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The night passed dreamlessly for Gion, and at the sun's rise he woke feeling well-rested and content. He stretched and flexed his arms a bit, his sharply defined muscles contracting and stretching as well, and he sighed.

It felt so good ...

One shoulder was aching a bit from a fight earlier in the week, and he gently massaged the pain away until he could move his shoulder freely, painlessly. At the thought of that fight, he glanced at the sword that held his friend captive. He really should get the sword taken care of by Ruel, he thought. It needed more care than he was able to give it. General care, but still ...

Well, maybe when they were in Tor Karad he would ask Ruel for a kit of sword-care tools.

Good morning, he thought to Daemon cheerfully, stretching once more, then leaning down and picking up the sword and its sheath. He pulled it over his shoulders and tied it on, then stuffed his shirt into his bag and left the room, intending to head to the kitchen for some breakfast.

Wonderful, Gion agreed. I hope you weren't too bored ...

Ah, the beauty of morning rituals. Variations were rare - but they did occur, when Gion had an off night of sleep, or if he dreamed and had a talk with Daemon while he was sleeping.

I wonder how early we can be on our way, he thought curiously as he headed into the kitchen. Not that it's bad here, but the idea of going home again ... is kind of appealing.

To be honest, Gion admitted reluctantly, I don't think I had allowed myself to even consider going back, before. I guess my anger was clouding my judgment, but still ... I don't think I had ever even considered it.

He shrugged inwardly and entered the kitchen, and looked around, surprised that no one else was up yet, and that breakfast wasn't already on the table. Most mornings, Ulani was up and had breakfast ready for everyone long before the sun was even up.

Yeah, but none of them were really necessary, per se, they were just things we decided to do so that I didn't have to go back, Gion pointed out.

He looked around again, one eyebrow raised curiously. I wonder where Ulani and Ulrich are, he mused. Hope nothing happened to them ... it's not like them to sleep this late.

If Daemon could have, he would have tilted his head, but since this was Gion's vision and not his, he would have to settle what Gion saw.

Is it just me, or did he stay up very late? I do hope that headache didn't last him the whole night... even though he did deserve the whack.....

Ulrich's eyes went from Gion's hands to the bread he was slicing.

"Ulani's fine, just still sleeping," he said shortly. "She won't be up for a while. Got a bunch of stuff for you, though." He nodded towards the chest in the corner of the room, which was stacked high with various breads and meats and packages of leaves - presumably naekeurtsl. "Stock up, eat up. Ulani says safe journey."

Gion shrugged. I thought he was, but who knows? Maybe something happened.

He grabbed his bag and started putting the mounds of food into it. There was well more than enough for the two-week trip to the Southland, but water was what he was worried about.

He snapped his fingers to get Ulrich's attention, then signed, Canteens?

Is he going to be okay? He makes it sound like he didn't get enough sleep at all, and the fact Ulani isn't up sounds like she didn't either.

Daemon mused on this for a moment before asking Gion tose very things.