Snippet #2257236

The jester seemed ecstatic, her wide grin taking over her features genuinely. Gone from her companion's mind was the incident that had just transpired and Erixianti tried to force herself to feel the same obliviousness. Yet she couldn't shake this terrible feeling settling in the pit of her stomach...

"I can take you to the centre but we'll have to go the secret way. Nobody knows my way round!" Erixianti tilted her head? The secret way? Well, that did sound like an adventure in the works! She let a small smile come upon her lips but was a bit surprised by the enthusiasm that her friend possessed. Quinn moved rather quickly, the smaller unable to keep up with the fast pace. She pulled at the skirts. the jester turning to lay her eyes on her. For a second, a frown flitted across her face before it was replaced by that same smile. She grabbed Erixianti's hand, the feeling of the spidery fingers encircling around her palm odd but comforting. She still sent her companion a questioning look--she may look the part of the child but she wasn't exactly one.

Quinn shrugged, "Easier to move around this way." She looked around the ally before tugging Erixianti behind her, pulling her a bit as she spoke in a chipper voice. "Don't worry! I know where I'm going. Been down here tons of times. I can't believe no one's noticed it though..." Trailing off, the jester let go of the doll's hand, jumping up into the shadows and pulling down a ladder. Erixianti's eyebrows shot upwards and submerged in her bangs out of surprise. Ah! She hadn't known that such things were hidden in the city! It made her wonder what else was laying about...

"Going up!" The voice of her friend made her look up as the girl scaled the ladder with ease. For the petite figure, it was a bit more difficult, as she had to adjust the frills of her dress and somehow balance her bear along with her. She did not need to struggle for long as Quinn happily reached down and pulled her up with her without much trouble. Erixianti was rather light-weight by default and her delicate frame hardly imposed upon anyone at all. She stumbled a bit as she straightened herself, the jester spreading her arms out in front of her.

Erixianti's eyes widened. She had never been up this high before! From up here, one could see for miles and miles into the city. The people that were involved, the bustling activity, and the wide array of uneven buildings. It was truly a sight to behold. Quinera didn't waste any time in addressing it, her voice booming with bravado. "Say help to my Tinker Tocker. No one ever comes up here. They think I'm scary and evil. But that's OK for me since it means that I can use all of the roofs!"

Taking a deep breath, the jester turned so that she could see her friend. "So, it was the centre you wanted to go to, right?" Erixianti nodded slowly, reaching out to once more clasp the jester's hand with her petite digits. She held up her bear with her other hand, the creature's voice breathless with excitement.

"Yes, the center! I've never been but it seems to be where all the activity happens..." Her bear's voice trailed off a bit as she finished the sentence in her mind. 'And perhaps that's where my shadows brought the witch...' There was no way she could express that to Quinn, sensing that her savior did not seem to pursue things that she did not like. And considering the way in which she had so flippantly dismissed the witch's kidnapping, it was apparent to Erixianti that the other would just as quickly shut down going to the center if she knew it was for the witch. Not waiting for Quinera to lead her this time, she pulled her companion as she rushed ahead, clumsily walking along the rooftops to get to the heart of the city.
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Unbeknownst to the pair, there was another figure that had been following them since they had made contact. The figure was tall, akin to a shadow, facial features hidden behind a curtain of hair over it's eyes. The figure grinned slowly as it watched the progress over the rooftops, eyes taking in every movement. It brought it's hand closer to it's mouth and spoke in a raspy voice, barely audible and just a mere whisper.

"The pieces are nearly all assembled... Perhaps these strays may offer more purpose than merely..." The wind picked up, blotting out the next words spoken by the figure. Though perhaps the appearance of the strays was deviating from the plan, the figure did not seem to be concerned. It turned, stalking after the two quietly with a smirk on it's face.