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At the mention of the dessert's night, Blade narrowed his eyes while trying to not think about it. The day, he could tolerate in the least. But the dessert had a tendency to get rather cool at night. Sure they might not be dying of thirst so much, but it was still.

When Tessa tossed something else into the cage, he glanced over at it for a moment before looking over towards Yuki and Neko. Someone was probably going to need to feed them considering they didn't really have use of their hands for the time being.

"You guys go ahead and eat... I'll just take whatever's left if there's anything."

The men fell silent as Riyo began to hum her melody of nyus. The water was put away as they listened intently for a while before one man decided to pipe up. "She's a cute one."

"Aye, that ye are," One of the older men leaned forward to wrap an arm around Riyo's shoulders lightly. "Ye'll need to be careful or Tessa might keep ye for herself."

The men seemed to get a good laugh out of this again though what they truly meant was unclear. They busied themselves in the time being preparing for nightfall.

Mitsu looked at the bag warily for a moment until it was determined that it in fact contained food. Food sounded so good and so bad all at the same time. It was like when she was sick but she didn't feel like throwing up at least. Shaking her head she leaned her forehead against the bars of the cage trying to catch what little breeze that was coming up under the cover. "Not hungry."

Really. Riyo was getting awful tired of these men getting too close to her. She wanted to stand up and literally rip each of them a new one... But didn't. This patience thing was just a little difficult.

What now? Why would they advise caution for that? Was she secretly a monster with an appetite for 'cute' things? That must be it. That's why they were taken down so easily. It had nothing to do with their guard completely dropped or the fact that they were scattered everywhere.

Well, she'd show her. If she was expecting a cute, innocent little girl, Riyo would oblige for now. And when that guard is dropped, she'd rip out her intestines and play jump-rope with them. Oh yes.

------

Atticus thanked Hitsu for the hand-outs and began nibbling on the bread. He figured eating it slowly would fill him up quicker.

When Hitsu began thanking their captor for the food they actually needed to survive, he sort of caught on to what she was doing. Flattery and kindness got you everywhere in a world shaped with lies and meaningless words, after all. "Yes, thank you." He mumbled and continued to slowly eat his food piece by piece.

Though, something was bothering him. They hadn't seen hide nor heel of Riyo since this little trip began. He figured she'd have been able to signal them or something. But no, he hadn't even heard her voice. "Might I inquire how our blonde-haired friend is doing?"

Tessa only nodded as she was thanked for the food. Honestly that felt a little awkward. No one had ever thanked her before. "There is more water but don' be wastin' it now."

Food sounded excellent but Neko noticed one slight problem. His hands were not free for the task of eating. But then he watched Hitsu as she came around giving each person that was bound a bit of food. Well, why not make the best of a bad situation?

As she made her way to him he looked at the meat and fruit in her hands. "I dunno how well I'll be able to chew everything. I got hit in the jaw pretty hard and I don't have my hands to hold the food. Can you bite me off some pieces, Hitsu?" Evil at work.

Mitsu sat quietly with her water canteen staring at the ground as the endless mounds of sand passed them by. She honestly wondered how much more of this she could take but it looked as though the sun was going down. Hopefully it would cool off a little then.

Turning her attention back to the group again, Tessa focused on the man with the top hat. "Aye, ye may." Though, despite giving permission she didn't offer any information regarding the girl.

----

One of the younger men in the group, a boy really, stood up in the carriage and brought a heavy blanket to Riyo. "Here Miss." He said softly. He didn't seem to have the same tone nor the confidence that the other men had. "It will be cold soon."

"Ah, get away from her ye little whelp," One of the men pushed him back forcing him to drop the blanket and land on his rear. "She's got no interest in ye. Just keep ta sortin' the merchandise."

Nodding obediently the boy when back to work sorting the loads of goods that were stored in the carriage. Silks, clothes, jewelry, rugs, pottery, small instruments, and more. It was a hoard of random things that the boy went through with care being sure to stack things with others of its kind and setting aside anything that had a higher value.

Looking to Blade Tessa smile. "Well, I wouldn't rightly know. I've been here with ye lot the whole time." Pulling out a hand knife Tessa began to use it to trim and clean up her nails. "I'm sure she'll be fine. Ye best be worrin' about yerselves."

When Neko made his obvious attempt to flirt, at least obvious to Yuki, the feline shot him a glare. Honestly, did he ever give up?

Hitsu, on the other hand, complied. Though, not as literally as he might have hoped. She broke a smaller piece from what she was about to give him, so there wasn't so much for him to chew. How much work could there be in chewing cheese and bread? That's what she figured. That, and surely he wouldn't be talking so easily if there really was something wrong with his jaw. The meat? Well, she'd have to see how much he complained when she started breaking that up.

"Nice try." Yuki murmured, and turned his head to address Blade and Atticus. Or, generally whichever one of them would listen. "Remind me to kick his a** when I can move... Assuming I can feel my limbs again."

The thanks directed toward her were met with a nod and a smile, though the smile itself seemed lacking the usual sincerity. But, considering everything, it would be understood. Hitsu paused between them every now and again to take a bit of her own share, trying to keep things as organized as possible within the bag so that none got more than others, and so Mitsu's share would be there for when it was wanted.

Hitsu listened quietly as they spoke about Riyo, hoping that she was well off wherever they were keeping her. Hopefully she hadn't gotten sicker, Hitsu had little doubt that she would have been if given the same treatment that they had been getting. It could have been worse, she was sure, but it certainly could have been better too.

Yuki, on the other hand, could only hope that the men under Tessa's command didn't get any ideas. Riyo could hold her own, but he wasn't so sure how well that could be accomplished when she was ill, or when there were so many around.

"Is the dog with Riyo?" Hitsu spoke up a few seconds thereafter. She'd wondered about Tobi more than once, but hadn't said anything. Helpful or not, at least Tessa was acknowledging their questions now. Perhaps she wouldn't know... But there was a small chance, right?

"Tobi?" Mitsu had honestly forgotten about Tobi through all the mess and it certainly didn't make her feel better. Hopeful, she looked up at Tessa for her answer praying that it was good.

"The dog?" Tessa paused and thought carefully about it. Honestly, she didn't know there had been a dog with the group. Tobi had already been bagged up and hauled back to the carriage before she even got there. "I imagine he's with your friend." Sounded logical enough.

Ironically, Tessa was spot on with her information. After being bagged Tobi had thrown such a fuss he was promptly knocked out and thrown into the storage carriage. Through a day and a half the poor creature lay quietly passed out in the burlap sack he had been tied up in.

Finally starting to come to, Tobi gave a soft whine and tried to move, though found that difficult with the bag. Twisting and turning he tried to free himself but couldn't find an opening.

"What's that?" The young boy spoke up as he heard the whine and then saw a bag thrashing around. Tentatively he approached it and untied the top peaking in to only end up with a face full of dog butt as Tobi came backing out. "A dog?" The boy asked curiously watching as Tobi seemed to be getting his barrings.

"Yeah, forgot about the little fellow. I imagine he'll sell for a good price."

The boy was intrigued but Tobi was far from pleased when he realised the company he currently shared. Quickly he jumped to all fours his teeth bared, a low snarl bellowing up from his throat. The boy tried to comfort him but Tobi snapped in defense. These were bad people who had hurt his pack, they were not to be trusted.

Riyo perked up when she noticed the struggling bag. Was that... Was that the beast that traveled with them? Yup. There he was. And he was pissed.

Maybe he'd calm down if she could get his attention. With a little effort, she managed to let out a loud whistle. She didn't want the poor boy getting harmed. In her mind, he was just caught in the middle of all this.