Who: Constance and Amada
When: Noon!
Where: The Café
What: A time for lunch and thoughtful pause.

Today, Constance chose to have her lunch at the café out in the sunlight. It warmed her heart to know her granddaughter hadn't been changed into a werewolf because of the the bite on her leg. The full moon was over, and Constance was free to pursue her questioning of Simon and the other werewolves. Particularly, her mind was focused on Simon, but she was tired today from stress. Another day looked like the better option, even though today they would be exhausted from their full moon transformations. Exhaustion prepped people well for questioning; it put down their guard and challenged their lessened mental clarity.

Not to mention, if anyone became upset, no accidental shifts or transformations could take place. The werewolves would be too drained from the night before.

Constance might feel up to the task later in the day, but there still wasn't a guarantee. For now, she was interested in her coffee and lunch. Coffee didn't make her jittery. On the contrary, it gave her a boost of brain power while actually calming her nerves down a little bit. Last night had been harrowing on her, too. Maybe that was why she didn't want to bother with interrogating the lycanthropes today. Sure, they were on the weak side, but so was she. It wasn't a good thing for her when she needed to be alert and focused and so much of her attention had been tried and whittled away thanks to family ordeals.

Family ordeals which were just as much political as ordeals as they were family ordeals because of crazy werewolf going after her granddaughter. Who was next? That was what they needed to get to the bottom of before it actually happened again. Constance sighed deeply and lifted her cup of coffee to her lips to sip it. She had a feeling this day wasn't going to get any better than having the knowledge that Alicia was going to be alright.

She leaned back in her chair at the table she occupied by herself. Constance was the only one there, but all of the tables around her were full to the brim with groups of people. She knew the café was a popular hangout spot, but she hadn't known just how much.

Who: Zosimus, OPEN (Perhaps Amada as well?)
Where: Lake shore by the water bungalows
When: Morning
What: Zosimus makes his appearance after a getaway from the rest of the herd

The morning after the festival, the little centaur boy awoke and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his dirty hands before running his fingers through his hair. In the day Zosimus had been away from the herd he managed to get stuck in mud, which was now practically all over him, cut himself on a thorny bush, and not catch himself something to eat. Stomach grumbling with hunger at roughly eight o'clock, the foal lumbered up to his hooves and shook himself off. A twitching motion traveled across his horse back until his tail swished while his arms reached high above his head until his human spine cracked. He was ready to move on.

Assessing his surroundings, fingers pushing some of his too-long, scraggly hair from his eyes, Zosimus started ahead. His hooves crushed the grass as he moved along while scanning the greenery land. It was nice here, he noticed, nicer than where he had woken up in pain all those weeks ago. The thought of pain made him stop in his tracks, turning to look around behind himself to his right. That wound on the right side of his hind was covered in caked-on dirt, a dull ache bothering him now that he remembered. Swallowing, the boy considered finding a river or lake to wash himself off in. He could hear the water lapping against shore and made his way toward it, moving quickly despite the pain in his farthest most hip.

A smile then spreading across his face when he saw the shining waters, his teeth were the only thing to be white. Zosimus's skin was so covered it was hard to tell what race the boy was, but quickly he charged in to the water. Splashing around, he continued to smile and stand in the shallow end as the mud washed clean the shorts hairs along his horse half. Taking a few steps deeper in to the cooling liquid he dipped his hands in and then splashed his chest. The dry muck dripped down his flat toros to reveal cream white skin, though his face was still so covered and his hair was nasty. It needed a trim badly, so did his tail which nearly swept the ground when he walked. Surely when Zosimus got out of the water it would drag behind, hanging with wet.

Suddenly, however, the centaur stopped when his ears perked lightly at a sound coming from behind him. Turning quickly, he raised his hands in defense as his eyes fell upon who or what had created the noise.

Who: Everyone!
Where: Just outside of Helicharis at the Festival Grounds
When: 6 PM till ??
What: Autumnal Equinox Festival - It's the first day of Autumn!

ooc: To join in on the festivities, simply comment to the main post. Your entry can be a narrative or open to others. If you are replying to someone else reply to their comment and not to the main post. All activities are open for participation, it is up to your discretion what your character will do.

The past week had been nothing but preparations for the coming equinox that would herald the new season. It was a happy time for the forest creatures as they were the ones that spent hours on end setting up the grounds for the joyous celebration. Wooden lamp posts lit with orange flames bordered the area as well as throughout the entire festival grounds. Each attendee was greeted with a flower garland for their head, neck, or wrist if they desired one.

