Stately castles are beautiful, and the bedroom suites luxurious, but to someone who has spent too many years of her life in a fortress, also very confining.

Feeling suffocated, Chiasa tiptoes down the long flight of stone steps and heads out into the courtyard. She is so used to moving in silence to get outside to a garden that it would take very acute hearing to detect her. Once down, she carefully eludes the guards, a slender sylph with raven hair in a black cloak; a passing shadow.

The fires of the Singari and the lights from their wagons draw her, but would she be turned in as an outsider? For so long, she had no one. Could she be someone now?

Just beyond the gate, lights within the dark forest beckon her. Should she see? Nothing could be darker than what she endured, and the forest seems much more peaceful than threatening. She ventures a short way in, and finds the atmosphere almost loving. The breeze is gentle, and a beam of moonlight illuminates the base of a tree not far ahead of her.

She draws closer, closer to see a tiny house just made for a fairy. The moon glows brighter and she sees that it is a whole little faerie village, with even a tiny Singari wagon. Chiasa bends down and finds herself enchanted. whoever built this took many hours of loving craftwork.

"Well, well, well," whispers a voice behind her. "Look what the moon served up."

She rises and spins to see a menacing figure:

"What is it, little rabbit? Afraid of the dark forest? But you smell so delicious. Let me protect you."

The man laughs and moves toward her. Chiasa runs sideways, slips on the moss, and rolls partway down a hill path that leads to a maze entrance.

"Animals only," laughs the figure, who has somehow managed to fly down ahead of her. "But we're all animals in a way..." He chuckles again and reaches to grab her arm.

Two things happen at once. A large fur-covered shape leaps in front of the man, growling and snapping, and the man's hand touches Chiasa's wrist. He draws back in pain, his flesh withering at the contact point.

"Later!" He snarls at both of them, and then vanishes.

Chiasa tries to step back, but her ankle is sore. The immense wolf nuzzles her gently, indicating with his muzzle that she should ride on his back.

And thus they return to the entrance to the castle courtyard, then the wolf also disappears, leaving Chiasa to wonder about a number of things. She has much to tell her brother and cousin, and there is a maze worth investigating.

By the evening of the next day, many of the mysteries have been solved, but some still remain. Two are critical.

"Kristoff!" snaps Lysandra. "How dare he! He has been banished from our land for decades because he's refused to curb his blood lust. But now? Here? He may be leading rogues too. We have to find him and destroy him before he starts a civil war and sends up back centuries."

Madi speaks up. "Answers are in the maze. Irella told me. She has seen it."

"What or who was the wolf?" Chiasa wonders softly.

"Oh, don't worry about that," Madi pipes in again before anyone can stop her. "I think he likes you."

"Moppets should be seen and not heard," Djoni reproaches her. "Karl, isn't it time for her snack?"

Madi finds herself bundled off, protesting as she goes.

"I do think she has a point," Tanaka says. "We should investigate the maze."

"I volunteer to lead the expedition," Lappy steps forward.

"No without me," TwoFer meows, flexing his claws. "All the companions should go!"

"Then let's do just that!" Lappy barks back. "No cat-talk! Time for action!"

(OOC: This is a companions only RP challenge, and an HA task. Details are on the OOC thread for this chapter. Everything should be posted on this story thread by Saturday, July 22 at 11:59p.m. Subeta time. Questions and comments welcome and IC posts welcome here. )

While Madi filled the Steves' companions in on what they need to do, Sihr regarded the others warily. Particularly Coda. She was not a fan of foxes. Foxes /ate/ faelings, after all -- as did many other things.

Coda looked over at Sihr and tried to reassure the faeling by sending out empathetic waves full of kindness. “I can assure you that faelings are not in my diet. Though you mistrust foxes you should also know that I merely have some physical attributes of a fox. I am a Silvox and therefore not a fox, cat or dog but a combination of the three with a healthy dose of magic.” The words did not seem to alter Sihr’s countenance which caused Coda to worry about the possibility of working together.

Coda created a magical bubble with her paws and held it up for Sihr to inspect. “I can also create shields of protection for you and protect you in other ways as well. I’ve been trained as a protector and warrior with many different techniques.” She let the shield bubble float to the ground before recalling the spell and allowing it to dissipate.

“What if I told you that Sorn approves of me, and we’ve become friends. Would that help ease your mind?” She offered that last bit because she knew that Jean and Sorn were fairly close and hoped that their companions would be as well. “I would much rather eat a meal of berries and meat pies than my brethren of the magical sort,” she offered as a last ditch effort to comfort the small faeling.

Sihr blinked at the bubble, and slowly nodded. I...I guess I'll trust you. Jean was always saying she should be less terrified, she was needed now. It wasn't like all foxes were bad -- or rather, silvoxes. Though she'd never met a silvox before. ...You don't look much like a berry-eater, she added, but if Jean didn't mind Coda maybe the silvox wasn't so bad.

Maybe.

Zhah was more than happy to help. The little sprite affectionately hugged Sorn’s finger. He didn’t want to leave the drow. How could the sorcerer possibly be okay without his Zhah there to take care of him? The little sprite loved him even more than it appeared, in fact, he had bonded himself to Sorn. “Sorn stay safe. Sorn be good. Zhah be back soon. Take care of Sorn.” With a teeny pat on his shoulder, Zhah flew off, following the others into the maze. He would let Coda take the lead, content to just look around and see what was to be seen.

Should she be worried? Probably. Despite this, Coda paid the worried glance of Garrin no mind as she trotted away. The long fur on her tail shimmered opalescent pinks and blues as it swayed through the quiet evening air. The early rising moon shone out and gleamed off her sleek body, bouncing colorful light off her white fur.

She noticed that she was inadvertently broadcasting her location with her bright fur. She needed to blend in and become the ghost she’d been trained to be. With nothing more than a thought, her coat color changed to a dull dark grey that was mottled with black splotches.

Once at the entrance to the maze, her eyes wandered up and down the visible lengths of thick dark greenery.

Coda thought back to the tiny wagon that she saw in the miniature village. ‘Irella.’ The name crept up in her mind. ‘I wonder if this whole thing is a trap,’ she pondered as she walked around the maze, Sihr sticking close. ‘Irella operates on her own time and space schedule, so it would not be out of the realm of possibilities that she too has been enchanted by this batty Kristoff fellow.’ Counting several different areas within the maze while she mused, Coda and the rest of the companions ended up back where they’d begun. ‘I suppose for now I will trust Irella, even though I have my suspicions.’ Coda glanced over towards the rest of the group and saw that they were still with her.

“I noticed that I felt compelled to only enter in at one of the places, the rest seemed to not fit with my personality for some unknown reason. Did you notice that while we explored?” Coda looked into the faces of her teammates as she spoke. “At any rate, the section that called out to me felt like it was the voice of the suns. I am thinking that I want to explore the section of the suns first and maybe we can split up. What do you guys think?"

Sihr shook her head. Nothing draws me. It's /all/ dark and spooky! She was not enjoying this, not one bit. I'll just stay with you. No way am I going to sit and wait and let something come and eat me.

Boris followed Zhah, but as the sprite turned a corner, Boris picked up on the scent of something even more desirable than the task at hand. Turning away from their path, he sniffed the air a few times, trying to figure out the direction the smell was something from. "Cheese," he murmured to himself, "strong cheddar if I'm not mistaken." He knew Alfred had given him this task to do, but Zhah would be fine on his own, right?

Running towards the source of the scent, he spotted a pile of cheese at the base of the hedge surrounding the maze. Sniffing it again, just to make sure it wasn't poisoned or anything silly, he sat next to it and started tucking in.

Zhah looked at Boris’ fleeing form and shrugged. “Zhah feel pull over there,” he said pointing to one area. “Zhah think he’s needed there.” When he arrived at first location, he started hearing a mournful cry. The sprite’s little purple wings beat as he flew towards the sound. He saw a hole in the ground and inside was an ogre. “Why is yous crying?”he asked.

“I fell in and I can’t get out,” the ogre replied sadly.

Despite the fact that ogres eat sprites, Zhah didn’t even hesitate and started looking for something to get the ogre out. He found a thick vine in the opposite side of the clearing. It was thick enough to support the creature’s weight but it was also incredibly heavy for a little thing like Zhah. He pulled and panted as his wings fluttered furiously to make headway with the vine. He shifted into his rabbit form and tried to pull it with his mouth. It seemed to take ages but shifting between the two forms seemed to help him get the vines to the hole. The tuckered little sprite panted for a moment before he started lowering it to the ogre’s hands. Zhah found a flower with nectar in it and was about drink when the ogre climbed out. “Thank you, little thing. Why did you rescue me?”

“You is in need. Zhah help,” he said sweetly. “You is needing drink?” He lifted his flower to offer it to the ogre. Suddenly the ogre’s form was swirling with magic. Lights flashed as the ogre transformed into a single key. Zhah picked the key up and looked sad. “Ogre not real?” the sprite asked sounding disappointed. He sighed and sipped the nectar. "Zhah must go find others." The nectar helped him recover enough to have energy, but he would require a nap.

The near-silent screech of bats could just be heard as they flitted above the maze, to gobble up insects. Coda watched them as they flew and felt infused with a sense of luck to come. The bats swooped up towards the moon, which had risen well above the horizon and was casting its rays down upon the graceful silvox. Looking back down around the tall walls of the maze, Coda walked to one side, one that echoed with the voice of the sun. The silvox stood and looked beyond into the unknown shadows and took one step in.

The maze loomed over and around them, dense hedges that could easily hide lizards or large spiders, or any manner of snares for incautious faelings. Sihr shrank a little closer against Coda's back at the thought. Besides, Coda wasn't nearly small enough to wiggle through the hedges, and they were sticking together. Zhah and Boris had split off to handle their part of the maze already, and it was just her and the fox and the sounds of the evening. Well, her and the silvox, Sihr silently corrected herself. It wasn't so bad with Coda there, at least, and she'd been in mazes before with Jean. She did feel guilty for not offering to take one of the objectives, though. I suppose I could take the riddles, she offered at last, sounding uncertain. Jean loves them, so I've learned a few.

Coda agreed, but then said she thought it would be better for her to handle the luck portion of things alone, and that Sihr should wait. The faeling was far from thrilled. Reluctantly she flitted to the base of the shrubs, and ducked under the lowest branch to grab the longest of the woodchips she could find. I'll be right here, she promised, jabbing the twig in the ground in the middle of the path, before diving to hide in the shrubbery again. Please don't take long.

The sound of crickets floated up through the darkness as Coda continued alone. They were accompanied by the ever-present hum of stillness that follows the shiver of wind through leaves.

The first time it happened, Coda thought it was a coincidence - but the second time, she knew it was not. She realized that the crickets had stopped their singing, but only when she approached a turn that would lead to a dead end. Smiling, Coda looked up into the sky, silently thanking the bats for their luck. She also bowed with one paw and sent good vibes of gratitude to all the crickets she could reach with her empathetic powers.

With lightness in her step that belied the dampness of the dark air, the graceful silvox walked through the elaborate maze, after leaving Sihr to devise up a way to riddle out the gnome, until she noticed a small totem near the base of a tremendously frightful hedge. Coda looked around but didn’t see any other totems at the base of other nearby shrub walls. She cast an invisible net through the dimly light night air and searched for danger using her innate magical powers. She could not sense any danger from a magical source and dropped the spell. The leftover magic was sent sprawling through the air, splashing up against the sides of the walls until it transformed back into the ever-present continual flow of magical energies.

“A pond hyacinth and dragonfly?” Coda’s voice floated down and around the intricately carved wooden statue. She looked closely at the totem and saw a small inscription scrawled around the circumference of the flower that the dragonfly perched upon. The carved flower and dragonfly statue was much lighter than she’d expected. Holding the carving up in the moonlight she read:

‘Whoso finds this magic keep knows my secret here to seek. Whisper words both wise and clever to prove your opulence to the Teller.’

Coda mused over the words again as she held the totem in her paws. While she thought, she mindlessly caressed the smooth carving until she felt an etching on the underside of the totem. Bringing her mind to the present, Coda flipped the totem over and inspected it further.

The first thing she noticed was a small carving of a Singari wagon. Carefully carved out between one of the wood grain rings were tiny scrawled words, almost imperceptible. Coda squinted in the dim light and gave up trying to read them. She sat on the ground and held the totem with one paw while in the other a small glowing blue orb appeared. With the added light that Coda had produced, she read, ‘With this charm hold me firm. Transfortuate Varitate.’

Sitting back she firmly held the totem and hoped that by doing so something might happen. Nothing happened.

“What am I doing?” she whispered out loud to herself. “I’m wasting time when I should be trying to find the end of this maze.” She almost put the totem back down but a thought struck her. ‘Whisper words both wise and clever.’ Could it be that easy? She had to try.

“Transfortuate Varitate,” she said in a soft whisper, as she held onto the totem firmly. Suddenly, the totem vanished and something appeared in the shrubbery. Coda crept forward cautiously and reached into the shrub, removing something firm and square.

“Cards! Irella’s cards or ones very similar in appearance to hers.” Coda was surprised to so easily find these cards hidden in the bush but had long since given up trying to explain things of this realm. The card on the top of the deck pictured a small purple flower floating on still waters and perched on top was a beautiful red-purple dragonfly. The words, luck willing to change, were inscribed on the top card above the image. The deck of cards was wrapped in something that Coda could not identify.

Conjuring a magical pocket on her back, Coda placed the cards there and made her way out of this portion of the maze to find Sihr and show her what she’d found.

Once outside of the portion of the intricate shrub maze Coda could enter, she could feel that the breeze had picked up slightly, adding a deeper chill to the night. After a few more paces, Coda found the woodchip Sihr'd planted into the ground. Sihr appeared really small as she ventured a nervous look in the direction where the silvox had vanished. Coda bounded up to her but slowed her pace as she drew near, not wanting to frighten the poor faeling further.

“I have found something in the shrubs!” Coda exclaimed breathlessly as she created a wisp-like hand to bring the wrapped deck of Singari cards down from her back. “I think we should wait for everyone to get back before we take a look at them.” She looked at Sihr and thought about how to best bring up the gnome.

