#baronyofthesilverwolf

He tilts his head to listen.

"Exactly. It's quiet." He looks around and starts backtracking a few steps, but then settles. "There you are."

chime?

He peers into Thistle's bag, and gently taps Citrine on her shoulder. A complaint bell, but she seems... sleepy.

"Oh, fer..." Siiiigh.

"Are her batteries low?" A worried look.

"She looks ok, just..." He thinks. "A little slower."

"We're in the Dreaming, albeit pretty close-by, so I'm sure she's got plenty of juice."

Art digs into a pocket, then looks to Thistle, "Got any candy handy?"

"We could let her sleep."

"I brought some, if we need it." He says "Let me know."

chime?! At the mention of Candy.

A few moments later though. Not her immediate reaction.

A soft chuckle.

The never flies from her Pack, not a ZIP but more sedate, and moves towards Madern, seeking the candy.

chime! Softer than usual. but insistent.

"Hunh." She files THAT thought away.

He pulls out a custom made lollipop, it looks a bit like a pinwheel in color and design.

The Never moves over, takes it, and returns to Thistle's shoulder. The candy is larger than her head, and she gives it a

Lick
...
Lick
...
Lick

This close to Thistle's ears, she can also hear the Chimera's gears ticking.

"Okay, this might take a while." Wryly.

Tick... tick... tick...

Hm, definitely a beat slower than usual.

"Should we move onward? Or take her back out?" Concern from Art.

"She's fine. Still ticking. Let's go."

"Okay, you know her best," He says and prepares to follow.

And so, they walk.

"Quietest she's ever been, I swear." Happily forging on, using the stones as a guide.

As they continue down the standing stone path, the slope is steady and easy enough to follow, with the stones set at irregular intervals along the hillside. They are weathered and partly buried in snow and lichen, but still clear enough to mark the way if one keeps an eye out. Not dramatic architecture, just a rough path that someone laid out long ago and that time has not fully erased.

The ground covered in uneven snow, thinner in some places and more packed in others, showing patches of dark earth and stone beneath.

The forest sits quietly around them, trees spaced loosely at first and then growing closer together further down the slope. It feels cold in the ordinary way of winter air at elevation, without any strong wind moving through the branches and no sign of recent disturbance.

Citrine's gears go tick... .. tick... .. tick... ..

"If she explodes I blame you, Thistle," Madern mutters

The path remains straightforward. The stones continue ahead, guiding the direction downhill without interruption. It is slow going but uncomplicated, a pleasant enough winter hike on a cold, still day.

Art remarks, after a pause, "I'm fairly certain we nixed the explosive enhancements."

... "Fairly, that is." Glancing to Thistle with a small grin.

"No comment." She aims for a straight face, but her eyes glimmer.

Madern's eyes widen JUST a bit She's joking right? They're both joking yeah... 90% sure.

They keep on the straight forward path and he admires the view.

Madern: It is a very lovely view, if you like snow and rocks. And the occasional tree.

He's seen worse!