[color=87CEFA]"You don't have one,"[/color] the thuggish looking boy muttered, shoving his oversized cloak at the dwarfish young mage. His voice was shaky with nervousness - or fear? [color=87CEFA]"I can give you this if you let me stay. There is nowhere else to go. I don't want to leave."[/color] 

[color=999933][i]Sigh.[/i][/color] Gabby didn't actually sigh, but her brain made that sound in her head. She eyed the offered cloak for a moment, then reached out to take it, feeling it over. It had certainly seen better days, and it would probably drag behind her unless she cut it... so she gave it back.

[color=999933]"Let's say you owe me a favor instead, hm?"[/color] Gabby said with a quirked eyebrow. [color=999933]"A favor is worth a bit of silence, I think. Of course, I doubt anyone will ask questions at all once we're on the road. Just try to be less..."

[i]Less what?[/i][/color] she wondered. [color=999933][i]Less frightening? Less shady? Less like a killer on the run?[/i][/color] In truth, she wasn't sure what to make of the boy now. He still seemed the very picture of a criminal, but he was very afraid - and probably desperate - of that she was sure. Of course, such fright could make someone kill another...

[color=999933]"Less of a mess,"[/color] the mage settled for, throwing her hand up into the air as she couldn't find the right phrase. [color=999933]"Look: if you pop out of the wagon [i]now[/i] they'll assume you're a stowaway. If you jump out later, they might assume you're a thief, bandit or worse. You should walk alongside the caravan with everyone el--"[/color]

[color=salmon]"Alright, we're moving out!"[/color] shouted the sergeant-or-whatever with the scruffy face. Gabby named him Grouch. The wagons started moving immediately.

[color=999933]"They certainly don't waste any time,"[/color] Gabby grumbled, stepping away from the wagon. [color=999933]"Don't do anything stupid, alright? If anyone in this motley bunch of nobodies is going to be handy in a scuffle, you're likely to be one."

[i]Mostly because you're probably a killer on the run,[/i][/color] she thought to herself.

With the wagons moving, Gabby had to pick up her pace. It wasn't the sort of pace she liked; her short legs weren't built for striding. Still, it was better than being left behind...

She noticed another caravan guard - he seemed Grouch's equal in grouchiness - riding up to a trio of chatty individuals, snapping something to them about [color=brown]"not a social club."[/color] She took that as her cue to look very busy walking and glancing at the countryside. Yes, she was so busy and so very alert. Yes.

It was going to be a long day.