Blackthorn, oh Blackthorn...

Ani gives Pysynne a peck on the cheek.

In a gravelly voice, Pysynne says to Ani, "I would lick your cheek, but we are in public and I have a reputation to uphold."

As she licks at her ice cream, you say, "I would judge you both terribly, it's true."

You tentatively stick out your tongue and lick a bowl of peep ice cream.
Taking just a very small taste of the ice cream, you can taste the overwhelming sweetness of the ice cream.

Ani hides a grin behind her hand.

Pysynne snickers softly to himself.

You eat a bowl of peep ice cream with gusto.
You lift a spoonful of the peep ice cream to your lips, and begin to eat the ice cream. The first bite is so sweet and sugary as to be nearly unpalatable, but the faint hint of vanilla eases the  sugar down. As you eat more of the ice cream, it becomes tastier and easier to eat. You finish the last crunchy bits of the peep's candy cane sword before throwing the bowl out.

Pysynne glances to the side and says, "Your opinion is moot. You are dead."

You hide a grin behind your hand.

"Blackthorn, oh blackthorn..."

You have emoted: Lief's hand remains at her mouth, but the smile fades from her eyes quite abruptly.

The phrase repeats in your head, a whispering sing-song to the phrase before everything falls silent once more.

You have emoted: Lief gives her antlered head a little shake, and then another one, not unlike an animal trying to shake the hum of insects from about herself. She murmurs quietly, unintelligibly, then gazes up into the Moonhart's canopies.

You think to yourself: Wherever I go, my Lady, there You are.

A sharp pain blossoms in your mind at the thought, a whispering, hollow voice speaking to your mind, "You think it is now your chance to mock Me, child?"

You have emoted: Lief's bobbing in midair falters, and she reaches out to lean into the Moonhart Mother Tree, steadying herself as her eyes squeeze shut.

You think to yourself: I mock You not - I do not mock - I don't!

"Lies....", the voice drones on softly in your mind, its words falling apart into incoherent murmurs. Images flash across your minds eye in the confusion, ending upon a clear image of Shashi's bloodied body before all falls silent once more.

You have emoted: All but sinking into the Moonhart Mother Tree, Lief sags roughly to the ground, scraping her hands and forearm against the bark in her descent. She stays there, steadying herself, then draws slow breath when at last it seems to pass. A dampness wets her gray eyes.

Ani tilts her head from side to side, eyes curious as she looks to you, "Is everything ok...?"

Ani's ears perk up as her attention turns towards Pysynne.

Pysynne tilts his head curiously at you.

You have emoted: Lief flashes Ani an automatic, reassuring smile somewhat marred by the way she rubs at her head. She lingers at the Tree for but a moment more before she steadies herself and takes to wing again.

After drawing another slow breath, then releasing it, you say, "I...hadn't thought He could...it has passed, in any case, I think."

Llani slowly fades into being, appearing as though walking down a flight of steps.
A frost hag flows through the air before Llani.

"Tada!" Llani says to you with a proud expression on her face.

Pysynne tilts his head at you, "He could what? Do I need to cause harm to someone?"

Ani scratches her head in confusion.

You have emoted: Lief lowers her hand from rubbing at her head, flashing Llani a quiet smile. "Welcome back, Llani. You're looking well."

Sower Ani Strongleaf says, "I feel like I have missed some things."

Llani says, "Thank you! At least I'm looking better than I was."

Llani gives a trillingly melodic laugh.

You have emoted: Lief presses her hands together, smiling once more at Ani and Pysynne in reassurance. "I will let you both know later, yes? Perhaps we might meet in our Lady's temple sometime."