⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 22nd - 31st, 2017
Where: In Portland, for the last time.
What: The seasons change as the Winter Court seizes a surprise victory, claiming both the Tree of Life's pendant and the blood catalyst needed to take control of the Severing Ritual. Meanwhile, interdimensional problems are about to get more weird. Check out the conflict results for the attack on the Circle as well as the Beast's attack on the Summer Court here.
Warnings: Individually marked!

DAYS OF WINTER↴ As the end of October nears, so does the grasp of winter. On the night of the 22nd, it will freeze overnight, and the temperature will drop for the following days. As the night grow long, world-wide magic slowly reaches it apex, set to reach it on the night of Halloween. With so many factors at play, knowing what to do with that moment of power may be a challenge. ► FULL CIRCLE: The Angels succeed in their planned attack on the Circle, managing to get to the living quarters of the Council members with the help of Ashleigh Mischief. The plan goes without much resistance from the mages or from the demons attempting to claim the ritual object for their own. Of course, when the fae make a surprise attack on the Angels after they flee the scene, it has the surprise result of the Winter Court ended up with the pendant in their talons. Threads for this attack can be done in this log. If you need mod direction at all, let us know, but otherwise feel free to NPC demons, angels, or random Circle members as you require. ► THE QUEEN'S GARDEN: Realizing that the Rose Queen is distracted with attempting to claim the pendant, the Beast will summon her co-conspirators to raid the Queen's gardens. The ultimate plan seems to be to get the Beast far enough into the gardens to kill the Queen, while also rescuing as many changelings as possible along the way. As it turns out, this doesn't go well. While they do manage to penetrate the gardens with Childermass's help, the Rose Queen, Ignatius, and Nightshade happen to all be there. Seriously outnumbered, even by the Beast's terms, it will take everything the group has to just make it out alive, sustaining heavy injuries as they go. In the end they will manage to rescue Greg universe and four additional changelings that were imprisoned there, but any damage done to the Summer Court itself will be negligible. Threads for this can also be played out here! ► REFLECTIONS: As the ritual draws closer, the line between this reality and the one you came from will also be becoming less clear. Regaining memories is not required, but it will naturally become easier to occur, especially if you're already started receiving them. It's a good time to start making connections, while you still have the chance. ► THE SEVERING: One way or another, the Severing is going to make an impact on both this world and the lives of those trapped inside of it. The Angels are going to be making an attempt to interrupt the Winter Court's ritual, as will the Summer Court and Anath's forces. Whoever comes up on top will be the ones to decide what to be done with it. Yet, with news that the Severing continuing could cause irreversible damage to the planet's spirit, it could feel like there are no perfect options. There will be an event header put up for this by the mods closer to the end of July. (NOTE: canon powers will returning while the ritual is in progress, so keep that in mind for planning - both sets of powers will be active.)

Comments

⇨ THE QUEEN'S GARDEN

[atouts]

As mentioned above, the Beast and company try their hand at invading the Rose Queen's garden realm, trying to defeat her or, at the very least, rescue a few changelings (and a certain warlock) that have been imprisoned. Their entry point is a dead-end flower-filled alleyway behind a florist shop rather than the more commonly known entrance. Basically, Childermass is letting them into the realm the "back way".

While they do manage to pull off a rescue mission, they take heavy injury and ultimately lose, even with the Beast probably turning into a cool dragon or something (who even knows). Enemies include loyal changelings, summoned elementals, and vines that would like to crush you.

Their point of exit (unless individuals leave their own routes somehow) will be through Portland's rose garden, as it's the closest and quickest out. Upon exiting, they will be met with a massive flock of corvids (crows, ravens, jays, jackdaws, etc), so many swooping down through their group that it will be monetarily blinding. Once they pass, the group will find one of their less-than-friendly feathered guide missing from amongst them.

[ THIS IS A CATCH-ALL FOR GARDEN ATTACK THREADS (also basically just a recap of what's already written above).

Feel free to thread out any portion of the attack or NPC antagonists here if you'd like. ]

THE BEAST TURNS INTO A COOL DRAGON

[npcarnival]

When the reach the core of the gardens, it becomes clear that the Summer Court fae must be waiting nearby. It's the center, the place that the elementals and killer plants seem to be trying to protect - and that's the exact place the Beast is going.

