Bit of a break from the action and stuff like that, something a little more emotional. Ari may be a little colder to strangers but she isn't made of stone. Hope you liked this one! Next chapter will probably be moving on with the main plot~

The fire crackled and flickered, Duck sitting at the feet of his loving master, Vreagon and Mor sitting on either side of Ari, Renel poking the fire, keeping it going. Mor wiped his mouth and groaned, taking another bite of the pork chop he'd managed to get his hands on. Ari and Vreagon shared a steak (Ari not needing much, Vreagon not being particularly hungry), while Renel smirked and gnawed at a chicken leg. Ari glared at him but said nothing, knowing it would only sour the perfectly silent evening. "So," Vreagon started, clearing his throat. The man apparently didn't notice the girl's angry glare pointed at him, now, or didn't care. "Uh… where do you come from?" he asked, staring at Renel as the man blinked in surprise.

"…You actually care?"

"I don't know about these two, but I don't like the idea of traveling with a complete stranger."

"I don't mind." Ari piped up, giggling sinisterly, "Easier to get over it when something happens to them."

Vreagon sent a silent plea and Ari huffed, closing her mouth and looking down.

"…Well, I was born close to the Arctic," Renel started, frowning. "My parents were a bit suffocating, so as soon as I was old enough I took off. I mean my entire young life I'd trained and prepared for the day to run and when it arrived I didn't even look back." He laughed, but Vreagon and Mor both felt the girl between them stiffen, her eyes hardening. She stood, putting the meat she had been eating in Vreagon's hand, shuffling away into her shelter. Renel raised a brow, but Vreagon cleared his throat. "…'bout time for us to go to bed anyway. Guess Ari had the right idea."

Vreagon sent the girl's home a short worried glance before sighing and preparing for sleep.

Renel grunted as he dragged the log over the grass, glaring at Vreagon, who leaned against the wall of his home, grinning gleefully at the slaving stranger. He only just managed to release a string of curses when he felt a presence behind him, hitting them with his backside seconds later. "What-" He stood straighter, turning, eyes widening.

Ari stood behind him, her brow raised, fists on her hips as she held a stance of irritation, "Don't let me get in your way," She started, rolling her eyes. "I mean it isn't like this job should have been done hours ago."

"I was too busy taking care of your damned chicken-"

"Don't insult Duck." Ari snapped, her eyes blazing. Renel, however, did not back down – instead, he only grew angrier.

"What the hell is with this stupid animal, anyway? It's a chicken it should be dinner!"

Ari shook with the pent up anger, or rather, what they thought was anger. She turned on her heel, managing to whip the stranger's face with her hair as she did so, disappearing into her own little 'home', slamming the door closed. Vreagon winced, looking at Mor, who was just sliding his shirt off for a wash. Mor frowned, biting his lip and looking up at Vreagon – the blond nodded slowly, taking a step forward. As Renel moved to continue his argument, Vreagon slammed his hand against the other's chest.

"Stay away from her, unless you want to be dinner."

Renel grimaced and looked away, mumbling a few insults Vreagon did not appreciate being thrown about his friend. Instead of picking a fight he opened the girl's door slowly, peeking inside. The thin form was on her bed, looking down as she gripped her knees tightly.

"…hey." Vreagon whispered, hovering in the doorway. Ari scooted over, and the older man took it as an invitation, stepping inside and closing the door, slipping off his shoes. He moved slowly, unsure of what to say. If she had been merely angry he would resort to jokes to calm her down – clearly that wasn't going to work, not this time.

"…He doesn't know what it's like." She started, frowning. Vreagon took his seat next to her, opting to simply listen rather than speak. "…when he told us about his family… he told us he left them willingly. He had an easy childhood. He struck out on his own, ready to leave." She spoke softly, her voice clearly trembling with every word. "…I didn't. I didn't have that luxury. Everything I had was taken away from me and he… he comes along and pretends that everything he got was so bad! He's lucky! He's lucky and he doesn't even realize it! And then he goes and insults the only family I have left, and I-"

"Hey." Vreagon interrupted, staring straight ahead. The young girl looked up, sniffling and wiping her eyes. "…Duck isn't your only family, you know."

"Oh yeah?" Ari grunted, pulling her leg in. "Then who else do I have as family? I mean shit, I'm alone-"

"No you aren't." Vreagon looked at the girl, gripping both sides of her face. He hesitated nervously, his hands drifting to her shoulders before pulling her into a tight hug. "…You have us. Mor and I. We're your family, now. The three of us will always be here for you, you know that." He pulled away from her, staring at her shocked brown eyes. "You're important to us, you know. Why do you think we've stuck with you for so long?" Vreagon chuckled, and Ari found herself giggling along.

"We love you, Ari. Don't ever forget that, alright?" Vreagon ran his hand through the girl's hair, smiling as she sighed and set her head on his shoulder.

He didn't know when, but at some point through the evening they had ended up lying down, her head buried in his chest, chest rising and falling with each breath she took, the wet trails on her cheeks a telltale sign of her depression. Vreagon smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her, whispering in her ear as she slept.

"Never forget it, Ari. You are never alone."

She smiled.