Fairies had decided to attend this festival as well because of the bright colors that had attracted their attention. There were bonfires all throughout the festival as well and they added warmth to the cool night air. The fiery glow that came from each pyre added a comforting feel to the entire atmosphere, and there were many fauns and fae dancing around each one in a happy manner. They were singing songs and laughing joyously as they pulled passers-by into their happy circle.

Musical fauns played their instruments as they marched through the festival. Fae and fairies flew around the traveling group, singing and humming to the music that resonated in the air. A large stage was set up for those who wished to perform in front of a large crowd be it with singing or acting or any other sort of talent they possessed. There were shows held as well, particularly by those who possessed magic and wished to entertain the crowd for an hour or tow.

Food and drink tables were set up nearby to feed the many attendees with whatever they could think to eat. And wine, they couldn't forget about the wine! There were scantily clad fae handing out the intoxicating liquid to everyone with a free hand. The wine this year was extremely potent and anyone with a weak constitution would no doubt get inebriated with just one cup.

The southern part of the festival held the games geared toward the young or simply the young at heart. Barrels were available for those who wished to roll down hills, piles of leaves were created for those who wanted nothing more than to jump and play in them. Colored sparklers were handed out freely and there were even pegasus rides for anyone who wanted to soar through the skies. There were contests here as well, simple ones that had participants bobbing for apples and fruits and curious prizes, searching for toys in piles of hay, and even pinning horns on a wooden faun.

Contests were set up again as they were just a month earlier. Archery contests and wrestling matches, potato sack and three-legged races. There were various game booths set up as well, such as knife throwing and ring tossing. There was even an area set up for pie eating contests and a Dwarven ale contest where participants could try to out-drink a dwarf.

Fireworks exploded periodically throughout the night and the gleeful sounds of the festival echoed all around. Elysium was a joyful place tonight as citizens celebrated the equinox beneath the near-full moon.

Who: Everyone!
When: 6:30 PM
Where: The Beach, by The Tiki Hut
What: Zane and Amada's Wedding Reception!

OOC: Everyone is welcome to join the party! Start a new sub-thread to interact with others, or keep an eye out for open sub-threads for you to join! Or if you don't feel like interacting, type up a narrative for your character.

The sun's rays shining out from below the horizon signaled the start of the wedding reception to celebrate Zane and Amada's happy nuptials. The area around Loki's Tiki Hut was set up with festive tiki torches that illuminated the entire area all the way down to the rim of the lake. Each lamp was entwined in green vines and white flowers, and the sand here was also 'planted' with green grass to add to the tropical theme. The tables were decorated with floating candle and flower centerpieces and around each centerpiece were several glass blown wedding favors in the shape of sail boats. Each table also had small boxes of clamshell shaped chocolate for everyone to enjoy.

Soft music lingered in the air and though the night sky was filled with stars some of the fae-folk had enticed lightning bugs to come out and provide romantic lighting above the tables and dance floor. Dinner for the guests was set up buffet style with a variety of foods provided by the restaurant in town. Drinks — alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike — were provided by Loki and his Tiki Hut served as the bar. The ever enchanting Faye Capricia had agreed to the last minute request of providing live singing entertainment for the reception. The dance floor was nothing but the soft sand beneath their feet and, as much as it may have dismayed the bride, even the lake monsters joined in on the festivities as they sang their song and splashed around in the water.

All in all it was a beautiful reception with a little bit of everything for everyone to enjoy, and it was the perfect way to spend the evening in the company of friends or with a special someone.

Who: Zane, Amada, Theora, James Pryce, Emily Planck, and guests!
Where: The beach
When: 4 PM
What: Their wedding!



It was right on the edge of sunset, the sky over the lake was the perfect shade pinky-red, casting a gentle light over the waiting beach below. The weather was beyond perfect....just cool enough to keep everyone from being uncomfortable, warm enough to give the nuptials that balmy tropic feel they'd been going for. Not far from the water bungalows on the beach a number of white wooden folding chairs were set up on either side of a makeshift aisle, the sand strewn with flower petals, the edges of the walkway marked off with green grasses "planted" into the sand. At the end was an archway, one that was simple and white, the structure wrapped in an elegant ivy-like plant that wove its way around it. Tangled in the vines were several of the flowers Amada and Zane had selected, the bright blooms standing out against the deep green of the foliage paired with them. People were taking in the sights as they arrived, seating themselves as the time for things to begin drew nearer and nearer. Though they weren't truly needed yet, a few tiki torches were lit to illuminate the area where the ceremony would be taking place.