"I'm coming for you!" she roars, and moments later, she will grow rapidly in size, her body rearranging into the form of an enormous dragon. The remains of her old skin burn away, leaving glowing orange and teal marks run across her dark scales in patterns.

With a flap of her wings that will send those unfortunately enough to be close by flying, she'll take off into the air, dive bombing the central courtyard of the garden.

STEVEN DOESN'T TURN INTO A DRAGON

[starseedling]

⇨ FOR GREG
Steven knows this is stupid, but he can't think of any other options. He can't just leave his dad's fate in other people's hands - let alone someone like Childermass, whom he still barely has reason to trust. The familiar landscape of the Queen's gardens summons up a low burning horror in him, that makes him want to be ill, to just lay down and give in. Yet, he doesn't.

It isn't just about him at the moment. If he can't get his dad back, then there's at least one other way he can be of use to people.

The cage Steven had been kept in when he wasn't busy with his duties was near the central courtyard of the gardens. It was beautiful, when viewed in an abstract sense - separate from the cruelties that had been committed within it and as a result of it. The bars were made of thorny vines, twisted and patterned like a garden fence and gate, that closed up at the top with space enough to see the sky through the thorns.

There was a raised patch of moss with vines growing around it that had functioned as a bed, and sometimes had functioned to hold him down for hours at a time when he'd misbehaved, ensuring his inability to even attempt an escape. To one side, a small stream flowed through, that could be used to drink and wash away anything that need cleaning. On the other side, there was a fruit bearing tree that peeked through the bars, that allowed him to eat when necessary.

The flavours were sweet, but the idea of them still leaves a nauseous feeling inside of him. Any superficial beauty there was hollow, and beyond those three amenities, the prison had been sparse and lonely. All that remained of his personal impact on the place were some piles of nice looking rocks that had function as something approximating toys, and some fragile flowers that he'd covertly transplanted from other places in the garden. Nothing there really belonged to him, and it still doesn't.

He doesn't want to go back.

Yet, that is the direction he's been going, ever since this attack started. He's not fighting - just running and avoiding, using his knowledge of the gardens to travel in the Beast's wake. He has to get to where his dad is being kept, and after that... it doesn't matter. After that, he'll figure out what has to be done.

His skin has gotten bloodied and his wings are torn as he reaches his old prison, and his footsteps become cautious. He doesn't dare call out, but he approaches all the same.

⇨ FOR OTHERS
Having demanded to follow Childermass into the battle, in the interest of saving his father, Steven is along for this ride whether he likes it or not. His main priorities are freeing any changelings he can find, as well as finding where his father is being kept. He'll be fighting fire with fire - or rather, flora with flora, because all he can do is delay the existing plans, or use his influence to momentarily convince them away from attacking.

He's almost as familiar with the layout of the gardens as Childermass is, though he's not going to be paying much attention to anything besides finding Greg. If he has to run into danger, so be it.

For Others

[hippocarnival]

Yuya isn't familiar at all, so at least he has the sense to try and stick close to people who are probably on the same side. He's not completely unarmed. Rita suggest he bring iron, so a crowbar it was and he's thrown a few tables--but he knows he's probably still at a power disadvantage and he needs to be careful.

That doesn't mean in the chaos he didn't get separated, and when dodging around the vines to find his way back he runs into--"Steven!"

Good, he's still all right. Yuya makes his way right for him, eying the vines in case he needs to weave out of danger.

Reunited again

[fragileandsoft]

Another day, another time, he might have very much enjoyed the few sparse amenities provided to him, taken refuge in what paltry kindness he was offered--for it could be worse, it could be much worse. It could be a day like today.

He lies on the moss, curled in on himself. Without the magic she's given him these years, he's been helpless against her special brand of torment, and the evidence of it is clear. The gashes of thorns look worse than they feel--in part due to the narcotic poison numbing his senses. He lies as still as he can to combat the nausea and pain. If he doesn't move, if he blocks out as much as possible, it's almost a nice bed.

