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Zale and Isaac seemed at peace in the ferry, however Isaac kept attempting to slip into the water. He wanted to swim, badly. His skin was already dried out from the Spades faction, what he wanted the most was water. He couldn't stand dry skin, his mermaid tail flicking violently as he sat in the ferry, crisscrossed on the floor. Zale watched him curiously, but the two kept quiet.

The second, they very second they were allowed to leave Isaac bolted. He didn't need any ushering!

"SWEET SALVATION!" The water-type screamed, spreading his arms and allowing the rain to drench him. Slicked back hair fell into his eyes, the gell removing and leaving his hair (which fell right above his shoulders) to cover his face. He didn't care. WATER.

At the offer to take an umbrella he shook his head, eyebrow raising at the teapot. "I'm all good, man. I LOVE the rain!" Twirling about, Zale grabbed an umbrella and shoved it into his hands, frowning.

"He got it for you. Take it."
"Nawh."
"....Take. It."

Sighing lowly, Isaac took the umbrella, however simply held it, allowing the water to drench him, still. Zale, however, opened his umbrella. He'd use his hood, but he preferred it didn't get wet, honestly. Following the rest and keeping an eye on the joyful Isaac, he rolled his eyes.

"I thought you were upset? You were really bothered in Spades.."
"But we aren't there anymore, and I got rain. Diamonds sure looks grand already! Don'tcha think?!"
"Isaac.... please... lower your voice.."

Zale was growing nervous. Isaac was so loud! By instinct he flipped his hood over his head, fumbling with his umbrella briefly. And then he froze.

A maze.

What... no. NO. NO NO NO. He didn't want! DID NOT WANT! Absently, he pressed backwards, shivering. What if he got lost and died? What if no one found him?! Isaac seemed more ethuastic.

"WOOOOOOOOOOO! Don't get lost, Zally! Zale's cheeks turned a bright red, shaking his head side to side quickly.

"H-Hey! Don't.... don't... don't call me that! Isaac, it's so embarrassing!"

....
It seemed both were at least more lively today.

Malo did not like the rain even a little bit. The sound of the deafening rainpour had put him in a sorry state and he sat next to Zale on the trip, eyes roving around the ferry. He did not look at any of his newfound enemies and cuddled up to his real friend.

When they disembarked, Malo waited until Zale's umbrella was opened, then shirked under it. He didn't understand how Issac could relish this sort of weather. Once he was under Zale's umbrella, he tentatively reached out and took his own from the teapot. Black, black, black, black, black- pink. Okay, fine.

"No...only I call him Zally." Malo said, not angrily or firmly, just matter-of-factly. "Zale...can we trade? I can't be stuck under a PINK umbrella. I'll look silly." He frowned. "Pink suits you, with the green...I want purple or black or yellow." He eyed Zale's umbrella, noting some of its colors matched what he sought.

Malo had seen Diamonds before. The maze was nothing new to him. "Don't worry, Zale. I'll protect you in there. I can float, so I can see over this little picket fence. You won't get lost!" He said boldly.





Firefly didn't like the rain either. He stomped through it, shivering, holding himself and hurridly pulling the first one he got over his head, teeth chattering like mad. He huddled silently under his own umbrella, sincerely wishing they would get a warm spot of tea in a nice dry building later.

He was unhappy to be out of spades, especially in this weather. Didn't this count for cruel and unusual punishment? As they marched, he had to balance the umbrella in the crook of his neck and shoulder and use his now free hands to carry the ruffles of his dress. Didn't need that getting dirty.

He had never seen diamonds. His eyes nervously glanced around. He was with Zale on this one. What if he got lost?!

Amias spent the ferry ride in isolation. It was his own preference, but it wasn't helping his goal to make at least one friend. One real friend. The journey was half way over, and the shy baltoy hadn't even spoken to anyone... except perhaps a snack or two, but that didn't count.

When they had arrived, Amias was reluctant to step into the rain and drench himself. With the guiding nudge of an adult, it was clear he had no choice. The child tugged at his hood in an attempt to prevent the uncomfortable moisture from getting his face. He was relieved and thankful when he was offered an umbrella, and quickly popped it open to shield himself from the horrid weather.

The small child clutched his umbrella and nervously bit at his lip as he scanned the activities of the other children. He needed to make a friend before this opportunity disappeared, and now he was determined... but everyone seemed to be busy amongst themselves. Everyone, except...

