[indent][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/c3LUb4m.png[/img]
[hider=Mood Music][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQWT7fNrVqQ&pp=ygUTd2hpdGUgZmxhZyBnb3JpbGxheg%3D%3D[/youtube][/hider][/center][right][h1][color=#23AD3A]G[/color][color=#2AA738]r[/color][color=#31A137]e[/color][color=#389C35]e[/color][color=#3F9634]n[/color][color=#479133]w[/color][color=#4E8B31]o[/color][color=#558630]o[/color][color=#5C802E]d[/color] [color=#6B752C]C[/color][color=#72702A]o[/color][color=#796A29]v[/color][color=#806527]e[/color][color=#875F26]n[/color][/h1][/right][right][sub][hr][color=23AD3A]Members: [color=ffffff]Everyone but Ruby![/color] |[/color] [color=23ad3a]Direct Dialogue: [color=C67C12]Leon, [color=#f0cd8d]Elise[/color] and [color=ed145b]Mia[/color] Richoux,[/color] [color=fd8a6c]Adora Phoenix-Prescott/[@Punished GN][/color] |[/color] [color=23AD3A]Location:[/color] Festival Grounds, Cracker Island Historic District [/sub][/right][hr]
[/indent]The Greenwood Coven, sans Ruby and Sully, marched through the grounds of the Historic District… choosing to part ways with the Blackmores, Sully, and Drake after whatever you would call [i]that[/i] conga line. They decided to look for Ruby, whose phone suddenly went quiet after confirming that she was on the island. She was on the island all day but neglected to tell them that.

Classic ruby.

[h3][i]“... RUBY!”[/i][/h3]

Autumn shouted, cupping her hands together as she called again.  

[h2][i]“... RUBY!”[/i][/h2]

One last time.

[h1][i]“... RUBY!”[/i][/h1]

“... Why are you tryna’ call Ruby like she’s some dog, girl?” James asked with a raised eyebrow, laughing. 

“Yeah, we’d have better luck sparking up!” Naomi laughed.

“Sorry, don’t have any ass-flavored blunts on me,” Jess said, laughing her ass off.

“Let’s take this seriously,” Pearl said with a flat expression. “Ruby could be in trouble, we-”

“... Got outed,” Naomi and James said simultaneously, rolling their eyes. Then Naomi spoke,

“We know, we know…” Naomi shook her head.

“You’re acting as if [i]everyone[/i] in this city would listen to a bunch of crazy bikers if they told them that a bunch of twenty-somethings are the Greenwood Coven,” James rolled his eyes, then laughed.

“Word spreads fast in St. Portwell; you all been in Greenwood long enough to know that,” Pearl said, shaking her head, “And I do [i]not[/i] want-”
[h1][color=fd8a6c][i][b]"... YOU MOTHERFUCKER!"[/b][/i][/color][/h1]
The vociferous scream made all of Greenwood turn its head towards the scene, and saw some curvy black girl putting the whoopin on another.

“... Heh,” James chuckled before he patted Naomi on the shoulder, “It didn’t take long for people to start acting a fool!”

Naomi shook her head, “Girl needs to relax. They’re killin’ black folk out here like its nothing.” Then she sighed.

Greenwood watched the scene unfold… before two big motherfuckers came and broke up the fight. Separating the two girls like it was nothing, but the issue was not in the fact they broke up the scene - it was the fact they recognized Leon when he raised his little wolf mask.

“... It’s the Werewolf!” Jessica said.

“Ssssssh!” Naomi put a finger to her lips. “Let’s just...”

“Nah,” James grinned, “I think we should have a lil’ talk with Wolfman….”

“We are [i]not[/i] starting a fight here, James,” Naomi narrowed her eyes.
 
James scoffed.

“... And who said [i]anything[/i] about starting a fight?!” James laughed. “Let’s just… have a little friendly chit-chat.”

