet. I promised her I would help her find the solution before the visions drive her to madness. I believe that Destiny has woven us together and these things we seek are likewise intertwined... but perhaps when there is more time... let us return. As a noble knight, though human, I will trust you with another thing. This... mercenary woman, the one called Serena... does not behave as a mercenary. Indeed, she does not behave as a sane being at times. We will speak of this again, but if you value your life and your duty, trust your instincts about her. And keep a sharp eye..."

"Yes, I too have my own suspicion of her. But, I fear for the young lad that seems taggled in her web. I wish that there was someway I could assist him. But I shall leave that to you. I have to watch out for ...." Slyde trailed off remembering that they were just children nothing more, "those two that we found in the woods." Bringing the horse back to the cart. Slyde made sure to help the Imp down. As he rode near the cart he eyed Serena but made sure not to be caught doing so. Slyde just hoped that he could find a way to make sure that the children did not get hurt by anyone

Kobie gently petted the sleeping Viva while the rest of the adults bicker about something that they should worry about if they don't keep going.

She decides to add her own two bits into this discussion. "Ummm... can we leave yet? I don't want to stay here..."

Taran hopped back in the seat, "Git-UP!!" he says snapping the reins. "You never answered my question. Which way are we going?

Serena: "Head towards the town down the road. We'll pick up the supplies we need on our way through."

[T]here is no town down the road. The nearest town is Camea, and that is off in the distance and can't be seen because of the trees.

Serena: "The nearest city is the port. We have about 3 weeks of rations if we're careful."

She glares at Los on top of the cart.

"Unless anyone else has any reason otherwise, head for the mountains." [Ed. Note: Wasn't that a catch phrase...?]

Taran looks over Serena's shoulder. "But what about that city??" He asks, pointing to a city. "That one looks like it would be closer, plus it would be downhill most of the way... That would be easier on Turbo and that horse. Maybe we should try for it? Why would we want to go further up this mountain, when we could go a shorter distance downhill?"

Serena: "Good point. Thinking about this more, we may not have much of a choice. We only have enough food to last for 3 weeks. That's the only location we have. Your choice partner."

"My choice??" Taran said enthusiasticly "You mean it??" Taran looks at the map thoroughly. "Well, Ummmm... What *is* that city anyway?? It does look like the best choice though." Taran felt proud. Usually he doubted he would have been listened to, much, simply because of his age.

Serena: "Well... From what I've heard. That city is called Bertosh. It's the city of inventions. Rumor has it that they've got all sorts of contraptions running around. They've even got some kind of ship that flies in the air. Last I heard it was tough to get in. I don't think that would be a problem though."

She nudges Taran and winks at him with her patented grin.

"Oh Yes, How could they possibly turn away some poor travelers?" he says in an all-too-innocent voice. He manages to hold the innocent look for all of 5 seconds before letting loose with a supressed chuckle. "Seriously, it sounds good." Then he leaned closer to Serena, "I think the Imp suspects us... Why would we run from loads of crime if we're crimefighters?" he whispered in her ear. "So does Bertosh sound good?" he said, straigtening up to a more normal posture.

Keeping him somewhat close, [Serena] whispers in his ear.

"Don't sweat it, I got it covered."

Letting him go, she continues to everyone else.

"Well, seeing as how our lead is no longer around. We have to report back. Without our cover, we won't do much good in Camea. At least we got some info on the mah...."

She stared at Blaize like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming semi truck. Quickly she changed her tone and blushed. Chuckling to herself, she continued.

"Ha ha ... Ha.. ha... Nevermind.. SO!!! we should get going now shouldn't we?"

Pushing Taran urgently, she leaned over and whispered in his ear yet still out enough for the others to hear.

"Hurry UP!!!! I don't want to blow our cover!! Get that bird moving!!"

Leaning a tad close, she whispers barely loud enough for Taran to hear.

"Check"

Taran smiled as he hurried for the front seat. [H]e snapped the reins again, and said "Lets go!!" He waited a moment for Serena to sit in the seat beside him. "You know every but Bitey now will think your crazy?" He said, quietly enough for her to hear, but hopefully noone else.

She chuckled. Her little ruse was beginning to fool her partner as well. Taking a few moments to ensure prying ears would not hear her, she spoke to Taran again.

