The Border Woods

How long had it been since Roy had known where he was going? Too long, for sure. All these woods looked the same, and he was pretty sure that he'd turned left at the crooked old tree in the shape of a turkey's head when he should have turned right. As he wandered through the woods, he wondered why everything felt so strange all of a sudden. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but there was something different about these trees. It felt almost like he was being watched, but he couldn't be sure. All he knew was that he was very lost, and that something about this stretch of forest didn't feel quite right.

Roy looked around, completely baffled as to where the voice was coming from. Someone was speaking to him, but who? Where were they? What were they? The trees were far too dense to see through, and the echos made it almost impossible to tell where the voice was coming from. He wasn't able to wonder for very long, however, before he tripped on a root and fell on his face. Surely that hadn't been there before? Perhaps he just wasn't paying enough attention. Sighing, he got up and wiped the mud off his face.

"Who are you? I can't see you at all. Um...you don't happen to know how to get to Rosy Nook, would you? I'm supposed to meet one of my cousins there."

Unbeknownst to Roy, he was very far indeed from the little town of Rosy Nook.

How long had it been since he'd been here? Too long? Or perhaps it would be better if he'd never come at all? The Chestknight waddled down the road with purpose, although perhaps with an uncharacteristic solemness. He was a Knight of the Summer Court, and while proud of his position, had taken his errant status quite seriously. Even now he felt the draw to return to the human lands. Even so, he was torn with his notions of being derelict in his duties to the Court. As such he made it a point to stop in every handful of years or so to check in, and see if his experience and worldliness would be of assistance.

Along the road he heard the distinct quibbling of voices. He could feel the magics, and picked up his pace as he made his way down the road. It was there he spotted Royal Fletcher, standing in the path speaking to the trees as the boughs opened for him. At the moment, not realizing his vampiric nature, the Chesknight saw nothing strange. Perhaps the lad had cast the spell to get a little sun, or get perspective on where he was.

"Hail, fellow traveler!" he called, raising a hand in salutations. "A fine day, is it not? Look how bright the sun shines! How lucky are we to see it so clearly on a day like today."

The raccoon saw with some glee a member of the summer court approaching. They were always game for a good laugh.

Roy would find the small thicket he had hidden in to loaded with scorpions and spiders, non-venomous of course, and their bites/stings certainly look painful enough, but would produce a momentary sharp pain, akin to a needle, before leaving the bearer with an itch in that spot that they could never seem to quite satisfy.

Addressing the fae from his perch came: "My my my. You certainly are a round one Chessknight, are you not?"

Roy soon found himself very unhappily in a rather creepy situation, squirming around to try to avoid all the very large and dangerous-looking scorpions and spiders that all seemed to live right here. He tried his best to swat them away, but only ended up being bitten for his trouble. He rubbed the stinging welt, and turned to the figure on the road. The mysterious voice seemed to know the rotund newcomer, and Roy wasn't sure that that was a good thing.

"Um...Chest Knight, right? W-where is the land of fae? I don't think I've ever been here before, nor heard of it...oh dear, I think I really am lost indeed...maybe I should turn around and head back."

Any worry that Roy had had before was immediately magnified. How in the world had he accidentally wandered into the land of fae? His grandmother had always warned him not to wander into fairy woods, lest he be kidnapped. Had he accidentally kidnapped himself?

A vampire? So, he had misjudged the mortal before him. Perhaps he didn't need his help after all. Looking to Roy and seeing him covered in generally non-threatening welts he had to second-guess that. He wasn't sure who this strange individual was, nor the voice who spoke to him from the trees, but he couldn't let such a feeble creature suffer alone.

"I have no desire to do battle this day, but I would protect those who cannot protect themselves. I believe this...may fall under such a purview. I do take him under my protection and, as such, humbly request that you do him no ill. Or, at least keep your pranks from becoming too lethal."

The small raccoon, wearing nothing but a checkered cape that looked like it had once covered a picnic table dropped down next to them.

"You have not heard of me?" He asked, feigning indignance.

"I have been tasked by the Tyrant to watch this entryway into Tir La Morr. He and I are old friends you see, and he appreciates my work. Since you take this one under your protection, I suppose he can have his parasol back." He snapped his little claws and the parasol appeared where it had been before.

Roy's eyes widened as his invisible tormenter suddenly appeared before him. Looking down at the little creature, he had to admit that he was somewhat underwhelmed at the raccoon's appearance. He'd seen raccoons before, roaming around outside the kitchens at the estate, but the staff usually chased them away. His grandmother simply didn't tolerate varmints on her property. Still, it was clear that this one was a far cry from the sneaky little creatures he'd seen as a child. The magical powers, the speech, the cape...this guardian was definitely more than met the eye. He accepted his parasol gratefully, glad to finally have protection from the sunlight. It hovered above him, floating over his head and keeping him safe within its little puddle of shade.

"Um...it's nice to meet you, Mr. Guardian...that's a very nice cape you've got."

Roy found this place very unsettling already, but it was too late to back out now. Perhaps he ought to invest in a map, he thought.

"Perhaps, perhaps." The Chesknight replied thoughtfully to the raccoon's assertions that it most certainly was not noble. Even so, however, he had his doubts. When the strange being referenced the women of the Fae realm, however, even the jolly knight seemed somewhat bashful. "Ah, I'm afraid such a judgement is outside the realms of my expertise." he replied, scratching the back of his helmet as he watched Checkers approach Roy, tapping his nose.

"As for you," he added, this time to Roy. "I think it best I lead you out of Tir la Morr, this is no place for the faint of heart."