I woke up that morning and thought, thank Kosmos, no more boys. I sat up and rubbed my face blearily, it felt like morning. I glanced around to see Ryan was still snoozing, of course, and Eryan was already up, humming softly to herself while she packed up out stuff.

    "Oh hey Craig." She greeted, seeing as I had arisen. "You ready to get going?"

    "Uh..." I don't know why I hesitated, I was definitely ready to leave. "Yes."

"That's good, cause we're almost ready to leave. Jason's been helping me pack we now have enough rations to last us the next few days. Thanks to no one." She coughed in Oratio's direction.

    Oratio stuck his tongue out at her and flicked his ears back. I glanced around, looking for Peri, and finally spotted him sitting next to Lucy. I frowned as I noticed Jason's falcon...Lafayette? perching near them too, they looked like they were having a conversation, only Peri looked a little more miffed than usual.

    I calmly walked over and they stopped to look at me. I caught sight of Lafayette's dual colored eyes again. I thought it was wicked cool, but something about about him unsettled him. He didn't seem very menacing, he didn't look menacing, It was more like...his aura, if I may. I coughed and Peri got the hint to jump to my arm. I stole him across the room.

    "What were you guys talking about?" I asked, I knew Peri wouldn't dare tell Jason's own familiar about my crush on him, but I still felt very paranoid.

    Nobody else knew that I liked boys too, except for my sister and Felix, and I was determined to keep it that way.

    "Oh well Lucy, Kosmos bless her, was thinking, maybe we should go talk to Lafayette, you know, to make this whole ordeal less awkward in retrospect. Well it turns out the big oaf does not have a beak suited for a lady, and especially not someone as sweet as Lucy, she was so uncomfortable. Besides, he only want to talk about hunting, what am I supposed to say to that? The biggest thing I've eaten is a mango..." Peri prattled on.

    I fanned my face and wondered what I even worried about. Peri seemed to notice this and halted suddenly.

    "Oh don't worry, I'm not gonna tell anyone about your big humongous crush on- whoa!"

    I had swatted at him desperately, before wildly glancing around for any other familiars. Peri looked annoyed from under my palm.

    "I've been meaning to ask you about that actually, is it just guys? Or do you like girls too?" He asked, respectfully lowering his voice.

    I shot him a look. "Is that your business?"

    "To anyone else, no, but I'm your familiar. Part of looking out for you includes landing you a healthy relationship, unless you're not into that of course. Then we can just focus on forming long lasting friendships." He explained, sounding like he was repeating some sort of orientation. "Seriously though, I'm curious."

    I glanced over at Eryan to see she was singing some sort of duet with Oratio, seemingly oblivious for now. Ryan was still asleep, I mean she already knew so I guess it didn't matter. I hadn't even seen Jason yet this morning.

    "So far...both." I said quietly. "Boys and girls."

    Peri smiled. "Alright, variety. How'd you find out? Was it Felix?"

    I blinked, then frowned and shook my head. "No, ew. He's like my brother."

    "Understandable. Go on."

    "I was like thirteen or something, one of the other boys had just turned fifteen and there was a party, and uh...I don't know. I just kinda remember getting all embarrassed around him."

    Peri nodded. "Who knows?"

    "Ryan and Felix."

    Peri whistled. "So not even your mom."

    I shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know. She probably already knows, but she's nice enough to pretend like she doesn't. I don't actually plan on telling her unless..."

    I trailed off as that thought clung to my tongue.

    "Unless you bring home a boyfriend." Peri finished for me. "Yeah that's smart."

    Imagine if Jason- no stop. Hold it right there. This is the last time your ever going to see Jason again, so stop it.

    "How'd Felix find out?"

    "He came to that party with me, he was there at day one. I told you, we only thing we haven't shared with each other is the womb."

    "To much information Criag, Ryan?"

    "Oh there was this boy back in Agrios who I thought was cute and I guess it was obvious."

    Peri nodded. "I'll keep him on the list. Thanks for sharing by the way, I know it's hard for some people to do that. Especially since you're from up North."

    I blushed, embarrassed. "Thanks for looking out for me, I guess."

    Peri's face face went monotone. "Okay don't make it weird Ainwir."

    I snorted. Hearing my last name was kinda weird now, since I guess it wasn't really my last name. I brushed it aside however, because Lily Ainwir was still the woman who raised me, and I had bigger things to worry about right now.

