"It's alright, Lai. These horses aren't like Red Hare." Xiao Qiao assured, walking over to Da. Lai took another small step towards the white horse. She was still at least three feet away and not about to go much faster. Da Qiao stifled a laugh as Lai bit by bit made another six inches toward the steed.

"Are you sure it won't lash out or anything painful will happen?" Lai asked. Everyone in the stable shook their heads no, and even the horse seemed to answer along with a shake of its head.

"Have you ever ridden a horse," Zhou Yu said, "Or come near to one before?"

"Besides rough encounters with Red Hare, no." Lai replied. "…Horses are really big now that I can come close." Lai noted. Gan Ning laughed. 'Everything must be pretty different now that she's living her life instead of struggling for it. I think I can help Lai out here.'

"So you don't know how to ride." Lu Xun stated. Lai shook her head and looked to her feet. She could still feel where Red Hare butted her recently. Lai flinched as she felt a hand rest on her shoulder, the shoulder Lu Bu smashed, and turned to see Gan Ning.

"Oh, whoops, that's your hurt shoulder, huh?" Lai nodded. "Sorry, um, if you want, you could ride with me to Wu," Gan Ning paused, "If that's ok with you." Lai was confused. Someone was asking if something was okay with her? Asking her opinion? Wow, life had changed in a split second.

"S-Sure, but it's not like I really had a choice, huh." Lai kidded. Her small smile came back and she followed Gan Ning to his horse. "Um…how do I get all the way up there?" Without answering, Gan Ning extended an arm out, and as Lai took it, he helped her up onto the saddle in front of him. 'I think she'll be safer up front,' he thought to himself, 'At least she won't fall off.'

"Let's go!" Sun Ce announced, and they all trotted from the stable, past the front gate, and gradually cantering down the mountain path on their way to Wu.

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Lai held her now throbbing arm in her lap as she and Gan Ning rode along with the other warriors. Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Xun had their own horses, the two Qiao sisters shared a horse, with Da Qiao steering, and Gan Ning and Lai on one steed as well.

"You holding up alright?" Gan Ning asked. 'That was a stupid question; of course she's not alright. She's been shaking since we left Dong Zhuo's camp.' Lai contemplated his question. 'That was kind of a dumb thing to ask. This is my first time away from that nightmarish Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu,' she thought, 'and it's my first time near any animal…or anything that isn't threatening.' She was in general overall pain, but she was feeling tired and lightheaded after being beat in the head by Lu Bu. Not to mention she was freaked out about the day's events and how much danger she put herself and everybody in.

"Enough that I can stay on the horse, apparently." Lai tiredly said. 'But I'm not sure how much longer I may be able to stay awake.' Gan Ning chuckled, but knew she was probably tired, and took one hand off the horse's reins and gently set his hand on her injured arm. Gan Ning felt Lai tense even more and look down at Gan Ning's hand for a minute like it was dangerous. 'I didn't mean to scare her,' he thought, 'just wanted to try and calm her down for a moment.' But he heard her sigh and felt Lai lean back, head drooping to her chest. Gan Ning's heart melted again. He immediately questioned why though. Why was he feeling this way about Lai? They had only just met about an hour ago, and he had begun to feel a need to watch over her. He guessed she never had much physical contact besides getting hurt. But Lai was content, which was all that seemed to matter to him right now. Lai fell sound asleep against Gan Ning as the band of fighters rode on, nearing Wu main camp.

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