(Broken Cycle) Firing Squad

[Saber Sloth]

The goblin fruit does it's job, it heals the Spring Queen, at least a little. Circe does her rounds and makes sure the fallen Briar Wolves stay down.

Sonnie, calls on her Clause, and learns, that the Trod she needs is very close, and she remembers that from the Trod to where the Effigy is it had been a desperate run, with these Briar Wolves hounding them.

Getting back to where the Effigy sat, regal and waiting would take less then twenty minutes.

Sonnie Wu (1L), Circe (2L), Seraphina (6L)

The dream-a-drupe Sonnie gave Sera is described as being "faintly intoxicating." so you can have fun with that :P

[Seraphina]

As the fruit was ingested, she felt a bit better. Not much, not even close, but better. But also…weird.

Blinking a few times, she looks at the Beast, then smiled, a lopsided one, leaning close, “You have a cute tail!” she cooed with a giggle, covering her mouth. “Oh! We could take a selfie!” then looked serious, “Wait, cameras don’t work here.” pouting.

Then the hand was held up, “I don’t think we need to call in Titania.” A shake of her head, another giggle, “I’m fine. I can sleep this off.” Was she still giggling? “Just drop me off at home and I’ll be ok.” Yup. Sounded perfectly reasonable to her.

Her voice then turns into a loud whisper, “I don’t know what was in that fruit Miss Cute Tail, but I don’t think I should make any important decisions.” A firm shake of her head. Then a grimace, “Ow, I hurt.” With a pout. “I feel funny, do you guys feel funny?”

[Sonnie Wu]

Having been kicking some dirt on the residual flames, Sonnie blinked in confusion at Seraphina's suddenly odd behavior. She looked from the Nix, to the baggie in her hand, and back to the Nix.

"Umm, okay. That's new."

She knew dream-a-drupes could give you a slight buzz, she'd tested them before - that was a nice day - but the effect seemed exaggerated on the Spring Queen. Maybe it was a Fairest thing? They felt Glamour more strongly or something, right? Or was that just a rumor?

Shaking her head, the Beast spun Sera back towards the Tavern and slid an arm around the Treasured's torso (gingerly) for support. "That's cool. You can sleep it off in the sky bed!" During which time she'd summon the Bright One. The Emerald Monarch was clearly too inebriated to make important decisions right now, so the Claviger made it for her.

Glancing over her shoulder at Circe, Sonnie said, "Up to you if you wanna go scout out the clearing on your own. It's really close. If it's guarded, please don't do anything too risky. If not, bombs away!" The tip of the Monkey's tail pointed the Larcenist in the correct direction. "Sera needs a nap, so we're going home."

With that, she started walking, staff and Fairest in hand, back to the Tavern.

[Circe]

Circe takes the opportunity to swiftly switch clips. As there is no obvious danger she will also spend some time using her multi-tool to yank some teeth and claws from the wolves. And wait did Sera just? "Sonny? Did those fruits ferment in yer bag? Or is she anemic?"

The elf Summer was pretty sure that healing wounds didn't help with lack of blood. "I vote getting her healing plus I don't have the bombs."

"But if we ain't going further, anybody want a fur coat? Also if we stop by my Hollow, might find some healing fruit growin' there. Just saying."

Circe's priority was always the protection of the ladies she likes, not some totem she new nothing about. She is going to be on escort duty for Sonja and Sera. And maybe dragging a dead wolf along if someone really wants a fur coat.

[Seraphina]

The spin caused another giggle, but she did lean onto the Beast. “Oh! I can?” she sounded gleeful, “That sounds wonderful! I’ll feel better after some sleep.” She knew, deep inside, that she wouldn’t feel better. She was going to be in pain for a bit.

But it meant they weren’t going to the Stag. So there was a frown, “I hope they’re ok.” Her voice now quiet as she gingerly moved.

“Thank you, Queen Circe.” But what did she want them for? Things were fuzzy now.

The Nix was reluctant to let Sonnie lead her to the Tavern. And kept glancing behind them, torn.

[Sonnie Wu]

The Beast looked back at the Iron Spear guarding their rear. "Uh, not that I can tell. Gob fruits stay ripe for weeks after you pluck 'em. I think our Glamour sustains them for a time." It was just a theory, though. She shrugged, "Dream-a-drupes can give you a bit of a buzz, but Sera's more loopy than I expected."

With a nod, she continued trying to guide the goofy Nix towards the Tavern. "I used my only molotov on the wolves. I think Sera still has some?" Then she shook her head, "It'll be a while before she can eat another fruit. A... nap will do her good." Wink.

"Dead wolves are all yours, Blueberry."

The Monkey noticed the Spring Queen's anxiety, "I'm sure they're fine. Rhodes is like a super expert of dream stuff, right?"

[Saber Sloth]

The flames are smothered, and the Spring Queen's safely within the arms of her Claviger, clean and sober for so long, her body's unused to the sweet intoxication of the Dream-a-Dupe.

The Lost upon a metaphorical crossroads, should they retreat to the Tavern and call upon Titania, or accept the offer to venture towards the Crimson Queen's Hollow?

Tell me what y'all wanna do!

[Circe]

"Okay," she looks from Sonja to Sera, "So Sera is either drunk with lack of blood or a lightweight," Circe's joke is in a flat tone but she still quirks her left eyebrow and ear. "I don't think she is sober enough fer using fire bombs, so if ya can get it from her go fer it."

As for the wolves? Circe will make do with the teeth and claws for now, unless one of them is crazy light. Then she might take the corpse to skin.

Once they get to the tavern Circe will directly ask Sonja, "Can ya actually call on Titania? If not, I say we load ya both in my car and bop ta my Hollow. IF," she emphasizes the word, "Sera is well recovered from, we can try coming back with a car. I still has the Bug. Can probably borrow a pickup truck maybe. Could be fun ta run over a totem."

[Seraphina]

A nod, “I have the bottles in my bag!” truth be told, she had forgotten about them.

Chewing her lip, “He is, but the Huntsman, is,” a pause, “he’s terrifying in the Dream. Then his hounds.” She knew Dreams was Rhodes turf, where he truly shined. But it still worried her.

Circes words were heard, and she pauses, “Wait, am I drunk?” looking to Sonnie in disbelief. Sure, she’d been drunk before, but that was years ago, before her Durance.

“I really don’t think we need to bother Titania. I just need to lay down and rest, I’ll be fine.” She tries to insist again.

Sounds like the Tavern

[Sonnie Wu]

"Well, you heard the woman, Blueberry. She's got the molotovs if you wanna continue on your own. Go all Summer commando!" The Beast shrugged, which wasn't easy while she had one shoulder supporting the Nix. "It's fine. I can just call her. Girl's a hundred years old, but she knows how to use phones." She chuckled. "I bet she has a landline with one of those old timey rotary dials."

"Drunk?" Sonnie's eyebrows went up, but then she shook her head. "Naw, it's probably just blood loss. You were leaking like punctured water balloon, after all." Seriously, those claws wounds were serious. Seriously serious. "Okay, okay. You can just nap, your blood-drenched majesty."

Fat chance. She was still gonna call Titania as soon as Sera was in bed.

Yush, to da Tavern!