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Jacinthe smiled warmly as she shook Miyuki's hand. "Indeed, it is very beautiful, and the people are, for the most part, very nice. But such is the way of life in any city, yes?"

She put one hand gently on Miyuki's head and gave it a tender stroke, smiling warmly at her.

Then she turned to River. Instead of offering her a hand, though, she held out both arms, hugging River close.

"And you'll be back, that I know," she laughed softly. "I don't think wild horses could keep you away forever."

"Not even my nineko's horses," River swore, hugging Jacinthe tightly.

Jacinthe giggled. "And I've heard stories about those ones." She let River go. "Until we meet again, then, River Aldrich."

River grinned at her. "And we will!"

Jasta was already at the door. "Come on, you don't want your group to have to wait too long," she urged them.

The children all stayed together and headed outside as a group - only after, of course, River had picked up her bags. Jess carried one of them for her, the heavier one, as River had wanted to carry the one he had made for her.

The others were waiting outside, and while the people were waiting patiently, the horses were stamping their feet and nickering to each other, growing impatient for standing without moving for so long.

"River!" Arthael said as River put her bags on the back of one of the wagons, "Where is your bow?"

River looked up at her grandmother, then at Jess. A wide smile split her face, and she looked back up at her grandmother. "I'm leaving it with Jess," she announced.

Arthael was equally surprised. "Really?"

River smiled at Jess. "That way he doesn't have to worry about whether or not I'll be back," she grinned, her violet eyes sparkling. "I'll be back for it someday."

Arthael chuckled softly. "All right then," she murmured. "But come on, we do need to make some progress before the day is over."

River nodded and turned to their new friends. "Don't you forget, I'll be back," she grinned, hugging Jess tightly.

"I know," Jess replied in a murmur. "I'll be waiting."

"Bye!" Amalirahc said cheerfully, hugging Jasta lightly. He waved at Jess and climbed up onto the wagon. "See you again sometime!"

River let go of Jess and moved to climb up onto the wagon as well. Jess helped her up, but once she was up, he didn't let go of her hand.

"Remember," he told her seriously, looking up at her, his blue eyes serious, "I'll be waiting for you. Don't take too long, okay?"

He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it lightly, giving it one more squeeze before letting go.

River was blushing furiously. "I won't," she promised, smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.

Halmir flicked the reins, and the horses started forward eagerly. River kept looking backwards as the wagon moved forward, and she kept watching as Jess and Jasta waved until the wagon turned a corner and they were lost from sight.

A few hours later, they had passed out of the city, and were making their way east along the Crystal River. Andarien was getting fussy, but he was refusing food and had just napped earlier.

"Nana nana nana nana," he kept saying, scratching at his legs and whimpering.

Earendil was getting a little anxious. "Should we maybe ask Alassëa to take a look at him?" he asked. "I mean ... I can't see anything wrong with him, and it doesn't seem to be his stomach ... but ..."

Andarien seemed to settle down a bit when Lin began to massage his legs, and his constant chatter became a murmur instead. "Nana ... nana ... nana ..."

Earendil nodded. "That does seem to be helping, but I'll go get her anyways. Just in case."

He hopped over the edge of the wagon and jogged to catch up to the other one so that he could get her.

Andarien stuck two fingers in his mouth and started chewing on them, his eyes half-closed as he looked up at his mother. He seemed sleepy, despite his recent nap. Suddenly his entire body shuddered, the way that made people comment that someone had walked on their grave. He grunted a bit, and then he started to cry.

Both wagons drew to a slow halt as Earendil helped Alassëa climb down from the other wagon, and quickly he brought her over to the other one and helped her to climb up again.

Andarien kept on crying and squirming as Lin picked him up.

Earendil helped Alassëa up onto the wagon and led her over to where Lin was sitting with Andarien. There was a slight jolt as the wagons started up again so that they could continue on their way.

Alassëa sat down, feeling carefully first to make sure that she wouldn't sit on anything that shouldn't be sat upon. Then she held her hands out slightly. "If someone would guide me," she requested.

Earendil looked at Lin. "Lay him in your lap," he suggested. "Then she has better access."

While she did that, he took Alassëa's hands and guided them to Andarien.