The rain did not begin to fall on the first of the month, as it had in previous years, but waited around until the third. It began as a light drizzle, not unusual in the morning, but by the time the sun had fully risen, the wicks knew for sure that it was the real deal.

And according to tradition, it was to be the day of the Feast of St. Grumble, and the last day of the wick festival.

The stops had been pulled out for this celebration. All week, the tribes had been pooling their efforts to gather food and drink aplenty for the caoja that was to come. Gifts had been bought and sold and made willy-nilly throughout the week, wrapped in the traditional colorful paper; tents had been erected in the center of the island. No one regretted the extra days of the festival, for they had all missed seeing their families and friends, and were as always reluctant to leave them for another year.

The food was set out in droves, a feast for the ages, and wicks began pouring into camp from all over Surwood, dripping wet and splashing happily in the mud like children. Laughter and the sound of Grumble's Dirge could be heard all over the island. As thunder rumbled overhead and the rain picked up momentum, it only spurred on the spirits of the partygoers, who were always glad to lend a little brightness to the beginning of two months of grey, defeating rain.

At the edge of the tent, Jerzy Wira stood, waiting hopefully for Keiyra to arrive. He was wearing his father's rubber-soled leather boots, and they were at least one size too small. Had he not been trying to impress a rosh that day he might have taken them off and splashed in the mud, but this might have been his last chance to see her before the festival was over, and he wanted to look nice. Girls seemed to like it when you weren't covered in mud.

Keiyra walked through the rain with a drawn expression. It was the end of the festival. That meant Jerzy was leaving. She wasn't sure she wanted him to go. What if...what if something got him? That was a stupid thought, but the kov was so...well...so bad at magic, what was he like at fighting? Looking up as a few bochi ran past, screaming and laughing in the mud, she smiled a little. There was something about St. Grumbles that made everything okay. A bright flash of ruddy hair caught her eye at the edge of the tent, and she couldn't help but break into a grin, even if her stomach did back flips. Walking closer, she stopped just before the cover of the tent, rain drenched and dripping in a brown vest and pants, barefoot. She didn't dress nicely today, knowing the rain would have ruined it all away. Crossing her heavily tattooed arms, she tilted her head.

"Scared of the rain Jerz?"

Jerzy looked up with an expectant expression, his eyes twinkling. All around them, the sound of children's laughter and raindrops mingled together. It had started as a sunny day, and the mid-morning sunlight seemed to be fighting to get through the clouds.

Without a word, he stepped out from under the tent, pulled Keiyra to him and kissed her. Rain bounced off his fishing hat and soaked into his clothes, chilling him to the bone, but he didn't mind at all. It was the happiest he'd felt in a long time, and he wasn't about to waste a second of it.

Keiyra stared wide eyed at Jerzy's suddenly attached face. She wanted to reach up and throw her arms around him. It was so sweet and perfect, in the rain, sunlight trying to peak through. Her eyes closed and he hands slid to his shoulders.

Suddenly she shoved him off and stood back looking at him, eyebrows furrowed.

"Ne Jerzy! Ye are leavin', remember?" Pushing the rain out of her face, she shook her head, pink dreds swinging.

"Ye are leavin' me. And this is what you do?" She didn't know if she could handle being loved and left again. It was too much. Why did he have to kiss her?! Vrunta!

"Come with me," he said suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, but in truth he'd been thinking about this for a long time.

He grabbed her hands. "Travel with me, Keiyra. This callin', the strange dream I've been having, callin' me to roam around the kingdom, my destiny...it's somethin' I can't ignore. But I also can't ignore how I feel about you. Bein' away from you this past year was the worst. I ent plannin' on feelin' that way again."

Inwardly, he had no idea what the consequences of this would be. He knew she was the type of woman to make up her own mind, but he cared too deeply about this to understate how much he wanted her with him. It made him feel like a fool, but he knew he'd never be right with himself until it was all out on the open, all cards on the table.

She blinked, unsure of what to say. Had he really had feelings for her since last year? The thought made her giddy with joy. She was a Crow, it was normal for them to drift, but she was still caught out by the sudden choice.

"Jerz...I..." Keiyra tried again, making her voice work, looking at their hands.

"What about Delphis? I'll need to talk to her first. She might...what if..." The pink witch realized she wanted to go with him. What else was there holding her to the Crows camp? She didn't have any real responsibilities, and it was probably going to be a given that Delphis would shove her along. Looking up at the red haired wick again, she squeezed his hands.

"Okay." She said simply, a grin stretched from ear to ear.

"But, I have to talk to Delphis first, before we go. When are ye leaving?"

