[hr][center][h1][color=mediumorchid]Lucilla Crawford ~ Ignis Fatuus[/color][/h1][/center][hr]
[@Vega7285]

In the flame's light, Lucilla watched the Hydes retreat. Although the sight confused her as much as it did everyone else, her frown became a smirk. [color=mediumorchid]"Uh-uh, think you're getting away that easily, do you?"[/color] At the commands of Veronica and Sophia, she hurried along the path towards the housing area.

[color=mediumorchid]"Got to say,"[/color] she commented, glancing at Mary Anne, [color=mediumorchid]"glad I'm not alone either."[/color] She'd only known the other girl for a few hours, but something about her seemed confident, sure of herself - and like she wasn't one to be messed with. Rather, in fact, like some other people Lucilla had known.

A voice piped up in her head. [i][color=plum]"Oi! You wouldn't be anyway! You haven't forgotten about me, have you? That's it, just so you won't, I'll sing at you until we get there!"[/color][/i] Lucilla gave a mix of a chuckle and a groan as the pixie made good on her word. She had no idea how a mental voice could sound so off-key.

[i][color=mediumorchid]"As if I would,"[/color][/i] she sent back. [i][color=mediumorchid]"But you know what I mean. And hey, you now have the extra company you wanted."[/color][/i]

Before long, the slums came into view, run-down clusters of apartments only barely visible in the meager lights. Lucilla's candle flared brighter as if she could hope to cast off the air of bleakness permeating the area. Her parents had always said slum-dwellers brought their misery on themselves, but now Lucilla knew better. People flocked to the city's lights in search of a better life, only to find themselves cast into shadows and squalour, treated as if they didn't exist - except by Hydes.

At the end of an alleyway, something moved. Something dark and formless. [color=mediumorchid]"Alright,"[/color] Lucilla whispered to Mary Anne, [color=mediumorchid]"let's put a stop to whatever they're playing at."[/color]

[hr][center][h1][color=aquamarine]Veronica Edwards ~ The Portraitist[/color][/h1][/center][hr]
[@Mistress Dizzy]

With a nod, Veronica turned to Amarantha as teams of two began to break off from the group. [color=aquamarine]"Well, this was quite a change of plan,"[/color] she remarked, [color=aquamarine]"but I trust that, with those red threads you mentioned, you'll be able to help us regroup afterwards."[/color] Wasting no time, she set off towards the towering industrial buildings.

If not for the presence of a tracker, it would take some time to hunt down all the Hydes in an area such as this, as Veronica knew too well. Peering through the miasma of factory fumes, she ignored the acrid smell, focusing instead on any sign of activity around the warehouses. It seemed only workers milled around the network of paths, some laughing and joking, although their slumped postures showed exhaustion and despondency.

[color=aquamarine]"You also say your threads can track Hydes?"[/color] Veronica asked Amarantha, recalling the few details the quiet girl had let on about her magic.