A few weeks had passed since Cara, the young mage, had driven the shadowy demon away-- a few weeks since Jagyr had died at the hands of the demon warriors. The three remaining members of the motley had wandered back towards London in in hopes of flying home to the United States. What little home they had left anyway. The freehold in Seattle had been ransacked, and the Dreaming there was still choked with the shadows and webs of Mr. White's servants. And that was why the three changlings had come to the small, rundown tavern in Northern Wales. They had stopped and spoken to every fae creature they had been able to find, all in the hopes of finding some way to free their home from the THINGS that infested it.
The Tavern was called the Iron Stag, a very unlikely name for a Changling hang-out. But the Boggan owner of the last small freehold they'd visited had told them that it was a hang-out for Unseelie Fae, and had warned them against going, saying that it was a haven for people of all the worst sorts, and no place for respectable Fae to be.
But desprete times called for desperate measures, and the three Changlings were indeed desperate. The Iron Stag was just as uninviting outside as it was inside. The lights were dim, and it was filled with smoke so thick the three young women could barely breathe. A tall, dark-haired woman stood at the bar, and eyed them warily as they walked in. It seemed-- besides the barkeep-- they were the only women in the entire place.
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They looked around quickly, their Fae-eyes searching out others of their kind. It seemed nearly every eye in the place was on them. It was truely rare that any women came into the Iron Stag, and to have three such young and attractive ones was unprecedented.
As they nervously looked around, they noticed a small table of men, most of them Fae, sitting drinking. One of the men, a giant of a man with flaming red hair and a thick beard, was drinking a glass of thick Irish stout, and talking in a loud voice. He was obviously not of the Fae, but there was something strange about him, especially the large travelers-pack that sat at his feet. The Changlings with him seemed mildly interested in what he had to say, for surely he was drunk, but seemed much more interested in the three that walked in.
"So there we were," the red-haired man said, his voice carrying throughout the bar. Many of the other patrons were staring at him, some with less than pleasant looks. "Me and that damned bloody Get, in the middle of Mexico City, trying to watch after a pack of cubs, and hunt down the nastiest man that ever walked on two legs, Samuel Haight himself. What an adventure that was! Now old Samuel Haight was tough, and mean as they come. But he never stood a chance again' me and my boy.
And thats what I'm doin' 'ere. I heerd he was havin' a bit a trouble down this way, and seein' as how I had nothin' better ta do. I picked up my harp and headed this way." The man's eyes grew somber for a moment, and his voice got quiet. "Didn't make it though. Whatever trouble he'd found caught up wit' him. He died a fortenight ago." Then the man held up his glass in a silent toast, and said, "To Wyrmhater, the damnest' bloody, Get fool to ever walk." He then drained the entire mug. "And a damned good friend o' mine too."
"Wyrmhater?" The three Fae whispered to each other, "Wasn't that the name of the werewolf who was following Cara and that other crazy werewolf?"
Giselle turns to Ebony.
Cuin pours another glass from the large pitcher on the table.
Ebony looks at Giselle, pulling her cloak tighter about herself.
"He knows Wyrmhater! How could zis be?" Giselle asks in surprise.
Cuin smiles before taking a long swig.
Ebony shakes her head, and says something that is inaudible over the loud crowd.
Ebony finally leans up to speak in Giselle's ear. "Maybe we should talk to him," she whispers.
Giselle adjusts her scimpy black attire and checks her hair in her compact.
"Now if my old pal was here, he'd drink us all under the table. Well, you two at least." Cuin says, referring to the two other Changlings at the table. A Redcap and a Sluagh.
"Aaah, I look ravishing! Oui, let's go talk to 'im." Giselle says smiling.
Cuin finishs off the rest of the glass and pours another.
Ebony looks uncertainly at Giselle, clutches her book tighter under her arm, and follows the Saytr to the table.
Giselle pushes her breasts up in her bra, flips her hair, and walks up to Cuin.
"Hey! I cans drinks anybodies undah dat table !" Gibbletoothh cries.
Cuin smiles as the young women walk up. "Ah, what do we have here? Pull up a chair ladies, and have a drink."
Cuin smiles at Gibbletoothh, "Wanna bet?"
Giselle smiles and leans in, showing off her rack nicely. "I 'eard you mention...Wyrmhater."
"Oh keeerist! A satyr!" Gibbletoothh roars in Giselle's direction.
Archibald is sitting by the Redcap, looking a little uncomfortable next to him as he drinks water.
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Ebony blinks and smiles slightly at the other Sluagh at the table.
Cuin seems mildly distracted by Giselle's ample charms, "Err...who wants to know?"
Giselle shifts her gaze to shoot the Redcap deadly eyes, and then looks back at Cuin.
"Ahey! Who's you loookin at you fookin' prostitute?" Gibbletoothh asks her.
Archibald dofts his hat at the other Sluagh. "Always a pleasure to meet one of our kind," he whispers.
"Ah, show some manners my fine Redcap, the lass is just fine." Cuin reprimands. "Especially if she's buyin' the next round."
Giselle stands up straight again, and then smiles slowly at the Redcap. "If you have money..." she looks him over, "nevermind, mon dieu, I'm not zat desperate."
Ebony looks much relieved and sits down next to the Sluagh. "Yes, always," she replies, her voice whispery and scratched.
Cuin looks at Giselle hopefully.
"My name is Ebony," she introduces herself, leaning closer to the Sluagh so that she may be heard over the noise.
"Well den she's alright if an she buys me a drink so I can gets me beer gogglies on so I's can see whatcher mean!" Gibbletoothh agrees.
Giselle turns back to Cuin. "Aah, please forgive me...my name is Jezabelle...Giselle to ma friends. If you're a friend..." she leans in again. "I'll buy you a round."
"I am Archibald, and who are your... companions?"
"I'm an Gibbletoothh!"
"Ah, a friend of that bloody Get I am, and one of his oldest too." Cuin explains.
"Forgive my compatriot," adds Archibald, waving towards Gibbletoothh. "He's usually...inebriated most of the time."
Giselle nods. "Ebony an' I fought with Wyrmhater...we lost he an' Aaron...an'...my big blue Troll! AH how I miss 'im!"
Giselle puts the back of her hand to her head and pretends to swoon.
Ebony sniffs and nods when Giselle mentions Jagyr.
"I wear black every day since 'is passing!" Giselle explains, displaying her outfit.
"He's been bendin' da ear wit those tales sincey we came! But thar he's buyin so it's all dat same!" Gibbletoothh rambles.
"You wear black because it looks good on you, Giselle..." Ebony contradicts Giselle.
Ebony turns back to Archibald. "This is Giselle and the cat over there is Felicity..."
Giselle suddenly drops her facade of grief and glares at Ebony.
Cuin chuckles.
"I see." says Archibald.
"The old bastard Get wouldn't hav' liked to see you cry for him mi' girl." Cuin comforts Giselle.
"A Troll dead! Har! I sees Trolls dead all dat time mes do!" Gibbletoothh says non-challantly.
"So just take a seat and have a drink to his memory with us." Cuin invites.
Ebony looks back at Giselle apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean an insult..." Ebony sniffles. "I miss him too."
"I do not believe I 'ave 'ad the...pleasure of your name, mon homme..." Giselle says to Cuin.
Ebony pulls an intricately embroidered handkerchief out of a pocket and wipes her nose.
Cuin calls over the waitress and asks her to bring three more chairs and another pitcher.
Gibbletooth leans into Ebony and points to her hankerchief, "Yous goin to da eat dat?"
