"Ah, the great outdoors." Ray was stretched out on his back, his hands behind his head as he stared up at the stars. "Camping isn't so bad."

"Yea, at least not when you have to deal with weird noises all night long." Lucy was sitting to the dragon's right; Brandon was next to her.

"Guess that rules out camping with Jason around." Janet rolled her eyes. She was standing behind Lucy, her arms folded over her chest as she stared at the burning campfire. Jason was pacing around on the other side of the flames, busy looking for a good spot to sleep in. He barely glanced over at Janet as she commented. "He's always making weird noises all night long, what with his snoring and all."

"And you talking in your sleep is any better?" The windian grumbled back.

"I do not talk in my sleep!" Janet unfolded her arms and glared at Jason defensively. Brandon rolled his eyes.

"Argue on the same side of the fire, please. Let's not have any shouting contests going on all night." Brandon poked at the fire with a large, thick stick he had found. He held it up and watched as flames licked the wood for a few minutes before flickering out and leaving the stick blackened and smoking.

Janet sighed. "I'm tired. I'll be asleep if any one needs me." She paced around to the other side of the fire, placing herself in between Jason and Brandon, a good distance away from each, and cleaned up a spot to lay down on. Jason watched her as she tossed away rocks and sticks before settling down. He didn't bother clearing up a spot on the ground for himself. He just dropped into a crouch and stared at the campfire.

"I'm going to bed too." Lucy made herself comfortable in the spot she had in between Ray and Brandon. The three didn't bother spreading out for more room. Lucy found she liked having them on either side of her, and Brandon and Ray seemed to be getting along just fine. Brandon has respect for those who deserve it, Lucy thought to herself. And Ray's doing his best to keep our little group from killing each other as it is. Lucy guessed that Brandon was just doing his part to make Ray's job easier. Better to just have to deal with Janet and Jason being a problem for everyone rather then have everyone making each other's life miserable.

Brandon had agreed to stay up again and watch the fire, waking Ray when he got tired. The dragon was still stretched out on his back and staring up at the sky as Lucy settled down for sleep. He was running Jim's words around in his head, the faces of the four windians flashed through his thoughts. My responsibility. He sighed to himself. Whether or not they realized it, the group was under Ray's care. Whether or not I realize it too. He thought. He began to wonder if this was anything like how the Ryu's felt during their quests. Outside, camping out with the friends that had been selected to accompany the chosen dragon. Ray glanced over to Lucy who was curled up next to him. She looks like an angel. He thought as he studied her face. It was strange for him to be this close to any of the WINGS and not feel threatened by him. In fact, none of them really seem like any of the WINGS anymore. Ray turned back up to the sky and thought about his traveling companions. Brandon and Lucy were getting along with him just fine. Janet was still a bit of a problem, but she seemed to be warming up slowly to him. Jason just seems to be ignoring me. Ray was grateful just for the fact that Jason was busy picking fights with Janet. It kept the windian from slipping back into his habit of beating on the dragon every time the chance came up. Of course, unless Janet and Jason learn to get along sometime this is going to be a long and loud trip. Ray sighed and closed his eyes, letting his mind wander about randomly as he slowly drifted to sleep.

Jason tossed a small pebble into the campfire and watched as the flames danced around it momentarily. His legs were tired from crouching, and he had to blink his eyes rapidly a few times to keep them open. He picked up a small twig and poked the ground, dragging it through the loose dirt before glancing over to where Janet was laying. Just the sight of her rose a feeling of annoyance in him. It didn't help much that she looked so comfortable. Jason dropped the twig and stood him, stuffing his hands into his jacket pocket. His left hand hit the last fruit that was left in his pocket and he pulled it out, examining it. He tossed it up and caught it in the same hand, then examined it again. It's still good. Don't really feel like sleeping on it however. He continued to amuse himself by rolling the fruit off of his palm and down the inside of his arm, catching it in the crook of his elbow and then bouncing it up into the air by straightening his arm out quickly and catching it in his hand again. He did this a few more times before finally placing the fruit back into his pocket and walked over to where Janet was laying. She looks comfy, he thought. Too comfy.

"What do you want?" Janet grumbled sleepily as Jason stepped up to her.

