Exploration I

[Yumyumcrow]

The prohibition tunnels were being sealed. Officially, the work was "maintenance of foundations" or some other administrative jargon that was both evocative and completely misleading with a sufficient grain of truth to obfuscate the real motives of the work. True enough, the old tunnels could be risk to some of the theme parks structures without some maintenance work; but the real reason was to close off the rarely used tunnels and the access to the still active Hedge Gate.

That left the Hedge Gate of the Spring Tavern. Ingrid was not going to have that closed off.

But the immediate environs did need exploring.

As per the discussions at the Emerald Court's autumnal meeting, Ingrid threw open the Door so her Court could venture forth in hunt of bounty and treasure.

Paging Titania Vincent Seraphina Orianna Freya Stray . And if other people want to join in, I have room for 1-2 more

[Titania]

It was the Hedge, she didn't want to lose another parasol or another fascinator down(?) there, right? But again, she wasn't going to pack lightly either. So, she stashed her pinko bag with a few snacks and two small bottles of water, sunscreen - because her wisps could be quite unruly down (up?) there - and of course her gardening tools. Well, just a pair of scissors actually, with a blunt head and rounded ends to boot.
"They are not for kids. What would a floatie like you know anyway, you don't even have hands", she addressed one of her wisp in exasperation before turning back to the precious piece of stationery in her hands. She admired the pink cat on the handle. So cute. And matched the blue of her sundress too boot. Puurrfect!

[Seraphina]

If there was one thing she knew about going into the Hedge, it was that you didn’t go in wearing your nice clothes. And to be prepared. That was important too.

So it was a jeans, t shirt and sneakers day. Not her usual go to clothes, but she still looked amazing in them. Her Hedgespun necklace was put on, as well as the jacket, cause you never know.

In a leather messenger bag she put some water, granola bars, some gardening gloves and an extra shirt. But she remembered the things Mhairi used to bring, and as such, also packed some costume jewelry, some toys she got at a street vendor and some sun catchers. Those were her favorite personally. Who knew if they would come across anyone or anything.

Striding into the Tavern, she spots Titania. How could you not?

A big smile appears as she waves and walks over, “Hey!” comes the angelic voice, “How’ve you been?”

[Rhodes]

It seemed odd, in some ways, to be so keep to dive into the Hedge. After so long of trying to escape it.

Was it long? How would I know? All I have is thew appearance I am on the outside, and how long has passed since I fell down that rabbit hole....

The Fairest strolls across Funderland, heading for the wishing well. He and Ingrid had previously discussed an exploration of the Hedge, as had Nana, Seraphina.... others. Word on the grape vine was the Spring Courtiers were going across, and like hell was the Dread Lord of Autumn going to stand by as another Court got an unbridled look at the magics of the Hedge.

He opened the door into the tavern, smiling a the delightful ladies he saw there. Unlike the others, it seemed Rhodes was unwilling to dress down for anything, though his orange shirt was unadorned by jacket or tie, and his long coat of midnight thunderclouds was across his shoulders. A satchel-style bag on his hip contained knives, several costume rings, some scribbled poetry (some copied, some original), water, some snack bars, and his notebook and pencils.

"Titania! Seraphina!" Rhides greeted the both smiling broadly, his eyes lingering on Sera for several seconds. "How enchanting to see you both. Here to cross the Threshold, I assume?"

[Freya]

The Hedge is not often a place for niceties and good manners. Thus, Freya wore a pair of jeans, an old t-shirt, and an old, weather-beaten black leather jacket.

The bird-thing that was Freya stalked into the Tavern. What could be seen of her feathers stood stiff with attentive awareness and her great taloned hands fidgeted lightly as she observed her surroundings through nigh-unblinking orbs.

Freya's face was bereft of the warm, matronly expression it so often wore. For the Den Mother slept and the Stalker held sway. Nurturing as she was, the Den Mother was often too compassionate for her own good and Freya wanted to take no chances as she attended to the safety of her fellows in the Spring Court. Thus, She-Who-Stalks would hunt. And protect.

Befitting the feral mind of the huntress, her expression was nearly blank, almost aloof, save the need to take in the scene around her. Spotting her self-imposed charges, Freya would slip past Rhodes, but not before taking a moment to glance at the Flowering and grant him an animalistic huff in acknowledgement. The Stalker even managed a small fanged smile. For Rhodes was a potential ally and had been kind to Freya, even the Stalker could acknowledge that.

