Setting for the Night:

"Saito? Saito? Wake up, soups up." I heard Louise as she shook me awake. I groaned in complaint as I rubbed my eyes. Louise was kneeling next to me with a bowl of what appeared to be a plain broth with some lumps of meat floating in it. "I know it's nothing grand, but it's better than plain broth." Louise smiled.

"Now there's something to wake up to." I smiled back. Louise blushed a bit as she held out my bowl of soup. As I took the bowl, my stomach growled fiercely. It was then that I remembered that I had not eaten for the whole day. I took one spoonful of broth before I disregarded the spoon all together and just drank from the bowl.

As I looked around, I saw that two tents and a small fire were set up a bit away with Guiche and Montmorency sitting around it. Tabitha was still unconscious beside me.

"You don't need to be a pig about it you know." Louise smiled as she sat there and watched me. It almost made me forget about how she blew me up. Almost. But right now didn't seem like the appropriate time to bring that little discussion up.

"So how's camp set up gone?" I asked as I put the bowl.

Louise didn't seem to like the turn of the conversation. "Well, you're lucky Guiche was here, otherwise we wouldn't have a camp, or supper for that matter. I certainly didn't know how to set up a tent, and neither did Montmorency."

"Ok, so what's the problem?" Louise seemed like she was trying to purposely avoid a subject, but was having a hard time doing it.

"We don't have enough…" Louise mumbled.

"Have enough what, Louise? You're going to have to speak up."

"We don't have enough tent space." Louise said. "Guiche didn't bring one and te ones we have only fit two people each."

"All right, I think that's plenty of room though."

"But what about Tabitha?" Louise pointed to the still unconscious mage.

"Oh, right." I considered Tabitha, and then I thought of her own stuff. "Have we found any of her supplies?"

"No." Louise shook her head. "After we noticed the shortage of space, we all went looking, but we didn't find anything that looked like a camp anywhere near here."

"Well, let me give a look around." I said as I tried to stand. I failed as Louise pushed me back down.

"Oh no you're not. You've already passed out three times today, I'm not going to let you push yourself any further than you have already."

"Fine, fine. I'll just give up my spot then."

"Negative to that too. You're too weak to sleep outside unguarded. We don't know what kind of ravaging animal could be out here, and you defiantly couldn't defend yourself if something happened. Guiche already gave up his spot."

"The what's the problem?" I asked in genuine confusion. If Guiche was sleeping out side, that left four people with enough space to sleep.

"I, we, don't know how to set up sleeping arrangements." Louise grumbled.

"Well that's easy. Tabitha and Montmorency in one and you and me in the oth-" I cut midsentence as I remembered just this morning. "Oh."

"Yeah." Louise scratched the back of her head. "I don't really know either. Montmorency is pushing it as normal, but…"

"It is a bit strained." I admitted. "And it would look a bit odd to the others if you didn't. But, there's your sudden mood swings-"

"My sudden what?" Louise glared at me.

"See? Right there. That's exactly what I'm talking about. You always seem to take offense to every little thing I say."

"If you said less offensive things, I wouldn't take as much offense."

"Yeah, right." I sighed. "Look, we're just going to have to get over the awkward and just bunk up for the night."

"Just as long as you don't try anything again." Louise mumbled.

"Hey! I didn't do anything, you're the one who jumped to con-"

"SISTER!" I girl's voice rang out across the clearing. "Where are you?"

"That's new." Louise said as she stood up, alert. "Does Tabitha have any siblings?"

"I dunno. She never talks about home, but Kirche hasn't gossiped about any either, so I'm inclined to say no." Guiche and Montmorency also looked a bit disturbed, but settled down after a second.

"And I doubt Montmorency has any that would have followed her out here. Well then, we have a little girl lost in the forest then. I'm going to go look for her." Louise said as she turned to leave.

"I'll go too." I said as I stood up.

"No you're not!" Louise turned back to me. "What did I just say? You're too weak to go on a-"

"SISTER!" A small, blue haired girl came into the clearing that was our camp. Guiche and Montmorency jumped at the sight of her, but the girl didn't even seem phased by the sight of a camp. "Sister!" The girl brightened up as she looked our direction.

"Well, I think we just got an answer." Louise said as we watched the girl run to and hug the unconscious form of Tabitha.

"You made me worry so much! After you didn't come back from patrol and left me all alone with no food! Do you have any idea how hungry I am right now?" She asked as she held Tabitha out at arms length. In response, Tabitha's head rolled forward. "Oh no! Please don't be dead! Who would I go to if you died?" The girl began to cry.

"She's not dead, she's just unconscious. Now who are you?" Louise demanded as she looked down at the kneeling girl. The girl just looked up, wide-eyed, like she was just noticing there were other people around her.