Giselle leans in and whispers to Ebony, "Men like to cheer a girl up when they're in mourning, an' I'd like this man to cheer me up, oui?"
"Ah, I'm Cuin McDonnel, of the Clan McDonnel, and the Tribe Fianna."
Ebony gets a look of disgust on her face.
Archibald smiles, his teeth looking as if an accident has occurred in a graveyard, at Gibbletoothh's "joke."
Ebony quickly puts her handkerchief away and keeps her eyes away from Gibbletoothh.
"Just come down from Edinburgh." Cuin continues.
"I'm sorry Giselle..." Ebony apologizes.
"Aaah...Scottish...tres bien..." Giselle smiles a seductive smile.
Cuin smiles back, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
Giselle turns to the waiter and orders a drink for her and Cuin.
"So, tell me more about what happened to Wyrmhater." Cuin says, pourning another round for the newcomers.
Ebony starts fiddling with her silver jewelry, eyeing the patrons uneasily.
"Har what's dat dis and dat? I'm too hungry for dis nows! No more stories! More's da eatins!" Gibbletoothh exclaims.
"First tell me who are zese...friends of yours." Giselle eyes them distrustingly.
The crowd seems to be eyeing the group dangerously.
"Ah, a wonderful pair of lads if I've ever seen, I just met them, but they're already dear ta' my heart." Cuin says.
Gibbletooth shuts up and looks at the crowd with a dirty eye. He finds one of the men and wiggles his tongue at him.
Archibald turns to Gibbletoothh, "just order something, and this time, don't try to eat the waitress."
Gibbletooth looks around for the waitress.
"Nurse! Nurse!" Gibbletoothh cries.
The waitress wanders over. "What can I get you?"
"Gets da eatins or you'll be da ateings! I sa hungry." Gibbletoothh demands.
Giselle turns back to Cuin. "Well, I will take your word for it." Giselle leans in and starts rubbing Cuin's leg. "It was so sad..." Giselle sniffles. "Aaron...Wyrmhater...killed by zat monster! Whatever shall we do!"
The waitress looks distastfully at Gibble, but takes their order and scurries away.
"Har har she's a lookin good! Dat fookin NURSE!" Gibbletoothh chortles.
"Ah, there, there lass. Tell old Cuin all about it." Cuin comforts.
Ebony looks at Archibald. "How long have you known that one?" she asks, looking briefly at Gibbletoothh.
Cuin nonchalantly puts his arm around Giselle.
Gibbletooth looks back at the crowd to make sure no one's givin him the dirty eye.
"Now, what I wants to know, is what could ever a killed Wyrmhater. He was as hard as they came." Cuin asks.
"It seems too long," he says. "Sometimes, I wonder why I know him." Archibald begins.
"I once watched him kill an entire pack of screamin' Sabbat, without even breakin' a sweat." Cuin brags.
"You haven't seen it," Ebony finally answers Cuin. "If you saw it, you'd know."
"Oh Cuin...it was zis demon called Menthu! I zink ze only one who can stand up to 'im is zis little girl, Cara, but we don't know where she went!"
Ebony shivers.
Cuin looks at Giselle interested...
"Wher's dat eatins!" Gibbletoothh asks impatiently. "Godderdamnit!"
The waitress finally starts to bring back the orders of food.
Giselle snuggles against Cuin and gives a disturned glance at the Redcap again.
"Aah food...but 'ow can I eat at a time like zis?" Giselle asks melodramatically.
"Nurse! Yos have to slay it yer-fookin-self then?" Gibbletoothh pesters.
Archibald leans towards Giselle and Cuin, "mayhaps you two should just get a motel room and be over it," and flashes his graveyard smile at them.
Giselle arches an eyebrow at Archibald. "Oh cher...I don't need a room...rooms can be so expensive..."
"Don't encourage her!!" Ebony shrilled.
"Ah my girl, you have to keep up your strength. You never know what may be waitin' for you up the stairs." Cuin smiles.
Ebony sniffs.
Cuin's eyes twinkle.
Giselle laughs and turns her charms on Cuin. "Usually it is something...pleasant, mon cher."
Ebony's eyes go wide.
Cuin smiles.
"I've lost my appetite with the way you two are." Archibald complains.
"Oh fer keeerists sake!" Gibbletoothh slams the table.
"I can see lass, that we're going to get on famously." Cuin laughs.
Giselle throws back her head and laughs a throaty laugh.
"Ah relax my good lad. Sit down and eat yer dinner." Cuin motions to Gibbletoothh.
"Jes take dat fookin prosty up-dat-stairs and do it would ja!" Gibbletoothh growls.
"What about Cara!" Ebony bursts out.
"I's a hungry and yer ruin it dat dis and den godderdamnit!" Gibbletoothh continues.
"Relax, plenty o' time for that." Cuin calms.
Ebony gives Giselle a significant look.
Giselle clears her throat.
"Please...Giselle...I just want to go home!! We have to find Cara!" Ebony exclaims.
Archibald turns to Gibbletoothh, "just eat, and have mine too."
"Ah, poor little Ebony, oui-- we need to find Cara. She is ze key, I zink, to destroying zat demon!" Giselle suddenly says.
"Yers a good dat fren dere Archie!" Gibbletoothh praises.
"Of course." Archibald nods. "And...it's Mr. Blacksin, like I've always told you."
"Who is Cara?" Cuins asks.
"Oh yer! Blacksin! Yeh I's fookin fergots I did di den!" Gibbletoothh hits his head.
"You do that too much my good man." Archibald warns.
Gibbletooth turns to the fellow givin him the dirty eyes.
"Cara..." Giselle sniffles, "...I believe liked Aaron very well...oh ze poor fille! An' now she's lost him!" Giselle blinks quickly and tries to compose herself. She leans in and whispers, "a very powerful mage-- ze most powerful mage ever born, I believe."
"Stops yer lookin at me's, yo corkersmoker!" Gibbletoothh yells.
Archibald turns to the fellow Gibbletoothh is talking too, "I'd do what he says," he whispers, "before he eats you."
"Yeahssss! Yo looks dat disguztins to eats! I eats dat den!" Gibbletoothh announces.
"What do you zink, Cuin-- will you 'elp us find Cara?? It sounds like you were good friends with Wyrmhater..." Giselle pleads.
"Corkersmoker," Gibbletoothh says turning back to the table.
Cuin thinks for a moment. "Well, I seem to have a lot of time on my hands now. Sure then, why not?"
"E's pissin is blooms by now wit dat dere!" Gibbletoothh brags.
"Why don't you tell me the entire story." Cuin says.
"Good, now finish eating." Archibald says to Gibbletoothh.
"While my blunt-toothed friend here finishes eating." Cuin says, looking at Gibbletoothh.
Ebony clears her throat and moves closer, glancing at Giselle and Felicity for support.
"We 'ave to get back to our freehold first...demons 'ave overrun it an' killed all." Giselle suddenly gets a determined look on her face. "I want zem out. Zen we go look for Cara."
Gibbletooth scarfs down his pastrami, corned-beef, turkey, ham,chicken-hold-the-mayo-I-like-it-dry sandwhich in one gulp.
"Ah, what kinda demons?" Cuin asks.
Ebony frowns.
"I dont know..there was a man in a white suit...and lots of spiders..." Ebony shivers.
"Dere wazz dat! No spams!" Gibbletoothh yells.
Ebony struggles to be heard, but her voice is so soft that everyone has to move close to hear her.
"Ah mon dieu, I do not know..." Giselle puts a hand to her head. "The freehold seems secure in zis world, but in ze Dreaming zere are demons everywhere!"
