Welcome to Gaia! ::

Caroline, now fully aware of the problem (well, at least partially fully aware), looks around for the missing children. She notes with a small sigh of relief that Rojiza is still among them, wandering among the wagons. "Rojiza!" She calls. "Ven aquí ahora!" She doesn't mean to sound harsh, but she's frightened. The night outside of Mulden flashes in front of her eyes as she holds her little girl close.

After the monotonous day of travel, Mirela was glad for the reprieve that mooring their wagons provided. The young gypsy had been expecting the forest to be a place full of wonder and excitement, but so far it had proven to lack both – although the recent jubilation at having met other gypsies may have caused her to have rather high expectations for the road ahead. She was still running on the buzz that had occurred when Tafari has been bestowed at great gift by Esperita, Mirela’s joy evident from the lively tune she hummed as she watered and fed Bavol and Tafari. Both animals too seemed grateful to be stopping for the night, both sating their appetites in the stillness of the forest; a stillness to which a gentle harped melody was soon added.

Mirela’s high spirits and the building music caused dance like grace and movement to attach to her steps, moving in time with the harmony as she cleaned up the animal’s foodstuffs. Moments later the tranquil scene was shattered by Heather’s screams, the piercing cries startling Mirela and causing her to stumble and fall. Climbing swiftly to her feet once more, Mirela dusted herself off just in time to see Heather galloping off into the forest. Panic was quick to flood through Mirela’s system, a bombardment of negative thoughts soon following. Forgetting the spilled grain, the young woman hurried toward her gypsy family who were slowly gathering in the centre of the wagon circle, Tafari close on her heels.

Something was wrong, Mirela’s dire thoughts confirmed as Irina posed her question to the group. She wanted to ask what was going on, why several Fortunette’s had suddenly disappeared, although she doubted that anyone knew anymore then she did. “Should someone go after Heather?” Mirela suggested, failing to hide her building fear.

Caroline takes Ro's hand and stays close to Marissa during the search. "There's magic afoot," she murmurs. "Stay close, aye? Dinna wander far from the caravan."

High above, the fae dances around themselves in flits of almost furious glee. These games were beginning to become all too amusing. The leader pointed to another in the ranks- a smallish pink male, and gave him the signal that is was his turn. A miniscule nod preceeded his dive down to the wagoncircle, where the gypsies waited.

Meanwhile, the tree on the outskirts of the circle eased back from the chaos, and something that was almost a sigh came forth from its bark. The fae were good to it- and the other magical trees... but sometimes their protection became cruel in the form of these games they played with outsiders.

The little fae spritted in front of the gypsies that had drawn close to one another, and hovered before them. The bright light that had surrounded it upon its quick flight now dimmed, and a keen eye would see the tiny pink body and white, almost dust-like wings that fluttered from four points on his back. He waved, purposefully slowing down his movements so that the mortals would be able to discern them.

"Oh, you shouldn't be here. You're quite deep in the woods, you know. Deep in the woods is dangerous when you have the powers you do." He flitted over closer to Emelyn.

"Your son really can't stay here. Too close to the trees, you know. Too dangerous." With a little, high laugh, Pierre was gone- without even a flicker of light. It was as if the air had swallowed him whole. Then, the little fae zipped over to another gypsy, and with a wide smile came almost to her nose.

"The two little ones- kind of dangerous, too, aren't they? Had to keep them away from the trees. ...Having some fun with them, too. Take care of themselves. Return them when they've taken care of each other. But yours- well, just having a bit of fun with yours. Not too dangerous, the little badger. Will give it back. ...Maybe. Having fun with the last one..."

He flickered out of reach, giggling with a trill delight at the game.

"Ooh, gypsy doesn't listen well." He flew atop Marissa's head and stood, bending down to peer down the slope of her forehead. "Taking them away from the trees. You're much too close to them. Can't let anyone near them. Especially gypsies. Too much magic. Yes. Too much." He took flight again, flying back and nearly running into a second fae, that had come down from the canopy as well. This one was green- a female.

The new one laughed. "Well... Fiss lies a little. We take some of them for fun!"

Rojiza, seeing the fairies, nervously fiddles with a coin on her skirt. She draws close to her mother--she doesn't want to be taken away too! The coin snaps off of her skirt, the thread holding it there frayed by so much fiddling. She holds the coin in her hand, tightly, as if it could make all of this just go away.

Caroline curls one hand around her daughter protectively. "We willna touch your trees, Fairy," she says clearly. "Leave the bairns be!" Caroline is terrified. She can fight what she can fight, but what she can't? Having the children disappear into thin air? This she is powerless against. She can only hope that the fairies don't take away her Rojiza.

"I dinna understand you, fairy," says Caroline. "Why are we dangerous? We mean ye no harm--just tryin' t'pass through on our way elsewhere."

Rojiza tosses the coin in the air and catches it, the comforting glint of the coin in the firelight a temporary reprieve from the situation.

Heather was ontop of her horse but she hadn't gone when the fey arrived. "Give me my children back or I will set your precious trees on fire." She spoke in a stern angry voice. This girl was known back where she came from for her temper and though she didn't know whether these mermaid things would set fire to trees she could hope. She knew what Amkia and Kala were like and she was terrified for Amkia.

She was scared, she was angry and she was upset. All she could think of was to threaten the strange creatures.

Meanwhile the siblings were staring at each other, maybe thats how they thought it would end if one stared the other down. Amkia broke the lock, he had to, he was a submissive creature and though he had never used his wings before to fly he unfolded them for the first time ever.

Her eyes were on him, a hiss starting to form. She didn't like his wings, they would have to be the first gone if she had any chance of teaching her older brother anything.