The Shadow Carnevale (RP)

Lille hardly looks up from her task, and is too focused to react much to the hollering. What does get through confuses her. In addition to ridding her clothes of glass, she checks over her various parts as they become exposed. But there is nothing different or unusual about herself, save for a few faint scratches from the rain of glass. Puzzled, she completes her work and resolves to inquire with her companions once they are out of the nightmare.

As Albeart scoops her up she clutches onto the fur of his shoulders and settles herself with a quick self-bearratement. Why did I not think of this? This place slows my movement AND thinking. I must learn to work more like a true pack member.

With that in mind, she addresses Ezme as they approach the others. "This is Albeart- I mean, Albert." She slides down from his shoulders once they are clear of the glass. "He says he switched bodies with the bear because of a witch. Now we need to find his body to switch them back." Her uncertainty about the body swap concept is quickly replaced by concern when she sees Daryl. "What’s wrong with him? And where is Theo?"

Roald looks at Daryl's unconscious body.
''He is... He is... I don't know. We just need to get out of this place!''
There is a slight panic in Roald's voice.
'' Maybe Albeart can carry him while we search for his body. We also have his magical snake to help make the switch ''
When he notices the weird looks on everybody's faces he shows them the staff:
'' I mean staff... Not snake ''

Ezme requires no explanation. She realizes who Albeart is the minute she looks in the eyes of the bear. The fact that he is a bear doesn't strike her as odd at all; it's certainly no stranger than the fact that she is a lion right now. (Sort of.) All this talk of body swapping makes little sense to her.

At the mention of Theo, however, Ezme's memories suddenly kick in and her eyes widen.

"Theo is on other side! You are--! We are" she corrects, "... unconscious.... This is dream... some sort of illusion caused by shadow bee venom!"

Ezme motions for Roald to give Albeart the staff. "I came to deliver message to Albert. Albert, you must say prayer to Raynor. If you can wake us, we should be in our normal bodies! I hope." She suppresses an uncertain grimace.

''A dream? That does explain a lot of the weird stuff that happened to me''
Roald tries to give the staff to Albeart but when there is no way for the bear to hold it he takes it back.
'' I'll keep it safe for you, buddy''
'' Alright, we need to find his body, I hate to say it, but I'm afraid the fastest way is to split up...''

Albeart takes the staff in his mouth, unsure what to do next. The wood feels familiar, but it's like his memory can't figure out why. He gives it back to Roald.
"I don't know. I want to help, but I can't figure out how. Raynor sounds like an old acquaintance. But I really don't remember much of him."

He looks up as he spots movement out of the corner of his eye. "There! The witch!" He catches a glimpse of a female shape dressed in black and a pointy wide-brimmed hat. The person disappears behind one of the tents further down. Albeart starts to chase it without thinking, Lille still on his back. "Stop, witch! I need my body back!"

Ezmaray frowns at this unexpected dilemma as Roald and Albeart exchange the staff back and forth.

The fact that Albert's memories of Raynor had been "erased" suggests that they are on the right track to figuring out how to escape this place. She wasn't entirely sure that the solution to their problem was to find Albert's body, however. Whoever was in charge of this place might simply find some other way to mess with them. They needed to confront the source of the problem... which could probably be found at the other end of all these shadow cords....

As the others stand relatively still and converse, she squints her eyes, trying to focus on the cords and the direction they lead. Finally getting a good look at them, she opens her mouth to tell the others. Just then, Albeart spies the supposed witch and begins his headlong dash.

Ezme and Roald’s words spark her memory as to what the carnival worker had said, but before she can mention it she is whisked away. Hadn’t she gotten off the bear’s shoulders? Somehow she is back on, but it makes sense. Like how Ezme is sort of a lion, but also not. Has she always been this way?

Lille has to put away her questions in order to hold on, and also keep a grip on her staff without whacking Albeart upside the head. It gives her little time to think about the crowd that had been curious about her initial ride, and now flees before their thundering charge. Lille hadn’t seen whatever witch Albeart had spotted, but looks forward with curiosity to catching their prey.

As Albeart comes up to the strange tent, Lille espies the woman sitting unperturbed inside. Pointing her staff, Lille calls out imperiously, "Who are you? What have you done with this man’s body?"

"Wait!" Ezme calls after Albeart. She grabs ahold of Daryl and attempts to pursue while dragging the unconscious lad behind her, but movement feels slow -- painfully slow, like she's dragging them both through thigh-high mud. The trapper stops, releasing Daryl and cursing in her native tongue.

No. This is dream. And if it is dream, then... Frack this! And with that, Ezme bends her knees and launches herself skyward with all her might, spreading her arms wide. Up she goes, then hovers effortlessly in the air about twelve feet off the ground, looking down on Roald and Daryl still slogging beneath her. A giddy, defiant feeling courses through her before she scoops back down, attempting to grab Daryl by an arm and take him with her.

Daryl still feels heavy -- she is unable to lift him fully off the ground to fly with her -- but she is able to drag him much faster and easier while in flight. Pulling ahead, she turns, flashing Roald a grin. "Hey Roald, what goes zzub zzub zzub?" She only waits a couple seconds before continuing, "Bee flying backward!" She lets out a laugh at the inanity of the joke, then turns back around and continues flying, the knight in tow.

At this time, Roald observes that Ezme looks like herself again, except... Not only is she unbound by gravity, but there is also a different sort of lightness about her. Her smile is broad, joyful, and free in a way that Roald has not before witnessed.

It's delightful, but fleeting. The moment is gone just as quickly as it came as she turns back around, "beelining" after the shadow cords and their companions.

"Did you see where the bear went with his body?" Lille asks suspiciously. She keeps her staff pointed at the woman, though more commandingly than an attempt to strike with or throw it. She leans forward slightly, trying to get a better view of the stranger’s veiled face and cards.

zubb zubb? What ? The joke doesn't get through to him seeing Ezme levitate keeps every braincell occupied for the moment.

''Ezme, wait'' Roald shouts after her, but when she flies away with Daryl's feet leaving tracks in the sand make his voice weak. He is too surprised to react immediately.
She looked different too, a bit translucent... Like the wasps they encountered before. He notices her shape is clearer when he is not looking directly at her. But the smile on her face tells him she is happy.
With a sluggish pace he starts running after her, still holding Albeart's staff in one hand. But it feels funny, the balance is off. Little branches are sprouting on one end of the staff growing longer with every step he takes, turning it into a broom.
Roald stops and looks around, thinking.
what was I doing again?

He starts brushing away the tracks made by Daryl.
This way they will never track us down. Hehe
He is very pleased with his own ingenuity.

"I know how to read."Lille frowns at the woman and the cards, confusion plain on her face. "We just want to find this man’s body."