(Hedge Storm) Breaking Point

[Donan]

Sara enters the room next, slipping quietly through a door from one of the shared Hollows. The closeness to others made her nervous, she still wasn't one for crowds, but there were far worse things to worry about and she ignored her unease everytime it rose up.

Her Mantle now resembled a slow, blue fire, most of its heat and rage turned inward and lost in the secrets Sara still carried. She walked with even more surety then before, her many battles serving to sharpen her edge and her balance, and the Tooth still on her belt, feeling as much like an old, loyal friend as a weapon could.

She stepped lightly through the station, taking in people and faces, a bittersweet smile on her face. The Freehold felt more unified then ever, they'd been beaten, damaged, crippled and had lost so much. And it had pushed them closer together, that mutual need for survival.

She rubbed her forehead lightly with a sigh. If only they had realised its importance before all this, it might have been enough to hold the line, but then again, what was the saying about foresight..?

She shook her head and frowned as another thought descended, one that had been playing with her for some time. She was sworn to defend and protect the Freehold, and she was -failing-, two Soverigns were gone, one killed, one captured and now the Freehold found themselves trapped and cornered.

Their newfound unity might not be enough, not now, and the thought of it terrified her, she might have a way to buy the Freehold time at the very least, but the sacrfice it would require... She shivered and concluded that she'd hear what the Soverigns said first, before deciding whether or not to put her plan into motion.

She gave Alice and Neil a smile and a respecting nod as she passed.

"Desire to fight off the shadows.."

They had each other and she hoped no one in the Freehold was alone. Herself.. she had her Motley and she spotted one of its members not far away. She made her way over to Spartan and the others, running a finger down the deep scar on her face caused by one of their many battles. If she had at all cared about her looks, it would have bothered her, but it was just another wound, albeit a more visible and physical one.

"The sun shows itself again, I should think about sleep more deeply, but night is still closer to me." She slinks into a chair next to Spartan, giving him a light smile.

"Good morning brothers and sisters."

[Khalvin]

Yui shifts in his hole. The one up and above the common room, atop standing cabinets, hidden away. Silent, Vigilant. Feral eyes peer down upon the waking Freehold.

Good, now he might be able to sleep. As he curls back up he knocks something off his cabinet perch. It tumbles and rolls along the wall, coming to rest on a crack, a small black and white cube, fixed perfectly on it's edge.


---

Rust stalks into the Commons behind Oita like a weary beast dodging Judging eyes.
Judging. How was Rust supposed to know? How was he to know Keith Fairweather was one of Them? Rust trusted the bastard. Rust believed his vile poison. He even ate at the Fae's table. Doing business behind the Freehold's back.

This wasn't supposed to happen this way. They should be rending goblins limb from limb and making them torches to light the way into Arcadia.

No, huddled and caged in a tiny space. In fear and doubt. If Rust had seen sooner? Maybe? What if?

Rust can't meet Sam's scrutiny. He can't meet Nightfall's hope. Rust rubs a hand were the Judas Noose should lie and a takes a seat. Outwardly his mood is sour and costic. Angry. Desperate.

Rust holds his scissor like hands together and waits, fingering a donut he inadvertently cuts to bits. She passes what is left to Spartan and frowns, trying to gather himself before HAL came in.

[Lesingnon]

Rick Pereg, Autumn King
Autumn Mantle ●●●●●

The Ascendant Sovereign carried off into the Hedge, the seasonal cycle shattered, whatever protection it had yet provided gone. When they needed it most. The burden of responsibility would only weigh heavier on the shoulders of those Sovereigns that yet remained. A burden that he now carried, in part. Ever since Thaddeus’s parting words to him those years past he’d found himself wondering if he would at some point wear Autumn’s Crown. But he had never expected, would never have wanted, this to come to pass.

Ever since the Winter Coronation, his first Winter Coronation in Sacramento things had been slowly building. And now the Freehold teetered upon the precipice of disaster. Fear ran rampant, throughout the Freehold. And he wasn’t about to deny that he felt it. Fear of seeing the Freehold fall, fear of being dragged back to Arcadia, fear of what might happen to Sacramento should it fall under the Gentries’ control…fear of what might happen to Terri.

