"You and I might have more in common than we thought," Andy commented to Belle. "I get the same way. Of course, I have to take a few breathers so my head doesn't explode or something, but still."

"If I might interrupt?" Lawrence jumped in. "Did you not want to find the nearest town at some point?"

"Right... We did," Andy replied.

Belle nodded, looking a little embarrassed. "Right. Sorry guys." She pulled out her bishidex and looked at it, frowning a little. "Well, it looks like the nearest town is here." She pointed to a little dot about ten miles away. "And we came from that direction. So we're going to have to go past that place at some point or another."

"We'll stay out," Eclipse said, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "A larger group is less likely to be attacked."

"Agreed," Lucifer said, leaning against a tree. "It would be unwise to attack a large group even if you have a large group yourself. The chances of winning are less, and the chances of casualties are high."

Belle nodded. "Sounds like a plan to me, then."

"Ten miles is nothing to Temmy or Li Li," Andy offered. "And unless these scientists have another heavyweight-class dragon on hand, they would probably think twice about attacking. I mean, Temmy and Li Li are more than able to defend themselves, and Temmy is more than capable of carrying a dozen people." She shrugged a bit. "I figure it would be the fastest way to the town."

"Sounds good to me." Belle grinned. "This is going to be fun! So, whoever doesn't want to go for a ride better get inside while they still can."

Eclipse rolled his eyes at his trainer's choice of words, overseeing the last of putting everything away.

Andy had Lucivar check to make sure they had everything before letting Temeraire out.

"You've actually got passengers today, Temmy," she said cheerfully. When Temeraire looked a little wary, she added, "we're all going, this time. The nearest town is about ten miles away, and we kind of want to get there fast. And since you're the one who has the harness we can hold on to..."

"Oh," Temeraire replied. "That is alright, then."

"That's what I figured you'd say," Andy replied. "We're almost ready to leave, I think."

"We're ready when you are," Belle said cheerfully with a grin. She was looking forward to this.

Eclipse shook his head a little, moving to stand next to Belle. Most of hers had vanished again, too wary of flying on the dragon to stay out.

Andy recalled Kaelas and Hiei, leaving Lawrence to take his usual place at the front of Temeraire's harness. She knew Sesshoumaru wouldn't want to leave, so she didn't bother trying to recall him as well.

"I'll stay out," Lucivar said. "It'll be good to stretch my wings again." Andy nodded.

"Alright, just stay close," she replied. She stepped up as Temeraire held out a claw and let him put her onto his back.

Belle grinned as she looked between Lucifer and Lucivar. She refrained from saying anything, though, knowing that Lucifer would get annoyed with her if she did. So she just smiled and got up on Temeraire's back when she got a chance, looking at the two winged bishis one last time.

Andy noticed as well, but didn't say anything. Settling herself on Temeraire's back, she checked her own map just to make sure she knew where they were going.

"Alright, Temmy," she called. "Quarter turn to your right, and just go about nine miles or so in that direction. We'll be able to walk from there so you don't crush anything landing."

"Of course," Temeraire replied, spreading his wings. In a moment, they were in the air, and Andy could practically feel Temeraire relaxing a bit.

Belle grinned broadly once they were in the air again. "I could get used to this!" she said to Andy with a broad grin. She decided she really liked riding dragonback. Eclipse snorted at her and held on a little tighter to the harness. "What, scared Eclipse?" she teased.

"No," he replied with much dignity. "But I prefer my method of transportation as opposed to flying, thank you very much."

"Pansy," Andy quipped. "Granted, it would be nicer if we had harness clips, but we're still safe enough up here." She understood why Belle enjoyed riding dragonback, since Andy herself enjoyed it as well. There was just something freeing about it. She glanced over at Sess and grinned inwardly. She would have to comb his hair out later, and she always liked an excuse to play with his hair.

Belle laughed and grinned, enjoying herself greatly. Perhaps she'd have to think about catching a character or two from the Anne McCaffrey series, since the dragonriders came with dragons... Eclipse shot Andy a scowl, holding on a little tighter. He did not like flying dragonback. He liked teleporting.

It wasn't long before Temeraire slowed down and finally landed. Andy checked her map again.

"My map says we're about a mile from the town," she says. "That's about as close as we can get without Temmy drawing attention."

"Alright. We'll walk the rest of the way." Belle found a safe place and slid down Temeraire's hide and onto the ground, grinning when Lucifer landed next to her. "Have a nice flight?"

"It was enjoyable," he responded, smirking faintly and shooting a look at Lucivar. "He's interesting."

"Good to know. You staying out for the hike or going to go be lazy?"

"Oh, I don't know. I may as well stay out." Lucifer grinned over her head at Eclipse, sidling closer to her. "See if I can't tempt you yet."

Belle rolled her eyes, too used to him to be surprised anymore.

Andy slid down Temeraire's hide as well as Lucivar landed next to the dragon.

"That was... interesting," he commented. "Daemon might like to talk to him."

"Hey, don't look at me," Andy said. "I have no intention on catching a Daemon." Lucivar rolled his eyes but didn't say anything as he disappeared into his ball. Andy recalled Temeraire and then turned to Belle. "Ready when you are."

"Let's get going then." Belle grinned and headed for the town, Lucifer walking next to her and Eclipse a little behind them both. He shot unfriendly looks at Lucifer every once in a while but made no comment. He just made sure Lucifer didn't do anything too stupid.

Andy followed Belle, Sesshoumaru walking next to her. At least this way, she could say it wasn't her fault if they ended up getting lost... She was following someone else, after all. She knew it wouldn't take long to get to the town, since a mile was only a twenty-minute walk on the slowest day, but she'd gotten lost closer to a town than that before.

Belle tripped twice on the way there, each time being caught by either Lucifer or Eclipse, who were both used to her, before they emerged from the trees. "There's the gate," she said, grinning. Now she was really looking forward to a hot shower. "Come on, let's go." She headed for the town, eager to find a place to stay and get some food. She wouldn't mind staying in a hotel for a few days after the events of the past few days.

Andy grinned when she saw the gate.

"I haven't seen a town in ages," she said. "I can't wait for a hot shower... And real food, that sounds so good..." Now that there was a high possibility of a shower, she felt grimy from travelling, making her remember exactly why she didn't like travelling on foot in the first place.

Belle laughed a little. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I've jumped into a few rivers since the last time I got to a town, but still."

"Here meaning she fell in and we had to fish her out." Lucifer snorted, ignoring Belle's weak glare.

"Lucivar tossed me in," Andy deadpanned, grinning. "Of course, I was also the last one to wake up, so he decided I had slept long enough. At least you fell in mostly on your own."

Belle laughed a little, grinning. "Yeah, mostly," she agreed. "A few times I've had help." Shaking her head a little, she showed the guard at the gate her bishidex before she headed into the town.

"So what do we want to do first? Get a hotel room?"

Andy showed her bishidex to the guard as well and walked in with Belle.

"A hotel room sounds wonderful," she said. "That way, we can leave our bags and such there and clean up a bit before we go anywhere else. And I don't know about you, but I think a hot shower sounds amazing right now."

Belle nodded. "Yes. That sounds quite nice right now." She looked around and spotted a hotel. "Let's go check there, see what the prices are." She headed off in that direction, her two bishis following her.

Andy nodded and followed her. She knew she had some funds set aside for if she needed them, so she wasn't too worried about the prices, but she didn't want to stay at an overpriced place if she could help it.