I would like to appologize to everyone who has been reading my story. I was doing really well in updating when I first started, but then I had a run of technological bad luck. My computer died. Don't worry, I was able to get my important suff off of it, but the whole hard drive had to be whiped clean. Once that was done, and I thought I was in the clear, my mom decided to switch internet companies, which turned out to not work out, so I had no internet for a very loooooooong time. But now, I have my computer back, networking in back up at my house, and I have Sundays off from work, so I am ready to write and update and be creative. I want to thank you for your patience and ChibiSess for her reminder. I'm up and running now! Thanks guys! Love ya all! 0)

Chapter Five – Camp out!

They walked up a stony pathway into one of the rocky out crops. They had gone about 12 yars up when the path curved and opened onto a ledge leading into a cave. The second sun had almost set by this time. They had very little light left by which to set up camp.

Vash gently laid his burden on the ground being careful not to irritate her serious wounds. He stretched his arms out trying to get the blood flowing in them again. He then took his pack off of the unicorns back, and after some arguing with Fantus on how it should be done, took the rest of Cyric's tack off as well. Attached to the saddle Vash found a bedroll and a blanket, he set these on the ground and moved her ever so gently onto the roll, replacing his coat with the blanket, which was rewarded with a soft sigh instead of a moan or a hiss like he was expecting. She must be getting better, he thought as he smiled down at her.

He put his coat back on to ward off the chill of oncoming night. There was a trace of her scent left on it, leather and roses! I haven't been around that scent since- He shook his head, clearing it of the painful memories he wished to forget. Looking up he saw Cyric looking at him again. Why does he keep doing that? I feel like he is trying to look into my soul when he looks at me like that. Vash put his attention back onto the task at hand. He had pulled out a lantern from his pack and was trying to light it before the last sun went down.

"Need some help with that?" came the cherry call, as Fantus landed on his shoulder. "I'm good at lighting stuff."

"Yeah I know you are. You've nearly lit me on fire several times today!"

The drake looked at the man, and then at the lantern he was still trying light. Then a mischievous grin appeared on his reptilian face. He took a deep breath.

"Fantus don't-" yelled Cyric, but it was to late.

The drake sent out a jet of flame at the lantern. The sudden burst of light and heat sent Vash head over heals backwards. When he came up, he had a very shocked and surprised look on his face and sometime during the tumble he had instinctively drawn his gun. "What the hell was that!" He yelled at the little green creature rolling on the ground in laughter.

"Your face! That was hysterical!" He was laughing so hard he almost couldn't breath. Vash looked at the unicorn, he had moved to shield Jenna from the drake's little prank. The unicorn nodded to his unspoken question. Good, she's OK. He placed his gun back in its holster and went to see what kind of damage Fantus had done. Surprisingly there was very little. The jet of fire had hit the burners and merely lit them. What the, I would have expected the whole thing to be completely melted. But it's all intact, except for some scorch marks. The gas container wasn't even touched!

"I amplified it." The drake had regained some of his composure enough to talk through his laughter.

"You what?" asked Vash.

"I amplified my fire. It's a very simple trick."

At Vash's blank look the dragon stopped laughing. "It's not any fun when you have to explain the joke!" He whined. "I" he pointed at himself, "made the Fi-re," he pointed at the tiny flame in the lantern, "big-ger." He spread his arms and wings out as far as they would go.

Vash bent down till he almost touched noses with the drake, "I know what it means spark plug! What I don't understand is why you think that lighting us all on fire is funny." Vash growled. "If that can the light sits on had actually caught on fire, we wouldn't be here, she," he pointed at Jenna's sleeping form, "wouldn't be here, and after all I went through to patch her up, I would not be very happy." That and I wouldn't get a chance to ask her to dinner. He kicked himself again for that. She's still out dummy!

Fantus looked into the eyes of the human whose face was in front of him. He's really angry with this! No one was in any danger; it was only a bit of fun! Then he looked over at Cyric, and saw the look etched in his equine features as he stood protectively over Jenna.

The human is right Fantus. Cyric sent the thought out, I don't know what causes the lantern to stay lit, but I do sense that it is dangerous.

Fantus looked back at the human's angry face. He dropped to all fours and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry." He murmured. "I didn't realize-" he stopped.

Vash had put his hand on the drake's head. "Its alright." Fantus looked up and Vash was smiling again. "Just watch out next time."

Watch out next time? This human changes moods faster than a sea wind! Fantus just looked at him with surprise on his face and watched as Vash began to rummage through Jenna's saddlebags.

"You guys got anything good to eat? I'm starving!"

Fantus and Cyric exchanged looks. Cyric went back to watching the man, Fantus merely shrugged. Humans, what can you do with 'em. He smiled his toothy grin and flew the few feet to Vash's shoulder where he perched once more.