The sound of footsteps ruins the effect, however, and he tenses. She's back, faster than usual. He'd rather lie still, hope she passes him by, but ignoring her only makes for a ruder greeting. Slowly, shakily, he raises his head.

The sight of his visitor makes him moan. Not another trick. She's been teasing him with thoughts of escape, of dragging Steven back, of letting them watch each other suffer. "Not now. Please. I can't."

[starseedling]

Steven doesn't even question it. He doesn't have to, because he's been in this exact place, and he understands. It doesn't matter what Greg is seeing, or what he thinks he sees, of who Greg thinks he is. The only way he can count on his dad trusting him if to prove who he is, and there's only one way to do that right now.

He goes straight for the bars of the cage, wrenching against them with his hands. He doesn't know how he's supposed to do this. He wasn't strong enough to fight his way out from the inside, how he is supposed to be able to clear the way now? The doubt eats away at him, even as he continues to struggle, trying not to dwell on how miserable and hurt his dad looks.

He doesn't have to wonder. He understands. He knows.

He starts growing his own vines up along the side of the cage, letting them work their way between the bars and attempt to pull outward, bending or breaking the walls of the prison. The effort of it is clear on Steven's face, but the cage fights against the pressure.

Finally, he'll go to his last resort - something he'd hesitated to even dare bringing into her gardens, but is now thankful that he was brave enough to. He's got a bag he brought with him, and inside of it there is an iron knife with a mostly wooden handle. Just taking it in hand is enough to feel uncomfortably hot-cold in the way that iron seems to be, but all the same, he starts hacking against the vines.

RITA FOLLOWS A DRAGON

[anti_nonsense]

(for yuya - entering the fray)

Rita's still brimming with confidence, even as they enter the Rose Queen's domain. She can feel the oppressive power of the true fae in here... but it doesn't frighten her like it used to. For once, Rita feels hopeful that she can do something here. She can finally turn the tables on the Summer Court.

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Yuya nearby. Even after her warnings, he still decided to come. Rita turns her head to glance at him, a smirk on her lips. "You're not having any second thoughts now, are you?" It's pretty unusual for a human to get caught up in a mess like this one... and it's about to get a whole lot messier.

Still, she's kind of glad he came. Having people by her side, sharing her goals and stepping into danger with her... it's not bad.

(for axel - getting fired up)

Since entering the Garden, Rita's been on the warpath. She conjures her flames wherever she goes, burning the Rose Queen's vines and dispatching lesser elementals.

The Beast, now in the form of an enormous dragon, serves as her guide. There's no doubt that she's made a beeline for the Rose Queen... which means that's where Rita needs to go, too. There may only be so much that she can contribute in a battle between the true fae, but she refuses to stay at the sidelines. If there's anything she's learned since separating herself from Ignatius, it's that the fae underestimate mortals.

Her focus unwavering, she runs along the path, determined to bring fire and havoc to the Queen's inner courtyard.

(for steven - retreat)

It was a long and hard-fought battle, but as time goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that the Beast's side isn't making any headway. At some point, Rita hears someone on her side call for a retreat... but she doesn't follow.

Her clashes with the fire fae have left her badly burned, especially along her abdomen and arms, with clothes and feathers burnt black and sticking to her seared skin. Her pants are torn and stained with blood where thorn-covered vines grabbed and impeded her. On top of it all, she suspects she might have cracked a rib or two...

In the distance, Rita can see a familiar flash of fire. Ignatius...!? Damn it... They failed to kill the Rose Queen, and he's still alive and kicking too!? Rita can't accept this. This was her chance, possibly the only chance she'll ever get... She can't leave until at least one of the true fae dies!

She staggers on, but her legs buckle, and she ends up falling forward, her face planting into the grass. A strained whimper escapes her throat as her body curls in some effort to lessen the pain. She can't go on... but she has to.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya shakes his head with a smile. "I promised I was going to help, so I am. There are people important to you in trouble." If there's anything Yuya understands, it's the lengths people will go to for their friends.

He's hopeful, too. Rita's found so many people, including a Fae--he believes they have a real chance now.

He holds up the crowbar a safe distance from Rita. "I brought iron like you said!"

