#baronyofthesilverwolf

Thistle remains for a while longer after Art has ridden off, considering the new project at hand, and trying not to think about Ted.

(Perc + Alertness for Thistle, please!)

/roll 6

Alone, she sits with her back slumped against one of the tired. Alone, her mood is turning downwards again.

Zip! ZIP! ZIP!

She sees a little light show, just visible from over the roof of her workshop, behind the kitchen - around where the garden is located. Nevers at play, perhaps? There's quite a lot of light zipping up and down, though she can't here their chiming retorts from here.

Head tilt. She clambers to her feet and goes to investigate.

It's possible that she might pass Gwen as she goes through the hallways?

Gwen looks over "Hmm?"

The windows inside are all closed tight to allow for the Air Conditioning to keep up. Fresh air is lovely, but when it's humid and in the 80's even Upstate new York needs a bit of help.

It's rather quiet, Julius and Bluebell are over at the guest house, Marigold went to bed early as is her usual.

Gwen follows Thistle if she sees her "What's up?"

"Saw somethin', gonna check it out."

SHe follows "Should i call for the dogs?"

"I dunno? Might be nothin'." Of course, passing through... there's now a Glennie trotting along her heels.

She follows along getting her spear and a shield

Out through the kitchen and back door into the garden.

It's a nice, summer night. The air hangs heavy and humid, causing sweat to pop out without much effort. A good night to lie in the cool grass and look at the stars.

It's not until they close the door behind them, muting the faint hum of the air conditioning, that Gwen will realize that she still hears it. A buzzing sound, from further into the garden.

Ivan is not with them, but Muppet presses close to Thistle's legs.

"Oh god, those things" Gwen hisses "Damn it. One of the stirges in the garden"

"Oh! One of those?"

As they move down the path, there is an evident ruckus, though it is hard to make out under the new moon! Something splashing in the fountain, and yes, several upset nevers zipping to and fro, their auras pulsing in upset flashes! Each zip past casts a little light on a larger, darker form in the air that is NOT glowing...

Seeing her little glowing friends, Thistle breaks into a run. "Hey!"

Gladiola goes after "We have anything that can gum it up? web it up?"

It's dark...

"Make a wisp at the dark thing, please, it might track it AND illuminate it"

Something seems to have the Stirge held at bay! A flash of light, greenish, darts at it, and then a whirring arrow of blue! Circling around in the air.

"Uhhh, okay."

She rubs her hands together, creating friction, going faster and faster.

She focuses... how did that cantrip work? She needed to think of who it was to find... it helped to focus when she said Briar's name... who knows if this thing HAS a name? Thistle thinks, remembering what the book Art found called it, a Stirge... and light blossoms in her palm!

The wisp rises and for a moment, illuminates the scene.

Splashing in the fountain is a very large Frog, half the size of Muppet! His eyes bulge with effort, and he scrabbles to retain footing on the slick stone... because his long, sticky tongue is extended and wrapped around a huge, naked mosquito-bat thing....

Chartreuse, Teal, and Coral all chime war cries and dart in and out at the restrained bug-beast flashing their lights in it's eyes, causing angrier bursts of buzzing!

Only for a moment, though, then the wisp vanishes. After all, it "found" it's target.

"GO Jeremiah!" She yells

/roll 3

The grip the frog has on the slippery fountain stones is failing

He starts to slide towards the edge, and struggles to reel his tongue back in.

Gwen moves to help hold him steady

Thistle reaches for the frog!

Ew, he is SLIMEY.

Gwen is not the squeemish type, but she doesn't know how fragile a frog might be. Worried about Bluebell's reaction, she wraps him up, but the plump amphibian squishes out of her grasp!

"Ack.."

"Gah!" Snag!

Thistle just barely manages to grab onto one of the frog's hind legs and pull him into her arms. He's gross and slimey, but... actually, he kinda reminds her of the feeling of wet clay under her fingers. It's not that bad!

"GROOOOOONK" The bullfrog croaks in protest.

The Stirge, held from escape by the sticky tongue, changes tactics and dive bombs at Thistle's head, looking to shake loose the tie.

the troll raises her shield to cover not herself, but Thistle's head

")(&%$*&!" She moves her head and closes her eyes.

"THink hungry thoughts, Jeremiah!"

WHAM! The stirge ricochets off the shield, and now the buzzing is louder. It's starting to break free!

Thistle keeps one hand on the frog, but reaches to grab Angry Stirge with her other hand.

"Thistle, don't let it sting you!" And that kills the idea of spearing it, she can't risk stabbing Thistle's hand