Angry Pork


The horses follow and the little caravan moves along. The chill wind blows at their backs as they ride away from the chasm and back into Arden. They are riding east and north, towards the sea; the breeze is coming out of the west. The sunlight that falls on them is wrong for the time of day they entered the clearing. It would take some observation to be sure, but it might also be wrong for the season.

Trail sign on this trail is old.

These things happen in Arden, now that the marked paths have been lost.

Robin tcchs her tongue worriedly as she notes the irregular timing. It passes through her mind to wonder how long Arianrhod fairy-hilled them for, but there's nothing for it now.

However, given that this sort of thing is happening, Robin doesn't want to get too far from the clearing. She's got a date in three days, and Adonis doesn't strike her as the kind to wait patiently if she's late.

Keeping her senses tuned to the worlds around her, Robin leads the caravan seaward only as far as she thinks she needs to in order to anchor them securely. With her steps, she searches for somewhere defensible -- somewhere extremely defensible, possibly even a series of caves like those her brother is so fond of. One with a lot of clear running water, and perhaps useful greens growing nearby. She's got a lot of doctoring to do.

Robin would not previously have expected such things to work on the true earth, but of course they do now, and it's questionable if the 'true earth' designation was really correct after all. As Robin begins to use her power to find a place of her desire she notices something subtlely but distinctly different in the feel of the shadows. She does find what she was looking for, but she has to fight to get what she wanted.

The rangers get to work on the tasks they know they need to accomplish. In addition to setting up a defensible camp, they also are unloading the wounded and seeing to those who need treatment.

It takes Robin more than a few minutes to figure out the change, but she does. It's not that she can't do what she wants to do, but it's as if the path of least resistance has changed. Robin has never experienced anything like this before.

A slow shivering intake of breath shudders through Robin and she stands up from where she was crouched in the mouth of the cave, her brow furrowed in thought, her green eyes darting out over the landscape without really seeing.

The nature of Reality is changing on her. Again.

Robin gulps as she fights back a slowly rising panic. In the back of her thoughts, the never-far-from-her-mind fear that she will wake up beside her partially decayed horse once again runs its claws through her heart. Or perhaps this time it's the Dragon, the weight of it rippling the universe as it approaches. Or perhaps her beloved Uncle Corwin's will is stretching out from his misbegotten Pattern. Or perhaps she has wandered back into that painted Realm of Incipience without noticing. Or... or... or...

Too many choices. Robin doesn't know which way to jump.

So the girl does what she can. Time to learn a new set of rules.

While the guys work behind her, Robin begins to experiment with the falling of the leaves. When they fall, how they fall... like learning to run underwater, Robin is trying to figure out the best way to use her heritage and her will in this changed environment.

Robin invests some time, less than a watch, on this task. She learns that things still follow rules, but that those rules are slightly different. It is like learning to play a familiar song on a whistle tuned to a new key. The near-familiarity of it tends to trip Robin up at first. Eventually she feels that she can get basically what she wants through her talents at will, even if she needs to concentrate more at first.

Levet comes up to Robin as she's finishing her exercises. "I, um. We know one of the prisoners. His name is Foresight and he's from Garnath."

Julian's daughter raises an eyebrow. "Really?" She sounds more interested than anything else. "Huhn." The little blow of breath that lifts the hair off her forehead, though, that's all Robin.

With one last look outside, Robin gestures for Levet to lead the way. And, with a little shudder that all healthy-minded Rangers have learned to ignore, strides back into the caves towards the wounded.

Several of the prisoners are awake. The rangers seem to have them all quiet, although it's clear that there is mutual dislike at best between the riders and the one Adonis called 'Luke'. Levet indicates one, a blond haired man, as the aforementioned Foresight. Robin doesn't think of any of them as leaders. Perhaps their leader was one of the ones who didn't make it. Or one who escaped. They look at her expectantly. So does Luke.

Seeing all those expectant eyes brings a wry cock to Robin's lips. But she lets her authority as one of Arden's pre-eminent Rangers give her shoulders a certain line and her posture a certain bearing that goes right along with that smile.

"I'm not going to have any trouble with you boys, am I?" It's not so much a question. Daeon's kill or not, any of them steps out of line and heads will be broken.

Foresight waits a moment, and then speaks. "Lady Ranger, I don't if I should laugh or cry. We've been looking for Arden Rangers for the last 3 years. Don't trust that one, " he says, indicating 'Luke', "he's got the green madness."

