Disclaimer: I don't own Yona of the Dawn!

A/N: You know, I don't think I'm going to follow the manga. I haven't been keeping up with it for the past year or so, and I think I'm just going to let this story roam wild, so yeah. Who KNOOOWS what will happen now. So I'll probably bend or ignore some dragon rules. I might stick with some of the plot elements. It's all up in the air. Also it's been a looong time since I started this, but I'm going to do my best to keep going. I'll try to update every few days with chapters that are at least a 1000 words. It might be a slow-paced story, but hey, maybe it's still fun? :D

Chapter 37

With provisions, clothes, and a couple tents purchased and a few extra coins jangling in their pockets, the group quickly made their way out of town. They walked for a few hours, heading north, following along a path that was laid out on a map they had purchased in the village. Once the sun began to set, they picked out a place to camp beside a slow-moving river.

"Do we need to hunt before it gets too dark?" Yona asked. She had her bow ready, and she looked almost eager to go into the woods.

Yoon shook his head. "I bought some cured meat at the market, so we won't need to tonight. I thought I could make a stew."

"Sounds delicious," Jae-Ha said. He perched on a rock and stretched his right leg out in front of him, massaging the stiff muscles.

Hak set down the packs he had been carrying and started to get out the tent. Kija was carrying the second, larger tent, and he dropped the bundle down next to the other.

"There are quite a few poles…" Kija said. He was laying them out side by side and trying to figure out exactly how they worked with the ropes that had also been placed in the bundle.

"We can sleep without tents tonight," Zeno said cheerfully, "We can all just curl up in a big puppy pile."

Hak blinked. "I prefer the tent."

Zeno's face fell. "Aw, it would be fun…" An instant later though, he smiled brightly and began to burrow around in his pack.

"Hey, don't make a mess," Yoon warned.

Zeno yanked the coat he had gotten out of the bag and wrapped it around himself. "So warm! Not as good as Seiryuu's fluff, but still, very cozy."

"Shin-Ah's already prepared for the cold," Lien said, smiling a little. She had her own coat and cloak that would protect her from the elements, and it also helped having fire powers. She could get cold, but not as easily as the others.

Shin-Ah ran a hand through the fluff on his mask and then sat down, his back to the group. Maybe he was embarrassed. He shouldn't have been, what with everyone being so envious of his mask fluff.

Zeno did a cartwheel and then plopped down on the ground, straightening out his headband. "We're ready for snow!" he announced happily. Flopping backwards, he began to made fake snow angels in the leaves, dirt, and moss.

"We just bought that coat," Kija said, frowning as he looked up from inspecting two tent poles. "Couldn't you keep it clean for longer than a day?"

"I'd settle for an hour," Hak mumbled.

"Like you're one to talk," Jae-Ha laughed, "You're the most likely to get blood and mud on yours."

Hak cut his eyes at Jae-Ha. "And you wouldn't?"

"I'd jump out of the way before getting this piece of art disgusting." He gestured to his new cloak, which was dark green and made with expensive material.

"I think this is good enough quality," Yoon said, pinching the sleeve of his winter coat. It was thick and almost the same color as his regular outfit.

"It looks good," Jae-Ha said. It seemed that he was going to judge their new clothes based on appearance rather than usefulness. "I think this shade of green looks very nice on me."

Hak rolled his eyes but refrained from saying anything else.

Yona smiled. "I like the cut." She smoothed her hands down her own new long coat, most of which was covered by her cloak. "They're all very nice, Yoon." Glancing down at the bow in her hand, Yona sighed. "Well, I guess I won't be hunting…" The quickest pout crossed her face and then she met Lien's eyes. "Oh, but I know what we could do!"

The fire of determination lit in those eyes of hers, and Lien took an involuntary step back. Whenever Yona got that certain look about her, it meant her stubbornness levels were about to go through the roof. Before Lien could escape, Yona was in front of her, clasping both of her hands. "I haven't taken a bath in ages, and we probably won't get another chance."

Lien tensed, guessing where this was leading. "But the river is going to be so cold."

"We'll be fine!"

"No way, you'll catch your death," Yoon countered, not even looking up from his stew. "And besides, we're all right here." Around the beginnings of their camp, the guys had begun to shift awkwardly.

"You won't look," Yona said, waving away his concern with a hand. "And we can go up the river a little way."

"You don't need a bath," Hak said, rolling his eyes, "You'll just smell bad again in a couple days, princess."

Yona straightened up and glared at him. "You could use a bath, too, Hak. And your attitude could do with a rinse."

Yoon made a face. "Why don't you wait until we find a village. Or a hot spring."

"Because that might take weeks," Yona said, "And this river is right here. We can find a calm spot, right, Lien?"

"That could work," she said, shifting and hugging her cloak around her. She had bathed in plenty of rivers while she was traveling with the caravan, but that didn't mean she loved the freezing cold water.

Yona grabbed the soap and scrubs out of Yoon's pack and thrust a couple cloths into Lien's hands. "Let's do it."

Lien finally nodded. "All right…" Cold river bath. Okay. She could do this.

"Someone has to come and make sure no one takes your stuff," Yoon said. He stirred the pot of soup and looked around at the four dragons and Hak. "Who's going to volunteer?"

"Zeno can guard clothes," the yellow-haired dragon said.

"You'll get distracted," Kija said. His face was bright red, and he clacked the two tent poles together. "But. Um. Well. Someone should go."

"I'll go," Jae-Ha said smoothly, "As an experienced clothes-watcher, this is an excellent job for me." The tent pole that Hak was holding came down in front of him with the same power Hak used when he wielded his glaive. Jae-Ha held his hands up. "Or not."

"Shin-Ah. You go," Hak said.

Over by the treeline, Shin-Ah froze, his hand halfway to picking up a dry branch from the forest floor. He let out a noise that was somewhere between a whimper and a sigh.

"Why him?" Jae-Ha said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Because I know he won't look," Hak said. He turned toward Yona and glowered. "Don't go far. If you can't hear us, you're too far."

"Uh-huh, okay." Yona took Lien's hand and pulled her toward the river. There was a small dirt path beside the water, probably left behind from deer and other woodland creatures going to drink on the banks. "We'll be quick anyways."

Lien was certain her cheeks were the same color of Yona's hair. She was extremely aware of Shin-Ah tailing them like a slow, reluctant snail on a mission. She made a similar noise to the one he had, a little whimper-squeal, and pressed the cloths to her face as she followed Yona.