Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

Comments

[moonflowering]

[Some one who can help? With a nod, she's at least enthusiastic about a game plan. Until now she hasn't known what to do at all.]

[subdueme]

[He gives a sigh, conflicted by all of this. He motions for her to follow him though, turning away and heading back in the direction he came from.]

Not sure if we'll find her or not, but it doesn't hurt to look.

[moonflowering]

W-Wait, Zero...!

[She calls after him several times. Nudging Artemis forward again and then her book. No matter how she tries, there is no way that she can move these items on her own.]

[subdueme]

[Oh. Right. That stuff.]

Maybe we can find you a bag nearby to carry it all in.

[You. Carry. On your back. Or in your beak. Either way works.]

[moonflowering]

[He gets a look. Fine, fine, it's not like she doesn't intend to try and carry her own weight, but until that bag is available, come help??]

[subdueme]

[No.

But he heaves yet another sigh and goes to grab everything anyway.]

[moonflowering]

[She looks relieved. Lifting into the air she floats around him a couple times, before wandering on up ahead.]

[subdueme]

[Balancing everything in his hands as best as he can, he shoves some of the smaller items into his pockets and artemis under one of the straps on his holster.]

I saw her back this way...

[He indicates the opposite direction in which she was heading.]