Fantasy ~ FableWood ~

[Flutterby]

“Swimming is my best of all things. Er no, my favorite, my favorite of all things." Quincy said as she stared down at the handful of cold, white fluff, trying to imagine why it was called snow. And why the humans seemed to enjoy it so much. Dropping it, she jogged after Alexander, her shorter legs making it a little difficult to catch up in the high snow. "Damn this snow." She puffed once she had made it back to his side, getting used to the new word, just in time to find another human had joined their ranks. He was, unfortunately, sorely under dressed. "Humans are so strange." She muttered, wondering why the human girl would give him her own cloak when another creature would be better suited to survive without it.

 

[Sleipnir]

He frowned, still attempting somewhat frantically to dislodge Banba. "What-? No, seriously — where am I?" A land of fairy tales? That couldn't possibly be right. He looked around, hoping for some sign of civilization, and noticed the group of people and others beginning to form. He stared at them, slightly concerned. "This isn't some sort of weird gang, is it?"

 

[zCrookedz]

Leo laughed at Banbas approach to meeting new friends. Leo walked over to the young man laying in the snow, he was obviously disoriented. He took one of his paw like hands and placed it on the young mans shoulder. "Calm yourself my friend. We will not harm you." He looked over at Banba "Well, not intentionally. You will have to excuse Banba, she is a bit excitable."

 

[Sleipnir]

Ethan stared, clearly still alarmed. "What are you? Is that — that can't possibly be some kind of costume..." He looked at the others again. Surely he couldn't be...? "Wait." He couldn't be. Surely there was no way he was actually in a mythical land of storybooks. "Do you really mean this is actually a fantasy world?"

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward nodded to the others and bounded after Elena and the others, his height making it easy for him to navigate the snow.


"I'm sorry Luness, I don't mind the snow, really. Don't worry yourself about bumping me."


The last to come through the portal was the reindeer, who shook himself profusely and galloped after them.


"This will prove to be quite the distance to walk..." Suddenly he noticed Elena was talking to a new figure.


"Well well, another human...and all the way out here?" He'd have to talk to Grendwen about the accuracy of this summoning spell. It seems to have scattered humans all over FableWood. Reverting back to human form so as not to frighten the boy he made his way over.


"Greetings Ethan." Ward welcomed, overhearing his name as it was given to Elena.


"I am Ward. We are heading to a village that isn't too far from here. You should join us."


He placed his own cloak tenderly about Elena's shoulders. "It won't do to have you catch cold," he said.


Ward glanced back at the others following slowly. He then noticed that Ashley had come as well...this would make walking very difficult.


"We can't have her walk all that way." He said in a concerned tone. "What to do...With the chalice missing we cannot be caught out here after nightfall."


It was then the reindeer snorted. When Ward looked at him he turned his great antlered head to the west where the sun gently touched the horizon. Something was coming towards them, shielded from view by the rays of the sun.


As Ward squinted into the light he made out the faint outline of a sleigh.


"Everyone! Look!"


It was fully visible now, a sleigh, pulled by more reindeer. As they ran it seemed like they split in two. No, there were two sleighs.


Ward's heart lifted as the reindeer pulled to a halt in front of the group, snorting and pawing in their harnesses. Ten reindeer tied to each sleigh, the bells on the traces jingled merrily as they pranced.


The open-top cabins fit four snugly. No doubt this was a gift from the Snow Queen.


The princess ushered Joy and Nyr to the portal, making sure they had the enchanted winter cloaks.


"These will keep you warm no matter the squalls you may face. Retrieve the Chalice...and hurry back. Branbern will make preparations for an attack, and don't worry, we are not as helpless as they might think." She gave the dread raven a smile and gestured toward the portal. "Now hurry!"

 

[Lioness075]

Watching the incoming reindeer and sleighs, Luness let out an alarmed yelp and bounded away from the group, swiftly climbing a nearby pine tree. Once she found herself on a sturdy branch, Luness peered down between the branches and snow to watch everything unfold. There was no way that Luness would be convinced to fly in such a confined space as those cabins with those reindeer. Her heart was racing and Luness wondered if she started to run now then maybe she'd get to the village either at the same time as the group or before them. The mere idea of flying anywhere terrified the werecat.