What few members of the wedding party there were waited at the end of the aisle along with Zane, the evening kept as simple as possible. It wouldn't fit the couple to have had some overly involved event, they just weren't the type. They loved one another and that, not some spectacle, was to be the center of the evening. Set a fair distance off from the actual ceremony space was a little white tent, in which the wedding party had put the finishing touches on themselves before heading out. In it now, Amada waited until it was her time to head out, until it was time to make her way to Zane.

The gentle gold/green of the dress she'd wanted had come out perfectly, the color made even more stunning by the rich tan her already dark skin was sporting. Her make-up was kept simple for the night, her hair pinned back and up off of her neck, a pair of gold earrings Zane had given her for an earlier birthday dangling from her ears. Her feet were bare, given the sand, and as she emerged she lifted the hem of her dress in one hand to keep it from dragging. The other held her bouquet, a bunch of gorgeous white lily-like flowers. Even as she made her way across the sand and towards the aisle, her eyes were riveted to Zane....she couldn't look away, she couldn't have looked anywhere else if she'd wanted to. All she saw was him, waiting for her, waiting for them to be married...

( Zane swallowed past the lump in his throat... )

Who: Emily & OPEN
Where: the cafe in Helicharis
When: Midday.
What: The bridal luncheon for Amada!

After the unpleasantness of the morning, Emily fortunately managed to get the stench off herself with a good shower and slipped on her orange-red dress, letting her hair fall over her shoulders in gentle curls. She rarely wore makeup, but she thought a special occasion like this required some eyeliner and lipstick, with orange high heels as the finishing touches to the outfit. She wondered who would come to the cafe for the luncheon. Even if it was just one other person, they, Emily and Amada were sure to have a lovely time. She was determined to make this as an enjoyable day as possible and that was why she needed to arrive at the cafe before everyone else to save enough tables for the group. Leaving the cottage, but making sure Echo knew where she was going first, Emily headed for Helicharis and its local cafe.

It was a relatively warm, beautiful day and Emily couldn't have asked for better weather. Her spirits lifted even more with the sunshine, Emily found a table in the middle of the group outside the cafe and sat on a chair. She smoothened the lap of her dress and peeked inside her bag to check if the present for Amada was still there because she happened to be paranoid at times. The box containing two necklaces and bracelets was in there as she remembered and she wanted to see the look on Amada's face. Either set would go wonderfully with her wedding dress, Emily had made sure of that. She just knew the wedding would be beautiful and running without a hitch.

She waited for the first person to arrive, wondering if it was Amada or someone else. Her early arrivals had been legendary back in Nashville and maybe she'd start to have a reputation for being extremely early here as well. Waiting did not bother her and she settled in her chair with a novel she hadn't been able to finish in months. Now seemed a good a time as any to continue reading and it was as good as she remembered. The romance was particularly lovely and she replaced the lead man with Malcolm and herself as the heroine in her mind as she read.

"Emily, I have to go," said Malcolm, his dark eyes shining with the intensity of his love that he was too afraid to show her. "If I stay here any longer, I'll put you and Ailill in danger. They're looking for me, will be here any minute."

"I know." Emily pulled him close for a final embrace. "Promise me we'll see each other again."

Malcolm touched her cheek. "We will." It was so sad! Emily's fantasy broke as she couldn't help her throat swelling a little at the novel. She hoped the ending would be relatively happy, otherwise she didn't know if she could take it.

Who: Zamada!
When: Mid-morning
Where: Market place
What: Choosing flowers for the wedding

The doctor and the artist. Who would have thought that such different people could find happiness with one another the way Zane and Amada did? Their wedding was approaching in a few days and the couple still had so many things to do! But they took it in stride and tried not to stress about it - well, Zane did anyway. It was a little harder for a woman to not worry considering that it was the biggest day of her life, the one day that they had been planning since they were just little girls.

