With the loud thuds of boxes and the winying of wood and hinges, men load a wagon full. Six large crates the size of dressers filled the space of a wagon past the brim of its sides, a rope thrown across and pulled tightly rendering the crates in place. An area at the back of the wagon remained, just enough space to put rations and supplies. The group stood around and were forced to bear the brunt of glares from the people working around them. Clayton inspected the wagon, pulling on the ropes and checking the wheels. Diomede stood with the horses that were to be used. They were older in both color and gaze but still stood strong their muscles firm. Diomede led them over and began attaching the horses to the wagon, Clayton approached. "So do you think everything they told us was the truth?" Asked Diomede. Clayton looked around at the men and women who were filling and stacking crates. "Yes, I don't see a reason to lie but disclose the information that we will be transporting illegal contraband to another town." Replied Clayton. Diomede gave a confused look. "What do you mean illegal?" Clayton finished attaching the reigns to one of the horses. "The Slumbergus is used in many medicines for those who must go under surgery or need to be put to sleep for whatever reason. But to ship it anywhere else in Umar's territory is punishable by death or dismemberment." Clayton's heart dropped and a heavy wave washed over him as he said those words, for the first time he fully heard them. Dismemberment, death? He couldn't believe he used to causally accept such punishments for mere smuggling. Diomede snapped his fingers catching Clayton's attention. "What just happened Cub? You were talking and then your mind went blank." Said Diomede. Clayton's head felt light, "I don't know, after saying what the punishment was for the Slumbergus I felt a strange feeling overcome me." Clayton stated while caught himself on the side of the packed wagon. Diomede quickly grabbed hold of the young knight, "Damn kid, what happened to you?" asked Diomede. Before Clayton could respond he fell heavy and lost consciousness. Diomede felt the full weight of the young knight, holding him in his arms. Diomede called for Kira, and from around the corner, Kira rushed out. "What happened?" Kira asked. Diomede shook his head, "I haven't the slightest idea, we were talking and suddenly he fell." Kira placed her hands on Clayton's head and chest. She felt no illness, curse, or attack on Clayton, only exhaustion. "I don't understand nothing is wrong with him, just that he is exhausted like has overexerted himself." Confusion filled Diomede, he opened Clayton's eyes and saw nothing strange or foreign. Lily and Francisco approached the three they too were overcome with worry and confusion. "He will be alright." said one of the workers. The group turned and saw a bald medium-sized man with a scar across his forehead. "He must have inhaled some of the pollen from the mushrooms, it happens when someone isn't used to working around the little buggers." The man stated. Kira felt the man was genuine with his information and confirmed it with Diomede. Lily and Diomede picked up Clayton and laid him on a couch that was used by the workers for their daily breaks. Kire pulled a chair beside the couch. "I'll sit with him while the preparations finish." Francisco pulled another chair up and began to dig into his bag and he pulled out his lute. "I'll play a little something to help fill the air and change the mood a bit." Francisco stated as he began to play a soft yet energizing tune. Diomede Began looking over the wagon again, trying to see if any of the pollen had gotten out due to a hole, crack, or improper sealing of the crates. He couldn't see, not even a trail of pollen from loading the crates, the wagon looked especially clean. Diomede then inspected the horses and reigns, but still nothing. Diomede spun and looked around the loading area. It was decorated with crates, barrels, and unpacked wagons. Workers moved about their day normally, nothing stood out to Diomede. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly as if he was trying to feel the air around him. The air felt normal and plain, still, nothing felt out of the ordinary. Diomede opened his eyes, he accepted that there wasn't any foreign cause for Clayton to fall unconscious. But he still held an uneasy feeling in his stomach, could this be warranted, or was he worrying himself over the boy? Diomede shook the thought from his mind, he couldn't allow himself to grow attached to strangers after just a handful of days. Diomede felt the shadows around him swirl, he knew what moved in the dark around him. A voice clawed its way out of the shadow, "Oh please don't tell me you have already begun to care for this little group?" Omikuna's voice said echoing through Diomede's mind. The fowl feeling of the dark crept its way up Diomede's back, casting what felt like a mountain's shadow over him. "You know when they are bleeding out or dying from something you caused, don't worry I'll end them quickly for you." Diomede stilled the voice, "You hold your tongue demon, I will let you out again." Diomede's mind began to push the shadows back, "I would sooner cast myself to the depths of the hells than let that happen again." The fleeting shadows spit