"Liars! I have met the Forest God and repented of my evil ways and these worse-than-beasts-in-man-form would tell you of my madness when they have evil in their souls?" Luke seems somewhat upset. "Trust me in all things before trusting them in the least!"

"Right then." Robin lowers herself to a comfortable crouch. "Taking turns is good. Keep it up." And boy howdy does she mean that.

She looks over at the others. "This one speak for you all?"

They look at each other, then another one says "yes." A moment later he adds "ma'am."

[OOC - Was this a disrespectful delay, a forgetful one or something else?]

[Forgetful or nervous. "Oh, crap! What do I say now? Oh, yeah." seems to be unused to words of respect.]

Back to Foresight. "Rangers you wanted. Rangers you got. Now what?"

The girl's green eyes turn to Luke and she taps herself on the chest. "Forest God's sister. Listening to everything. Especially souls."

Luke's eyes get wide and he bows his head, waiting.

"Lady Ranger, this forest is full of people. Some as came from Amber, some as were here. Some who left Amber didn't mean to and others followed them, and we've been alone for a while. Years, maybe longer. Now some places is bad and some is worse, and a lot of people didn't want to be in Amber, but the forest ain't so good right now, either.

"Past few weeks, people like him," he says, nodding towards Luke, "have been coming through. They're mad, they attack at random, and they can infect others. We're losing people just like Amber lost us, but they come back and attack us.

"I know we're not supposed to be here. We all know that. But we're in trouble, and folks would welcome rangers, Lady."

Luke's head is bowed, but he looks as if he would say something if given permission.

"Uh-hunh." Robin blows a little breath out as she considers Foresight's words (and his soul) for a moment. Thoughts dance behind her green eyes and she unconsciously chews on one corner of her lower lip for a moment.

Then those eyes snap back into focus. On Luke. "K. Your turn."

"I was a criminal, as they are now. I was a slaver, and a murderer, until the forest God appeared to me. He slew my companion, who had a wicked heart, and sent him to hell. He spared me and he spared my brother in his mercy, so that we might spread his word. These evil men are allies to the slavers and fight the good men of the forest. In the name of your brother, the god of the forest who has twice saved my life, I beg thee strike their tongues from their mouths ere their lies work their evil on your companions!"

"I told my brother that I would return them to him whole and hale. So no striking for now." Robin chides gently before looking back and forth between the men.

"Hunh." Her bangs lift off her forehead after a thoughtful breath as Robin stands. The Ranger leans back against the stone, crossing her arms, brow furrowing in thought. A stray wish for Vere's presence and insight gets loose from the girl before Robin drags herself back to the damned thinkin'-&-talkin' job once more.

"Foresight. You said folks would welcome Arden's rangers. To what purpose?"

He shrugs, as best he can. "What they expect from rangers. To protect 'em from the wild folk, and to take those that will back to civilization. Not all of 'em want to go back, but they're learning that the forest isn't safe."

He clears his throat. "Even the ones who came here looking to leave Amber didn't realize it was a one-way trip."

Expertly, Robin hides the sigh that ripples through her. Rescuing misguided settlers, pfui. Definitely not her favorite duty. But yes -- one of her duties. The Ranger's interior tongue sticks out in disgust. None of which makes it to the daughter of Julian's face or mien.

Instead she just nods.

And turns to Luke.

"Luke. A man of mine is missing. A man of good heart who may have been led astray. His name is Breeze. Do you know anything of him or his fate?"

"No, Sister of The God. If he is lucky, he will escape the slavers. If he is exceptionally lucky, he will escape them and live."

"I'm gonna make you lucky, you lunatic! That's what you people do is take people!" It's one of the other prisoners, a man named Vale. He lunges against his restraints and Robin's rangers suddenly become less casual.

"Heel!" Robin's command to Vale is immediate and direct, as is the force of her personality upon him. The personality of a trained leader of men and creatures, and the personality of a scion of Amber and a grandchild of Oberon.

But since she is also a practical girl, Robin steps between Vale and Luke, looking perfectly willing to break a man or two if necessary.

Vale looks rebellious, but quiets down.

Foresight speaks up again. "Vale doesn't like the wild men. His family was taken in one of their raids."

"Ah." Robin nods, a flicker of sympathy running behind her eyes. "Well, I reckon I can see as how that might make a man a bit... stupid!" The flicker changes to a flash of lightning.

