Masks in the Garden

Sunlight sent hesitant fingers into the 'playroom,' Seth gave a yawn and shuffled out of bed; not caring about how he looked at that moment. He had slept clothed and saw no reason to change, aside from inching his still sleepy form into a pair of jeans. The night proved fruitful, and he had no reason to complain, soon he'd have an army; he just had to wait.

Several hours prior

Rowan gave a muffled scream as she came awake. Another dream. If the young shadowcharmer wasn't pestering her himself, these dreams did it for him. She had been in his place again; seen through his eyes again, felt his sorrow, anguish, and fury again. She had been at Zzyzx; she'd felt him nearly die. She'd felt him brush close to the brink and than fight it and live again. She had felt his fury at Graulas's betrayal, the pain of having yet another act of kindness look like the idea of a fool to others. He had faced death and beat the pull, he had lived when he should have died; he had saved the life of one of his only friends, and he only got glances of thinly veiled contempt in return.

She would speak with the young charmer of shadows; she'd speak with him soon.

Current time

Seth shot out into the garden; smiling ear to ear and hopping from foot, just like the little innocent spaz monkey everyone believed him to be, just like everyone thought, just like everyone hoped. "Hey sis! Get your sparkly butt over here and convince Warren to train me!" He yelled to complete the façade.

Kendra rolled her eyes as usual and Warren narrowed his before replying. "Sorry kiddo, official knight business, way less fun than you think," he said before going over and patting Seth on the head in what appeared to be a caring gesture but what Seth knew to really be condescending.

"But we are knights Warren, can we come too?" Seth whined, remembering to stay in character.

"Speak for yourself," Kendra chided. "After Zzyzx I don't want to do anything knight related for at least a year," she added tiredly.

"Listen to Your sister," Stan intoned from the doorway.

Seth's features darkened for a moment before he let out a very exhausted sounding sigh. Then he noticed that everyone's attention was no longer on him but rather on something at the edge of the yard.

"May I speak to Seth?" came a feminine voice.

Stan was quick to assume and to accuse so Seth was not in the least bit surprised that he chose to interject before anyone else. "What has he done?" the caretaker questioned. The response through everyone for a loop, most notably Kendra who had seen even warrior faie show signs of fear toward her brother; the dryad laughed.

It was a sound like a running stream, like the forest during summer, full of life and perfect; something beautiful Warren went slack jawed at the sound and a light blush dusted his cheeks before disappearing out of common decency. Even Seth relaxed slightly, allowing a small smile to ghost over his features before reassuming the goofy grin that everyone knew, that everyone expected.

"Oh, how funny, you think he's done something, well he has; just not something wrong," Rowan paused before continuing. "He helped me prank some satyrs, satyrs he knows very well,"

"Well if that is all you can go," Stan stated.

"I hope we can work together soon, Seth," Rowan hummed before turning on her heel and walking back into the forest.

Seth allowed himself a smirk; he had someone who would help him.