Leaving Reality behind

[Ed Kenji]

Kenji tugged wretchedly at his sodden hair. It'd take a while to dry out, but wouldn't stick up properly without being towel dried into shape...
He was snapped out of his reveries at the mention of a grue. He looked at Julian with panic in his eyes, and then to Midnight. She seemed to be quite confused by their rapid questioning, although was remarkably composed for one who had just fallen from a dragon then swam across a lake.

Still, he decided it was probably time to move onto the more pressing matters.

"How far is it to Wolfenden? Can we get there before nightime? I'm pretty hungry..." he clutched his stomach to illustrate this point. "I haven't eaten since yesterday, bud."

He turned to Julian.

"What sort of repas do you think we can expect here? 'Shrooms? Hearty dragon steaks? Or questionable sausages and watery potatoes?"

His stomach growled quietly, and he found his mouth watering slightly. He made a mental note: Always eat breakfast because you never know when you might be unexpectedly whisked away to the Knightmare realm without chance for Brunch.

[Midnight]

*The look of puzzlement returned to her face ,glancing from one to the other and back again.*

Yes, realm, as in different world. A different place. There are many realms , some different some very similar. Grues? What in allthe worlds is a grue? Give me a description and perhaps I can say whether I have seen one or not but the name does not sound familar.

*She turns her gaze to Ed.*

It depends on where you decide to stay on what food you get. There are a couple of taverns in Wolfenden.

*She looks towards the horizon judging the time and the travelling distance.*

We should be justin time before night falls.

*She then smiles fiantly her feline hearing picking up the quiet stomach rumble.*

Well I think if were fast the inn may still have one of there rather goodmeals of steak, mashed potoes, vegetables and some thick gravy. Or perhaps there broth with freasly made bread and butter.

[Julian Lapin]

((OOC: Gah, Revision and Prague are time consuming bedfellows. Right, back to the shenanigans!))

'That really does sound appealing. It might give us time to get our bearings and plot a course of action from hereon. And I must confess I could use a meal and somewhere warm and cosy...'

'Thank you very much, miss Midnight' he said, letting the corners of his mouth turn upwards in a sincere grin.

[Midnight]

*She nods her head slightly as she tries and straightens out her clinging clothing.*

Well the faster we leave the faster we will get there.

*She doesn't seem to take her time in waiting as she turns and starts heading away from the lake shouting back as she does.*

You wouldn't want to be caught out here during the night anyway. Often more trouble then than during theday light hours..especially for strangers to the realm.

*Pauses a moment*

Hmmm you may want to be prepared for some rather strange creatures to be seen and try not to over react unless they give you reason to.

*She starts making her way through the trees towards the path leading towards Wolfenden.*

[Julian Lapin]

'Don't worry, Miss Midnight' Julian says, walking briskly forward in an attempt to keep up. 'You'll find it'll take quite a lot to overwhealm us, especially twice in one day.'

He beckons to Kenji to follow.

[Ed Kenji]

"Well," Kenji licked his lips, "I wouldn't want to be caught outside here at night.... not without a lantern. Not again."

He paused for a moment, staring into middle distance as he considered the concept. He patted down his pockets, and found his matches. Damp, soggy; destroyed.

"Hmm."

Kenji wheeled around and grabbed his jacket off its branch. He scoffed at how futile the attempt at drying had been, shrugged, and slid his arms into the sodden garment.

"Let's go chaps. Nice healthly constitutional before dinner. Good for the appetite."

He followed Jules and Midnight into the forest, walking unecessarily quickly.

[Midnight]

*Rhiannon kept a brisk pace once they found the road towards Wolfenden. Her clothing slowly drying out as she walked along. It was near Wolfenden that something caught her attention a piece of paper flapping lightly against a tree obviously pinned there to be noticed.*

*She took the few steps towards it and tried reading the rather weather worn parchment only truely able to make out the words that were important. A smallshiver running down ehr back as she read about Leytans public appearance.*

*She took a few moments to estimate how long she had been gone and what day it was. She shook her head slightly looking slightly paler thanthe few moments previously. before turning to the two travelling companions.*

I am afraid you will have to excuse me, it appears a friend of mine is in trouble and I must leave now to be bale to get where I am going to in time.

Wolfenden is just ten minutes along this path.

*She pointed down the way they had been going.*

I give myapologiers again butthis is very urgent. I would ask you to come along but you need rest and food but I am sure we will catch up with each other soon.

*She barely left them enough time to say anything as she disappeared off almost jogging away intothe woods waiting until she was surrounded by trees still moving as she shifted form, a brief flashing, shimmer of blue appearing between the gaps of the trees before a loud howl filled the air as she made her way to Warlock,*

[Julian Lapin]

'Wait!' shouted Jules, but his words were unheard. Midnight was already deep in the forest and still accelerating.

For a minute, there was silence, save for the gentle lapping of the lakewater and the surrounding birdsong from the forest.

'So,' said Julian, breaking it, 'let's review. We've stepped through what is clearly a gateway between realms, with no clear indication as how to return. We're chased by a dragon, then summarily dropped over a lake, only to be saved by a pantherwoman who then promptly abandons us. And to cap it all off, we're wet through, and I don't think I can feel my toes.'

'All in all, I have a feeling it's going to be one of those days' he concluded, taking a look at the paper that had caught Midnight's eye. It seemed to announce the execution of a highly dangerous criminal.

[Ed Kenji]

"Begs the question, to what extent could you ever feel your toes? Did they send surplus sensory data regarding the inside of your socks? Are you at a loss without this information?"

Kenji shivered in his soaking clothes.

"If only there was a path in bright sunlight. With nymphs. Why are they never any nymphs? It's not a lot to ask."

Kenji pointed in the direction they had been walking before Midnight ran off.

"I assume... this way, is it?"

[Julian Lapin]

Giving the travellers passing them (he hopes) a cheerful nod, Julian sets off in the direction Kenji pointed, beckoning Kenji to follow. Wolfenden was only ten minutes away, and he didn't want to hang around this forest any longer than he had to.

[ModNote: Continued in A room for the night.]

[Young Grimwold]

[OOC: When I made the earlier post about Young Grimwold & Owen passing Julian & Ed, I'd assumed that this thread was taking place at the end of the day. I've now noticed that it starts in the early morning - making it impossible for YG & Owen, who were riding through the night to reach Warlock by dawn, to pass Ed & Julian. I've now removed my earlier post, meaning that the encounter, brief as it was, didn't happen. Sorry for any confusion, and for not checking properly.]