Being away from the Houses makes you safe. In some ways.

[ It puts you in the care of just Alvary, who's more concerned about you than about your spare organs. More danger otherwise - like Alva's issue with black homes and the lava and all - but on the ship, Valarie's more safe than he's been since birth, likely. ]

I'll take lava flows and alien bee-hives over Hapsburg any day.

[ even if he's constantly running from lava flows. at least he's getting to run from things if he wants to. or allowed to stand still and be melted. not that he would, but the option's there. despite whatever dangers there are, the fact remains, they're free here. and that's worth all the rest.

screwing the cap onto the vial, Andyr's tucking it back into his pack, and glancing up just in time to see the alien-bees starting to get a little frantic. Ooookay. It's a good sign to get going. A hand reaches out to Val's shoulder, he's starting to ease them back towards the way he'd come in, some part of it protective, like you might be for a little brother. ]

Yeaaah, me neither. We're going. Come on. No sudden movements.