The sound of horses were heard just outside the inn early in the morning just after the morning sun rose above the horizon. The chill from the cold dawn frose the horses breath as they were prepared and saddled by Carvahall and Johnson.

Johnson had made his complaints earlier about waking so early to leave. Even the frozen air was enough to cause complaint as he took his time to help with the horses.

Carvahall merely ignored the feline and hastily saddled another horse.

The inn's door opening turned Carvahall's gaze to see who exited the inn. Seeing it was Tamil, the soldier returned to his attention to the horse. Good, now Tamil can help finish up. Or he can help the others get ready.

"Is there a reason why we're leaving so early in the morning?" Tamil questioned as he approached Carvahall. A quick glance was given to Johnson, but soon returned it Carvahall as he folded his arms together to conserve warmth. "The morning frost hasn't even thawd."

Carvahall arched a brow and looked at Tamil, but continued strapping a saddle to one of the horses. "The earlier we rise, the more travel time we have during the day." he said before lowering his gaze back to the saddle. "Unless you intend to start half way through the day and travel into the night."

Tamil frowned. "What difference does it make? We'll be traveling slower through the cold anyway. Not to mention we'll be traveling for days, a few hours earlier isn't going to make a lot of difference."

Carvahall sigh and halted his efforts to turn toward Tamil completely. "You don't travel for long periods of time very often, do you..." His tone was low, almost annoyed. "You will have to forgive any rude comments... But I know you want to sleep in. The later we wait, the more likely we may be attacked or caught off guard."

A sneer appeared on the panther's face before Tamil stepped closer to Carvahall. The panther was much taller than the feline in front of himself and tried using it to intimidate him by straightening his back. "Do not assume as if I am some lazy fool, Carvahall. We all need our rest from last night. You are only trying to take over leadership and this is your way of doing it, by forcing us to leave when you feel like it."

Carvahal quirked an eyebrow again and blinked. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Tamil. It was not my intention to appear that way. As far as leadership goes, Debalora is in charge. Antonis told you this. Debalora and I spoke last night and agreed leaving this early was the best thing to do."

Tamil's sneer grew to a snarl. His eyes narrowed a bit, but said nothing. This Faholgan soldier has already gotten on his nerves. He knows Carvahall is trying to take over everything. He best judged that by the soldier speaking to Debalora last night. Not to mention the tone Carvahall was giving him. Call it intimidation or frustration for Antonis to choose both of them. Tamil has been here longer than the Faholgan has.

Carvahall took Tamil's silence as a sign to return to adjusting the saddle and preparing the horse.

Brandon exited the inn, using the back of his fingers to rub his eye tiredly. In his excitement of traveling, he had promised himself he would awaken before the sun. And here the soldiers were already preparing the horses. As he walked, he just passed both Tamil and Carvahall before a curious brow rose, overhearing Tamil dispute.

He didn't think of stopping to interrupt them, heading towards Johnson as he found the feline struggling a bit to lift a sack.

"Would you like help?" he offered, taking hold of the other end of the bag.

Gordan exited a short while after Brandon did. A deep breath was taken as a more frustrated gaze was on his face, stepping away from the door. A heavy sack was slung over his back, filled with books and parchment. He didn't struggle with the bag, but he'll be glad to put it in the carriage and not have to carry it the entire time.

A glance was made toward Tamil and Carvahall briefly before continuing his pace toward the carriage, finding Brandon and Johnson.

Johnson groaned as he lifted the heavy sack from the ground. That's right, use the guy who's just another soldier to do all of the heavy duty stuff. And now he's arguing with the panther. he would have much rather stood around them as they argued. They may have been arguing, but some useful information may slip out. He needed all he could get.

The bag was returned to the ground after Brandon offered his help. A strained look was on Johnson's face with his maw parted as he turned to see him. Frozen breath could be seen with his pants. He could use the help, but he didn't want to do any of this labor in the first place. So, Johnson would only look back to the sack with a grunt. After grabbing one of the sack, he positioned himself to allow Brandon to grab the other side. He assumed Brandon would figure out what to do without needed to tell him what to do.

After finally finishing his diapproving glare toward the feline in front of himself, Tamil turned around to head back into the inn. He didn't want to irritate himself further with Carvahall and decided helping the others inside would be at least somewhat productive.

