The moment the mask touched Artemis' face, a buzz of energy shot through her veins like a concentrated dose of caffeine. She felt lighter, faster, stronger, and a bit twitchy. Speed was no problem, and with practice she could leap into the trees in a single bound. Though nothing appeared different through the eyes of the mask, Artemis might find that she could sense what was behind her almost as well as she could see ahead.

The inside of the mask smelled faintly of dry sweat. Artemis might have the passing thought -- perhaps the effects of residual magic -- that a young boy had spent the majority of his life in this mask until very recently.

Behind her, the trail through the woods wound into a denser part of the forest, illuminated by fireflies. There was no more sign of the two children, but while she wore the mask Artemis would have the distinct feeling that they were watching.

The pirate stepped out of the witch's house, stuffing a necklace into a pocket with one hand and dragging a gnarled, chopped tree branch with the other. He looked very much like he regretted this visit -- which was only amplified when he turned the corner and saw the gryphon squirming in the grass, its saddle twisted askew.

[b]"Hey!"[/b] he roared, dropping the branch to run at the confused beast. [b]"No! Bad! Roll over!"[/b] He pulled up on a wing and the gryphon scrabbled and jumped to its feet, bouncing, tail swinging, pawing the ground, ready to play. The pirate pushed on its beak with a snarl. [b]"No! You piece of shit bird . . . SIT!"[/b] The gryphon sat promptly, but wriggled and fidgeted while the pirate unhooked the mangled, grass-stained saddle. As soon as he'd dragged it off, the freed gryphon went bounding and frolicking in the clearing like an eager puppy.

The pirate sat down at the base of the dead tree, muttering to himself, and set to work untangling and straightening the damage to the saddle.

[hr]

[b]"The Lantern?"[/b] Peck stared at Anise with obvious confusion and hesitance -- which wasn't helped by the fact that Anise now looked like a crazed Kith in her mask and tattered dress and blue mangled Lantern. The blue Lantern had compelled him to believe every word Anise had said -- and although Anise had since relinquished her hold on the pirate's mind, Peck was nonetheless convinced of her power and status.

[b]"The white Lantern is safe here. We've been guarding it for generations, it's perfectly fine where it is and nobody knows about it but us."[/b] He grinned a little, proud of his heritage, and he gestured with a thumb at the top of the dead white tree. His faint smile faded as a thought occurred to him. [b]"But with the Lady of Light comes the dawn."[/b] It was a line in an old lullaby. [b]"Have you found a way to use them to bring back the sun?"[/b] he asked with guarded hope.

Reus, meanwhile, shook the water out of his fur -- spraying the huffing gryphon -- and walked closer to sit by Anise, the wood creaking and snapping under his enormous weight. Despite all of Anise's encouragement to behave and be peaceful, he set the pirate with a firm, yellow-eyed glare.