Gibbletooth grabs the table and turns towards the waitress. "Nurzzzzze."
Cuin looks thoughtful. "I seem to remember something about a freehold long ago being invaded by things like that."
"Yes the dreaming has been corrupted..." Ebony nods.
Giselle takes a sip of her wine. "Where to begin, mon beau, where to begin..."
"We may have to take a side trip, to talk to an old friend of mine." Cuin begins.
Archibald listens, trying not to let Gibbletoothh's antics drown out what is being said.
"Arch- duh I mean MR! Blacksin! No spams! I assed fer spams! I waz rubed!" Gibbletoothh complains.
Archibald waves off Gibbletoothh as he tries to listen.
"Damns it." Gibbletoothh pouts in his chair.
"They killed everyone. Everyone." Ebony sighs sadly.
"There is an old friend of mine, a knocker named Leopold. He lives in the Dreaming now, but he is quite the scholar on Fae history." Cuin continues.
Cuin stands up, and wobbles dangerously. He reaches out and catches himself.
Cuin smiles, "Ah, may o' had more than I thought..."
"No mayo!" Gibbletoothh yells.
Cuin shakes his head and stands up again, now steady as a rock.
"We met Cara in Seattle...she was 'aving bad dreams...was attacked by a demon...a pack of Garou came an' 'elped us...Aaron took Cara an' zey left to travel around ze country, trying to learn 'ow to defeat ze demons. It is a long story, Cuin...we followed zem all ze way to Wales..." "I likes it dry!!" Gibbletoothh yells, and then looks at Giselle.
Giselle stands up in mid story and grabs Cuin under the arms. "Ah, you big man! Ze Scottish-- zey can never hold zeir liquor!"
"Har har!" Gibbletoothh laughs.
"Ah, don't worry about me lass, there isn't a soul alive that can out drink me." Cuin smiles.
Gibbletooth snorts and perches on his chair and looks right at Ebony.
Ebony shrinks back in her chair.
"Hi dere...whots yer name dis den?" Gibbletoothh asks.
"Now, if you'll follow me." Cuin strides confidantly out the door.
Ebony looks wildly over at Giselle but sees she is occupied.
Giselle smiles and keeps her arm around Cuin. "We followed zem to a Verbena village..I zink Cara's mother was from zeir. Ze head demon-- a man we called Mr. White-- came for Cara with 'is demons, so Cara summoned Menthu, an' Menthu...ate Mr. White. But zen we 'ad to deal with Menthu, an' zat is 'ow Aaron, Wyrmhater...my pouvre Troll...all died..."
Archibald looks at Gibbletoothh and nods at him to not bother Ebony.
Giselle continues talking while walking with Cuin.
Turning back, "Well, are you all coming? There's a story in this somewhere I'll bet!" Cuin calls.
Gibbletooth nods at Ebony and sees everyone leaving and follows them.
"I gots stories I dos!" Gibbletoothh cries.
Gibbletooth smiles at Ebony.
* Archibald stands and follows the rest, slightly behind.
"Wants a story????" Gibbletooth asks excitedly.
Cuin walks around the bar into the allyway.
Ebony hurridly stands, gathering her things. She sticks close to Archibald as they exit the tavern.
Giselle turns. "Aah! Ma little Ebony!" Giselle waits and motions for Ebony to come before turning back to Cuin.
Ebony looks uncertainly at Gibbletoothh. "..........?" she asks, but her voice is too low for him to catch what she said.
Cuin reaches the end, a large brick wall, "Now, if one of you fine lads or lasses can just open a bit of a door into the dreaming."
"Woots and fire, look at dat dere shes not talkin!" Gibbletooth exclaims.
Gibbletooth looks back at the bar and see the dirty-eye-guy he smiles at him. "Ey! Dis yor auto-mo-bile den!!!"
Gibbletooth points to his car and smiles. "Looks good enuff ta eats den!"
Gibbletooth bends over and takes a bite out of the bumper. "Salt! Pepper!"
Ebony pulls out a small sachet of some kind and holds it over her nose.
"Corkersmoker! Har har!" Gibbletooth laughs.
Cuin watches as the door opens, and steps through.
Gibbletooth snorts excitedly at all.
The Dreaming opens up before the small motley, brighter and more vibrant than anywhere in the mundane world. A long pathway leads through a thick forest, leading off over the horizon.
"Well, shall we?" Cuin takes Giselle's arm, and heads off down the path.
Ebony looks eagerly through the doorway.
"Homedy homedy!" Gibbletooth cries. "Eys!" runs up to Ebony and walks beside her.
Giselle steps through the doorway, and suddenly she has the legs of a goat, two rather small horns on her head, and pointed ears. She's also naked from the waist up with only her long red hair to cover her chest.
Archibald walks down the path with Ebony.
"Wher's dat girl den from yos home???" Gibbletooth asks.
Ebony blinks.
Everyone notices that Cuin takes on distinctly wolven features.
"Pardon?" Ebony manages to say as Gibbletooth speaks to her.
Giselle smiles and takes Cuin's arm, looking around curiously.
"Come on then, Leopold's tower is just over the horizon." Cuin directs.
"Do you zink zere are many Satyr 'ere, Cuin?" Giselle look at Cuin and smiles a slow smile. "My, my, my...what a handsome wolf you are!"
Gibbletooth walks through the portal and suddenly his body is covered with thin course hair his skin is white except his vivid red lips and eyes. He carries a hand axe upon his back. "I's said wher you's home dat little grily?"
Archibald walks and his features don't really change much from the tall, emaciated pale man in dark clothes of before, except that he's maybe a lot thinner and taller. His eyes, larger and darker. The smell of decay a bit more pronounced.
Ebony steps through the doorway, and suddenly you see her skin is white, and she has lots of silver jewelry hanging from nose-rings to her ears. She has no hair, but her head is covered with a sheer black shawl. Her violet eyes stay the same color and look huge and dark on her pale face.
Giselle looks behind her to see where the smell is coming from, squints at Archibald, and turns back-- fanning away from her nose. "Mon dieu, you would zink we were in Paris!"
"Pary!" Gibbletooth immitates.
Giselle closes her eyes and sighs, shaking her head.
Felicity steps through, shedding her mortal seeming, as her pooka seeming appears -- a blue-purple-pink haired kitty with strips of black fur decorating her body.
Ebony takes a deep breath and smiles, looking around at the forest.
Gibbletooth gets out his axe and swings it wildly cutting some grass.
Cuin begins to walk down the long pathway, arm in arm with Giselle, and humming an old traveling song.
"Parry! Dodgers! Thrusters! Twisty tie twisty ties!" Gibbletooth cries happily.
Felicity giggles, "Hee-hee!!!" as she puts one paw to her mouth.
Giselle turns to Cuin. "I 'ope we are not making a mistake, being with such company! Perhaps you should introduce zem?"
Gibbletooth lopes over to Ebony.
"Why does this always seem to be a bad rendition of the Wizard of Oz," mumbles Archibald to himself.
"I would, but you see, I just met them today. But don't worry lass, thing'll work out." Cuin assures her.
"Homey! yors homes wher is dat??" Gibbletooth asks.
Ebony takes a deep breath.
Giselle puts her hand on Cuin's chest, stopping him from going further. "Well, I would feel better knowing 'o I am travelling with."
"It's in the Kingdom of Pacifica" Ebony finally manages.
"Whot dat den?? Whots dat city? Ha-whi-eee??" Gibbletooth questions.
The path is long, but it seems to go quickly, and within an hour or so, a large tower appears just over the next hill.