“Have you thought about what you might say to the gnome yet?” she asked already knowing that the faeling hadn’t. The silvox hoped that she’d be able to help convince Sihr to bravely face the gnome in the next section of the maze.

...Gnomes are big, and they can be scary! It wasn't exactly a denial, but it might as well have been.

Coda circled up around the faeling. “You can do it - you are so clever!” She tried to sound encouraging. “You know I could try to keep an open mind-link with you while you are talking with the gnome, and if he does anything bad I’ll burn the entire hedge down.” Coda sent an image of the hedge burning with a gnome running through it, his hair on fire.

~Noo, don't light anything on fire, Zhah and Boris are in here somewhere and they'd get hurt! Sihr's eyes widened, but she did smile a little. I think I'll be okay if you just stay nearby.

Coda was glad that her mind-sent image had relaxed the faeling somewhat, as she meant for it to be quite a funny little image.

Sihr was quiet as Coda followed the crickets towards the gnome's clearing. By the time they stopped just at the break in the hedge she was shaking again, but she was the best one to handle riddles. She could see the little hump with a door near the middle of the clearing ahead, though no sign of the gnome. Sihr took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

She took to the air, darting through the small garden that bordered the short path to the door, hesitating right in front of the knocker.

"Isn't anyone in there right now. And even if there was, I don't want visitors. Go 'way." A grumpy voice rumbled through the clearing, and the faeling darted for the roof with a little Eeep! When she finally gathered enough courage to look down, there was a dark-skinned gnome frowning up at her, one hand on his hip, the other holding a trowel.

I didn't see you, she said, not certain how to start. Am I interrupting?

"I just finished weeding my nightlilies, but YES you are definitely interrupting." He turned his back on her and went to put his garden tools away.

Sihr cautiously stood up on the lily-covered roof, watching him. If he really didn't want her there, he'd chase her off...right? I heard you like riddles? she ventured, hoping that Madi was right.

"I like riddles, but I don't like visitors."

I...um, I know some riddles.

There followed a full minute without either of them saying a word while the gnome put his tools in the tiny shed by his front door with perhaps a bit more force than was strictly required. "Well?" he demanded at last, fixing her with a beady-eyed stare. "If you're not going to say it, get out! I've got dinner to make."

[i]~Ah! Well, always coming, never

Aicha sneered, then scoffed loudly. “I'll leave this task you to and your vermin. The great Aicha needs no pet.”

She turned and stalked towards a table in the corner. “Although I suppose a dragon wouldn't be too bad – when you annoy me, he could eat you.”

The mage pulled out a chair and dropped her bag upon it. Withdrawing her staff, she began making a complicated pattern in the air.

“I'd rather be left alone for now while you deal with that...eh, 'issue'. It would be unwise to disturb me; the barrier will prevent you from hearing or seeing anything and touching it will result in a large shock. Or possible a lethal one, either or.”

With a devilish grin, she completed the barrier with a final swipe, encasing the table in a ball of purple magic. When she was sure the barrier was set properly, Aicha took the other seat and withdrew a curled sheet of parchment from her bag. Muttering an incantation, she waited as the map slowly appeared, tapping her fingers against the wood. When the image finally completed, she took it in with a quick glance then snarled viciously.

Nothing.

She had used staves and rods, magic wands, tarot cards, crystals, ancient rings, runes, arithmancy, astrology, ancient scrolls, enchanted water, dragon scales, phoenix tears, herbs, rhymes, ancient poems, moon songs, animal spells, enchanted swords, chakrams, and mermaid tears. She had consulted every magical tome she owned or had 'borrowed'. And still nothing – the parchement remained stubbornly blank.

“Where are you hiding you pycdynt?! How have you evaded my tracking spells?” She snarled into the empty space. “You never were the smart one,; you all but failed every exam and test. The only thing you ever had going for you was your father's ill-gotten money and the men you bought with it. How can someone as insignificant as you manage to hide from someone as magnificent as me?”

Frustrated the swept the parchment clean with a wave and shoved it back into her bag. “It's almost as if you no longer have your power...but then the spell should have broken... Unless.....unless...”

The mage suddenly broke into a huge evil grin that would have given the bravest of knights nightmares. She began to laugh, softly at first but then the laughter rose in volume. She laughed and laughed until tears formed in the corners of her eyes. After a moment, she composed herself.

“Oh how very clever of you. How thought-out and clever of you! But that can only get you so far! I just need to adjust a few things and then we should be all set.”

She withdrew a notepad from her bag and began to scribble away runes and formulas with fervor. “I will find you soon, so hide while it's still safe. For sooner than you think I shall come for you, so tynmehk, and rend your limbs from your body and your blood from your veins.”

Lini the Little Leaf Lure Enters Section A

Lini struggled not to let her emotions overwhelm her human companion, she could see wetness already in her eyes while she was giving advice to the Lure. "Lini, remember to be on guard, I know the way may seem safe, but stay alert okay? There may be something in there that you weren't expecting.", she was saying firmly. Lini nuzzled against her leg and whimpered a bit. Her human wrapped her arms around Lini and hugged her close. "You can do this Lini, you've had to go off on your own before and no carts this time, I promise. When you get back we'll see about getting you a nice warm bath and lots of fruits and greens to chew on." Backing away from her human companion, she sent up positive thought and a picture of her and Doom playing in bath bubbles. Teislyn laughed and wished her luck and good fortune. Lini turned around and set off towards the opening of the Upper Left Corner, Section A.

When she got to the opening a warm breeze came wafting through providing what felt like a hug around Lini. She sighed and shivered with pleasure at the sensation. Opening her eyes, she padded onward through the opening until she reached a T in the road. She looked to the left and saw a lane filled with dewy grass and flowers popping up, showing off their splendid colors and when looking to the right, she saw the maze hedges covered in vines, with what looked like fruit. She tucked her back paws under her and laid her head on her front paws to rest a little, she'd decide once her paws were okay. Being short and stout, didn't allow her to walk very far and caused sore paws. She thought she heard her friend Doom, but wasn't sure, she squeaked as loudly as she could in response. Hopefully Doom was having a fun time.

What seemed like only a minute, a sound made her eyes pop open. Lini's ears perked up to catch the sound again. There! She heard it more clearly and it sounded like someone else was in the maze with her, but crying. She uncurled herself, shook off the small grains of dirt that liked to get into her fur, and decided to turn to the left of the T, the crying seemed to be coming from that way. The flowery trail turned right and the crying became louder, she must be going the right way. Lini sent out calming thoughts and hoped whoever it was got them before she arrived there. Following the flower trail seemed to have been the right decision, she turned left this time and sent out another wave of thoughts and this time someone answered. "Who is it? I can't see you anywhere. Please go away." The crying continued and Lini almost skipped with joy, if her short legs would have let her, that she was close. She turned to the right and came to another T. Sending out another happy wave of thoughts, the voice sounded again to the left, Lini turned and spotted flowers along the way, she was going correctly then! The road curved and a small garden came into view. It was beautiful from what Lini could see and there in the middle was a bench with a figure sitting down with their head in their hands.

Lini slowly moved towards whoever the stranger was, poking with curious thoughts. The figure stopped crying and looked up. "Hello? I don't know you. Who are you?" Since Lini couldn't talk like her human companion, she padded up and nudged the figure, who turned out to be a pixie, but Lini thought she was pretty and didn't know what bred she was, sending an image of her and her human. Letting the Pretty One know that she was here on a quest and wanted to know if she needed any help. The Pretty One smiled slightly and wiped her eyes. "You seem like a sweet creature, but i don't know if you could help me." Lini nudged again and a series of short squeaks came out, agreeing that she could try. Pretty One gave Lini's head a rub and said "Okay, if you want too. I'm tending to a memorial garden for my one and only love who was lost a few years ago, but it seems nothing will grow during the day. Maybe by the light of the Moon?" Lini thought about it for awhile and then send images again to Pretty One. She remembered her human planting some flowers that bloomed once the Moon was out. Pictures of Night Scented Orchids, Moonflowers, and Four O’clock Flowers went into Pretty One's mind and she smiled. "Those might just work or maybe similar ones, thank you small one! My love would have loved seeing them growing, for he enjoyed walking in the garden in the evening. For your help, I'm giving you this." She presented Lini with a small bag of dirt with seeds inside, tying it around around her neck, she told her to keep it on her always and when the time was right, Lini would know when to plant them. "Thank you again small one, I can tell that you love your human, so cherish every moment with her." Lini smiled and projected another picture and Pretty One laughed. "Okay and your other furry friend Doom too, love all of them fully. Now, off you go, I bet they will be waiting for you and wonder where you went off too." Lini snuggled into Pretty One for a little bit and moved off onto the flowery path to continue onto the center part of the Maze. She squeaked goodbye and trotted away.

Lini hoped Doom and the others were having just as much luck as she was completing their mission. She missed her human companion and also was starting to get hungry. Maybe they'd get a good meal after this and a nice bath.

Buttercup the Faerie Enters Section C

Buttercup was elated to hear about the maze and quickly picked section C. "A grumpy old gnome? That's right up my alley! Or his." She fluttered into the opening and sparkled extra bright, making sure faerie dust fluttered down to the path below. She was only a few twists into the maze when she heard a gruff voice yelling at her.

"What are you doing in my backyard? Begone you faerie hussy!"

Buttercup was so stunned by the outburst that she stopped twinkling.
"Hussy? Why you old ba-" She stopped short and tried to smile, knowing that she needed to coax the gnome from his home and hopefully get him to escort her around the leafy walls. "I'm in your yard because I need to get through this part of the massive maze. I'm hoping you could help me."

The gnome harrumphed and crossed his arms. "And why pray tell would I help you do that? What's in it for me?"

Buttercup took out a cut crystal decanter from the bag she had slung across her chest. "It's finely aged brandy. I'll let you drink every last drop if you help me."

The gnome's eyebrows nearly shot off his face, but he reigned his emotions in, shuffling from one foot to the other. "I'll consider helping you, but first you need to tell me a riddle I have never heard before. One that really tickles the old grey matter."

Buttercup nodded. "So are we agreed? I tell you a riddle you've never heard and you get my brandy." She paused. "AFTER I safely traverse this maze!"

"Agreed. Now get on with the riddling."

After a few hours of riddles about rivers and teeth and pockets Buttercup was furious at herself. Finally she blurted out one she knew he had to have heard.

"What has a neck but no head but still wears a cap?" She fluttered her wings, hoping she could still bribe him out of his house without a clever riddle. As she floated in the air she saw the gnome take off his hat to scratch his head. He repeated the riddle several times, each time looking a little more aggravated. Finally he bellowed.

"Well! What is it?"

Buttercup clapped her hands and giggled. "Oh oh! a riddle you haven't heard already!! What has a neck but no head, yet it still wears a cap? The answer is a bottle!" She waved the bottle of brandy around. "Now you HAVE to show me how to get out of here!"

The gnome nodded and left his house, but without warning he began to run through the maze, making Buttercup fly at top speed just to get a glimpse of his red felt hat. Finally she exploded into the center of the maze, hot on the heels of the gnome. He was reaching for the bottle, even as Buttercup was wheezing.

"For a dumpy fat gnome you sure run like the wind." Buttercup pulled out the brandy. "Here, you earned this."

The gnome tipped his hat to the breathless fae and took the bottle. "My but what a fun time I had tonight. Come back whenever you want, my door will be open to you." Buttercup nodded and flitted over to a small statue, hoping to see the other companions soon.

Doom The Honey Badger Enters Section D

Frieda sat with her group and listened carefully to Kristoff, Lysandra, Dijoni, Chiasa and Tanaka argue. Frieda didn't like conflict, she was a peace maker, but there were important decisions to be made and all viewpoints needed to be expressed. Doom lay at her feet asleep and Frieda knew her little friend was most certainly dreaming of sausages, sweets and ale, her large tail swished from time to time.

But, when the dog Lappy and the mechanical cat TwoFer spoke, Doom awakened with a start, sat up and nosed Frieda's thigh. "Oh, you want to go on an expedition? I don't see why not." Frieda stroked the honey badger's fur from her eyes. "Chaisa said that there is a maze. You've done mazes before and you're good at it." Frieda looked into Doom's eyes. "I won't be able to go in the maze with you, Chaisa also said that the scary-looking man warned her that the maze was for animals only, I guess that means you and the other companions" Doom appeared to be smiling, her tail swished back and forth like a metronome and Frieda took that to mean that she was eager to help.

At the maze, Frieda gave instructions to Doom, "My darling, you must enter Section D, it's marked for you. But be careful, you don't know what's in there." She kissed Doom's nose and swatted her rump, "Now go on, solve the maze." She heard Teislyn giving advice to Lili to take the path to Section A, but much of what was said between the small Leaf Lure and the Bard was lots on Frieda, she couldn't hear the thoughts of others. Dace was giving advice to Buttercup, "You don' tame much of a chest little butterfly, but if you don't hitch up your shoulder straps, you are going to have the world's tiniest wardrobe failure." She pointed at the faerie's rump, "And your butt cheek is showing. Now fly right and I'll think about giving you a sip of madeira with dinner tonight. No...no scotch."

Doom panted with a smile on her face and though she could not form words in her mind or tongue, she knew Frieda's emotions and instructions.

The first part of the maze was easy, once she had passed under an archway, the shrubbery snaked back and forth. It was several yards before she came to the first branch. As is the way of her kind, Doom instinctively turned left at the first junction, kept her nose down and followed the path.

Soon, the shrubbery changed from curved walls, to sharp angled walls, and Doom was momentarily confounded, this wasn't natural to her. Nature doesn't have sharp angles. She sat on her haunches to scratch her ear and she sniffed the air. There were hundreds of smells, thousands of smells, but none that smelled like fresh food, or gave her clues as to which way to go next. She trotted along and veered left at every junction until she came to a familiar smell, it was her own and she realized that had been this way once before. Time to turn right. She caught a whiff of her small friend Lili and her tail thumped on the path. She let out a series of yelps as an encouragement to her diminutive friend, then continued on her way.

Doom again poked her nose up and sniffed, there was a new smell somewhere close and she turned her head in that direction. The new smell was behind a particular wall of shrubbery. Doom tried to wiggle through the shrubs, but there was an iron wire fence barrier buried within the shrubbery wall to prevent any sort of cheating. So Doom did the next trick in her unique skill set, she started to dig with her strong fore claws.

