Lawrence was a much happier man than when the adventurers first arrived at his trading post. Part of it was due to the shenanigans of the previous evening, but another part came from the fact that and most of his stock had been recovered, the bandit problem was contained, and newcomers meant more business. Of course, he did grumble goodheartly that the outpost was becoming too crowded for his taste, and that he came out here in the middle of nowhere to get away from the vices of civilization in the first place. The man could never be satisfied, it seemed.<br/><br/>Horo came out to see them off. The kitsune's blouse was stretched tight around her abdomen, which was slightly swollen. Her hand rested upon her belly and a maternal smile flitted across her face. All she would explain, with a twinkle in her eye, was that it was the result of a secret moon radish recipe passed down from mother to daughter, and that it only affected kitsunes. Probably.<br/><br/>The neighing of a horse and the clopping of hooves interrupted them, as Marisa hitched an old mare to her cart. The diminutive alchemist's ride was rustic affair that evidently had not aged gracefully. It looked as though it would fall apart at any moment were it not for the frayed ropes and reedy twines holding the pieces together - precariously - at strategic points. Piled in the back were jars of ingredients and reagents. As for Marisa herself, she was walking with a funny waddle in her gait, a reminder of Silas's size and stamina, and visibly winced when she sat down in the driver's seat of the cart.<br/><br/>"If you're looking for Bokken too, want to go together?" she asked, possibly one of the longer sentences she had uttered since meeting them.