“It would behoove us to make amends,” Pearl answered. “Or attempt to get his… No, [i]their[/i] side of the story.”

“Well, I’m chatting with him, ya’ll don’t gotta come,” James laughed as he watched Leon pull the gal away… and James grinned as he was the first to approach with his hands in his pockets. It seemed like the gal was explaining why she decided to go crazy and brain that poor gal. Not that James was listening, as it was simply none of his business. James stepped over and clapped his hands together as he said,

“Hey, Wolfman!” James started, “[i]Wassup![/i] We didn’t get to introduce ourselves, y’know!?”

He grinned, letting his words hang in the air.

[i]“Better late than never, but never late is better!”[/i]

Leon was so distracted, he probably wouldn't notice someone trying to kill them until it was too late; someone would absolutely be dead by then. His nose and ears, his keenest senses, were full of smells and sounds from the festival. 

Adora's complaints were serious enough that he was ready to go and start a problem with some Vanburens. Speaking ill of their dead Covenmates was unacceptable in his eyes, believing in the tradition of the Honored Dead. They earned their rest, and having people dig them up to throw their death in someone's face, metaphorically or otherwise, put you on Leon's shitlist as a disrespectful cockmuncher.

[color=C67C12]“Huh!?”[/color] He spun, hearing Wolfman said. [color=C67C12]“That's Granny to you, Mis-”[/color]
His head and body turned, he looked across the green and saw six, maybe eight faces. With their scents so close and his newfound focus, he instantly sussed their smells out.
[color=8882be][b][i]Ruby came home. Amend yourself with her toy soldiers and follow the Philosophy.[/i][/b][/color]

Ruby was a pot smell to him, with certain unique characteristics that he could smell on every single one of them. It was definitely her pack. 
There was even the buff redhead that Alizee had started everything over in the first place. Instinctively, Leon placed his massive body between Adora and the group.

[color=C67C12]“Oh, Greenwood, don't desert me now!”[/color] He yapped - with the Greenwood members attempting to shush him - not exactly squaring up for a fight so much as squaring up to receive some sort of thrashing from a parent. He pointed at Jess, looking at James as he spoke.
[color=C67C12]“Y'know the other night, I was drunk when everything started, I didn't recognize her. SunnyMuscleMommy, right?”[/color]

His eyes crossed each of them, and slowly he gave them a smile. His eyes met Jess’ specifically.
[color=C67C12]“I should've been quicker. Because of my state, you got hurt by a person I considered a sister. Now she's gone, so… I guess I'm the right man to take grievances with. So, what? Pound of flesh? Or can I make it up to you all some other way?”[/color]

His eyes became sad talking about Alizee. He'd always imagined they'd move past that stage, that if he could learn to live with Void Heart, maybe he'd be able to protect Alizee from the world outside as her man.
The shot was gone now. All he had left was repentance.

Jess walked over with her hands on her hips, and a smile on her face. “... Yep, that’s me.”

James couldn’t respond as he was getting stared down by Pearl, who rolled her eyes.

Jess reached into her holsters and pulled out her toy revolvers, each with an orange tip. She gave them a little twirl, “It’s all good… That whole thing was a giant shitshow, but you know what?” Jess shrugged.

“... It’s in the past now, pardner,” 

“... Look, while it may be [i]that deep,[/i] we ain’t that crazy,” Naomi stepped up, shaking her head. “I just wanna ask you [i]why?[/i] Why did she attack Jess? That’s it.”   

“Then we’re putting this behind us!” Jess shouted before she put her hands on her hips, “Agreed?”

Leon was somewhat eased by their claims. And if his Mother had been right, Ruby must've given them the same shit about reconciliation. In his mind, chances were good that despite the group gathering, there wasn't going to be any vicious jumping.

[color=C67C12]“Alright, agreed. But I don't think you'll like my answer anymore than I do, y'know?”[/color]
He took a deep breath thinking about her funeral, about dying for something so stupid.
[color=C67C12]“Frankly? Alizée, God rest her, was attached to a hungry fucking monster. The purple ballsack with the big hands?”[/color] He questioned, reaffirming their recognition of the players involved.

