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The gathering chill of Autumn was creeping through the market of Oldcastle, even though the sun was still high in the sky. Merchants announced their wares, trying to talk passersby into stopping to take a glance, at least. Shoppers bustled in and out of stores, and right in the middle of it was Maggie.

It had been another one of those days.

Mrs. Wimple had come down with a cold. Again. This despite Maggie reminding her time and again that when it was chilly out, the old woman had best wear a scarf. After seeing to her, she'd met with a panicked young father-to-be, terrified that his wife had been going into labour prematurely (as if she'd let that happen.) That had turned out to be a nasty case of indigestion, poor girl. After that had been Mrs. Terrydown's weekly complaint. This week? A strange rash that Maggie had explained, with all the patience she could muster, was not leprosy but dry skin brought on by the cold.

Granted, she did feel a little badly for Mrs. Terrydown. The woman was just lonely here so far from her only living kin, but honestly. If the woman wanted company she could just ask her 'round for tea, rather than inventing a new malady promptly every Tuesday morning.

Taking a deep breath and willing herself to calm, the redhead lifted her gaze and, quite by happenstance, saw a familiar face in the crowd. She didn't know the woman well and wouldn't term her a friend, exactly, but Maggie certainly did enjoy talking to Ms. Allison Driscoll more than most of the people in Oldcastle, as Alice was not an idiot. Besides, a quick stop to chat meant she could stall a few minutes before having to go home, which had its own set of thorny issues.

She waved, hoping to get the other woman's attention. "Ms. Driscoll," she called. "You're certainly looking well," she said in a more conversational tone as she got close enough, her freckled face breaking into a smile. "How does the day find you?"

Maggie chuckled and shook her head. "Up to my ears in idiots, as always," she said with a wry grin, her temper much improved to have a colleague to talk to. "Just the usual round of hypochondriacs and ninnies. They don't mean any harm, but... still." She rolled her eyes.

"It's amazing the states people will work themselves into. It's like reason leaves them when the sun goes down, I swear." She blinked, then glanced around as a thought occurred to her.

"Where's your grimalkin? Hecate, right? I have something in my bag she might like."

Maggie twitched slightly as the grimalkin made her appearance. She wasn't easily startled, but there were limits... and grimalkin, like most of the creatures that the Wardwood affected, were not exactly small.

Chuckling and shaking her head at the feline's antics, Maggie fished around in her bag. "It's sadly true. Is that what brought you out today? Dealing with Wolf-spawned hysteria? Or did you just have errands? Ah, here!" she came up with a sprig of catnip, carefully dried. "What do you think, may she have some?"

"Ouch. Still, with the way things seem to be going perhaps it's good that you get to practice those skills," she said, leaning down to offer the sprig to the grimalkin in a respectful manner, rather than dropping it on the ground. "Here you go, dear." Maggie had always felt it wise to be on good terms with Familiars, though she had none of her own yet. They were damnably clever and Hecate in particular seemed prone to mischief. While she didn't hold out much hope that her gift would save her from being the brunt of the rambunctious cat's pranks, perhaps it would mitigate matters somewhat.

Standing back up and dusting off her skirt, she smiled at Alice. "I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle, but if you should happen to want help, or just company on your rounds, do please look me up. I've inherited mother's clientele and they're, well..." She glanced around cautiously to make sure no-one was in earshot or paying particular attention to the conversation, "A bit boring. That, and I could stand to get out of the house more," she admitted with a chuckle.

Maggie tilted her head as something shadowed slid across her acquaintance's face, and she shook her head with a smile, making her best guess as to what the problem could be. "Ah, you're just tired of people. I know that feeling. Tell you what, next time I go into the Wardwood for herbs, you and Hecate can come with," she invited.

"Mom's always after me not to go alone anyway. And honestly, what with the wolves coming back she's probably right. It'll be fun, probably free of idiots and maybe if you give the furball some exercise, she'll not get into so much trouble." Maggie gave the feline a fondly exasperated smile, watching as the cat rolled around in the street with her n**. "If only because she'll be asleep. Hopefully."

Maggie nodded decisively with a pleased grin. "Then it's decided. We'll go together next time."

A subtle, sour expression slid across her features as it occurred to her that it was possible that this arrangement might result in Alice meeting her sainted mother, which was not the most ideal of circumstances... Maggie loved her mother, but the woman was becoming senile in her old age and furthermore was ill-tempered at the best of times thanks to the gout. It was likely that unexpected company would result in flung pots and pans.

"Er... Best we meet at your place, I think."

Maggie gave Alice a relieved smile. "Oh, that sounds wonderful. I've been wanting to explore a new corner of the wood anyway, but things just always seem to come up," she admitted with a laugh, rubbing the back of her neck with a slight blush of embarrassment. Time management had never been her strong suit, something her mother often pointed out, usually at volume.

"Anyway, I was hoping to make a run in the next couple of days. I'm low on comfrey and feverfew. Would you be available the day after tomorrow?" She looked up at her companion with a hopeful smile.