His arm snaked around her waist as they stepped out of their hollow. Reassurance…for her, for him. Four years ago he could never have predicted the twists his life would take, everything he’d been through. That he’d have her by his side for so much of it. And would continue to, when they triumphed.

There was no shortage of reminders why they had to fight, had to win. Moments…her knowing smile whenever they walked through the rose garden, the laughter in her eyes as she scampered ahead of him, her tousle-headed look as she climbed out of bed after a long night. Moments, past moments he treasured, future moments he would have to fight for.

Times may have been difficult, they may have been terrifying. But fear always inspired one to surpass their limits, to realize their potential. And hard times were when great deeds were done, when legendary battles were won. He would not shy from what was to come.

With the heavy storm winds of his mantle swirling around him the Autumn King walked into the Freehold’s last bastion, and took his seat at the table that dominated its center. They’d been beaten, bloodied, backed into a corner…but they had not been broken yet. And fear always inspired people to reach the peak of their ability. It was time to see what this Freehold was capable of.

[Alice White]

Alice White, Spring Queen
Spring Mantle ●●●●

From the time that she had first taken the crown, Alice had believed that things would be all right. That the Freehold would overcome all this tension band together and have a strong working seasonal court. While she wasn't foolish enough to disregard the presence of the The Ear and the other Loyalists she thought that together it was something they could beat because there would be strength when the lost all worked together.

Over the past few months it had gotten exceedingly difficult for Alice to keep hope alive and despite her best efforts it was in short supply. There had been too much loss, too much tragedy, and it looked like there would be far more to come before things got better. This loss and pain was especially clear to Alice when she took up the roll as one of the Freeholds unofficial combat medics and seeing it all first had had begun to take it's toll on her.

Through it all what kept her going was Nightfall. He was her hope that not only could things get better, they would get better. The Fairest's constant presence reminded her why she kept going and didn't give in to despair. During their time together Alice got increasingly affectionate, even in front of others, because with all the horrible things going on around them her need to be held and feel the physical reminded of the love they shared had quickly overshadowed her shy nature.

Lately she had grown concerned over Nightfall's silence and how hard he had taken Katrin's abduction. She could understand a little of what he must be feeling and thought that she might have reacted similarly had it been Enzo that was taken away. Even though Katrin had grown to hate Alice and things had been difficult between them, especially when her and Nightfall got together, the Winter Queen's abduction had hit Alice hard. There were times when Alice had wished that it had been her that had been abducted instead of Katrin because of her feeling bad for what she felt was taking Nightfall away. Then there was Barkley.

Barkley's friendship and daily presence in their motley had been an ever-present reminder of the threat they faced and helped her remember that different people coped in different ways. No one was more surprised at her friendship with the man than Alice, but she wouldn't give up that friendship now for anything.

Alice squeezed Nightfall's hand tightly as she bounced into the room at his side. She gave everyone a big smile, "Good morning everyone!" When she saw Rick and Terri she gave them a wave by wiggling her fingers at them and grinning. Then she made her way over to a portal stereo she had brought down here to help brighten the mood and when she flipped it on the light sound of string instruments from Vivaldi's Four Seasons softly drifted across the room, which began with Winter and will slowly cycle through all the seasons in order.

"That's better," she said with a nod before returning to Nightfall's side once again.

[tsameti]

Fireman Steve pulls away from the embrace, locked deep in the gaze of the woman he loves. The things she's shown him... have shattered everything he's ever known. Her eyes are... well honestly a little scary, really. But also beautiful... you could lose yourself in them.

He wants to go in with her, to keep her safe. But she insists, the others might not understand. She kisses him once on the cheek and slips her hand out of his, turning towards the station maintenance track and the Freehold's last bastion.