It only took a moment for her to realize that the ground was impenetrable. She backed away from the wall and eventually did the last thing that come to her mind, she turned right and continued along the path. Within a few moments, she was back on her sniff and turn left routine until she found the smell that she had smelled just on the other side of the wall of shrubs. It was a small garden area that had six small, round, ornately carved, granite planter urns potted with different varieties of roses in each. There were marble bench seats arranged on the boundaries of the small garden for maze runners to sit and admire the roses. There was an ornate brass plaque on a marble pedestal and Doom stood up on her back legs to sniff it.

The weight of her body was sufficient to trigger a switch and within seconds the four exits to the garden area were blocked by iron gates that shut automatically. A scratchy recording played, the voice came from under the pedestal and plaque. "Welcome friend. Arrange the flowers correctly and you will be set free. Push the urns into place, they move along prescribed tracks. Don't take too long, or you will not finish the maze." Doom heard the words, understood most of the meaning, but had no context of what to do next. It wasn't Frieda or Weldon's voice that had spoken to her and so she sat down on her haunches, poked her nose in the ai

Phaeri flew off towards the maze, she was excited that she was finally able to help her friends out. There had been moments in their previous adventures where she and Ilaera had split up, but besides those moments they had been together since they first met. They loved working together as they were the best team you could get. Phaeri knew that once again they had to work apart from each other and Ilaera needed her to do this one the best she could, so she would do exactly that. If this mission were to fail it would not be because of her doing, she would reach the center of the maze no matter what.

After she reached the maze she flew up into the sky and circled above the maze, looking for her way into the maze. She quickly spotted something white in one of the areas below. She flew down and tried to fly into the maze from above to see what it had been, but the branches kept her from doing so. She flew up into the sky again and looked around, trying to find a way into the maze, but the only place she could see was at the very end. With a clap of her wings she changed direction and flew there.

There was a small opening in the hedge in front of her where she could enter. She could easily see from there that flying would be a no go for her inside the maze. The branches of the hedges were too close together and flying in there would hurt her wings. It was as if she sighed from despair when she realized that she had to walk or to be more precise hop around. Next to the opening in the hedge was a small sign with an A on it. Phaeri hopped into the maze, a branch at her right got stuck into her feathers, it was this moment she realized that making it to the center of the maze might be harder than she had thought it would be.

Right in front of her there seemed to be a path leading into the maze. At the end of that path she saw a flash of white. She used her left wing to get the branch out of her feathers and tried to hop towards the end of the path as quick as she could to see what it was. But by the time she had reached the point it had dissapeared as if there had never been anything, but when she turned to the right to hop further into the maze she saw it again at the end of this path. It took her a while to reach that point as she branches inside the maze seemed to make it as hard as they could for her to get inside the maze, as if they had grown in a way no one would be able to reach the end, but Phaeri was determined to get there and nothing could ever stop her.

The white flash didn’t seem to get any closer though and she was about to give up on that when she reached a open place inside the maze. She realized that if she had seen this before she would have been able to fly in there and skip a whole part of the maze that was now behind her. She flew towards one of the thicker branches to be able to overlook the entire open place in front of her, it was a beautiful place inside the maze with a small bird bath. Dragonflies and butterflies flew from flower to flower which were placed around the bird bath in large amounts. And there it was again….a flash of white, something she didn’t recognize turned up from behind the flowers with only a head shown. She hopped closer and the little white thing didn’t run away this time. It sat there silently, waiting for her to come closer. She hopped a little closer again and then realized that the white thing was a fox cub. It was as if it was trying to get to know her, as if it wanted to know what she would do next. Phaeri hopped a little closer again, curious about this little fox that seemed to be inside the maze all alone.

From out of nowhere she suddenly heard a sound and she stood there silently, she looked to the left and the right to find out what she had heard. She saw nothing, but when she turned her head back to the fox it had dissapeared. She tried to find the white flash of fur again, but it seemed the fox had dissapeared completely out of sight this time. She then realized that she was there with a reason and she had to find the center of the maze quickly. But before she could hop further she heard the strange sound again. It was a soft sound, almost as if it was far away from her, but she could hear it. She tried to locate the sound, she had always been curious and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to finish her mission before she knew what it was. So she hopped around in the little circle, around the bird bath. The sound seemed to be louder around the bird bath. And then her eye fell on a small little creature sitting at the bottom of the bath. It seemed to be a little girl, like Ilaera, but it had wings, just like her. But more importantly Phaeri knew what the sound was she had heared, the little thing was crying, big tears fell down on the earth surrounding the bird bath. Phaeri had always been a sensitive bird. She always knew when Ilaera felt down and tried to cheer by listening to her. She wasn’t able to talk herself, but listening well, that was something she had learned a long time ago. She let the tip of her wing glide across the cheek of the pixie, as soft as she could possible do, by doing so she removed one of the tears. The little thing looked up and saw the hawk in front of her. It could have been a frightful moment for the little thing, but by looking at Phaeri’s eyes she could easily tell that Phaeri meant no harm at all. Phaeri dropped her wing over the shoulders of the little thing, it was now able to crawl up next to her and find a safe place in her soft feathers. She cried for moments into the feathers, didn’t say a word at all, but soon after began her story about the love she lost. The little thing talked about her love, he had just left her, left without a single word or a note, she had no idea why he didn’t want to be with her anymore. While she was talking she herself came to the realization that he at least owed her an explanation. Eventually she stopped crying.

Phaeri now pulled back her wing, she then turned her back towards the little one, glanced behind her by turning her neck and made clear that she wanted the little thing to get on her back. The pixie understood that Phaeri wanted to help her by finding him. Phaeri hopped into the direction of the path she had followed earlier, but then noticed a flash of white again at the other pathway. It was as if the white fox wanted to make clear that she was to follow that path, so she turned into that direction and hopped around inside the maze, tried to dodge the many branches that kept her from flying. The white flash was still there in front of her, just a white flash even the pixie could see now. And then all of a sudden the little fox stood there silently. Phaeri was unsure what to do now, she had thought it was leading her towards the other pixie, but now it just stood there, it didn’t move at all, not even blinked. From out of the sky there was a flash of light that lit up the pathway, lit up the exact place the fox was in. Phaeri had to close her eyes, the light was too bright for her. When she opened her eyes the little fox was gone, it had dissapeared inside the maze once again, maybe she would see it again when she continued her way towards the center. In front of her though she now saw a little guy standing. Before she knew what happened the little pixie that had been on her back was locked in embrace with it.

Phaeri left the two pixies alone and continued her way, she hopped along until eventually she reached the end or at least what she believed to be the end of her journey, hedges grew in some sort of circles there and it seemed to be the center of the maze. She was a bit sad though that she hadn't seen the little fox again.

~

It’s a good thing I like you. thought Akuma as he opened his left eye to gaze after the other companions. He let out a yawn and began to stretch his limbs, much like he had seen the one called Nighteyes do on several occasions. Humans are so needy.

Akuma rose and strolled down the path after the others had already disappeared. As soon as he turned the corner however, he found that they had disappeared. Magic, he sighed. Rather than try to find them, he decided the best course of action was to just follow the path until he found something interesting. Taking off with a start, he began bounding through the walls of hedge and tried to focus on any taste of magic nearby.

After several dead ends and a pixie or two, he managed to pass by an open area where one of the companions had been. He could smell them. He could also hear the incessant crying of a pixie and he knew that without a doubt, this was not the area for him. Instead, he continued forward and within minutes, he found himself in another open area, this one practically weeping magic. Mine! he called out to no one in particular.

Inside the clearing were seven bushes, seemingly identical in appearance but something was off. The magic was coming from inside one of them. He sniffed at them all, circling around the area once before coming to a halt at a particularly fishy-smelling bush. He stared at it. It appeared harmless. He continued his staring contest with the bush until something shiny caught his eye. Nestled neatly inside the bush, a deck of cards had appeared, wrapped in golden ribbon. He picked it up in his mouth and took it away from the bush.

Using a bit of his own magic, Akuma willed the ribbon to unfold and it obeyed. He told the card on top to show itself and it too listened. Wheel of Fortune, huh? he grinned. What a weird maze this is. Weirder still, the wheel itself looked like a giant golden gear turning in a machine. He felt a sense of rightfulness looking at the card and understood that this is what he was meant to find. He asked the deck and ribbon to kindly wrap themselves back up again and waited for them to finish before picking them back up again in his mouth. Time to fly, he thought, my feet are tired! With a graceful leap, he took off back into the maze to find the others.

~

[color=teal] Ah nice and quiet, it was fun to be back in this quest, already though in the short time with his owner the bickering had commenced. Not that it wasnt also fun in its own right. But to have a little exploring time on his own in this pretty maze wasnt the worst thing he could see happening today.

Potch had decided that as easy as it would be to glide above the puzzle of shrubs that it would be more interesting (and keep him away from Jett longer) so he would keep below the height of the walls.

As he flew he would usually sing a tune, but that would both distract him from the challenge as well as keep him from listening to noises made by other critters and animals in it as well. The particular sound of a squirrel gnawing on a nut was currently his destination. So far mostly birds and mice were shuffling around, this was the first tree climbing sort to make sound.

He had encountered his fair share of mazes, both for the wayward adventures, along with his and Jettisons exploration. So it didnt take him long to approach an opening which was likely the end of his part. The squirrel sound got louder and as he saw its bushy tail flip he landed on the ground below, flapped his wings as a thank you and then hopped towards what looked to be some sort of home hut thing.

"Who is out there!?" A voice said, gravely and unamused with the presence.

Of course being a bird he wasnt sure how whoever this was could discern an intruder vs some animal who was native to this maze. But he didnt question it much, Jett somehow knew the second even a spider came in to their space. Must have been a people thing.

"BIRD POTCH. YEP." He replied bluntly, bobbing his head a bit as he waited for the thing to show itself.

"That isnt helpful. What do you want? Why are you in my garden?"

Potch though for a second and hopped closer as he saw a face peek out of the doorway, beard long and hat to a point. He wasnt much taller than the bird. Who knew gnomes existed? Not like he could judge. He was a talking crow.

"ADVENTURE." He paused flapping his wings as he said "NEED YOUR HELP TO MAZE CENTER. YOU KNOW?"

The gnome walked over to him and crossed his arms, still unamused. It was obvious with his expression. "Why would I help you? You dont seem to have anything interesting to use as payment. So go, shoo, get off my property!" He waved his hand at the bird, having turned around as if to walk back inside.

Squawking, Potch hopped an angry little hop. This guy was becoming annoying. He didnt do anything to damage the land around, he didnt leave a feather even, what was with the grump way of life this dude had going on? What could he use...there had been some clue about his path, which must have been why the group decided he was best for this part of the maze. He could talk, unlike the other companions...so words.

Oh! Riddles! He could do that. Potch just hoped that the dumb punny types he and Jett threw at one another were to his liking.

"WHAT YOU CALL A GORILLA WHO SCULPTS CLAY?"

It took a second for him to react, but finally the gnome did turn back to face him. A smile now spreading across his cheeks. "Oh so you know my weakness, and are willing to exploit that? What fun!"

He put his finger over his lips as he thought then made an 'ah ha' face. "A Harry Potter! Too easy! Try harder!"

"JUST STARTING, YOU WAIT. I GET THERE." Potch laughed, glad he knew a good many riddles on top of being able to chat the guy up. He pictured nighteyes trying to complete this task and laughed some more.

"Well get on with it, featherbrain." He rolled his eyes at the laughter but had amusement in his eyes. What an odd animal this bird was.

"HOW DO YOU MAKE HOLY WATER?" Potch hopped, this time more out of happiness than displeasure.

"You really arent challenging me. I love riddles, do you think I havent heard this one?" He shook his head "You boil the hell out of it."

"UNDERESTIMATING NOT GOOD FOR HEALTH." He replied, smiling in a sly way (how the poop does a beaked bro smile, whatever.)

"I wont help you until you stump me." The gnome said, standing firm.

"OK BIG GUNS THEN!" The raven looked serious suddenly, staring in to the humanoids eyes. "WHAT HAS FOUR LEGS, IS BIG, GREEN, FUZZY, AND WOULD KILL YOU IF FELL FROM TREE."

"A pool table." He sighed now. "I will give you one more chance bird. It better be good."

"STINGY." He spat, moving around a little as he thought of which dumb joke Jett used a few nights ago. It had caught him off guard for sure, so maybe it would get the gnome as well.

"AH, GOT GOOD." He cawed, eyes half closed but still with a glint of mischief peeking through.

"HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT DYSLEXIC SATANIST?"

"I...hmm..." The gnome mumbled, brow furrowed. He tapped his foot as he tried to think of something. But after a moment just stood there with lips parted. As if he were going to say something, yet not a sound escaped.

"I GOT YOU, DID I?" Potch opened his wings, trying not to seem to excited. Knowing this guy, he could just be playing. But darn he hoped he had him finally. He needed to get to his friends at the center of the maze.

Scowling he chewed his lip and said "No! Im just making sure I know the right answer. It has a few!" He stated. Doing his best to keep calm but the anger was pouring out in his tone of voice.

"I COUNT TO TEN.." Potch started, seeing the man crumble as he got half way through the numbers.

"Ok, ok! I give up! Tell me! I must know!"

"PROMISE TO SHOW WAY TO CENTER?" He asked, finding the sudden change from angry to desperate to know quite amusing.

"Yes, yes. Get on with it feather face."

"HE SOLD HIS SOUL TO SANTA ON ACCIDENT." Potch laughed and laughed after he said it, happy to see the gnome doing the same.

Wiping his eyes of the tears of laughter he admitted defeat and said "I am going to use that on the next fool who enters. But you did well. So here, this will show you the way.

(Reference: A. Moons B. Suns C. Staffs D. Blades E. Gears)

[URL=http://s1117.photobucket.com/user/Demuza/media/276744.png.html][IMG]http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k588/Demuza/276744.png[/IMG][/URL]

Bear gazed down the path from which she had come. Chook was still nowhere to be seen. She must have been held up. Peeking through the hedge she looked at the path that entered the maze. The task looked daunting. "How on earth could anyone, let alone a small animal get through," he thought, and longingly peered down the path again. His task was to get through Area A. Although he was a bear he was tiny for one of his kind and extremely gentile. More like a teddy than a brown.

