Hell-o High Water

[Miriam]

Scampering feet flew over the frosted grass while her toes her numb enough already, trying to follow the small mouse through the dark. "It's not my fault I didn't wake from my nap!" She said with visible breath from chattering teeth. The boogie child couldn't help that she'd found a conveniently warm and cozy spot in the sunlight earlier today and fallen asleep. Was just now that the sun had set and the temp had chilled that she'd awoke shivering and was now scampering back to the South Hall with her familiar leading the way through the dark.

"Chiki!" Leave it to a mouse to keep running without saying word! Following the tuft of white fur was more daunting than she liked, following the rodent as Chiki changed course and led the girl on a shortcut through the Orchard. Didn't help that being outside - alone - in the dark of Wonderland.. didn't bother most boogies but Miriam couldn't help but feel a tad spooked.

"Chiki this isn't right! We need to-" her urgent call was cut off with a screech of her own design, ducking last minute and dashing around a peach tree. Everyone knew the Orchard was one of the more.. lively places in Wonderland. A bit akin to the Labyrinth, if just in more stationary and (mostly) harmless forms. "Oof!" Something caught her foot and she stumbled over catching herself on two left feet. Catching herself on the branches of another, Miriam squeaked as she heard tearing cloth and her toes wiggled in the air - being lifted off the ground.

"No-no-no-no-no-no-no! Put me down!" Oh she'd heard of what happened to slaves in such a mess. They became a mess strewed across the Orchard grounds with intestines and stuff hanging from the trees and- Miriam shut the thought there. "Stop it!" Grabbing at the twigs that smacked her already chilled skin, it wasn't doing much to help the situation. They never complained in the daytime!

Though she couldn't see her, Chiki watched from below her Mistress's kicking feet, running in a small circle now and again before turning beady little red eyes to stare into the darkness of where they'd come. Either result wasn't going to turn out too well.

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

He who fancied himself a gardener here could easily be shredded by the ornery flora. Shaehern made it sport to keep an eye on the particularly dangerous places in Wonderland and entertain himself with the deaths of foolish slaves. Tonight a glowing red messenger had told him that there was a child of interest asleep in the orchard. Shaehern's eyes did not penetrate far inward, but his guide knew exactly where it was going.

That was fortunate, and Shaehern found himself treading carefully through the woods. His movement wasn't quite walking; there was a slithering characteristic to it. His feet just barely touched roots that might have tried to slip him up and his footing was solid and infallible. He could hear the frantic cries in the distance. "No-no-no-no-no-no-no! Put me down!"

Why did they always do that? It brought quite a bit of cheer to Shaehern's face, but it was a foolish endeavor. The wild flora or fauna would not be convinced by even the best worded of arguments, if it wasn't placed in their language. Shaehern pondered what language that might be, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a small figure struggling with a few branches. Shaehern became painfully aware of the trees on either side of him, but did not make any motions yet.

"What strange fruit these branches bear," he said with a chortle. What was this child's name again? This one in particular had a tendency of escaping his memory more often than not. "Maybe I'll pick it and take it home."

[Miriam]

Maybe had the child been quieter and calmer she might've noticed the red glowy thing, or that someone was speaking not far off but she was a bit too preoccupied for that. "Don't snap the branches. Don't snap the branches. Don't snap the branches!" The frantic little mantra was murmured repeatedly while she tried fending them off to the tune of tearing cloth at every quick motion or jerk she made. A helpless cause from the start. "Put me down or I'm going to snap you to bits!!!" The girl screamed at it, flailing, spinning right around from where the back of her clothing was snagged, and ripped apart promptly dropping her to the ground.

The roots made for a hard landing and the bare ones started curling up towards her, but the boogie child was already scrambling for a safe distance, tumbling over her feet more than running but the goal was still accomplished. Panting Miriam slumped to the ground, wiping her face. Gah, she hated this place now. Chiki scrambled upon her lap while Miri shivered, reaching around to her back. More than some scratches, she was sure she looked like she'd just fought a bramble bush or something but the tree had already done its own damage.

It was tore part way down her back, which made it awfully cold but that wasn't what bothered the boogie the most. She lived in the South Wing, with the slaves. She lived, spoke, and for all purposes acted as though she were one too. No-one really thought much different, save for one physical detail that would always give her away. "Crap!" The sides could be held together but it really wouldn't fix the issue if she ran into any slaves she knew. There really was no good way to hide the pair of scales that ran down either side of her spine. Thank heavens they were alone out here. Miriam groaned at the thought. That was also what'd gotten her into this mess.

