Lyra is easy to include. She's very transient, and easy-going. She could have met any of the other characters, and decided to follow along with them on an adventure. She loves to see new places and explore new lands, so she'd happily tag along with everyone else.<br/><br/>As far as Aerynnel goes, she might have sensed something unusual going on in that direction, and she's headed that way to investigate. She says (we're having lunch atm) that it might make the most sense for her to join the group as soon as soon as something bad happens. She stumbles onto the scene, for example.<br/><br/>If that doesn't work (because of the plot), then maybe she's making the trip that way as well, and she just decided that a few days of human companionship might give her some insight into local news.