A small shiver runs down Kai's spine. "Abby?", he says too himself.

"Transon, have you seen Len or your sister?", he asks in a cold almost uncaring way. "They were running ahead a few minutes ago, but now..." a small sense of urgency grips Kai, but he continues on in his normally cool demeanor.

"I hope the fools did'nt go get lost. It's bad enough we were dragged out here to find the Mrs. Clover. We don't need to be looking for them as well", Kai walks on. He constanly looks on into the blackness beyond the lantern light.

"Abby, where are you"

Iz is being careful while in the forest and is keeping every sense peeled, and is happy that even though he is a stranger it is nice to have comforting company in the form of Tamas.

As Len and Abby start after the collie, Iz picks up the pace but is still more cautious.

"Kai...umm I don't hear anything up ahead in the darkness, where our companions should be, I think we should hurry, but be careful just in case something, heavens forbid has happened"

Iz moves off at a light jog, and checks back quickly to see if the others are following. Thinking to herself, "I thought Abby suspected the Clovers were up to something and still she rushes off, well I am sure all will be clear soon".

Abby & Len:

Kai finds himself wishing the lantern light would stretch further as he stares into the darkness ahead, just hoping for a glimpse of Abby. Then, between blinks, either his wish is granted or his eyes are adjusting to the low levels or light. But still there is no trace of Abby, although he feels almost certain that if he just keeps going the way he's going he'll find her again.

Isabella jogs a little ahead of the group, soon disappearing into the darkness as well, her steady footfalls falling silent, much to the distress of Tamás.

Iz:

Len & Abby:

Abby, Isabella:

Len/Iz

"Abby!! Abby! By Torag, I should never leave you out of my sight! Come back here! That pup probably saw something moving in the woods, ignore it!"

Smith takes off running in the direction he last saw his sister, yelling for Len as well. "Harker! Harker, where are you?! Have you seen Abby?"

Kai continues deeper into the forest always looking for the young Clover girl. He struggles ever moment with the decision, but also knows that Abby is capable of caring for herself. That and Harker is with her as well.

"What troublesome brats", Still he hopes to see a glance of Abby anywhere.

"The faster I find Mrs. Clover, the more time I get to look for Abby", he calmly tells himself.

Smith:

Kai:

You are now all in a brightly lit wooden room. The light here has an oddly green hue and through the few narrow windows you can see it's dark outside. Ahead of you is what appears to be a desk littered with colourful papers and a beautiful golden bell. Behind the desk are a collection of curved metal hooks set into the walls, some of which are holding cloaks and coats of varying styles and colours, one appears to even have four sleeves, but maybe that's a trick of the light, or it's part of a costume. Also behind the desk is a beautiful woman, presumably in her early twenties with hair coloured with chunks of reds, golds and oranges, giving it the appearance of autumn foliage, she's speaking to Len who appears to be completely lost.

Also in the room are a short (only 4'7" or so) young woman with short dark hair and dark eyes and a friendly face who is talking to a tall older woman with slightly wrinkled and tanned skin and a curly mess of chocolate brown hair.

Abby is looking through what appears to be the only door in the room and at the stairs that lie beyond.

Oblivious, Smith marches right over to Abby, grabbing her by the arm.

"Hey, what did I tell you about running off like that? We're going home right now. I don't want to have two missing girls on my conscience. Let's go!"

"What have we gotten ourselves into"

Kai walks up to the desk, "Pardon me Ma'am, but where are we? And by chance have you seen a young girl come through?"

Kai goes on to describe the Grace Clover. At the same time he feels releved at seeing Abby.

Oblivious, Smith marches right over to Abby, grabbing her by the arm.

"Hey, what did I tell you about running off like that? We're going home right now. I don't want to have two missing girls on my conscience. Let's go!"

Abby tries to pull herself free, but Smith's grip is too strong for her.

Kai catches a glimpse of what's happening between Abby and her brother. His brain tells him to stay out of it, but his heart...