"The others don't know how or why we ended up with Killjoy. Just remember that angle and we'll be fine. Sir Bitey is the key to this entire operation."

Taran: "True but you've confided our 'Story' to noone either... So in the absence of a story either way they'll just think you're crazy."

Again checking to make sure only Taran hears her, she continues.

"Think about it. They're wondering what on earth I'm talking about. If both of us act kinda weird, then give them a story and make it seem real, they'll buy it much more readily than if we just tell them."

"If you say so... On a lighter note that was a swell way to take control, back there. Just plow through with a minimum of discussion, and keep most of it to me. You established who was in charge, and exactly whom you would listen to... You think anyone'll be upset?"

"Why thank you. If they are, they should have spoken up."

She smiled.

"Besides, someone had to or we'd still all be standing around talking and that psyco Gundaga would have our heads."

She stopped suddenly. Staring off into the distance, Serena was suddenly very quiet.

"Gundaga... What to do about him?"

"Something direct and permanent, preferably. I wonder where he lives..."

Serena slumped a bit.

"Duh.... Although you can't just walk up to a wizard and stab him to death. Something tells me he's going to be a lot more than we bargained for...."

"How about poison?? Does magic protect you from arsenic or belladonna? I used to know someone..."

[Serena] whacks Taran in the side.

"Something LESS evil if you wouldn't mind."

"You asked... What do you want? To ask him nicely not to shoot us with evil magic from long ago??"

Serena sighed...

"I know... I guess it wouldn't be so bad if we knew what the hell he wants with us. Right now the scroll is the only lead we have and even THAT isn't proving very useful."

"It had some power... It collapsed that cave..." Taran thought about it for a moment. "I wonder what made it do that?"

"No idea. Let's just hope it helps us out when we need it."

"Alright, but I'm going to keep thinking about it..." Taran settles in the seat and thinks about the events leading to the destruction of the cave.

Alouen listened as Taran urged the chocobo on, and was slightly distressed. "Where are we going? The mountain town? Certainly not the sea side town I hope. Will we please stop all this talking, and someone tell me where we are headed?" Of course, [her] sensitive ears had picked up more then they thought, but no point giving away one of [her] cards. So, they have a story they intend to keep quiet. Good for them. [Alouen] hate[d] that. Looking around, "Well?"

Taran starts at the sound. What? How long had Alouen been right behind him? "Ummmm... We're not headed for the sea, We're headed for the Inventors town. Sorry, were we talking to much for you?" In a much quieter voice he asks "All right, how much did you hear?"

Putting [her] hand up, [Alouen] find[s] Taran's head, and lean[s] very close. In a quiet voice, so low it's barely a whisper in his ear, "Everything my dear boy." Then, in a much louder voice, "I would prefer not going there. Please let Mille and I off at the road that would take us into the mountains. Mille, please look at the map, so you know what way we are going." [...] Mille [...] look[s] at the map, to find the best path to the mountain town.

Serena: "Well Alouen, unless anybody objects, we're heading for the valley city of Burath, the inventor city. It seems the most logical choice as we only have enough rations to make it there."

She leans over and looks Alouen in the face. In a quieter voice, she continues.

"Look, I don't know what you heard but believe me when I say this. We are not your enemies. We're on your side. I'm sorry for what happened in the woods. I've already explained why I was so mad at you. For now all I ask is that you trust us."

Alouen: "I have no need for your food Taran. Mille and I have looked after ourselves for a very long time. You would do well to remember that I am a witch, as it was so aptly put. You know what I did, and therefore should know that I can take care of myself and Mille. Besides, it isn't that far a trip to the town." Smiling gently, [she] put[s] [her] hand on his shoulder. "No need to be concerned for me Taran, I am well protected. Mille and Planet see to that." Turning slightly, [she] address[es] Mille, "How's that map coming along dear?"

Serena: "Suit yourself. But you're going back into your high and mighty attitude again. Slapping the hand of someone who's offering you supplies and companionship isn't exactly proper ettiquette. Besides, the next town IS Berath. If you want to leave, we'll stop the cart and help you out. Your choice."