Through the mist a vague, shadowy figure, began to appear. As the shape became more distinct, Bear let out a growl of delight. It was Chook. Approaching Bear, Chook knelt down to his level and stared into his eyes. "My friend, I have come to wish you well on the next step of this journey. I am afraid that this you must do without my help. I will wait for you here, by the entrance, for your return; for return you surely will." Bear threw his chubby little arms around Chook and hugged her tight. Turning to the entrance he quickly made his way forward. Raising an arm in farewell, he slipped into Area A of the maze.

It was not as dark and gloomy as he imagined it would be, but the hedges cast deep shadows that, to the bear, gave the maze a menacing aspect. "Which way to go first?" he wondered. "I know, I'll do what Chook would, toss a coin." Not having a coin, he found the next best thing, a flat stone. Scraping one of the sides with his claws, he made a sort of head shape. On the other, a tail shape, which resembled a tail not at all, but we must remember it is a bear we are talking about. "OK! Heads, I go right. Tails I go left." With that he tossed the coin into the air. Alas it landed in the hedge, far out of a short little bears claws and paws. Once again he found a flat rock and etched either side. Once again he tossed it into the air and thankfully landed "heads" up on the path. 'Hey ho, hey ho, it's to the right I go," he sang to himself, while looking at one hand and then the other. He always had trouble with left and right.

Beginning at the path at the center of the right hand side he began his venture into the maze. To the right he went. Or was it the left? It really did not matter as long the same paw for the same way each time. It was to the left. He followed the path till he hit a dead end. "About turn bear," he said to himself. And back the way he came, he went, but no conquering yet. Coming to another opening he turned left, left and left again. Walking along humming to himself he came across an opening to the right. This he took for no particular reason, but because he could. He took another right. then a left and came across an opening that led to a rectangle of cleared shrubbery that contained a few items. He searched around the four walls but only found 2 paths, the one he entered by and one a few feet away. He returned to the one he had entered by and turned right. This time there were no dead ends and he was able to continue in the maze for quite a distance. The were a few paths to his left and right but he did not turn down these but proceeded until he came across an opening to his right that looked slightly different to the others. He decided to see where this one led.

He began to sing a song.

"I'm just a little black rain cloud Hovering under the honey tree I'm only a little black rain cloud Pay no attention to little me

Everyone knows that a rain cloud Never eats honey, no, not a nip I'm just floating around over the ground Wondering where I will drip."

(Artist: Winnie the Pooh Album: Miscellaneous)

Winnie the Pooh was his hero and he loved his songs.

Rounding a corner and walking in an S like fashion around the path, he stopped in his tracks. Was that crying he heard? He walked silently forward. He looked carefully around but could see nothing, just hear heart felt crying. He thought he heard a faint fluttering sound above him and glanced up.

Hovering above him was the prettiest, tiniest thing he had ever see. It was a pixie sobbing her heart out. "What is the matter little one?"

Apparently she could tell that Bear had a gentle soul because she flies down and lands on his head beginning to speak. Not daring to look up fearing the pixie would fall, Bear simply sits very still to hear the pixie's story. In between sobs she explained that she had a present for her mother, a wonderful gift but she had lost it. Not wanting her to go home empty handed Bear reaches into his bag and pulls out his most prized possession and offers it to the pixie .... an entire honeycomb. The pixie was so delighted at the new gift that a radiant smile lit up he beautiful face. "This is the best present yet, my entire family will love this! But I must repay you some how. We are a species that believes in give and take."

Bear thinks for a moment and then points to the center of the maze. "Can you guide me there?" he asks. "Of course. That is easy I have been the many, many time. Are you sure that is what you want? I can guide you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!" Bears assures her that yes he is sure that is what he wants.

Happily holding her honeycomb, the pixie raises herself into the air, beckoning Bear to follow her. He is able to for a while but then finds that she is flying as the crow flies and it is impossible for him to follow her. Raising his hands to his mouth he shout for her to come back. When she has returned he explains the problem and she understands at once. This time she flies above that path that will lead the the center of the maze and Bear happily follows singing as he goes.

"Everything is honey I can't get enough Of lots and lots of pots and pots Of sticky, licky, stuff"

(Artist: Winnie the Pooh Album: Miscellaneous)

Willow and her companion follow Chook and her bear to one of the entrances but stand back not wishing to disturb their farewell to each other. Eventually moving on they follow the outline of the maze after waving farewell to May, Kronus and Emma along with their companions who look for their own entrances. Finally another entrance is in sight and Willow and Ginger pause just looking at it for a few minutes.

Ginger, does this look like what we thought was entrance B on the map of the maze?

At Ginger's quick bark of agreement, Willow first takes time to clean off her glasses then begins to dress up Ginger in order to look her best. Pulling out her special from her bag, Willow proceeds to brush Ginger's fur until it is soft and shiny then places a beautiful collar on her

"You'll do fine my friend, you are smart and I'm confident can find the deck for us. I trust your instincts but if you run into that wolf, don't pick a fight..I think it is a a protector of the maze"

Ginger's deep brown eyes.. that a person could drown in if given half the chance, just stared back then suddenly a quick lick of her purple chow tongue was the answer. Laughing Willow gives her a treat and pours a little water from a canteen into her hat letting Ginger drink her fill while playing a little tune on her lute then when the last note is still ringing in the air, she whispers softly...

"I'll wait here, the tune was just for you my friend.. should help your senses expand, see what you may not see, smell what you need to. After finding the deck meet the other companions in the middle"

Giving her a last pet and scratch under her collar Willow stands to watch Ginger happily trotting into the maze looking quite dapper and confident, taking off her now foggy glasses and giving a little sniff mumbling...

"Stay safe my friend"

Willow finds a nice shade of a tree and sits with her back to the trunk continuing to play the same tune not sure if it would help or not.

The maze appears quite dark to Ginger after being in the sun, her nose offering many interesting smells for her to get distracted with more however then her eyes can see however foregoing all other smells but one, she proceeds unerringly toward a destination as if instinct and her sense guide her.

If not for the maze she would be there already however occasionally her paws falter in their direction winding up at a dead end knowing whatever she seeks is near. Finally she arrives at a beautiful stand of shrubs unlike the rest of the maze. Her head tilts back and forth and nose raises while eyes turn to one particular shrub. Again Ginger sniffs recognizing the scent she followed. Moving closer there was a sudden gush of fire from the shrub that had that delectable smell and the flames reached out toward her fur. With a whimper

"Yipp!"

...Ginger backs up yet doesn't run like her instinct says but stays to watch and sniff.

This fire was different from others she was familiar with. Was that shapes in the flames? Taking another step closer, Ginger notices no heat. Could this be what Willow and the Protectors wanted?

Trying to figure her next step, The dog deciding to talk.. she begins teasing and barking at the fire as if at a new toy noting every time she did, it's shape would alter. Ginger then runs toward it and backs away as if attacking, yet the fire moves slightly away and even reduces in size the further from the bush the flame gets. Finally the single flame as small as a candle flickers low and Ginger stands near.

Dark soulful eyes then turn to the bush and there it is...the deck of cards sitting on a low branch cradled by two other branches. Moving ever closer, Ginger then takes a deep breath of the soil she stands on getting some dirt up her nose then sneezes at the final flicker of fire extinguishing the last of the flame leaving the deck free for her to pick up with her mouth. Holding it with teeth tightly grasping, she runs toward the middle of the maze, her sense of smell leading her toward the others. She proudly drops her prize for them all to see. It has no appearance of being burned yet may have a few teeth marks on the outside. Wagging her tail at the others she gives one happy bark in greeting.

Flying above the maze Mee takes careful note of the paths in Area C and the location of the gnome's house. It is night in the forest with a beautiful moon, but the gnome's house and garden are lit as though in sunlight. There must be magic at work here. Flying closer, she sees the gnome out in his garden, but as soon as he notices her flying above, he hurries into his dwelling.

Hmm, I'm going to have to find some way to coax him out. Thinking hard, suddenly she remembers a certain goblin rescue ... maybe that would interest him. And riddles - gnomes always love riddles. Joyfully stretching her wings as she whirls though the air, Mee lets her mind roam until a riddle comes to her. Yes, that one should work. I certainly hope this gnome can read.

As she flies, Mee calls out to HeiYu to explain her plan. Confident that what she needs will be waiting when she lands, she quickly arrives at the opening in the hedges whose path leads to the gnome's home. As she gently lands, she finds a small balloon tied by rope to a basket and hovering just above the ground. On the side of the basket is a sign with big letters. Inside the basket is a pile of smallish rocks, and two envelopes. Grabbing the rope, Mee finds that the balloon is perfectly balanced so as neither to land, nor fly away.

Easily able to maneuver the well balanced contraption, Mee enters the opening in the shrubbery and walks slowly along the path she remembers from her flight. Taking her time so as not to cause any alarm, she approaches the garden area whose light shines out onto the nearby pathway. Entering the garden, Mee takes a moment to notice the beauty and variety of the plants. Carefully, she positions the balloon just across from the gnome's door, making sure that the sign is clearly visible to anyone looking out. Then she quietly steps aside and waits.

On the sign is written: Gwyl's Balloon. To earn a ride, you must correctly answer the riddle.

In an enchanted forest there live only elves and gnomes. The gnomes lie when speaking about gold, but otherwise tell the truth. The elves tell the truth, except when speaking about gnomes, in which case they always lie. One day two inhabitants of this forest said the following:

X: I stole all my gold from a dragon. Y: You're lying.

Is X an elf or a gnome? How about Y?

Standing as still as she can, Mee sees the shadow of the gnome approaching his door. She can sense that he is intrigued by the balloon. I certainly hope he can read my sign, she thinks. Suddenly the door swings open and the gnome stands in the doorway. "Of course, I can read your sign!" he says indignantly. "And what's all this about Gwyl and a riddle?"

"You can hear me!" Mee exclaims, totally surprised.

"Naturally, I can hear you. You have certainly noticed the magic about. Why should I not hear you, here?" the gnome grumbles at her. "Now, about this riddle ..." he stops there to glare at her suspiciously. "Wait a minute. If you didn't know I could hear you, how did you expect to share the answer to that riddle? There's nothing in this world worse than a riddle without an answer." sounding annoyed, the gnome draws himself up to his full height

Mee quickly responds before he can work himself up to full anger, "There's an envelope in the basket with the full answer inside" she says. "And besides, I expect that an experienced gnome like yourself will have no trouble coming up with the answer on your own."

Slightly pacified by her answer and her flattery, the gnome relaxes and reads the sign again. Then, despite himself, he starts to chuckle a bit. "Gnomes lie about gold and elves lie about gnomes. I've known a few like that in my time." "And this Gwyl fellow, didn't he work in a jewel mine ... one owned by distant realtions of mine?"

"That's him." she answered. "And his companion was a distant cousine of mine."

"Sometimes it's a small universe." the gnome allowed. Despite himself, he was starting to like this flying lizard. And he really loved the idea of a ride in the sky above his maze. "Very well. I accept your challenge."

Thinking furiously, the gnome begins. "If X is an elf, then he must be telling the truth. Which would mean that Y is lying. But if X is an elf, then Y is not talking about gnomes and he is also not talking about gold. That's a contradiction so X must be a gnome."

"Well reasoned." Mee answered. "Now what about Y?"

"Since X is a gnome talking about gold, he must be lying. So Y is telling the truth. And since Y is talking about a gnome, he can't be an elf, so Y must also be a gnome." "That's it! I've got it!" the old gnome laughed in delight.

"Yes, you've earned your ride. Are you ready?" asked Mee.

In answer, the gnome hurried over to the basket and climbed in. Seeing the envelope marked riddle answer, he quickly opened it. "Yes, I see you were going to play fair after all. Lucky for you." but he couldn't keep the ghost of a smile off his face. He really did love riddles, and now he was also going to have an adventure. I see there's another envelope marked instructions, but I'm sure you can just tell me what to do."

"Just get rid of the rocks one at a time until the balloon starts rising." And hurriedly, as the gnome immediately started moving rocks out of the basket, "But remember, don't get rid of too many or you won't be able to get back down again!"

As the rocks tumble over the side one by one, the basket quivers and then slowly lifts into the air. Taking the rope, Mee is able to guide the balloon as she flies alongside. The gnome stands very still as the basket rises over his garden. But he quickly gets used to being in the air and looks out over the maze. From above he is able

He shook his head trying to adjust the chain to be more comfortable and let out a sullen cry before lying down.

Jasper took a long swig from his pocket flask. Walking up behind Gunther he smacked the tiny goat on his rump. "At least it's not saving a goblin from a tiny rocky deep damp hole." Shuddering at the thought of what they went through last time, he grasped the chain in his tiny hands and stood next to Gunther. "It's okay, it's only a hedge maze what's the worst that can happen?" He chuckled at this, the last time they were in a maze a bunch of bikers on skull bikes were trying to kill them. "What do you say we head on in and see what fate has in store for us?" Jasper didn't know if Gunther even understood him at this point but it was worth a try.

Gunther jumped up at the sudden intrusion on his behind. He heard the voice of the culprit before being able to see Jasper.

The goats muscles relaxed at the familiar face. Perhaps his master hadn't abandoned him at all if the otter was here. Then he watched as Jasper picked up the chain that was securely clasped around the small goats neck. He grumbled to himself as Jasper continued to talk. He was able to pick out a few words and heard the otter chuckle.

This fully eased his nerves, he jovially stepped closer to Jasper and licked him on the cheek before looking into the maze with wide eyes. It looked gorgeous and reminded him of the forest back home. With eyes still wide in wonder he looked back to Jasper and took a few steps toward the area, hoping that his friend would want to follow.

Jasper slowly followed Gunther into the maze. As they walked the otter slowly loosened his grip on the chain. "I hope this isn't a lambs to slaughter deal." Jasper pawed at the flask in his coat pocket, a faint sound somewhere deeper in the maze caught his attention. "Do you hear that Gunther? Is that someone crying?" Perplexed Jasper picked up his pace heading toward the sound.