"No, I don't know where we're going. This isn't going to work though Chi." Pulling the pins from her hair it covered most of what the tear didn't. "C'mon, before they start walking or something." Tumbling to her feet Miriam waited for her familiar to lead the way, a safer one that is. "Well? What?" The little mouse didn't budge, instead staring into the darkness. Miriam frowned, and shivered. Chiki didn't ignore her much without reason. Blinking in the direction she searched for what Chiki had evidently noticed. "Who's there?"

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

The dim red light illuminated the delicate features of Shaehern's face. A slave might think that they had lucked out if it was Shaehern that caught them doing no good. There were worse demons to meet in the dark of the night. Stepping closer to the child with his too-cheerful grin plastered on his face the distance between him and the girl closed rapidly.

"It's a bad sort of night to be out picking fruits, little one." Shaehern lowered his face so he could get closer to eye-level with the girl. "Spin," he murmured. The floating red light spun around the youth several times, allowing Shaehern to commit the image of her face to memory. "I don't believe I recall your pretty face." A peculiar statement from Shaehern, since he made it his business to know and remember everyone who was anyone. The child was either new... or she made it a point to not garner attention. If it was the latter then she was a smart one.

"Who were you talking to?" he asked bluntly. Shaehern didn't find talking to oneself all that odd, but naming it was an unusual motion. "Chi, or some-such nonsense?" From the dark his long fingers began to advance on the girl, much like bluish worms crawling through the dark earth.

[Miriam]

Miriam shivered from head to toe as the being in the darkness took form in the dim light. "It's a bad sort of night to be out picking fruits, little one." The shiver wasn't from the cold either. It was an out of the frying pan and into the fire sort of thing, but which was which? The tree or the boogie? Either way she shrunk back at Shaehern's sudden approach, eying the red light and cringing one way or another away from it at each revolution.

"I don't believe I recall your pretty face." Miriam swallowed. Of course not, she made it a point everyone didn't remember her. Well - the boogies at least. Lying usually took care of the rest. "N-n-no, Sir." She stammered out, wanting to back away but the rustling noises of roots across the grass made well enough a threat for her to stay put. "Who were you talking to?" Talking? Drat.. Chiki had the sense to hide, she knew, but.. The girl vigorously shook her head, showering hair about her shoulders and spreading it more evenly across her back.

"J-j-just me, Sir. C-chi is a nickname. I-i.." Watching his hand she took a step or two back, and froze once she realize what she was doing and what it put her closer to. One writhing root not even a foot away from her own. "Don't you ever talk to yourself, Sir?" C'mon! She chatted in her thoughts. Pathetic little slave! Look pathetic! And lost! And slave!-y!-ish! Aw heck just look sad and out of place.. Which with wide eyes, clutching her arms to herself, is exactly what she did.

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Well now, wasn't this just an adorable child? Certainly knew how to play the victim rather well. If she was looking for sympathy from Shaehern for her horrendous predicament she wasn't going to get any. Or perhaps she will, the grim thought came to his mind. The twinkle of devilish mischief stirred in his eyes. For even if she had just backed away from him he knew that as far as fates went most children would rather throw themselves at him than the trees. If they did not, then that child was choosing death and was probably not long for this world anyways.

"Chi is a nickname... and an odd one, at that. Possibly short for 'cheeky slave,' eh?" He chortled again before setting down on his knee. "Stop," he murmured again and the light stopped spinning around her. His voice turned very sweet and caring. "The trees didn't hurt you, did they?" His eyes glanced at her form and looked at her torn clothes. "They're really quite ruthless and grouchy at this hour. Probably best that we get you back to your room before your master realizes you're missing, huh?" Some Boogies looked for any excuse to punish children. Shaehern preferred a different approach, usually.

"I'll even carry you if you can't walk," he offered, though probably not without sounding more than a little creepy while doing so.

[Miriam]

What a strange boogie, and a stranger situation to be caught in. The thought then occurred to her how relatively simple this situation could be if she presented herself as the boogie she was born to be, yet given her young appearance and age could end up even worse for her.. there was a particular resentment some held for the younger ones.. reportedly.. "The trees didn't hurt you, did they?" Again she shook her head, grimacing as the writhing root narrowly grazed against her foot.

