"Mister Darniss, I'm bo~ored" one of the boys complained.

The wagon had left the little hamlet six hours ago, not stopping once. The three boys in the wagon were excited to start with. Having not gone on a trip before, they found travelling in a carriage to be strange and new, but that got old quickly. After a while, they started to point at the different plants and occasional tree they passed, though they ran out of new things to point out or argued over whether they'd seen that type of tree before. That was two hours ago, the monotony of travelling by wagon started to bore them, and they weren't even allowed to leave the wagon.

"*sigh*, there isn't much I can about that, I'm afraid." Darniss sighed, his co-workers warned that the children would end up like this, saying they had no patience for travel. If it weren't for the substantial pay he would receive for taking them there and that this was his first time doing so, he would never have agreed to take them. "We'll be stopping for lunch in an hour or so, you'll be able to have a little wander around. Some fellow merchants shall be meeting us there, they will have a bunch of kids travelling with them, too."

"An hour? That's so~o long away." One of the other boys complained. "Why are we even meeting up with them, there will be a bunch at the town."

"Just be patient, we have a schedule to keep to, and I don't want to be the one causing delay," Darniss replied, slightly grumpy. "We're not going to stay in the town, the inns will be too expensive. Besides, we'll be reaching the town tomorrow morning, setting off with all the others wagons and carriages forming a convoy. Since it will be safer with more wagons, we'll be meeting up for lunch. How's the little lass doing?"

"She fell asleep by that barrel," the boy said, pointing towards where Delia was.

Ever since they left the hamlet, Delia hadn't said a word to anyone. The boys tried to get her to join them and cheer her up, but she didn't even look at them. Darniss couldn't help but worry for her, as he remembered how alone he felt when he was their age, heading to the city.

"Hopefully she will be able to make some friends when we stop for lunch, there should be thirteen more kids there from the hamlets in the area. Some are probably feeling the same as her, too." Darniss said, then muttered "at the very least, I hope everyone will feel more at ease after this."

An hour passed, and they came to a stop in an area where the only noticeable thing was the forest a hundred meters east of them.

"This is the spot, looks like we're a little early though." Darniss announced, the boys leaped out of the carriage, excited to finally leave the wagon. Chuckling, Darniss told them, "Since you boys are so full of energy, I'll ask you to go and collect some firewood to cook lunch. Just don't go too far away and if you go over to the forest, stay near the entrance."

Hearing this, the boys all darted towards the forest, more likely to play than gather any firewood. Meanwhile, Darniss went back to the wagon and gently woke Delia up, explaining to her what they would be doing before they reach the town. Delia stayed within the wagon, watching Darniss prepare the food for lunch.

"You sure you don't want to help with anything," Darniss asked while cutting up some kind of root vegetable.

Although she tried hard, Delia kept glancing at the horse. This didn't go unnoticed, as Darniss realised before they even left the hamlet. Chuckling he asked, "Do you want to look after Fleur?"

Hearing this, Delia blushed slightly and sheepishly nodded her head. Darniss coughed, stifling another laugh, as he walked to the wagon and took out a bag that was by his seat. Inside, there were several different brushes and combs, as well as a cloth and a pick. Seeing Delia's eyes sparkle, he went on to explain what each tool was used for and how Fleur will react depending on the mood. Darniss then let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he saw Delia open up a bit and express herself more.

Ten minutes later three wagons arrived, pulled by the same type of horse as Fleur. On each of the wagon's coachman seat was a black cloaked man, one was short and skinny, while the other two had large, broad and muscular frames. As they approached the camp, the shorter man removed the hood from his head. When the face was revealed, you could see burn marks across the left side of his face. He had short, bright blonde hair, a right blue eye while his left eye was white.

The man broke out into a wide smile, "Darniss!" He called out cheerfully, "'ow long ya bin waitin', dinnae think ya'd be 'ere firs'. I reckon ya'd be a few mo' 'ours, did ya set off yestarday ta get here?"

