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"Did he?"

River didn't remember that, but maybe she hadn't been present during that conversation. She arrived safely at the ground and looked up at Miyuki.

"I didn't know that. I guess she must not be around then."

"Ah," River smiled. "I must not have been paying enough attention." She motioned for Miyuki to come with her to Wren so that they could get something to wipe down the box.

Wren was still kneeling on the ground with Amalirahc, and she had another marble in her hand, but they still hadn't found the bouncy ball - which didn't make sense since it was bigger and bright red.

"It's long grass," Wren said sheepishly.

"Right up to my chest!" Amalirahc exclaimed.

River sighed in disappointment. She hadn't even gotten the chance to try the jacks, and it seemed at this point that she wouldn't.

"Well, we're ready for something to clean off the box," she told Wren in a subdued tone.

Wren straightened and motioned for River to follow her. "In my saddlebag. Come on."

Earendil and Lin meanwhile were sitting in the grass and relaxing, letting Andarien wander around on his own. It was a safe area, after all, as long as they made sure he didn't go by the creek or anything like that. And he was doing fine. He had plopped himself in the long grass an arm's length away from Lin and Earendil and was playing with something in his hands.

Earendil was enjoying just relaxing with Lin, but he looked over at Andarien when Lin called out to him. He couldn't see what Andarien had - the boy had his back to them.

Andarien dropped whatever was in his hands, startled by Lin's call, and looked back at his parents over his shoulder. "Apo'," he called back to them. "Apo'. Mm!"

And he turned his back to them again and picked up the object once more.

River nodded at Miyuki and set after Wren so that they could at least play with the rest of the stuff in the box. It was all new, so even if they missed out on one game, there were others they could play.

Amalirahc was determined to find the ball, and he was still on his belly in the tall grass, flattening out the areas that he had already checked.

Earendil shook his head at Lin. "I can't see," he said quietly, "but if he's saying 'mmm' then I have a feeling that whatever it is, he's trying to eat it."

And he was. Andarien had picked up the object again and was holding it to his mouth, ready to either lick or bite, he couldn't quite make up his mind which.

Andarien looked up at Lin, then smiled widely and held up the object that he had in his hand - a small red rubber ball, now with teeth marks and slobber all over it.

"Apo'!" he said proudly, a fleck of red showing on one of his front teeth.

River looked over her shoulder at Miyuki as her friend caught up with her and the princess. "Did Amalirahc find the ball yet?" she asked her eagerly.

Andarien blinked as Lin took the ball from him. That was his snack! Why did she have to take it away?

He whimpered and stretched up to her, wanting the ball back. She'd wanted to see, and he had shown it to her! He didn't know she was going to take it away from him!

"Poor Amalirahc," River said softly. "He must really feel bad for losing it. He usually gives up on things after a bit, and he's been at it for quite a while now."

Once in Lin's arms, Andarien kept trying to reach for the ball that Lin had taken away from him, grunting with the effort.

Earendil watched the two, and stood up when they started back towards him. "I don't think so," he said thoughtfully. "But I wonder if he more needs something to play with than something to eat. We don't have any toys for him yet. I wonder if we should look for something for him in town this afternoon, what do you think?"

"Yeah," River agreed with Miyuki. "It's such a bright colour! And so different from the grass!"

"The ball?" Wren asked as they reached her horse.

River nodded. "Amalirahc's still looking for it."

Wren shrugged as she opened her saddlebag and rummaged around in it. "If we can't find it, we'll pick up another one for you. Don't worry too much. Look how long those marbles were lost, and they were finally found."