Jesus, I've owned dogs smarter than this, Nela fumes eager to be rid of her pet wall of meat. Ripply, muscly, sexy meat... no! Peril now. Focus on the Peril!

She gives her name at the door and takes a seat near Marcus. "Hi." She glances towards her Queen, still humiliated how close she'd come to betraying her sovereign. No one could know, no one needed to know. It only mattered that Nela was loyal now.

[Al-Adin]

Al-Adin appears. No one was sure exactly where he was sleeping, or even if he was sleeping. He seemed to last on pure energy alone these days. The Prince of Joy had his hands full trying to keep even the few remaining joyful souls up, let alone to work on those who had fallen to sorrow and pain. But he wouldn't stop. If he wasn't hanging from some spot on the ceiling, or starting some sort of party, or even just giving someone a laughing pat on the back, he was sitting in the War Room, looking at the painting he had placed next to the door. It was a large yellow smiley face, something he had always ensured to touch on the way out. It had become smudged with the number of fingers that had slid across it, but they didn't have any more paint, and so Adin left it alone.

His other persona, the cold, calculating one, came out more frequently now, especially when things got really tough. But today he was Al-Adin, the Prince of Joy.
"Hiya!" He called out to everyone, big grin on his face. Today was going to be a great day!

[Khalvin]

Oh yes, the wonderful painting of the Smiley face donned with a Hitler moose-tachio

Hitler mustache?

Who would? Why would anyone? Was there no civility in this world?

Yui peeks open a sleepy eye, sneaking a glance at the jovial monkey, then shuts it tight. Mr. Ferret is sleeping.

[Forn Clakes]

Terri Nutkins
Autumn Mantle 4

Terri followed in her King's wake, eyes averted down to the floor, watching her every step and, like always, fails to respond to the swirl of Lost entering the War Room, her own thoughts locked tight once again on that fateful day....

...The room filled with smoke and as the steepscrambler moved towards the door, it exploded inwards, taking her off her feet. When the fire element swept its claw through the ruined entrance, she had taken flight, an avatar of fear and shame, her skin aflame....

Terri flinches as Al-Adin makes his entrance, heart beating rapidly once again and eyes going wide. Calming herself down, she pushes her hair back from her face and attempts a smile, unsuccessfully.

Terri

[CyledyrWyllt]

[clt]Marcus Evan[/ctl]

The Metalflesh returns the nod of the Winter Ogre before turning his tired eyes toward the Dusk Courtier, his former King.

"Alright, Sam. You know how it is... couldn't sleep."

Marcus greets each of his fellow Courtiers when they join the table and even smiles at the Spring Darkling when she says "Hi" to him, however something about his overall manner is quieter and more reserved than it had been. Perhaps he is just tired. Few people knew how affected he was by the loss of those he had cared about over the past two years... Harry... Brianne... Mrs. Rosemary. Of course, those present had seen very little of Marcus over the last few months. He always seemed to be either working tirelessly at his forge, or venturing into the Wilds near his Hollow, seeking to tame the increasing hostility of the Hedge. In either case, he seemed to prefer his own company to that of his fellow Lost, but it never stopped him from answering a call for aid... especially from his Sovereign.

Doctor Jack

The good doctor was getting more and more concerned about the effect the Hedge Storm seems to be having on the mundane world. Violent, confusing dreams were afflicting the more sensitive of his patients, and sleep disorders had been reported in record numbers. His time in Sacramento had proven to be a time of great upheaval, particularly the last year or so. With the destruction of the Four Seasons, Jack's access to a safe place within the Hedge for dream travel had also been eliminated. However, since then, the Wizened had made some new friends and now has a few different options available to him. One of those options is a cramped room in the Commons, and he makes his way there in order to meet with what remains of a Freehold under siege.

Doctor Jack smiles as he enters the War Room. He doesn't particularly have anything to smile about, but he knows that one should always smile when entering a room. It makes a good impression and puts others at ease. Taking a seat next to Bert, he acknowledges those he knows before leaning over to his Ogrish friend.

"So, what'd I miss?"