So she's not asleep yet. Jason sat down next to her and pulled the fruit out of his pocket again, offering it to her. Janet turned to look from Jason, to the fruit in his hand, then back to Jason. He rolled his eyes and put the fruit back into his pocket.

"It's not poisonous you know."

"It's been in your pocket, so I can't be too sure." Janet grumbled and turned her head away from Jason again, doing her best to ignore him.

"Could you ever, I dunno, carry on a conversation without being insulting?"

He just doesn't get it, does he? Janet sat up with a loud sigh. "Jason, what do you want?"

Jason shrugged. "I'm bored. I feel like talking."

"So talk to them!" Janet motioned to the three forms across the fire.

"They're asleep." Jason shrugged. "You're right here. Look, I just want to talk a bit without fighting, will you grant me that?"

Janet rolled her eyes. "Fine, we'll talk. What do you want to talk about?"

Jason shrugged and pulled the fruit out again, offering it to Janet once more. She took it this time. "Home. How're you feeling anyway? Homesick any?"

Janet shrugged as she played around with the fruit in her hands. "Kind of."

"Been thinking of Justin?"

"What makes that your business?" Janet glared at Jason. The red haired windian shrugged.

"Just curious. Let's be honest, you could tell me that you haven't been thinking anything of home and I'd still know you were thinking of Justin." Jason chuckled.

Janet sighed. "I guess so."

"So why don't you tell me about it?"

Janet glared at Jason suspiciously. Jason sighed and rolled his eyes again. "My, aren't we a cold one? You know, I sit down for an actual conversation and you look like you're accusing me for everything before it happens."

"That's because you're up to something." Janet muttered. "I've had to deal with you long enough to know that you're always up to something."

"I'm up to starting a conversation." Jason offered a shrug and an honest look. Janet sighed.

"Well... I just keep thinking about Justin." She went back to rolling the fruit around in her hands. "Why he didn't come?"

"Ray probably." Jason shrugged.

Janet studied Jason for a moment. "How are you putting up with it anyway?"

"Putting up with what?" Jason raised an eyebrow at her. Janet motioned to where the dragon was asleep.

"Him. You can't stand to be around him."

Jason shrugged. "I guess I just ignore him. Forgot he was here a few times."

Janet sighed again and stared back down at the fruit. "... I just wish Justin had come along."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Justin's not worth much thought, just forget about him."

"What?!" Janet turned wide-eyed to Jason. He shrugged.

"Face it. You're probably the farthest thing from Justin's mind right now. For all you know he's getting all cozy with Candi as we speak."

Janet just stared at him. She couldn't believe she was hearing this from Jason right now. What surprised her even more was that she was agreeing with him. I wouldn't put that by Justin... I've seen how he acts around Candice sometimes but... Janet shook her head, trying to knock the thoughts out. She turned an angry glare back to Jason.

Jason didn't seem to notice. "I mean come on, you know what Candi's like, and you know Justin's not going to have a problem with it if you're not there." Jason avoided looking at Janet. He was staring into the fire. He didn't have to look at her to know she was about to cry, and the thought made a smirk tug lightly at the corners of his mouth. Think of this as payback for some of the things you said to me earlier. Then again, even Jason felt a bit of truth in his words. "In fact, I bet he was hanging all over her the minute you where out of sight."

"JASON! That's enough!" Janet leapt up, startling him greatly. He glanced up at her, doing his best to keep his expression looking honestly confused. Janet was past the verge of tears. Already glistening streams where trailing down her cheeks, and her voice choked a bit. "I knew you were up to something!"

Jason shrugged again. "I'm just sayin-"

"Well you said enough!" Janet stormed off away from Jason, leaving him sitting alone in the firelight.

Jason watched her go, then scooted over and began making himself comfortable in the spot Janet had just left. No wonder she looked so comfy. This is a nice spot. He stretched out on the ground and closed his eyes. Through the crackling of the flames he was still able to hear Janet crying quietly to herself from the spot she had retreated too. Jason could feel a tinge of guilt poking around in his mind, but he brushed it off. She deserved it, he thought. Besides, why bother to find another nice spot when I can just take hers? He lay silent for a while, listening to the fire and Janet before he rolled over onto his side, his back to the crying noise, and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep before the guilty feeling had a chance to return and keep him awake.