***Deep Forest Celebration Festival***

[Gaeva Winged Unicorn]

Releasing her breath when she spotted Dejah climbing the stairs, Gaeva quickly glanced to the side as Blackback sprinted to the colorful tent at the back of the stage, and then carefully moved away from Deavin, not wanting the youngster to fall when he lost his leaning post, namely her leg. Crossing the short distance of just a couple of her footstepd to the now remaining three winners she smiled at them, her gaze lingering on Dejah's almost blank face for a worried moment before deciding this was not the time nor place to be asking questions.

"Congratulations Smoke and Dejah on the Best Duel performed here today!" she said loudly, one of her ears flicking backwards towards the tent at the muted sound of a crash and mutterings from the troll. They had not expected three winners for the duel after all, and thus the arrangement of the prizes had to be slightly altered.

Quickly Gaeva continued to give Blackback a bit more time. She turned towards Chæos, "I have not had the pleasure of learning your name yet, but your entrance and performance..." Gaeva kept smiling evenly as she said this, her features not betraying how much she doubted those words accurately described what had really happened on that stage earlier, "...were memorable and unexpected. Something which the audience's reaction has responded to I am sure."

Both ears flicked back a moment as she heard the cloth of the tent opening move aside to give way to Blackback, "And thus it is only fair that you should be allowed to be rewarded along with our other winners!" the mare ended more enthousiastically and turned her head just in time to have a basket, similar to the one offered to Sappho, shoved towards her by a grinning Blackback, who then used his now free hand to take another basket from his other hand where he had been holding the two remaining onces.

Snorting softly at the unexpected move, and now being unable to speak as she held the basket by it's handle between her lips, she looked at the troll who raised his hands as he marched towards Smoke and Chæos, "As the others already given out, these gifts were all offered by creatures all over this forest!" he said clearly, holding out a basket to first Smoke.

The basket would have appeared to be empty if not for the head of a statue sticking out, a card tied around it's neck had "from Dimitri and Sarah" written on it. The eyes of the staue were clearly glowing, the mysterious light illuminating the basket's other contents:

A small box which contained claimed magical whiskers from Raphus.

A small envelope which held a card offering a date with Entropy.

A half-price voucher to be used at Blackback's.

And finally a card with the invitation to spend a day with Rynn, where you could get help to mind-read people.

OOC: For contacts: Dimitri & Sarah: Vizeer, Raphus: Raphus, Entropy: Luxon Cobrat, Blackback: Griatch, Rynn: Silvereyesish.

IC
Still grinning Blackback then turned his head in the other direction, as he was standing in between the two, and extended his other hand to Chæos, "And one for the lady!"

The basket itself was identical to the one offered to Smoke, but it's contents held very different gifts:

Most prominent were a small velvet box containing a matching bracelet and nacklace, sporting decorations, and made of genuine silky soft unican hair, which came from the one who had donated the gift herself, Crys. Another box came from the same person, and held something which had been described as "Chrokina Brak", though what that exactly was, only Crys could explain.

Also noticible was an extemely small cage holding a pair of fleas of hope and wonder. A card hanging from it showed it to come from Sappho.

Another small lined box could be found in the basked, holding a small hyperdiamond lense. The box also held a note indicating the gift came from Rotor, and an offer to make a mounting for it.

A letter that offered Tiffin and Flycker as butler/companions for a day.

And finally a short note offering a sparring partner for a day, for some battle training or excersize, by Geaven.

OOC: For contacts: Crys: Crhishoa, Sappho: Raphus, Rotor/Tiffin: Roose, Flycker: Silvereyesish, Geaven: Gaeva.

IC
Gaeva meanwhile had leaned forwards towards Dejah, and extended her head to offer the basket she held between her lips.

It was the lightest basket, though the lack of weight did not mean it's content were of any less value!

A small bag tied securely shut with extra tight knots held a handful of "Wind Bombs", generously donated by Ashowan and Sheikka according to the card tied to the bag.

A beautifully written letter offering a sweet four-handed massage by the Jester.

A ticket for a lesson in meditation practice with Darkstar.

Another ticket for a playdate with Anani.

And finally a last ticket for a free ride on the spaceship GreenDay, offered by Roose.

OOC: For contacts: Ashowan/Sheikka: Windra, The Jester: Griatch, Darkstar: VPhoenix, anani: Silvereyesish, Roose: Roose.

