Hey readers! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. It's going to be a little slow, but I've had this story in my head for quite some time! I'd greatly appreciate it if someone could give me a review, critique, note, etc. on the story so far. Enjoy!

~Kest

Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Crystal Chronicles

Caravan Tale

*

Once everything was packed up, they headed back on the road. Mog flitted around Tobias excited to have another member in the caravan. He then flew near Lora, "So where are we headed to next?"

"Tida.", Tobias stated, before Lora could answer.

She looked at him with her mouth open, "And who made you leader!?"

"Think about it Lora, how many other caravans go to that cursed place for myrrh?"

Lora looked ahead and sighed, "You're right, but you can't take over this caravan. If you're going to stay and help, don't make decisions without me."

"Very well." Tobias was surprised she hadn't thrown a fit when he had stated their next destination. He had tried to get other caravans who he had assisted to head towards Tida. They all ended up dumping him in a town or with another caravan thinking him crazy. Lora crossed her arms; she was planning to show him up. She knew all the stories of Tida, but she didn't want this Tobias character to get the best of her.

That night as Tobias was fetching more firewood, Lora looked over her map. Mog looked over her shoulder as she traced the roads to Tida with her index finger, "Ugh…." Mog flew in front of Lora to see her stricken looking face, "Tida won't be that bad Lora, kupo! People are just superstitious kupo."

Lora just shook her head, "It's not that Mog... we have to cross another miasma stream." She sighed as she folded up the map and put it back in her bag. It would be two days before they reached the stream.

The dropping of firewood in front of Lora brought her back to her senses. Tobias had just returned and was lighting the fire. He look at Lora, "You alright?"

"Fine. I'm just going to retire early." She quickly hopped into the wagon. Lora had a lot of pride as a selkie; she did not need anyone to see her weakness. Not even her travelling companion.

Tobias sat by the fire as it consumed the wood he had just collected. Mog sat next to him, "Tobias, can I make a request of you, kupo?"

Tobias looked down at the moogle, "Of course Mog. What is it?"

Mog looked at the fire, "Stay close to Lora when we cross the miasma, kupo."

Tobias chuckled, "I'll try, but I don't think she'd let me within 3 feet of her."

"Oh no, she will let you, kupo." Mog continued to look into the fire.

Tobias had never seen a moogle so serious before. He could tell Mog was very close with Lora. "Alright then, I'll make sure I stay close to her when we cross."

"Good, kupo!" With that Mog flew into the wagon to snuggle up with Lora.

Tobias watched as the fire began to die down. He was in disbelief at how easily this caravan had accepted him. Well, he did save Lora, twice, even if she wouldn't admit it. He looked over at the wagon and felt welcomed for once, even if Lora was stubborn and cold at times. He just hoped she would still accept him when he completed his other end of the deal.

Around midday Lora stopped the caravan and sniffed the air. She turned to Tobias and smiled, "You smell that?"

Tobias sniffed, "Fresh country air?"

Lora shook her head and ran over the small hill in front of them. Tobias followed with Helon and Mog. At the top of the hill he looked down on a small orchard. Lora was already on her way down the hill towards it. When Tobias caught up with her, she was in the middle of climbing over the fence, "What do you think you're doing?"

Lora hopped down from the fence on the orchard side, "Getting supplies."

"This is stealing! The farmer is probably right around here."

"That's why you need to shut your mouth so I can hurry up." Lora quickly climbed the closest tree and grabbed as many striped apples as she could carry. She passed them over to Tobias through the fence, "Anyone coming yet?"

Tobias tried to juggle the armful of apples, "Not yet. Let's go!"

Lora laughed at Tobias for being so worried. She wasn't finished here yet. She had forgotten what the thrill of stealing felt like. It was like a drug to some selkies, 'No wonder so many selkies are thieves' Lora thought to herself as she grabbed a few more apples, 'But this is for a good cause. It's not that bad.' She continued to think that so she could feel justified.

Lora hopped over with the remaining apples and put them in the food storage sack in the wagon.

Tobias just shook his head at her, "And I thought you were a well behaved selkie."

Lora continued to walk past him leading the caravan as if nothing had ever happened, "A selkie takes what they can, and we needed the food."

Tobias sped up to walk alongside Lora, "So what else have you stolen?"

"Little things since I was a kid, dolls, cookies, earrings, nothing much of importance. Only what I felt like I needed at the time."

Tobias smirked, "How are earrings a necessity? You have a sweetheart or something?"

Lora was startled by his remark, "No! Not anymore at least." She quickly changed the topic, "So what have you stolen Mr. goody goody?"

"A crystal."

Lora looked at him eyes wide open, "You mean a real crystal!? That's a serious crime Tobias!"

Tobias pulled a chain off from around his neck and on the pendant was a small crystal attached.

"Like you, I only stole what is needed for me at the moment. It allows me to travel when there are no caravans."

"And why do you travel? What are you looking for?" Lora was very intrigued by Tobias. She had never met a traveler like him before.

Tobias put the chain back on and looked up at the blue sky, "I guess I'm not really sure. I guess I'm searching for somewhere I belong, I suppose."

They continued to travel the rest of the day quietly, making small talk with Mog. Both had so many questions for each other that they didn't know where to begin. Lora would occasionally glance over at Tobias who was whistling and admiring the scenery. He was some mystery. She hoped he would reveal himself soon, she was getting impatient!

Tobias interrupted her thoughts that evening as they sat in front of the fire, "So tomorrow we'll probably reach the miasma stream close to evening. I think we should camp there and then cross in the morning when there is better light."

Lora nodded in agreement, but her stomach sank. She really did not want to be anywhere near that place, let alone camp by it.

*

So that's chapter 5! I know it's a short one, but I'm trying to space them out so it makes sense. So what will happen at the miasma stream? Will Lora have a nervous breakdown? Will Tobias be the good guy or an ass? Will Mog do the cha-cha? Find out in chapter 6!