Can you believe we're like halfway through this book already, I can't.
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    Peri could tell Craig had something on his mind. It was kind of obvious once he ran into a tree. The first time. The second time, everyone else started noticing.

"Goodness Craig." Eryan snorted. "You're a clutz today."

"Ha ha, yeah." Craig replied, sounding more high strung than Jason's bow.

Speaking of Jason, he was looking happily around at the forest around him, completely oblivious.

"I admit, I didn't think he would follow us." Peri nodded, glancing at Lafayette.

Peri decided he was probably gonna gonna censor that bird from now of, for this log.

Craig let out a sharp bark of a laugh. "Yeah, I didn't see that coming either."

Everyone turned to look at him and he blushed. "Talking to Peri."

Peri gave Craig his best, gusto look. "This does however, increase your chances of taking him as a potential ma-"

"Absolutely not." Craig laughed again, quieter and less sarcastically.

    "Why not?"

    Craig's mouth twitched and he grimaced. He looked like he was between screaming and crying. Needless to say, Peri never got an answer.

    This went on for a few days at least.

    "Is Craig all right?" Lucy asked him one night, long after their humans had fallen asleep and the fire was slowly dying.

"He's working through something." Peri nodded slowly. "I wouldn't worry about it."

Lucy hummed in agreement. "Ryan's worried about him, she says Craig's not talking to her anymore. It's not terribly serious is it?"

Peri shook his head. "Nah, teenage stuff."

Lucy looked surprised. "Oh, oh dear."

"Yeah." Peri ruffled his feathers, and stepped a little closer to her, subtly.

"What are you two pistachios talking about?" Lafayette suddenly asked, landing next to them with a dead mouse in one talon. "Get it? Cause you're small and green?"

Lucy let out a small laugh. Peri frowned.

"Okay I'm going to bed." He said, hopping off the branch and finding Craig.

Peri landed on his bags and made himself a small nest out of the extra blanket. He curled up and fell asleep.

Familiars don't really dream. Sometimes you can see Kosmos, but mostly sleep is strictly for rehabilitation.

Peri was glad when the Scobi bus finally came into view. That means they were going to start moving much faster now. That meant that wolf (Matri?) would have a harder time catching up with them.

    It had been hard enough forcing him out of Craig's house when they were back with Craig's pack.

    Peri didn't want Craig near that wolf. He didn't want that at all.

    "It's the bus!" Craig said happily. "Thank Kosmos."

    "Yes, thank Kosmos." Eryan said, yanking her bag away from Jason as he tried to lift another snack.

    "Do you ever stop eating?" Ryan marveled. "You're worse that Oratio."

    "I would take offense, but that is undoubtedly true." Oratio grinned, hopping up onto the platform.

    "Aaand, we're right on time." Jason observed, as a bus came chugging through the trees.

    This one was a pale green, with some cool leaf carvings in it. Peri dully appreciated the art.

    "That's amazing, I've never had so many buses just passer on time like that." Eryan shook her head in disbelief.

    They climbed on. The four humans sighed in relief as they put down their bags in the back. Eryan let her hair down and collapsed on one of the seats. Jason promptly stretched out on on side and kick his feet up against the wall. Craig took one look at him and sat down on the floor against the chairs, on Eryan's side. Ryan kicked Jason's feet down and took up almost as much space as he did.

    "Okay, what's the game plan, chief?" Jason asked, looking over at Eryan.

    "Me?" She frowned. "I'm not the leader, Craig is."

    "Me?" Craig squeaked, growing pale.

    "Yeah this whole thing so far has been your idea. Felix is your best friend." Ryan reminded him.

    He collected himself, wringing his hands slightly. "Right. Uh, well. This bus should take us Zestos right?"

    "Um, Chief?" Eryan asked.

    "Let's drop the nickname, yes?"

    "Do you think we could maybe make a quick stop?" She continued. "Theoretically we have enough food to get there, that was, when there three of us. I think with Jason here we should probably stop. Plus we might need warmer clothes."

    Eryan gestured to Ryan, who was still just wearing her shawl, which was thin.

    "Yeah..." Craig scratched the back on is neck. "Yeah that's a good point. We'll stop, but only for a sort while. We don't have time for shenanigans."

    Peri perched contently for a moment. There was always a pole around the top of the bus for birds. He observed the humans. He wondered if they were calm enough right now for him to take a quick nap.

    Lafayette flew in through on of the windows and pulled up sharply. He landed on a perch close to Peri. The green parrot sighed, and realized he was not going to be getting his nap. Instead of patronizing him, Lafayette actually just looked pretty ruffled.

    "What is it?" Jason asked, aware of it too.

    The falcon clicked his beak nervously. "Nothing. Just took a wrong turn."

    Jason shot him a look but went back to relaxing on the bench as the bus picked up speed.

    Lafayette glanced over at Peri in distress. "Why is there a corrupted familiar following us?"

    Peri clenched his beak. "It's a long story."

    "I don't know if I want Jason-"

    "We're working on it, alright." Peri interrupted him. "Besides, as long as we're on the move, they won't catch up. I'm taking care of it."

    Lafayette still looked externally uncomfortable. "I don't know about this."

    "It's too late now." Peri sighed. "We're still...I'm still hoping there's a chance we can save them."

    Lafayette's eyes widened. He didn't say anything further. The four humans rested as the bus brought them a little closer to their destination.

     A little closer to Felix.