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Claire d'Lune was a quiet wagon no matter if it was on the move or stilled. Slaine was a stalwart creature and just followed the wagon ahead of him and stopped when the others stopped whether Voltaire was at the reigns or not. Sure people would see the half-elf but he seemed to be making the practice of keeping to himself more and more and when Annjette was seen she'd always be looking as if she were deep in thought.

However, when the chaos started, the two promptly stepped out of the wagon looking around both rather perplexed at what was going on.

Upon Annjette's shoulder was the constant presence of the ermine she had not yet put a name to, but rest assured she was thinking of one.

As Voltaire stepped next to his daughter the swan-girl wrapped her arms around one of his with a furrow to her brow. This seemed like some form of a nightmare coming to life. So much was going on that neither of them could find where it stopped and began.

((Sorry for the crap-post.))

Before he could ask what was going on Voltaire was granted information. The half-elf blinked at Lor and then looked troubled before he responded, "That is troubling indeed, Lor. I will do what I can to help you and the rest, even if it is simply keeping the remaining children as safe as possible." Though he didn't sound very sure that he could do much for that.

Annjette unwound her arms from around Voltaire's arm and held her hand out to her smaller cousin with a small smile presenting on her dark lips. She had missed seeing her 'Cousin' and 'Aunt', "May I hold Vanna, please? I'm big enough now." If the girl was troubled by the goings on she didn't seem to show it, or she was putting on a brave face.

The half-elf glanced at his daughter and made no objections as the ermine seemed to decide to perch itself on his shoulder. Voltaire kept looking at Lor as he asked the next question, "When and how did it all start by the way? Sorry we have been distracted and detached as of late.."

Pill, the lanky green leaderess, had held back, even upon the words of Mmi and Fiss. She was not pleased that the trees had even been mentioned- but there was not enough to cause her to descend upon the gypsies until Heather's words. Then, like a swarm, the group of thirty or more fae were locusts upon and around the outsider's heads. Pill rose above them all as they circled, the one still fae as the others hummed with an almost luminescent glow.

"You gypsies say you bring no harm- and yet, threaten to kill that which has done nothing to you. The circle of trees is deeper yet- and if you tried to injure Them, rest assured we would prevent you." She looked then, specifically at the one who had made the threat. "Your children are safe. Far away, so that their darkness does not increase within the power of Them. We are saving you, even yet."

With that, Pill looked about at the assembled gypsies. They looked enraged- many had screamed and yelled their objections, and made threats. Only one amidst the crowd had not threatened the horde, it seems, or said nay to their noble cause of protecting the Ring of Magic Trees.

Pill, still separated from the horde of fae, dipped down in the air and alit near to the squirrel-child's nose.

"You, little one. You seem to understand. ...Would you like something from me?"

Rojiza wonders how to answer this. She is wary of the fairy's offer--a tad mistrustful of the sprite after hearing their talk, and how they've taken away the children, especially Ani. However, her other side tells her, the fairy may get offended if I refuse its generosity. On the other hand....she can't talk, which gets in the way of her responding either way. Nervously she rubs the coin in her hand with one thumb.

Caroline feels as if the world around her has dimmed, as if nothing exists in that moment except for her, Rojiza, and the fairy leader. "The child cannae speak," she says softly, not wishing to disturb the 'conversation,' but wishing to make this important clarification.

"Oh!" It was an unusual sound for a fae: one of surprise.

"Poor little one! Well, then, I am all the more determined to give you a gift- but, perhaps, a different one than I would have before." She flitted down and sat upon the air before Rojiza, a small, sincere smile on her green face.

"Would you like a gift, little one? If so, just nod your head. I am sorry to have asked, not knowing you do not speak."

Pill clapped her tiny little palms together- so quickly, for she was excited, that they sparked.

"Oh, what a delightful choice! I'm so glad for it." With that, Pill flew up into the swarm once more, speaking in their own high pitched, quick language that they were to assemble to create a gift for the little one. They spun about above the gypsies heads... again, so quickly that they were merely a blur of pink and green light, with white sparks in the midst of the cloud that were their wings- but, to the outside eye- seemed to be pure magic, itself.

They spun from air- and the finest fae magic, a beautiful little dark-wood box... thickly encrusted jewels and carved acorns. Then, Pill, along with nearly a dozen others, brought it down from the air and set it in Rojiza's hands.


