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Emelyn put a taut hand over her lips, practically pressing them her teeth with the shock of what lay there- but almost afraid to say anything, lest the trees about them and the fae sound some sort of alert that they were there. But more than that- she was afraid to look at Marissa- to see that look of recognition in her face. Instead, her words were for Heather.

"It's a Vulpes Candle. ...They're used by gypsies to cast spells. ...It was..." she couldn't say it. Kale's first stage.

"...Kale." The statement seemed to complete Emelyn's sentence. Marissa would know that candle anywhere. It was the same one she had held in her hands so long ago, the candle that brought her to her family, and brought her son to her. She was aghast. What had they done? She gripped her skirt with white knuckles to keep herself from rushing forward. Only the flurry of fae held her at bay.

The swarm of fae had seen the gypsies- as had the circle of trees. However, the assemblage of magic-users had been pacified, treated to a heady dose of pure meij. Once the child had been lain at the foot of the Tree Of Youth, a strong red meij had exited those branches from all directions, soaking up from the roots where Kale lay... and into the form of all those beautiful flowers- outwards, again, to those around the circle. It was a satisfying gift, and the fae were exceedingly pleased- drunk, actually, on the thick magic that they had been infused with.

The fae descended upon the gypsies once more- but, no longer in an angry buzz. Instead, they floated above their heads by mere inches, casting off a fume of brightness that would seem like a sparkling cloud of green, pink, and white. Their leader separated from the ensemble, and came near to Marissa's nose.

"Thank you, it was a very satisfying gift. Here, you may have this back." Her high-pitched voice was slow, almost slurred. But the assemblage burned a little brighter for the moment with their concentration, and then, the candle at the foot of the tree was gone, replaced in its mother's hands.

"And for you," she spoke to Heather, "As soon as you leave this ring, your children will be returned to you. They're so intent upon each other- I think they pose no danger to us."

To Emelyn, "Your son will be returned to you as well. ...But we've taken a precaution to make him... safer. Anyway, you'll see."

But to Irina and Leshy'ae, the fae shrugged her tiny, unapologetic shoulders. "Yours... we still have. For fun!"

With that, the assemblage burned bright again, and the ring of flowers burst into heated flames. Before the gypsies would have much of a chance to scream- or much else- the swirls of colors and disorientation would return, and they'd find themselves back near their wagons, where the fairy ring... used to be. Now, only a circle of charred earth remained.

Amkia, Kala, and Pierre had returned to their mother's sides- as promised. Anezka and Kalpana were nowhere to be seen. And Pierre- was a shade of pure white- as if the forest had suddenly struck him with albino-ism. Kale had also been returned, of course- back in the ring. But not as he was. Still Marissa's son and yet... not.

Still slightly out-of-sorts from stepping through the faerie ring, Irina didn't take the news from the fae very well. Though she was glad that some of the children had returned, she had utmost concern for her own child. She saw what they did to Kale, and hoped that the same wouldn't happen to Kal. Blinking up at the fae twinkling about their heads, she spoke up, unafraid of what they might ask of her.

"When will you be done playing with my child?" she asked them, hoping for a real answer. She knew that the fae were tricky little creatures, and any reply they could give her could be convoluted. "What do you want?" She still had the whistle in her pocket--the tree had given it back.

Before she could get an answer, the fairy ring burst into flames and the group of gypsies were returned back to where they'd come from. And no, Kalpana was not there waiting for her. Struggling to hold back tears, Irina didn't know what to do next. Anezka hadn't been returned either, so perhaps she and Leshy'ae needed to band together...

As soon as the gypsies had returned to their little spot in the forest near the caravan, Rojiza wakes up, feeling fine. She blinks a few times, wondering what had happened--she'd missed the whole Fae-thing, though she doesn't actually know this. She senses that something has happened, however, and she ignores her mother's questions and heads straight for Marissa. She wants know know whether or not Kale is back....

Jihh clapped her hands together with glee, and darted about Anezka in long, swirling fluid motions. "Well then, let's dance!" She gave off sparks near Ane's shoulder, and an upbeat, trilling music came as if from the trees.


----------

Valelldia had nothing to say but to shake her head. She'd failed to protect the boy- again. The events of Mulden came to her again, and the gypsy felt defeated- tired.

"He's still with you, Marissa. Your son is still here. We just need to... try and find him a way out. We will devote our every energy to saving him. And to finding the others."

Valelldia did not see, but a little fae had spritted from a tree and whispered in Irina's ear.

"You know, I'm supposed to be watching your little one. But she's boring. I could give her back for something more interesting."

"But...but really...I'm not so good..." Anezka stood up and tried to keep up with Jihh, trying to keep the crazy little thing in front of her. Finally deciding it was of no use, knowing that she couldn't keep up, she decided to try and dance with it. "Really Jihh...Just remember...I'm not a good dancer, at all!"

The fae near Irina just shrugged- not perching upon her shoulder for the knowledge that the gypsy would just smack uselessly at her.

"I didn't do it," she said, her voice uninterested in the snarl in Irina's voice. "I'm just watching her. But you can have her back if you want. But it's too much work for me to bring her back. Too boring. I have to spend time looking for something new to play with. Don't have the time to bring back the little badger. But you can find her if you want."

The little thing hadn't left yet, however- simply hovered inches away, awaiting a response.


--

Jihh, on the other hand, was getting happily drunk on the dizzy spinning- so much so, that she laughed and darted and flew about the jewel-encrusted sandals that the girl wore- focusing only on those glittering things. It was a good thing, as well- Jihh was known for being irresponsible- and for tiring of her toys quickly. The last stranger that had been given to her for 'watching' had been left alone in the forest by her after he became too uninteresting. He had wandered for weeks, hungry and disoriented, until finally finding his way out of the woods. A little thing like Anezka- would likely have fared so well... even in what was a natural element to her animal past- if Jihh had not shown such interest in her.

After several minutes of fevered dancing, Jihh stopped her spinning, and hovered- wobbling- before the Fortunette Girl.

"Thank you for the dance. It's been the most fun I've had in a long time. ...Goodbye, Anezka. Have fun in the forest!" With that, Ane would find herself- without even a blink- standing back with the rest of the gypsies.