"High and mighty? Indeed...I am being offered a ride, and I am choosing to decline. You did say I was free to go. I am excersising that freedom now. Besides, with me and Mille out of the way, your supplies will last longer, and you won't have to worry about looking after a blind woman. You do not control everything Serena, so just stop trying. Please do me that favour, and I believe I can get down from the cart without anyone's help, thank you for offering." With that, [Alouen] promptly swing[s] [her] legs over the side, and hop[s] down. "Besides, my own legs are more reliable than that cart. Mille, I believe it's time to go. We have over extended our welcome." Mille finsishes glancing over the map, and quickly hops out. Glaring at Serena, Mille takes [her] arm, and starts down the road. [Alouen] [...] brought out [her] walking stick, and [is] again carefully prodding the road in front of [her].

Taran: "You can decline if you want... It's quite a long trip though..." He pulls Turbo's reins to slow him down to a stop. Once [s]he gets off, he says "Are you sure you won't reconcider? Why do you want to go up in the mountains anyway??"

"Taran...I do not think I'll reconsider. Think lad. I have 3 choices by the sounds of it. One is a port city, which I could go into some detail explaining why I won't go there, but I won't. Second is a city of 'inventions', and I happen to know that where there is technology, there is a lack of nature. As you can see, I plainly do better in the wild. The third choice, is the mountain city. I have never been to any real mountains before, and I'd like to go. Besides, if [I]'m way up there, I won't be anywhere near large bodies of water, now will I?" Smiling still, "Unless Gundaga hunts me down, and throws an ocean at me, which I doubt. Besides, I seem to cause the group grief. Perhpas it is better I leave. May the weather be in your favour Taran."

Taran looked at her, then sighed, and jumped down. "As you wish." He moves over and shakes her hand good-bye."After doing so he pulls out a money bag with a few GP in it. "May your pockets always have enough gold for you to get food." Then [h]e winked, intellectually knowing she couldn't see it, and pressed the purse in her hand. "Take it,"he said kindly, "And I hope it serves you well in the mountains and mines."

Bitey arrives on the scene to find the party at odds... he shakes his head and laughs. "This would explain how you humans were very nearly eaten by wolves... without a civilizing influence you fall to bickering." A child's head appears and chatters at him. {Lad, I can see that they're fighting. Go play with your brother... Nicely!} 'Did she say something about inventions?' he thinks, paling again. Seeing the humans clearly not reconciled, he takes on a hard expression. "We go where Destiny wills. Destiny is alive, living and breathing, fleeting and fickle, but bound to us as we are to it." His expression has softened to one of awe. "Our Destiny is One. All are part. To follow it is to sacrifice self-righteousness. To deny is to give in to what we most fear." He wears a stoic expression now, with an edge to his voice. "We go this way..." pointing to the direction the cart is taking, "Destiny will guide..."

"Will you trust me, Prophetess?" he says, approaching Alouen. "It is said, 'A Slain Demon torments no one's sleep'. Will we face our fears or run away?"

Alouen: "Sir Bitey, [y]ou speak wisdom, but you do not see one thing. What binds us together has the power to tear us apart, but in the end, all the roots of the tree meet again."

Slyde quickly brings his horse close to Alouen and Mille. "I deeply regret our parting already. I have known for such a short span of time. All that I hope for is that you have safe journey and that I see you again, someday. I would love to accompany you, but I have those two children to take care of as well as my injured companion. Unless they wish to join her on this journey?" Slyde gets his hold on the reins and slips closer to ear range and whispers. "I also do not want to go cause I fear that others will be pulled into her web of lies. Perhaps, I'll see you in the mountain town someday, for their are questions that I wish to ask you."

Serena: "Alouen, you're not a burden on anyone. If anything you're more of a help than a hinder. Besides, it would be nice to have another woman to talk to, even if we don't see eye to eye."

She hops down off the cart and walks towards Slyde, Bitey, Allouen and Mille. Standing in Alouen's way, she can't help but notice the evil eye Mille keeps giving her.

"Besides, I still haven't fully repayed you and Mille for helping me back in town. I offered you a place with us out of kindness. No strings attached. Yes you're free but I'm asking you right now to at least stay with us until we're at a town or small village or SOMETHING, not out in the middle of nowhere. You can't go back to Camea, not after what happened. It's not that I don't think you can take care of yourself it's just that I don't trust Gundaga."

Gently, Serena reaches out and places a hand on Alouen's cheek as if cherishing her face. A tear begins to roll down her face.

