Jerry: "Yeah...Where do you reckon she'll stay? With one of us, maybe?"

'Lucci suggested that she should stay with Armin,' replied Fred. 'Of course, it's ultimately up to her.'

Jerry: "Armin, huh? Interesting suggestion. I guess that means those two haven't gotten sick of each other after a month."

{He says chuckling.}

Jerry: "I don't suppose Lucci was hinting that they've...gotten close with one another?"

'Well, yes, I'm sure they have gotten closer. They've been through a lot together on this trip, and from what I heard, Dianne likely wouldn't have survived the hunter attack without Armin. Difficult experiences can bring people together.'

Jerry: "That's true. Well, I much prefer those two being affectonate rather than hostile towards each other. Their friendship's come a long ways."

'Of course. I'd rather they have a good relationship than a terrible one. If Armin cares about Dianne, then he'll want to help her deal with the hunters.'

Jerry: "Yes, that's true. He seems the loyal type."

{Nodding, Jerry surveys his surroundings.}

Jerry: "Ok, well, I need to go find Ivy, give her the update."

Fred shifted slightly, looking around as well. 'I need to get going as well. I should inform Rex about this. Pythia, too, I suppose... the bounty hunters who were planning to capture her to gain advantage over Dianne might not try it now, but I'll keep guards around her temple anyway.'

Jerry: "Of course. Give Pythia my best."

{With that, Jerry waves in farewell and walks down the street.}

Fred walked off in a slightly different direction to Jerry. //This are calm now, but I've no doubt that will change when Dianne returns. Permission or no permission, I think the Bloodrazors are heII-bent on killing her.//

(Spoiler alert, they are XD

Should we cut back, or is there something else you want to do in Vallis?)

(There isn't really anything I want to do here, so let's skip to evening and return to the truck squad. You can start if you like.)

(K)

{It was evening. Dianne was sitting in the corner, holding Esme and gently rocking, quietly enjoying the song on the radio.}

Dianne"...I guess we should stop for dinner soon."

Armin had taken up residence in the driver's seat so he could watch out of the windshield. 'Yeah, it's getting kinda dark. We might have to hunt something other than fish this time, unless Titan decides to stop next to water.'

Esme seemed content with Dianne. She was usually energetic, but quieted down around dusk.

Dianne: "Yeah, well, there aren't always lakes and rivers around."

{After a few minutes, Titan puts the car down in the middle of an oak forest. The rays of the setting sun shone through the tree tops.}

Dianne: "Barnabas, check the surrounding area."

While waiting for Barnabas to finish scouting, Armin got out of his seat and walked into the back of the truck, putting his shoes and jacket on in preparation to head outside. 'It's getting warmer...' he said contemplatively. 'You might not need the winter armour to go outside anymore.'

Dianne: "Yeah, The climate's finally enjoyable. Still, my other set is compromised, and I can't wear either in this dress. I'll change back after the fire's going. Don't want to be caught off guard."

Armin nodded lightly, looking out the window to watch the sunlight filtering through the tree branches. The oak woods looked peaceful. //Hopefully no giant spiders around here...//

{Barnnabas returns soon after.}

Barnabas: "Nothing sentient, and no araneos."

Dianne: "Good. Let's get going then."

{Opening the back, Dianne steps out and order for the centaurs to be deployed. Once they're on the ground, she orders them to go hunting.}

Armin jumped out of the truck and quickly set to work gathering loose tree branches to set ablaze. 'This is a nice spot. Been a while since we were in a forest.'

{Dianne grabbed the shovel and beegan digging the pit while keeping a close eye on Esme.}

Dianne: "Well, we hugged the coast for most of the way. not too many forests there."

'Yeah, it's a nice change.'

Armin hummed quietly to himself as he collected branches. After the pit had been dug, he tossed them inside, ready to be lit. He then sat down on a fallen log close to the pit.

Esme did not attempt to stray far, but she did wander around them a little, sniffing curiously at everything she encountered.