Vash looked at the drake with a perplexed expression, "There's nothing in her bags!"

Fantus chuckled, "That's because you didn't ask them for what you wanted."

"I'm supposed to ask a saddlebag for food? What am I supposed to say 'Saddlebag, I'd like some food please' yeah like that's gonna happe-" Just asVash said that,Jenna's food supply, or what was left, suddenly appeared in the bag. Vash stared at it for a moment, shook his head and said, "I'm never going to get used to you guys. What is this?" He had picked up a package of what looked like cakes.

"Way bread." Fantus answered through his laughter. "Its all we have left. So unless you have something better, then it will have to do for now." Then as an afterthought he added, "If you think we are hard to get used to, wait till she wakes up!" His fit of laughter started all over again.

Vash looked over at the sleeping woman. "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll see lad, you'll see." was the only response the little creature would give.

Vashknew by the mischievous look in the drake's eyes that he wouldn't get any other kind of answer, so he shrugged it off.

By this time the suns had both gone down. The only light that they had was coming from Vash's lantern. Fantus had noticed this and asked, "don't you guys have firewood for a proper fire?"

"Trees aren't very numerous on this planet, so wood is scarce. But I do have something that can help with the light issue." replied Vash. He pulled his pack over and started to rummage through. He pulled out what looked to Fantus like a discus. Curious, he leaned farther over the human's shoulder and watched closely.

Vash looked at the drake, "No fire this time."

"I know I know! No fire. Got it."

Using his lighter he lit the circular object. This time it was Fantus' turn to fall backwards with a squawk.

"What is that thing?" he asked as he pulled himself back onto his now favorite perch.

"It's a portable gas stove. Comes in handy for a wanderer like me."

The stove indeed had come in handy, for it brightened their campsite with the same amount of light that a normal fire would.

Vash sat on a nearby rock and began munching on the way bread he had gotten out of the "magic" saddlebags. Fantus glided over to the packs grabbing some for himself and the last water skin. He flew back over to his customary place and began eating as well. Cyric plodded over and snuffed in the bag, then began munching on what Vash guessed was some kind of grain.

"Bleck," said the little drake. "No matter how good this stuff starts out, after eating it for two weeks straight, it looses its flavor. You don't happen to have anything do you? I mean with you out 'Wandering' and all, you must have something with more flavor than this." He pointed at the biscuit accusingly.

"I might have some old jerky or a- HEY!" The drake had glided over to Vash's pack and was pawing through it.

Fantus looked over his shoulder, "Turn about is fair play." He went back to searching. "Ah ha!" he held aloft his prize. "You do have some jerky! And a, oo! Cyric, want an apple?" The unicorn's head snapped up at the sound of the word "apple". He whickered happily, trotted over, and snatched the apple out of Fantus' out stretched paw, and then went back to the back to finish munching.

Vash was shaking his head in his hands. "My food storage! I am going to starve to death now!"

Fantus flew back with the jerky in one hand and a box in the other. "You are not! What's this?" He held the box in front of the human.

"Gaa! That's my emergency donut supply!" Vash quickly snatched the box from the drake and hid it behind his back.

"Emergency what? What's a 'donut'?" Fantus leapt in the air and was now trying to get the box back.

"A donut just happens to be the best food in the world!" Vash moved it to above his head.

"So it is food then!" Fantus flew up to the box.

Vash jumped up and ran to the other side of the circle of light. "Yes its food. My food, so keep your grubby little paws off it!"

Fantus was now hovering over the light source. "I've been eating those blasted biscuits for weeks now, I want something tasty!"

"You already had my jerky!"

"I want to try those!"

"No! They're mine!"

Fantus let out a growl, and Vash saw what was coming next so he was ready for it. Fantus lunged, Vash waited till the last second, then moved. Fantus ran into the rock wall that Vash was standing in front of. He slid to the ground, shook his head, and glared at the man.

"Serves you right for trying to steal someone else's food!"

"Look who's talking Mr. 'wanderer'!" Fantus spat. Then he jumped at the human letting out a roar. The sound distracted Vash enough that the drake hit him full in the chest.

"Omph!" He landed on the ground with the drake on top of him. The Box of donuts flew from his hands. Both watched with horrified expressions as it sailed over the edge of the precipice.

"Aw man!"

"Damn!"

Both yelled in unison.

Cyric, who had been watching the childish display with amusement, shook with silent laughter at the two. His laughter rang through the heads of the two lying on the ground. Fantus got off of Vash and padded over to the edge and looked down. Vash stared at the unicorn in disbelief.

You can hear me? Cyric asked.

Vash sat up, Yes, yes I can. Why?

You must have an 'open mind'.

An 'open mind'?