Jerzy's face was overtaken by a huge smile that rivaled her own. Never capable of containing his emotions very well, he punched the sky and yelled "OES!" Several nearby children giggled and catcalled at the two of them before rushing off to find the hidden St. Grumble.

"I ent leavin' without you," he said firmly, obviously pleased. "Ah, this is benny! We're going to have adventures, K. I'll go with ye to Delphis. She'll be worried for ye. I'd best explain myself."

He figured that Delphis would either hug him or throw something at him; she might even demand to know if he planned on marrying Keiyra. The thought filled him with anxiety, but it couldn't break out in his face due to all the happiness.

It was the last day of the festival and the weather matched Wendy's mood perfectly. Dark and gloomy... At least if she cried she could say it was just the rain. She didn't want to look like weak. Just because she was a passive didn't mean she was weak.

She'd also been avoiding Petra all day...considering again whether or not she should just run off without telling her. Because wouldn't that be easier than the goodbyes and the hurting? She'd even give up the hugs just to ensure a lack of crying...Wendy hated crying. And she hated crying in front of other people. It made her face look blotchy...she had never been the type to cry delicately. She was always sniffing and rubbing her nose (which by the time she'd finished was red and full of liquid) and then she couldn't see because her eyes were so pink and puffy.

The food all smelled delicious but Wendy had decided that she could allow herself no pleasure the last day of the festival. It seemed that whenever she'd taken to moping on her own lately people would come and cheer her up. Frankly, Wendy found this baffling. Even though Petra had tried to drill it into her head hundreds of times that that's what friends did, somehow, the lesson wasn't sticking.

A particularly delicious smelling stand made her mouth water and her feet automatically slow down even though she'd promised herself she wouldn't. But it looks so good...

Shut up! You glutton! You used to live off of less than this!

She tried to make herself move away from the stand but it wasn't working.

Keiyra laughed in the rain, blushing as the children went past. She hadn't been this clocking happy in ages. Looking past him into the tent, she inclined her head.

"She might be in there, daoa said she was contributing to the feast, you know what she is like. Cooking, its her passion. Do ye want to talk to her tonight? Or tomorrow?" The young witch couldn't help but grin, his own was infectious. Excitement bubbled up, she was going traveling! With Jerzy! They were...well...together. Her heart skipped a beat. The red haired wick was her best friend, and now, something more.

"Tonight," he said, "if you're ready. I got a good feeling about this, K. Something good's about to happen." He smiled and turned a little red, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, it already did, I guess."

Keiyra moved forwards, pulling lightly on his hand. Standing under the tent, she let go momentarily to squeeze out her thick pink dreds and push the water from her arms and face. Taking his hand again, she started to move towards the tables of food, glancing around for her mother. Looking back at Jerzy, she grinned again.

Further ahead of them, standing at one of the tables, helping with serving and a motherly look on her face, the familiar brown haired woman stood, dressed in her blue cooks dress. She glanced up as they approached with a delighted smile.

"Ahh, I see you got caught in the rain. Excellent. Perfect opportunity to get some of this marsala in you. Rice is over there." The woman said happily. She rather adored the family atmosphere of the day, it was just...lovely.

Jerzy steeled himself for Delphis' displeasure. He decided he had better appease her first, before sharing the news. Besides, he hadn't eaten all day.

"Ma'am, you just made my day," he said, scooping up some masala and rice into a bowl. He wasn't a big fan of spicy foods, which often put him at odds with traditional wick fare; still, he very sportingly tasted it, feigning enjoyment even as the spices burned his sensitive tongue.

"Wo chet," he said, his face turning red as he sweated out the spices. He chuckled. "It's got spurs on. Er...we need to have a word, Delphis, if ye've got a mo'..."

Delphis watched Jerzy suffer through her masala with an amused smile, almost not noticing right away that the wick's tone turned slightly more serious at the end of his sentence. Resting her hands on her hips, she didn't see why this wasn't as good a place as any for a word or two, "What have you got for me to hear, then?"

She added warmly, already guessing the red-head had something a bit more weighty to say, "If you're going to tell me my cooking's too hot, I can already see that much on your face."

((was waiting for aussie))

((ooh sorry i was waiting on you! lol!))

Keiyra took a bowl of the warm curry, giving Jerzy a sidelong glance as she ate. Obviously if she was going to cook at all when they traveled, she would have to leave out the chilli and pepper.



The pink haired witch moved closer to the table, putting down her bowl and thinking.

"Daoa...your cookings fine. Jerz is just...not used to it. It's me that has to talk to you." Facing the woman, she smiled.