Zane knew this. Having grown up with two sisters he knew it all to well, but that gave him an advantage. Because he loved Amada so much he wanted to do whatever he could to make the wedding go off without a hitch. He wanted to make her happy and make everything as beautiful as the bride he was going to marry. Though Zane doubted that was impossible. Amada was the most beautiful woman in his eyes and nothing, not even the brightest star in the sky could outshine her radiance.

And so this morning he walked hand-in-hand with his fiancé toward the market place to choose flowers for their ceremony. It was a leisurely stroll from their bungalow and already they could hear whispers of people talking about their wedding even though the invitations were only sent out earlier that day. Zane was amazed at how quickly word spread throughout the haven.

"Sounds like we're the talk of the town." Zane leaned in close to Amada's cheek and kissed it softly. "Are you excited?" He asked with a grin.

Who: Amada and Emily
When: Morning
Where: In town
What: Dress hunting!

Ever since she and Zane had managed to set a date, things had become a whirlwind of wedding plans. Thankfully neither of them was in favor of some huge, overblown ceremony or the whole thing might have driven Amada mad. She needed to finish the invitations tonight, to get them out with enough time for people to at least be aware of what would soon be taking place. Just the thought of what was to come - only days away now! - was enough to get her pulse quickening a bit. After all, it wasn't everyday that a girl got the chance to marry the love of her life. And so what if things around them weren't exactly perfect? All she really needed was Zane, a dress and someone to pronounce them man and wife.

The dress....yikes. Well that was why she was meeting Emily today, now wasn't it? She needed to find something before the panic of not having anything to wear to her own wedding set in. Hopefully they'd track down something she loved today or at least find someone willing to make something for her. Amada's sewing skills were a bit limited and she seriously doubted she could handle pulling together a whole gown. Yikes....ok, maybe she was feeling a little overwhelmed! She could admit that, right? Giddy excitement mixed with a bit of nerves never hurt anyone! It wasn't as if she was about to bail on Zane or anything like that - the thought had never even crossed her mind, truthfully. She was crazy about him...getting married was just another step in their relationship.

It wasn't long after she'd arrived that Amada spotted Emily heading towards her. "Emily!" she greeted her with a warm smile, her excitement for the day obviously spilling over a bit, "Morning. Thank you so much for helping with this....I'm a bit nervous about finding something and having you here will help." She hoped! Maybe the perfect dress didn't exist here....but now wasn't the time to think about that. She'd find something that would work or she'd just try and make it herself!

Who: Amada and Emily
Where: the cafe in Helicharis
When: lunch time
What: Wedding plans!

When Emily read the note slipped under her door by Amada, she looked forward to helping her new friend with her wedding. The word 'issues' didn't sound very positive, so she decided to try her best to cheer her up if need be. There was always the possibility that she jumped to the wrong conclusion and there was nothing the matter - she hoped that was the case. Slipping on her jacket, Emily left the forest cottage forty minutes before she was due to meet Amada and started on the long walk to Helicharis. She only knew of one cafe, so that had to be where to go.

Clouds loomed threateningly overhead and she increased her pace in the hope to avoid rain should it start. Within too long, Emily reached the main road of Helicharis and headed towards the cafe. Amada already sat at a table and Emily walked up to her with a large smile on her face. "Hello, sweetie! What's up?" she asked and settled on the chair across from her. She hadn't known what to bring besides her homemade green crocheted handbag and a small notebook for jotting ideas. Brushing the hair out of her face, Emily looked up as a waiter suddenly appeared to take their orders.

She requested a tea and a croissant and waited for Amada to dish the goods. "So, tell me what you've planned so far. Do you have decorations in mind? I could help you with those! Or anything," she said. Patience was a virtue and the other woman was probably going to tell her the news if she became quiet and paid attention. Even still, she couldn't help imagining a large ballroom with white flowers, streamers and elegant red velvet table cloths, and a flowing wedding gown. Emily stopped those thoughts before she went into dangerous terrority, daydreaming about herself.

Who: Freya and Amada (....then Zane!)
Where: In town, near the ceramics shop
When: Early evening
What: Meeting, discussing wedding stuff, dinner?

She and Zane had plans to meet for dinner in town tonight to discuss the plans that Amada had made for the wedding so far, but with time to kill she'd decided to head that way a few hours early. One could never window shop too much - perhaps there was something just perfect that she'd missed in all her prior trips. There had already been more flowers than she cared to look at and color choices and...she had no idea how much went in to planning a wedding! If they were going to manage to pull it together in the next week or two then she was going to need some serious help. Could you find a wedding planner in Elysium? That sounded too good to be true. She'd promised not to drag Zane into the middle of this madness and she was going to hold to that.

