Welcome to Gaia! ::

Inversely, now that Lily had known what to expect of the change, it slipped over her comfortably, padding along on her paws with an inquisitive tilt to her head. When the fox came through, she spun around and chattered a greeting, bumping nose to nose with a blink.

She sniffed at the air as she plodded forward, sneezing in the mist of the rain. There were supposed to be others here, weren't there...? She tried to ask Eve, but it came out as a cat-like cry that shrank into a whine, gnashing her teeth.

This was going to take some getting used to.

Lily's ears flickered as she watched Eve work, sitting patiently. Jamie and the others weren't there, nor were the wolverines, did that mean they'd been sent to...Other Other Ashdown? Trying to panic was going to do her no good, and so instead she shimmied her back legs down to a seated posture, watching as the fox scribed out a...candy-cane? She tilted her head with furrowed eyes, and then it became clear. J. She wrote J.

Lily was less clear on the charades, but after the second flap she began to get the idea. Jamie? So Jamie is... Her eyes followed the fox as she rolled down on the ground, peaceful and sublime. Well. If Jamie was in trouble, Eve didn't seem to think so? Lily nodded--a sign that transcended species--and then set to work on her own message.

She scratched out a wobbly 'M' in the dirt first, representing the rogue were they'd shoved through the portal, and then lifted a paw, to show she was about to act a scene. Hefting herself up onto her two back legs, she began to growl and swipe as she wobbled about, trying her best to represent the rage the boy had been in. Her balance was only momentary, and she fell to the ground with a huff, looking at Eve with expectant eyes. But where is Michael?

Faced with another nose boop, Lily squeaked softly, but otherwise made no attempt to stop Eve's affections. It was bad enough that their communication was stunted, and the fisher was all too willing to accept whatever solace she could get, especially in the form of fox boops.

She watched with studious eyes as Eve made the letter P, but missed whatever signal she had been trying to make with her paw. The expression on the fox's face, however, was far more telling, and Lily found herself reminded of a certain stag's dour expression. The Prideful One...but would he really be interested in speaking with them now that their mission was done, or failed?

It was worth a shot, at least. Lily bounded over to a nearby table, digging her claws into the wood as she wiggled her way up to the ground. From her vantage point she saw nothing of gilded antlers or shining baubles, but she would not be deterred. The fisher filled her lungs with air and let out a high screech, listening to it echo across the open concourse with a satisfied nod. It was an unnerving sound up close and personal--from a distance, it might have even been mistaken for human screams.

"Don't turn around," someone said. "My dear girl, you really must be more careful who you call."

An acrid, burning smell--like overcooked pork loin--invaded the were-women's nostrils. "But you're lucky. I mean you no harm, as long as you. Leave."

A portal opened before them. On the other side was Ashdown.

The voice and smell instantly overwhelmed the fox Eve's more sensitive nose and ears, causing her to bristle and shiver at the sickening near-intimacy of the being's words towards Lily before following up with a curt instruction. It was not a request. It wasn't really even a demand, she felt. It was a simple fact with an underpinning of searing anger to emphasize it. But whoever it was had also provided a way back out, and that warranted whatever politeness could be given. She did not turn, but tilted her head just enough to render visible the edge of her chin, and signed a quick THANK YOU before following Lily through the rip in the air before them.

Back to having a voice, and hands. Eve would pull the girl in for a full-bodied hug not a moment later.

"Oh, sweetheart..." Eve's voice was unsteady, and quiet, given as a guilty murmur as she pulled Lily in closer, smoothing her hair. "I think we did... I'm so sorry."