"Oliver!" Darniss responds firmly shaking the man's hand when he approached. "I'm surprised you managed to stay on the road, did the other two help you get here safely. I would have a fire going, I sent the boys to get some firewood when we arrived, ten minutes ago." He then glanced over to the forest, "but it looks like the boys are off playing instead."

Oliver also looked over. "Aye, I can see 'em over deyr, fightin' wi' sticks." Oliver said, shaking his head with a slight smile on his face. He then patted the back of one of the other coachmen. The man grunted and nodded his head. "Archie an' me'll go an' get da firewood, I'll send da lads back too." Oliver said, heading off towards the forest with the man he patted.

Darniss and the other coachman had the children get off the three wagons and gather together. The children got off the wagons with varying degrees of excitement and nervousness. One of the boys even refused to leave the wagon. There were thirteen children in total, three boys and ten girls, not including Darniss' group. Moments later, the three boys that went to 'collect firewood' returned, laughing and pushing each other. Darniss then brought Delia to the rest of the children, though she ended up hiding behind Darniss.

When everyone had gathered, not including the boy hiding in the wagon, the remaining cloaked coachman addressed the group in a deep, gruff voice. "Now then, this is the group we will remain in for the rest of the journey to Ebonhearth city. I hope you'll all get along and make lasting bonds for the time you will be together. Tonight, we'll be camping together, so you will split into three groups of no more than six. Lunch will be ready within the hour, you can do what you want in the meantime, just stay within sight of the wagons."

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After the man finished, he and Darniss continued to prepare lunch. Meanwhile, most of the children split off into groups, some from the same group they were in to start with, others formed groups with each other when they saw the others playing. Most of the children were complete strangers to one another as each hamlet was likely to only send one or two children a year.

Delia ended up distancing herself from the rest of the group. Darniss told her that it wouldn't be fair if she was the only one who looked after Fleur and the other horses, hoping she would make a friend or two. Not comfortable around so many new faces, she went off to pick flowers, waking a basket with her. Unbeknownst to Delia, one of the girls approached her. She had long, wavy brown hair hanging down to her waist, amber eyes and a button-nose.

"What are you doing?" The girl asked quietly.

Delia jumped, looking around in fright, "W-w-w-what?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," the girl said frantically, taking a step back.

Seeing this, Delia calmed down slightly, and nervously showed her the flowers she was picking. "I-I-I'm picking f-flowers... t-t-to make... ma-make flower chains."

"Can I help?" The girl asked, smiling and extending her hand, "oh by the way my names Flora, what's yours?"

"Delia," she quietly said, feeling a little less apprehensive. Delia took Flora's hand, slowly, and they lightly shook hands.

Taking this as a yes, Flora started to pick flowers with her. "Are you going to make the chains in the wagon?" Flora asked, feeling awkward about the silence. Delia simply nodded and continued to pick flowers.

When lunch was ready, the cloaked man called out for everyone to gather. The children all gathered in the groups they had formed during the break. The food was roasted vegetables, part of the payment they received for taking the children to the city.

After lunch was finished, the four coachmen started moving goods between the wagons. When they were done, one of the wagons was loaded with more goods than the others.

The children then were split into the three wagons that had more space now that there was more space on them. The wagons then set off again.

On Darniss' wagon, Flora had joined along with the boy that refused to leave the wagon for the whole time they had stopped. The boy’s name was Fred, he had violet eyes, short, dark brown hair and a slightly skinny body that would be slightly shorter than the rest of the children. Fred acted in a similar way to the way Delia was acting before. But the difference this time was that he watched Delia and Flora making flower chains and he did speak a few words when they asked him some questions, like his name, age and about the hamlet he was from.

Like this, six hours passed before they came to a stop. Oliver and Archie, having just tied up their horses properly, immediately set off to collect firewood. The children then gathered together, with Flora and Delia off to the side and Fred peeking out of the wagon.

