Certain as the sun rises and sets, Nikolaus spied the small vessel of Tristan's on the open water.

"They've come back, kupo," Mog spoke happily. Nikolaus smiled as well dusting his clothes from the sand as he watched the ship make the harbor. Took them three days to return, but Nikolaus never doubted that they wouldn't come back. A fragment of a thought crossed his mind, wondering about Tida's village as they eagerly waited for the caravan that would never return. His smile faltered a little with the memory but he easily brushed it away getting their gear reorganized. The members were a little worn for wear, obvious singes on their clothes, new scrapes and bruises covering them, but they were alive and as well as can be.

"Niko, see you managed to hold the fort over in our absence, eh? No monster attacks or bandits trying to pick your bones clean," De Nylph asked jovially skipping over to where the Clavat stood.

"I imagine that the adventure was well? You never have that obvious of malicious intent in your eyes if it didn't," Nikolaus replied with a smirk. Sure enough the Selkie had that wild look about him when he managed a successful score, rather it was through materials during the dungeons or robbing clean an unsuspecting mark, he never could hide the fact he was winning; which was why Nikolaus never played against him in cards. It was painful to watch how De Nylph completely annihilated him in any game, cheating or not.

"As if you could ever doubt us," De Nylph remarked plopping down in the sand. "Reila sent a letter home, so her dad and mine will come to pick up the spoils of war for as we make for Selepation Cave."

"What," Nikolaus nearly shrieked dropping what he was holding, De Nylph expertly catching the bundle of clothes. He ran experienced fingers over the stitches and other patchwork the Clavat did while he was waiting. He looked over to him with a curious look, spying a few more obvious pinprick bandages on his fingers.

"Well yeah, why not? We already have Tristan helping us this far, may as well use him to cross the Jegon into the Plains of Fum, tackle the cave, and check out Daemon's Court while were there and be back before the year is out."

"Something wrong with that Nikolaus," Lorelei spoke that obvious edge in her voice when she called his name, it caused him to flinch.

"No…nothing at all, just isn't it bad for your health? Going to extremes from the volcano to that windy place?"

"You should be more then rested up to take charge if we seem to be lacking in that department," she added her glare burning his soul to cinders. He couldn't help but notice the stabbing precision she used with 'lacking'. It seems Nikolaus has fallen deeper into his grave, when did he even pick up the shovel?

"Probably when I mentioned Mog," he stated softly to himself.

"What about the flying pincushion?"

"I got him prepped for the mountain and then you left. So…he'll freeze in the cave," Nikolaus worded as gently as possible, Mog clearly hiding behind his back, his skin shining like a baby's bottom in the light.

"Then you are once more useless," she finished turning away from him as she began to guide Popo onto the ship for the longer journey.

"Selepation Cave was the obvious choice for the next step," Reila intervened as Nikolaus watched Lorelei's back.

"We couldn't have gone to the Mine of Carthuriges? The Mushroom Forest? Even Lynari Desert when you were overseas," Nikolaus suggested naming a few of the places off with his fingers.

"The Myrrh Trees wouldn't have been in season, or at least judging from past years, the other caravans would have headed to those places first. Laurel wants to finish the journey quickly, since it seems as the years go by, the crystal's brilliance begins to wane all the sooner. Uncle Amidatty wrote about it in his last letter, he believes it's a temporary thing, like how the Jegon dried up and then flooded once more. Although he also believes this depression will only get worse before it improves, but he does believe without a doubt the trees and the crystals will return to their former glory," she finished spying the uncertainty in Nikolaus' expression as she explained the current state of the world. Was it really that bad? But it was going to improve, right? It had to.

"You're always right; it will improve, especially if Amidatty says so. He's the expert on this sort of thing," Nikolaus replied with extra enthusiasm, successfully weaving out of the way of Lorelei and De Nylph as they were loading the ship. "And while you were away, I was able to repair our clothes, and I believe I was able to duplicate that pocket crystal that Bal Dat had," he launched into discussion trying to chase away that flicker of uncertainty.

"Did you now?"

"Not nearly as potent, but I believe it can still work for our needs," he added pulling out a cord of white silk with a shiny shard at the end of it. "It doesn't last long, but it does work, I've tried it a couple times around here, bathing it in the water near the crystal seems to lengthen its effect-"

"Time to move out, we leave you and the pin cushion in Fum while we handle the cave. Heaven forbid if it freezes," Lorelei announced shooting Nikolaus' confidence down in a fiery blaze of nothingness.

"Yes ma'am."

So for the second time in their journey, Nikolaus was left behind, standing in the archway of Fum as the others went on to tackle Selepation Cave. De Nylph gave him his usually salute of farewell with a dainty wave from Reila before they vanished from his sights once more. Not a second glance from Lorelei.

"Well that could have gone better, but it could have gone a lot worse," Nikolaus spoke kicking a rock into the fence post.

"Sorry, kupo."

"What for? It wasn't anybody's fault, just a serious of circumstances that didn't quite end with the conclusion we wanted. Besides, I still have the rest of the journey to make up for it. Locals said that Daemon's Court was already been taken care of by their caravan, so we'll spend some time there to find what's left and head out," he explained with a smile, ruffling the bonbon. "You worry too much," he assured him. "Besides with this break I can see if this will work out for you," he stated rummaging through the gear that was left behind, most of which was his, covered in dust from a few more drops than expected.

"For me," Mog asked bobbing more intently trying to see around the Clavat.

"Yes indeed, took a little longer than I expected but well with these setbacks, I was able to finish it," he grinned pulling out a crimson sash, wrapping it quickly around the moogle before he could protest, as he spun him around a little admiring the work. Simply made it covered most of his body; however it left plenty of room to move. It wouldn't work otherwise if it lacked practicality. "Well how do you feel?"

"Cool, kupo! Like De Nylph cool, but a little cold too," he added confused shuffling the garment off.

"I expected that since we trimmed you up, but for next time, if we don't have the time, this should work just fine. A moogle scarf to brave the elements," he stated trying to use his father's sale pitch voice. "This way we can both get back into Lorelei's good graces," he remarked giving him a thumbs up.

"Really, kupo?"

"Definitely, and we can help some of the other moogles along the way," he stated opening the bag wider showing a variety of colored sashes in different stages of completion. "May as well do the family name something good while I'm at it."

"You're really amazing, Niko!"

"I have my moments, few and far between but I still have them."

Author's Note: So concludes the tale of a Clavat and his moogle. Different then what I originally intended, not that I can remember exactly what that was but it is completed so that counts for something; I'll visit this caravan for another story sometime, but until then, thanks for reading.