Giselle turns to face the two new companions. "I am Giselle. An'...'o are you?" Giselle smiles and raises an eyebrow at Archibald and Gibbletooth.
Ebony shakes her head, her jewelry jingling with the motion. "Seattle."
Gibbletooth stops his excited talking with his new found friend and looks at Giselle. "o! so der de duh prosty speaks!"
Giselle suddenly wonders if she made a mistake addressing the Redcap.
Gibbletooth turns back to Ebony.
* Felicity hides her giggle with a paw over her mouth. Archibald looks at Giselle and doffs his hat as he continues walking. "I am Archibald Blacksin, and this, this is Gibbletoothh, my sometimes companion."
"See attl." Gibbletooth says slowly. "S-E-A-T-T-l-....E."
Giselle leaps forward suddenly to stand before Gibbletooth, grabbing his...package. "You will call me Giselle, or you will have my hoof up your ass, do you understand, mon ami?"
Giselle smiles a dangerous smile.
Gibbletooth looks up at Giselle.
Felicity giggles, "So are you companions, or just friends?"
"Acquintances." Archibald corrects.
"Oh. OK. That's NEEEEEEAT!!!!" Felicity exclaims.
"Gah! Dat proh-duh-GIZELLLLE." Gibbletooth squeals.
Giselle squeezes harder-- just to emphasize her point-- and then lets go, turning to Archibald.
Cuin chuckles. "Ah, the lass has fire, I'll say that." Cuin chuckles agian and turns to knock on the door to the tower.
Giselle bows. "A pleasure, Monsigneur Blacksin."
"I's gots not dat money!" Gibbletooth cries, still afraid of Giselle.
Archibald flashes that graveyard smile of his. "Yes, Gibbletoothh can be quite the... problem at times."
Giselle shifts her eyes to look at Gibbletoothh. "A shame...if you were nicer, that would make no difference to me."
"Meebe's, E-bonie, yous sees me to C-attl some days." Gibbletook resumes speaking to Ebony.
Giselle watches Ebony and Felicity to make sure they are OK, and then turns and jumps back over to Cuin.
The door opens a moment after Cuin knocks. An aincient knocker stands there, squinting in the fading light. "Cuin you old wolf! What are you doing here?"
"Me friends and I are looking for something. I thought you could help." Cuin explains.
Gibbletooth wanders over beside Mr. Blacksin.
Ebony keeps her arms folded around herself and looks warily from face to face.
"Certainly come in." Leopold invites.
Archibald looks at Gibbletoothh. "You saw what happened with the Satyr, be careful with the others or it could be a bit more costly."
Ebony bows respectfully to Leopold when he invites them into his house .
Giselle smiles at the Nocker. "Cuin...I know you are a wolf, but even a wolf has manners."
The new motley walks into the tower, where he leads them up into a massive study filled with row upon row of book.
"If'n only! She's grabs my vine and smileys!" Gibbletooth cries.
Giselle sighs in disappointement and offers her hand to Leopold. "I am Giselle. A pleasure!"
"Ah yes, this is my friend, Leopold." Cuin says quickly. "As smart a Knocker as you'll ever meet."
Felicity giggles at the implications of that.
Leopold smiles, and says in a grandfatherly voice. "Now what can I do to help?"
Ebony stands back, waiting for Giselle to take charge of the introductions.
Felicity regains her composure quickly. Felicity smiles at her thought.
Gibbletooth looks at bout the room sniffing things.
Giselle smiles as she looks over at her friends...and the two new Unseelie. "Leopold cher, zis is Ebony...Felicity...Monsigneur Blacksin...an'..." Giselle looks up trying to remember the Redcap's name.
"Gibbletoothh! Godderdamnit!" Gibbletooth shouts.
Leopold smiles at the young Changlings. "Welcome to my home, any friends of Cuin's are friends of mine."
"You can help us with our home-Dreaming. Is that right?" Felicity asks.
The motley quickly explains things to Leopold, who looks off into space, thinking deeply...
"Aaah, Gibbletoothh, oui. I am sorry." Giselle smiles and starts walking around the room, peering at everything.
"Yes, I think I can help you." Leopold says.
Gibbletooth whispers to Mr. Blacksin, "I likeys dat dere pookers!"
Felicity giggles.
Leopold quickly runs off to a bookshelf, climbing a tall ladder and returns with a book.
Archibald shakes his head.
Ebony looks around the room, eyes devouring the sight of all the books.
"I hangins wit dat E-bonie ta makeys her jea-jea-duh-jealous." Gibbletooth confides.
"Ah, right here. It seems that before the sundering, a free hold to the east was invaded by shadowy monsters that took the form of spiders. They weren't Chimera, but dark demons from the mortal world."
Ebony shivers.
Giselle curses under her breath.
Leopold continues. "The free hold was held by a lost house of Sidhe, who were able to free their hold, but the entire house disappeared shortly after."
Gibbletooth sits on a chest in the corner and listens mindlessly chewin on his thumb.
"That other pooka doesn't make me jealous. She's my friend" says Felicity to Gibbletooth.
Archibald listens to Leopold talk about the demons.
"The last king of the house, an old Sidhe named Thionder took what few retainers he had left and disappeared into the dreaming." Leopold continues.
Gibbletooth looks at Felicity.
"Whots dat yor namey den di dere?" Gibbletooth asks.
"But a thousand years later, one of Thionder's retainers returned to the house Fiona, bearing a horrible tale." Leopold says.
Giselle paces back and forth while listening intently.
"My name is Fffffffelicity."
"Thionder had lead his people into the moutains north of here, where they found a hidden valley. Apparently Thionder went into a cave there. And when he came back, he was completely changed. Mad beyond belief. Thionder drove his people to build a new settlement there, where they stayed for thousands of years." Leopold continues.
"Fel-FFFF-Fell---Velocity." Gibbletooth attempts.
"SomeTHing like that." Felicity says in amusement.
Giselle notices the Pooka and Redcap talking and gets a conspiratorial smile on her face, and then returns to listening.
"But as his madness grew too great, his people fled. But they say that Thionder stayed, along with his records and his magic." Leopold concludes.
Felicity listens to Leopold.
"What caused him to go mad?" Ebony asks.
"You is dat dere purty, is whopt you ares den." Gibbletooth says, almost incomprehensively, to Felicity.
"None know, for none of his retainers were allowed to jouney into the cave." Leopold answers.
"Those Sidhe...how high an' mightly zey zink zey are!" Giselle shakes her hair and returns to pacing.
"A few expeditions went into the moutains too look for the lost house, but none returned." Leopold continues.
Ebony frowns.
"Why, Thanks...what is your name?" Felicity asks Gibbletooth.
Archibald remembers the last time he had to deal with Sidhe, and has an uneasy look on his face.
"But, if you're interested in going, the last retainer made a map. Which I just so happen to have a copy of." Leopold smiles beautifically.
"Ya' see there lass, things have a way of working out. We'll find that lost town, and figure out how to get rid of those spider thingy's." Cuin says, smiling.
"I's Gibbletooth," he says puffing out his chest, "I's bodyguard to dat dere arch-duh-Mr Blacksin."
Giselle stops pacing and folds her arms. "To go to zis hidden valley an' speak with a madman? Oh mon dieu..." Giselle puts a hand to her forehead.
Ebony feels relieved, now that they have a purpose again. "How far away?"
Giselle turns and puts her hands on Cuin's chest. "But...if YOU were to go with us...I would not be afraid." Giselle bats her eyelashes at Cuin.
"Well, lass, I'm certainly not goin' ta let you go alone..." Cuin smiles.