The girl looks back and forth between Vale, Foresight and Luke, her brow furrowed in thought. Her expressions flicker as various thoughts whirl away until a 'oohhh' look comes over her. She crouches down comfortably and talks to all of the wounded in the cave.

"Okay. Look guys. I think we got a couple'a possible ways of doing things here. One possibility is that you heal under the care of concerned and dutiful Rangers of Arden who protect and provide for you while we are here in this unknown place facing unknown dangers. Another possibility is that you become prisoners of a dangerous and powerful psychopath who will take the most expedient route and mutilate anyone who gives her even the tiniest amount of shit.

"Nooowww... the way I figure it, if everyone plays nice. No violence." A pointed glance to Vale. "No provocation." A similar glance to Luke. "Quiet conversation and a sharing of knowledge and resources. And we all get to go with option one.

"Push me? Give me or my men any trouble?" Robin tchhs her tongue. "Option two. So fast you won't have time to count how many body parts you have left. Have I made myself clear?" The girl smiles sweetly to her audience.

The party that had been hunting Luke nods.

Luke lowers his head, but maintains eye contact.

"Good." Robin nods and stands, dusting her hands off on the thighs of her trousers. "K. Avid?" She looks over to the man. "You're first on clean-up. Get yourself as scrubbed as you can. Burn your clothes. I got another few sets in my pack."

Avid, Levet, and Robin all strip and clean off the remnants of the battle. A small fire disposes of their garb and they don their replacements, which fit strangely well considering that the three are not all the same size.

Vale and his friends on the one hand and Luke on the other remain well-behaved while the Rangers bathe.

Afterwards, Robin is able to gather Avid and Totter up privately.

"Soooo..." the girl drawls nonchalantly, though there is a twinkle in her eye. "Opinions? Suggestions? Robin-you're-a-damn-fools?"

Robin's tone indicates that she would certainly welcome the thoughts of Rangers of Totter and Avid's experience.

Avid smiles at the last.

Totter shrugs. "Given what you promised, I don't know what else to do. I can't say as I like Luke, but I didn't recall the other ones denying being slavers. There may be places where that's acceptable, but I don't like it." Totter looks over his shoulder at the lot. "We didn't win no prizes here. What do we want to do with 'em, anyway?"

"Hold 'em for three days. And hope that Adonis guy can find Breeze," is Robin's short-form answer. "Nope, no prizes." Robin gazes back at the cave-full of men with a flat line to her lips.

Then she sighs and shrugs. "Iiiiiii'm thinking that it might be best to keep 'em busy. So they don't get to thinkin' to killin' each other again. But I'm not sure what kind of work to come up with. Annnnnddd I definitely want more intel on both contingents places and peoples. If there are ex-Amber-citizens wantin' outta this mess... I reckon we can at least pass the word along...." The girl's still mulling things over in her mind.

Avid says, "I can't figure why anyone would want to go back to that place now, but you're right, Robin--we've got to let them know at least. But what are we going to do if we get a whole horde of them wanting to come under the Warden's protection?"

Totter shakes his head. "We'll cross that ford when we come to it. Let's worry about keeping them from killing each other right now. Maybe we can make 'em set snares and such to help keep us fed."

"What happens if Adonis there can't find Breeze?" Avid asks.

"Avid, is your waterskin every more than half-empty? We gotta get a break somewhere." Totter shakes again, this time somewhat disgustedly. "My worry is that the days will go strange here and we'll miss him, or the lady."

"Lady?" Robin raises an eyebrow for Totter to clarify.

"From the trees. Weren't we supposed to meet her?" Totter looks confused.

"Uh, Totter?" Robin asks quietly. "After we traded fire with these guys," she gestures to the no-prizes, "and we were securing the clearing, you took out-position annnnnddd..."

Robin rolls her wrist for the Ranger to pick up the story from his point of view. No real concern in her eyes. Yet.

"And got grabbed like I'd been trained by Sticks. She said she couldn't come out until you all got rid of the ashes, but that her sister's son would eventually figure it out. She also said she was working some sort of working to keep the guys with the horns from coming back."

Totter scratches his head. "I thought we arranged to meet up with her. Or am I confused? Damn. No more drinking before breakfast." He grins.

Robin chuckles back. "Naw. I don't think you're confused. And there ain't any reason good enough to give up drinking before breakfast." She winks to Totter.

[GM OOC: Totter clearly belongs to The Montrose Beer and Gun Club. Beer before breakfast, Death before Dishonor!]