[anti_nonsense]

Rita glances away awkwardly when he gives his reasons. Yuya sure can say some embarrassing stuff with a straight face... What an idiot.

But he was smart enough to bring iron, which Rita gives a nod of approval to. "Good. Don't hesitate to use it." Iron might be a danger to Rita, but it's not nearly as big a concern as her enemies right now.

Speaking of which... it looks like they've already attracted some attention. A lumbering tree elemental, marching on feet made of gnarled roots, marches toward them. Also nearby, wisps of smoke converge into a fire elemental, floating as it takes on a vaguely humanoid form with large claws made of flames. Rita looks unconcerned as the two elementals approach.

/arrives late without Starbucks

[small_reservations]

He lets the dragon race pass - no way to take that out on his own, he'll leave her to the other true fae. He just looks after.

He's a little different. His glamour is down, wings spread behind his ripped shirt. There are vines, thorny vines, wrapped around his hands, and the fire that makes up his hair has taken on a greenish tinge. All signs of his failure to resist, to hold out for long. His failure to escape again. But he's still recognizable, he's still Axel.

Mostly.

He turns as he hears another person approaching, and he steps out, eyes narrowed, at first anyway. But they widen with shock as he sees who's burning the garden. "Rita? You... you shouldn't... Be here."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita stops in her tracks when she sees Axel's face, eyes widening for a moment. Her chest tightens. Something's wrong with him. The way he looks... he's been touched by the Rose Queen's magic. Rita's not sure what that really means for him, but now that she's found him, she knows she can't leave without him.

"Neither should you," she replies with a hint of dry humor. "Come on, we're getting out of here." She begins to move toward him.

CHILDERMASS DOESN'T FOLLOW THE DRAGON BECAUSE HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHERE SHE'S GOING

[atouts]

And he doesn't want to fight the Rose Queen personally, okay?

i. at the alley, before letting all everyone in [ota]

Childermass had been expecting three other people. That's it, that's all, just three. The Beast, obviously, and Rita, assuming she hadn't been eaten by the Wyld Fae for one reason or another. Steven, too, as he wouldn't be refused.

What he wasn't expecting was... well, anyone more than that and each and every new person gathering in the alleyway behind the now-closed flower shop this evening gets a scrutinizing look from the tall, pale man in black and white. Those capable of seeing beyond illusions will note there's definitely more to him than he lets on, crow feathers adorning limbs and face and hair, that he is most certainly a changeling in his own right.

Ultimately, he can only sigh and unfold his arms from across his chest, hands falling to idly rest on his hips instead. There really isn't time to argue with each and every person he's about to let into the Summer Court, but—

"Please tell me any of you actually do know how to defend yourselves," is the least he can ask of them. Sure, he figures the Beast can and maybe Rita, maybe, but even that's up in the air. Flinging fireballs doesn't necessarily mean being able to nuke a killer hydrangea.

ii. rocks fall, you don't die [during the attack, ota]

Immediately after letting them in, Childermass took off in crow form. He doesn't go very far, though. His first instinct is to ditch and let the Beast go fight and Steven try his hand at a rescue, while he flies off to hide, only he can't quite bring himself to. So instead, folks may find themselves with a feathery ally following overhead.

Up until an elemental strikes, that is. A fire elemental, all flames and a rocky exterior barely containing them, crashes through the hedge to take a swing. Before it connects, the crow swoops down and aims to crash right into whoever it's aiming to swing one mighty and burning arm at. Funny thing is, he'll be turning into a shadow on impact rather than actually hitting them.

He'll also be dragging them into the shadows with him, moving from in the way to further down the path and very much not crushed in the blink of an eye. Travel through shadows is a little startling — a lack of color, dull sounds, the feeling of being compressed in such a manner — but quite effective.

Of course, he popped back up out of the shadow alongside, already in his regular form again.

"Watch it, it's going to charge this way," he warns. Sure, they've escaped immediate death, but they aren't out of the woods— ah, gardens, that is, yet!

pre-attack, lmk if i need to change this up

[whattaprick]

Lambert isn't going to be the first person who slips into their little rendezvous point, nor even the last, but in some ways perhaps he may be one of the least expected. From the way his eyes widen when they light on Childermass, he clearly wasn't expecting to see the changeling either, and he strides over to cross the distance between them swiftly, looking briefly like he'd like to take the iron poker in his hand and beat Childermass over the head with it.