"Oh, I'm Sylph- uh, Illococoo. Yeah, that's the one." The girl said as she stood up. She was just slightly taller than Louise, and this didn't seem to help Louise's mood.

"All right Illococoo, now why are you here?"

"I'm looking for my sister of course!" Illococoo seemed a bit defensive now. "Isn't that obvious?"

"I don't know. As far as I know, Tabitha doesn't have any sisters."

"Tabitha? Oh right! Well, Tabitha doesn't tend to talk much, and, uh, I only see her when we go hunting!" Illococoo was making up on the spot. I could tell, and I think Louise could too. But she seemed harmless enough, and she did seem genuinely relieved when she learned Tabitha was fine.

"Hey Louise? Do we have any of that soup left?" I asked.

"Yeah, why? You still hungry?" Louise looked at me.

"Then lets give this poor girl some food. You heard how hungry she is." I picked up the bowl and smiled.

"But we don't even- Urg, fine. But I'm blaming you for anything that goes wrong with her." Louise huffed as she snatched the bowl and marched toward the dazed and confused couple.

"Yay food!" Illococoo cheered.

"Yes, food. Now, can you tell me where you came from?" I asked as the girl jumped around in excitement.

"Um, that way I think?" Illococoo pointed to where she had entered the clearing.

"Did you walk in a straight line, or did you wander?"

"A straight line, like always. It gets difficult on the ground though." Illococoo pouted.

"So you fly with your sister on her familiar?"

"I am her familiar." Illococoo blurted before thinking of what she said. She quickly covered up her mouth. "Forget I said that. Sister told me not to tell anyone."

"All right, it'll be our little secret, deal?"

"Deal!" Illococoo brightened up.

"What deal?" Louise asked as she came back over with a filled bowl.

"She said that she'll lead us back to her camp so that we can move all of Tabitha's stuff here." I said as I took the bowl and handed it to Illococoo. "Right?"

"Right!" She nodded vigorously as she grabbed the bowl from my hands. She didn't even try tasting the soup. Instead, Illococoo forgoed using the spoon and just drank the whole bowl. "Hah, delicious, can I have another?"

"You just drank the last of it." Louise said in shock at Illococoo's actions. "So, where is Tabitha's stuff?"

"That way." Illococoo pointed the same way again.

"So let's go get it shall we?"

"What did I say before?" Louise glared at me. "You're too weak to go anywhere. Just sit down and rest while we go get the stuff."

"Um, I don't know." I glanced at Illococoo.

"I said you're staying, and that's that." Louise poked me in the chest. I toppled back onto the ground. "See? You can't even stand up against a stiff breeze, less to say having to go anywhere. So just stay here and make sure Tabitha has someone around when she wakes up."

"All right." I grumbled. I didn't like being bossed around by my familiar, but she did have a point. "Fine then, go and get Tabitha's stuff." I waved.

"Right." Louise nodded sharply. "Come on you." Louise grabbed Illococoo and started to drag her off.

"Hey! There's no reason to be so rough." Illococoo complained as she followed Louise. I sighed as I moved back to against the tree and watched as Louise grabbed Montmorency, who in turn grabbed Guiche and they headed off into the forest.

I watched over the empty campsite from my position for several minutes before finally yawning and starting to drift back off to sleep. Tabitha's groans made me stop however. I turned over to see her slowly coming back to consciousness. I moved myself in front of her and waited for her to come around on her own. As her eyes slowly opened, she set her eyes on me and snapped awake.

As she lurched to the side, she groaned in pain and I grabbed her by the shoulders. "Hey now, no need to be hasty, you took Louise's explosion directly. Try not to exert yourself too much, I'm under the same orders."

Tabitha looked over my shoulders and saw the camp. "Where's everyone?" She asked shortly.

"Um, they kind of went looking for your stuff." I sat back and scratched my head. "With your… eh hem… sister." Tabitha's eyes widened in surprise.

"Where are they?" Tabitha asked again, this time more urgently.

"They went for your stuff, don't worry." I tried to calm her, without much success. "It's not that big of a deal, Illococoo knows where they're going."

"But Sylphid…" Tabitha tapered off. Tabitha laid back and smiled. "All right."

"Really?" One second she seems to be freaking out, the next, she's completely fine. I knew Tabitha was a calm and collected girl, but I have seen those exact same types of men. Shin was the same way in a way, and when he got angry, he got angry. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes. Now, where's my staff?" Tabitha asked as she began to stand.

"Oh no you don't." I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her down. "We're not going anywhere. I don't know where your staff is, or my wand for that matter. They're probably still up the hill where we got blown up."

"I have my mission." Tabitha said as she reinforced her efforts to leave.