"You remind me of someone I once knew. Someone kind and good like you, but a terrible tragedy happened to her and she died. I don't want to see another innocent woman die again. Please recondsider"

She takes her hand away. Looking at Bitey, she looks him in the eyes.

"Sir Bitey, I implore you. Should Alouen and Mille depart, please go with them and look after them. I know your presence will not bother them like Taran and I do. I'll gather your portions of rations from the cart for your trip as well."

Listening Serena, not so much as watching her, [Alouen] feel[s] most disturbed by the happenings. "Serena, you know Sir Bitey cannot go with me. He has two children with him, and placing the burden of a blind woman on him is not right, and I won't allow it to be." Holding up [her] hand to stop Sir Bitey from any retort, [she] continue[s], "It seems my departure is blessed by all save you Serena. Well, not in the same way anyway." Smiling, "I have my reasons for not staying. First and foremost being my desire to see, well, feel the mountains. I haven't truly done that yet. Now, that is a selfish reason to not stay, I am aware, but, considering the other choices, this is my only path. "Turning to Mille, "Mille dear, where is the nearest road to Burath[...]"

[Serema] quickly turns away and with haste makes her way back to the cart. There's no saunter in her walk, only seriousness. At the cart, she can feel the looks Taran and Blaize gave her. The single tear on her cheek was now joined by several others.

"DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT!!" She blurted out as she hastily packed some rations for the three.

Serena's rather loud exclamation woke Viva and startled Kobie out of her reeve.

"Wha? Huh?" Viva smartly puts his situation.

Kobie, being awake but uncaring throughout the situation, quickly explain what is happening.

"Oh." Viva calmly expresses. "I want to see the Ocean."

Mille leans over and whispers momentarily into [Alouen's] ear. [Her] eybrows raise slightly. "Ah, well, according to Mille, it seems there are only two roads to Burath, one involving me going into Camea, which I'm sure we all know why I cannot. The other would appear to be down the very path you are intending to travel. This may seem a foolish question now, but, may I accompany you until our paths diverge? I'm sure staying together as long as possible is safe, and would give us time to solidify our decisions. But, it is entirely up to everyone." A light tinge of red stains [her] cheeks, for [she] surely feel slightly abashed at declining a ride to the inventor city, while [she] could of gone part way with everyone, and then departed at the road to Burath.

Taran grins, "I don't know... Should we let her come with us?? Hmmmm... I'll have to think about that..." He pauses a second looking thoughtful. "Sure, I saved your seat. Let's go!!!". With that Taran jumped back in the driver seat and waited for everyone to re-embark.

Serena immediatly ceases what she's doing. Without saying a word or making eye contact with anyone, she climbs back in the cart. Gently, she wraps her arms around a sack and holds it close. Those close to her could swear they heard her say a name.

"Zan......"

Taran turns around. Woahhh... This wa[s] worse than he thought... He climbed in the back and moved close to her. "Are you all right?" he asked quietly. "What's wrong?" Hmmmm... Zan, Zan, Zan, Where had he heard that name before? Hmmm... He guessed he hadn't... Taran reminded himself to ask her about it sometime when she was feeling better...

"Well, I suppose that's that then. Mille onboard again please. It seems we are welcome for longer." Mille climbs in behind the front seat, and I take my position up front again, next to Taran. "Well, if that's all clear then, does anyone have any objections if we get moving? We have a fair journey ahead of us all."

Without looking, Taran reached over his head and waved for Millie and Alouen to come over. "You know what's wrong with her?? She just got in and started hugging this sack of grain... Now she's all tranced out or something." As he says this he waved his hands slowly in front of her face.

'Stupid humans...' Bitey thought. 'Now where have I heard that before?' He watches the group return to the cart once more and sighs. 'I shall surely die of exasperation.' He returns to the cart and makes a beeline for Alouen. "Pro-- Alouen, I am fully aware of the eddies and ripples of fate. I believe that there is something that you do not see..." He grimaces, "Perhaps I am just unused to having my authority challenged. It is unimportant." He looks around the full cart. Rusty and Rudy look up and grin slyly. {Behave yourselves, lads. I mean it.} He peers around the outside of the cart and finds a suitable place to climb. Swinging around to the outside, ignoring the rest of the action, he climbs to the top and sits near Los.