As the pair slowly rounded a corner Jasper caught the sight of a small winged creature slumped over on a stone bench. It's shoulder's moved in a rhythmic motion and gentle sobs carried through the air. Jasper stood in shock, not knowing what to do.

Gunther looked back and forth between Jasper and the crying creature. Slowly he approached her and circled her and the bench. He nuzzled her arm slightly, earning him a tearful look from her before she slumped back down and resumed crying.

He had seen that look before by his master and knew exactly what it meant, the creature was hungry. With light steps he headed back towards Jasper and grasped the end of the chain in his mouth while ever so slowly pulling it from the shocked otter's loosened grip.

Once he was free he pranced back into the maze, taking the first left and making an abrupt stop. A small family of moles was making their way from one side of the path to the other, walking across an oddly shaped stone. It reminded Gunther of the light that brightened the sky at night. He sat watching as they came up from underground walked across the slab, then dug back down. It wasn't until the fourth one had scuttled by that he realized that they were each holding a berry or two.

He flattened himself to the ground to stare at the last one across the slab, and the mole stared back. Gunther cocked his head to the side and let out a soft cry. The mole pointed further down the maze and chattered before continuing his trek and hiding deep underground.

With a sense of where to go, Gunther ran to the end and around the vined wall to the right and found the giant raspberry bush that the mole had told him about. He grabbed a few branches and hurried back to where he came from. He was sure that this would help the small pixie.

As Gunther walked off Jasper shook his head, slowly he made his way towards the pixie. "Hello." He tried to make his voice sound friendly. The pixie jerked her head up confusion and anger in her eyes. "Who are you and why won't you just leave me alone." Her words came through silent sobs. Jasper backed away for a second and then stood his ground. "I'm Jasper and the other one is Gunther, if you don't mind me asking why are you crying?" The pixie sighed. "I do mind, but if you must know me and my friends were playing above this maze. Out of nowhere something attacked us, the others made it to safety but before I could react something sliced one of my wings and I fell here." She broke down again. "I'll never see my friends again, I'm doomed to die here." Her body quivered as she slumped over again.

Jasper gently rubbed the poor creature on her back. "Well it's a good thing we came in here when we did then, if you need help finding your friends me and Gunther could help." The pixie stopped for a moment. "You would do that for me?" She asked. "We aren't monsters, in fact we are heroes saving people is our job." Puffing out his chest he looked at her rather proudly. "That's very kind of you Jasper, the names Fig by the way." Fig stood up on the bench. "I guess we have to wait for your friend to get back, where did he go anyway?" Fig asked. "I have no idea." Jasper responded watching the entrance waiting for the small goat to return.

Running back seemed to take a bit longer then his small adventure there, but he knew that he was going in the right direction when saw the crescent stone marker on the ground ahead of him. Beside it sat the small mole who had given him directions to the raspberry bush.

Gunther slowed down as he approached, careful to ensure that the chain dragging behind him stayed behind him. He tilted his head and offered a berry to the mole who happily accepted and chattered away as he scuttled back underground. Gunther carried on approaching the corner that would lead him to Jasper and the pixie when a pitch of orioles sang from above and flew down landing on the ground in front of the goat.

They continued their song, a tale about a pixie who had lost her way. Gunther sat and listened to them for a moment, not wanting to interrupt and also realizing that their song sounded a lot like the one he had found the berries for, a pixie named Fig. When they finished, Gunther offered them some of his berries then continued on his way.

Rounding the corner, he saw Jasper and Fig waiting for him. In his excitement that she seemed in happier spirits Gunther went into a small gallop towards them. He stopped short of where they were and placed the branch down at the pair's feet. Fig looked down at the barren raspberry branch and gently plucked one of the three remaining berries, "Well, I suppose we won't be hungry now."

Elation filled the small goat as he bleated out happily. With expectation, he nudged the branch towards Jasper.

Jasper grasped the second berry. "Thank you Gunther." As Jasper nibbled on his berry Gunther took the final berry. "Gunther we are going to help Fig find her friends, she is going to ride on your back until we do okay?" Gunther tilted his head to the side and gave a gentle bleat. "I think he understands, if not he'll get it when you get on his back Fig." Cupping his hands he offered them to the pixie. She gently jumped onto them.

Slowly the pair moved towards Gunther, Jasper placed Fig gently on Gunther's back. "We won't be moving too fast but I'd hold on either way." Fig grasped some of Gunther's fur. "Shall we be off?" Jasper didn't wait for an answer and started to head off in the direction of the center.

Gunther watched as Jasper placed Fig on his back, happy that she was quite light. He felt her gently grab onto the fur at the back of his neck as he followed Jasper through the rest of the maze. A few times he almost lost sight of Jasper and Fig steered Gunther in the right direction.

The entire time he listened to the chattering and singing of the animals around him, and they came in quite handy when they reached a three-way split in the road. Gunther looked about to see a few of the orioles from earlier and cried out to them softly.

"Are you asking for directions?" Fig queried. Her only answer was Gunther taking the path to the right. He stopped midway to make sure that Jasper was following.

Jasper followed as Gunther led the way, the goat somehow knew the right way and Jasper didn't question. As they rounded another corner a shrill sound of laughter rang through the air. "FIG!" A melody of voices rang out. "We thought you were gone forever but here you are." Three pixies formed a circle around Gunther and Fig, Gunther cowered slightly as Fig began to glow. The three circled faster and faster, with a sudden stop Fig burst into the air her wing now fixed. She fluttered past both Jasper and Gunther and then up into the air with her friends. "Thank you I'll never forget you, or what you've done for me." and with that the pair was left alone to contemplate what had just happened.

Gunther looked over to Jasper and let out a small happy, yet slightly shaken, bleat. He took a few cautious steps around the next corner, his chain still dragging behind him. Jasper hurriedly followed and picked the chain back up, the goat seemed to know where his was going.

Remembering the singing of the orioles, Gunther led Jasper to a small field of flowers with two giant silver doors opposite them. Laid out on the ground was a path of stone slabs, each one representing a different phase of the moon. The pair followed the path, careful not to step on the flowers surrounding them. Once at the door Jasper delicately touched it, outlining an embossed star. The top of the doors were carved with a full moon, each door containing one half of it. Jasper took a step back in awe to take in the giant door as a whole, Gunther mimicked his movements.

"I suppose we just wait here then? Do you suppose the others have made it to the end of their mazes?" He looked at Gunther wondering if the goat had understood a word and took a quick drink from his flask. In front of them the doors slowly opened inward, towards the center.

He thought back to Lyra's words. The team were counting on Cosmo and Shimmershadow to find this second set of Singari cards, after all, they were the cleverest! Lyra, after giving her little companion a squeeze, then tied a soft piece of fabric around his neck and fashioned him a little crown of twigs. "There, now you can be elegant as well as clever!"

Cosmo looked up at Shimmershadow with a question in his eyes. He wondered if he would let him ride him. Then he could be like the kings and princes from Lyra's stories!

For a little chameleon, he had a big imagination! For now, though, their adventure awaited in area B of the hedge maze.

Shimmershadow nudged Cosmo encouragingly, he would love to carry his new friend! The unicorn was happy the captain had assigned them together to this maze wing. He would have been happy with any of the companions, he loved all animals with heart and soul. However, being with lovely Cosmo would be interesting, he was very eager to get to know the little one better. The green lizard was clever and deft and knew all kind of stories, so combing through the maze wouldn't be boring at all.

The little lizard looked very dapper in his new outfit which Lyra had provided. Good-natured, the young colt himself had endured Myra´s attempt to make him even more graceful, too. Deep inside, he thought he wouldn't need any improvement yet he wore Myra’s colors with pride. His slender figure and silky silver-white fur was complemented by a midnight-blue cloak now, embroidered with silver moon and stars and his mane was braided with matching silken bows. A fillet adorned his forehead, silver woven with small sapphires and mountain crystals. His pale golden horn gleamed softly in the morning sun and he was all ready for this new adventure.

The two companions looked a fine and dandy pair as they headed into the maze. Cosmo perched proudly on Shimmershadow's back, his cape fluttering in the breeze generated every now and then when the unicorn gamboled and frolicked between the high hedges. Cosmo chattered with delight. He practised changing colors, wondering if he could match the unicorn's beautiful coat. He was pleased to find that he could. Maybe that would come in useful some time. It was obvious at first which direction they were to take but soon they found themselves at a fork. Which way should they take? Cosmo jumped off his friend's back and scampered up towards the top of the hedge to see if he could see. What was it that they were to be looking for? A deck of cards in some shrubbery? He scampered back to ask Shimmershadow another question.

The unicorn took the right junction which opened into a hodgepodge of shrubs and planters, old terracotta pods and water cans. They had to decide for a shrub to search thoroughly, according to the voices. What was that supposed to mean, Shimmershadow wondered.

Gear shrubs... He recounted all shrubbery he had studied with Myra back in the elven forest for healing purposes. Which ones had gear names? Buttonbush was the first which came to his mind.

A deciduous shrub with cute white flowers which looked like adorned buttons. Buttons were some kind of gear, yes. He sent the image over to Cosmo and remembered some more gear-named greenery: Dutchman´s Pipe with purple flowers like a gnome´s pipe, Mountain Laurel which was a plant with beautiful spoon-like white-pink flowers which were used to make laurels. Then there was the Pearl Bush, a sun-loving shrub with showing white flowers often used in bride´s hairbands. He sent all the images to Cosmo and looked around searchingly.

Cosmo cocked his head as if he was leafing thoughtfully through all the images that Shimmershadow was sending to him. He looked around at all the plants surrounding them, scurrying over to a couple to get a closer look. There were some rather tasty looking insects living in one of them, but none of them seemed to match any of the shrubs that Shimmershadow had shown him. He decided to tell the unicorn that they should backtrack and take the left fork

The path from the left fork seemed to take them a long way. As they travelled deeper into the maze, Cosmo decided to pass the time telling Shimmershadow some of the tales he remembered Lyra telling in many of the taverns that they had travelled to. He wasn't sure if he understood what he was saying, but at least the unicorn seemed to nod and snort at the right places.

At last they came to another large area, filled this time with different size box hedges. The strangest thing was that they all seemed to be cut into different shapes. Cosmo jumped when he saw one resembling a snake poised to attack and clung tighter to Shimmershadow's mane. It was so realistic! He shuddered. Snakes and chameleons don't mix!

Together, the pair walked around each of the strange items.

Shimmershadow enjoyed hearing the new stories Cosmo had told him! The green (wait, he was blue now!) chameleon was an exceptionally gifted storyteller, like his beautiful human friend. But for now,

Fallen Angels Amazeing Adventure

After looking over the maze map carefully and making some notes Atrueheart motions the Fallen Angels and their companions over. Suddenly Hope, Laurie's companion, arrives with a note from Laurie. "I wanted to make sure that Hope got in on all the fun as I hear y'all are in dire need of companions. I know you'll take good care of Hope for me True. Give her hugs every day and she should be very helpful! As always call me anytime you need my help and I'll get right on it."

Atrueheart picks up Hope and gives her a big hug! "So glad you are finally here Hope!" she gushes. "We are really gonna need your skills for this challenge as well as all your friends." The other Fallen Angel's companions gathered around Hope and communicated about how they had missed her. Shy as ever Hope accepted their eagerness with pleasure and a blush.

"Ok y'all settle down now. I have a big task for all of you." Atrueheart says laying out a map of the maze. The Fallen Angels and their companions gather around and gaze at the map. "Not another freaking maze!" Jeice groans. The newest members look questioningly at Jeice and Atrueheart. "There was a wicked maze we Angels had to traverse on motorcycles on one of our adventures as Protectors of the Wayward Squirrel," Atrueheart explained. "It was very dangerous and a really rough ride! But this time around only our companions have to go into the maze and it seems fairly simple. Bonus! There will be no motorcycles this time around!" Atrueheart laughs as Jinx chitters away happily on her shoulder.

"Now.. we need to assign these sections to our companions and then send them on their way," Atrueheart states as she bends over the map. "As you can see there are 5 sections if you count the center. That is where our companions will end up when they complete their section." Atrueheart peers intently at the notes that she had been given on the maze and her personal notes. Written on her paper:

Section A = Moons Companion Hope because she is gentle and sympathetic

Section B = Gears Companions - Petya and Jinx

Section C = Suns Companions Salem because she speaks and highly intelligent and Geep

Section D = Blades because it's dangerous? Companions our two dragons for obvious reasons. Kwixis and Torchy

Section E = Staffs *because it's the center of the maze and will bring us back to a choice... "Gallery of Choices" Companions will be all of them and we will all meet there after solving our individual sections.

Reading her notes out loud Atrueheart is interrupted by Jinx, her alchemist. "I'm not sure about the assignment of voices to section B and C." she says, scratching her head. "It does mention fortune in B and it could mean either fortunes as in fortunetelling or as in riches. Gears would work if it means the fortune telling meaning and Suns would match if it has to do with actual riches." Jinx looks around the group to see what the others think. Kestra notes: "There is really no justification for Suns being section C except the process of elimination. All the other choices are taken." After some discussion, the group decides to go with Atrue's initial assessment.

"Are the companions all clear on their assigned sections?" Atrueheart asks, seeing the companions all show assent and seeing they all agree she states "Ok then Angels... give your companions last instructions and they need to be on their way. Time is of the essence!"

Outfit Not Found Laurie's Hope Atrueheart bends over and picks Hope up and looks directly into her eyes. "Now Hope, we need your gentle touch in section A. Do you understand?" asks Atrueheart. Hope shyly smiles and nods her head then hugs Atrueheart before hopping down. Jinx, Atrueheart's monkey companion chitters encouragement as Hope runs off to enter the maze through the left side entrance, heading for Section A.

Entering the maze, Hope is a little intimidated by the tall hedges. After all, she is just a wee small bear in a big world. But Hope is determined and heads off to the left down a pathway, counting the exiting paths off her corridor. After making several wrong turns she finally finds her way to the clearing in her section.