"No you don't." Tabitha stopped to look at me. "You're mission was to eliminate the Spirit of the lake correct?" Tabitha nodded. "For flooding?" Another nod. "Then don't worry, we solved that. With a promise, she promised to recede back to her original banks." Tabitha lay back down against the tree. "So, we agree to find my wand and your staff in the morning?" Tabitha just nodded again. "All right then. I would offer you food, but Illococoo ate the last of it."

"That's fine. I have my own reserves." Tabitha reassured me.

"Oh good." I sighed as I sat back against the tree again. After a measurable pause, Tabitha actually spoke to me first.

"Saito?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For staying."

"Yeah, well, thank Louise when she gets back, she made me stay."

"Maybe I will." I sat up to look at her, but she was asleep. I just shook my head and awaited the others to get back. It wasn't long until the four made their way back, and I could tell they were coming five minutes from when they showed up because of how much they were making. When they were in sight, I could see why they were making so much noise.

They were carrying the bags that should have all been carried by Sylphid. Guiche was bagged down with most of it while Louise and Montmorency were having trouble with what was left.

"What is up with all of this?" I asked as I stood up to help.

"It was all just lying there." Guiche huffed as he dropped what sounded like pots and pans. "Just how long do you think she's been out here?"

"A day or two maybe." I guessed. "Probably longer though."

"She has been gone from school for a while." Montmorency said as she delicately put down her portion. "But I'm kind of worried for Sylphid."

"Why do you say that?" I asked as I took a quick glance at Illococoo.

"Well, if we have Tabitha and Sylphid is nowhere around here, what are we going to say to Tabitha when she wakes up?" Louise posed as she sat down. "I mean, you would be scared out of your mind if I up and disappeared, right?"

"Of course I would!" I jumped at any accusation that I didn't care for Louise. "But, I don't think we have to worry. Tabitha's a pretty levelheaded girl, I'm sure she has faith in Sylphid. She is a dragon after all."

"I guess you're right." Montmorency sighed. "But it's getting pretty late, we should all probably turn in."

"Um, I see a problem now." I said, gaining everyone's attention. "We have Illococoo now, and we still only have room for four people."

"You're right." Guiche considered the tents. "We could always squeeze three to one of them."

"We already went over that Guiche. Three is too cramped to sleep properly." Montmorency berated him. "What about Tabitha's stuff? Surely she should have at least a one person tent."

"Illococoo?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course we have one. But, I don't know how to set it up."

"Well, we can always figure that out." I patted her on the head. "So which pack is it in?"

"Um, this one?" She pointed at one of the packs on the ground.

"Are you sure? That felt like cooking stuff to me." Guiche questioned Illococoo's choice.

"I dunno. Sister packed it all so fast, I didn't see properly." Illococoo looked down.

"I guess we go though until we find it." I sighed.

"No need." Tabitha said. I turned to see her standing, but supporting herself against the tree.

"Sister!" Illococoo squealed in glee as she tackled her sister. "You had me sooo worried! But your friends gave me yummy food and took care of you so well that I brought all of our stuff here."

"I can see that." Tabitha patted Illococoo on the head. "The tent is in that one." Tabitha pointed to the bag next to the one Illococoo had pointed at. "It's the same."

As Guiche and I unpacked the bag, we found that she was right. It was exactly the same as the tents we already had set up. After a few minutes of fussing, we got the tent up.

"So, I guess that means we have enough space for everyone." I said as I stood up.

"Yeah, space." Louise mumbled.

"So, what about all of our stuff then?" I asked everyone, preferring to overlook Louise's comment. "We can't just leave it lying around."

"Oh don't worry about that." Guiche brought out his rose. He swept it around in a circle, losing six petals in an even pattern. They floated for a second before flying off and implanting themselves in the ground. There was suddenly a medium sized wall surrounding the camp. "It might not stand up to major attacks, but it should keep any wild animal out."

"I'm going to bed." Tabitha said as she scrounged through the bag Louise brought and pulled out a pillow and blanket. Without another word, she headed to her tent and not a peep was heard afterward.

"We all should." Montmorency yawned. "Guiche, you're with me."

"Of course my dear. Just let me get-"

"Oh no, no comforts for you. You get the ground." Montmorency headed into the tent, dragging Guiche by the collar behind her.

"So, is our stuff already in the tent?" I asked Louise.

"Yes." She replied shortly.

"Well, it's just like the Inn, right?"

"Maybe." Louise said without any emotion.

"Come on Louise, let's just get some proper sleep before heading back to school."

"Yeah." I ducked into the tent and found what I expected. It was just two blankets and two pillows, separated by just enough space to move around to not elbow your tent mate. I just picked a side and lay down to sleep and faced the tent wall. Louise crawled into the other space without a word.

"Goodnight Louise."

"Night Saito."

It was an uncomfortable silence, but I somehow managed to fall asleep. Peaceful, actual sleep this time.