Escape From The Gingerbread Castle

Ambrose grins widely. These werewolves are just too cute. Mama wolf definitely has a handle on the "You're not a monster even if you are a monster unless you Act like a monster" philosophy.

 

Aerian jumps, having been distracted by the distant hints of evil shenanigans at the castle, now has the bejeezus scare out of him as he twists around to look at Moth, and takes a couple steps backwards. "I'm sorry... I was just... I..." He freezes, quickly calculating escape routes... back to the tavern? Into the train station? Onto another street and then maybe charm a human into hiding him? Which he hates doing and always feels guilty about. "I'm sorry. I'll just... go back inside..." He sidesteps towards the tavern door. Just go back to your inn room. Read your books. Study. Pretend there aren't vamps and wolves right outside. Maybe they won't notice you!

 

"Barnaby," he says, remembering his manners. Oh that sound calls out to to the part of him that wants to run naked through the woods and howl at the night things. It feels like the mental equivalent of his mother's hug and kiss, or his grandfather's gruff approval. It's warm, inviting... he almost answers to it a second time before he can lock down the urge. He forces a smile, feeling sick for how his mind splits down its seams. "Sorry to be rude, but I must be goin'. Have my families flock to save and I can't doddle anymore."

He pushes Eva aside gently, and brushes the dirt that stuck to his leggings away.

 

"Maybe we can help! With the flock, I mean. If they need saving." He takes a moment to get his brain to work in order again. "If you want, we can come with you and see what we can do."

 

"Yeah, whoa, you're not just gonna get us all invested in you and then leave!" Moth marches over and pushes Barnaby back into the heart of the cuddlepile. Or rather, he applies force to Barnaby in the direction of the cuddlepile. "Besides, didn't I tell you you'd get eaten alive without me?"

 

Barnaby stumbles forward into Cyprian and Eva, penned in by Moth. He feels his cheeks grow hot being this close to so many bodies.

"I- well that is- uh..." well he was here to get help wasn't he? And he's quite sure that thinks couldn't be much worse with some extra hands around, even if they belonged to dark creatures. Okay maybe it could get worse. Was he really willing to gamble his family's safety on nothing though? He huffs a defeated sigh. "I suppose, if you're still interested, I can use the help."

 

"BOOM!" Moth punched the air. "And then we get MARRIED and go out for BEER and SCHNITZEL."

 

Cyprian nods excitedly. "Of course we'll help - or at least, I will. I can't really speak for anyone else."

 

Eva drums tail and forepaws on the cobbles, wooing happily. She will demand a flower crown at the wedding.

 

"We'd love to help, of course, if you'd let us," Ambrose offered.

 

Maggie glanced around. "Well, if your farm isn't too far from here, then I'll help too. I do feel a bit obligated to hunt down whatever's attacking the castle, but that can probably wait."

 

"Something's attacking the castle?" Aerian pauses at the tavern door and gives her a shocked and appalled look, "Who in their right mind would attack a castle...!?"

 

"A- all of you? You'd help?" He feels dizzy now, but it's a good kind, like the feeling after a good run. Barnaby thinks that maybe, if this was a test, he must have somehow passed it. "Yes, yes okay! It's up the road a ways, but not too far."

 

"Let's go, then." Cyprian stands up and offers a hand to Barnaby.

 

"I think it was something the vampire called up, as an attack dog or something? Or something that she had sealed up so that it'd deter anyone from killing her," Maggie said, then thought for a moment. "Of course, it could just be something that didn't like her much. Really, as long as it leaves everyone else alone, it should be fine."

 

Aerian groans and facepalms. "Seems like it's time to leave this place... and I've only just arrived."

 

Barnaby bounces on the balls of his feet and grins as he takes Cyprian's hand. He reaches behind him and loops an arm around Moth's shoulders.

"Come on then, it's this way!"

 

Eva stands and backs out of her shirt, bodice hanging limply but benignly around her middle. She awkwardly stuffs skirt and shirt into the oversized hip satchel she's absolutely been wearing this whole time, wriggles and shoves her legs in and out of straps until it hangs around her withers and picks her shoes up in her jaws, trotting after the pups.

 

Cyprian follows Barnaby down the road. As they walk, he asks Barnaby "So, what do you know about whatever's been happening to your flock?"

 

Barnaby looks over his shoulder. "As far's we can tell it's been eaten 'em, bones and all! Papa's put the ewes with lambs up in the barn but they can only live on feed for so long when there's good grazing. They'll get sick all penned together like that too. The little 'uns can get trampled, and if one of 'em catches ill they'll all get it." He takes on a serious expression while he relates his farm's plight. "And that's not helping the main flock. No room for them in the barn so we're taking our chances grazing them. My brothers are taking turns watching them, but they won't be able to do much but try to get the herd away if they get attacked. The beastie is big, bigger than me!"