"They're really quite ruthless and grouchy at this hour. Probably best that we get you back to your room before your master realizes you're missing, huh?" Staring at his face Miriam wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. True, there were some odd boogies who actually liked the slaves but.. they were more rumors than truth and too many boogies played on that for their own gains. Boogies at heart were selfish creatures who did was benefited them most, ignored the rest, and kidnapped or killed on whim. They couldn't be trusted. No matter what.

"I do need to get back." The child said matter of factly, sidestepping a smaller root with a bitten-back whimper. She really really hated these kind of situations. And carry? Carry her? A kind gesture but Miriam shook her head astutely. He looked like he'd snap like a... straw.. or something if he even tried to lift her, and strong winds blew her over. "I can walk, Sir." She just needed to get out of this horrible place first. "C-could.." Biting her lip Miriam stared at her toes and actually took a step closer to Shaehern, and away from the roots as one thumped upon the ground where she'd stood. "..could you point me to a safer way out?"

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

Shaehern paused for a moment as he looked at her. She didn't trust him, and that couldn't be helped. The children rarely did at first, which is why perseverance was the rule of the task. He stood up and brushed the dirt off of his knee. He swung his head to either side and then used his hand to throw his hair back over his shoulders. No point in losing his proper appearance.

"I can walk, Sir," she said. There was a look of relief implanted in his features at that. "Good, to hear. Carrying you would have gotten tiring. You probably want to get as far away from me as possible right now, but I would like to suggest that I am probably your best way out of here, unless you're hiding some kind of map under those tatters." His chortle turned more into a giggle at his own joke. "Regardless, I would suggest that you follow me. I'm not even going to ask for much in return; just the favor that you don't tell anyone that I helped you." His voice was very serious on that note.

"Light," he murmured in his stern voice and the wisp floated forth in front of him. "Try not to fall behind," he told the girl as he walked away with his wisp following at his side. Now he'd just wait for the girl to follow him, or he'd fall back on a contingency. This was far too entertaining to let slip now.

[Miriam]

Miriam's face flushed at the suggestion she might've been hiding anything under her clothes. Well sure she was, she was hiding herself. Which in her own mind was just as bad. Miriam watched the boogie carefully, he gave off a creepy vibe.. or something. The girl didn't like it much, but right now it was the most appealing way out of here. The trees weren't going to help her any.

Blinking as the wisp passed to light their way she kept close to his heels yet not so close as to trod on them, every now and then reaching back to tug the torn fabric back closer to its proper place. It was cold out. "I'm not even going to ask for much in return; just the favor that you don't tell anyone that I helped you." That wasn't much of a request at all, and suited her just fine. "I won't tell a soul, Sir. Thank you." He wouldn't be remembering her after this anyway.

Between watching the strange boogie and the glowy wisp, the boogie child eyed the passing trees warily. It was strange to see them move in even dim light. It didn't seem as scary, but did scare all the more to the thought of how much capable movement the darkness hid. Staring at the wisp again Miriam wondered what it was. Was it his ability? Or familiar? It was a strange familiar if it was.. and at that thought Miriam glanced behind them for a glimpse of Chiki. She was quick and smart, she'd be fine but Miriam worried at least.

Touching the back of her hand to her cheek the child found a bit of a sting instead, looking at the red liquid left upon her hand and wiping it off. A bath was in order too, apparently. That would sooth everything, and her chattering teeth.

[Shaehern Azhrarn]

A blush here and a shy glance there. Shaehern's only thoughts were about how timid this young girl really was. The lack of excitability was an interesting change, even though her entire body was tense. His brain started to work in ways to figure out how best to play with the toy he found tonight. There was always the river - a personal favorite. Then again, the fish were probably horrendous right now and would reduce the entertainment value.

"I won't tell a soul, Sir. Thank you." Shaehern wasn't really too confident about that. Slaves had a tendency to be more than a little mouthy. Though she didn't have a name, and that was good. However, she was more than able to remember the wisp, no doubt. That would be potentially problematic.

He made a wave with his hand and the wisp blinked out. It was suddenly very dark, though they were clear of the trees. He waited for a moment, a cruel grin forming on his lips. And the hunter stalks its prey. But tonight is the hunter a snake or a cat? A good question that even Shaehern didn't feel like he could answer.