{Dianne shifted, lit the fire, then shifted back. She then went to the crate to retrieve her tank top and knee-high pants.}

Dianne: "Keep an eye on Esme for me, ok? I need to change."

'Sure thing,' said Armin. He remained sitting on the log, watching Esme as she snuffled around close to the fire. She picked up an acorn in her mouth, as if to eat it, then had second thoughts and spat it back out.

{Dianne walks into the truck and closes it up behind her. Afew minutes later, she comes out changed and sits by the fire.}

Dianne: "Not much longer now. We'll reach the outer limits of Vallis in a few days."

'That's good to hear,' said Armin as he watched the fire. 'I've enjoyed the travelling, but I'm also eager to get home and deal with the hunters. I want to see everyone, too. Make sure they're OK.' He looked up. 'Is your phone out of battery, or have you turned it on to check your messages lately?'

Dianne: "I don't think it's out. let me check that now..."

{She goes to the truck and retrieves her phone. Turning it on, she waits for the messages to load.}

Dianne: "Oh, there's a text from Jerry....The king has decided to formally reject the bounty. Oh, thank the divines, I don't have to move..."

Armin grinned. 'Hey, that's great news. Of course, Paxton will probably try to find a way to get at you anyway... but at least we've got the king's protection. We're gonna be OK.'

Dianne: "That is a huge relief. Now, I only have to worry about one mob attacking me. I'll have to express my gratitude to the king when I get back."

'Yeah...' Armin held out his hands to warm them over the fire. 'It really must be a relief to have a safe, or mostly safe, place to live. Where random money-hungry bounty hunters won't be able to come after you.'

Dianne: "Yes, it's a load off my mind. I just want some peace. is that so much to ask?"

'You deserve some peace. It's not fair that people keep trying to ruin it. Once Paxton's gone, you shouldn't have anything to worry about for a while.'

Dianne: "Agreed, but...Trouble always seems to find me..."

'Well, you were living in Shacklestone for a while without anything happening, weren't you? I'm not saying nothing will /ever/ happen, but you'll get a break eventually.'

Dianne: "Yeah, but...that's because I was laying low. Nobody knew anything about me. I was just that mysterious dragon lady with the potions shop."

'That's true. But you have to be optimistic that someday things will calm dowm. You're going to live peacefully in Sovereign, not run around murdering people. I'm sure people will eventually lose interest in you, seeing that you're not a threat.'

Dianne: "I sure hope so. I'd like to travel without people ambushing me when I'm browsing museums."

{At that moment, the centaurs returned with a deer.}

Dianne: "Oh. Excuse me..."

Armin watched quietly, happy to let Dianne deal with the deer. She knew how to prepare animals like this, while he only knew fish.

Esme was getting dangerously close to the fire in her explorations, so he picked her up and set her down on the log beside him. 'Be careful, kid,' he said, to which she just squeaked in response.

{Dianne dragged the deer out of sight and began preparing it.}

Dianne: "Y'know, some of those ale barrels are yours. How do you plan on hiding them from Rex?"

'Well, if he doesn't change his mind about getting his own place, then he won't be living in my house much longer,' he mused. 'So I can easily hide them in the house. I might let him try the ale sometime - but in moderation.'

Dianne: "And what if we tell him about the ale, and then he decides not to move out?"

Armin shrugged. 'I guess that's a problem I'll deal with when, or if, it happens. We're not in Sargon's army anymore - he shouldn't need to get raving drunk to cope with things. He might just listen to me and leave the stuff alone.'

Dianne: "I see...And how often does he actually take your advice?"

{She walks back with the deer meat. Puting it on a spit, she sets it to cook.}

'Sometimes,' said Armin. 'Not as often as I'd like.' He leaned back slightly, gazing at the dusky sky as the first stars appeared. He seemed to contemplate his next words for a while. 'It's not always easy to have faith in him. My advice certainly didn't stop him nearly killing himself eight years after we met.'

{Dianne looks a little somber at that.}

Dianne: "Oh....That's, uh....That's heavy...."