Once her primeval greeting was done, Freya simply moved on, stationing herself near the Joyeux and Titania. To both, she locked eyes, holding the gaze for a moment as her cold mask leaned more to gentler, like a cougar regarding its cubs. Then, she turned to the Gate proper, her hands flexing momentarily in anticipation.

[Yumyumcrow]

And cross the Threshold they did.

They ventured forth from the warm confines of the Tavern, with its apparently wooden panelling and plaster. They left behind the aroma of firewood and alcohol as they passed through the sturdy round Door into the Hedge proper...

...And found themselves in a rough glade, hemmed in by a thick wall of trees and topiary. The illusion of the Tavern Hollow persisted here: the Spring Hollow continued to appear as a dear little fairy tavern, its sloping roof thick with vegetation, chimney puffing gently into what passed as the Hedge's sky. A sudden gust of wind, cold and penetrating, announced Rhodes arrival as the reigning Monarch of these lands; autumnal leaf fall swirled and fluttered into new configurations. Just out of view, a haze promised fog. The air was damp and filled with the aroma of wet leaf litter, fruits and mushrooms - a fecund harvest of growth and decay.

Three paths exited the glade, unless the Lost wished to carve their own through the ranks of scraggy fern and close packed trees. Three paths, of which two might easily have been the two halves a much larger byway, all rutted and pooled with mud and standing water.

The narrowest path wriggled and writhed away to their left as it bounded over boulders and the stumps of trees. Left it went, and down, sinking behind a stand of palm-like growths and cloaked by a slow moving miasma of damp air.

The other path (or two) only glanced the glade but such was its muddy size that it appeared, on first glance, that the glade was a stopping point on a larger trod. A careful reconnoitre of the ground would quickly disabuse the Lost of that notion. The path (for path it was, not big enough yet or indeed stable enough to be a Trod) disappeared before and behind the Lost. In either direction, the rutted path curved gently away until it was lost in the shivering foliage of the Hedge.

What do you do?

[Titania]

The sudden breeze sent chills down her spine. She stood there, surrounded by her wisps, with the wide eyes of a curious child.

"Shall we?"

[Seraphina]

Smiling, "Hi, wasn't expecting anyone else to join us." she sounded happy to see him, her eyes lingering a moment as well.

It was hard to miss the intense Freya in all her bird like glory. As such, a warm smile was offered, "Hey Freya." the gaze briefly made the Treasured uncomfortable before it seemed to soften a bit. Truth be told, she was worried she'd done something wrong.

Looking to Titania, she nods, "We shall!" sapphires take in the area, and the paths. Plural.

"I'll be honest here, I'm not sure which way is best. Any thoughts?" looking to the rest.

[Rhodes]

"Freya!" Rhodes exclaims. "So nice to see you again. I hope you've been keeping well?" The Beast's presence reassured him in the Hedge. Between the two beautious Fairest, someone a little more forceful eased the nerves.

"An Adventure into the Hedge? After missing the first, how could I turn this one down?" Rhodes quips to Seraphina, grinning.

The Dread Lord ponders, looking at the three paths. "None of us know this side well - please, correct me if I'm wrong. I would recommend for now, checking the clearer path ahead. When we know the surrounds better, we can begin carving our way through the smaller paths. Getting to know the streets before the Alleys, as it were." He looks to the ladies around him in askance.

[Freya]

Freya simply granted the Joyeux a nod at her greeting and then glanced to Rhodes, the cold countenance of the Stalker softened momentarily by the words of her fellow Springs and her growing friend of the Leaden Crown.

"Well enough to Hunt," she said to the Ashen Sovereign, her tone kind, but rough. For the Stalker spoke little, much less so than the Den Mother. Words rarely came easily to this side of Mother Talons. Action, however, did.

"Find the path the game takes?" Freya offers in roughly labored words, "Prey can lead us to fruits... and their meat."

As she spoke the last, she offered the group a fanged smile. It was a feral, yet joyous thing. If gathering the means for the Spring Feast required Freya to make use of the harsh lessons she had learned in the Durance, the Stalker was all too happy to provide.

Regardless of the path, Vernal and Ashen Lost both had to be ready to battle the inherent threats of the Hedge. And so, She-Who-Stalks was reminded of her other perhaps as she looked to those assembled.

"Where you go, I must."