Bastian immediately headed toward the back of the wagon, letting his curiosity sleep with the fishes. Even a cursory glance was reassuring, that all his possessions and more was inside this wagon. After wiping his paws off, he pulled out some clean clothes for Elizabeth and a fresh robe for himself. The material was like caressing a fluffy cloud, softly inhaling their pleasant aroma before sighing.

Seeing his steed steadily growing restless, he headed to the front. Holding both sets of clothes in his left paw. Taking turns to rub both of the horses heads, their heads leaning into his paw. Watching Elizabeth’s reactions and movements, his tail nervously twitched, unconsciously rubbing his own head before glancing up at his own paw.

[i][color=0072bc]“Am I trying to reassure myself, like I was the horses?”[/color][/i] Bastian thought before shrugging it off quickly. The cogs inside his mind started churning out thoughts fast enough to turn cream into butter. He cleared his throat, attempting to focus, stepping forward and handing her the clothes. 

[color=0072bc]“I’ve heard a group of bandits called ‘The Scorned Ravens’ have been getting more bold lately, harassing traveling merchants coming to and from these towns, maybe we were fortunate enough to avoid the areas their most commonly spotted. So we should have safe travels until we reach the city.”[/color] He explained, smiling at her. Unbeknownst to Bastian’s these flyers that he kept seeing plastered on the walls of the city were completely fabricated.

Turning around and going behind the bushes, allowing her some privacy. Hearing sounds of birds chattering amongst themselves in the trees. Unstrapping his belts and discarding his soaked apparel on the ground below, before changing into the robe.

[i][color=0072bc]“I wonder what she thinks of me, after everything that’s happened. The last thing I want is for her to see me as a monster, unable to differentiate from the ones I’ve been trying to stop all my life. Like my father, my grandfather and every generation of my family...and with my unwavering moral code. I hope...I have the chance to teach my kids the same values.”[/color][/i] The hair on the back of his neck stood up, feeling something wet sliding down his cheeks. He quickly starting rubbing both eyes, but anger wasn’t the only repressed emotion flowing, only able to hold his breath like it would grant him invisibility, so Elizabeth wouldn’t see this.

[i][color=0072bc]“...How I am suppose to know when she’s finished changing?”[/color][/i] He blushed when that question crossed his mind.