Of course she had to pay a little visit to the art supply store - not that there was anything they had that she didn't, but it never hurt to look. Amada swung by a few more shops but there wasn't truly anything that caught her interest. She was worried about being able to pull this all together - had she bitten off more than she could chew this time around? She didn't want to let Zane down, she refused when it came to something as important as their wedding. This day was going to be the first in their lifetime together! She couldn't afford to mess this up. Maybe what she needed was a cup of coffee...to just sit down and try to clear her head. Then she could go from there.

Crossing the little square, she headed for the cafe and for an open table that she could see. Amada paused long enough to order a cup of coffee before she went to sit, nearly running someone down in the process. Stepping back quickly to avoid dumping coffee on the other person, she couldn't apologize quickly enough, "Oh...I'm so sorry! I should have been watching where I was heading...a bit lost in my thoughts."

Who: Giles and Amada
Where: The beach
When: Noon
What: Giles sees Amada-'nuff said XD


Giles was headed towards Silmé Lagoon, passing through the sandy terrain of the beach with his hands in his pockets. Though colder than the last day he trekked out to the location, it was still a rather enjoyable journey. He tried to get to the Lagoon before anyone else so he could be at peace and not have to deal with any over joyous, annoying company. That is, unless female. Better yet attractive female company swimming along in a bathing suit. Never mind that. She could just be lounging. Preferably in a bikini. Maybe Giles could post a wanted add. Wanted: Hot female, dressed in a nice bikini. Or no clothing necessary. Maybe he could even post a type he liked. Giles hadn't seen a spicy, fiery hot.

He stopped suddenly when he saw just what he was thinking about resting in the sand.

"Ohhh Chi Mama."

And here he thought all the Telemundo stars didn't make it to Elysium. Terribly cheesy television. But by god the designers knew how to make up for the pointless plots by make the viewers concentrate on the woman's breasts more than their faces.

Speaking of breasts, he needed to get a better view of the obvious Latino babe in the not to far of a distance. He walked up casually, standing over her.

"Soo, what edition of Maxim are you in? Is it the one where the female is throwing sand over herself on the cover? Could of swear I saw you on the cover and featured on page eighteen along with the article on Tantric sex."

Who: Sanura and Amada
Where: In town
When: Afternoon
What: Gathering some things and meeting someone new

It didn't matter how many times Sanura tried to switch up her routine when she headed out. It was the same old, same old. She would gather up a purse and either run (or more wisely) walk to the town and marketplace. This was sometimes her exercise of the day since after her journey to the town Sanura crashed at her cottage and called it a day.

Sanura would go to the bakery gathering what she could before she migrated to the sweets shops indulging herself with chocolate, wrapped candies and various treats that were often the same she bought the week prior no matter how often she tried to change her "sweet tooth" routine. Next was the gift shop, she hadn't been there yet but she wanted to get Vienna a little something in apology for dashing off suddenly the other day. Sanura still felt rather rude, especially since she had sometimes passed Vienna's house on her runs.

Her route around the stores was rather strange. Sanura did not go in circular motion, but rather she seemed to zig zag because she didn't want to break her particular order. Sanura knew she was probably hideously dressed since she payed no mind to her hair, slipped on whatever she first saw and headed out. Oh well, not like there was a gentleman to meet in the marketplace. Meeting men in a training area and having them kick your ass was always a better choice.

Sanura chuckled, smiling a bit even though she was annoyed and frustrated as hell about it. She found herself in front of the art supply shop and was about to pass it. Then again, Sanura had never been in there. Probably because she couldn't draw stick figures even to save her life. Slowly..she peaked her head in seeing if there was anyone inside. Sanura was sure she looked rather foolish.

Who: Amada and Emily
Where: In town
When: Mid-afternoon
What: Gazing at the same treasure while 'window shopping'

It was gorgeous out - far too nice of a day to stay inside, even if she was pulsating with that driving need to just paint. Her supplies were beginning to dwindle and her brush set had most definitely seen better days. The next week or so would be dedicated to finding suitable replacements here in Elysium, but today Amada closed the door of her studio and took a break from all of the work that had kept her so locked away.