Blaize had witnessed Alouen's and Millie's near leaving in a sense of calm panic [...]. Just as they got back on the cart, he remembered something that Killjoy once told him, 'The wise who does not see will see all that can be seen by the enemy and their plot.' "The prophesy." he says under his breath. He walks up near to where Alouen is sitting, and says to her, "Alouen, can I talk to you for a few moments." (I assume she'll agree) He takes her by the hand and helps her off the cart. "If you don't mind I'd like to talk in private," he tells her as they walk slightly away from everyone else, "Listen, I know that you don't necessarily get along very well with everyone here, myself probably included. [B]ut I don't think that it would be very wise for you and Millie to go off by yourself. I'm not asking you to stay here for my sake, or that you have to be friends with everyone, but I will ask that you stay for your own sake, and for Millie's. You may have been able to take care of yourself before, but everything's different now. I may have said this before, but it was Fate that kidnapped you, not Killjoy. You are supposed to be with us. [T]he planet that you obviously care about so very much depends on it. I won't force you to stay, but please consider what I've said, before you make your decision." Blaize now leads Alouen back to where she was and back into the cart.

What he said made *some* sense. It's not that [Alouen] found anyone of them frustrating, but, [she] really did have a whole lot of reasons for not wanting to stay. [She] thought, 'Let's see, on the downside to staying, we have the fact that everyone here seems to have something out to kill them. In one form or another. Not something I'd want to stay around. Second, I have no desire to go to a city of 'inventors', [she] think[s] sarcastically, 'and why are we going to the inventors city anyway? Because it's an easier ride?'. Out loud, a light murmer, "My mother used to say that the things worth doing were never easy." Thinking again, 'Of course, on that ntoe, staying with this group is going to be very hard.' That decided it right there. [she] would follow [her] mother's advice, and stay with them. Not for their sakes, but for [her] mother's. Smiling brightly, [she] turn[s] slightly, so [her] voice can better travel into the back. "People, I decided to stay. I'm am taking my mothers advice, and I will stay with all of you, through the end. It won't be easy, but that's what makes it worthwhile. And you all do realize that now that I've said this, you are absolutely aren't getting rid of me?"

With just about everyone on the cart, the Chocobo that is tied to the cart is led by Taran with reigns in hand. With a crack of the reigns the choco[bo] starts to walk slowly, pulling the wagon behind.

Grinning, [Alouen] turn[s] around, and feel[s] the rumble of the cart moving beneath [her].

Taran grinned, "We're absolutely not going to get rid of you?? I may just hold you to that..." He says with a huge grin on his face... He pauses for a moment then the grin falls. "Alouen, about you mother," he pauses looking for the right words, "What was she like?" he asks.

An audible intake of breath can be heard from Mille behind [Taran]. Alouen's smile falls, and she gets a distant look in her eyes. "Taran, my mother's dead. She died when I was very young." Tears start welling in Alouens eyes, "She was a...a good mother. She was always there for me." Turning slowly, and fixing [her] cold blue eyes on where Taran sits. "She, they, my parents...were killed by bandits."

Sounds of weeping can be heard from behind[...], where Mille is huddled up crying to herself. Alouen's lip quivers with the effort of not following suit. "Both our families were killed by bandits. Our entire town was ransacked...and..." Alouen[']s eyes dart up, and she turns again, facing the front. A lone tear stains her cheek. "And I killed everything."

"Ohhhh... I'm sorry." Taran said quietly, "I didn't mean to bring up hard memories..." He scoots closer to her, and putting the reins in one hand puts the other arm around her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything, I just never met my mom, she died when I was born..." He drifts off into silence, not knowing what to say, but wanting to comfort Alouen.

Los remained on the top of the cart, and turned once more onto his back. He smiled somewhat happy to not be a part of what was going on below. 'It looks like this place is better hidden than it seems' Los thought to himself as nobody new had spotted him yet. Once more he drifted a bit between sleep and reality. Flashbacky-style-dreamsequence

Sol walked as if in slow motion into the town. people flashed past as if a blur he couldnt even stop them... he couldn't even ask them. he remained in slow motion as the town began to change as if a year were a moment. [T]hings were destroyed, things were rebuilt the entire town changed. The world beyond remained the same. Sol felt ill from the mind-numbingly fast blur and turned walking out of the town to a mountain... part of the world that stayed the same. Alone there the voices came.

