Grrface growls quietly. "Then we know which way to go."
"Well, let's see what it is," Derek says. He draws his rapier and pushes the fencing mask down over his face. "I'll take the rear again."
Arch heads off. The path Betony Rue has chosen is like a cow-trail- very narrow, but very well-defined. There are fiercely thorned bushes with blood-red berry-like fruits that are within easy reach. Arch is fresh out of bandannas, and so doesn't pick any herself. The cow path leads up a fairly steep hill. At the top of the hill is an open archway surrounded by very tall, very brilliant green Hedge shrubs. At the base of the archway is a small, crumpled form lying very still. It appears to be...
a very-much-the-worse-for-wear sock monkey.
They can see that the toy has been washed many times. The socks making up its body have faded from a dark brown to an apricot color. Its pompom decorations are very bedraggled, and the stuffing has disappeared from the end of its little tacked-on tail. The monkey wears a much-faded reddish fez on its mis-shapen head. As they approach, it sits up slowly and watches them expressionlessly with its one remaining button eye.
Betony Rue slowed down as the tattered little doll starts to move. It's stare was a blank button and not even complete. It disturbed her greatly and also gave her a sense of satisfaction to see this simple little child's toy sitting in the Hedge with the Wyrd animating. Another bit of innocence corrupted by Fairie magic.
Al-Adin looks at the monkey, 'hello.' He says to it.
Grrface eyes the sock puppet distrustfully. He looks around, making sure that the sock puppet really is the only item of note in the area.
Derek is of like mind to Grrface. He keeps looking behind them, back down the trail, and around them.
Hello, said the S.M., in a surprisingly low, gravelly Louis Armstrong voice. Have you seen my little gal? I think she mighta got lost.
A breeze blows from beyond the archway, and the unpleasant smell is strong enough that first Grrface, then Derek, catch it. Arch wrinkles her nose and tries to look past the entry, but all she can see is a wall of Hedge.
Grrface growls at the doll. It's mysterious question only infuriates him. Let someone with the desire for conversing with aberrations talk to it.
He's beginning to feel increasingly uneasy considering the stench coming from beyond the arches.