She hadn't even seen much of Zane since his return from the scouting mission - her renewed desire to create coupled with his constant presence at the med pavilion seemed to have them keeping completely opposite hours. This was something Amada definitely intended to rectify and soon, before it became a problem they easily settled into. She'd made his favorite sandwich for lunch, packed some grilled and seasoned vegetables and a few other snacks for him and left it with a little note in the fridge before she'd set out to enjoy her day.

Her habit of running in the morning seemed to thrive here and so her jaunt that morning had filled Amada's desire to spend some time in a more natural setting. Now, well now she wanted to head into town and see what the local artisans had up on display. She wasn't really a woman prone to shopping, not in the typical sense, but that didn't mean she didn't want to look! She pulled on a simple cotton sundress and a pair of heeled sandals, pulling back the front of her dark hair as she made her way towards Helischaris.

Things were already bustling by the time she reached the center, content to stroll along slowly and take in everything the little shops had to offer. She found herself completely struck by a beautiful mosaic vase standing in the front of the glassblowers shop. She'd spotted the art supplies store nearby, made a mental note to duck in and take stock of their inventory, but right now her attention was fixed to the stunning piece of work before her.

After a few moments she became aware of a presence a few feet away, gaze lifting from the vase to find another woman admiring it from a short distance. Offering a warm smile, she gestured to the object of both of their attentions, "Beautiful, isn't it?"

Who: Everyone who's supposed to be at the medical pavilion and anyone who wants to volunteer but hasn't sent a note to the council yet, lol.
When: After noon til ??
Where: Medical Pavilion
What: Tending to the survivors and volunteering

The medical pavilion had been a hub of activity ever since the scouting party's return early Wednesday morning. The survivors were immediately taken to quarantine to undergo examinations and decontamination. It was important that they were deemed safe, not only for their own sake but for the sake of everyone else in Elysium. Their every need was taken into consideration from physical to mental to emotional and they were given the utmost respect.

The orphaned children required the most care, and Zane saw to it personally that they received it. Being a pediatrician Zane had a fondness for children already, and these children really tugged at his heartstrings. He couldn't imagine having to go through such hardships so early in their young lives, but the fact that they had survived at all really impressed the doctor. It spoke of their character and their will to survive. He looked over them now, watching as some of them remained in bed still too weak to move or talk, while others were running about and playing. They were amazing and Zane made a silent promise to make sure they never had to suffer through anything again if he could help it.

"Doctor Smith," said one of the Elven assistants from behind him. "There are some volunteers here. They're waiting in the front."

Zane smiled and nodded his head at her. "Thank you, I'll get to them right away." The assistant left him quickly and Zane walked to the front. He checked his list of patients, all children except for one, and he wondered if that one adult was getting the care and attention he needed. Everyone had been so concerned with the children that the other survivor was left to heal on his own. Zane chided himself for his mistake and went to see the volunteers. "Hello everyone, I'm Doctor Smith. I'm glad you decided to help out here today. Let me get your names and then we can go from there."

Who: Zane and Amada
When: Morning
Where: Their water bungalow / in the bedroom
What: A mini talk before he goes to the medical pavilion

Zane hadn't returned home until late Wednesday night. The mission was a success apart from the death of one of the survivor's father. He had passed before Theora or anyone could save him, and when Zane heard the news he was just as sad as everyone else. A part of him wondered if he would have been able to save the man were he with Theora instead of with Dylan, but he knew that wasn't the case. Theora was a more than capable healer and if she could have saved him, she would have. Truly it was just his time to pass and Zane could empathize with the young boy who was left behind.

His body was tired from a day of unloading and getting the survivors into the medical pavilion, and then setting things up there. He was put as one of the men in charge because of his medical knowledge, and Zane immediately went into leader mode. The survivors were his responsibility now and that was not something he took lightly. So when it was time to return home for the night Zane was literally spent. His body and mind were both exhausted and all he wanted to do was to fall into bed next to Amada.

Amada. He missed her while he was gone and now he'd get to see her again. He wondered how she would react to his arrival, and he wondered how he should have awoken her to announce his homecoming. But when he saw her lying in their bed wearing one of his shirts and sleeping soundly, Zane couldn't bring himself to wake her. She looked so peaceful there and as much as he wanted to slip his arm around her and hold her tight he just couldn't. He smiled softly and settled down into one of the overstuffed chairs in their room. His head hit the back of the chair and he immediately passed out.

