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Once Andarien was back in Miyuki's arms, he quieted down again and started smiling up at her again. It seemed he had just wanted to be back with his sister again.

Amalirahc wasn't quite sure how to take that. He was disappointed, and a little bit hurt, as if Andarien had told him he wasn't good enough to hold him. Still, it was a good thing he wasn't crying anymore ...

"He really likes you," he told Miyuki softly.

Earendil nodded. "We'll get the wagons hooked up to the horses, and then we'll set out. Emile, do you know how to ride?"

Emile nodded, and Earendil smiled grimly. "Good. Then you'll ride at the front with me and Daeron. Elros has volunteered to drive one of the wagons, and Arthael is going to drive the other one so that River can sit with her. She's still very upset about everything. Leyenda, Kelirahc, Amalirahc, Celeb and Haldia will all be riding in wagons for lack of horses - well, that and Haldia says it's not comfortable to ride in her condition."

Andarien pursed his lips thoughtfully. "I don't know about that, he stopped crying when he went back to you," he pointed out. "Maybe he just really likes you."

It made sense to him, really.

Earendil nodded at Lin. "You might not want to promise him sailing yet," he cautioned her softly. "It's Roydon's ship, he has the final say. I can't see him turning him down without a good reason, but still, just in case."

He kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I'll be riding back every once in a while to see how you're all doing. See you then."

He beckoned to Emile, who followed after him to the horses. The human would be leading them, after all.

Amalirahc smiled brightly at Lin. "He likes Miyuki!" he told her cheerfully. "He keeps smiling at her!"

Andarien looked over at Lin when he heard her voice, and he held one hand out in her direction. "Dah!"

River was climbing onto the back of the wagon, and she had her bow and her bokken clutched tightly in one hand. Her lips were sealed tightly, and she moved carefully to sit with the other children without saying a word.

Arthael came around the side of the wagon to speak with Lin. She leaned close and murmured, "River's still shaken, but I don't want her to ride with me. That won't help anything. If anything will help, it'll be playing with Miyuki and Amalirahc. Though she doesn't know Amalirahc very well, so things may be a bit awkward with the two of them at first."

Arthael nodded. "I'll come by to check on her every so often," she said; and with that, she headed towards her horse to mount up.

Leilani and Aric also rode, as did Kaito and Shiro, Aethos and Luk and Elros; Leyenda, Kelirahc, Celeb and Haldia however climbed up into the same wagon as the others (Alena was driving the other one on her own, with Shiloh).

River looked over at Miyuki, her eyes brimming with tears. Her lower lip was trembling, and she looked as though she were about to break out into tears at any moment.

River sniffed, trying to do it quietly. She was doing her best to calm herself, but it just wasn't working. They were still surrounded by bodies ... except where a path had been cleared so that they could get the wagons out of there.

Amalirahc moved so that he was sitting on the other side of River, so that she was between him and Miyuki. "Yeah, we're with you now," he said brightly. "We''ll be okay!"

There was a jerk as the wagon started moving forward, and they were on their way.

Andarien whimpered a bit and kept looking at Lin, one hand held out towards her.

Andarien curled up against Lin and yawned, then started sucking on his fist again, his eyes closing sleepily.

Amalirahc reached across River to poke Miyuki to get her attention. When he had it, he nodded at River, who was looking steadfastly at the bottom of the wagon, shoulders slouched but tense.

River nodded ever so slightly, and a single tear trailed down her nose. She didn't move to wipe it away, though. Her hands were both clutching her weapons so tightly that her knuckles were white.

Amalirahc was growing quite concerned, and he put one arm around River's shoulders and hugged her close. "Hey," he said brightly, "did you see Miyuki's little brother? Isn't he cute?"

River blinked, but she still didn't respond.