"I just don't want to take more from that Lady than she cares to give. And I think she had given about all she wanted to right then." The Ranger wrinkles her nose at her own atrocious behavior. "Cool down period might be in order."

"'Sides I have a feeling that she won't have any trouble finding us, if she has anything further to say." A wry smile dances along the girl's lips.

Avid speaks up. "I trust the dumb ones to be smart enough to get cowed and stay cowed. That religious one? He'd tell us whatever it took to make us happy, and then happily kill us in our sleep if the voices in his head told him to. I've got a cousin in the Navy who told me about some of those places that are all religious. They're freaky."

The Sister of the God nods with pursed lips. "Too right. But I don't feel too good about keeping him starry-eyed for the whole three days. I just... ain't in the market for followers. I will," she looks to Avid and Totter for advice, "if it's necessary to keep us from haffin' to kill him. But I'd like to find another way."

Totter sucks air through his teeth and replies. "Well, if 'shot while attempting to escape from Ranger custody' won't do, and we don't have manacles, we'll either have to watch 'em day and night or we'll need to lock 'em up or we'll need to figure out a way to get 'em to obey us. If we had any friends in the area, that'd be easy, or at least let us share the burden. I don't have any brilliant ideas, at least not any that'll work." He shrugs.

"Dung," Robin murmurs ruefully and a chuckle shakes her form.

"K. Let's make sure we got at least two others 'sides me on watch for the next three days. One outside, one in." Robin cocks a wry smile. She knows she's being a little overcontrolling but that's the way she gets when looking at a long period of doing nothing.

"Avid? If either you or Levet could get the no-prizes started on the snares and stuff, we'll start with that good idea and see if we can come up with a few more on the fly.

"Totter? If you or Rain could see about rasslin' up fresh dinner, I'd appreciate it.

"Me?" Robin heaves a big long-suffering sigh. "Back to Foresight and Luke." The girl stands muttering to herself. "F*ckin' talkin' jobs. I hate this sh*t."

Totter and Avid leave on their assigned chores, leaving Robin behind, lost in Uffish Thought.


Robin can see Avid making preparations around the camp. About the time she starts to wonder when Totter will get back with something to eat, she hears a measure of Cadence from the woods.
Ranger...Trouble...Following...Ranger...Hide...Catch.

"Dung." Robin says as she straightens from her watchpoint near the mouth of the cave. "I hope that's edible trouble."

"Levet?" She calls the younger Ranger forward to take her position and gestures to Rain to accompany herself out. The girl flashes a quick smile to Avid, indicating that the ornery guy is now in charge till she gets back.

Setting out with Rain in tow, Robin extends her senses and relies on her experience and familiarity with Totter to see where he wants the ambush that she and Rain are going to arrange set-up.

The measure repeats slightly differently
Ranger ...Trouble ... Supper ...Following Ranger ...Hide...Catch

And Totter comes bursting into the clearing where Robin and Rain are waiting. Robin hears a sound in the underbrush and sees a large boar following Totter. Rain has an arrow into it a moment later and is knocking another.

Robin grins and leaps forward to take over matador duty from Totter. Drawing her sword in her off-hand, she whistles to the boar in a particularly annoying to porcine ears taunt.

The Ranger begins her dance with the boar with a keen eye not only to avoid the shotlines of Rain and Totter, but also with a mind to keep the boar under their fire for as long as possible.

Robin thinks they can all eat for a week, even if Daeon comes back. There's a lot of angry pork charging after Totter. A spear would be handy, but she doesn't have one.

The boar turns at her whistle and comes around. It is moving quickly and can't turn too easily. Totter jumps over a rock and comes up stringing his bow. Robin can tell he'll be in the fight soon. Rain hits it again. Robin wonders how thick the boar's hide is, because he doesn't seem to be bleeding very much from the arrows. That's pretty normal; it may take an eye or mouth shot to do any serious damage to the boar.

It's lined up on Robin and is charging at her with a remarkably high-pitched squeal.

A happy laugh lifts out of the girl. Yep, waving a sword at nearly a ton of charging and pissed off pig is a lot better than thinking. Robin's footwork is lightened by her heart as she waits for the boar to fully commit before dancing off to the side. But despite her playfulness, the Ranger keeps herself out of tusk and hoof range. It really wouldn't be cool to let herself be gored right now. She's got a date to keep and pris-hk-hk-k-k-k... guests to watch over.