[color=C67C12]“That Apparition could've convinced her to hunt anyone; but that night she seemed fixated on some kind of lead. She was totally mistaken, and essentially acting out alone for some fucking reason.”[/color]
He grimaced, thinking about how stupid it all was.
[color=C67C12]“I'm glad you're still here though, uh… Jess, was it? I really didn't want you getting hurt, you didn't do anything. None of you did anything wrong. It was our fuckup. She was our fuckup.”[/color]

“It was a weird ass situation, I admit,” Jess said, throwing her arms behind her head. She then shrugged, saying, “But, I’m… just a little bit sorry for the gal.”

“Sounds like the Apparition was the one pulling the strings,” Naomi answered, shrugging, rolling her eyes. “Maybe I was too much of an asshole to ya’ll back then… That’s not much of an excuse tho’ because [i]I’m[/i] attached to an Apparition. But he doesn’t tell me to hurt people!” She laughed.

“Regardless,” Pearl finally spoke after being done staring down James.  “We agreed to put things behind us after his explanation. So we shall.”

“No hard feelings right, Granny…? Wolfman…? Whatever!” James asked with a shit-eating grin, “You gotta understand from [i]our[/i] perspective, we weren’t tryna’ hurt you or interfere with your investigation… [i]Right?[/i]” 

“What was the lead… if you don’t mind me asking? She seemed to want to know what we were doing with the Wolfpack?” Autumn asked.

Leon grinned at the reactions, satisfied knowing that it was all a mistake, and in true Charming and Graceful style it could all be forgotten about.

[color=C67C12]“Honestly, fuck if I know at this point. I have some texts telling me that she was there because they all jumped to the conclusion that Judas was involved with a situation having to do with our Covenmates safety. My opinion is she was hungry, and figured the open season situation meant that she could get a free meal while being helpful by finding info.”[/color]

Leon's face really said it all; that he thought the whole thing was a pile of bullshit, and that nobody could possibly know what was going through Alizée's head at that point.

He looked around a bit more, deeply inhaling with his nose to search out a scent. Ruby's scent. That nose clogging pot smell. There was a gentle breeze that pulled it from the distance into his direction.
[color=C67C12]“Ruby's on her own? She probably never told you guys, but we know one another. Come on, come to my Family's booth. We'll get you all fed by the one and only Andrade Salamente.”[/color]

He turned to face Adora, stepping fully out of her way. [color=C67C12]“You gonna come too? By now my brother is probably walking away with your pal…”[/color]

[color=fd8a6c]”... I’ll come,”[/color] Adora lowly said, placing her hands in her face. 

Leon turned his head to Greenwood.
[color=C67C12]“Oh, guys, this is Adora. Adora Phoenix-Prescott, Covensister of the Sycamore Tree, holder of the Trinity Ring-”[/color] Briefly causing Adora to shake her head. [color=C67C12]“-And I'm Leon Richoux: Heir to the New Light, I box under the name Timberwolf…”[/color] he smiled, waving them along.

“Ooooh, you’re [i]also[/i] in Sycamore?” Naomi asked, chuckling. “You need to chill the fuck out! They killin’ black people out here!” She laughed.

[color=fd8a6c]”Y-yeah, I know…”[/color] Adora rubbed her opposite arm as she faced these people.

“I’m James! Don’t get a fancy title like Wolfman here!”

“Autumn,” She said, flicking her necklace.

“Naomi! Wielder of Anansi’s Gift!” She started with a smile, which turned flat after a moment. “... That was corny, wasn’t it?” 

“Amelia…” She began. “Our fearless leader’s girlfriend.”

“Pearl,” She flatly answered. “The one that prevents our [i]fearless leader[/i] from giving in to her intrusive thoughts… most of the time.”

