[quote=@c3p-0h]She looked up to him, walking backwards to keep facing him, and lifted her hand to point back at the tree. Almost immediately she seemed to reconsider though, and tapped her fingers against her arm again. She paused, her eyes drifting away for a moment in thought, before she changed her mind again and brought her hand up to her face, tapping her spread fingers over her nose and cheekbones as she looked into the glassy eyes of his mask. She paused one more time, biting her lip and moved her hand [i]again[/i] – only for her heel to catch on a raised tree root. 

Meryn, ever agile, was quick to right herself. But not before her mind caught up with her and she felt her cheeks warm. Giving a sniff, she reached up and ran her fingers through her still dripping hair, looking away. Turning so she was walking forward again, she couldn't stop herself from peeking back up at Spook through her eyelashes, hoping for her answers.[/quote]

Spook watched Meryn steadily and silently; the mask betrayed nothing of his reaction, but only offered a frozen grin.

[b]"If I didn't write down the runes, I'd forget them,"[/b] he answered happily. [b]"And my mask is a souvenir from Boom City. Isn't it great?"[/b]

Both no at all the answers Meryn had been looking for, and quite possibly lies.

[quote=@Irisity]As if on cue, Spooks pointed at the horizon and a great temple appeared, causing Amelia's heart to race. She released Novas' and Miss Lily's hand and ran forth to stand next to Spooks and the boyish looking figure. 

"Spooks, do we get to go in there?" She asked eagerly as she tugged at his tattooed skin.[/quote]

Spook tipped his head to the little girl and nodded. [b]"Yes! Though there isn't much there anymore to go into. It's only a ruin. You might see something more interesting in the trees, if you look hard enough."[/b] He pointed over his head with a casual gloved hand.

[quote=@hoppiholla391]"Don't suppose this particular symbol means anything in the common tongue?" she called after Spook's retreating back, but her eyes were on the letter, tracing the delicate curve with her fingers.[/quote]

[b]"Ah . . ."[/b] Spook scratched the mask's chin. [b]"'Barrier' . . . probably."[/b] He breathed a quiet laugh and rubbed the back of his hood. [b]"They're more like drawings than words, as far as I know."[/b]

[quote=@Darinthus][color=forestgreen][b]"SPOOK!"[/b][/color] Roy bellowed, not understanding the concept of a line and the etiquette of letting other people go before him. He held up his birdcage to the masked figure, ax and book attached, looking very intently at the grinning mask.

[b][color=forestgreen]"Is THIS birdcage something that discovers trees!"[/color][/b][/quote][quote=@Diggerton][color=517BAE]"Hey, Roy? Buddy, you alright? It's just a birdcage, y'know? we're all eager to go take a look at all the stuff out here, but I think we should stick with Spook for now. After we get out bearings a little, how about you and me [b]both[/b] go out, and we can [b]both[/b] take a look at some of the flora, alright?"[/color] It probably wasn't very safe to run around behind the wall by yourself, especially if you weren't a Traveler.[/quote]

Spook only answered when the commotion had quieted a bit -- but the entire time the dead glassy eyes of the mask were set firmly on Roy.

[b]"Those are just the cheapest cages I could find in Enn,"[/b] he explained with a hidden smile. [b]"If it has any tree-finding properties, they're not my doing."[/b]

[i][sup]pop! -- poof![/sup][/i]

If Amelia were looking up at the trees as she was told, she might spot it: something small, winged and furry suddenly appeared on a branch with a [i]pop![/i]  It leaped off the branch, and just as suddenly it disappeared into the empty air with a soft [i]poof![/i]  It was gone.

A breeze rustled in the trees; sunlight swirled and spun between the leaves, and a cacophony of birds broke into song. They passed another sentry tree on the opposite side of the road. Some of the branches had tiny bells and weathered paper garlands hanging from them. If one were to look closely, they might spot two or three little mossy statues standing among the rocks and leaves.

[b]"This is Nearlight Thicket,"[/b] Spook said aloud to no one in particular. [b]"Up there,"[/b] he pointed toward a curving staircase off the road, partially hidden by hanging branches, [b]"is the Temple of Spring Whistling."[/b]

Spook stopped, and he turned around, craning his neck to see how many had made it this far without wandering off into the woods.