[Luxon Cobrat]

While Ashowan and Darkstar gave Entropy their pep talks, the prize baskets were being handed out on the stage. Though they didn't announce aloud who received which prizes, there was only one male up there, so Entropy was reasonably sure who had gotten hers.

"Well, there's no helping it now," the succubus said. "Whoever got my card is who I'm going to have to go out with, if they call on me. No choice in the matter. I'll have to do a proper job of it, or... it will be very bad form."

Letting out a sigh to release the last of her anguish, Entropy readied herself to take on her responsibility.

"Smoke's a... smart match, anyway, I suppose," she reasoned. "Ladies of nobility rarely get to follow their hearts to love, after all. We must follow our heads to political advantage, and with luck, love may follow after that."

[Windra]

<center>Darkstar just kind of randomly popped in. Ashowan blinked at him in confusion. Who was this dude? She didn’t recall ever seeing him before … Regardless of their current strangerdom, the being piped up to comment, adding his words to affirm what the Reaper was saying herself. “I would agree with Ashowan for the most part, besides fate only had control of one if they allow it to. My personal opinion, people make their own paths through life, not controlled and manipulated by some unseen force.”

There was a strange sort of irony to that statement that had Ashowan grinning. If only he knew half the things … But she looked puzzled and tilted her head at Darkstar, mumbling, ”Sorry … have we met?” Ashowan ran into Knightfighter, yes. Darkstar? Not so. Shrugging she turned to Entropy, about to speak … but then the prizes were handed out on stage. Ashowan noted a familiar package being handed off to the Halfling up there and beamed. ”That person got my wind bombs,” she told the others with a grin.

”Well, there’s no helping it now,” said a resigned Entropy. ”Whoever got my card is who I’m going to have to go out with, if they call on me. No choice in the matter. I’ll have to do a proper job of it, or … it will be very bad form.” A sweatdrop appeared on the Reaper’s head. Scar, in the meantime, was scrabbling to her feet while the succubus sighed. ”Smoke’s a … smart match, anyway, I suppose. Ladies of nobility rarely get to follow their hearts to love, after all. We must follow our heads to political advantage, and with luck, love may follow after that.”

There was an awkward moment between them. Ashowan glanced at the stage, picking Smoke from the crowd and watching from a distance. ”Good thing he’s a shapeshifter,” the girl muttered softly, silently swearing an oath to Entropy – If any harm come out of this, I’ll eat him alive. She had a different view on everything entropy spoke of – namely to avoid love at all costs, because it typically didn’t work and one mate or the other was going to die eventually. Instead of voicing what she thought, the Reaper spun Entropy towards the massive party-goers. ”Enough of that, Chaos. We’ve got a whole night of insanity in front of us.” A reassuring, bemused grin helped her words.

Scarlet chimed in with a cackle. ”People to see, pranks to pull … !”
</center>

[VPhoenix]

Darkstar looked a little puzzled at Ashowan surprised she had forgotten him already, but perhaps it was the mere fact the had just met by an odd chance of when his apple core hit the one called Scarlet square in the head. "Yes, if you recall I am the one who accidently tossed that apple that hit your frined Scarlet's head." Darkstar then scanned the stage briefly trying to think who who might have recieved his lesson invitation, a matter he looked foward to hoping it might ease his mind from recent devasting event that lead to his arrival in the Deep Forest.

[Griatch]

Having handed out the last prizes, Blackback let out a big breath and slapped Gaeva on the back. "Well that's all for me, boss" he said. "The stage's all yours. I'm off to join the fun and finally get me some beer!"

And accompanied by the claps of the audience the troll bowed to Gavea and stepped down from the stage. With large strides he headed towards the beer tent, loudly greeting people left and right as he did so. He intended to party until daylight and so was everyone else.

The Jester dodged away from her position by the candy tent and came to meet him. "You where wonderful!" she called out to the troll. "Come on, lend me a shoulder!" Blackback grinned widely, knowing just what she meant by that. He held out an arm, and the Jester swiftly climed it like a flight of stairs. She came to rest as some sort of colourful crouching parrot on the top of Blackback's shoulder, "Forwards!" she yelled, nudging his ears. The troll grunted with good humour and continued onward. Onward towards the beer tent, onward towards the party that was rapidly starting up all around them.

-------
OOC: And that's the end post from me, only Gaeva's final post to go. Hope people enjoyed the festival!