Of course, out of tusk and hoof range also means out of sword range. So she just has to hope that either Totter or Rain will pull the lucky shot. Any time now.

Robin dances away, cleanly. It's a fast beast, and somewhat bigger than she expected. It comes close enough to her that she can smell it. And it's turning quickly. Robin dances out of harms way again, and Totter and Rain hit the beast with arrows.

It looks like it's going to be a long, slow fight, waiting for a lucky shot or a combination of small wounds and time. And hoping the boar isn't the one who gets the lucky shot.

That's what Robin thinks will happen. It isn't what happens.

After about two passes, when Robin is getting the boar lined up again with her irritating whistle, she hears another whistle off to one side. The boar turns and charges towards a woman who is standing at the edge of the clearing. She is wearing a white dress and carries a boar spear. She gracefully kneels and sets her spear.

The boar, by this point infuriated, charges up onto the spear and stops with his muzzle wrapped around the crosspiece. The woman holds the spear as if it hadn't just been hit by a half a ton of angry bacon.

Green eyes watch the display, making very sure the boar is dead before ticking away in self-disgust. When will she learn?! Being cautious only means someone else gets to steal your supper. Ah well...

A supple hand gesture asks Totter and Rain to stay in position with arrows knocked. With another freaky Arcadian on the scene, the Ranger feels it's best that she stays the only one exposed.

The girl doesn't sheath her sword but she does lower it to a neutral position as she calls politely. "Congratulations, Lady. May I have permission to retrieve our arrows?"

After all, there's other dinner in the woods and someone who handles a boar spear like that? Most likely another 'Shadow God.' And since Robin isn't trying to get her brother to back the f*ck off, it's probably best to play nice.

"The meat is yours for the having. I had my spear and thought you help you." She pulls the spear from the corpse. "I was expecting your brother." She wears a white dress without a spot of blood on it.

Whereas Robin can get dirty in a white room. Definitely a goddess, the girl thinks to herself, as she nods to the Huntress.

"My thanks, Lady. I can indeed make use of this creature's strength." The Ranger tries very hard not to let her family-bred skepticism for gifts rise too far into her face. Walking over, Robin lowers her sword and keeps it to her side... but she can't quite bring herself to sheathe it yet.

"Alas. I do not know the current whereabouts of my brother. But..." Robin's voice dribbles off as her brow furrows. The Ranger's not really sure how anyone as woods savvy as the Lady seems to be could confuse her and Daeon's signatures.

"He told me he'd meet me. If you see him, tell him our bargain is still good and I am waiting for him. He should come to Jones Falls." She hesitates. "He didn't give you a message for me, did he?"

Jones Falls, Robin mouths to herself as her brow furrows. Somehow the girl can't picture anyone using a proper place name as directions for Daeon. Proper place names just don't feel... poetic or descriptive enough to be of use to her green brother. Now her bronze one...

"Uhhh." The Ranger decides that she's feeling a little in the darkish. "Lady," a slight bow, "I am Robin. And, unfortunately, I carry no messages at this time. But if you would like me to give my brother a message the next time I see him, I'll be glad to do so. Buutttt.... I'm starting to think that I don't know from whom or to whom the message should go."

"Your brother, the one with the Dragon friend. He was supposed to meet me some days ago, but he never returned."

A little perplexed popping noise emerges from the girl's lips as she thinks. When she speaks it's in a low thoughtful drawl.

"My brother and I. We live in strange times. I mean, sometimes the time changes on us and we are not aware of it." Robin tries to avoid thinking about the change of season she's experienced and hopes once again that she hasn't missed her own 'three day' deadline with Daeon.

"I truly doubt that my brother with the Dragon friend meant to miss meeting with you. Perhaps he is still not aware that -- for you -- the appointment time has passed." She purses her lips. Time, Jovian... doesn't seem right for those two things to be out of wack.

The woman nods. "Time can be odd here, but it is of the essence! He was to investigate and discuss ways that we could stop the war in Arcadia."

A fond smile graces Robin's lips as her gaze turns inward. "Good for him," she murmurs with an affectionate nod.

Then her gaze snaps back to the woman. "Uh... I'm maybe not the best choice for a stoppin' the war move," Robin rubs the back of her neck in embarrassment "but is there anything I can do to help?"

