Hal had been walking along the beach on the tenth. He had seen Calli practicing her acrobatics and had been about to approach her, but suddenly it seemed that there were too many people about. And a chrove. Hal hadn't liked that thing. Too big. And smelly. And able to eat his face. He had stayed hidden, watching and listening. It seemed Calli had joined a circus, and would be leaving. For some reason he had felt some sort of... pain when he heard. He didn't understand it, really. He was used to feeling angry, but this wasn't anger. It was... fear? No, that wasn't right... It took him a while to figure out that it was sadness, and he realized that he would miss her if she left him.

He didn't want to admit it, though. So he had sulked. He was now walking along the beach again, the morning sun warm on his shoulders, though he didn't notice it. He looked up and saw the circus caravan swarming with activity. He held back for a time, watching the flurry of activity. After a while, all the attention focused on one fellow, and the performers circled around him. Hal sneaked forward, footsteps hushed by the sound of waves. He hid behind a cart, where he could yet hear the voice of the man.

It seemed that this fellow was the ringleader, and he was announcing travel arrangements- who was riding with whom, who would cook and who would clean. It seemed they were leaving that day to go to Vienda. Hal acted on instinct. He scrabbled into a cart filled with props and boxes sooner than you could say, "Calli, why are you leaving me?!"