In the clearing of Section A is a beautiful garden with beautiful butterflies floating around on the breeze only marred by the sounds of disconsolate weeping. Hope, moved with compassion, begins to search the garden for the source of the weeping and behind a lilac bush, she finds a little fairy sitting on a toadstool weeping copious amounts of tears making a little puddle of tears at the foot of the toadstool. Hope hesitantly reaches out to the fairy and startled the fairy jumps up and stands on the toadstool. Seeing the compassion in Hope's eyes the fairy pours out her sad tale.

"My name is Tinklewink of the garden fairies," she states with a hiccup. "My job is to keep this garden beautiful and free of snails. Unfortunately, I am only one small fairy and the snails have proliferated so much this month that I can't seem to keep up with them." she cries. "I have one job to do and I am failing at it!" Tinklewink slumps back down on her toadstool and begins to weep again in earnest.

Hope reaches out and rubs the little fairy's back in consolation. Drawing her attention, Hope pantomimes that she will help her with the snail gathering. Tinklewink runs a hand over her eyes and her face, drying her tears and takes Hope's hand gratefully. "You will help me?" she asks hopefully. Hope nods in assent and then looks around. "Don't worry," Tinklewink says encouragingly. "I don't kill the snails. We just have to put them in these little boxes that are picked up by my sister Thistlewink every evening. She then takes them to the woods and releases them." Hope nods happily at this explanation and extends her hand for one of the little boxes. Seeing that the box has tiny air holes and some leaves in them she nods with satisfaction. Then motioning to the left, indicating the direction she will go in, Hope moves off and begins searching for snails. Tinklewink was right! There were loads of them on the plants, crawling along the paths and even under the toadstools. Hope quickly begins to gather them up in her little box, hunting diligently and leaving no leaf unturned. She is very gentle and careful not to squish any of them. After clearing her section of the garden, Hope returns to the toadstool to await Tinklewink's return. A much disheveled little bear with not a few leaves and twigs sticking to her fur, Hope begins to groom herself gently.

Tinklewink runs up to the toadstool and Hope breathes heavily and flops down on the grass, spilling her box of snails. "Pesky Pixies!" Tinklewink shouts as she jumps up again. Of course, the snails all make a slow run for it but Hope and Tinklewink quickly gather them back up again. After the last snail is back in the box Tinklewink gives Hope a great hug of appreciation. "I could not have done it without you!" she exclaims. "For all your help let me give you something in return." She begins quickly to scratch in the dirt path a map of the maze. Outlining a path to the center of the maze she smiles and states "Here is where you need to go next. There will be something there for you!"

After making sure the snail boxes are all secure, Hope hugs the little fairy again and sets off for the center of the maze. Turning back for one last look she sees Tinklewink flying around happily chasing butterflies and smiles gently then turns back to the path, eager to meet back up with her companion friends.

Private Outfit Hethlic's Petya Outfit Not Found Atrueheart's Jinx

Petya and Jinx Explore Section B

Hethlic grabs for his companion once he hears the tasks appointed by their leaders. Petya struggles, but not nearly as much as it did the first night he found it lying on the road. That had been a bad moment for his cart and its axels, as well as his face when his questing touch provoked the mossy stone lump into leaping five feet up into the air to smash into his zygomatic arch. "You heard Atrueheart," he murmurs to the pebble, now lashing out with its leaf. This time the leaf was razor edged, clearly broken off from one of the palace's exotic greenhouses. "Elegance, impossible with that moss on you, and cleverness. You're lucky I don't tape a natty hat to your head."

Begging a brush and some soapy lemon water off a palace attendant, he scrubs at the moss until he could finally make out the grooves of an ancient emblem etched into its back. At that, Hethlic pales. He could recognize the mark as a heavenly general's most troublesome scion, who was purified in flames and resurrected from petals and leaves. It would mean the positive attention from at least one watcher, but also a tendency to barrel through obstacles. He could only hope that Petya, imbued with that spirit, would succeed in aiding Jinx.

Atrueheart turned Jinx around to face her and asked: "You know what to do you cheeky little monkey?" Jinx turns up his nose as if offended that True would ever doubt him. Laughing Atrueheart pats him on his back and says "Alright, alright now. I know you are very intelligent and can get the job done." Jinx preens at the praise. "Now off you go Jinx and play nice with Petya." she says and then leans in to whisper "I know he's new at this so be patient!" Jinx raises one eyebrow in skepticism and then chitters in assent.

Jumping down from Atrueheart's arms he walks over to Petya and then points the way hooting with encouragement. Off they go into the maze, Jinx taking leaps and bounds and then waiting impatiently for Petya to roll up to him. Even though Petya has a tendency to roll off in the wrong direction they finally make it to the clearing in their section B of the maze. Looking around they see several bushes laid out in a pleasing array, but having done this kind of thing before Jinx holds Petya back and chitters at him. Always wary of booby traps and such, Jinx scratches some symbols on the ground to show that they can only choose one bush but need to decide which one. Petya twirls his little leaf in agreement and then starts rolling around the bushes in an intricate pattern and twirling his leaf swiftly. Jinx scratches his head in confusion until he sees that Petya has stirred up a whirlwind with his leaf and the bushes all begin to tremble.

There! In that bush, over to the side, they see a flash of color! Jinx hoots excitedly as Petya rolls over to sit in front of the bush. Jinx reaches forward and begins parting the leaves in search. Unfortunately, it's a holly bush and he gets poked a lot and has to pause in his search to suck his fingers and loudly protest the indignity of it all. Petya just sits and watches showing no emotions at all. Jinx finally starts jumping excitedly as he pulls out a pack of Singari cards! Petya twirls his leaf in approval. After doing a little bump and grind that he may or may not have seen Atrueheart perform, Jinx picks up Petya, and carrying the rock and the cards heads out of their section seeking the center of the maze.

Outfit Not Found Calie's Geep Outfit Not Found Jinx' Salem

Salem and Geep explore section C

Jinx squats down and scratches Salem behind one ear. He purrs loudly. "Be careful in there! Remember last time, you lost a few whiskers." The black cat stops purring. "You don't have to tell everyone about that, you know." Calie walks over to the pair and pulls out her companion. "Geep will go with you. He's pretty agile and smart. I'm sure he'll be able to help you along the way." "Really? A lizard? What's he going to do? Ooze on something?" Geep lets out a little peep in protest. Calie frowns. "He's pretty clever. I'm sure he will make good company for you. Unless you want to venture in that giant maze... alone." Salem looks at the entrance. He thinks a moment, then turns back. "Okay. I'll let him come with me. Just don't get in my way, okay?" Geep nods happily. He is eager to help out in any way he can. Calie places Geep on the grass. He immediately runs over to the entrance. "Better get a move on Salem. You don't want to be left behind, do you?" The mage chuckles. Salem slinks over to the entrance and disappears, his tail flicks in annoyance as he rounds the corner. "Okay Geep, let's find our way through this thing so we can be done already. I don't want to miss out on dinner." The pair makes their way through the winding corridors. Of course, they make a wrong turn a few times and have to turn themselves around, but they work their way further and further in. Geep tries to stay ahead of the cat. He's worried that if they don't get out of here, he could be the hungry feline's next meal. Salem tries to ignore the lizard as much as he can. He's bored already and regrets having to do this task. They come to another turn in the maze and once around, they enter a clearing. There's a small house at the other end. There's a garden on one side and some flowers on the other side. Both are looking a bit neglected as the flowers wilt and some leaves are brown around the edges. Geep runs over and climbs up a nearby tree. Salem's curiosity gets the better of him, so he slowly slinks up to the house to investigate. "GET OFF MY LAWN YOU PESKY SCOUNDRELS!" A booming voice growls from inside. Salem and Geep scramble away from the house and hide back in the maze. "What the heck was that?" Pants Salem. Geep just shakes his head. He has no idea. "Well we gotta find out, or we're not going any further. Not much of a lawn if you ask me. It's all patchy." So the two companions creep back out slowly. Geep quietly climbs back up the tree. He runs out onto a branch that sits close to the window and peers inside. It's a gnome! The lizard tries to get the cat's attention but Salem is busy sniffing and slinking towards the door. Suddenly the door swings open and the gnome bellows out, "I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO SCRAM!" "Jiminy Cricket!" Salem jumped three feet in the air and climbed up the tree next to Geep. "Hahahahaha! Look! A scardey cat! And one that can talk?" The cat's eyes narrow. "Who are you calling scared? I like to climb trees." "Well then, why don't you come down and talk to me?" The gnome grins, but not in a friendly way. "I actually like the view up here. Yes, I think I'll just stay put." The cat says matter-of-factly. "Suit yourself. You can just starve. Stupid cat." The gnome grumbles and slams his door. Salem looks at Geep. "Now what do we do?" His stomach grumbles. Geep scurries further up the branch. The cat sighs. "Don't worry, I don't eat leathery things. They give me indigestion." After several minutes pass, Salem starts to yowl. "Oh, my poor tummy is empty. There's nothing to eat around here. I may just shrivel up and die!" "SHUT UP YOU STUPID CAT!" The voice inside the home yells. The cat rolls over and looks at Geep. "I'm bored. Do you like riddles?" Geep stares at him blankly. Then as if a light went on in his tiny head, his eyes lit up. "Okay, okay, let's see if you know this one. I am useless when together but useful when broken apart. What am I?" The lizard thinks on it. Then he runs in a circle until he tightens into a ball shape. Then he pretends to hatch himself. "Very good, it's an egg. I didn't think you'd get that!" The cat purrs. "Well, you might do better if you asked a harder riddle." The gnome grumbles. Salem's ears perk up and he looked down at the gnome. "A harder one, eh? Okay, how about this one? Flat as a leaf, round as a ring; Has two eyes, can't see a thing. What am I?" The gnome scratches his head and thinks. He ponders the question by repeating it slowly. His hands pass over his shirt and his eyes lit up. "A button!" "Hmm, that one was pretty easy too." The cat purrs. "Let's try one more! Voiceless it cries, wingless it flutters, toothless it bites, and mouth-less it mutters. What am I?" This time the gnome walks over to a large stone and sits on it. While he ponders the answer Geep quietly climbs down the tree and runs over to the open doorway. He looks to make sure the gnome doesn't see him and slips inside. His eyes adjust to the darker interior of the cottage and he begins to look around. Garden tools are scattered about, dried dirt covers most of them. On a w

The Companions

Area A: A gentle companion brings pixie cheer

Private Outfit (((Gentle companions, seekers of happiness live under the sign of the moon, and bring cheer to others.)))

[center]

Pipsqueak was of a simple mind. While he was more intelligent than your average hedgehog, he was not of the magical kind. He had understood when Dahlia told him he was to do something very important, in a very important place, with a very important goal... and yet Pip was easily distracted by each fallen leaf his little paws found as he meandered alongside the towering hedges that lined the fantastic maze.

Tall place! He thought to himself excitedly. Maybe too tall... In fact he was sure that he was lost. At one point, he tried to traverse directly through the hedges but they seemed determined to halt his progress. This left Pip confused, as he was not aware that the area was cloaked with an enchanted veil meant to keep travelers from breaking the rules of the maze that had been set in place since it's creation.

Where go..? Pip asked himself as he scurried along, snuffling and chirping as he went. Unbeknownst to him, he'd come to be exactly where he was meant to be. The narrow maze opened into a small resting area, with marble benches and well cared for flower boxes. It was lovely in fact, lovely enough to distract Pip from his current mission as he hurried over to nibble on a fallen petal.

Pipsqueak could have easily lost track of time in his snacking, if not for the soft crying he heard. At first he was startled, his lunch forgotten as he curled into a protective ball with a worried squeak. Surely there were no hungry predators around here, right?

Some thirty seconds passed before Pip risked a peek at his surroundings. He was relieved to find that he was not being held in the jaws of some hungry animal... but there was still crying coming from somewhere.

Sounds. Sad sounds. Oh no!

Pipsqueak hurried about in panicked circles as he tried to determine the source of the noise, before he eventually collided nose first into one of the carved benches.

Ouch! He exclaimed in a high squeak. He began chattering grumpily, giving the (inanimate) bench a piece of his mind. It was then that Pip noticed that there was something on top of the bench in question. A hummingbird? No... perhaps a butterfly?

Pipsqueak waddled backwards, standing up on his hind legs and sniffling the air as he tried to get a better look. It wasn't a butterfly at all! It looked to be a fae folk. A small pixie... and she was sad!

Oh no. No sad! Pip chittered worriedly. He tried to scramble up onto the bench but his little feet could not grip onto the smooth marble. Pip made it up partway before tumbling down and comically rolling a short distance away. This succeeded in catching the saddened pixie's attention and she peered over the side of the bench at Pipsqueak down below.

As Pip's world stopped spinning, he looked up at the pixie curiously. It appeared that she had been crying for some time and this made Pip feel terribly sad. He wasn't sure what was wrong and he was incapable of speech, so he could not ask himself... but there had to be SOMETHING he could do to cheer her up. Even if he could not solve her troubles, perhaps he could bring a smile to her face?

And so Pip got to work, trying in brighten her day by sharing all the things that made him happy - maybe they'd make her happy too! He rolled somersaults. He flopped over onto his back to greet the sun. He began gathering an assortment of objects to give to her in offering. Leaves, pebbles, acorn shells leftover from some other critter's lunch... anything his tiny paws could carry. The pixie watched him all the while.

At first she was simply confused... after all, what was he doing? However, as she watched his antics her tiny sniffles turned to small, tearful giggles. With great effort Pipsqueak had managed to scale one of the flower boxes and as he frolicked back, holding the stem of a flower in his mouth like a grand trophy, he was unaware that all but one petal had been carried off by the breeze.

As Pipsqueak placed the flower on top of the pile of treasures, his heart sank when he saw that the flower was ruined. He chittered sadly, looking up to the pixie to offer an apology for his meager gift... but to his surprise, she was smiling! Not only that, she was flying down to meet him!

The little hedgehog bowed his head respectfully as the pixie made a delicate landing before him and his eyes lit up as he watched her look over the mountain of gifts he'd gathered for her. Which would be her favorite? To his surprise, she chose the single petal that had remained off of the flower. She held it close, running her fingers over the petal as if it were made from the finest of fabric. Her eyes still shone with tears, but her smile was warm and thankful.

She stepped closer, leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on the tip of Pipsqueak's nose.

