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--TheirWorld--

There was a distinct separation between the Circle’s grounds and the Hunters’, and it was as much marked by the air of the area as much as it was in appearance. TheirWorld loves its gates, Guin noted, staring up at the one Margot had brought her to. Though beautiful, this gate was almost disappointingly familiar to her, with its archway of tree branches and viney gate, covered with flowers. 

Lit up by what must have been hundreds of thousands of blue and gold hued fireflies that peeked in and out through the flora, the walls themselves were made of thick, dense pricker bushes akin to those that Starshine summoned via her [Entangle] spell. Unlike Starshines, though, these were brimming with leaves and flowers that hid dangerous thorns from the unobservant or reckless predator. 

It was also very obviously something that Druids and Rangers and Shamans and Elves and such things would construct. Willowy spires rose up on the other side that suggested the interior architecture would be of similar flavor. Beautiful, yes — and hopefully functionally convenient, contrary to some nature-inspired cities she had walked through in other games — but also altogether fantastically ordinary to the imagination. 

Two men ‘guarding’ said gate didn’t help the image much — though they were arguably the most interesting. Neither one of them seemed to even notice or care that Guin and Margot had shown up on their doorstep. Rather, they seemed to be rather more involved in a board game off to the side, drinking who-knew-what from what looked to be wooden cups carved and painted to resemble different flowers. 

When Margot called to them in a terse voice, they at least waved, but otherwise ignored them. 

The two… animals? That held the post with them, however, were very keen on wondering who they were. 

One was an enormous brindled direwolf, who ears went erect almost as soon as they came into view. It didn’t stand — it watched. Head lowered and hackles just barely raised. Guin was certain that this one was definitely classed as an animal, if a more magical one. 

The other, however, she was shocked to realize was probably a spirit. Tall and thick, it was a muscular, white unicorn. Golden rings decorating a high, shimmering, white-gold mohawk of a mane glittered as the fireflies gathered to it. Its tail was cut into a short nub, that was also decorated with a think golden band. This was a magic creature if Guin had ever seen one — and she wouldn’t be shocked to know that it was of a similar level to Amikavi. It had that same air of power and elegance, and yet none of the force. This creature simply was, like nature itself. Eyes raised to meet Guin’s, she could hardly breathe.

While Guin had frozen a good bit away, raptured by the unicorn’s sheer existence, Margot, apparently unaffected by unicorn’s presence, simply walked passed it with almost reckless ignorance. Affronted, the unicorn suddenly perked up and broke away to try and gain the attention of the other young woman. Clopping over to her, it tried to greet her fondly, nibbling her red hair as she ignored it in favor of the two men. 

“Guys…” she went, hands on her hips. 

“Not now,” one said, voice full of concentration. “I’m winning.”

Cautiously walking up to them with her gaze shifting from creature to creature and person to person, Guin managed to get close enough to peer over at the game they were playing. 

It was a large, peg holed board with animal-shaped pieces set in rowed slots. On one side, the pieces were themed red, on the other, green.

“I don’t care,” Margot said, exasperated. “You’re supposed to be guarding the gate! What do you think the Masters are going to do if they walk out and see you doing this nonsense?”

“Hal and Poko are watching the gate,” the first speaker spoke again. “They are more than capable.” He had a narrow, hawkish face, and bright blue eyes that contrasted against his deeply tanned skin. His hair was more straw-gold compared to that of the unicorn’s, platted down into a long braid that was drawn over his shoulder as he leaned over the board. 

Guin wasn’t sure what game they were playing, or what the rules were — but she could tell from the look on his opponent’s face that he probably wasn’t winning like he said he was. 

“Go already,” the other said. Between the two of them, this one was on the leaner side, though his face was round and boyish. Dark haired and pale, his skin reflected the light from the lanterns and fireflies, giving him a strange hue in the dim light of the evening. 

The blonde man lifted a green rabbit from its slot, and counted two holes diagonally before slotting in next to a pair of red fish. He also moved a second piece, a green dog, two slots forward. Nodding he looked at the other.

“Dumb move,” Guin heard Margot say under her breath, earning her a glare from the first man and a smirk from his opponent.

Lifting a red dog of his own, the dark haired man captured the rabbit without hesitation, and set upon the dog with a horse. 

“No!” The green player shouted. 

“Quickly now — you think too much,” the opponent goaded. 

“Shut up!”

With a horse he took a fish, and with another dog he went after the horse. The red dog took the green horse, and a red fish moved forward, threatening a green fish that seemed like it was still in its starting position. A green dog took a red horse, and a green rabbit took a fish. Another red horse appeared, and pressed forward, but a red bird appeared and took a green deer — and then the game was over. 

Head down, the blonde man banged a fist on the table. “How can this be!” he cried. 

“It’s ‘cause you suck,” the dark haired man chuckled, and took a bag that was off to the side. He threw it in the air and caught it before standing up and clapping his hands together. “Look at this, boy!” he called at the wolf, whose head shot up with an accompanying tail wag. “We’ll be eating well again this week too!” Standing and shaking his fur out, the wolf trotted over and rubbed against the man’s back, looking for pets. The man obliged and added in a heartwarming hug that made even Guin feel warm inside. 

The blonde haired, man, however, leaned back to see the unicorn staring at him judgmentally. “Hal,” he went, rubbing its cheeks. “Where have I gone so wrong? Can’t I win even a single game? He’s cheating right? You must have seen him cheat!” The unicorn blew air in his face and went back to seeking attention from Margot. 

“Cheating,” scoffed the dark haired man. “Like I would.”

“Who would bother cheating against you. Especially Crow,” Margot snorted. The unicorn whined and pawed at the ground.

Scowling, the blonde man said, “Are you betraying me now too, Hal? Trading me in for that mean girl?”

Margot hugged Hal around the neck and kissed its face. “Hal’s a good girl — certainly too good for you. I’ll take care of you, huh?” Nuzzling her face, the unicorn did a little dance with her hoofs. 

“Anyway, who’s the friend, Margie?” the dark haired one asked. “You usually come with food, not friends. Is there food?” He seemed awfully hopeful.

“Not today, sorry,” Margot said, shaking her head. “This is Guin Grey; a registered hunter. Today though, she’s here to talk to the elders — but you may want to talk to her first. Especially you,” the young woman stressed, nodded at the blonde man who’d lost the game. He regarded Guin curiously as Margot introduced them: “Guin, these are my close friends and comrades: Initiate Druid Crow —” she nodded at the dark haired man who waved with a pleasant grin, then raised a hand to the other: “ — and this is Shaman Initiate Adrian Impriori.”