"Excuse me a moment Ma'am", Kai turns his attention towards Smith. "Transon let her go. You're embarrassing yourself in front of our hosts. Besides, she's a grown woman and can stand on her own two feet. You can see for yourself that she, as well as Harker are fine."

Iz look a little bewildered at first, but with her feet firmly on the ground, and seeing that she is in no certain danger, she relaxes a little, and then wonder where Tamas has gotten to, he was just behind her after.

"Umm... Miss just where exactly are we, are we just inside that big tree, through a cunningly disguised door or some such.

I do so hope he manages to find us, would hate for someone to become lost in those woods at night because of me."

Iz now to starts to look a little worried again, and hugs her arms to herself, clutching a familiar jacket.

The small brunette woman finally finishes up talking to the taller lady and turns her full attention and a dazzling smile to the confused gathering. "Hmmm I think that's it for people that are coming.. Yup it seems the door is closed." A look of slight annoyance crosses her elfin features.

"Oh well not much to do but get to know one another whilst we wait for the door to open. Then we can try and find Miss Clover.... Oh i'm Ameei by the way!" As she speaks the last she gives a small wave before bouncing over to Iz and giving her a quick hug. "Don't worry i'm sure you'll see that handsome man again soon!"

"Up? Hosts? Wha--?"

Smith releases his grip on Abby's arm, reeling around to take in the site of the place. Spinning and spinning like a top, Smith loses himself, dizzily crashing to the ground.

Spinning and spinning like a top, Smith loses himself, dizzily crashing to the ground.

Kayos:

Abby shrugs her shoulders at the others and sighs.

"I didn't do anything." she says defensively. "He fell over all by himself."

As Len puts his hand on the metalworker's shoulder Smith can't help but feel a wave of calm course through him. Whether it's the other man's reassuring words, the reminder that you're not alone in this strange situation or something else you're not sure, but no matter what you just feel better in regards to the situation as a whole.

Smith looks up into Len's calming eyes, and accepts a proffered hand in standing up.

"Well, I guess I'm just really confused by this whole thing. I didn't even see this house, let alone remember opening a door. I guess I was too consuumed with trying to find Abby..." Smith trails off as he walks towards his sister.

He throws his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I'm just glad you're safe, kid."

"What's the story of this place, anyway?" he asks at anyone who'll give him an answer."

Abby briefly returns Smith's embrace and rubs noses with him.

"Me too. It's not the same getting into trouble without you around to haul me out."

She looks at him curiously.

"What did Len do to you? I haven't seen you this calm in ... years probably."

Another quick nose rub and she's flitted over to Kai.

"This is going to be fun. I can feel it. Our kind of trouble Kai."

"Since before....mom and dad died." Smith assures Abby.

"Don't worry i'm sure you'll see that handsome man again soon!"

Ameei...you are sure, we have only just met, and I do so hate being false to promises made, please let your words ring true.

Umm can you explain a little about what is going on, yu mentioned Miss Clover, she stumbled into this place as well, she is....is safe and well, and causing no one any undue distress?"

Iz returns the hug as she exhales these words, and then takes a step back to properly observe her surroundings, and to gaze upon the fellows before her. To her something seems oddly enchanting about them, probably their frank friendliness to strangers, and their delicate features and way about them.

Len rises and helps Smith up, clasping his hand warmly before letting go. He again turns to the strange women, hoping for answers to his questions.

"I'm Fyrn, welcome to Thallathorne's!" The woman with the hair the colour of autumnal leaves repeats for the benefit of the new arrivals with a dazzling smile. "Can I take your cloaks and coats?" She asks kindly "You really won't need them on the floors above and the exit isn't due to be there again for at least another hour."

"I'd like to keep mine where they are right now, if you don't mind. Just, who are you? And what is a Thall....Thallathorne?"

