[u]Kirin[/u]

She watched Fritz go, uncertain as to whether or not she should go with him, but thought that maybe he needed a moment by himself. He really did seem very overwhelmed by everything. She stood awkwardly beside Duplo, who resumed brushing the horse with an inordinate amount of focus. She stared after the boy, but a sudden question from Duplo tore her back to reality. "What? Oh…" she paused, since the inquiry seemed oddly phrased. Then again, she wouldn't have taken the rabbit-woman to be the most socially adapted person. "Like I told Ada before, my father is a wealthy merchant in Eira. That's where I grew up. My cousin…" she trailed off, remembering the tragedy that was all too freshly remembered. "My cousin," she continued, her voice having become quiet, "came to live with us after his parents died. I was little, and we grew up together. He was like my brother."

She turned suddenly, feeling tears welling up in her eyes as the reality of her predicament suddenly sank in. She had been scared earlier, but now that she was safe and could afford the leisure of despair, it overtook her like the shadows of the tents and the trees. She ran off, away from Duplo and the others. She found a secluded place behind an empty tent and let her legs collapse beneath her, sobbing uncontrollably for a good long while until she'd run out of tears. 

Some time later, Kirin dried her eyes on the corner of her tattered sleeve. She shivered, the night was chilly and her cloak had long since been lost. She stood up stiffly and started to make her way back, but then spotted Fritz out of the corner of her eye. He was lying in the grass just beyond the light, staring up at the night sky. He must be cold too, his funny clothes didn't look particularly warm. Wiping her eyes one last time she went to him and urged him to get up. "Come on Fritz, Ada's probably wondering where we are. It's late, and cold. Let's go back to the wagon." She grasped his wrist and helped him up, then turned and strode quickly toward the wagon so he wouldn't see her tear-streaked face. 

Crawling inside the cozy enclosure, she found a woolen blanket and burrowed into it. Squeezing her eyes shut and praying sleep would come quickly. 

---

[u]Aergar[/u]

"Of course it's my forest!" Aergar huffed indignantly as the other two broke down in laughter, "So of course I'm involved, it's my job to be wouldn't you agree?" He waved away Ada's little monologue. "It is my forest," he sniffed haughtily, "You should be grateful for how wonderfully beautiful the trees are this year. The elves are barely flower gardeners compared to me. They'll tell you as much, go on and ask them yourself! I'm fortunate that at least [i]they[/i] know how to show respect where it's due… In fact just last week--"

[b]"ADA! Where is your map!"[/b]

"How rude," Aergar frowned. He didn't like being interrupted and it was happening an awful lot lately. He remembered this was one of the reasons he stayed hidden away in the forest. He gave Ada an endearing look. "Getting a little forgetful in your old age?" He giggled again and sprang from the tree trunk. "Why don't you find out what Phrensis wants for me? I can't have him going around killing whatever poor creature happens to cross his path. Thank youuuuuuu…" his singsong voice trailed off as he skipped away.

A short time later he came across Duplo making her way very determinedly out of the camp. And by "came across" he was actually sneaking around with the red-haired gypsy girl and happened to spot her. He suddenly put his hand over the girl's mouth and pulled her into the shadow of the nearest tent. "Shhh." His amber eyes pierced the darkness and followed Duplo until she was out of sight. How curious. He released his hold on the girl and she stifled a laugh, misreading his actions entirely. The imp made a quick check and, finding the tent to be uninhabited, pulled her inside, motioning for her to remain quiet. She threw herself onto the stuffed sleeping mat and blankets and gave Aergar a sultry come-hither look. He knelt and placed a hand on each shoulder, pressing her back into the cushion with a mischievous glint in his eye. He hovered for a moment, then bent his head and pressed his mouth to hers. Wrapping her arms about his neck she pulled him closer.

Aergar took a deep breath and exhaled slowly between her parted lips. A wispy blue-green aura seeped from him down her throat, and as soon as the last bit of it left him he fell unconscious on top of her. The red-haired gypsy rolled him off and sat up, licking her lips. "Don't go anywhere," she whispered to Aergar's body, grinning. [i]Ah, such a weak willed being,[/i] Aergar thought to himself as the girl stood and exited the tent and headed the same direction Duplo had gone. He found her on the farthest end of the meadow, in a trance. Performing some kind of magic. So much more to the rabbit girl than meets the eye. He had no doubt Ada had taught her. Inhabiting the body of the gypsy girl made him inconspicuous. For while most of the camp's inhabitants were asleep there were a few still up and about, the ones unlucky enough not to pair off, most likely very drunk who would pass out as soon as the sun rose, and would then have to be carried away by their fellows. 

He stuck around to see what would happen, keeping a good distance and pretending to be busy collecting the long dewy grass for the horses. Once his curiosity was sated, he slipped away on silent feet, returning to the tent where he'd left his body, and slipped back in the same way he had left it. The short possession episode had taken a toll on the fragile girl for no sooner had he given her up did she slip into a deep sleep. He draped a downy quilt over her and slipped outside just as the sun was clearing the horizon, seemingly no worse off for not getting any amount of sleep. Though he [i]was[/i] hungry and decided to see if he could beg breakfast off one of the cooks.