[i]I can't bring this many books. If I carry them all, I won't be able to walk.[/i]

Liaset sat on the floor of his room, surrounded by a small library. He had stacked them all by subject, then alphabetically, then by color, and then by author's last name. Then, he took them all down and rearranged them again. Still, he couldn't figure out which ones to take with him, and he had barely slept, trying to figure this all out.

[i]If I take the monster encyclopedia, I'll be well-informed about what I might meet on the road. But if I don't take this other one, then what if I'm bored? Or what if I have a question that only this one can answer?[/i]

He needed to eat. He needed to change his clothes. Most of all, he needed rest. He wondered if any of the caravan members had managed to sleep that night. Probably not, unless they were that Selkie, Rika. She could sleep through anything, he'd bet.

Liaset rubbed his eyes. There were so many books, and so little time before he had to leave.

∞∞∞

"What?! No!"

Liaset woke with a start, his cheek pressed to one of his favorite books. No! That's terrible! He didn't have any more time to pick out his favorite books, and now he was late! Quickly, Liaset shoved his journal into his backpack, reshelved the rest of the books, and ran down the stairs to his kitchen.

"Bring something to eat on the road with you," his mother said to him, nodding. "It's good you could get some rest, but be careful out there." Liaset's mother handed him an ear of round corn, kissed him on the cheek, and gestured to his helmet. "Better be putting that on if you're going to meet your friends out there."

Liaset muttered his thanks, hugged his mother, and dashed out of the house.

∞∞∞

Liaset's family followed him to the bridge to give him a proper send-off. Liaset ran toward the others, his clothes flapping, adjusting his helmet. "So," he panted, stopping short of bumping into Lyle. "What's going on? Are we ready to go?"