"I'm Fyrn, welcome to Thallathorne's!" The woman with the hair the colour of autumnal leaves repeats for the benefit of the new arrivals with a dazzling smile. "Can I take your cloaks and coats?" She asks kindly "You really won't need them on the floors above and the exit isn't due to be there again for at least another hour."

He stops and turns to Abby, "Care to accompany me"

Curtseying deeply and wearing her best smile, Abby slips her arm into Kai's.

"Lead on, kind sir."

Letting the nervous woman loose from the hug Ameei smiled softly. "Oh i'd love to give firm promises but i'll make sure that you'll head back.. Besides it's kind of the way things work around these parts. Miss Clover came through here but it appears that she went back out again before we arrived and the door closed..."

She looked a little nervous "Unfortunetly she didn't go back on your side but on our side. Still when the door's back i'm sure we can find her. I'll keep helping you all look."

Len, looking around one last time (but keeping his cloak), follows Kai and Abby.

She looked a little nervous "Unfortunetly she didn't go back on your side but on our side. Still when the door's back i'm sure we can find her. I'll keep helping you all look."

"Umm.. sounds like Miss Clover is causing quite a stir then, but you think she will be ok... on your side.. and by that, what exactly do you mean, your side is that different from ours?"

Iz did wonder to herself, "Now this place is different", but her companions seemed quite at ease with it all, had they been here before?. Iz now started to think properly, trying to sift through the stories she had heard over the years, was there anything like this in them?, then she caught herself, and suddenly remembered she was with company, and how she must have seemed to them, no doubt a little distant, or away with the faeries.

Fyrn smiles gently at Isabella and steps out from behind her desk and takes the jacket. "I'll look after this, please, relax and have some fun with your friends and young Ameei here" She gives the tiny brunette a small wink before returning to her place behind the desk, carefully hanging up Tamás' jacket on a golden hook.

At Smith's questions she merely shakes her head a little "My name is Fyrn, sir. As for Thallathorne, that is the name of this establishment and her owner"

-----

Through the only door the stairs beyond spiral upwards, stopping at a short landing before continuing onwards and upwards once more. On the landing is a dark wooden door with the words 'Thallathorne's Grill' written on it in gold in an elegant sloping script.

"This establishment and her owner? What an odd thing to say."

Abby is only momentarily distracted from her eager exploration of this new and unusual place. Still touching Kai's arm, she turn to Smith with her most appealing smile and best pleading face as she spots the sign.

"Smith? Have you got any money? I'm quite hungry."

Fyrn smiles gently at Isabella and steps out from behind her desk and takes the jacket. "I'll look after this, please, relax and have some fun with your friends and young Ameei here" She gives the tiny brunette a small wink before returning to her place behind the desk, carefully hanging up Tamás' jacket on a golden hook.

"So Ameei, Do you work here also....

Len climbs the stairs, supposing the next thing to do is visit the "grill," but is not first to open the door.

Passing through the door of the "Grill", Kai looks for a table for himself and his friends.

"Hey wait for me! I'm not losing you again!", Smith tramples up to the others.

Upon walking through the door marked 'Thallthorne's Grill' you are hit with the scent of meat cooking and the sounds of laughter and happy conversation. Before you is a large circular room filled with tables of varying shapes and heights, each has a lit candle or two sat in the middle of it, all of the flickering flames given off by the wax sticks are different colours. In the center of the room is a large contained fire on which various meats are being cooked, some on spits, some on large metallic slabs hung over the flames and some on meshed metal trays.

As you take in these sights you are greeted by a young man who facially can only be described as pretty, femenine features adorning a masculine, if a little slender, form. Tearing your attention away from the man's stunning green eyes you start to notice the strange things about him. His short tufty hair is an especially bright tone of red, the colour of poppies or perhaps roses and sprouting from his back are a pair of wings, delicate gossimer things in a dark leafy green colour. He's dressed in dark trousers, a white shirt and a brown silk tie adorned with a green leaf pattern.