"Jerz is traveling after the Festival. And he asked me to come, ye chen? I just wanted to talk to you first." She figured there was no reason to beat around the bush.

"Alright?"

Delphis' eyes traveled between the two wicks, from Jerzy to Keirya and back to Jerzy. She might have smiled, just a little, but her voice was heavy, "Travel? How far?" The brown-haired witch was pleased by the thought of them together, but wanted to make sure her daughter wasn't making any rash decisions out of her feelings.

She crossed her arms and looked thoughtful, testing the waters of this idea, though her smile didn't fade, "Do you two at least know where you're going?"

"Er..."

Jerzy smiled weakly, setting aside the bowl on a nearby table, and decided now was a good time for a respectful bow. He did so.

"I am following a call," he said, trying not to sound too crazy. "I believe the spirits've spoken to me. They won't lead me astray, ma'am, nor would I ever think to endanger Keiyra in any way. But truth, I'll only know where I'm goin' once I get behind the reins."

He felt that he should probably reassure her some more; she was a mother, after all.

"I swear on my life, no harm'll come to her," he added.

Delphis glanced once at Keirya at Jerzy's words, a little surprised ... traveling? Suddenly? Now? With no real destination? She did want more than anything to see her daughter happy, and it was true, she had a soft spot for the red-head. The older witch blinked and looked back to the Jerzy, "I ent sure I can object without breaking hearts." She smiled softly, "And I trust Keirya to take care of both of you, though I'm sure your smile, Jerz, could get anyone out of anything dangerous."

Delphis laughed and shook her head, "If this is really something you feel you need to do, Keirya, who am I to say no? But, don't expect me not to worry. We've all learned it ent a safe world out there, ye chen?"

Keiyra felt a lump come to her throat, and she swallowed it back with a rueful smile.

"Oes daoa, ent that the truth. I know your going to worry, and I think I would too. But..." She looked over at Jerzy and gave him a broad smile.

"But I'm pretty sure we can take care of each other."

"I know." Delphis replied quietly, with a sigh, barely audible over the rain.

She remained silent for a few moments, letting the sound of falling water wash over her thoughts. The brown-haired witch finally appeared indecisive, torn between her desire to see the seasons change for Keiyra and yet to continue to protect her from further hurt.

"I trust you both, and I know it'll be good for you to see new things." Delphis smiled, finally brightening. She leveled a spoon at Jerzy, "You'd better mean it about keeping her safe, Jerz. And you'd both better not be gone too long."

She couldn't say no. It did sound exciting.

"Spoke's honor," said Jerzy seriously, saluting. Before she knew what had happened he had grabbed Delphis and hugged her with skinny arms, grinning like an idiot. "Mujo ma, Delphis."

Looking back at Keiyra, he felt a warm rush of excitement. He was finally doing something on his own, and with the woman he...a woman whose company he enjoyed.

"Let's go enjoy the festival," he said. "It's St. Grumble's. Only happens once a maw. They're gettin' Lizzie drunk in a bit..."

He glanced from Delphis to Keiyra. "Or, did you two rosh need a mo' to chat...?"

Keiyra smiled affectionately at the red haired wick as he hugged her daoa. He was such a nice kov, what possessed him to give her the time of day was lost on the pink haired woman...but she didn't regret it.



The witch looked at Delphis for a moment, she and her daoa had an understanding that not many people could have understood. Keiyra didn't fear for her mother's loneliness, because she would have all of the tribe with her.

"Daoa?" She asked softly, ready to go enjoy the festivities, but not wanting to abandon the woman without giving her a chance to answer.

Delphis embraced Jerzy warmly in return, not quite wary, but still a hint of concern on her features. It was a good thing, she told herself; this was a good thing. It was time. She smiled at Keiyra, shaking her head, "Go on. You ent leaving for good yet, so I still got some time."

((SFSR?))

Annie was quite used to her hair. It made her happy, in fact. The change in color was doing her quite a bit of good. She'd never been blonde before, either, and had acrued a number of curious (if not amorous) glances in the days post-'makeover'. If nothing else, her ego had most certainly been boosted.

With every intention of arriving on time, Annie got to the Feast a good ten minutes late. It was the twins' fault. They felt it necesary to do Annie's makeup. Not like I needed any, Annie thought. It's just a bunch o' paint an' kohl. I feel like I'm 'bout t'run off an' join th'circus.

Annie turned and looked back at the two girls. "Ya'll comin' er are ye jus' gonna stan' there starin' at each other all day? They ain't waitin' up fer us forever, ye know."