Gibbletooth looks at Cuin and Giselle, dat Coo-in muster have money.
"Well then...if you zink zis is ze best way...zen let us go!" Giselle says enthusiastically.
Giselle turns to Leopold. "I zank you for all your help, cher Leopold! I hope zis will give us ze answers we need! Oh my poor home!"
Felicity sniffs. "I miss Theatle," she says as she frowns.
Cuin smiles, waiting for Leopold to draw a quick map, and showing them the best way to get there."
Archibald looks around at all the books, and wonders if he can come back to read some of them.
"Yo's liveys in S-E-A-T-T-....T-T-L-E!!! too?" Gibbletooth says to Felicity.
Ebony gives a longing look to all the books in the library.
"May I suggest that you get supplies at the town over the next hill. It may be quite some time before you have another chance." Leopold says.
"YeTH THir. It wath cool and rrrrained a lot." Felicity lisps.
"Ah, great idea." Cuin says.
Giselle nods and smiles up at Cuin. "Oh yes...it could be...quite...a long, looong time...until we have another chance...mon amour." Giselle says in a low voice with lowered eyelids.
"Yer's at dere den di an dat all!" Gibbletooth babbles.
"We'll stay in the inn over night, then set out first thing in the morning." Cuin suggests.
Felicity looks sad. "I want to adventure..." she mumbles.
Cuin smiles down at Giselle, a wicked twinkle in his eye.
"I's a hunger agins, I needs dat gud eatins!" Gibbletooth complains.
Ebony smiles at Felicity. "Well adventure! It will be great fun.... out here in the Dreaming..."
Giselle runs her finger down Cuin's chest. "Why don't you show me...us, zat is, to zis town, zen?"
"I'm THinking about some DRINKS." Felicity says, energetically.
Archibald wonders why he hired Gibbletoothh in the first place. "Drinkies! Yo's bets we gets dat drinkes, yo's an me pookers!" Gibbletooth says excitedly.
Cuin smiles and leads the way out of the tower and over the next hill where a small town with a large comfortable inn awaits.
Archibald sighs and prepares to...adventure with the children.
Felicity follows Cuin, realizing he knows where to find some booze.
Archibald follows, hoping to come back later when the...adventureing is over.
"Dats a small townie townie, I betcha we could-duh-livey like dat kings down dere he-yes indeeder." Gibbletooth says excitedly.
The inn is large and run by a friendly pooka named Ralph. Ralph shows them to their rooms and begins to serve them, as they are the only guests in the inn.
Felicity bellies up to the bar.
Giselle peeks into her room, not expecting to see it again.
"I wannnna.... beer. No, ale... No..." Felicity begins.
Archibald orders water.
Giselle orders a fine red wine.
Ebony curls up near the fireplace and opens up her large leatherbound book. She takes out a feathered quill pen, dips it in a pot of ink, and begins to write.
"Is lonely tavern der is. We's gets dat drinks and den eatins. Den we gets to...er..." Gibbletooth says, uncertainly.
Giselle walks past Gibbletoothh and whispers, "bed..." and continues past, heading for Cuin. Cuin walks up next to Felicity, and orders a pint of stout, followed by a shot of whiskey.
"I wannnna ...." Felicity continues to ponder. "What do you recommend, Ralphy?"
"Yeah, Ralphie whot dat yo fookin recamond?" Gibbletooth asks.
"I don't like the Ale at all. It is really bad." Ralph smiles.
"I'll have the ale, then Ralph." Felicity finally decides.
"Yeh!!! Dats it we gets da drinkies and den we gets da bed! It's good eatins!" Gibbletooth says excitedly.
Ebony sets her book down and wanders back up to the bar, ordering a pot of hot tea, then she goes back to her table near the fireplace.
Ralph smiles, and pours a large ale for Felicity.
Archibald takes a seat near the shadows, watching the others.
Cuin tips his glass to Felicity and downs the glass all at once.
Felicity gives her ale to the person on her left.
Giselle wanders up to Cuin, puts her glass of wine down, leans her head back-- arching her back-- and runs her hand through her hair, stretching. "Mmmm...good wine..."
Gibbletooth takes the ale and drinks it in one gulp. "Buuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrppppppppppppp."
Cuin looks at Felicity with an odd look on his face. "Well, thats a first."
Archibald sips his water, and watches.
"Ahhhh dats feels better." Gibbletooth says in satisfaction.
Cuin shrugs and throws down another glass.
"Can you give me some of what that guy that guy that talks funny is having?" Felicity asks.
"Which one?" Ralph asks in confusion.
Giselle gives Cuin a hurt look, snatches her glass of wine back, and walks over to Ebony.
Gibbletooth turns and looks at Ralph. "Hey der pooker you says I talka funny??"
Giselle sits beside Ebony. "What are you writing, little one? You looked so sad earlier!"
Ralph shrinks back...
"No. I was just asking 'bout what the guy with the skirt." Felicity states.
Ebony sighs.
"Yu fookin little bastahd! Yu wants some! Yo wants da bashy bashy corkersmoker!" Gibbletooth threatens.
"I am just homesick, I suppose..." Ebony says.
"Its a kilt!" Cuin roars.
Ebony shows Giselle her book, Giselle can see two sets of handwriting, Ebony's on one side and a stranger's on another.
"Ralph, can you give me some more ale?" Felicity asks.
"Aaaah, oui! Your magic book! What does it say about zis Sidhe?" Giselle asks excitedly.
Ralph hands Felicity another glass.
Felicity actually drinks it, now that she didn't say she would.
"Dat right! Yu's bees nice to Gibber's grilyfren." Gibbletooth says. "Or me's turns yo into Pooker-steaks-tar-tar-hold-the-sauce-I-like-it-dry."
"Hey, Mr. Blacksin. Why aren't you drinkin?" Felicity asks.
"I am, but not what your having." Archibald sips some more water.
Felicity looks puzzled. She says Gibbletooth, "Why doesnt your friend like the harder drinks?"
"Hims dat dere di brains o-dat oper-oper-duh-outfit!" Gibbletooth answers.
Giselle watches Ebony carefully while taking a sip of her wine.
"Nothing, I'm afraid.. I had hoped it could tell us more of the madness...but it's never heard of this man." Ebony says regretfully.
"I's do dat drinkins and dar bashinsand he do dat tinkin." Gibbletooth continues.
Giselle sits, trying to comfort Ebony for a time-- missing their home, as well.
Ebony is glad for the company.
Cuin seems to have a tolerence beyond any of the Changelings, and he quickly drinks three times what the rest of them do.
Ebony sips carefully at her mint tea.
Giselle finally sighs. "Zat big Garou has brick for brains! If he does not want me to warm 'is bed, perhaps ze bartender!"
Ebony chuckles, trying to hide her smile behind her cup.
"Ah lass, I'm just havin' a bit o drink. I've stll plenty of energy for ye." Cuin calls over to Giselle.
Cuin smiles.
Gibbletooth smiles at Felicity. "So what are you doin after this?"
Felicity starts to make conversation with Giselle and Ebony.
Giselle sighs and flips her hair at Cuin. "I am not accustomed to being set aside until I am called for!"
Gibbletooth wiggles his eyebrows.
Felicity starts up her adventure stories.
"Ah lass, don't be angry. Here, have a drink with me and we'll off to bed." Cuin offers.
"He," he nods at Archie, "May be the brains of this operation, but I am the muscle, yeah you know what I mean..." Gibbletooth says nodding.
Felicity starts sharing her "adventure" stories with everyone. (most of which ... uhm.. well, theyre all from a Pooka).
