Money owns this town (PRIVATE FOR REDKITE AND SCARSMATE)

[Scars Mate]

River knew Matias was safe.

Giovanni smells of wolf, she thought to herself. If was true. Being extra sensitive to stuff like that was part of the job description. Dragon Lord, she thought aimlessly. At least that's some protection.

She wished Matias would walk by her, though.

'What's up with Wolfy?' Asked Xavier. River shot him a dirty look.

'Matias,' she muttered. He shrugged.

'Shouldn't he be near you?' He asked.

'He's fine,' she replied, through gritted teeth.

[RedKite]

Giovanni looks up at the mountainous ridge that towered over them. Lana notices Ryder is with him and smiles.

The group pulls to a stop.

"we need to rest down here for tonight, but we'll climb higher tomorrow." Lana explains.

[Scars Mate]

'Fine,' muttered River. She led them to a small overhang, with a cave going back into the rock, about 10 deep. She drew out the blanket and sleeping bag, and turned to Xavier.

'I'll take the blanket.' He shook his head before she even finished.

'Not a chance,' he said, grabbing it from her. 'You take the bag.' He turned to their companions. 'Do you have stuff to sleep in?'

[RedKite]

Lana nods, as does Giovanni, who sits by the open cave entrance, looking at the forest wistfully. Lana frowns slightly, and whispers something to Ryder, the slim, sleek-furred wolf sits down next to Giovanni and rests her head on his lap.

[Scars Mate]

Matias looked wistfully over to Giovanni, but settled his large head onto River's lap anyway.

'I'll take second watch,' Xavier said to the other man, who nodded in acknowledgement. Xavier seated himself at the back of the cave, close, but not too close, to the girls.

'So, what was going on back there,' he said flippantly, referring to River's outburst and sudden friendliness towards Lana.

[RedKite]

Ryder sighs and looks up to Giovanni with her emerald eyes. She shifts her gaze to Matias and seems to acknowledge him. Giovanni watches the wind as it picks up the snow and swirls it around. Lana smiles at Ryder and Giovanni.

[Scars Mate]

'Nothing,' River muttered. To her surprise, he let the subject drop, but she had a hunch it would come up again one way or another.

Matias lifted his head to look at her, his big brown eyes drawing her in. She was safe, with him. He drooped his head, letting it fall against her thigh, before shooting Ryder a wolfy grin, tongue lolling out.

[RedKite]

Ryder seems to raise an eyebrow at the black wolf then stretches out a bit so that her body is completely straight by Giovanni, fur keeping him warm, he takes a deep breath and smiles.

[Scars Mate]

River yawned.

'Well, I'm gonna sleep. Wake me up when you want me to watch.' She burrowed into the sleeping bag, it's warmth slowly enveloping her. Matias was stretched up beside her, and she easily dozed off.

[RedKite]

Lana stays awake, her eyes on Giovanni, Ryder sees her and raises her head as if to ask 'do you want me to come over?' Lana shakes her head, but Ryder gets up anyway and lies down with her.

(GtG. Sorry, one last post after this one and I'm gone, so make it worth while.)