Pipsqueak was positively giddy now! He chattered excitedly, spun circles and performed more somersaults. When he looked again she was gone - most fae folk were masters at disappearing acts and it seemed she was no exception. Pip didn't know if he had come here to meet her, but something told him he'd done what he needed to do. He felt that he was one step closer to fulfilling his important mission and that he could now continue through the maze to join his friends.

[spoiler=Area C: A peacemaking companion draws out a gnome] Private Outfit (((Companions living under the gear live bound by time and riddles))) Okay, so area C...

Area C: Is occupied by a grouchy gnome who loves riddles. You must devise one that would draw him out of his house on the far end. You must not make him mad. And if we decided it is the Gears, then... 5) Gears - for those whose lives are bound by the workings of time, both harsh and joyous, and the eternal gears of the universe

In a clearing near the entrance to the third part of the maze, a flash of lightning suddenly lit the space, the light so dazzling it filled the great emptiness of the clearing. When the light had faded, a tiny fox was visible there, as if it had arrived with the light. Its fur was a beautiful, gleaming shade somewhere between white and blue, reminiscent of the great glow that had been present just moments before. The animal raised its head as though listening to something.

"A mysterious maze? What are you worrying about so, Raine?" the creature asked, it's voice as soft as a gentle shower. It seemed to wait for an answer from its master, though the master was not in the clearing. "I see... Yes, I can explore it for you. I do enjoy a good puzzle. A riddle is an excellent way to while away the time that holds us so tightly in its paws."

With that, the creature stepped lightly into the maze. She wandered about happily, dashing about energetically, exploring under this bush and that, and stepping down many long lanes. She took joy in the beauty of the place, dashing about after fireflies, and examining the plants that filled the space.

"Oh, a willow! She exclaimed suddenly. "That reminds me of a lovely riddle I heard once... What tree grieves more than any other?" The animal listened for the silent answer of her human companion once again. "No, no... Not a birch. They have lovely papery bark, but the answer is a willow tree. A weeping willow, of course."

As she wandered and dashed through the plants, she suddenly spotted a little hut in the distance. It was a grumpy-looking house, sure to house a grumpy sort of creature. But time passes too quickly to spend it grouching. "Perhaps I can bring the owner a bit of cheer," the fox thought out loud. She dashed towards the building, and turned to tap her tail lightly against the door. No answer came from inside, but a deep rumble of some kind shook the house a bit. She paused for a moment, then knocked again. "I go through a door from beginning to end, yet I never enter, and I never leave," she chanted merrily.

"My door has no keyhole, thank you very much," came a gruff return. "Because I let no one in, and I never leave. What need have I then for a keyhole?"

"Do you not?" The fox said in surprise. "But it's so lovely out here! Is there nothing that would bring you out?"

"Nothing!" the owner of the house declared. "Now go away. You're disturbing the silence of my garden." The little fox peered through the window beside the door of the cottage, but she saw no one inside. Only a tiny sculpture stood visible inside.

"But couldn't you enjoy your garden better if you came out into it?" She got no reply. She stepped away from the window and glanced around. "Why don't you leave your house?"

"I have a good reason to never leave. What would I find out there? I have all I need here. Where can you find adventure and treasure, live many lives, and enter with only your hands for a key?"

"That's easy," the fox replied. "In a book. But wouldn't you like to have some adventures yourself? After all, you only live once!"

"No need. The adventures within these walls are enough for one gnome."

"What about a good riddle?" she asked. "I've just been telling some riddles myself. They're such fun!"

"A riddle is a worthy cause, but I haven't found a riddle of worth in many years. You have no riddles to share that would bring me out of this house."

"I have three riddles that may prove worthy," the fox said gently. "If I can tell a riddle that pleases you, will you come out and join me for a picnic?"

"It can't be done, and I won't come out, but perhaps I could listen to one."

"What travels without leaving, staying together while heading apart, separating from its companions even as it joins them again?"

"Grr," grumbled the gnome. "That's a tough one. The only thing that can travel away and towards something at the same time must be circular... Could it be a gear?" The gnome sculpture from before appeared suddenly in the window beside the door, peering out at the fox. "That's not a bad riddle, I suppose," he grumbled. "But I'm not coming out!"

"Maybe for a second riddle?" asked the fox. "I bring joy and sorrow, and exist in many forms. I am never seen, smelt, or felt, but am known in every land. What am I?"

"Oh... I love music," murmured the gnome. The gnome pushed open the door slightly. "Wherever did you find those rhymes?" it asked. "Though I'm not coming out!" it declared hastily.

"Oh, I've heard many riddles, in many places," returned the fox. "But I have one more that I really love... What flows through all lands, from start to finish, though no one knows its source nor its end? It is filled with every experience, from beginning to end, is always the same, yet always different, and carries us forward, never to return?"

"Why, that's a beautiful riddle..." came the gnome's reply. "I do love riddles. It can't be a river, because a source can be found, and you can always travel back again. It can't be life, because that to reaches an end. A book goes through many lands, but you always know when you've reached the end. What else could it be? Oh! Of course! Time! Do you have any more riddles?"

"I have many," replied the fox. "I'll share them with you, if you'll come out in this garden and help me eat a few of the raspberries growing here."

"Well..." The gnome thought about it for a moment. "I suppose I could, if only for a few minutes. But only if you have plenty more riddles!" The fox seemed to smile in reply, and the gnome stepped carefully out of the house, peering about as he did. The two settled in by the raspberries, sharing riddles as they nibbled away at the fruit.

"Riddle me this," the gnome said suddenly. "What is always dark, green, and filled with leaves, yet allows you to walk through with ease?"

"Hmm.... an opening in a maze like this one would do exactly that," the fox spoke up after a moment's thought. "But I think I've explored every part of this maze by now, and I haven't found any more openings!"

"Well, what about that one?" The gnome asked, pointing behind the fox. "There never was one there before!" The fox jumped up to explore the space. Sure enough, an opening had appeared that hadn't been there before! It seemed to lead into the cente

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/iamnotagraphicdesigner_zpsrcdlyyfp.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/iamnotagraphicdesigner_zpsrcdlyyfp.png[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/278078_zpsf2avyiwz.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/278078_zpsf2avyiwz.png[/IMG][/URL] A: The Moon - Love and Happiness with Sorrow

Galaxia listens to Madi and the others discuss the maze, still holding that silvery gem. When they mention companions, the woman with golden-red hair kneels and cups her hands low to the ground, the shape in her hands beginning to glow and levitate about a foot off the ground. A pinkish-lavender light emanates from the pearl visible in the center of the shape, swirling in a spiral pattern that ribbons to form front legs, an inquisitively scrunched-up nose, long ears, and hind legs. The light solidifies into a silvery-white Kanis with a moon symbol on her forehead, sitting up attentively. "Sailor Moon, you're needed," Galaxia says, scritching the rabbit between the ears. "If there is anyone who can solve a problem with their pure hope and tenaciousness, it is what I learned from your namesake that can win the day. Are you willing to help?"

The Kanis nods, hopping around excitedly. "Of course! Love and justice for everyone! Where should I go?"

"That maze."

"M-maze? " The Kanis's ears droop, but she rallies and hops off in the direction indicated, running backward to wave at Galaxia before she takes a deep breath and disappears into the greenery. Initially her progress is slow, but she picks up her pace when she hears crying. She's careful to moderate her helter-skelter speed and takes more sedate steps towards the fairy with the crumpled wing, blood still spraying from the ruptured veins. "Oh no..." Sailor Moon casts around for aloe leaves and ends up gently unpicking an abandoned cobweb as a bandage before the fairy notices her, looking up with an angry shriek. "Another stranger!" Sailor Moon walks back with the cobweb just in time to face three more fairies with punishing spells ready. But still the little Kanis, focusing on the injured one, walks through the hostile additions. She is careful not to disturb their perches or let the spiderweb be destroyed, and keeps her motions gentle and deliberate as she goes to wrap it around the injured fairy's wing. Her persistence in the face of attack to help someone in pain wins them over enough for Sailor Moon to finish tending to the broken wing, and hopefully be let through to the center of the maze.

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/274836_zpshqn6r7nl.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/274836_zpshqn6r7nl.png[/IMG][/URL] B: The Sun - A Rich Life with Happiness and Elegance

Ameana watched as all her friends sent out their companions into the maze. Lyuri was brilliant and would be able to move through her section with ease. Giving the little bird a kiss on the head, Andraste sent her off on her mission.

Lyuri wandered through her gorgeous section of maze, staring at the hedges around her as she went. She paused, unabled to go further due to her way being blocked on 3 sides. She knew that one hedge was a trick, it was just a matter of which one. At first she thought to peek her head in, but didn't know what may lie in wait inside each hedge. She decided, after some thought, that flying up would be the best way to see. So up she flew, forcing her wings to raise her higher and higher, until she could see over the maze. She saw her friends in various sections, and finally located the middle of the maze. Looking down towards her own area, she saw the left side was open on the other side of the hedge, and something was lying on the ground.

She dove down, quickly running back through the hedge and scooping up her scroll. She remembered Ameana mentioning something about a clue that they needed and hoped this would be it.

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/275562_zps3xumrpfu.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/275562_zps3xumrpfu.png[/IMG][/URL] C: Staff - Adventure, Friendship, and Action

Aodh had sent Slíocach off with a laugh. Riddles were something the sprite loved, like all fey creatures. And hopefully his companion was able to come up with something that would make the gnome curious. At the same time, Aodh really hoped Slíocach's prankster side would stay well-hidden. "No playing games with him. You need to use riddles to lure him out, not his temper!" The sprite had nodded and flown off.

He weaved through the bushes and leaves before calling out towards the gnome the first stanze of a riddle of old: "Have you been to the mountain, Whose summit abounds in morning stalks black as coal, Become white as snow come evening, sans rain? Down a trail was I led by a foal,"

His answer was snarled laughter, and the gnome practically yelled out the answer. "You got any more, boy?" Slíocach flew closer and said the next few stanzas.

"There, two boxes lay, "Why don't you open them," he asked. Was there a sound to be heard? Nay! To retrieve its contents was I tasked.

Further down the slope were two wells, Which I could not see, for I could not turn around, Distracted by whistles and bells, The contents of the boxes kept secret, would they ever be found?"

The gnome chuckled some more and to seemed to come closer. Hoping this was the case, the sprite then closed the riddle with the remaining stanzas.

"At the end of the path, Was, by the mountain's foot, a glade, With a deep well whose water I can use for a bath, To my surprise was the fount filled with many a blade!

Alas, it was too late, Down a damp tunnel, I made my descent, Perhaps this was my fate, Without completing my quest, my life was spent."

Finally the gnome stood in front of Slíocach, the sprite thus having fulfilled the task given. "A very nice riddle, boy. Nice to see youth still has taste," commented the gnome, still a bit cranky but that seemed to be simply his age speaking.

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/275084_zpsywxor55o.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/275084_zpsywxor55o.png[/IMG][/URL] D: The Blade - Intrigue and Danger Below the Surface

Elethia enters the forest with her companions. Hearing an odd rustle, she quickly turns and is startled by the massive deer that is gazing back at her. It measures her with its stare before turning and disappearing into the maze. Wiping sweat from her brow, she hurries up to join her companions who hadn't even noticed the deer.

They reach the maze entrance along the hilly path, and that is where Elethia bids farewell to her trusted and grouchy companion Mr. Scoots. She trusts that Lappy and Twofer will look out for him, but knowing how much trouble he can get into on his own she cringes in worry even as he brushes against her reassuringly and then joins the other companions to enter the maze.

Trudging along the path, he reaches an impasse. There is a blocked off area that seems to be where they need to go, but before that they notice paths branching off in four different directions. Mr. Scoots listens to the requirements and then chooses the lower right path. He contemplates what Voice to give this area, but his question is answered by the triggering of a trapped planter. Realizing that it's full of peril, he elects it to be known as Blades.

Heading deeper in and careful not to fall into the middle of the planters, he makes his way carefully around the edge of each one. Before he can pride himself on his cunning when sprinting to another one, the ground gives way under his feet. Yowling out in alarm, he is surprised to feel himself lifed up by the loose skin on the back of his neck and deposited to safe ground. He looks up to see a tall dark deer bounding away into the underbrush.

His new plan of action is to fling a rock across planter surfaces as he comes to them. If nothing happens, he ventures quickly across it, but if a trap is sprung then he scales carefully around and tenses his legs to take flying leap across the mechanisms of the trap. Not as elegant as one of his flying companions could do it, but he figures that it gets the job done. Leaping over another, he sees a planter that has an odd plaque sitting on its surface. Cautiously walking up to the item and peering down, he sees a strange indentation. When he brushes it with his paw, it emits a strange clicking noise. The plants hum, and the sense of foreboding leaves the area. Confident that this is what he had to do, Mr. Scoots gives himself a virtual pat on the back and then heads back to join the others.

[URL=http://s347.photobucket.com/user/Emburii/media/277212_zpsrdsmshue.png.html][IMG]http://i347.photobucket.com/albums/p450/Emburii/277212_zpsrdsmshue.png[/IMG][/URL] E: Gear - Fate, Both Joyous and Terrible

The companions gather in the center of the maze, each sharing their journeys and trials. Slíocach is repeating a riddle, and Sailor Moon is still playing with a bit of cobweb as they head towards the center of the maze. There they pause and stare at silver gears, unweathered by the elements, strung and wired in the trees above. None of the cogs turn, however, until the deer that had assisted Mr. Scoots materializes out of the forest (causing the cat to squeak and jump in surprise, demanding, "Why are you here?") The question goes unanswered by the animal of intrigue. "What is all that up there?" Sailor Moon asks aloud, answered by Slíocach. "We don't know, and can we do anything but watch? Whether it portends good or ill for us, I suppose what comes next is fate that we are helpless against..."

Post no longer needed.

Jalapenos Post (to come) I just got done working 12 hours...can eat and nap for 2 hours and have to be at work again for another 4 or so hours. then 4 hours off and then 8 hours more work....SHOULD have posted sometime before Sunday night ends...if not Monday for sure cus I don't have to do much work...Compromised hence the many hours in a row)

,

The Jalapenos all gathered around the entrance of the maze, looking at the map and trying to figure out what exactly was going on.