“Kashmira Sarai! It is great to make friends with Sully’s friends!” She did a twirl in her saree. 

“And I’m Jess! And we’re…” She said before she looked back at her people.  “... The Greenwood Coven, [i]we[/i] popped up sometime after you all did your little thing with the Danger Noodle.”

[color=fd8a6c]”Just how [i]many[/i] Covens are there?”[/color] Adora raised an eyebrow.

“Well, other than Sycamore and us, there’s 8th Street!” Jess said, then laughed. “But there’s a new group of assholes calling themselves a Coven popping up each week in St. Portwell!”

“They’re assholes, so we don’t fuck with them!” Naomi said she laughed. “But let’s get to this booth already! Maybe our kooky leader will [i]finally[/i] pop up!”

Leon nodded at Adora’s question.
[color=C67C12]“Jess’s right, there’s a lot of posers. Posturing and trying to find openings they’re not gonna find. We should check that shit out though; could be some upstart with delusions in their heads and magic on their cocks, killing us for the cred.”[/color]
He shuddered at the thought, a slight scowl on his face.
[color=C67C12]“But fuck that, it’s the Holy Harvest! Big Temple holiday, let's get this food. Maybe we can pull your [i]fearless leader[/i] and that goofball Sully: Hit the Temple grounds and dance naked until sunup.”[/color]

He laughed, but he wasn’t joking. The tradition of circling under the harvest moon was very real, practiced since the times before when the New Light was an entirely Pagan affair. Never-the-less, he began to wave the group along, directing them toward the booth that was actually slowing down thankfully. He hated seeing his little sisters working that hard.

[color=C67C12]“Hey-ooooooo!”[/color]
Leon’s booming voice stopped the motion in the booth, Andrade spinning over his shoulder to see the big crowd now clumped up at the front with Leon at the head. His youngest sister Mia, looking haggard already, immediately turned to him and grabbed his costume by the collar.
[color=ed145b]“Oh, Lee-Lee, save me [b]PLEASE[/b]!”[/color]
She was trying to climb up and over the counter, but he grabbed her by the shoulders and put her back where she belonged.
[color=C67C12]“Sssssstop that. No. Food, please, for our friends.”[/color]
Elise, the elder sister, looked up from her chopping.
[color=#f0cd8d]“Oh, shit, those are Ruby’s friends, right?”[/color]
Leon’s face formed a scowl.
[color=C67C12]“Are you tracking me!?”[/color]
Elise just smiled at him, unwilling to tell him where their Mother had hid the note that she was spying on him through.
[color=ed145b]“Don’t think about it too hard. Here, menus!”[/color] the younger Mia exclaimed, taking a small stack of paper menus and handing it out while pointing above her at the boards that also had the menu on them. 
Leon turned his head.
[color=C67C12]“It’s on us, by the way. Whatever you guys want.”[/color]

It was definitely fair food: kebabs and jollof rice, veggie wraps with mushroom and balsamic vinegar sauce, roasted chicken leg and sweet potato salad… Wait, this wasn’t fair food at all! Looking at the pickup line, the quality of food was definitely restaurant despite being served up on extra thick paper plates. 

“Now that’s what I’m talking about!” James said with a grin, raising his fist up into the air.

“And here I was looking forward to some shitty carnival food…” Autumn laughed.

“Oh! What are your vegetarian options…?” Kashmira asked. “I don’t eat meat.”

Afterward, the group got some food. James got an entire roasted turkey leg. Naomi, Jess, and Autumn got some kebabs with rice - though Naomi got more rice. Pearl was happy to get some sweet potato salad. In contrast, Kashmira and Amelia got the veggie wraps.

“Thank you!” Kashmira said with a smile. “We appreciate your generosity and your willingness to resolve things peacefully.”

“And this goofball thought I was tryna’ start a fight!” James laughed as he jammed a thumb in Pearl’s direction - who rolled her eyes. 