[Gaeva Winged Unicorn]

Gaeva let out a stiffled snort at Blackback's friendly slap, and turned to give him a look, which was completely missed by the troll as he hurried to start enjoying the party in his own special way. Giving her tail a strong flick as she released another soft snort, she then returned her attention to the audience and the ones standing on the stage, taking a few steps forwards so she was standing at the edge. She still had some words to say, and it was clear people were ready to start dispersing and mingle.

"We have reached the end of this Festival's arranged entertainment, my dear and fellow Deep Forest inhabitants!" she called out loudly to get everybody's attention. She flicked her tail and looked left and right over the audience while waiting for them to quiet down a bit again after cheering the winners on the stage. "I hope you have enjoyed everything this night as much as we did arranging it for you!"

A positive response came back to her that made Gaeva smile. She then turned her head to look at the ones still on the stage for a moment, before returning her attention on the audience once more, "I'd like to thank everybody who has put in so much effort to make this all happen. The ones who vollunteered for a duel, and the ones who offered their skills to entertain us, but also the people who generously provide their time and effort to make sure we can all have various delicious snacks and drinks during this Festival," she stated, looking in the direction of Juno's bar and Celishe's candy tent among others, "And the ones who helped set this all up of course!" A small cheer could be heard in the back of the crowd by some of the humanoids living in the Village. It was obvious they'd already had plenty of the alcoholics available, and cheerfully accepted the thanks for their manual labor of setting up tents, poles, lighting and various other tasks assigned that weren't handled by Harold.

This led Gaeva to slightly turn so she could look to the back of the stage, where the large pumpkin head demon was still hovering, as he had been the entire evening and night, "And we are very grateful to Harold, for everything he has done tonight, to make sure everybody could enjoy this Festival, without having to fear any kind of malice while being here. Thank you, Harold," she said with a little bow of her head to him.

"And lets not forget Blackback," Gaeva ended with a grin, "For using his shop to support this whole thing, and for his help to organize everything you have seen!" She saw a red arm holding a glass of beer rise above the crowd, and chuckled softly at the troll's gesture.

Taking a deep breath Gaeva gently bowed her head, smiling, "And thank you all for being here. It means a lot to me that you have gathered here together, to spend time getting to know each other, and prove we can coexist without violence interrupting us." She nearly glanced at Roose then, but sickness didn't count after all.

"I hope we will have many more opportunities to come together as we have done so this night, and be able to count on each other if rough times ever hit us again, to overcome difficulties as we have done in the past." Gaeva unfolded her wings then, and spread them wide to either side, taking up as much visual space on the stage as possible, "The tents and music will remain till dawn, so enjoy yourselves! I wish you joy!" The party would continue 'till the sun returned to them. With that, her wings still spread out, she tucked in one of her front legs, and bowed down to the audience.

It was over.

OOC
The Festival is over!!! You can still get in your lasts posts to wrap up whatever you have going on till Thursday ^_^

[Windra]

<center>

Ashowan's grin was sheepish at the very least. How had she forgotten Darkstar? Their meeting had been brief, yes, and not very well put-together. Then again, her mind had been set on other things, such as the genteel nagging at the back of her skull. No matter how hard the half-dragon tried to shake it off, the thing would always come back to prod at her subconscious - an annoying fly clinging to the frontal lobe like it was its heart.

Gaeva's speech was altogether mushy and corny, yes, but heartening to hear. It caused Nemo to smile a bit, though it was half-hearted and spurred only because others around her seemed to be doing the same - or cheering, really. Ashowan felt none of the joy that pumped through everybody else's hearts. Replacing it was a sense of doubt - and ominous cloud had settled over the mind's eye and refused to get up.

"N - "

Ashowan rubbed her right temple. A voice was probing into her brain. What the hell? It sounded familiar, but terribly fuzzy. Vision glazed over somewhat and became blurry. She glanced about with confusion dawning on her face, trying to pinpoint who was speaking.

"Nay - "

Seeing her disillusionment, Scarlet prodded the half-dragon in the shoulder with a claw. "Deadthing?" she chimed. "Hellooooooooo, Earth to Deadthing!"

"Eh?" The Reaper glanced at the V-ACT and gave her a strange glare that bordered humor and genuine loss. The buzz between her ears continued. It clamored a third time, but was now loud and very clear.

"Naira! Can you hear me?"

