"Sounds like a plan." Knight nodded with a muscular stretch.<br/>Before he had even relaxed, he heard the familiar ring of Matthew's phone. There was no question (in Knight's mind anyway), he knew who was calling his friend - again. Just his tone brought Knight down himself. His up-tight father, calling again with a who what when where why or how. He was always on Matthew's case and he couldn't understand why he took it so much. He was a grown man. But he also understood Matthew needed to realize that for himself.<br/>As he responded with his typical 'yes sirs' Knight raised his head with an overly dramatic eye roll just for Matthew to see. He knew their plans were out the window with whatever was going on at Matthew's soon-to-be inherited building.<br/>"Maybe one day you'll blow him off the way everyone else gets put off." he smirked.<br/>He knew it might have been hard living in a shadow of that nature, but he wouldn't know since he never really knew his parents. He forced himself to be responsible. To his luck, it was all worth it.<br/>"It's fine. We'll catch up whenever you're done. I was going to go check out a seminar on campus anyway."<br/>Just as Matthew was ready to trot off, Knight pushed his hair back and called to him,<br/>"I hope that bug up his ass isn't contagious." he laughed.<br/>With a slight shake of his head, he looked up to the sun, almost glowing from the reflection emitting from his cheeks before pulling the lengthy chain from his slack pocket and dangling a brass pocket watch from it. The seminar wouldn't start for another hour, and the campus was only fifteen minutes away if he walked quickly. To his avail, he would be able to leisurely stroll to class.<br/>As he stood, he tucked the gentle ticker back into his slacks and pulled his plain shirt down. Tucking the book next to his wrist, he began his walk as the mass of children breezed by him again. Another eye roll, plus persisting irritation followed his wondering where the oblivious parents of these trouble makers were. Just as she looked up, he saw them collide with someone else. Though she looked a little less than unkempt and young, that was no way to treat a lady in his book. A quick skip and a trot of his lengthy legs brought him right next to her, kneeling down and picking the stack of - whatever had fallen from her bag.<br/>"Those little monsters have been tearing through her for hours. Are you alright?" he said with his eyes raised to meet hers.<br/><br/>-------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Life was always on something of a constant spin for the Gypsy families. Though some found solace in the roots they made for themselves, they found their rest in their travel. Comfort was a difficult thing to settle in among many gypsy clans, often forced from their camps and cursed as plunderers. They traveled through lands far and near, some looking the same, time and time again, while other's opened a whole new adventure. Through each venue, it was custom to carve an emblem among their surroundings. Each caravan had a family crest they treasured to distinguish between one another. The Dalca's were no different.<br/>The discernible clicking of hooves startled a few from their dazing as they descended into the tree line. The desert lands had fallen far behind them, and a more abiding place welcomed them into its realm. The shading of the trees were a blessing to this loving family. Their weary began to weigh on them like never before. Many times had they traveled for weeks without rest, barely stopping to water their horses. But this trek had cost them months. Their previous home of sand and wind was nothing they had not encountered, but it was not so expected to run short of supplies - a first to be sure. Though grateful for their new lands, they remained apprehensive about this world by it's unique display. Though they had encountered a lofty forest before, these woods were dense and unbending - and without any warning as to what lay shortly on the other side. The further they proceeded from the mountains, the harder the distance could be identified.<br/>Smaller than most caravan families, the Dalca's were of few and enjoyed the bonds they shared. Their laughter often filled their tents and brought them closer, no matter the subject. They were led by their eldest grandfather, Nicodia. His stern face gave him the air of leadership, but beneath was a heart any child could hold. His burly stature was not undone in any way, even whilst upon the back of his trusted Boulonnais steed, Alune. His broad backside and imposing stature provided generous support in their long journeys. A proud, yet unnatural 17.1 hands tall. They was often in conversation with his sons, Bastian and Victor, solid men who could easily double as soldiers. They were one in the same, clearly marked as family with their matching, flat noses and medium flesh. The only other who may have been taken for blood was Nicodia's half sister, Yalina, who the children so often called 'Auntie Yaga.' She was a quiet woman, full of tales and prophecies, even so through all the dark secrets she knew of this world. The cart she drove bustled with a heap of children at times. Their simple, four posted flat on wheels hosted the bulk of their family. Bastian's two sons, Sorin and Lucus, just approaching the ages of nine and thirteen, spent their days teasing their cousin Anca, an innocent at age seven. Her sisters often ignored their torments, focusing on their jewels and charms to impress those they met. Cameilla, still spry at the age of sixteen kept a vast collection of trinkets laced up her arms, all the way to her ears. She was never without her ornaments. Her eldest sister, Cossette kept more to herself these days. Though she still shared her pleasurable company with others, she found herself catering more to the changes that came with her swelling belly. The second of their carts was driven by the dull Laleina. She was quiet and grew more droll every day, typically going on about her husbandless future now that she had turned 20. She always seemed to find herself too old and too ugly - which the family could not counter firmer. Her wagon was filled with most of their supplies - when available. There were the pieces of their family who had their history written across their tender faces. Dimitrie watched over his sister Ilia after their mother was taken into slavery. Though he was only eleven, he often watched over her with all his strength. She was a spunky six year old who was too young to remember her mother's departure. It was only now at six she began to ask questions. Their cousins Xania, Mariana, and Marco we're all separated from their families and homes, but keep together as they turned twelve, fourteen, and seventeen.<br/>Bringing up the rear of their convoy was a horse. The strapping brother of Alune with a much darker coat. His deep, bay hide was easily masked in the darkened forest with the aid of his rider. Unlike the rest, sitting tall and prideful atop their steeds, a lifeless body slung across his back - a foot by each of his withers, while a face remained unseen beneath a vibrant turquoise blanket of cloth.<br/><br/>After their continuous trekking, Nicodia slowed his family to a halt, lining along the tree line to observe the distance. Cameilla was the first to jump, enamored by the shining surfaces of the city. It had been a long time since they passed something larger than a small town. It was, different, to say the least. They all stared blankly, occasionally looking back and forth from one another, save for the caboose, still lounging carelessly.<br/>"The road up the way would lead us there." Nicodia said without conviction.<br/>"Father, we should press on. We never settle in cities." Victor murmured to his father.<br/>"We are running low. And people in places like this seem to be far more willing to let people like us buy their food and use their shelter." He replied with a stern raised brown. "Come my children. We will make came just beyond this tree line. And wake her. She cannot sleep all day."<br/>Victor raised his brown with a skeptical look, turning it back towards the first his eyes caught. His sons, of course - Sorin and Lucas. Their mischievous little eyes looked at one another before hopping out of their cart, over the weary horses pulling their luggage cart and over Laleina to the roof of her ride. The boys looked at one another once more, both aiming in unison as though they were twins of the same mindset, and reliesing the oversized pine cones from their sling shots.<br/>Bullseye, one on the but one on the head.<br/>"Hey!" A young voice shouted from beneath the flapping blanket.<br/>Like a gust of wind, a young maiden drew back the turquoise cover, a gorgeous mane of chocolate hair flying back as her head turned front ways to spy her attackers, the horse below her letting off a loud neigh.<br/>"What're you laughing at?" she grumbled, "Boys! I'm gonna shoot the shit out of the both of you if you-"<br/>She paused, well aware they were already resting back comfortably with the family as she stared into the shimmering town. A heavy sigh escaped her nose as she pursed her lips, her deft fingers gripping the dark teal fabric in her lap.<br/>"I wonder what we can expect from this one." she said to herself quietly.