"Sol, why do you sit alone?" asked a childlike voice.

"Sol why dont you stand up and be counted like a man!" asked the captain.

"Sol why dont you crush them under your feet if you hate them so much." asked the robed one.

"Sol... how I hate you." Stated a voice much like his own.

The monster apeared before him. "Was it perhaps fate? that your creator summoned me... and I was drawn into you... that I may walk the planet to find its destruction." the monster spoke in Sol's voice.

"What will you do with the destruction once you find it?" Sol asked, his voice that of the monsters. "To make it my own..." The monster seemed to fizzle away before the form of the woman. She was beautiful to him despite the fact that his eyes were covered with the dust of ages... her hair flowed as if she was sinking in water. Snow fell in the silence.

End-dream-flashy-back-thing

Los stirred not breathing or moving. The people below were still talking on where abouts to go. All he wanted was some clean clothes and a bath.

Bitey: "This is not altogether unpleasant." He looks over Los. "Are you some sort of mudman?"

Los isn[']t sure if thats meant to be a joke or not but he does know that he looks pretty horrid. He turns slightly to take note of the person who decided to join him in the only peacful place near the carriage. Without thinking about it Los replied. "No, just one longing for a bath..."

Viva, seeing that the whole thing was inconclusive, decides to sleep again.

"Ko. Wake me when something interesting happens." he whispers before drifting back to sleep.

Kobie nods to him before shifting closer to him, and keeping an eye on the situation.

Showing no concern for anyone around them, the twins continued playing. One imp child got down on all fours and put his cap on his posterior while the other chased him, wildly swinging the stick at his brother's hat, growling like an animal the whole time. The stick wielding child loses interest and goes over to Mort, keen on putting the stick up his nose. The other suddenly looks alarmed and begins wandering the cart, peering up at each person until he finds Kobie.

{Hey!} he says. He tugs on Kobie's pant leg. {Hey!} He whimpers... {Goooooo...} He crosses his legs and shivers uncomfortably. {Now now now now...} He sits down and starts scooting around on his rear end, pushing with his feet while he whimpers.

Los sat up letting his own childlike curiosity take over "You look like you hold some sort of rank now that I think about it." Los's voice was changing as he subconsciously changed languages to suit his audience.

Los looks at Bitey and starts to talk. He knows lots of languages, but the look on Bitey says Los was far from speaking Imp.

"Che'vel ni toigal nh'e te de gra!'

Los realizes that towards the end there the Imp couldn[']t understand him, he looks curious for a moment before visibly focusing to return to the common language.

"Though I am fully aware that appearances can be deceiving," Los decided to press for a little information. "Why do I get the impression from the communal debate down there that this is not your cart."

Bitey looks down at his bare armor and thinks of his livery in a heap in the cart below. 'Seems we shall both need to stop to clean...' He shrugs, "Where there is no order, there is no rank." He listens intently to Los' attempts at imp, and smiles as he finishes. [...] "You might have that impression because the cart is not mine. The owners apparently abandoned it or met their ends in those beasts that attacked your party. As I recall, your mercenary procured it. With the chance that more beasts were coming and no sign of the owners, borrowing the cart seemed sensible. Now it would seem that Destiny had a hand in it."

"This cart?... I don[']t recall finding it. [A]s for the others if they mean anything to me then I must have forgotton it." Los checks his wound to keep it clean and make sure it heals properly. "If they were mercenaries then they would have most likely had a healer in contact who could help me." Somewhere in his gut the language that he had been speaking stirred a memory... and an urge to go north.

"Perhaps we could start at the beginning," says Bitey to Los, thinking that Los does rather well for a man who speaks a half human, half gibberish language. 'Not much education'. "I know that your name is Los, your companions told me that name, yes? How do you not know your own companions?"

Los thought for a moment. "I[']m hesitant to call them companions..." Los thinks back to what has gone past so far. "I was lost in that horrid human city, they found me." Los continued to peer into the murky past with some obvious effort. "They needed my strength and I needed their food." Los felt his wound again, the strain of half sitting up was pulling at it uncomfortably. "Since then I feel like [I][']ve rushed from place to place. My thoughts on survival." Los sat up fully crossing his legs. Los looked north, something was telling him... either his heart or the horizon that he was meant to be traveling in that direction. "Tell me of yourself..."

