He couldn't help it. Aaron Hotchner, a person who rarely laughs or smiles, laughed. At first, the Ranger was startled by his reaction. She leaned forward and swept a hand across his forehead to check for a fever.

Feeling that he didn't have one, she raised an eyebrow at the laughing man. "Did I say something funny?" She asked, her demeanor turning cold as ice in a second.

Aaron stopped laughing and stared at her for a moment. "You've got to be kidding." He said, sitting up. "This can't be 967. And I've never heard of this Ara…Ara..."

"Araluen." Jade said, rolling her eyes. "And that's the year. I suggest we just you to a healer. I think you're insane." She stood and starting walking away, trying to rein in her temper.

Aaron stood up, and followed after her. "Where did you say—"

"Why do people ask so many questions?" Jade asked and turned to look at him. "If you were listening, I said that I needed to take you to a healer, then to the inn." She sounded slightly sarcastic. "Unless you wanted to sleep in the stables tonight!"

Aaron was starting to not like this woman, no matter how nice she had been to him earlier. "Look ma-"

"Don't start." Jade said, turning once more to the path, her horse following her. Aaron ran to catch up.

After a while, the walls of Castle Caraway loomed over head. People stared at the angry Ranger and her partner as they walked by, before resuming their own tasks.

The village wasn't very big, only containing essentials for everyday life. They past a tavern, the noise coming out indicating the lunch rush, when farmers and field workers went to eat. The inn seemed quiet, considering the time of day, but Jade shrugged mentally. There hadn't been many people coming through, and it seemed early for people to be needing a room.

Jade's red-hot anger that had made itself known had cooled down a little. Warily, not knowing what would happen, she tried to make small talk.

"I'm….sorry about earlier." She said, looking at the ground for a moment. "I forgot to ask," She continued before Hotch could answer or think. "What's your name?"

"Aaron," Was the reply. Jade sighed deeply and went to talk but Aaron beat her to it. "Why did you say this was 967?"

"Because it is 967," Jade answered simply as she led her horse to the stable. "My cabin is an hour or two away. Thought I would get you settled and pay for a room, since, clearly, you don't have the money to."

"Nonsense." Hotch said, pulling out her wallet. He opened it to realize that the woman was right—he had no money.

Jade laughed, and continued with her task.