Jonathan had gone back to the cabin to get out of the rain, but he hadn't really slept, so the sun rising woke him up. He walked back onto the deck to see if the others needed his help with the boat. He doubted he'd be much help though.

Lillian saw Jonathan come on deck as she jumped off boat and onto the dock. She tied up the rope she was holding and then called out to Jonathan, "Hey! Could you hand me that rope? The one that's coiled on the floor, I think to your left!"

Jonathan picked up the rope, slightly surprised they didn't think he was too incompetent to help. "No problom," he said, tossing the rope to Lillian. This town was a bit bigger than the last one he noted as he looked past the dock. It was a little cleaner too.

Lillian tied the knot and then called out to Barnabas, "All set!"

Barnabas then finished his tasks. "Alright then, I'll let you kids off here," he said, "Have a safe trip Lillian," he smiled.

"Will do!" Lillian waved, "So Jonathan, you ready to head off? Make sure you got everything." Lillian jumped back onto the boat and grabbed the backpack she had earlier.

Jonathan nodded and gathered all his things. "No need to lecture me on things like that," he grumbled. "I got everything so lets get back on course. I think that trip down the river actaully saved us time and probably helped us lose anyone that was following us. Although, there are hopefully no one doing that." He jumped off the boat and waited for Lillian.

Lillian jumped off the boat, "Alright Um, which way now? Seeing as you have the map?

Joanthan took out the map and unrolled it briefly. "That way for a few more miles and then we're out of out kindgdom," he said with a point, then started walking in that direction. "Since we don't have our horses anymore, I guess we're walking."

Lillian followed Jonathan into forest. From here on out, they were in dangerous territory. As they were walking Lillian remembered what she had in her pack, "Oh um before we get into the next town, I think it'd be best if you changed into some...Well, more 'peasanty' clothes."

Jonathan made a face at Lillian, but reluctantly agreed. "That would be a smart thing to do I suppose," he said, eyeing the clothes Lillian had in her pack.

"Well at least the cloak," She said as she stopped to pull it out of her pack, "You can waive all the gold around you want but it's not too smart to be in another territory when thier sovereign doesn't know you're here." She held the cloak out to Jonathan.

Jonathan nodded and put it on, sweeping it around his shoulders. "I have nothing against not getting killed in a foreign land," he said simply. "And I really don't flash gold like that! I don't mean to go waving it around like that. so what if I happen to have a lot?" he complained.

Lillian looked at Jonathan, "I was joking." She then muttered, "kinda," under her breath. She started walking back on the somewhat path in front of them, "Come on. Lets go."

(Okay heading off soon. So this will be my last for tonight. Happy Halloween)

Jonathan rolled his eyes and followed Lillian. "Oh fine, you were joking...sure you were..." The path they were on wasn't too defined and disappered into the forest. the trees crowded close and one had to be careful not to trip over tree roots. "What a lovely, creepy path this is..."

Lillian continued walking down the path ignoring Jonathan's comments. All of a sudden there was a loud snap coming from their left. "What was that?" She stopped and whispered.

Jonathan paused as well, turning his head slowly towards the noise. "Probably not good..." he muttered in response, gripping his weapon. He didn't see anything, so whatever it was was probably in the bushes. A deer perhaps? He doubted it though. "Who's there?!" he called. "Come out now whoever you are!!"

Lillian slowly looked over their surrounding. Just about anyone could hide in the forest unseen if they knew what they were doing. She heard a bit of rustling coming from the left again. "That might not have been the best idea," she muttered at Jonathan's command.

What appeared to be a human child had walked out into the open. But there were quite a few differences. For one thing he had the ears of what appeared to be a wolf. And the smile he gave showed a row of sharp teeth.

"I know what you are, shapeshifter," Lillian growled.

((I might add this as another main character if you don't mind))

((not at all. go ahead.))

Jonathan blinked at the child, taken aback by its inhuman looks. So this was a shapeshifter, something he had only head about in books. He wasn't quite sure what to do.

"What are you doing here, shapshifter," he asked, deciding to be diplomatic and ask questions before rash decisions and yada yada...

((feel free to do the same. And add any kind of mishaps you want.))

The child leaned against a tree and replied to both humans.
"Smart one you are," he grinned looking at Lillian. He then turned to Jonathan, "I could ask you the same thing. But judging by your appearence, seems like you get the answers first, prince."

Lillian decided to keep her hand by her dagger just in case this boy made any sudden moves. Her history with shapeshifters was not a good one.

"You could start by calling me David," he said, "Shapeshifter isn't a nice word. As for what I'm doing here? Well I live here. Why are you crossing the border to a place you do not live?"

"None of your beeswax!" Lillian burst out.

((Alright, when the fancy hits me, I shall! ^_^))

Jonathan blinked at the boy in surprise. For a second he couldn't think of what to say. "Alright...David," he started. "You're pretty darn clever. You already seem to know a bit about us so I wouldn't put it past you to know the answer to the question you posed!" he challenged. Dang though, this boy knew he was a prince. But Jonathan had changed into less princely clothes and they were walking on foot in a forest. Neither of those were very princely things.

David gave a hearty laugh, "You think I know everything? I could only guess you were a prince cause of your smell and posture. You don't act like someone who's a commoner. How would I know the reason you're here? I wouldn't be asking if I knew." He looked at the two, "What should I call you two?"

Lillian stood hands at her hips, and yet something about this boy wasn't all that foreboding. She wondered what kind of story they should give David. The real reason wouldn't be a good thing to tell.

Jonathan glared at the shifter boy, still suspicious. He glanced over at Lillian, also thinking that they should keep from telling the truth, but lies seemed to be more in her area.

"Why exactly would we tell you anything about ourselves?" he asked with a stern look. "We have no reason to trust each other!"

"You never, know," David said, "I could be of assistance to you in your journey."

Lillian sighed, her mind had been reeling with possible lies, and seeing as how Jonathan had none she told her tale.
"Look I don't know why we would need your services, but if you really must know. We're going to see a rather sick relative of his. I believe it was a distant cousin or other." The shapeshifter gave a puzzled look, one of which Lillian had been positive he would give. "We're traveling on foot, because we're not all that welcome in the neighboring kingdoms. If you haven't noticed all of the current tension between them, you must be as daft as the village idiot."

"Oh, my," David grinned, "Your story is quite rich. But why are you, a mere commoner, traveling with this prince instead of say a royal guard?"

"I'll have you say, I'm a rather skilled mercenary. And princey here is not someone to be laughed at," Lillian defended, "And, we only look this way so we can avoid as much attention as possible."

"Nice, tall tale," the shifter said, "I'll believe it for now. Although, I still would like to know your names."

"I'm Edwardo," Jonathan said with a laughing smirk, not really trying to lie or tell the truth. "why should it matter since I doubt we'll be accepting your help! Right, miss mercenary?" he asked, turning to Lillian.

Lillian looked at the shapeshifter and started to think. "I believe he might be a good asset," she told Jonathan. She turned to David, "How well do you know this kingdom."

"I live here," David said, "Isn't it obvious?"

Lillian went over to Jonathan and whispered, "I think it'd be a good idea to bring him along. At least for a while. He's a local, and we'll probably look less suspicious if he's around."

Jonathan grumbled to Lillian, not sure if he trusted her judgment. "We'll look less suspicious with a shapeshifter kid leading us around?" He ran a hand through his hair, disheveling it, and grumbled a bit more. "Oh fine, do what you want. Go ahead and get us an 'asset'. I can't really complain about that can I?" He trailed off with a few more grumbles.