[...] "I have... oh, that's fair enough. My story is quite simple. In my childhood I learned from my father, but Destiny called me to be a soldier and I trained under the command of my mother until I was ready. I have fought sw-- well, I will not say the name, but they are the ancient enemies of my kind-- for the past year and was knighted in service. A Divine Messenger compelled me to seek my Destiny here, and here I am." He speaks quickly and matter-of-factly, as if he were speaking about simple, ordinary things. "You are a mystery, friend Los. You speak of humans as if you were not one of them and travel with humans you do not know. You act as if you know me... You are afflicted by something or someone... You are driven by Destiny..." Bitey sits quiet for a moment. "Are you an ensorceled imp?"

Kobie felt a tugging on her pants and looked down. A little kid (a bit younger than her?) was pulling and saying something in a language she didn't understand.

Setting her new-found doll aside, she absently mussles his hair gentlely while looking for the matching kid. Found ya.

Smiling at the small Imp on her leg, she points to him and says, "What's your name?" Then pointing back at herself, she says, "Koie. Ko~E"

The mystified child turns and looks where Kobie is pointing. He turns back to her and whimpers. {"Coy!"} he says. Then he yells, {"Coy" pee pee!} He jumps up and crosses his legs again, dancing around and giving every indication of being very miserable. He runs to the exit of the cart and yells {"Coy Coy Coy Coy!"} The other is lining up the stick with on of Mort's nostrils. He looks around, then carefully backs up, taking extra care to keep the stick perfectly aligned.

As the cart starts off on its journey the imp is jolted backwards from the abrupt change in speed. Stumbling back, and releasing the stick, he just turns in time so as to see it roll away outside.

The child watches his stick roll away. His malevolent expression remains unchanged. He quickly pulls what looks like a nut from under his hat and looks at the unconcious Mort appraisingly, clearly intent on finding a place to lodge it.

Slyde stirred the horse forward following the cart and the passengers onboard. 'I sure hope Mort is alright, he seems really out of it.' Looking around, Slyde sees nothing but open road, but is still cautious enough not to let his guard down. But he was already tired from the battle before hand. 'Maybe I should just take it easy, besides we aren't the only one anymore. Besides, if I 'feel' any danger, I'll immediately snap back to being aware.' Feeling more comforatable, Slyde reaches down into the saddle bag and pulls out a small piece of the dried meat and began to nibble on it. 'I just hope that this journey doesn't put any toil on any of us.' Just then Slyde heard Aluoen's voice. Something about her, staying. 'Perhaps she changed her mind. I guess I won't have to convince anyone to go with her. Interesting turn of events. Or maybe it was that 'Destiny' that Bitey keeps referring to. I'll never know.' Slyde continued beside the cart, in his own thoughts pondering what had just transpired in what seemed to be hours. Making sure to stay on course with the cart of course.

Despite her obvious discomfort, Serena soon fell asleep. She slept very peacefully, as if the scene of her gently draped over a sack were itself a dream. Her breathing was silent and calm.

Slyde snapped back out of his half aware, half asleep state as he remembered something. Reaching under the plate of his armor, he pulled out carefully, the bundled up letters relating to the mission that he and Mort was supposed to carry out. 'Well everyone is in the cart and talking they don't even notice me out here, so....' Slyde held the letters tightly, yet not tight enough to cause damage to the paper. He made sure not to drop anything as he carefully began to open the first one, hoping to find any hint of what he and Mort was supposed to carry out. Or what to do if the mission was a failure