Instead, he grips it tighter in a gloved hand, and strides right over to the changeling until they're practically toe to toe, looking him up and down. He should have expected this, he supposes, given everything. He hadn't even needed to worry about the Beast sparing him in her rampage at all.

"Fancy seeing you here," he says with false brightness, voice tight, before he actually gets a good look at him and he frowns. "What happened to you?"

[atouts]

Overall, he hasn't even thought of the cuts and scrapes from Steven's rose vines that litter his forearms beyond making sure they weren't going to get infected. The rest of the little injuries are easily disguised under his clothing, save for the ones showing where he's rolled his sleeves back. As such, the question gets an uncomprehending stare.

In fact, screw that question in general, because—

"What are you doing here?"

Childermass doesn't answer that stupid question. Why would he when the last person he actually wants here just strolled up? He steps forward, making a grab for Lambert's shirt front, fully intending to drag him right back out of the alley and chew him out.

"Who even told you about this? Who— no, it's obvious, it must have been that stupid red-headed little—" Well, either that or... "Or the Beast, but why would she bring a human along? That's insanity!"

II

[hippocarnival]

Yuya doesn't have time to dodge. The sheer force of the elemental bursting through the hedge already shakes his stability, and for a hulking beast it's surprisingly fast. Yuya, in his panic, can't do much more than swing his iron crowbar up to meet the elemental's fist as it swings--which is right when he feels something press against him.

To Childermass's luck, but probably not Yuya's, he completely loses his grip on the crowbar as he's carried away in the shadow and leaving it sticking out of the creature. He stumbles as they pull out of the shadow, blinking around, disoriented, covering his ears with his hands a moment as his senses readjust.

"Th--thanks." He slowly turns back to the path as the sounds of the elemental start to get closer. He clenches his hands--and quickly realizes he lost his weapon. He glances around rapidly. "Where'd it go?"

[atouts]

And it's a good thing he dropped it, too. Iron and faerie magic do not mix, but neither do small humans and flaming rock fists, which was enough for Childermass to take the chance over. Back out of the shadows, he also only has the attention span to focus on the approaching elemental. It's only natural that, when Yuya poses that question, he mistakes it to mean—

"What do you mean where'd it go? It's coming right this way!"

Clearly, Yuya meant the stupid fiery abomination still stomping their direction, right?

i.

[periphrasing]

Someone else in the alley is staring back at Childermass with equal amounts of scrutiny. In fact, the look she's giving him is the kind of expression you might expect from someone trying to make sense of a particularly bad piece of abstract art, eyes narrowed, lips pursed.

With typical Peridot brand bluntness, she completely ignores his question and jumps right to the point:

"How do you know my brother?"

Yeah, she saw you trying to manhandle him a few minutes ago. Like hell she's going to let that bizarre occurrence go uninvestigated.

[atouts]

Oh great, and now it's Lambert's other weresister. Provided they don't all die, he's going to need to have a long talk with several people about not inviting just about anyone they see along to a secret assassination attempt. Anyway, the question is met with an incredibly deadpan stare and answer in return.

As if it would ever be anything else.

"The same way everyone else probably does," is the answer. "He made me coffee at some point in time and said something terribly rude about cats."

LAMBERT'S JUST SOME POOR FUCK ALONG FOR THE RIDE

[whattaprick]

[ i. PRE-ATTACK ]

It's a good thing Yuya's here, because at least Lambert isn't the only one who's conspicuously human here. For lack of anything better to protect himself with, he's wearing body armor under a worn leather jacket, and he's loosely holding an iron poker in one hand with perhaps a slightly worrying sense of grim purpose. Of all their company, excepting the Beast, he's probably the one who looks like he's the one who means business ... too bad he's also in some sense the most useless member of the party, here.

[ ii. GET ON THE ELEMENTAL'S BACK ]

Although Lambert's instinct is to rush in after the Beast headfirst, the rest of him that's pragmatic (and thankfully, still present enough to direct his actions) reminds him that he's not exactly a trained fighter, no matter what his memories say. Still, the iron affords him an advantage it doesn't give to the changelings or the fae. He intends to stick close to the others in the party if he can, lend air where he will...

