The misty woodlands of the local Hedge held a variety of noises, but few that would be called natural by a mortal. Birdsong that always sounded a little off-key. Wind that rustled branches to produce whistling that could only be described as eerie.

In the distance, a howl echoed across the twilight forest. A predator had claimed his prey and announced his victory, but the howl didn't sound like it came from a creature that was entirely wolf. It held a tone that almost sounded human.

However, that was well away from here. Here, where Sonja Wu lurked in the trees. She'd made it a point to avoid obvious hunting grounds. She had no interest in being the subject of anything's hunt. She was on a hunt of her own.

Certain that the coast was clear, the Beast slipped down from the treetop foliage and alighted softly on the ground.

Here was what she had been looking for, after weeks of careful searching. Just off the trod, hidden in a small clearing among the Thorns.

Goblin fruit. A lush bounty of various fae edibles.

It was wild and overgrown. No one tended these plants, of that she was certain. It was, surprisingly, not too far from the Tavern. The Hedge, it would seem, had a knack for hiding secrets under one's nose.

The monkey girl crawled around, quietly examining the goblin fruits. Some looked like berries or beans, others like apples or eggplants. But never exactly. They were always the wrong color, or texture, or scent. None truly resembled any vegetable matter found on Earth.

Sonnie wasn't exactly an expert on them, and she knew it would take her time to identify the most useful ones. There were a couple she recognized, thankfully.

One bush held a small amount of a purple-green berry, each one the rough size of a grape, but with a wrinkly skin like an overly plump raisin. Kneeling before the plant, the Spring Courtier sniffed the air about it. The aroma seemed right. Next she felt a berry. It tingled pleasantly under her fingers, and felt ripe.

Good, this was it.

Sonnie plucked the berry and ate it. The tingling sensation washed down her throat and spread through her whole body. It was refreshing in a way that was difficult to describe. The refreshment wasn't of the body or the mind, but of the fae soul.

Sonnie knew this energy coursing through her veins. It was Glamour.

These berries were pure Glamour.

Smiling, the Steepscrambler took out a small notebook and jotted down the details. This was a valuable find.

Sadly, the bush seemed to produce few of the berries. She would have to be careful not to devour the entire supply. Still, it would keep her in good spirits with a steady trickle of faerie power.

Now, she thought to herself, if I could just figure out if any of these other fruits can heal injuries or refresh the mind.

That was going to take time to deduce, and she could only hope no one came along to plunder this little garden in her absence.

Maybe if I had a Hollow, I could transplant some of these bushes and vines to keep them safe?


That was a whole other undertaking. In the meantime, the Beast had some horticultural studying to do.