Adora didn’t order anything… simply stood there staring at the ground.

“She good?” James asked Leon, food in his mouth and jamming a thumb in Adora's direction.

Leon looked toward Adora and gave a small frown.
[color=C67C12]“I… I think she's worried? She beat up a Vanburen, she's probably worried about the consequences. Or, maybe, she's thinking about the dead and gone. I try not to bother people like Adora: She's a loyal Covenmate. In my opinion, she definitely earned her peace.”[/color]

“That was a Vanburen…?” Naomi awkwardly laughed.

“Yee-yikes!” Jess laughed.

This didn't, however, stop Leon from doing exactly what he said he wasn't going to. He, politely excusing himself from between happily eating members of Greenwood and standing in front of Adora.
[color=C67C12]“What's up? Not hungry?”[/color] He asked her simply, and as gently as he could muster

[color=fd8a6c]“I…”[/color] Adora tried to speak.

“... Oh my goodness, friend!” Kashmira shouted as she walked over. Then gestured to the bee stings up and down her legs. “What happened to your legs?!”

Leon’s eyes went wide, never even thinking about the idea that she had, in fact, been in a fight with a hive of bees on top of a rude woman.
[color=C67C12]“Oh, fuck, Adora!?”[/color]

[color=fd8a6c]“I-”[/color] Adora didn't get a chance to speak before Kashmira grabbed her wrist and she was wrapped in a green aura. All the stingers left in her flesh fell out as the stings, and their poison, disappeared.

Kashmira released her, smiling, before she said,

“That should be better, friend,”

[color=fd8a6c]“Yeah… Yeah, that feels so much better,”[/color] Adora said, [color=fd8a6c]“Thank you.”[/color]

Leon nearly squeezed Kashmira to death with a quick hug.
[color=C67C12]“Oh my stars, thank you! Adora, I’m sorry! I… I don’t even feel bee stings, I didn’t even think about them!”[/color]

“Oh you’r- gah! Welcome!” Kashmira barely choked out. “Please don’t squeeze any harder! I can feel my ribs touching my lungs!”

Leon let her go quickly, patting her on the head with a massive hand. As he did so, he was still sniffing around trying to find the owner for these lost children; Ruby was close enough that he could smell her, and releasing a small level of his Wind seal painted the air with scents that he could track on an individual basis. 
There were deep subtleties in the process of sussing out what scents tracked and trailed and belonged to whom, but being among the group of Greenwood members gave him the chance to pinpoint things more accurately.

Slowly, surely, the air became full of colors that swept back and forth with the wind, each smell painted and correlated to the individual origin. From there, he found a common scent that they all seemed to carry that had nothing to do with their individual pheromone scents, and tracing it back and over the different booths, he was able to get a good idea of Ruby’s location.
He focused his magically enhanced hearing, following the scent trail until the cacophonous background faded, leaving him with a focused picture of what was happening.

People, at least ten, chanting [i]Toga![/i] like a bunch of goobers. He turned to James and pointed off into the distance.

[color=C67C12]“Ruby is uh… Somewhere near the midway, I can hear her having fun. You all want to go get her?”[/color] he asked simply to the bigger group, looking around to gauge reactions.

“I mean…” Naomi trailed off, “No one is talking about eating ass. For once it's peaceful!”

“Yeah, let’s make sure she’s alright… She sounds like she’s already high off her ass,” James mused.

Leon's towering frame waved his hand forward, ushering those who would follow onward, his other hand successfully stripping the top half of his costume down so his shirt was visible and his wolf mask no longer flopping around on his head. His massive arms were pale, almost clammy looking and hairless, but built with muscle so thick you'd think they were legs. 
His veins were like roadmaps, the energy of Lelou pumping through his blood to turn it a sickly black as the pressure rose and caused them to bulge.

[color=C67C12]“Onward and upward, Extended Family! Let's go see the trouble!"[/color]