Ashowan shook her head and walked away from Entropy, Knightfighter, and Scarlet, rubbing her chin and trying to act suave so nobody got suspicious of her peculiar antics. "Sheikka?" It was a mental call: her voice had not moved so much as an inch. Whoever was on the receiving end of her telepath got the message.

"Where you at?"

"I'm at the Festival, didn't I already tell you that?" But Ashowan picked up a frantic edge to the Anubian's tone. What's wrong?"

Something was said to her that made the half-dragon's head snap up and to attention. She glanced around the Festival once, twice ... thrice ... just to make sure nobody was watching. Then, with her face strangely unreadable, she vanished into the crowd ...

The sky looked a little cloudy. A storm was rolling in, but would not strike until the party was over: merciful gods, you might say.

[Ashowan has left this thread to make way for the +Do or Die+, which is now over.]

--

Scarlet watched Ashowan walk away. She made an attempt to call out but it was ignored. Shrugging her shoulders, the V-ACT turned instead towards the food stall ... waltzed ... and, after mooching a mug of beer from some unsuspecting Festival-goer, returned to Entropy and Knightfighter, eager to make this night last.

--

Masquerade had been wandering around the party for a while. She stopped long enough when Gaeva began to speak so that she could hear what was going on ... catch the parting words ... and then she headed towards the food table. Her stomach was growling, aching to be filled with something. She had no idea what was being served, but some instinctual bit of curiousity nudged her to find out ...

The pup ran into the white cheetah known as Bast there. They stared at each other for a long time, not knowing what to say. A mutual nod and they both headed for the food.



[Bleh, crummy.]

[ddpej]

<center>Both Smoke and Chæos took their baskets without comment -- the first calmly, taking the handle in his mouth and depositing the basket on the stage, and the second testily, snatching it out of the troll's grip almost angrily. Neither of the two looked inside to see what they had received. Smoke was too busy figuring out how he wanted to carry the prize offstage, and Chæos was too busy attempting to burn angry holes into the tiger's head with her eyes.

A glance at Harold, still hovering nearby, reminded the demon-spirit that now was not the time or place to go after the shifter. Giving him a last snapping glare, the headwinged woman tightened her grip on the basket and stalked offstage. She bulled her way back to the catman to collect her food, splitting the crowd with glared daggers and snarls of belligerence, then made her way to the trees and beyond, vanishing into the Forest to eat and investigate her prizes away from everyone else.

Smoke, on the other hand, remained on the stage a moment longer. He had decided to take the opportunity for shifting practice -- namely, the adaptation of his usual tail to a more prehensile version. Flicking the end of it under the basket handle, he concentrated for a moment. Wisps of smoke began to shimmer up from the appendage, and within seconds the tip of the tail began to curl up and over the handle, and back under in a secure grip. The smoke, faint and meager due to the minor shift, stopped emerging, the currently wafting wisps dissipating. Tightening his unusual grip on the basket, the tiger surged to his feet and padded silently offstage, basket dangling from his tail behind him. Like Chæos, he too passed through the crowd and vanished into the trees, saving investigation of the prizes for a later and more secluded moment.

Far across the clearing, the mutt sat up in his lookout tree and finished off his sugarstick. The final speech had been long enough that he hadn't listened very carefully, but the implications were fairly easy to determine -- the party was nearing its end. His body was beginning to tell him the same thing. The massive amounts of sugar he had consumed in the last few hours were more than he usually saw in a month or more, and he was swiftly growing drowsy. Shaking it off temporarily, the jumble of legs shuffled down to the ground and meandered off into the Forest, looking for a suitable hole in the ground in which to crash for the night.</center>

[VPhoenix]

Darkstar stood there a little taken back by Ashowan's actions. He could tell she was bothered by something but he had an attempt to figure out what it was she was gone with out a trace. "I hope your friend is alright she seemede rather troubled if you ask me" he said turning to Scarlet and Nei.

[Luxon Cobrat]

"Yes, if you recall I am the one who accidentally tossed that apple that hit your friend Scarlet's head."

Grinning in amusement, Entropy looked at Ashowan, about to humorously comment on the fact that the apple-core incident had just happened within the last few minutes. When she looked, though, she saw Ashowan walking away without a word. Something about that sight bothered her, reminding her of the sense of foreboding she had felt earlier. Seeing how she had turned Scarlet away, Entropy doubted that she would have any better luck if she tried to approach the half-dragon. Instead, she just watched her leave, looking worried and wondering if she should follow.

