[color=D6CC88]Zander ran off ahead like a sulky child.  Amuné hoped he would stay run off.  Then she wouldn't have to deal with him.  But Geoffrey provided a wonderful distraction now.  She blinked at the thought of telling stories.  But maybe she had one or two that would work -- or ones her daddy had told her about when he'd travelled with the Ydran tribe he'd grown up with.  She took the reed leaf the innkeeper's son handed her, running her fingers over the rough surface.  But the sudden shriek the man made caused her to scowl, and jerk her shoulders up as if to protect her ears.  "No!  Don't do that here, you'll scare the horses!" she scolded him, angry that he'd be so inconsiderate.  Jorvind pranced under her, and she reached a hand forward to stroke the gelding's neck, trying to soothe him.  "That's mean!" the girl accused, but the animals calmed quickly enough so she let it go.  "Daddy taught me how to do that with grass but he said don't do it where I'll frighten the animals.  He doesn't even need a piece of grass, he just sticks his fingers in his mouth and out pops a loud whistle.  Mommy and I tried that, but we can't, we just look silly."


When Geoffrey started playing his flute, the girl fell silent to listen.  It was an interesting song.  Pretty, but a little spooky too.  Still, it was nice enough.

---

That evening, Amuné watched the stars after they'd had dinner.  Nymira commented about her clothing, and the girl looked at the Dimuran in surprise.  "That's what washing them's for," she responded, not understanding why someone would want to get all new clothes before they were too worn to fix anymore.  Maybe a couple sets instead of just one, but hadn't Nymira packed a bag before she'd left home?  She didn't really care.  The girl was just exhausted, physically and mentally.  Wyth at her side, she made her way to where Ethan was lying down.

"Can I sleep with you?" she asked him, quickly snuggling close when he said she might.  "I thought you said your friend was waiting for you," Amuné said softly, also looking up at the stars.  "Why do you need to go get him?  Did something happen?"[/color]