    "Alright, I found some extra bags for you guys." Jason says upon entering the room.

    "Thanks, seriously. You've been a lot of help." Eryan thanks him. "Wake Ryan, we're getting ready to go."

    I nod and turn to her, promptly blocking Jason from my view as I try no to think about his fluffy morning bedhead. Ryan dully blinks her eyes open. The looks around disapprovingly.

    "Oh yeah, I forgot we were here. Are we leaving?"

    "Yeah." I assured.

    She quintet, pulling on an over shirt and her knife belt. "Before breakfast?"

    "We've still got quite a few hours to kill before breakfast." Eryan explained, slinging the bags she was carrying over her shoulder.

    "Nice bow." Jason commented, as she picked it up.

    "Thanks, I'm not very good with it though." Eryan shrugged.

    "It's a shame you're leaving soon, I probably could have taught you a few things." Jason said while smiling warmly.

I blinked, was he...flirting? My heart sunk in disappointment. Of course. I felt kinda stupid now. I tried to tell myself that I had just met him anyway, and even then, we were leaving, right now. Still, my face grew hot with shame.

Eryan frowned at him. "Sure, anyway. Thanks again for everything."

"Hope you guys have a safe trip." He waved, this time speaking to all three of us this time.

Yeah yeah, I looked as we walked outside, the dim light of the early sun shining in through the trees. Everything still looked a pale grey color. Ryan stumbled out the door, mumbling something in Jason's direction while she waved with Lucy on her shoulder. The girls started off, Jason hung in the doorway, waving. I stopped and turned around for a moment.

"B-bye." I stammered out, turning around quickly and running after the rest of my friends.

Peri landed on my shoulder, and made proud little chirping noises into my ear. I blushed and just tried to walk without tripping, I had some dignity left.

"Well that was a fun side trip." Eryan sighed. "I'm glad to going though, I don't know how to feel about that guy, to be honest."

"You and me both, sister." Ryan agreed, yawning.

"Yeah..." I agreed halfheartedly, I should be glad to be going, but I wasn't, at least not entirely.

We had only been going a few minutes, when I heard the shouts of someone who was yelling from far away. The three of us turned around, and I nearly chocked.

Jason was waving happily as he ran towards us through the woods, Lafayette swooping down close behind.

"Jason?" Eryan asked surprised.

"Jason...?" I blinked, hardly believing my eyes.

He caught up to us, panting. "Hey, you guys. Um. I hope you don't mind but...I was wondering if I could come with you?"

I still trying to wrap my mind around the fact he was still here. My jaw dropped when he said he wanted to come with us.    

"Before you say anything," he continued, "I've brought my own rations, and my bow."

He held it up for emphasis. "So please?"

Yes. "Uh, what do you guys think?" I turned away from him to see what Ryan and Eryan were thinking.

The girls shard a look.

"Why...?" Ryan asked.

Jason shrugged. "You guys are the only exciting thing that's happened to me in a long time. I want to get out and...I don't know, do something."

Eryan blinked, that was almost exactly what she had said.

"You know we're going to Zestos, right?" Ryan clarified. "How are you going got get back?"

Jason shrugged again. "I don't know, maybe I won't go back. I'm of age to make those decisions."

"Wow okay, so you're serious." Eryan blinked gain, sounding as unbelieving as I felt.

"Yeah, besides, you seem like really cool people to be friends with." He continued.

"What if we're actually murders." Ryan pointed out. "We could kill you in your sleep tomorrow and that would be that. Your fancy house would be ours."

Jason scoffed. "You're not gonna kill me, at least I know Craig won't, right? See, we're bros, he understands."

We're bros. He understands. I was pretty sure Jason had a better chance of killing me.

"Right." I agreed numbly, still in shock.

    "Also I don't have any friends, so it would be nice to already traveling with people I already know, sorta. You're the closest thing I have to friends." He admitted, trailing along behind us as we started walking.

    "Well, gosh man." Ryan shrugged, glancing at Eryan (it looked like they telepathically agreed on something) "we can be friends if you want."

    Jason grinned, and I had the lay a hand on my heart. I felt blessed, but also extremely betrayed. My silent suffering how been prolonged form a day, to who knows how long? I bit my lip and scooted up to the front next to Ryan so I wouldn't have to talk to him. This was worse, this was very much worse. This was much worse than I could have imagined.

    Peri, of course, was enjoying every minute of it.