 

[Aelin]

She smiled "Thankyou!" and jumped into the portal she looked like a ball of flame plummeting into the Ice kingdom. She landed on her back then tumbled into a pile of snow "Oww..." she groaned and noticed how cold it was. Weren't these cloaks enchanted? she looked around to see if she could see anyone from here. Nothing but footprints in the snow she got up and brushed the snow off the back of the cloak and started following the tracks.


It took about 20 minutes but she found them she could see Elena, Ward and some other people she didn't know from the distance and her face broke into a huge smile as she slowly walked over her, golden glow easy to tell apart from the snow.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena stayed quiet as others gave a better explanation. It would be ignorant to think herself the first human to have arrived, but it felt practically like years since she first entered Fablewood. Ward gave her his coat and she looked up at him with risen brows.


"Thank you.. But won't you be cold? It wouldn't do for you to get sick either." She replied with concern. Still, the large coat was very warm.


The bells of a sled jingled and she looked at it with recognition and apprehension.


"So.. We will ride in a sleigh." It was said as a statement though intended as a question.

 

[Sleipnir]

Ethan stared at Ward, then the sleigh. What chalice? What village? Suddenly something clicked in his mind — he may as well just roll with it. These strange... Things were more or less his only chance and as far as Ethan was concerned, he didn't have much if a choice. "Oooookay... Um... Nice to meet everyone. I, uh... I guess I don't have many options. I may as well go to the village." He turned his attention to the reindeer, watching the great beast curiously.


Then he looked at Elena. "So - how do I handle this? Are you a normal person?"

 

[Hel]

Alexander slowed enough for Quincy to keep the pace. He examined the boy, and then looked to the sleighs. He counted heads: the shifter, The new boy, Three, no four human girls, another human boy, it was clear that two sleighs would not hold everyone. "I can fly, if I must I can carry another." He offered

 

[Flutterby]

Quincy was scowling fiercely as they walked. “Human legs are useless." She muttered, not realizing until then how much shorter she was than the human girls. She looked skeptically at the sleighs, not keen on squeezing in with the humans. “The humans should ride there. The rest of us can walk. Or fly." She added, realizing she was one of the few creatures without a winged form.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena frowned at Ethan, unintentionally. He seemed more than a little confused, but it was to be expected. Sighing and readjusting to get more comfortable in the coat she replied.


"I am a human.. But I'm not sure what you would consider normal. When I first got here, Ward helped me out. I thought I was dead.. My advice is accept everything that he or others in this group say as a possibility or absolutely true. Eventually it gets easier and fun."


Looking back at the sleigh, she smiled compliantly.


"Don't worry! I'm fast, i can keep up and walk to the village."

 

[SilverFlight]

((To be honest, I totally didn't do any math...))


"I will run beside the sleighs." He nodded to Alexander and his offer to fly. "I am sure Leo and Luness can keep pace as well."


He turned to Elena, "I will be fine." He assured her. "My feathers will give me ample warmth, and my primary concern is you. Well, I mean..all humans...not only you, of course.." He stammered.


Suddenly something made him look back. Another figure walking towards them from the direction they had come.


"Its Joy!" He exclaimed, as she approached them.


"How are you? Did you make it to castle Branbern? I mean you must have if you're here. Its good to see you again."


Leia was about to climb into one of the cabins when Joy appeared and she stopped. "Hey!" She called happily.


"Didn't think I'd see you again!"

 

[Sleipnir]

Ethan hesitated. "Okay, I'll just do that. Pretend this is all totally normal. So, who gets the sleigh, then?" He paused, and couldn't resist a second question. "Are the reindeer mounts? I know the Mongolians rode them." He looked around, hoping this wasn't terribly out of line.


Also hoping that the reindeer weren't sentient because that would make the notion of riding them rude.

 

[Aelin]

she laughed "Hi to you to Ward," she teased "I got lost... and I when I found the castle Nyr was there. So ya..." she looked down at her feet blushing at her stupidity "It's so cold!" she exclaimed changing the subject not exactly feeling up to explaining what had happened.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena remained outside of the cabins, prepared for the run. Wards response to her concern almost made her laugh. It was sweet, his slip up. It made her almost wish it was true. She followed his gaze to a familiar glowing figure in the snow. She ran quickly to the other and gave her a quick hug.


