Over all, Bellant approved of the private car- it was the most comfortable place he’d been in weeks, he didn’t have to sleep in a stable car with horses that were dumber than rocks, and he felt their odds of being jumped by random drunks was much lower. Still, though, if it had been a bit wider in some of the passages, he would have liked it a bit more. But he could get around well enough, and he and Larteis selected one of the rooms on the bottom floor and began unpacking yet again.<br/><br/>“I think I’m growing tired of all this packing and unpacking,” Bellant said, watching Larteis as he removed a few things from their bags. “How long will we be on this train?”<br/><br/>“I don’t know,” Larteis said, unbuckling a strap. “And you’re not doing any unpacking.”<br/><br/>The drake sniffed, turning his head away. “I don’t have much in the way of hands. And I have to carry.”<br/><br/>Larteis didn’t answer, and instead flopped down on the bed, back resting on the mattress but legs hanging off the edge. He closed his hands above his chest so a pocket of air was closed in them, concentrating on something inside them. After a moment, he opened them, and a small green sprout was twined around his fingers.<br/><br/>“Not bad,” Bellant said, watching him again. “What are you going to do with that?”<br/><br/>“Just trying not to fall out of practice. I don’t have much training, but…” He shrugged. “I need to keep what I have.”<br/><br/>“So ask one of the members of this circus for help,” Bellant said. “If we’ve decided to spend endless weeks on the road with them, might as well get something to of them.”<br/><br/>He could feel Larteis’ frown, even if he couldn’t see it from where he was sitting. “Maybe. I don’t know.” He sat up and brushed his hair out of his face where he was sitting with his claws. “I should probably at least head out there.” He wasn’t quite sure why he forced himself into situations that only made him anxious. Probably a residual urge from his mother’s reproachful stare at parties.<br/><br/>“Suit yourself,” Bellant said, curling up on the floor again. “I’m going back to sleep.” He yawned, displaying an expressive set of teeth.<br/><br/>Larteis stepped over him and walked out of the room, ending up in the main sitting area where Magnus and Xaviex were absorbed in a chess match. “Oh!” He said before he could stop himself. “Forgive me, I hadn’t realized you had come along with us. Thank you again for saving me, ah,” he faltered not at the name, but at a proper form of address. “Sir Xaviex,” he tried. His gaze flicked to the chess board. The game had just started, so it was impossible to see who was winning. “May I watch?” He asked.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>After Avis had dropped her bags in her room on the second floor, she headed out of her room with her usual energy. She’d ridden trains before, but usually not in a private car, and never in one this nice. She wasn’t quite sure who had paid for all this, but whoever they were, they could stick around. After a moment of indecision in the hallway, she climbed the stairs up to the top floor of the train. Immediately gravitating towards the windows, she watched the countryside speed by with fascination.<br/><br/>Soon, though, she heard the sound of footsteps, and turned her head away from the window to see Anora climbing the steps. Avis couldn’t remove her initial dislike of the woman from her mind, but the memory of her serious injury on the group’s behalf was there now, too. So she smiled, and said. “Hey. Great view, isn’t it?” She was sure enough that Anora had received plenty of prodding and questions about her injury from her friends and doctor, so she didn’t pry. And if she could climb two flights of stairs, she couldn’t be doing too badly.<br/><br/>-<br/><br/>It took Vasma a bit of time to dissect the Kaya’s title into something useful, but she nodded. “A pleasure to meet you. Do you have a shorter form of address?” She didn’t object to Kaya’s presence on the trip, though, if she was as capable as she claimed at least in combat. And she had a point- they needed to get moving. After a few more back and forths, Tarkus led the crusade forward.<br/><br/>Vasma began to follow, privately hoping that the new members of their group wouldn’t keep up quite as quick a pace as Tarkus’ legs allowed- it got irritating having to almost run just to keep up with another’s walk. “Good to meet you all,” she said. “What brought us together today?"