"Dazed and Confused" Spring mumbled. "Who put that part in our name anyways? I think it's trying to haunt us." Everyone stared at Tea who shrugged and said "HEY! It's not my fault that you all let me name us! It made sense at the time!"

"What is this even?" Lovecraft poked at the instructions. "Are they even in English?" Reaper glanced at the paper she was holding. "I THINK so....?"

"But voices...I don't even know!" Terrena looked exasperated.

"If it's the voices in Witchy's head...or Terrena's, I'm not listening!" Lovecraft flopped onto the grass. "I need a drink."

"Well" Witchy said. "I have no rainbow and I'm stressed and I don't even know what we're doing."

"I think Howie is up to this!" Kaiidth tried to sound encouraging.

"And Selawick can smell a trap a mile away! Remember last year he got us such valuable intel from the camp and was quick about it!"

"And I have no doubt that my kitten is gentle enough to cheer up anyone who is sad." Terrena said.

"Well, if I knew what the voices were suppose to be, I reckon maybe we'd actually know how to direct these companions of ours. But I just....I don't know why but it makes no sense to me!" Spring looked annoyed.

"We can sing and dance!" Tea suggested hopefully. No one looked amused.

SO THE ADVENTURERS SAY GOOD LUCK, AND THE COMPANIONS GO OFF into the maze.

Private Outfit Area A (Moon)

MagicaNox purred to herself as she padded along the maze into the area marked “A” on the map. She looked fierce and she was strong and agile. But when unthreatened, her cuddly happy self couldn’t help but find joy and adventure in everything. As she went along, she tumbled after grasshoppers, and chased butterflies and stopped to sniff any flower or bug that caught her eye. She didn’t know what the other companions were doing, but at least SHE was enjoying her afternoon in the beautiful lushness of the maze. It was peaceful, and it was exactly a thousand times more fun than listening to Name Pending tell bad jokes or to have to put up with Selawick squeaking and making her think he was some random field mouse all the time.

MagicaNox was just about to pounce on yet another glittering grasshopper when she suddenly stopped. Her keen ears picked up a sound she couldn’t help but feel felt out of place in this beautiful, peaceful maze. In fact, she was pretty sure it sounded like someone was sad.

“No one should be sad on this beautiful day!” she thought, and picked up her pace, following her ears to find out who and what exactly was crying.

The sound got louder, and soon MagicaNox knew for sure that it was the sound of sobbing. It lead her towards the middle of the maze, where she saw a little pixie sitting in a patch of daisies crying as if there was no such thing as a good day.

Immediately, MagicaNox felt sad for the little Pixie. She gently slipped up beside her and nudged her with her nose and put a soft paw on the Pixie’s leg.

“What’s wrong?” She meowed. “Do you need something to hug?”

The little Pixie looked up and saw the big eyed kitten and cried a little harder, but she did reach her hand out to stroke MagicaNox’s back and head. MagicaNox liked that and snuggled a little bit closer.

“Oh, Kitten!” Said the Pixie. “It’s been a terrible day! I was suppose to come here with a friend. We were going to dance in the moonlight and watch the fireflies. It is my birthday today, and we were going to have elvin tea and cakes. But I overslept this afternoon and it’s almost dark already! I’m afraid to go on the trail alone.”

MagicaNox looked up. It was getting dusky. But she could see at night and wasn’t worried. “That is sad.” She said. “But it is not quite dark and maybe you don’t have to be alone! We could go together. My eyes are good in the day but even better at night. I can help you. It’s your birthday and it is going to be a lovely night, I know it ”

The little Pixie sat up straighter and wiped her eyes. “Do you think so?” She said. “Yes!” MagicaNox mewed.

“Well, if you are sure...the path to where we were to dance is this way.” The Pixie pointed to an almost hidden doorway beyond her a little.

“Let’s go!” MagicaNox said. “Just keep your hand on my back if you are afraid.” So together, Magica and the little Pixie walked along the trail.

The trail was less traveled than where MagicaNox had been earlier in the day, but as the evening began to deepen, the night flowers filled the air with a beautiful perfume. Fireflies began to twinkle. And suddenly, the narrow maze opened into a wide and beautiful garden with a moonlit pond. The sky was filled with fireflies dancing, and reflecting with the moonlight off of the pond illuminating a garden of evening flowers planted in the shape of the moon.

The Pixie was smiling. “Isn’t it beautiful?” She breathed. MagicaNox nodded. And as they neared the pond, MagicaNox saw a group of Pixies gathered around a little woodland table covered with flowers and gifts.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” They coursed. And music and dancing filled the air.

MagicaNox knew this was the center of the Moon section of the maze and was content that not only had she made the Pixie happy again, but she had accomplished her mission.

Outfit Not Found Area B (Staff) Kaiidth looks at the maze entrance she pets Howie, worried. "Use your nose, and blessed be my bright friend. " She whispers before kissing his head.

Howie starts into the maze his ears turning to listen to the other ambiance noses so to know what is just a "normal" noise. He starts sniffing the bushes on his way in he knew the Singari smell from staying at the camp and having been around the fortune teller. The scent of clove and smoke, not like the tobacco kind but of like a well made fire.

He turned a few times coming to a dead end once or twice he continues on knowing there was a way though. Coming into a clearing he looks around. He remembers kai saying he could only search one brush for a deck of cards. He stands near them and starts to look for small hints of the singori. He takes a few passes before deciding on one. He uses his nose poking around it. He knows it's the right bush and gets up on his hind legs stick his nose into the bush he woof, his tail wagging excitedly as he gently takes the cards in his mouth. Successful he goes to head back to kaiidth and the rest of the really odd group. Hoping they would soon be done and be heading home to the waddling little human.

Seeing howie emerge victorious kaiidth kneels and hugs him tightly. "Great job buddy!!!" She takes the cards and looks to the other before opening the bundle.

Outfit Not FoundOutfit Not Found Area C (Gears) Spike and Name Pending bump into each other and head off towards section C. "Why on earth are they sending us here?" Name Pending thinks. Spike shrugs and gives a grunt. "Probably because we're so jolly and fun." He doesn't speak, but Name Pending gets the point: Spike could care less about being jolly or fun...or having a conversation with Him.

"So all we have to do is tell him a riddle and he'll be happy, right?" Name Pending tries to remember the riddles that Tea is always laughing over and nudges Spike again. “A little help would be nice, buddy!”

Spike glares. “I’m just here to make sure you don’t get lost. Or distracted by some random cart or creature along the way.” He silently thinks. “If there’s a riddle, you’re on your own.”.

“OKAY.” Name Pending sputters. “So you don’t want to help. Fine. We can just walk silently. Doing nothing. Being...boring. That’s just going to make this trip so much more pleasant.”

Spike just keeps walking.

They haven’t gone a few feet before Name Pending seems to have forgotten his statement about silent walking and starts up again.

“SO...this riddle thing! I’ve been thinking.”

What about.... "What's a lady Gnome called? .... A Misgnomer!" Name Pending snorts at how clever he is, but Spike doesn’t laugh.

“Really?” He thinks. “I’m sure that’s going to go over super well.”

Or... What is the original homeland of Gnomes? ....the Gnoman Empire! Just don’t tell Norway!” Name Pending is super pleased with himself now, and doesn’t even care if Spike is ignoring him. He keeps going.

“Why do all gnomish adventurers finally return to the place they came from?” He says.

A voice from...somewhere says:

“Because there's no place like gnome.”

Name Pending stops so fast he digs up the grass and about does a backflip. “SPIKE CAN TALK!” His eyes are as big as saucers.

“I’d never let you know if it if I did.” Spike rolls his eyes and pokes Name Pending with his tail, trying to get him to look under the trees just ahead.

Name Pending just keeps talking. “Does Reaper know this?? Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul that you can actually talk. BOY won’t the others be surprised when they find out!” He contradicts himself and doesn’t notice.

Spike rolls his eyes. “LOOK AT THE DAMN TREES!” He internally shouts.

“My name isn’t Spike, dummy!” the voice, “And if you want me to talk to you you’ll have to come up with something better than that stupid, overused riddle. Even the newest Gnome in the maze knows that already.”

Name Pending’s mouth is practically on the floor. “It’s...not...you…” He whispers.

“OF COURSE IT’S NOT HIM!” The Gnome bellows. “You might actually get somewhere if you wouldn’t talk so much and paid attention.”

Finally realizing the voice was coming from the trees, Name Pending cautiously moves closer…”So you’re a...Gnome? GNOMEO the Gnome?”

The little leafy gate starts to shut tighter. “If you came here to interrogate me about my name, you can leave. And for heaven’s sake, NO. Gnomes don’t name their kids Gnomeo. That’s just in the movies.”

“Ohh.” Name Pending looks disappointed. “I guess I wasted my time watching that film before I came here then. All we need to know is how to get to the center. I thought Gnome Jokes would make sense.”

“You were wrong. OBVIOUSLY. Because I’m not laughing. But, unfortunately, you are right...if you can make me laugh, I’ll have to help you find your way. At this rate, I highly doubt I’ll have to be troubled.” The Gnome says grumpily.

“Boy, isn’t he a ray of sunshine?” Name Pending whispers loudly to Spike who glares at him like he’d burn him up in a flash if he thought he could get by with it.

“So… a riddle that makes you laugh? You could give a clue!” Name Pending settles in front of the door. “Like...are you ticklish at all?”

“WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH RIDDLES?!” The Gnome explodes. “I’m going to stop talking to you now. You have an hour or I’m going back to bed.”

“Great.” Name Pending says. “Now I have two cheerful buddies and no one wants to help me so I’m going to tell you a real good one! In fact, I’ll sing and dance as I tell you! Might as well have fun since you two are so delightful today.

Spike groans and covers his ears. But Name Pending doesn’t even look his direction and begins to recite in a singsongy voice as he dances up and down in front of the Gnome’s door.

"Why did the orange stop in the middle of the hill? The hilll the HILLLLLLLL! O wouldn’t you like to know why the orange stopped in the middle of the hill.”

“It ran out of juice.” The Gnome said in a monotone voice.

“Oh. You heard that one already?” Name Pending sounds disappointed, but only for a moment before launching back in.

“Whooo comes to a picnic, picnic, piiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiccc….who comes to a picnic but is never invited?”

“Ants. And they are invited. You just don’t know it.” The Gnome still doesn’t sound the least bit amused but Name Pending isn’t deterred.

He sing songs through another riddle.

“A man had a pet centipede. He said, “centipede, go get the paper and make it snappy!” A half an hour later the man went outside and said, “I thought I told you to get the paper a half an hour ago!” “Well, I had to put on my shoes,” said the centipede.”

He stops to laugh at his own joke and the Gnome doesn’t say anything. Name Pending goes through every joke he can think of. But the Gnome is not impressed. Finally, because he is very thirsty, Name Pending takes a break. Spike is sprawled out under a tree playing with some snails. Name Pending jumps up and claps.

“Okay!” Name Pending says. I think I have it this time!”

“You have 5 minutes so you’d better hurry.” The Gnome growls.

“So listen to this one!” Name Pending is jumping up and down now, trying to hold in his own laughter.

“A man was looking out his window when he noticed that there was a snail on one of his plants. So he took the snail and threw him as far as he could. Ten years later the old man heard a tap tap tap on his window.”

Name Pending stops. He stretches out his tail and pretends to be very interested in looking at the leaves on the four leaf clover plants that abound in this part of the maze.

“AND??” The gnome says impatiently.

“OH, yeah! I guess I didn’t finish.” Name Pending says nonchalantly, but his eyes glow impishly and even Spike is grinning for once.

“and when he looked up he saw a very cross snail who looked at him and said, “Hey, what did you do that for?”

The Gnome coughed. He sputtered a little, but he couldn’t help himself. He laughed. And laughed. He opened the door, and laughed some more, and pointed to the snail that Spike had been looking at.

“THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID WHEN I DID THAT!”

Name Pending looked skeptical but grinned. “Well, understandable I suppose. Now...do you show us the path or do I need to ask the snail?”

“Alright, Alright!” Said the Gnome, “It’s this way.” And he opened the leafy door, which magically grew big enough for the two dragons and let them inside.

While he was not perfectly jolly, the Gnome was at least pleasant as he walked along the path, telling them how each door and walkway was perfectly organized and worked together like a giant clock.

At the end of the path, Spike and Name Pending came to a stop as the Gnome opened the last door and revealed a garden that was perfectly organized and intertwined like the gears of a swiss watch.

“This” said the Gnome, “Is my masterpiece.”

Spike gaped and Name Pending said “wooah. It’s impressive...even for a very smart Gnome!”

The Gnome looked secretly pleased. “My name, by the way,” He said, “Is Utstyr. It means ‘gear’. In Norwegian. Where Gnomes come from.” He turns with a small wave, and disappears through yet another hidden door.

“Well”, thinks Spike. “We have what we need here.” Name Pending just stares, speechless for once.

Outfit Not FoundOutfit Not Found Going into AREA D (Blades) Turning to Selawick, Squeek whispers, "Area D? Is that like Area 51?" Selawick just ignores her, trying to sniff the air, and see if he can pick up any info.

Squeek the bunny and Selawick stand at the edge of their assigned area, sniffing apprehensively. Squeek thinks to herself, "I've survived Witchys cauldron explosions, and houses falling out of the sky, I should be able to get though some planter traps. I wonder what's in the middle of this maze?"

Selawick, a mouse though he may be, knows his way around traps and immediately senses that this route is filled with them. Nudging Squeek, he tells her "Watch out for the vines!"

They set off together, carefully working their way along the path, stopping often for Selawick to sniff and for Squeek to listen. The maze is beautiful, almost bewitching with vines and flowers and even tempting berries that Selawick and Squeek both crave.

"But the berries could be poisoned", Squeek says. "I think we'd better not try any." Selawick agrees.

Suddenly Squeek stops. There's a break in the hedge and her ears perk up. "THIS WAY!" she says. She's always been good with direction, and Selawick follows her lead, warning her along the way of the traps he sees and keeping an eye out for any danger signs as they advance quickly towards the center of the maze. Squeek is so intent on finding the center she forgets about the vines for a second. She hops up on one of the planters to try to get an "overview".