Slyde finishes the last letter and places it inside his armor with the rest of them. 'Gundaga.... Where have I heard that before....' Pondering Slyde thinks he recalled it being said by one of the passengers in this cart of theirs. 'It seems that he has done more than kill an honorable man, he seems to have wreaked his havoc on these people as well. I will see to it that I at least inform Lady Moroth, she should know this. It pains me to do it, but it is necessary.' Feeling his horse get a little excited, Slyde quickly calms the beast and looks around. Still no one had even noticed he was here. But mind you he wasn't in the cart where most of the action happened. Slyde gave his horse a little kick and caught up with the front of the cart. 'Wonder what is at the Port of Evron..... Is it monumental? Is it important? Is that what General Mealan was bringing us along for? To get some treasure in a dank crypt? Or was it something that needed to be recovered so the kingdom would be safe?' The questions flew through his head like a flock of birds. Soaring up and down, side to side, along the winds currents. "And how does Gundaga fall into this......" Slyde says loudly not even noticing that he had asked the question aloud. Los looked a little distracted by Slyde moving up towards the front of the cart on his horse. He listened for a moment but didnt pick up much if anything of what the horserider had said. "Does it matter what any of us are now that we are in the same cart?" Los thought back to how quickly things had just skipped along. From the sewer to the house, from the house to the forest, from the forest to here. Now he had a chance to separate and his heart was telling him north... but he was still hurt and couldnt travel like this. "In the same basket." He mumbled. Los lay back down to stare at the sky. "I suppose [I][']m still in shock from things moving so quickly."

Bitey listens to Los while they both watch Slyde's antics below. "I take it back, you know. You do sound like a human after all," he says to Los. "All things considered, what you are is all you have. So it matters very much what you are." He ignores the rest of Los' mumblings, trying to make sense out of Slyde's words below. He muses "Are all humans so full of angst that they must hide on cart roofs and talk to their riding beasts?"

Sitting in the wagon being tossed from side to side, Alouen was unaware of what was going on around her. The trip had begun. The travellers were on their way to a city of inventions, and all the while, she wanted the mountain town. In her mind she had thought of how they would eat, and how they would survive, but she did not doubt herself, she knew better and they would survive no matter what.

From somewhere within she began to feel a pain inside of her. The pain was slowly growing, but she felt that it was not her pain but the pain of the earth. She wanted to scream out, but fearful that someone would want to know, she kept quiet gritting her teeth. The pain seemed to almost wash over her and her ears wanted to explode.

Something was happening, the earth was somehow in pain. But why? The earth seemed to cry out and Alouen felt as if she should do something, but what? [She] tr[ied] to focus on where the pain is coming from, north? east? south? west? Nothing, only the pain inside. [She] beg[a]n to sweat from gritting [her] teeth so tightly.

Suddenly just as quickly as it came it was gone. There was nothing to feel, all was quiet inside her and the earth was quiet.

Reaching out with [her] power [she] found nothing, no sign of anything. All [she] hear[d] [was] [her] companion Millie crying, apparently talking with Taran.[...]

Bitey sat at the front of the cart top, expressionless. He was meditating on balance in efforts to hide the alarm he felt. He pulls out his worn book of tactics and glances suspiciously at Los. When it's safe to look, he cracks the book open and begins reading.

Kobie looked uncomfortably at the young child. She wasn't sure that the imp got her name right, but it sounded like what she said, so she let it be.

By his dancing, Kobie took to heart that he probably had to pee, and she did NOT want him peeing inside the cart.

She moved in the cart until she could hear what the knight was saying and shyly said, "Uh... Mr. Bitey? I think your little kid needs to go off and do something indescribable." Then glancing at the other females in the group as to say why she can't say the words.

Catching part of the conversation about destiny, her eyebrows furrowed and a frown appeared across her face. I will not let that vision come to pass. She will DIE before it will happen! she thought fiercely. Destiny be [expletive deleted]!

Inside the cart, one child climbed out from behind the baggage while the other sat on Mort's face. They gave each other guilty looks. They immediately went and sat in the corner, facing away from the people inside.

Without looking away from his book, Bitey says in a bored tone, "That's strange... the things they do are usually very describable. Not to worry lad, they'll wear themselves out before too long." 'Perhaps I have neglected the lads.' He looks at the frowning Kobie and is surprised. "Very well, lad, I'll tend to them right away," he says hastily. He reverently puts his book away and swings down into the cart, finding the children in the corner.

{What is the meaning of this, lads?} The twins turn and chatter at him, getting louder as they try to talk over each other. They point at each other and seem to be repeating themselves. {I don't care which one of you was bad...} One child quickly pinches the other and the other pinches back. Before a fight can break out, Bitey hauls them both up by the backs of their shirts and holds them apart. {This is not the day to cross me, children... So help me, you are going to remember this punishment... As soon as I think of something...} He looks around helplessly for something to do with the two, his resolve already weakening.