Giselle folds her arms and makes a hmph-sound, flipping her head to look out the window.
Cuin pours Giselle another glass of wine.
Archibald listens to the stories, knowing he's dealt with far worse, and most likely, for more realistic.
Cuin sets it down in front of her. "Suren' that girl has a temper to match any Fianna Ahroun."
"There was this one time... when I was fightin' a pack of bad doggy pooka! they were riding satyrs! no! Dragons.... !" Felicity begins.
Cuin goes to his pack, and returns with a harp, and starts to strum it, singing and old Irish love song.
Giselle reluctantly reaches out and snatches the wine from where Cuin left it.
Cuin eye's never leave Giselle's.
Giselle looks at Felicity as she hears bits of the Pooka's story.
"These dragons had me surrounded...and the bad doggies -hiss- started BARKING... no, HOWLING." Ebony shuts her book with a thump and places it carefully back in her black bag, leaning her chin on her hand and watching Felicity tell her stories.
Archibald laughs at Felicity's tall tales.
Giselle glances over and sees Cuin watching her, and her cheeks pinken with pleasure, but she turns her eyes back to Felicity, pretending to listen to her.
"But I outsmarted them... I happened to have some Jerky with me...and the doggie pooka...they looked at me...then...they looked at the jerky...AND.... they ate the jerky!!! and the dragons... they wanted the jerky, too!!! So, I threw the jerky... far, far, far away...and they all ran after it...they practically mauled each other!!!!"
"Mmmm jerky! All this talk of food is makin me hungry." Gibbletooth announces.
Ebony chuckles.
"But I was gone. stupid bad doggy pooka...they would get more treats if they were good..."
Gibbletooth looks over to Ebony.
"Whatcher readin there." Gibbletooth asks.
"Nothing," Ebony whispers, glad the book is put away now and safe.
"Hrmmm." Gibbletooth murmurs.
Giselle puts her hand to her mouth and laughs, letting her eyes roam back to Cuin for a moment, admiring the large Scotsman for a moment before glancing around the room, pretending to be interested in the walls.
The night drags on, the changlings swapping stories, and Cuin singing old songs, and it's nearly midnight before the motley starts to head off to bed.
"So ahhh Felicity shall ahh we retire eh?" Gibbletooth cocks his fingers at her like a gun and winks.
Giselle stands, fluffing up her hair and smoothing her fur.
Archibald stays at his table, drinking his water.
Felicity yawn. "I think you go with your friend, and I go with mine," says as she smiles.
Ebony smiles with relief.
Gibbletooth nods dejectedly.
Felicity follow Ebony. "Where we going?"
Gibbletooth wanders over to Mr Blacksin.
Giselle laughs. "Oh you four! You miss so much!"
"No one understands the Gibber." Gibbletooth says sadly.
"I'll show you the way.. I remember where the room is... thank you for not making me sleep alone!!" Ebony says.
Felicity smiles.
Archibald motions for Gibbletoothh to sit. "Come on, have a drink, it'll make you feel better."
Giselle glances at Cuin over her shoulder, and when walks over to inspect a picture on the wall.
Cuin chuckles and walks to the stairs, throwing a long look at Giselle before climbing the stairs.
Felicity's look says, "thank you!"
Gibbletooth notices the drink wearing off. "Dat Gibber libs dat lonely lifey anyways, hims gots dat good frn arch-err-Mr. Blacksin."
Giselle realizes that Cuin's not going to beg for it...and weirdly enough, she doesn't want to pass him over because of it...and runs after him.
Ebony gathers her things and ascends the stairs, yawning.
Archibald watches the other's go upstairs.
"Mr. Blacksin is dat der tinkin, I tinks yessireee, he's gottens dem plans all de dire sets." Gibbletooth says.
"Yes, I have been thinking." Archibald says.
"whotcher ben tinkin den?" Gibbletooth asks.
"I've been thinking I need to talk with our employers about these... arrangements. I'd like to know why they want us here." Archibald says.
"Yeahs sir, yous dat dere master." Gibbletooth says.
Archibald nods at Gibbletooth.
Archibald sips some more of his water.
Felicity goes upstairs, changes into kitty form, curls up into a ball and purrs before finally going to sleep.
Ebony sinks thankfully into the comfortable bed, sleeping with her arms wrapped around her big black bag.
"Gibble, you look tired, why don't you go to bed." Archibald suggests.
"I's go, I's go." Gibbletooth agrees.
The last sound they hear as the motley drifts off to sleep is Giselle shrieking from Cuin's room.
The day dawns bright and warm the next morning, and the motley enjoys a well deserved rest after their adventures with Cara.
Felicity wakes up at dawn.
Felicity knocks on everyone's door early in the morning "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP!!! ADVENTURING TIME!!!"
Archibald is still in his chair from the night before, the glass empty of water by his side, still thinking.
Felicity goes downstairs.
Ebony yawns and stretches, then starts rummaging through her bag.
Ebony pulls out a silver cigarette case, and finds a clove and lights it.
Giselle shouts out something in French, not sounding very pleased.
"Mr. Archibald sir... were you here all night?" Felicity asks.
"Yes." Archibald says simply.
Ebony smokes the cigarette and stares into the mirror along the wall.
There is a smell around Archibald... like opium.
"I'm sorry. something troublin' you?" Felicity asks.
Gibbletooth walks back into the bar, his axe bloodied.
Felicity sniffs. "You smell funny."
"My habits sometimes do." Archibald says.
"Dat dere dearie was good eatins for da breakyfast." Gibbletooth announces.
"OOoh... I knew a nocker that had that problem once..." Felicity begins.
"Problem?" Archibald asks.
Ebony rummages through her bag, making sure everything is in order, then joins Felicity and the others down in the common room.
"Yeah. The doctor told him to lay off the broccoli." Felicity finishes.
Archibald smiles, "No, nothing like that."
Ebony 's head is surrounded by a halo of sweet smelling clove smoke and she smiles happily.
Gibbletooth sniffs the air and smells something sweet and lopes over to Ebony.
"Ooh... good. its always bad when someone knows Pyrentics, and another person has that problem..." Felicity says.
"yo's smell dat good dere." Gibbletooth says to Ebony.
Ebony flinches back then forces herself to address the Redcap politely.
Cuin finally emerges from his room an hour or so later, looking well rested and ready to travel.
"Thank you sir." Ebony says to Gibbletooth.
"O! sir is it har har!" Gibbletooth laughs.
Archibald nods.
Cuin has a large claymore strapped to his back, and carries his bag and harp in one hand.
Felicity looks puzzled. "OOOohhhhh..."
Giselle stumbles downstairs 15 minutes later looking very, very pleased.
"I have this," as Felicity shows a bag... of catnip, no less.
"Mine is a bit... stronger." Archibald smiles.
Ebony looks from Felicity to Archibald, contentedly smoking her clove.
"REALLY??!" Felicity cries.
"Oh yes." Archibald nods.
"Hi, Ebony!" Felicity calls.
Ebony smiles. "Hello felicity."
Felicity gazes at what Archibald is smoking. "Hmmmmm..."
Gibbletooth pulls out a huge cigar.
"Pookers wants ta smokeys?" Gibbletooth asks.
Giselle flops down on one of the barstools-- unable to take her eyes off of Cuin as she leans in to the bartender and asks him for something with some pep to it.
"What's on yer axe Gib?" Felicity asks. "And what kinda smoke you got?"
"Would you like to try some?" Archibald asks Felicity.
Felicity sniffs it.
"Is deerie blood! I's had some good eatins!!!" Gibbletooth answers Felicity.
