[center]She sighed, watching leaves rustle. Trailing at the back of the group had been only natural for her.  [color=FF7F50][i]I ain't really mesh with that crew, too good.[/i][/color] Her arms were stuffed into the fold of her corset, just beneath her breasts. In the absence of pockets, she found that worked best. Ahead of her, the rest of the group walked; spaced but cohesive.  [color=FF7F50][i]Cliques already. Fuck. The cop and the kid seem like they hittin' it off.[/i] [/color]They hadn't been walking long, no more than two or three hours, but the verdant field had fallen far behind. [color=FF7F50] [i]Guess we ain't too far from Silverbook.[/i][/color] She still didn't see the town, but had a feeling that they'd catch a glimpse of it in the next few hours.

 Most of the strife had died down, given that the crazy guy had been bound and dragged.  [color=FF7F50][i]Don't seem right, really. So what? He stabbed the cop. Michael, that's his name. Stabbed Michael. That was there, this is here. Cops and slashers don't much fuckin' matter.[/i][/color] She lowered her head, feeling the weight of her hat shift. It did that, sometimes, when she turned her head too fast or jumped a little; but it never seemed to come off unless she wanted it to. Tabitha had taken it off, once, since leaving the field. Her hair was longer, now, and that lovely neon green; and was really more trouble outside the headgear than in.

Indeed, the back seemed to suit her best. She could watch everyone. LIsten to everyone. She hadn't done much listening, to be honest. They'd only been in Irriss for maybe two, possibly three, hours and conversation seemed to be in no short supply. It hurt her, in a distant way.  [color=FF7F50][i]But that's on me. I ain't here to make friends. I ain't here to...[/i][/color] she brought a hand from its fold and rested it against her face, digging nails lightly against the strange tear-drop mark that had come with her gift,  [color=FF7F50][i]be one'a them...[/i][/color]

Michael and Ascot, Saffron somewhere behind. Stormy and Koda, mutual concern between them. Kate and Anni, trailing behind the bound Oedipus.

 [color=FF7F50][i]Where does that leave me?[/i][/color] She ran her fingers over her garb. The harlequin's get-up she had been given.

She certainly didn't feel like one of them. For the most part, Tabitha Calvicante was a shadow in their assemblage. The 'other'. She hadn't spoken to the Tristan-thing since they started walking. Looking over his form had made her uncomfortable. Those roving golden eyes met briefly by her own silver.  [color=FF7F50][i]Had to be silver...didn't it?[/i][/color] He was still in there, she could tell, by the sound of his voice; but little else brought to mind the shy guy she had shared her circle with. She hoped he was still him.  [color=FF7F50][i]Lane and Rani would have a fuckin' fit, if they knew what we was doin' right now.[/i][/color]  [i]That[/i] hurt her, a little bit. That the only person she really knew from her world was so different and distant.  [color=FF7F50][i]Makes sense, though, his heart came out of his chest...his skin changed...he's gotta be hurtin' worse than I am.[/i][/color] Something tugged at her heart.  [color=FF7F50][i]Maybe I'll sit and talk with him, when nobody's around. We weren't close...but, damn, we're friends! He needs to know...I need to know...that we're not alone.[/i][/color]

It was decided, then.

 Slowing her pace, she felt leaves crunch beneath nearly-exposed feet.  [color=FF7F50][i]What was it Ascot said? Abilities ya feel inside ya?[/i][/color] Tabitha stopped to lean against a tree, staring at her hands; both of which were held before her. She didn't feel anything. After the crazy burst of laughter  [color=FF7F50][i]Was it really fake...?[/i][/color] she had felt the same, just dressed differently. After the moment of intense light from within she felt [i]dark[/i] again. She wanted to cry, but the field had drained her of that. 

 The woods were like anything you'd find back home. She couldn't tell one tree from another, but it hardly mattered. More disconcerting was the lack of people traveling along the path. Tabitha had noticed it, but never brought it up. Instead, she lingered at the back. 

  [color=FF7F50]"So,"[/color] she started, cocking an eyebrow and putting her hands at her side, [color=FF7F50] "how we gonna know what to do once we hit Silverbrook?"[/color] She sure as fuck didn't have any clue, and the whole thing felt [i]off[/i]. Stalling was necessary. She needed to know what the others thought. [color=FF7F50] "I know we find the Magician, and all, but ya guys sure we're up for whatever's comin' next?"[/color]

She idly kicked a rock, before lowering herself against a tree's base.  [color=FF7F50]"I wanna take a break, anyway. We been walkin' for a minute,"[/color] her eyes swept over them, a slight smile on her face,  [color=FF7F50]"ya guys can go ahead without me, if ya want. But I'm gonna drop my ass right [i]here[/i]."[/color] Really, she didn't care to talk to most of them. She wanted to talk with Tristan alone. She had a few things she wanted to talk to him about. Even if they weren't important things, Tabitha needed to feel like she wasn't alone; or that she wasn't going to be left behind.

 [color=FF7F50][i]I hope he's on the same page...[/i][/color][/center]