Once Carvahall was finished with the horse in front of himself, he turned his head to see Tamil walk back toward the inn. An eyebrow arched with a slow shake of his head before he pat the horse's hind quarters and walked toward the stables.

While Brandon helped Johnson load belongings into the carriage and Carvahall exited the stable with another prepared horse, Debalora and Tamil exited the inn. Debalora carried extra blankets while Tamil carried extra bags toward the carriage.

Aidan was the next to leave the inn, with Voltrick soon to follow. They carried their own belongings, Voltrick carrying the least considering he barely had any in the first place. Both of them kept to themselves. Aidan most of all, standing away from the others behind the carriage and waited for everyone to ready everything. Voltrick would have liked to stand with Aidan, but sensing Aidan's mood Voltrick felt best to keep his distance and stood near the horses.

Gordan had already seated himself inside the carriage, his things neatly secured next to himself. A scowl was on the young tiger's face as he watched both his father and Aidan. Voltrick was obviously attached to the cat and didn't make any effort to hide the fact he would have rather stood next to Aidan than the horses. Gordan watched Voltrick periodically turn back to check on Aidan. As if Aidan would somehow disappear if Voltrick didn't watch over him.

Gordan's scowl hardened the longer he watched. He quickly reflected the night Voltrick asked for forgiveness. His father fell to his knees in sorrow in front of him... as if the monster had truly wanted to be forgiven. Gordan was still unsure how to take it all. Voltrick still tried to talk to him after that night, but Gordan made it clear he still didn't want to talk to him.

But now, after all of that, Voltrick has more interest in Aidan. Even though Aidan was obviously avoiding everybody, Voltrick still tried to watch over him; protective of him. Gordan questioned to himself what may have happened between them. What sort of bond was there that would make his father feel protective of this cat and pay little attention to his own son, ...who he so desperately tried to apologize to?

Could it be that Voltrick was connecting more with Aidan since Gordan wasn't speaking to him? Or was Voltrick viewing Aidan more as a son than Gordan? If that was the case, why would Votrick act as he did the night he apologized? Gordan's brow lowered as he turned his gaze away and toward his sack beside him. Was Gordan being jealous of Aidan? And for what? Because of his monstrous father paying more attention to Aidan than his own son? The thought irritated him.

After making sure all of the horses were prepped and ready along with everyone's belongins with them or in the carriage, Carvahall mounted his horse and faced the rest of the group. Everyone was either moving their things into the carriage, strapping blankets to saddles, or standing around. It was time to go.

"Everyone." Carvahall raised his voice for the others to hear. Once everyone's eyes were on him, he continued. "Are we all packed and ready to depart?"

Debalora had just finished packing a sachel attached to the saddle of one of the horses before climbing onto the carriage. "Everything is packed and ready." She announced before her attention was drawn to Tamil, who was already on his horse and had moved next to Carvahall. He didn't say anything, but it was obvious he wanted to be at the front to show everyone he was in charge as well.

"Alright." Carvahall said, only quirking an eyebrow and glancing toward Tamil before looking back to the others. "We have a long travel ahead of us, so be prepared. Debalora is in charge and whatever she feels is best, we will follow it. We all travel together, but if we should ever separate I want everyone with at least one other person. There shouldn't ever be a time when you are alone. Everyone is going to be assigned to another to prevent anyone falling behind or leaving the group." There was only a short pause as he watched the others reactions. Tamil's was probably the most negative, but he's had that look all morning. "Johnson, I want you be with Brandon. Voltrick.." Carvahall paused as Voltrick looked directly towards him. He knew Voltrick wasn't going to hurt anyone, but he was still extremely intimidating. "You and Aidan will travel together. Tamil and Gordan will be another pair. And Debalora will pair with me."

A harder glare was on Tamil's face after the assigned pairs were given. He wasn't arguing with who he was paired with, it wasn't as if any of them were going to separate long enough to need another person around, but he was irritated by who Carvahall paired himself with. He's only pairing with Debalora to gain more authority. What was with this guy?

"Alright, Let's go." Carvahall announced before everyone mounted their own horses. Debalora, Brandon, and Gordan secured themselves within the carriage before Debalora gave a light shake to the horse's reign and triggered the horses attached to the carriage to walk forward.

The caravan continued wordlessly down the road of the town. It was still in the early hours of the morning and the streets were still empty of townspeople. The only sounds throughout the town were the rapid horse steps clanking against the stone ground along with a wooden carriage rolling out of town.