The return of the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach was almost enough to compel Entropy to follow, but Scarlet's return caused her to linger. She doubted that Ashowan wanted her to follow anyway. She glanced away briefly to regard the clouds in the sky, during which time Ashowan managed to disappear completely from sight.

Darkstar commented on the fact that Ashowan seemed a little troubled, to which Entropy responded with an uncomfortable nod.

"I think I'll go look around for her later," Entropy decided aloud. "Something's bothering me. I can't say I know what it is, but..."

She trailed off. Then she looked at Scarlet again.

"Right. Time for some fun," the succubus declared, grinning fiendishly. "The fools of this realm shall learn the full terror of the Great Overlord Chaos!"

Punching a fist into the air, Entropy laughed maniacally. Then, once that was out of her system, she gave Scarlet a wink.

"Got any cherry bombs?"

[VPhoenix]

Darkstar's stomach began to turn as Nei had mentioned chaos a term that in Darkstar's vocabulary was not be used lightly, and made him a bit worried at what Nei's was thinking about doing. This worry was only increased when she asked Scarlet about cherry bombs something Darkstar was for the most part. He knew little of objects called bombs from an alchemist that was one of his teachers, and knew cherry as a kind of small, sweet, red fruit. So the best thing he could think of a cherry bomb was a cherry that some how exploded, which to him seemed all together not very nice.
"Um...I think I will pass causing trouble really is not my kind of thing" he said finally being to voice his thought on the matter.

[Windra]

<center>
[OoC: That was my last post here, btw ... ]

[Luxon Cobrat]

"Um... I think I will pass causing trouble really is not my kind of thing."

"Aw, darn," Entropy whined. "Just a few harmless pranks was all I was planning on..."

She let out a slightly disappointed sigh, but cheered back up quickly.

"Well, if you don't want to, then alright," she shrugged.

Looking back at Ashowan's barrel of Backlash, Entropy wondered if she should have another cup. Something told her that she needed to get sobered up by the time the Festival was over, but... One more drink couldn't hurt.

(OOC: And I'm done here.)

[VPhoenix]

Now having himself separated from both Ashowan and Nei one being more on purpose than the other Darkstar was not quite sure what he should do next seeing as he did not know many other people with in the Deep Forest, which caused him to ponder how would the person who received his gift would be able to contact him if they were interested in the offer. With that Darkstar thought he would stay around a little longer and try to find out who won his gift and how the two might be able stay in contact with each other.

[The_Vizir]

Dimitri leaned back and placed his head behind his head. Right...so that was that. Interesting place this would be here... he might just enjoy it. Of course, he would have to learn completely new skills to survive out hear, as he doubted his past as a smuggler, information broker and...dealer of recreational substances of dubious legality... would come in help here. No... something else... but what? What could he do that... wait? That statue that was in the prize baskets, was that-

"SARAH!" Dimitri's voice sounded frighteningly like a father getting ready to lecture his delinquent daughter

"What?" the knight groaned weakly... the effects of the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster continuing to beat her brain into mush even now, leaving her very reluctant to get into an argument

"That statue...just how'd they get their hands on it."

"What statue?"

"The one that was in that tiger Smoke's basket"

"Not following..."

"The one with the glowing eyes, incomprehensible ruins scribbled all over it." Dimitri explained through clenched teeth, exasperation obvious to anybody whose brain was functioning the way it was supposed to "The one I told you I had bought from that sailor, the one claiming to have gotten it from the Shrouded Isles"

"Oh, yeah...that statue. I gave some guy, asking for donations for a festival of some sort. I don't remember much, besides the guy was really persuasive and all...could've been a girl. No...I'm certain it was a guy...unless it wasn't, of course."

Dimitri began rubbing his temples. "Right, and you didn't think to tell me"

"Oh...I thought to. Just felt it would be better for my continued well being not to."

"Your candor is surprisingly refreshing" the black rogue growled

"Hey, sorry I don't like BS and politics okay? And if you don't like it, take it up with my maker. I'm certain He'd like to sit down and have a long heart-to-heart with you anyways."