"I might try some...but stuff makes me.. funny..." Felicity answers.
"Her tries some den!!!" Gibbletooth exclaims.
Archibald stops smoking his pipe.
Felicity takes it...
Cuin looks disdainfully at Archibald's taste in smoke.
"Yar yar!" Gibbletooth says lighting up his cigar.
Felicity smokes a little, then hands it back to Archibald.
Cuin mutters under his breath "Wyrm shit."
"This smells funny..." Felicity says.
"Whot's nexty on dat der plans...duh-Coo-in?" Gibbletooth asks Cuin.
"It's an acquired taste." Archibald says.
Giselle swivels around on her barstool, holding her drink and crossing her legs, to see what's going on behind her.
Cuin looks from Archibald to Gibble.
"I's of a mind ta make a murder..." Gibbletooth finishes.
"Well, we should probably pick up supplies here, then head off. We should still be able to make a fair distance before we lose the light."
"Waits...waits...waits...." Gibbletooth says.
Giselle sees the blood on Gibbletoothh's axe and closes her eyes, pressing her glass to her forehead.
"What do you think we'll need?" Ebony asks.
Felicity shouts, "OKAY!!!!!!" and takes a charging pose.
"I's wants bigy arse axe." Gibbletooth announces.
"Oui...supplies..." Giselle stands after chugging back the rest of her energy-drink.
"Well, I done a bit o' spelunkin' in my day, probably rope, lights, and a healty amount o' provisions." Cuin begins.
"You've been down some big caves?" Felicity asks innocently.
"I tot we's dere did duh gon to ex-ex-go into dat dere cave?" Gibbletooth asks.
Giselle flashes her eyes dangerously at Felicity.
"Aye, huntin' Black Spirals." Cuin says, missing the joke entirely.
Felicity looks back at Giselle, and smiles, innocently.
Giselle continues the long look, and folds her arms.
Gibbletooth tugs on Mr. Blacksin's shirt.
Ebony offers, "If you'll give me a list, I can pick up some things."
"Maybe we's find dat ting dat makes Gibber smart again?" Gibbletooth suggests.
Felicity doesn't get why Giselle is angry at her suddenly.
Archibald looks at Gibbletooth impatiently, "What do you want?" he says.
Felicity blinks.
"Maybe." Archibald says.
"You might want to round up some camping stuff. I've no problem sleeping out doors, but I'm guessing these ladies may miss their creature comforts." Cuins says. "And rope and weapons might help as well."
Ebony starts writing a list as Cuin is talking.
"And lights, I'm guessing you can get some decent lamps around here." Cuin continues.
"I am quite accustomed to sleeping out of doors, but you are a sweet man, mon cher..." Giselle smiles a ravishing smile.
Cuin smiles back.
Ebony finishes scribbling the last items down.
Archibald puts his opium pipe away and prepares for the journey ahead.
"I'm not expecting this to be too dangerous, but whatever we may find, did manage to waylay a Sidhe king. So it will pay to be careful."
"We should get some stuff for the big cave, then. LET's GO!!!" Felicity says as she charges out the door.
Gibbletooth sits in the corner trying to clean his axe.
Archibald smiles, remembering how he dealt with the last Sidhe King he met.
Ebony hurries after Felicity, putting the pen in her pocket.
Archibald follows Felicity and Ebony.
Cuin smiles and offers Giselle his arm before following them out.
Giselle walks up to Cuin and runs her fingertips up and down his back, then takes his arm-- looking very pleased-- and goes outside with him.
The town was small, but well stocked and the Motley had no trouble picking up supplies for their journey. They were even able to find a large self propelled Cart that seemed to run of the power of two chimerical rats running on a small wheel after a piece of chimerical cheese.
Ebony searches through the shelves of the store, seeking out any small treasures they might hold.
"I's wants a bigy axer! You's gots?" Gibbletooth gets a bigger axe.
"I just need to sharpen my claws..." Felicity states.
Felicity steps outside, and starts scratching on a tree.
Giselle examines the contraption, looking under it and making a little high-pitched excited sound when she spots the rats. "Aaah zis is perfect!"
Felicity comes back inside, sees the rats on the wheel...
Archibald gets any supplies, and information, that he can...and needs..
"How delici... I mean... CUTE!!!!" Felicity cries.
"Me likes!" Gibbletooth cries.
Cuin eyes Felicity..."Aye now, leave them alone. I don't plan to be walkin' the whole way if I can' avoid it."
Ebony picks up a few trinkets adn brings them to the counter to purchase.
Giselle has a variety of weapons strapped to her-- a sheath with bastard sword on her back...dagger around her right thigh...crossbow, also on her back with bolts...and a small machine gun on her left hip.
"Those babies are going to carry our stuff?" Felicity asks.
"Mr. Blacksin has dat money! Hims buys for dat dere Gibber peese!" Gibbletooth begs.
Giselle runs back into the store. "Do you 'ave any bolts that would home in on a demon? Any special bolts like zat?"
"They're just little tiny-wheeny, little ... sna-- I mean babies." Felicity comments.
The store keeper looks, and shakes his head. "Nothing like that." he says.
"Gibber bees good if dat Mr. Blacksin buys him..." Gibbletooth says.
Giselle nods her head, looking disappointed. "Ah...je me regrette...I thank you anyhow."
Archibald pays for everything.
Giselle goes back outside.
The Motley clabers onto their nocker-made cart, and started off for the distant mountains to the north.
Felicity eyes the little rat guys. "Dont they get tired?"
"We kills in dat dere cave den! Gibber wants blood, him tinks straight at sight o'blood." Gibbletooth says.
"They don't seem to..." Cuin observes.
Despite its power source, the cart goes quite quickly, and by the end of the next day they had reached the base of the mountains where they begin their arduous climb up a steep canyon where they could not take the cart.
"Coo-in, is dat der duh cave?" Gibbletooth asks. "Up der?"
Felicity starts asking Cuin about the big cave as they climb. "So how big was it? how many werewolves could fit in it? did you get lost?"
Cuin shakes his head. "There should be a valley on the other side of this mountain."
After what seemed like hours of climbing, the motley crested the summit and looked down into a long misty valley below them. They followed a small path down into the valley, and found that it was much warmer than the surrounding mountains. The floor of the valley was covered in a thick carpet of grass even at its high altitude, and the motley could hear a strong river not far away.
Gibbletooth hops on the rocks making his way alongside the group.
Giselle stares down, feeling a sense of apprehension.
Archibald climbs up and down, not seeming to get tired.
Giselle leaps around and over the rocks with ease as if she were born and raised on this terrain.
Giselle leans over-- placing her hand on Cuin's back-- and peeks at the map. "The Cave is in a Mountain at the other end of the valley." Cuine points out.
"An' ze valley is what we have to fear...once ze night falls..." Giselle looks around, scanning the land.
Giselle hears the sound of the river. "Perhaps...we could make a...how do you say...a boat an' float to ze cave?" Giselle peers at the map again.
Cuin shrugs. "I'm not sure, but I think it might be a good idea to camp here by the trail just in case. We'll see how thing go through the night."
Archibald looks to see how much longer they have until night.
"No need to fear dark when dat dere dis Gibber be abouts! dat dark fears duh Gibber." Gibbletooth brags.
"We have about an hour left. We can continue or set up camp here." Archibald says.
Giselle peers over at Gibbletoothh. "Ah oui! I almost believe that, mon homme!"
* Gibbletooth takes out his two bladed axe and whirls it over his head and jumps about "I's dat dere baddesty arse in all of dark!" Gibbletooth continues.