People who can communicate with each other via thoughts.

OH, you mean telepathy!

Yes. Have you ever done this before?

Once.

Cyric saw Vash's thoughts turn red with anger. He also felt him shut off the connection. He looked at the human, and for a split second, saw his eyes glowing blue. Cyric blinked, Vash's face had gone from pure hatred, to its normal jovial expression in less than a second.

"I found them!" came a shout from the edge. While Cyric and Vash had been having their conversation, Fantus had flown down the cliff to find the donuts.

"How did you find them? Its pitch black out there!" Vash asked as he got up to investigate the drake's prize.

"Easy." came the reply, "Dragons, and their smaller cousins, including yours truly, have excellent night vision," he pointed to his eye with one claw, "even in the darkest of places."

Vash made an "O" formation with his mouth, and looked at the box. It was smashed, but it hadn't opened. He looked at the contents inside and gave an excited "ah," They're still good! He then began to eat them, and offered them to the drake as well.

"Hey! These are really good!"

"I told you!"

The two then began scarffing the donuts. Vash began to tell Fantus about all the different kinds that there were, and Fantus told Vash about all his favorite pastries from his world.

Cyric meanwhile, was watching Vash. Being the most cautious of the trio, he was still wondering if he could be trusted. Sure, he saved Jenna's life, he gets points for that, but why the mood swings? Why is he calm and collected one minute, full of hate and anger another, and then do a complete turn around and be completely childish! He has more mood swings than Jenna does, and she's a woman, well sort of. Until I can figure you out I am going to be keeping a close eye on you, especially where she is concerned.

Cyric cleared his thoughts with a shake of his head and walked over to where Jenna was laying. She has more color. He removed the blanket with his teeth, and peeled back the shirt that was covering her. The cold air touched her skin and she shivered, seeming with out pain. Just to make sure she really is healing… "Vash!"

He looked up from whatever new argument he and the drake had gotten into. "Yeah?"

"You should probably change her bandaging and put some more medicine on the wounds."

He exchanged a glance with the drake, "But shouldn't you leave the bandages on for a while?"

"She heals fast remember? I just want to make sure she is doing ok."

Vash shrugged, "Alright." He walked over to where the packs were and dug out the medic pack, then walked over and knelt down next to her sleeping form. Her breathing isn't labored anymore, and she has a lot more color than before. She is healing fast.

He began removing the bandaging and found that the minor cuts and bruises were almost, if not completely gone. The hole in her shoulder was no longer a hole, but was still deep on both sides. He re-applied the salve to it and then bandaged it up with clean bandages. Now for the really ugly one, he thought. He took a deep breath and braced himself. He undid the bandages and let out his breath in a relieved sigh. The wound had closed considerably since that morning. The flesh was still very raw, but it was no longer bleeding. Since the danger of the wound was no longer an immanent threat, his eyes began to wander as he re-bandaged the wound. He turned red and squinched his eyes together. STOP! He regained his composure and finished the job with out further incident.

He was just beginning to put the supplies away when a small hand gently grabbed his arm. He looked at her face in surprise. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked into his.

"Where am I?" it was barely a whisper.

"Safe." he told her with a reassuring smile.

She smiled weakly back.

"Now get some rest." he put his hand on her forehead.

She nodded, and closed her eyes, "Thank you." she murmured as she fell back asleep.

Vashremoved his hand, and murmured "Your Welcome." back and sighed. He then looked back up at the unicorn who was standing silently by, the drake had fallen asleep while Vash was changing the bandages. "Satisfied?" It was more of a challenge than a question.

The unicorn heard its hidden meaning, "For now." was all he said.Cyric then laid down next to Jenna, to keep her warm and safe. From what, he wasn't sure yet, but he was determined to find out.

Vash took the hint and finished cleaning up. He then rolled out his own sleeping bag on the opposite side of the light, and decided to let the gas supply for the stove just run out during the night. He lay down and looked over at the two forms on the other side of the "fire."Vash smiled a bit at the last thought. The unicorn had placed his head over hers, with the horn shining in the light. He doesn't trust me. I can understand that. But does he have to be so cold about it? I'm only trying to help her. He then looked over at the drake who was asleep very close to the stove, lying on his back. Vash laughed to himself. He's a spitfire all right. I like him, he reminds me of, well, me. He looked back at her.Vash's brain went through all that had happened that day, and suddenly he remembered what he had been thinking before she had shown up. He smiled a wry smile. 'Be careful what you wish for.' I have learned the truth of that one today! He sighed and pulled his cover up to his chin. Today has got to be one the weirdest days of my life. How did I end up in this crazy mess? Then he remembered her eyes and her smile when she woke up. He smiled. Ah but its worth it!

And with that last thought, Vash the Stampede fell asleep.