2 days, Helen reminded themself as they folded blankets.

Today, Helen thought as they opened their 4th story window early in the morning. It’s starting today.

Today, Ophelia thought as she watered the plants inside the greenery. It’s starting… today. 

She wasn’t ready. But that wouldn’t stop fate from moving on with its plans.

~

Later that day, Pangolin awoke falling. At first, fae thought it was a dream- the type of dream where you only wake AFTER you hit the ground. They braced for impact.

… And kept bracing…

… And still bracing…

And no impact came.

“Hey!” Someone called. “Wake up!” Pangolin opened their eyes and saw their AE, Koi, uncomfortably close to their face. They sat up – since when were they sitting? Various other CBers and AEs lay, sat, and stood across a small field of grass, all looking just as confused as Pangolin felt. The field was about the size of a baseball diamond lined on three sides with an evergreen forest and a large hill looming to the right.

Koi started to pace around the field, observing – judging – the others, and while she did that, Pangolin stood, discovering a dark gray backpack on the ground next to them. They looked across the field and saw that everyone else had one of the gray backpacks as well. Fae started to sort through the bag, finding that it seemed to fit almost everything they had packed.

“How,” They asked aloud, “Could THIS fit in there?” Fae pulled out the bow and arrows they faintly remembered putting on their form.

Someone next to her shrugged and moved their pale hair out of their face. “I wouldn’t question it.”

“Um. Okay.” Pangolin sat quiet for a moment, until Koi came back up to them. Something looked off, though. “Are you okay?” She asked the cat.

The cat scowled. “Very much so, Mx. Pangolin.” It said in a voice much different than Koi’s. “I am not your AE, if that’s what you were thinking.”

“Oh, sorry…” She looked across the field and saw her AE interrogating a CBer with strange blue hair and glasses. “I’ll be right back.” Fae picked up their backpack and ran over to faer AE, already worrying about what to say.

The cat looked over at the other CBer next to him. “You are Ms. Midnight Phantom, correct?”

The CBer nodded, and the cat nodded back, then began to stroll over to a rather large hill.

It took about 15 minutes for the CBers and AEs to sort things out on their own, finding each other and giving introductions. The cat had also given introductions, making sure everyone was there, checking if they knew their names, everything expected of a Ski Lodge host.

After that, the group started to wander towards the hill where the cat that seemed to know what was going on sat. The cat – who was previously licking its paw and quietly purring – stared at the group, almost waiting.

Artemis was the first to speak.

“So, uh… Who are you?”

The cat sighed. “They call me Ginger.” – He stood – “And I am one of your hosts here at Edith Castle. A minor host, of course, but nevertheless a host.”

Darkvine piped up, “And… where would Edith Castle be?”

“It’s just across the hill.” Ginger said, beginning to walk the large expanse of grass above them. “I can assure you that you will know when we are close.”

Almost before Ginger finished her sentence, Chai started running up the hill at an alarming pace. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon! Let’s gooo! I need to get some more candy soon or else I’m gonna-”

Periwinkle interrupted her AE, apologizing profusely to Ginger as she dragged her back into the crowd, “I’m SO sorry, I probably shouldn’t have brought her- Or we should have left her candy at home, maybe-”

Ginger interrupted the interrupter, “It… is alright. Just… control her, will you?” Everyone saw that Ginger thought that Chai’s excitement was NOT alright. They hoped that he wasn’t like that with everyone who got excited, only red-headed candy-rushed AEs. “Anyway,” He continued, “Before we hike the hill, please find your entry photograph and show me. We must make sure we have no… intruders.”

No one argued, searching through their bags and pulling out photographs. Sterling still didn’t quite understand how a rapier had fit in their bag.

After all the photographs were all checked, the trip up the hill began.