"It's a music box. One that may help you find your voice. Music may be your friend, and you might be able to find your voice, one day- and capture it here. Until then, you can use it for what you'd like." She flitted near the squirrel-child, and rubbed an affectionate palm against only the smallest section of her cheek- for her hands were the size of a leaf bud. She must have seemed so wonderful and benevolent to the gypsies, then... as she surely did to her own people. And, to them, she was. She herself wouldn't understand the outrage that would follow... for the gypsies did not know of the fae ways.

"And now, according to custom, I shall choose my gift, as well." She looked amongst the assembled gypsies and saw a brightly colored boy- red, with ears and tail of a fox and bright eyes. "Oh... His Majesty of Youth would love him. I shall choose him." With that, Kale was puppeted into the air by the fae- so quickly, Marissa would have no say. Then, with just enough time for the gypsies to look up in amazement- or shock- or horror...

Kale disappeared, as well- but with every single fae... with him.

|Haha, Oq. Missa's gonna haaaate you for disappearing after this.|

It would occur to Rojiza later that this custom wasn't precisely fair. She had not chosen her gift, only chosen to receive one. Therefore for the fairy to choose her own gift was not a fair exchange.
However, this would occur to her later.
For now, Rojiza's entire being had exploded into a NOOOOOOOO-esque emotion. Frantically she scans the sky, the treetops, and everywhere else for some sign, any sign of her friend. Her eyes find the box in her hands, and she immediately begins to cry. She buries her face into her mother's skirt and weeps, for she gladly would have forgone the grandest gift for the return of her friends.
It's all my fault! She tears away from the crowd of gypsies and dives into her wagon home. She flings herself onto the bed, sobbing. The wooden box tumbles off of the bed with a small thud on the floor.

Caroline is...shocked. Suddenly the words of both her Banya birds return to her. Weigh the choice, Taog had said, This wood attaches strings to one fiery marionette. Little squirrel bairn given a great gift. She sighs. If only she'd remembered before Rojiza had accepted the fairy's gift! Finnean's kernel of Meij had been less ill-omened, but had come true nonetheless. The fairies did love Rojiza. Slowly she makes her way back to Mountain Air after her child. Her heart goes out to Marissa and Lesh. Everyhing terrible happened to them and their poor children, it seemed.

Silver didn't know what to do - the children were vanishing into thin air and all were powerless to stop it. Even Marissa, who had been clutching her son tightly out of fear for his safety, had lost her son.
As the fae disappeared, Silver stood motionless and silent amongst her family, now several members short. It took her a moment to find her voice again. "Khe... Khevashi?"
The bird flew from his perch on top of Weathered Melody to his mother. He had not dared to move. He hadn't understood all that had taken place, but the little blurs of color that were enveloped in magic had given him an incredibly dangerous feeling. He had tried all the harder to blend into the shadows, thusly rendering himself almost completely invisible.
"Where is your sister?" Silver asked quietly.
Khevashi croaked and immediately went back to his perch on the wagon roof.
Silver walked quietly back to Weathered Melody and opened the door, finding Aisrhan in her bed, sitting upright, her tail coiled beneath her. She was staring back at her mother, a questioning look in her eyes. "Momma... who screamed? And what were those lights?"
Silver nearly burst into tears. Her daughter was still here, she was safe. Thank goodness it was someone else's child this time... she didn't think she could have handled it if Aisrhan had been taken from her again. Last time that had happened, the girl had developed a grudge against Valelldia, who had only been trying to save her. Silver didn't want to think of what would happen to those who were missing this time... She had known this was coming. The meij had shown her, and she knew she shouldn't, but Silver couldn't help feeling at least a little glad that someone else's child had been taken instead of Asirhan - or even Khevashi.
Silver suddenly felt wretched. She had no right to be glad of another's plight. They had all helped her when her daughter had gone missing. Tears began to stream down her face and Silver replied:
"I'll explain later, sweety. I have to go help find a few people... Stay here and be safe, alright?"
Silver closed and latched the shutters on the window and ran back outside to the others, leaving Aisrhan sitting bewildered and Khevashi flying after his mother.

(Sorry, I know it's horrible, but I'm too tired to care. ^^;; )