Lilac

[teamposts]

[While your team tries to figure out what just happened (or waits for something to happen if they were already inside), great ghostly wolves form themselves out of the shadows and mist of the deeper forest. They set themselves down at the edge of the clearing your cabin is in, watching with hungry, predatory looks. These are no simple wolves either: they're huge creatures the size of a large pony.

The presence returns again, curious as ever. It pulls your attention to the wolves outside, as if it wasn't there already. Curious, curious, what will you do with them? There's a sudden, very distinct knowledge that they will attack. They will fight to get into the cabin unless you send them elsewhere. Of course . . . you could simply allow them to struggle against the defenses you've built up, but is it enough to hold them off? It doesn't seem impossible that they might break through . . . Will it be enough to hold off any other beasts sent to your team? If you start to wonder about what they'll do if they get in, an uneasy, heavy feeling of dread floods the area from the mysterious presence; it doesn't seem like it will be anything good.

What will you do?]

Comments

[cattack]

[SHOWING UP FASHIONABLY LATE

AND BY FASHIONABLY LATE I MEAN AFTER ALMOST EVERYTHING IMPORTANT HAS HAPPENED.]

[acemagician]

. . . Cleo!

[cattack]

... It seems we have an unfortunate game again. What have I missed?

[acemagician]

We had to fortify the defenses of this cabin in preparation for danger, and now there are wolves outside who will try to break through the cabin to hurt us if we don't send them to two other teams.

[. . .]

I'm not sure I did a very good job fortifying our cabin.

[cattack]

Wolves... Like Mary's beast?

[acemagician]

Bigger.

[cattack]

I am already rather tired of those.

Two other teams, then.

[acemagician]

[. . .]

I don't want to pick Celeste.

[cattack]

Why not?

[acemagician]

Because we chose them last time, and they died.

[cattack]

[Nods.]

I do not wish them harm now that they have recovered their morals, but we must pick someone.

[acemagician]

Maybe. . . Cardinal? It looked like they managed to patch the holes in their cabin, so maybe their defense will hold. . .?

[cattack]

I haven't seen the others, so I'll leave that to your judgment. Do you know the states of other teams?

[aceassistant]

Cleo--!

[cattack]

I am sorry I'm late.

[aceassistant]

Don't worry, I was late too. Bella was all by herself . . .

[cattack]

[SHIT.]

... There will be time for regretting that after the game.

1/2

[aceassistant]

[nods]

. . .

[aceassistant]

. . .

Wait! You know how to talk?!

[cattack]

[...

It's quiet, but after a moment, there's a slight snort of laughter.]

Yes, I do. I recovered my voice yesterday.

[aceassistant]

Oh, I'm really glad! I was worried about what would happen if we ran out of paper! What if you had to write on the walls . . .

[cattack]

Then Sophie would respond, right?

[aceassistant]

You mean the ghost?

[cattack]

If that's how you want to think of her.

[aceassistant]

I don't really want to think about any of those portraits...