out one last comment, "You speak as if you have any control." Diomede felt the dark pressure disappear, and the shadows returned to normal. Diomede made his way over to the group, Clayton still hadn't gained his consciousness yet. "We put him in the wagon we need to start heading out before we lose too much sunlight." Diomede demanded as he grabbed hold of Clayton and lifted him over his back. Kira felt Diomede's restlessness and anxiety, "What is on your mind Diomede?" Kira asked. Diomede gave no answer just a grunt. The group gathered their belongings and climbed into the wagon, Clayton lay on top of the crates and Kira sat beside him running a wet cool rag across his face. Francisco sat beside Diomede in the front of the wagon. Lily sat at the back, even within town she scanned the crowds as they traveled down the town's road leading to the outskirts. " Well, my friends we may not be traveling in style but, at least we aren't walking." Francisco bolstered. He continued to strum his lute. For a while, the group traveled, and all sat quietly except for Francisco, Diomede looked to the sky. It was a blue that storytellers often speak about, the kind only ever found in tall tales. Along the horizon the sun sat, inching closer and closer to the edge. "Lily!" Diomede called out. "Is the town still within sight?" Diomede asked. Lily replied, "No we just left its outline's view." Diomede snapped the reigns back, causing the wagon to come to an abrupt stop. Diomede jumped down from the driver's seat. He began breathing in air through his nose. Deeply he inhaled, and five times he did this until he reached a point of satisfaction. The rest of the group watched and when he turned to climb back onto the wagon he was met with harsh looks of judgment. Diomede's response to this was simple, "What are yall gacking at?" With a snap of the reigns, the horse nailed and the wagon was off yet again. "With this wagon, we should make good time no?" Asked Francisco. Diomede nodded in response, "We should as long as we don't get attacked by the Snakes." Lily from the back of the wagon called to the front. "My tribe has dealt with them before. They live up to their name well." Kira turned to Lily, "How do they fight, from the way Mr. Walters spoke of them, I understand they are deadly." "They are, like their name suggests they fight like snakes, sneak and strick when they are able." Lily Replied. "Have you fought them before?" Lily shook her, "No but my father has taught us much of their strategies." Lily continued, "If they strick at night we have been told I suggest two lookouts while we sleep for the nights to come." Diomede called back, " I agree but first, we need to get that lazy cub awake, he shouldn't be asleep this long." Diomede bounced his gaze from the road and Kira, "Is there anything your magic can do?" Kira shook her head, "From everything I can tell, he is fine only pushed past his limits." Kira stroked Clayton's blonde hair, looking over the details of his face. Her attention was caught by the shape of his ears beginning to slightly change. The tips of them looked to be forming to a point, like a Galilian's ears. "Has Clayton's ears always had a point to them?" Kira asked. The three only shook their heads in response, Kira continued to look over Clayton. He looked young for the age he gave, even for a human he should have an aura of maturity about him. His jaw line was firm and somewhat sharp. "I don't know what it is but Clayton doesn't look the same." Kira stated. Francisco turned, "Let me look over him maybe my old Nesfundur eyes may see something." The pair inspected Clayton's features, his hair, skin, and the shape of his nose and mouth. Francisco turned more to lean over the young knight just barely hovering above his face. Francisco's gaze was focused and shaped, and he was met with a gaze of blue eyes staring back at him. "Francisco, why are you so close to my face right now?" Asked Clayton. The sudden question shocked Francisco, who nearly fell out of his seat. "My boy, please don't scare me like that!" Francisco said in a shaken voice, the Nesfundur pated his chest as if to calm his racing heart. Clayton slowly set up, "How long have we been traveling?" Clayton asked as he looked around finding himself on top of crates. "Not too long, we started a few hours ago." Kira answered. "How do you feel? You have been out for a while now." Kira asked. "I feel, strangly lighter." Clayton replied, "As if all of my weight has gone." Diomede reached back and nudged Clayton's back, "We were worried you had inhaled some of the Slumbergus." Diomede said. Clayton rubbed his eyes, he felt as if he had slept for days. "Did you dream of anything?" Kira asked. "No, just one moment I was standing and talking and the next I am met with a Nesfundur staring deeply into my eyes." Francisco let out a joyful laugh, "My young friend you may have eyes like an ocean but you are unfortunately not my type." The pair shared a small chuckle. Lily flicked a piece of wood at Clayton, catching his attention. She nodded to him to see if he was truly fine, Clayton replied with a nod of his own assuring her he was fine. " Well, we have about a day's worth of travel with the stopping and such." Diomede said from the front of the wagon. The group continued on their way, down their path.