Unfortunately, it's not at all long before that goes completely to shit. Rock and earth shift underfoot and explode upwards, taking Lambert with them, and he suddenly finds himself on the back of some horrid, vine-covered beast. Poker still gripped in one hand, he tries to stab it down, which proves to be a terrible mistake.

The vinebeast howls and bolts, tearing across the Rose Queen's gardens with a human desperately clutching on to its back. Good news is, it's too distracted to go after anyone else, or to distinguish between friend and foe. Bad news is ... it's too distracted to go after anyone else, or to distinguish between friend and foe, and it does damage to both in its rampage.

[ iii. AFTERMATH ]

The pain in Lambert's side is blinding enough that he can barely breathe. A vague memory of anatomy tells him he's got probably got at least two or three broken ribs from nearly getting crushed by vines, and one of his ankles is a fiery ball of pain, to say nothing of the freely-bleeding scratches on his face and legs, where thorns ripped through denim. He can't tell under the suit and jacket, but he's willing to bet the wounds from the crow sister's attack have split open again just from the exertion.

They are, against all the odds, alive. And then the birds descend, and Lambert throws up an arm to shield his face, snarling in frustration. An attack from the Winter Court, now of all times? The birds are gone as swiftly as they came, and while everyone else is probably relieved to find all their limbs still intact, the now thoroughly roughed-up cat cafe barista and erstwhile library is practically white as a sheet under the blood.

"Childermass!" he bellows, trying to take a step towards the direction he last saw the birds leaving in, only to almost fall on his face. It's a futile gesture: they're already gone, somewhere Lambert can't follow.

AFTERMATH

[starseedling]

Steven's not in significantly better shape. Though he may be immune to the prick and cut of thorned plants, he's not immune to being crushed, and he's very not immune to fire elementals. He hadn't factors in Ignatius's presence when entering - he'd only been thinking about his mom, and the risks she posed, nothing else. The last time he'd seen the Lord of Conflagration, it had been when he'd met Rita for the first time.

Things sure seemed different now. If it hadn't been for them focusing on that dragon lady, none of them would have stood a chance.

Steven has been focused on his dad, first and foremost, while suffering through his own wounds. His wings have taken a lot of damage from fire, being a big and relatively vulnerable target, and his body has taken a beating.

He's never really run up against the Winter Court before, but he can tell what they are just by instinct, and from memories of Childermass's own skills. He's expecting to be mauled when the birds swoop in, but then it's just...

Childermass!

Oh no. His heart feels squeezed tight as he sees Lambert stagger forward and realizes what is missing. His feeling at that moment are impossible to describe. It's not fair! Just when he thought maybe he was beginning to understand, and now...

"No!" Steven yelps. He reaches out a hand, but his powers aren't fast enough to do anything - even if they were, he's already spent. "No, they can't... it isn't fair..."

[whattaprick]

It had all happened before he could even blink. One moment Childermass had Lambert's arm slung over his shoulder, keeping his weight off his injured ankle; the next, he was torn away from Lambert's side, leaving him unbalanced. The only sign the changeling was ever there at all is the single, lone feather in his fingers, still bleeding at the quick -- torn free from Childermass's arm when Lambert had tried to hold on to him.

Despite having the energy to yell, Lambert isn't really in much shape to do much else. He staggers a few more steps forward, nearly teetering into a rosebush before he catches himself. They can't stay here -- he knows they can't. Can they really trust that the Rose Queen will remain in her realm, without sending anyone else after them? It's only a matter of time.

Yet for a few more seconds, Lambert remains frozen, watching the sky before his shoulders sag. He wants to run and follow, but unless he grows wings in the next few seconds, that's not going to happen. Part of him is still confused: just what the hell was the name he'd shouted, back there, and why does this feel like he isn't the first time he's lost someone?

Pushing it down, Lambert glances down at the unexpected voice piping up with such distress. The kid from earlier ... a changeling. Someone he really hadn't expected to see on a mission like this, but though he's in rough shape, at least he can stand and walk. Lambert can't see him too well, since he also lost his glasses sometime in this whole mess, but he recognizes the sound of it.