She looks kindly at Robin. "Your brother was to discuss what could be done by his father to prevent a bloody three-way free-for-all. I wish to know with what favor or disdain the Prince of Arden looks upon my offer of aid. My help is not without conditions, I wish to guarantee the survival of Arcadia and my mother. I do not think that is inconsistent with the Prince's desires, at least as his expressed by his son."

"Hunh. Okay, I'm not even going to try to guess the Prince's desires, but the next time I see him, I'll be glad to convey your message, Lady..." Robin drops it off to see if the Goddess will fill in the blank.

"I am called Britomartis by those who favor the use of names. Thank you, my nephew's sister, I can ask no more of you than you have offered." She turns to go. "I shall look for your brother in the appointed place, or for other word from your father."

Unless you stop her, she leaves you with a recently deceased boar and the stillness of the forest.

The Ranger watches Britomartis ghost off with a contemplative gaze.

After a moment, she snaps her attention back to Totter and Rain. A crisp hand gesture stands them down.

"Rain? Mind skipping back to give Avid and Levet some support? Me an' Totter'll take care of draggin' dinner in shortly."

The Ranger contemplates the carcass in front of her. Dang, that's a lot of bacon. "Totter? Maybe you should go with her and bring back one of the horses and travois."

Waste not, want not.

Robin can, with equine assistance, retire to her caverns with more pig than she can eat.

"Levet says one of the prisoners was a butcher, in town," Totter says, then voices a concern. "I can't think of a way to use that much meat without a pretty big fire. Will that be safe?"

"Hmmm." Robin rubs her chin as she looks over the boar.

"Think we smoke it? Contained fire pit... oh! Luau!" A grin crosses the girl's face. She doesn't Walk much, but she remembers what she sees when she does.

Food is made in great quantities. There is no chance of anyone starving on this trip.

Levet talks to her, after dinner. "I'm not the most grizzled Ranger in service, but I've been around, and I know that when you start seeing the forest folk, things are going mighty bad. Does the lady you all saw mean trouble, and if so, what's next? What can we prepare for?"

The Ranger stands from where she's been meditatively drawing little diagrams in the dirt floor of the cave.

"Well, yep Levet. Things are going pretty bad." Not a big believer in sugar-coating, our Robin.

Robin murmurs her next statement, still a little uncomfortable with it but what with the dress-wearin' and the coronation attendin' and oath-swearin' stuff, the girl knows that her tacit position within the Rangers is most likely to become... well, a little less tacit.

"But the Warden and I are workin' on ways to shore that up. Workin' hard." She looks to Levet's eyes, her own burning with a warm confident green.

Then a wry laugh ripples through the girl. "As for what's coming next, I ain't even going to try to predict." She shakes her head ruefully.

"What to prepare for? Keep your gear ready and to hand, keep your eyes open, stay smart and light on your feet. When it goes down, it's going to go fast but we're," Robin gestures to all the Rangers, "the best guys for the job. And after this all falls out, Arden will be ours." A beautiful smile lines Robin's lips. There is absolutely no doubt in her.

Levet nods, and Totter nudges Rain. Robin seems to have set just the right tone with the troops. Rain suggests a watch rotation and people prepare to bed down.

As the quiet yet homey sounds of Rangers moving around in the falling darkness wafts out around her, Robin takes herself and her full tummy to a concealed spot so near to the mouth of the cave as to be practically in it.

Having had her fill of worrying and thinking and investigating and negotiating and, and, and... Robin quietly amuses herself for a while drawing in the dirt yet again. Little square outlines fill in as the girl drifts into a pleasant reverie, happy thoughts and plans filling her mind along with filling her sketched floorplans.

Occasionally a brow will furrow -- what for the bookshelf fronts instead of glass? Robin just can't imagine herself in a room with that much glass in it but likewise Vere is not going to want the dogs shaking on his books and scrolls and thingies -- but even these little difficulties wash away as the girl is confident that, between her and Vere, they'll figure something out.

A cool breeze brushes Robin's hair back from her forehead and she finds herself looking out into the starlight sky. He can make the Walk. She knows it. He has to. And for Vere, having to is as good as done. But... a scowl flows across Robin's face.

Dammit! It seemed so wonderfully tragi-romantical, the two of them going off toward their separate destinies after having proclaimed their love. But the reality of it? Well, it sucked. Plain and simple. And she didn't like this not knowing. Not at all!

Missing Vere like a lost limb, Robin grumpily rolls a blanket around her shoulders and prepares to spend the first of her sleepness nights alone.


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Last modified: 14 August 2004