Zane awoke a few hours later just after sunrise. Amada was still in bed and though he had slept in the chair, Zane felt refreshed and ready for the day ahead of him. He'd have to get to the medical pavilion soon to check on the patients and to organize the volunteers that were coming in the afternoon. He smiled again, the thought of actually working made him happier than he could express. But he wasn't going to leave without talking to his fiancé. Zane climbed onto the bed and settled beside Amada, his body propped up on his elbow.

"Morning beautiful," he whispered against her cheek before he planted a soft kiss against it. Hopefully that would be enough to wake her.

Who: Zane and Amada
When: Morning-ish (around 10 AM)
Where: Their bungalow
What: Zane tells Amada he's leaving on the scouting mission. Prepare for nuclear meltdown.

Zane hadn't slept very well at all the night before as his mind was filled with thoughts about the upcoming mission. A scouting mission outside of the valley to see what was left of the world outside. It was scary, but exciting, and Zane felt he had a responsibility to go. Elysium had given so much to him and Amada having practically saved their lives from the war that volunteering for the mission was the least he could do. Besides, Zane didn't think there would be that much danger out there considering they hadn't heard the sounds of bombs or gunfire for over a week now. Things were finally at a steady calm and it was time to see what damage had been done.

The morning hours were wracked with a certain unease as well as Zane pondered how the hell he was going to tell Amada that he would be leaving in the afternoon. He'd probably get his ass chewed out for this, he was sure of it. He mentally prepared himself for the string of Spanish expletives that would leave her beautiful mouth. Zane didn't want to incur her wrath but he had already made his decision and he had told the council about it already. Beside, he wasn't the type of man to go back on his word and his word was his honor. Amada understood that, at least he hoped she did.

Zane found Amada in the kitchen busily preparing brunch for the both of them. She was gorgeous, as usual, as she stood there chopping away at some vegetables. The doctor wondered if it was wise to tell her such sudden news when she was holding a knife in her hand, but it had to be done sometime. He cleared his throat and walked up to her, his strong hands slipping around her waist to hold her close. "Morning baby," he said as he kissed her cheek and then looked down at the cutting board. Damn, that knife looked sharp! He cleared his head and the rested his chin on her shoulder. "What cha cookin' good lookin'?"

Yes, even in the midst of a serious situation Zane had time to crack a joke.

Who: Amada and Adair
Where: Town
When: Afternoon
What: Amada considers painting again

Things had been better in recent days then they had been in months prior. Elysium was slowly becoming home and so far the neighbors she and Zane had met had been completely wonderful. The Autumnal Festival had been exactly what she'd needed to lighten her spirits and the engagement? Well, there weren't words for just how amazing that was. Waking up every morning next to Zane felt indescribably different now - knowing that soon she'd be able to call him her husband made it an even more incredible experience. The sudden and unexpected wave of happiness had also helped to kindle in her that creative spark she thought she'd lost.

In the past day or so she'd begun to feel that familiar call, to put into creation whatever it was that was whizzing through her brain. She'd pressed a kiss to Zane's forehead that morning and set out, first for a quick hike and then she'd showered and dressed to head into town. Her intentions had been to see what sort of art supplies she might be able to get that she didn't already have in her studio, to wander around and maybe see if more definite inspiration struck.

She'd taken to wandering through town, in and out of the various shops, pausing to watch the craftsmen at work. Just being amongst the thriving life, away from the quiet of the beach, was a nice change. As an artist, she appreciated the change in light here, the different hues that decorated the trees. Such little things had her so distracted, in fact, that she stopped watching where she was going just long enough to run smack into something. "Oh!" she reached out, hoping to steady the pair of them, her free hand hurriedly tucking dark hair behind her ear, keeping it out of her eyes. "I'm so sorry," her voice lilted the apology, let it flow on the back of her musical accent, "I should have been watching where I was going. You are ok, no?"

Who: Everyone! [Open for All]
When: Evening, beginning around 6 PM
Where: Festival grounds NE of Helicharis
What: The Autumnal Festival!

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The happy sounds of the autumnal festival were ringing throughout all of Elysium even before the sun sank beneath the horizon. The hard work the fauns had put into the celebration was evident by the elaborate decoration and set-up of the grounds. Wooden lamp posts lit with colored flames littered the festival while garlands of flowers wrapped themselves around each post, adding to the earthy beauty of the entire scene. Each attendee was greeted with their choice of a garland of flowers for their head, neck, or wrist if they desired one (or more, for some).