It's at seeing his features that you find yourself taking a closer look at the other 'people' frequenting Thallathorne's, the forms clustered around some of the tables are equally bizarre, unnatural shades of hair and of skin and extra attachments to their bodies, be they wings or horns or extra limbs. You are shaken back to looking at the man in the shirt and tie once more however as he speaks up.

"Welcome to the Grill! How many of you will be dining with us this evening?" He questions brightly.

"Yup it's different sides... Our's is ummm well a little more magical.. You know in the actual sense." The tiny woman pauses for a moment lost in thought. Soon however the moment of quiet is broken as with a happy smile and a spring in her step she starts to lead them after the others.

"See this is a fae bar.. But at least there's a truce here so noone will cause problems... Mostly I think people will look at you all as oddities and leave it at that.."

"Welcome to the Grill! How many of you will be dining with us this evening?" He questions brightly.

"So umm..FAe, as in like the old stories, and so magic is kind of more real here.."

Iz still looks puzzled, then her face transforms, completely, inot one of child like glee, and in a much higher tone.

..Reallyreally really... that's soooo cooooool....now I just have to see more."

At this point Iz is quite intently facing Ameei, and only just hears the question from inside the grill, but is happy to snap back a reply without pause or thought.

"Seven, including the lovely Ameei here, you are joining us, and telling all about this wondrous place and land beyond aren't you."

"Well, of course she is."

Abby hangs onto Smith with one hand and Kai with the other. The strangeness and wonder of the place make her a lot less snippy than usual.

Smith does not loosen his grip on his hammer.

"So we're dining here? And what currency do you accept? Human infants?"

"Table for seven it is!" The waiter confirms with a dazzling grin that reveals very white and very sharp-looking teeth. "Follow me!" Turning on his heels his delicate wings give a small flutter before he leads the group around the fire and to one of the larger tables in the room, a rectangular surface with four seats on either side. There are two candles in the center of the tabletop, one flickers with a blue flame and the other with a green.

"As for payment we're fairly open, we usually go for coinage but are always up for negotitiations, anything of value is accepted." He explains in response to Smith's question with another broad grin "We've never accepted a human infant as payment however, so I can't quote you an exact price, I suppose it would depend on how pretty the child is and how much you all eat" He declares easily with a small chuckle tha makes it hard to know if he's being serious or not.

Standing at the head of the table he plucks a small pad of paper and a thin stick of charcoal bound with string to stop it dirtying the fingers from his pocket and looks poised to write "So, can I get you fine ladies and gentlemen anything to drink?"

Before taking a seat Len asks, hesitantly, "Are you -- Thallathorne?"

At Len's question the young man gives a bubbling laugh "Oh darling! How sweet of you to think that! I wish!" He responds between chuckles "I'd die to be her, of course you'd have to die to be her, but still, she's one of a kind and I'm afraid I scarcely compare"

Len sits, to be polite, and asks the (fairy?), "So, when can we meet her?"

"Why would you have to die to be her?" she asks curiously, all the time looking around her and trying to take in the sights and sounds of this new place.

"Well" The waiter starts, tapping the end of his charcoal on his pad of paper "That would be entirely up to her, most who come here have never even seen her, but being what you are and managing to actually slip through would imply you potentially have a good chance of meeting her, you and your two male companions. The last person to see her was a human man actually, but that was decades back now... at least... what year is it? I lose track... Anyway! Drinks? Yes? No?"

At Abby's question he pauses and gives a small smile "Did I say that?" He asks running his tongue over his sharp teeth "Oh yes, I hope she won't mind my mentioning, I think she sometimes forgets that she passed. I believe she's the only one of her kind to have managed to stay with us after death I guess her tie to this establishment was just too strong to let her go."

Len asks for watered wine, and keeps the rest of his questions to himself for now.

"I'll have whatever you recommend." announces Abby. "As long it doesn't have too many vitamins. I'm allergic."

The waiter grins at Abby and scribbles something on his notepad "I like you" He states approvingly "I have just the thing!"