Amias waddled gracelessly until he arrived at Kennard's side to examine the maze. He stood in silence for a moment before turning to the bear cub with a serious expression. "I hope the rain stops, soon..." The child gripped his umbrella again, desperately wondering if that was an effective way to express his desire to be friends. "I really hate getting wet." Amias nodded as he reassured himself. If the bear didn't respond, he would just pretend he was talking to himself all along.

Malo beamed when the other gave the umbrella so willingly. He traded off quickly, much more pleased with this one. But still, how he hated this rain. He wanted to flare the ethereal flame burning on his scalp for warmth and light, but didn't want to put a hole in the only thing keeping him dry.


"I promise you won't get lost. We could..." He smiled shyly. "We could hold hands, if you wanted to." For the most part, he paid little attention to Issac. The other was being a pest. "Don't listen to him." He said, putting his hand around the Treecko's.

He blinked at Briar, but was not against the offer. He brushed his cheek against Zale's, like a child does to a kitten, and beamed. "See? There's no chance of you getting lost now."

The hedge-maze loomed above them, disappearing into grey mist. It even seemed like snow had covered the hedges recently, and the chilled land reflected it. It didn't look like a single soul would be up and about right now. The mousy man who had met them at the water's edge looked undeterred, sauntering into the maze. He led the infants with confidence for a few turns, but at one point he ducked under a narrow opening carved into one of the walls of the hedgemaze. Normally, such things regrew in a matter of moments, making it impossible to hack one's way through the wall. Unless you wanted to lose your sword or knife very quickly.

Instead of disappearing altogether, however, he popped his head back through the stable hole. ”A door just for us, how convenient!" he said, smiling widely at them, before sneezing. They'd have to shut their umbrellas to get through the hole, but it could be worse, right? On the other side, he started to lead the way again, when he stopped in his tracks and stared at the wall. ”THIS will not do, this is not good, I am not on time, I am forgetting!" he exclaimed suddenly, and then scurried off down one of the corridors in front of them. Even if the infants managed to keep up most of the way, he would eventually lose all of them, and once they turned that final corner: a dead end.

Nothing.

Unless the infants got right up to the dead end, at which point they would discover that an antique mirror was suspended by the vines growing through the hedge wall. Its surface was faintly dull, and when polished, it would wake. The hedge maze had, at this point, closed up behind them entirely: no way forward but this.

"Oh, woe, now that I am awake ... I must see mine own loveliness, before this path you may take..." the mirror sighed, somehow, even though it was a mirror. What was that supposed to mean?


♣║ɠɐϻE ʈ𝔦ϻE▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Their guide has abandoned them! Strange. What in Alice's name is going on out here? First, the Hatter never showed, and now the Diamonds guide is running off yelling something... are all of the officials in Wonderland so out of their minds? Whatever. The infants are trapped, and they'll need to solve this riddle before they can get out!

It kind of seems like this won't be the only challenge, though... here begins the Mystery Hunt, and it may not be long before you find out exactly what you've been waiting for...

[[ 1} There will be no rolling for this portion of the game.
2} Please RP your infant's reaction, but PM YOUR RESPONSE to the riddle to Alice Oracle. Why? Because whoever gets it first will be led into their reply by an NPC post in order to progress. And we don't want the riddle answers to be given away just yet in public!
3} There will be about four rounds to the Mystery Hunt riddles. Good luck! ]]

Malo drifted easily along, bobbing with his umbrella clutched tightly. It was colder now...so cold. He couldn't take it any more and flared up the wick on his head, trying to warm himself. When they pushed into the door, into the hole, he could sense something was wrong with this place and it made him nervous.

He tried to follow their attendant as he ran, clutching Zale's hand, but when he turned the corner and was faced with the dead end, he stopped and looked around. He drifted up, trying to see if there was another way out. But when he reached the mist, disappearing into it, he felt a twinge of fear. Even his wick wasn't bright enough to break through this blanket. He slid upwards, or so he thought, the mist thinning- and ended up looking down at his friends. Perplexed, he tried three fold again, but the mist was not letting him navigate anywhere but down.

Defeatedly, the maze closed off, he drifted back down and listened to the mirror. He was a lover of riddles and of shakespeare and began to look for something among the other children.

Skyler, on the other hand, was enjoying the mirror. He had been scared at first, but now he was smiling with delight. The mirror was very pretty and he twirled around in its reflection, giggling. He longed to have something just like this at home! He'd never noticed that freckle before, or how lovely his eyes were. The only mirror at Pablo's house was in the bathroom, where the light wasn't as enchanting as this.