'Yeah. It turned out fine in the end, though. Obviously he never actually did it.' Armin shifted slightly, expression hard to read. 'He's unpredictable at times. He has a history of doing stupid things when he's stressed. But he says he's doing better now. I want to believe that.'

Dianne: "Well, I'm sure Fred is taking good care of him in your stead. We'll see him again soon enough."

Armin nodded slightly. 'He'll be alright. I haven't been able to talk to him recently, but... I'd know if something was wrong.'

He continued to watch the darkening sky as the deer cooked.

Dianne: "...Well...Maybe he should stay with us. I hate to say it, but we might all be targets, and you said he handles neither stress nor combat well..."

A faint smile curled up one side of Armin's mouth. 'Well, my house is starting to sound very crowded,' he said humorously. Then, more seriously: 'We'll consider it. I don't think Rex is even on our enemies' radar, but we'll discuss it with him when we return. I'd feel safer having him nearby, and my place /is/ big enough, but we'll have to see what he thinks.'

Dianne: "Yeah, we need to ask him."

{She subsides into silence, checking the deer. Seeing that it was nearly done, she starts to gather plates.}

Armin had been watching the last of the sun disappear below the horizon. When the deer was ready, he carved off a small piece for himself, not interested in having any more.

'For when you come to stay with me - you'd better not let Esme destroy any of my stuff,' he warned. The dragonet had shifted close to Dianne, looking for food.

{At that, Dianne laughs.}

Dianne: "Ahahaheheheh...Yeah, yeah, I'll keep an eye on her. Don't worry about that."

{She then takes some venison and feeds it to Esme.}

Esme willingly chewed on the offered meat, despite not liking deer much.

'You'd better,' said Armin. 'I don't wanna get up one morning and find my living room in flames.' He started to eat, quickly working through his portion.

Dianne: "Relax, I got this. But, for the record, that's why most dragons live in rock caves. Inflammable."

'Well, yeah. But we're not going to be living in a cave. As long as she doesn't start randomly throwing fireballs around, I think it'll be OK.' Esme just continued eating, ignoring them both.

Dianne: "It'll be fine, trust me. If she starts, we'll just teach her that it's not ok. Besides, she's not breathing fire inside the truck anyway, why would she set your house on fire?"

'Yes, she's actually only done it once or twice, I think. I'm not /that/ worried. Just wanted to mention it.' Done eating, he put his plate away and sat back to wait for everyone else.

Dianne: "Like I said. I got this."

{After finishing her meal, Dianne begins to pack up.}

Armin stood up, taking a moment to observe the peaceful oak forest before they got moving. He extinguished the fire himself, then jumped into the back of the truck, pursued by Esme. Once he got inside, he tossed her an apple to make up for having to eat venison.

{Dianne closes up the back after getting in, looking at Armin quizzically.}

Dianne: "...Was my deer that bad?"

'It's not about your cooking,' said Armin mildly, as he sat down on the bedding, taking his shoes and coat off. 'I just don't think she likes deer. Figured I'd let her have something she does like.'

{Dianne looks rather put out by that.}

Dianne: "...Fine...We'll try to stop at more bodies of water..."

Armin threw her an odd glance, not quite sure what she was put out about. He then leaned back against the wall, yawning, and gazed out the window at the passing sky.

{Dianne sits on her bedding, looking over at Armin.}

Dianne: "So, do you have enough beds at your place, or do we need to sleep on couches?"

'I'm not sure,' Armin replied. 'It's got two bedrooms, with one bed in each. If Rex is still there, I don't mind sleeping on the couch so you two can have the beds.'

Dianne: " Thank you, I'd appreciate it. I'd bring my own bed but....It's king sized..."

'Yeah, it would be a pain trying to bring that into the house... The couch isn't really big enough for me, but I guess I'll make do. For however long you're staying...'

{Dianne thinks about it for a moment.}

Dianne: "How about this: I'll buy you a couch that folds out into a bed, and Esme and I will sleep on that?"