"What do you zink, mon amour? Would a boat take us in ze right direction tomorrow?" Giselle asks Cuin.
"Let's. GOOOOO!" Felicity shouts.
Ebony blinks.
Giselle watches Felicity worriedly as she waits for Cuin's response.
Cuin scans the horizon, "Maybe, the river seems to go the right direction."
"Der pooker is dat dere brave ones!" Gibbletooth admires.
Giselle nods and folds her arms, feeling proud.
"Lets go look at this river." Cuin suggests.
"I would suggest using all zat energy to help us make ze boat, Felicitee." Giselle smiles.
Cuin wanders towards the sound of the river.
Giselle follows after.
Felicity smiles at Gibbletoothh. "I am the bravest pooka I know."
The river was not far. It lay at the bottom of a deep gorge nearly fifty feet deep. The River did look able to sustain a boat, but there were many large boulders sticking out from its surface.
"You is! Gibber proud ta knows dat great pooker F_f_f_fel-is-ty!" Gibbletooth cries.
Giselle ponders the river with her hand on her chin. "Riviere dangereuse..." she mutters.
"I'm thinkin' we'd be bette off walkin'. Cuin decides.
Ebony nods.
"I agree." Archibald nods.
"Oui-- you are right, Cuin. I am much better on land..." Giselle backs up the bank and returns to the path.
Felicity nods as well.
Cuin looks out over the horizon again. "Why don't we go on for a while, then we'll make camp."
"Perhaps, as we follow the river down, there will be a bridge we can cross later." Archibald suggests.
Giselle nods, and suddenly gets a smile on her face, and walks quickly over to Cuin.
Giselle leans in and whispers something.
Cuin smiles, chuckling softly.
Giselle laughs and stands back up straight, smiling.
"Aye, but we best make sure we all get some sleep tomorrow." Cuins grins.
Archibald shakes his head at Cuin and Giselle.
Giselle nods innocently. "Oui-- it is safer here, I zink."
"Gibber stays dat dere watch! Him needs no da sleep." Gibbletooth says.
"I will be awake as well." Archibald says.
"Anyting comes, Gibber kills, Gibber eats." Gibbletooth says.
Gibbletooth lopes over to a rock and sits planting his axe by his side.
"We'll take turns at the watch. Why don't you all set camp, I'm gonna take a bit o' a look around." Cuins suggests.
"Perhaps a little music will keep ze ghosties away...Cuin? Will you play a little something for us?" Giselle asks.
Cuin smiles, "Surely m'dear, but wait till I get back, I wont be gone long."
Giselle slings the pack off of her back and begins to rummage through it. Giselle looks up and smiles, nodding.
Cuin shifts into the form of a huge redish wolf and lopes away.
Giselle watches him lope off and sighs a contented sigh.
Archibald helps set up camp.
Ebony asks Archibald if there is anything she can do to help.
Archibald has Ebony help him with the fire.
"Gibber needs no help hims watch and dats dat." Gibbletooth says.
Cuin returns after an hour or so. His wolf form is much bigger now, standing almost six feet tall. He seems to be dragging something.
Giselle smiles, then makes a rather large place on the ground to sleep.
Giselle looks up and sprints over to Cuin.
"What 'ave you got zere?" Giselle asks.
As Cuin gets closer, they can make out a huge sheep, almost the size of a small cow.
Giselle looks pitying at the sheep, but manages a weak smile at Cuin. "My...what a big sheep you 'ave caught..."
Cuin shifts back into his human form. "Seems there's a herd o' these wee bits o' roast not far away. Stupid things didn't even run when I came upon 'em."
Ebony could use a tent.
Cuin quickly skins the sheep, and has it roasting over a large fire in no time.
"Gibber as some on his watch!" Gibbletooth cries.
"Can I have Mine rare?" Felicity asks.
Archibald declines.
Giselle looks away while Cuin skins the sheep, and eventually gets up to find some berries and plants to munch on.
Cuin smiles as he slowly turns the spit, and starts to strum his harp.
Ebony sits near the fire, folding her legs beneath her.
"There was this one time..." Felicity begins.
Cuin pulls out a large silver flask and takes a long swig before offering it to Giselle.
Giselle kneels down by her pack, retrieves something, and squats beside Cuin, listening to him play. Giselle accepts the flask, takes a good swallow, and hands it back to Cuin, smiling.
"I was looking for the golden fleece..." Felicity continues. "and I found, instead...a golden cow. and I got really angry...wait, no...I told my people to stop. and the pookas looked at me..."
Giselle nods, listening to Cuin's music with a smile, and then takes something from beside her and puts it to her lips-- some panpipes. "Mind if I join along, mon amour?"
"And I told them they should be EATING cows, not worshipping them. and they said, 'oh', and made dinner plates from the golden cow..." Felicity continues.
Ebony chuckles at Felicity's story.
"and so, I had these 10 rules, too...but... I got mad, and I broke them...and my people said, 'hey, dont do that...eat some cow with us." Felicity rambles.
Archibald listens to Felicity's tall tales.
"so, I started eating cow. and it was good. and there was light cow and dark cow. but it all tasted good. That's what it was like in the land of the pookas...except the bunny pookas...they usually just ate lettuce and carrots...and lots of it. But I tell you what, you do NOT want to share a bathroom with a bunny pooka...and, they always clog the toilet..." Felicity concludes.
Giselle begins playing along with Cuin-- creating a beautiful melody out of the strummed and plucked chords.
As Giselle and Cuin begin to play, the motley feels its inhibitions start to fall away.
Cuin passes around his flask, which seems to almost never run dry...
Gibbletooth gets up from his watch.
Felicity runs.
"Oh yes someone in trouble!!!!" Gibbletooth runs off into the night whirling his axe.
Giselle tries not to laugh as she continues to play her pipes.
Archibald looks at Gibbletooth, wondering where he's going.
Ebony stares at the fire, trying not to yawn again.
Cuin watches Gibbletooth.
"What's he up to now?" Archibald asks.
Felicity comes back to camp, takes a seat and continues. "One time there was this troll...this troll lived under a bridge in Oklahoma...well, some FAAAAAR off land, anyway...
Giselle watches the rest of the group with disappointment, but continues to play with Cuin.
* Cuin chuckles after a while, and stands up, stretching.
"and the troll one day saw a boat... and the boat didn't stop. so the troll yelled at the boatman...and the boatman woke up, and turned the boat around..." Felicity continues.
"Well, I think i'm gonna turn in...we'll head out again at first light, if no one is opposed." Cuin says.
Giselle wonders again if there could possibly be any Satyrs in this place...
"and everyone was glad the troll lived under the bridge...and brought him presents." Felicity concludes.
"I'll be throwing shoes at you two if you make as much noise as you did last night." Archibald states.
Cuin laughs, and winks at Archibald.
Giselle drops the pipes from her lips and sighs. "You should all be ashamed-- wasting my gifts as you 'ave!" Giselle lifts her head and walks back to her pack, placing the pipes carefully inside.
Archibald looks at Cuin.
"You have GIFTS???" Felicity asks Giselle.
Ebony looks confused.
"I'll try not to keep ya' up too late laddie." Cuin says to Archibald.
Giselle smiles and turns, cupping her breasts in her hands. "Much more than these, oui, little Pooka!"
"Are you going to give them to that troll? the one under the bridge I was telling you about? People do that. he was a nice troll...until one day the boat didn't stop. but that's a different story..." Felicity rambles again.
Giselle hears the mention of a troll, and pretends to weep-- walking after Cuin.