Dimitri glare seethed with such rage, Sarah's clothing would have burst into flames...but cloths are surprisingly oblivions to such cues, and it wouldn't be until two weeks later that they decided to spontaneously combust. Of course, it'll be raining that day, so all they'll do is splutter, further reinforcing the negative stereotype about the intelligence of clothing. However, that's an entirely different story, so let's get back to the one we're telling right now...

After several long moments of angry glowering, Dimitri finally shook his head in disgust. If he didn't need Sarah to get back to Newumberland...if she wasn't the only other member of his species alive in the... multiverse for all he knew! If she wasn't so important... he would've clunked her over the head now with her bottle of Gargle Blaster, and gone back to his cabin, feeling much better about himself. Instead, he was forced to say the following. "Fine, whatever. You want to go home? Right...we're going home." Surprisingly, Dimitri really wasn't in the mood for a party right now...of course, also surprisingly, Dimitri's never in the mood for a party that he hadn't set up for a particular reason, such as serving as a front for illegal activities, or to get himself acquainted with those whom would later become valuable assets.

Sarah raised her head, and let loose the most pathetic excuse for a Huzzah! ever known to mankind. Indeed, on some far off, twisted world, her meagre little Huzah caused an entire army from the most powerful nation on that planet to loose to 300 men dressed in solely in leather kilts, with only the copious amounts of oil smeared on their chests as defence again the arrows that blotted out the sun. Yeah... butterfly effect. Get used to it.

Oblivious to the effects her cheer had wrought on the history of a mostly harmless world, so far far away, Sarah slung her arm over Dimitri's shoulder, and heaved herself to her feet. Then, leaving heavily on the black rogue's shoulder, the church knight trundled away from the festival grounds, and towards a nice, welcoming bed. And some cold beer...just what she needed for this headache of hers.

---

Far above the flickering lights of the festival, three new stars flared into life, only to disappear moments later. Small flickers of light shot across the sky moments later, lasting for about a minute, before they stopped. Another minute later, and a virtual cascade of shooting stars lit up the sky...one in particular extraordinarily bright, and extraordinarily large...

Most of the stars disintegrated before even reaching the stratosphere. However, the large one kept falling, until it was out of sight. It continued it's violent decent until it crashed into the wastes, some distance away from the forest...but still close enough that those standing on the edge could see the battered and broken carapace of the UESCS Norad III slowly cooling, groaning as it settled into the wastes...

[FoxDragon]

Dejah took the basket the unipeg offered her. Her clawed hand wrapping around it as she looked straight ahead. She didn't even look into it to see the contents simply took and started off as it now seemed it was possible to leave.

Should she have looked at the contents her blank expression would not have changed. Windbombs...not needed. Wind already worked for her.
A massage...tempting, but any effects would be wash before dawn. Meditation...besides being one of the most self-disciplined people she had the Collar if all else failed. She was an expert at having her mind and spirit somewhere outside of her physical self.

A playdate...uh, Dejah play? Is that possible? Or did someone want to see a little kid scarred for life? (More then they already are of course.) :P

Finally a ride on a spaceship...now knowing the layout of Deep Forest from the air could be quite useful. Leaving the planet's atmosphere...questionable with such a deicate time bound being...

((Dejah out))

[VPhoenix]

The festival at last had died down to a great degree, and having no luck finding the person who had received his offer a lesson in meditation Darkstar thought it best he took his leave. Besides he had much more important matter to deal with this at this time like finding a place to live mainly. So with that said Darkstar took his leave of the festival, and just hoped Entropy would not get into too much trouble with her pranks.
((Darkstar out))

[CrhisaHoa]

Crystal watched the Festival wind down, and suddenly realized that she was very, very tired. The constant barrage of thoughts and emotions wore her down mentally, and she still was not yet recovered from her trek from the Edge of the Forest. She was forced to admit that it was time to sleep - well, actually it was probably way past time - and regretfully said her goodbyes to the older mare. It was wonderful to meet you, Jah~lila, she said sincerely, and I hope we can meet again. Please get some rest, I think you need it. Farwell, Eldarma, and God Bless. The young Unican mare bowed to the other unisai, bending one foreleg and touching the tip of her horn to the ground beside the other hoof. Then she stood, and with a last, grateful nod and smile, turned and made her way back to the trees bordering the path to the village, picking up a trot once out of the crowds that took her swiftly out of sight among the towering trunks.

Now to find a place to sleep.

((Aaaaand she's outta there! xD
Er... *Cough* I mean, Crystal has left the Festival thread ^_^))