"Joy.." Her voice was filled with concern and a reprimanding tone.


"After the giant.. I thought we lost you! I was so worried!" She attempted a glare but her expression was too soft.


"It is cold.. Isn't it?"

 

[Hel]

Alexander nodded, and transformed into his dragon form. He waited for the others to be ready to leave again. 'Would you like a ride?' His voice thundered inside of Quincy's mind.


Anya was thankful enough for the sleighs, and she happily boarded. The bottom of her skirt was wet, and she didn't care to walk through snow, "You wanna ride, Uh, ethan?" She asked

 

[Lioness075]

Luness finally resolved that the reindeer wouldn't attack her and she wasn't going to be forced to ride the sleighs. Climbing back down from the tree, Luness landed softly in the snow and then sprinted towards the group, kicking up snow behind her along the way. Skidding to a halt, Luness threw a bit of snow at Ethan, but said nothing. Instead, she sat down on her haunches and cocked her head at him, curious about him, but not saying a word so she still seemed to be nothing but a normal lynx to him.

 

[Aelin]

She chuckled "I know!" she said, then whispered "You and Ward are the only people I know out of everyone here." it kind of bothered her she didn't know anyone else. She saw the person transform into a dragon "There's another one!" she squeeled "Speaking of dragons where is rose?"

 

[Sleipnir]

Ethan opened his mouth to talk to Anya, grateful for a human to interact with. He noted the lynx as soon as he was hit by the snow, then as she sat there, he kneeled down and reached out in curiosity. She wasn't afraid, apparently, and didn't seem aggressive.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena started back towards the sleigh as she was going to run the distance with the non humans. She felt a little bad for Joy, seeing as her position might leave her feeling lost or alienated. Elena wouldn't wish that upon anyone here, an so far everyone seemed fairly nice or at least no threatening.


"Don't worry. You're likeable and and strong. You belong with us.. Um as for Rose.. She disappeared around the time you did." Elena's expression turned a bit grim, as to say she wanted the subject to end.


"Shall we find some shelter?"

 

[SilverFlight]

((Ok, toats did math this time))


Leia pulled Joy over to a sleigh.


"There's enough room for you too." She climbed into it carefully. There were no reigns to take hold of, the reindeer guided themselves.


"Um..I think they might be able to understand you Ethan." She grinned at him. She motioned For Elena to get in too. "It sure beats walking all that way." She said happily. The landscape stretched out before them as the sun sunk lower. "Besides, I think I'm a big fan of reaching the village before night,"


At the mention of Rose her sobered up a little. "She came with us to Branbern...but after that, we couldn't find her."


Ward stood back and allowed himself to transform back into a large gryphon, now that he knew Ethan wasn't the type to be too phased by magic.


The gryphon shook himself in the cold, fluffing his feathers like a winter sparrow.


"We should go." He said, and helped the remaining humans find a spot in one of the sleighs.


When all were tucked securely in he took a place alongside the cabins.


"Everyone ready?" he asked.

 

[Flutterby]

Quincy watched the new human try to come to terms with everything, and the apparent reappearance of another member of the group caused quite a stir. Her attention was divertered when Alexander transformed into his dragon form. She looked him over with surprise, noting the interesting color of his scales. Suddenly, his voice sounded even though he couldnt speak. With a gasp, she clapped her mitted hands over her ears. “Well isnt that a trick!" She exclaimed, laughing softly. The kelpie looked at the group around the sleigh, then at the snow that rose to her knees. Even in her true form, the travel would be difficult. “If it is alright with you," She said, “it would make the journey much easier." Her cheeks turned a soft pink under her hood, either from the acceptance of his help or the biting wind.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena hesitantly got into the sleigh. It was cozier than she had expected, even with all the people in it as well. She was a fairly thin and small person so attempting to be considerate, she folded herself thinner to make room and lifted her legs into her chest.


"All ready in here!" Elena called out. The air was warmer in the cabin and made her comfortably drowsy, but she would still walk if need be.

 

[SilverFlight]

((I'll have to go after my next post, sorry guys))