"No, it's not," his voice is rough with emotion, but he pulls it together and carries on, shaky. "You should get out of here." It would be pointless, all this trouble, if everyone involved just up and got caught.

AFTERMATH (I know we're still backtagging other shit but sshshhsh)

[periphrasing]

"Lambert!"

Miraculously, Peridot had managed to avoid taking any serious damage during the raid, which is more than most of the others can say. Honestly, she probably LOOKS a lot worse than she actually feels; blood and singe marks tend to stand out pretty boldly against white fur.

She'd gotten caught up in the swarm same as everyone else when the Winter Court attacked... had instinctively gone upwards to try and get out of the thick of things. And when the crows all cleared-- because those stupid birds had gotten what they needed-- Peridot had already been up in the skies, and she didn't even think twice about giving chase.

All that explains why she's winded, and also looks like a cotton ball that's been rolled around through a filthy back alley, when she swoops down to land next to her-- no, not her brother. Gems don't have families. She needs to keep reminding herself that.

Then again, gems shouldn't be able to bleed either, and she's definitely done a good amount of that today. Some of the cuts she's sporting are obviously more fresh, little nicks and scratches from getting caught up in a swarm of freaking corvids. In particular there's an alarming amount of dried blood down one side of her face where her ear got sliced along the edge by some errant thorns... but dealing with that is the last thing on her mind right now. She flops on the ground, panting heavily, her flight muscles screaming from the exertion.

"One-- One second," she wheezes, trying to catch her breath. She's only been gone maybe 10 minutes or so, but it was a 10 minutes with a lot of wing flapping involved.

[whattaprick]

Dragging himself to this alley is about the most Lambert's been able to do in his current state, hobbling out of the gardens and shaking off the concerns of their other companions. The reason being, he's realized it isn't only Childermass that disappeared along with the flock of birds, but there's no sign of Peridot either, and the renewed adrenaline from the terror of thinking he got his sister kidnapped because he'd been stupid enough to sign up for this whole thing in the first place.

After all, at the end of the day -- he's just human. This whole damn thing is a reminder of that.

Still in pain, Lambert's essentially slouched against the alley wall trying to breathe and considering if falling unconscious could be the better part of valor. At first, he thinks he's hallucinating when he hears Peridot's voice coming from the sky. It's much harder to dismiss the dirty furball that lands right next to him not long after.

Peridot will get her full second of Lambert just staring at her, like he can't quite believe she's actually there, before he speaks.

"Dot--" His voice cracks on the word and he doesn't even care, reaching out to pick his sister up in his hands -- gently, he has enough presence of mind for that much -- and turns her over to check the extent of her injuries. Right now, the knowledge that she probably isn't his sister and that everything they remember isn't true doesn't matter as much as the sheer relief of seeing her alive.

"Where were you? What happened?"

II

[anti_nonsense]

Rita, in the meantime, appears to be dealing with a tree elemental, lobbing fireballs at it while evading the slow, heavy swings of its arms. The fire's effective, but like with most plants under the Rose Queen's power, it takes time to burn through. The elemental winds up one of its long, branch-like arms to swat at her...

... and is suddenly trampled by the rampaging vinebeast, wood splintering and limbs snapping in the chaos. Rita, who leaped out of the way as soon as she heard the beast coming, looks down at her mangled foe, then up at the thrashing vinebeast... and the man barely holding on to it.

"Nice one," she manages to say, despite her surprise. It's not clear to her how deliberate that was (or wasn't), but she'll take it.

[whattaprick]

Spoke too soon, Rita, because as soon as the other creature's done thrashing, the beast turns its attention to her. The vines that make up its body ripple like grotesque musculature, though it has little actual anatomical accuracy, and Lambert grits his teeth.

"Move!" The beast lunges forward, aiming to 'snap' at Rita with its jaws... though it's mostly a mess of smaller, wiggling vines rather than sharp teeth. Lambert grunts as the momentum whips him back. Come on, doesn't this thing have a brain or heart or some weak point somewhere?!