Donovan had explored the Summer’s ‘area’ thoroughly. The ins and outs of the laser tag field. The official office that were included as part of the Funderland building that housed what amounted to the kingdom of wrath. Which to be honest, didn’t amount to much. Granted it was more money invested than Donovan would ever see but that wasn’t what mattered to the Wizened. He was looking for a place of protection and safety.

It was like the Freehold Commons. It didn’t exist. And sure, he could go to Circe and Alex. Talk things out. However, the Wizened didn’t feel up for another long winded conversation about how to build a Hallow. Not even with his own Courtiers. He’d rather just get things started. Better to ask forgiveness than permission.

So he’d found a door marked for emergency exit. After some trepidation he’d tried it. Then the door after it.

As it turned out, only the second pair of double doors actually triggered a fire alarm.

Donovan really hoped after the whole soda incident it wouldn’t cost him his semiregular job. Only time would tell.

Until such time, Donovan stood in a clearing in the Thorns. No bigger than a broom closet. Barely recognizable as any different from the path that branched off from it. It barely had any space to fit more than the three Changelins in the court of wrath. And that was with one being at least halfway on the path.

Donovan gave a growling sigh. It felt like starting from scrap. He’d once farmed whole acres of land. Now all he had was this. He took a half step towards the brambles and held up his hand. Even just brushing them made his palms prickle. Sure, he could just take a hatchet and torch and burn some more space to start his garden. But first, you had to look towards keeping things out. The dire deer that would eat saplings, the briar wyrms who’d steal ripening fruit. And the best walls were those made of the Hedge itself.

Donovan duck his hands into the soil. The spiny roots pierced his palms. Blood mixed with mud and taproot. The Woodwalker closed his eyes against the pain and concentrated.

Slowly, the Thorns began to move.