"Now then, this is where we'll be staying for the night." Said the coachman that the children didn't know the name of, "since most of you won't have put up a tent before, Darniss and I will help you set up your tents. Listen closely because you'll all be setting up your tents by yourself from tomorrow onwards. The boys will all stay in one tent since there is six of you, while you girls will split into a group of five and a group of six. Once your tent is set up, you’re free to do as you please, but stay near the campsite."

Delia ended up in a group of five with Flora. Flora was the one who gathered the three other girls into the group. The three girls were Rein, Louise and Wendy. Rein was a lively girl with reddish brown hair down to her shoulders, bright blue eyes. Louise and Wendy were a pair of identical twins, they both had brown hair and grey eyes, the only difference between them was that Wendy's hair was down to her shoulders whereas Louise's was half the length.

Darniss and the unnamed coachman helped the boys set up their tent whilst the girls were forming their two groups. When the boys tent was set up, Darniss helped Delia's group set up their tent and the other man helped the other group.

When the final tent was set up for the coachmen themselves, Archie and Oliver returned. Triumphantly, Oliver handed to Darniss three round ball shaped rabbits.

"Bounce rabbits?" Darniss said, "I'm guessing you want me to cook them for dinner tonight?"

Archie nodded enthusiastically, causing his hood to fall off. The revealed head was bald and covered in scars. His eyes, an eerie green, seemed to be in a permanent glare and his mouth, which was in what could only be called an evil grin, had several teeth missing as well. Seeing this, a few of the nearby children ran away screaming. Archie then looked down, a tear forming in his eye as he pulled his hood up again. This was a regular occurrence to Archie, as the other three shook their heads and sighed while Darniss muttered "I knew this would happen," under his breath.

Oliver left quickly to calm the children down, some of which started shouting that Archie was a monster going to eat them all in their sleep. Darniss, ignoring what just happened, was about to start skinning the rabbits when Delia came over with Flora. Only Delia had a sparkle in her eyes, though it was hard to notice as she was looking down nervously at the time, fidgeting with her dress.

"Mister Darniss, I think Delia wants to brush Fleur and the other horses. She told me that she was taking care of Fleur before we arrived." Flora said, knowing Delia was too nervous to ask even if she had done so earlier.

"That's fine, just let others help if they want to. Since I'll be busy preparing our supper, you'll have to explain how to use the different brushes and combs," Darniss said, then handing her the bag by his side. "Actually, I'll take the pick and cloth out, it's harder to show how to properly use those."

Having been given just the brushes and combs, Delia happily walk over to the four horses. Not long later some girls approached Delia, Rein and two girls from the other wagon. She told them what she was doing, but only Rein stayed to help. The other two walked off grumpily, thinking that Delia was going to play with them and just didn't want them to join in. Fred joined them later, he had helped out making the tent a little, as the three boys on the wagon had made him feel a little more comfortable around him. He seemed to be just as happy as Rein and Delia were to brush the horses and care for them. They even got to feed the horses when Oliver walked over to them, bringing two more sets of brushes and combs. Oliver, after being asked by Darniss and the other coachman, then watched over them, helping them and teaching them when Delia couldn't explain too well.

Whilst Delia, Rein and Fred were looking after the horses, the other children were being taught some fun games by Archie. Archie was constantly pestered by the children after Oliver had managed to defuse the earlier incident. He had 'accidentally' told them that Archie knew of good ways to pass time in the wagon, something which caused the children that rode his wagon to hit him with sticks. Archie had relented, but after he taught them one game, they kept asking for more and more. Though this might have seen annoying to most, Archie was actually very happy to have them so happily ask him, which was why he ended up trying to think of new games for them to play, hopefully games which he might be able to play with them.

As the sun began to set, Darniss shouted to the group that dinner was ready. The meal was roasted bounce rabbit with some hard bread and a little vegetable stew. After dinner, some of the children needed the toilet, so Oliver, quite brazenly, told them how they normally did it while travelling. After that, the children went to bed in their tents. The four coachman alternated who would keep lookout where two would keep lookout, switching one person every two hours.