"Haha. Everyone's such a comedian today." Ruli said, though he smirked behind his cup. "I suppose that's a compliment. Passive way of admitting I looked like shit the past few days." He grunted, turning his coffee cup idly in his fingers. "Its a terrible drink, really. But it gets your head swimming quickly, so there's a perk to choking it down."
"And I'm not wishing for anything. [i]She[/i] is." Ruli pointed out, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb. "She's outside. I've already promised her I'd spar with her when we return. Assuming she still needs to burn through the aggression. I swear, her kind self-destruct when they don't have an outlet for their violence."

After he'd gotten up to grab a small plate of breakfast, Kire mentioned taking the last of Ed's men to Amria. Ruli took another sip of his coffee, turning his attention to Narda shortly after. "Mmmhm. He's in the caves." He said, pulling his bacon apart with his fingers to eat in pieces. "He'll see us all off before we go, I'm sure."
He missed the smile Ed gave to Narda, oblivious to the interest between one and the other giant.
When Kire rose and said she'd go, Ruli nodded, downed his coffee and the last of his breakfast, and rose to his feet. "Meet you in there." He said to the remaining two before he slipped back out again and into the sun-bright city. 

After taking a moment to detour to his little house for his sword and, he knew Kire would comment on, his boots, Ruli returned to the caverns, trying to pat down his ornery hair. Ed and Narda were already present, Envy standing near the giantess. Ruli supposed Envy enjoyed having someone to compete with in height. Zeke and Ysaryn were still no where to be found.
"Back to that spot just outside the border, right?" Ruli said, shifting his shoulders and rolling his neck as if expecting to roll directly into a fight. 
He turned when he heard the familiar lilt of Ysaryn's voice as she grumbled at Zeke, who walked in beside her. He gazed at the group of them in silent plea to get her to leave him alone, his cheeks splotched in redness from whatever she had growled at him. 
"Ys." Ruli said, and the elf rounded on him. 
"That is not my name." She said sharply.
Rolling his eyes, Ruli reached out, beckoning her near. Zeke looked grateful that she accepted and moved to stand beside the blond. "[i]Stop picking on him.[/i]"
"[i]He's a big boy.[/i]" Ysaryn sniffed. 
"[i]If you want to pick on a 'big boy', pick fights with Envy.[/i]"

Envy only chuckled as Ysaryn crossed her arms. "Are you all ready?" The Kartaian asked. "I don't want to fret and tell you all to be back at a certain time mark, but please do not linger more than you need to." He requested, tilting his head slightly to listen for each of them where they stood.
"We'll be alright." Zeke said. 
"Mmm. Clearly we're all too stubborn to die." Ruli said casually, stuffing his hands in his pockets. Months here, and he still wasn't used to the lower temperature, even after the time in the chilly mountains. "Two to each of us." Ruli said, reaching for Ed and Kire. Ysaryn, in turn, offered her hands to Zeke and Narda. "We'll be back." He promised to the largest of them, before they vanished, pulled into the nothing. 

The woods in which they arrived were slightly dimmer than the bright coast, the sun not quite over the horizon here. Ruli dropped his passengers and stuffed his hands back into his pockets, his eyes shifting at once to the Lithilote border.
"After you." Zeke said, gesturing to Kire, her hand pointing westward. "Ysaryn, you're our scout again, Ruli and Narda, take the rear."
"[i]Make friends with a pretty elf and suddenly he thinks hes the boss.[/i]" Ysaryn complained, drawing her blades. She rolled her shoulders, loosening her joints.
"[i]He always thinks he's boss.[/i]" Ruli commented. "[i]Its half the reason he[/i] was [i]the boss in Ziad. No one wanted to argue.[/i]"
Ysaryn chuckled, and Zeke gave them both a dark look. He didn't have to understand to get the feeling they spoke about him. "You want to take control?" He snapped at Ruli.
"I thought I'd leave that to the empress." Ruli answered casually, and Ysaryn flashed a crooked grin. 
Zeke frowned, then threw up his hands in dismissal as he walked. Still, Ruli fell into place toward the back of the group as they walked, silent so Ysaryn could listen over the sound of their feet.