Chapter 5 - The adventure train

"HA! Even if we did manage to get to see the Arch Duke he wouldn't give a damn!" Bootus saw his views on Jeuno's peacefully ways as realistic, not pessimistic

"What would you suggest then? Try and take back Bastok ourselves?" Vivli wanted to get as far away from the spreading evil she felt coming from Bastok.

"Probably be more point full. We'll travel half way across the world just to be laughed at, hell if you just want to be laughed at I can do it right now!" With that Bootus stuck out a finger aimed at Zinkata and gave out a mock laugh.

"That isn't helpful" The unimpressed look on Zinkata's face gave away the emotion his voice wasn't willing to give up. "Sure there's a chance we might get turned away and in the case we'd just have to go to San d'Oria and Windurst for help. Either way we can't do this on our own. We need help from somewhere."

Before Zinkata's turning to the good side of society he had been the unofficial leader, being the one with the best abilities to be the leader of a group of adventurers. He was sensible, he had rational thinking, he could make tough decisions and he could keep calm in some of the more hectic situations. However them thinking themselves as more of a democratic group they all liked to think they were joint leaders, but knew that if it came down to it they'd allow Zinkata leadership of the group.

"Humph. Fine. But don't come crying to me when they throw your ass in prison for harassing the Duke." Even when Bootus was backing down he managed to make it seem he wasn't. One of those little traits that seemed to anger Vivli.

"Has anyone else noticed the darkness only surrounding Bastok?" Voldos being an un-confrontational being usually sat out the arguments only getting involved when someone is being obviously stupid or because they've forgotten about his obvious perfection. For this reason Voldos had been sitting on the edge of the cliff with Bollo noticing the ever darkening shadow around Bastok.

"That's strange. Wonder if it has something to do with that lady." Still nameless the group made their own choices on what to call the new evil, some were more polite than others.

"It's like Bastok is being covered by a shadow …" Zinkata was starting to guess what it was, but didn't have the heart to tell the others of his theory.

"It is a shadow. The bitch is probably trying to bring forth the shadow lord, or maybe she IS the shadow lord!" However Bootus did. Well not so much as having heart but Bootus preferred to be frank and straight to the point.

"If that's so then the quicker we get to Jeuno the better. That and the longer we stay here the more we tempt an attack." Vivli having found the excuse she need to get the group moving took it with great enthusiasm.

"Heh. What's the hurry? Scared?" Bootus couldn't resist to taunt Vivli even in dire situations like this.

"NO! I told you why! Now lets go before I push the big oaf off this damn cliff." With that Vivli stormed off down the mountain, a slightly annoyed expression on her face, leaving Bootus to bask in another victory over Vivli.

Once the group had made their way to Konschtat Highlands they decided to make camp and rest for their arduous journey ahead. Not one that would be new to them however. They've taken this journey many times before. The first time was on a mission for Bastok to try and open relations between the 3 great nations. This was also the first time they visited Jeuno.

As the group huddled around the fire, with Bollo playing a harmonious melody on his flute, it occurred to Vivli that this was the first time they had shared a camp fire together in a year and this brought a smile on her face. As today had shown something bad always happened when she was with the group of friends however she always felt safer with them. This comforted her after the ordeal she had just been through. Lost in her thoughts, the fire warming her body and music soothing her mind she fell asleep curled up, head resting on Zinkata's lap.

"Has anyone else noticed how Li always sleeps on Zinkata when we're sleeping?" Something that Bootus had noticed awhile ago he'd decided not to put this to the group, seeing if he could see whether or not there was something more going on between the two when Vivli was awake.

"Awwww is Zini sweet on Li?" This was teasing Voldos couldn't resist.

"What? No! Just being nice … ground is cold, gives her something warm and comfortable to rest on."

"Then why are you blushing?" Voldos was now on all fours in front of Zinkata to get a better look at Zinkata's now rosy cheeks. Zinkata tried to get away as much as he could, but could only lean back as he didn't want to wake Vivli. Mainly because he didn't want her to hear the taunting and get ideas about Zinkata's affections, but also he knew how grouchy Vivli could be when she just wakes up.

"Blushing? I, I, I'm not blushing. Just hot is all. I'm too close to the fire. Yeah the fire's too hot." By now Bootus and Bollo were in hysterics, rolling on the floor.

"Then why don't you move back? Or are you enjoying her on your crotch?" Voldos's playful taunting stepped up a gear

"Whu? I, um, eh, uh." Zinkata stuttered trying to think of something to say. "I just don't want to wake Vivli. You know how she gets when you wake her." Zinkata smiled nervously while scratching the back of his head with his right hand.

"Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure. Well I say we leave the love birds alone and go sleep by the Crag of Dem." With that Voldos got up and headed to the Crag, followed by the laughing Bootus and Bollo, leaving Zinkata and Vivli alone.

"But .. No… I …oh lizard poop!" Zinkata was starting to worry. Usually everyone was around when Vivli was using him as a glorified pillow so Zinkata could take his mind off the sleeping Mithra by talking with the guys. However now he was left alone with only Vivli and the glowing fire. The only thing Zinkata could do was try to sleep and forget about the new situation, maybe thinking about the disastrous situation Bastok in could take his mind off it, or what they were going to do now and the… however his thoughts kept going back to the women curled up on his lap. For Zinkata this was going to be a long night.