Welcome to Gaia! ::

River looked at Miyuki strangely. What did she mean, already? They'd only started exploring partway through the afternoon, and they'd seen the orchard, field, barn, ten wine presses, storage buildings, the river, asked questions about how wine making worked ...

She was spared from commenting on it, however, when Senka asked about food. Then she could only smile and shake her head incredulously. "Oh, Senka," she giggled. "Do you ever think about anything else?"

But, as it was indeed time for food, she turned and began to head back across the sandy lane towards the house.

River laughed aloud. "Well, then, you're lucky that's where we're heading," she grinned at the cat. "Back to the house, hopefully for some dinner. And I don't know about you, Miyuki, but I think I'd like a bath before going to sleep."

It would help her to cool down to sleep more comfortably.

"I wonder what kind of food we'll be having for dinner," she mused. That was one things that had fascinated her: the different meals they'd had in different places. The Westland was predominantly venison or beef or pork, meat from animals that had been hunted or raised for food; in the Eastland, there had been a lot of vegetables, some chicken, eggs; now she was curious, on this plantation that had so many berries and grapes, to know what they would eat.

River grinned. "Well with all the fruit they grow here, I'm sure there will be something," she assured Miyuki. "Whether it's the main course or dessert will be the question, I think."

The house was not far, only across the lane, and there were several tables set up, put together now instead of set in different places, and the tables were all set with loads of food. Most of the group as well as the hosting family were already sitting down, though no one had started eating yet, and River ran ahead to sit with her grandparents.

Earendil smiled at Miyuki when she sat with them, and after greeting her, he asked, "Have you seen Andarien anywhere? He and Sylvar went off earlier together and we haven't seen him since."

He knew that Miyuki and River had been exploring, and he thought that perhaps they might have seen the boys somewhere on their explorations.

"Hm." Earendil frowed slightly at that. But he was sure that Sylvar was a responsible boy, and he would get Andarien back to them on time for dinner. Still ... Andarien hadn't been gone for that long without either him or Lin before, and he couldn't help but worry a bit.

He looked around. Maybe he could ask Nadya ... no, Nadya couldn't control her visions, it would be pointless to ask her. Suddenly, he remembered that Daemon was also a seer. Earendil wasn't sure what he could See, or if he could control what he Saw, but it was worth asking, he supposed.

He waited until he was sure he wouldn't be interrupting Daemon and Lin before he spoke up. "Daemon," he asked, "would you possibly be able to find out where Andarien is at the moment? He went off with Sylvar earlier ..."

Earendil grimaced. "I'll go ask Galdor if he knew where they were going," he decided. "Sylvar was talking with him before he and Andarien went off."

He excused himself and went to talk to his cousin.

Suddenly, from the other side of the (very full) yard, Amalirahc's voice rose above the others': "HEY! THERE'S MIYUKI!"

Only a second later, the boy was running across the yard to get to Miyuki, dodging and weaving between tables and people.

Amalirahc came to a stop just in front of the table, a pout upon his lips. "I'm always careful!" he protested. "I never run into people or anything! Well," he amended, "usually never."

After a moment, Ivy, who had been running after Amalirahc, caught up with him and pounced on his back, throwing her arms around his neck. There was a gleeful look in her eyes. "Hi, Miyuki!" she beamed. " 'Malirahc's been telling me all about your adventures together!" She waved at Daemon. "Hi, Neko-tol!" she greeted him, using the word for a great-uncle. Daemon after all was like an uncle to her after her having grown up with him.