Upon entering the grounds enchanted colored leaves fall from the sky and then back up again very slowly from the flora littered ground to create a more autumn-like atmosphere. The curious insects known as fairies were also in attendance due to all of the lights, the bright and happy colors attracting their attention while their prismatic bodies blinked in and out of sight like lightning bugs and little dust fell from their minuscule wings. The bonfires too added warmth to the cool night air and brought comfort to everyone who had come out to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the continuation of life.

What festival would be complete without fun and games, though?

The fauns, along with the centaurs, had set up an archery range at the eastern end of the grounds, along with areas for knife throwing and a ring for wrestling with a minotaur. "Care to try your luck?" read the signs posted in that area for all who ventured that way. The northern end of the grounds, near the saltwater lake, was also bustling with activity with the ale drinking and Lembas bread eating contests. The rowdiness of the crowds, however, did not take away from the good-natured atmosphere of the food and drink area nearby where many people were seated upon soft grasses of the earth.

The contests did not interrupt the music and the dancing either, both of which were only a few feet away. The musical fauns, with their pipes and flutes and drums, played with fervor and enticed the attendees to dance and sing joyously. Their music permeated throughout the entire festival and many, especially children, were invited to play along with flutes and drums that were handed out as they arrived. Music was a central theme to many of the faun’s festive activities throughout the year, the autumn festival being no exception, as was the dancing and the feasting upon delicious foods and decadent drinks laid out across the grounds.

The southern part of the festival held the games geared toward the young or simply the young at heart. Barrels were available for those who wished to roll down hills, piles of leaves were created for those who wanted nothing more than to jump and play in them. Colored sparklers were handed out freely and there were even pegasus rides for anyone who wanted to soar through the skies. There were contests here as well, simple ones that had participants bobbing for apples and fruits and curious prizes, searching for toys in piles of hay, and even pinning horns on a wooden faun.

As fairies danced their way through the crowds to spread the joy of the festival, fireworks explode into the night sky. The magical light show added to the overall joyous atmosphere of the first festival in the safe haven of Elysium.

Who: Amada, Zane and [OPEN]
Where: Down by the beach
What: A cook-out in honor of the weather
When: Late Friday morning/early afternoon

It was absolutely gorgeous out! The sun had been shining all morning and it didn't seem likely to stop anytime soon. The rays reflected off the brilliant blue water of the lake and Amada was convinced it was too perfect a day to waste inside...even if she was rather enjoying just lounging about with Zane. After some convincing - namely blackmail involving her in a bathing suit all day - he'd seemed game for a shore-side cook out. It was idea, really...grill up some food, maybe meet a few of the other residents, relax, enjoy the weather. There were few things Amada loved as much as a healthy dose of sunshine and it seemed far too long since the last time she'd actually enjoyed herself.

She managed to sneak in a quick shower, digging one of her bikinis from the collection she'd shoved away into the back corner of some drawer. The one she picked was gold...little 'o' rings uniting the fabric around the curve of each hip, the top tied securely across her back and behind her neck. Amada grabbed a loose white cover-up (there were no buttons and it didn't actually cover anything...but oh well) and slid it on over her head, toeing on a pair of white flip flops as she towel-dried her hair. She wandered out of the bedroom to see what Zane was up to. He'd been quite busy while she was gone, gathering up some food to take down to the beach, getting everything together. She couldn't help but goose his sides playfully as she slid up beside him, glancing over the spread he'd pulled together. "Looks like you thought of everything, baby," Amada wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning up onto her tip toes to press a soft kiss to his lips, "I knew I kept you around for a reason."

Drawing back with a playful wink, she set to work packing whatever else they'd need in a beach bag....a couple of towels, some sun tan lotion, not to meantion the foodstuffs. Pulling her dark hair back into a ponytail, she slid on a dark pair of over-sized glasses and shouldered one of the two bags she'd managed to put together while Zane got ready to go. Looked like they had everything they'd need for the day....one that was bound to be a blast, of course. By the time Zane headed back towards the living room, she was all set to head down to the beach. "Ready?" she stood from where she'd been sitting, waiting on the couch, moving to grab the second bag of stuff. Today was definitely going to be fun!