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thewatchau · 2 years

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Fae Hunt Chapter 8

Jon Quillian belongs to @marginmaster87, Green to @autumnleafauthor, and Morgana to @shamrockace

Bard's Note: Here we go! Thanks again to @theshapeshifter100 as always!

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The ping of metal dropping onto wood came far too soon for Ivy's liking. With a groan she rolled out of the bed, pulled off the cloak acting as a blanket, and opened up the chest to get her saddlebags out. There was a slight moment of panic where she thought the key to the padlock was in the saddlebags, but luckily, it turned out to be in the desk drawer.

The saddlebags weren’t heavy, having only the essentials packed (bed roll, sleeping sack, tinder box, strike flint, waterproof cloak and Watch rations). She then added the quartz, the honey and the black cloak. The cloak wasn’t necessary, but she wanted to bring it.

Ivy paused and looked at her arms. As always, the woven bracelet from Rufus and the painted bangle from Charles sat on her wrists. If they got lost, or damaged…

She carefully removed them, holding them in her hands. The bangle was darker now, the painted flowers faded and rubbed. The woven bracelet was also darker from sweat, but otherwise hadn’t changed.

With a sigh, she gently placed them in the chest, and took the hagstone. As she put it on, she was reminded that she was already wearing a necklace.

The leather cord had been replaced many times, but the pendants remained the same: A wooden trail of ivy, and an almost perfectly spherical gold nugget, the size of a fingernail. She should take that off too - what if the leather snapped while they were away?

She held the necklace in her palm, and couldn’t do it. It was one of the last things her mother gave her.

She couldn’t do it.

The hagstone now hung around her neck with the other necklace. The saddlebags were hoisted to drape over her shoulders, her sword and knife were on her belt, her shield was slung on her back for now, and the spear was under one arm. Time to saddle up.

Firefly flicked her tail and greeted Ivy happily when she saw that Ivy was carrying her tack. Her loyal horse never liked being cooped up in a stall for too long.

Ivy took her time, making sure all the buckles were secure and there wasn’t any fur or mane trapped.

Her shield took it’s usual spot on her horse’s flank, and the spear rested in a folded loop in the saddlebags, pointy end sticking behind them.

Ivy led Firefly out of the stables, still light-headed and not wanting to risk falling out of the saddle. Otto took the space on the saddle instead, and perched there proudly, preening his wings as the three of them waited by the main gates.

Jon rode up beside them on a familiar horse. It was Ford, the same horse Jen had.

“Hey there!” he called.

“Hey,” Ivy leaned against the fence, Firefly’s reins in one hand. “Hello again Ford,” she added, Firefly snorted and snuffled in Ford’s direction, who snuffled back in a greeting.

“Yeah, bet you remember him. We only have the one horse!”

“You could have borrowed a horse for all I knew. Not sure how happy he’ll be about being back in the Western Forest.”

“I’m sure he can handle it,” Jon patted his neck as Ford let out a nicker, which might have been a complaint. Ivy wouldn’t have blamed him if it was.

“We’ll find out I suppose. Have you seen Green and Morgana?”

“Not yet. They should come by soon though.”

“Hope so, the sooner we can go, the better.”

As she spoke, a dappled grey mare walked over, Morgana perched on top and Eamon trotting beside. The Mage waved. “Hey!”

“Hey there!” Jon waved back as the group approached.

“Ah, there you are,” Ivy hoped that she didn’t look like she was going to pass out. She half felt like it. Half an hour had not been nearly enough time.

Morgana glanced around, and did not comment on Ivy’s tired disposition. After all, it would have been rather hypocritical.

“Oh, has Green not arrived yet?” she asked.

“Not yet,” Jon answered.

“Ah, okay,” they waited in awkward silence for a second.

“All present and correct?” Ivy asked the group. “Got everything?”

“Not quite, we’re still waiting for Green,” Jon quipped.

Morgana’s face showed a bit of panic. “Uhhh, I don’t know. Probably.”

“I’m sure you’ve got everything, just being anxious,” Ivy assured, running through her own mental checklist. She was definitely wearing her riding gloves and a hat to keep the sun off. Her non Watch cloak was in the saddlebags, along with her mother’s cloak.

“I’ve got all my stuff,” Jon assured.

“Good, good,” Ivy blinked hard a few times, making sure the world stayed where it was.

Finally, Green appeared around the corner atop a plain brown horse, which was maybe a bit too small for her travel bag.

“Apologies, I seem to have forgotten how hard it is to get a horse at a big Outpost like this!”

“Hey, it’s no problem,” Jon assured. “You think that pony will be able to hold you?”

“We’ll have to find out,” Ivy appraised the small horse critically. “Although, I couldn’t hold those bags, how do you expect that poor pony too?”

“It’s the best I can do at the moment,” Green grimaced. “Maybe I can switch her out along the way.”

“Hopefully,” Jon agreed. “Alright, is everyone ready to go?”

“Yep,” Morgana nodded.

“I hope so…” was Green’s more tentative response.

“I suppose so,” Ivy went through the route mentally, and out loud. “So, the Haven, then Conchúr, Monacoil, Roosts, then we’ll be in the Western Forest.”

“Sounds like you’ve gotten this all figured out!” Jon declared.

“It’s how I would get there, unless any of you have got a faster way.”

“Not really,” Green said. “Sounds good to me.”

Jon meanwhile looked a little concerned. “No, no I wasn’t saying that. I’m just glad at least one of us had a plan.”

Green just chuckled at Jon’s remark.

Ivy wasn’t offended, but didn’t want to waste much more time. She got into the saddle, dislodging Otto for a second before he readjusted himself, and the group set off.

#House Schneeplestein #submission #Ivy Paris #Jon Quillan #Autumn Green #Morgana Spewraith #Tales from the Watch #August 1614 #Fae Hunt

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