Who: Ath Dara, Caitlin and Cara-Jane
Where: forest path by the cottages
When: afternoonish
What: Finding and returning a journal leads to conversation.

"I can't believe how bitchy Catherine and Claire are getting. I know they're teenage girls, but really I would have expected them to be a little less selfish considering we are scraping by as it is," Cara-Jane said as she and Caitlin walked from their brother's cottage. Enough was enough. She was only nineteen, but she wanted more than anything to get out of her parents' house and into a place of her own. As she doubted that was possible, she started to use her persuasive skills on Caden. His cottage had enough space for her to squeeze into a corner somewhere and she had a feeling her brother needed the company. It wasn't hard to see that Caden was lonely, even if she hadn't had known him well.

( Caitlin nodded. )

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: Caitlin, Cara-Jane, Irei and Sascha
When: early afternoon
Where: by the freshwater lake
What: Swimming fun.

"Come on, Cara-Jane, you can't possibly think that Spiderman is sexier than Wolverine," Caitlin said. "Hugh Jackman is infinitely more delicious than Tobey Maguire. There is something not right with that boy's face. His nose, and his face... I think they just don't work together." Besides, Jackman was manlier and more muscled, which she definitely appreciated more. Caden was also more of a Wolverine fan, which annoyed Cara-Jane to no end.

"Yeah, but Hugh Jackman's older and his nose is weirder than Tobey's. And he's definitely does not have prettier eyes. I like the taller, leaner kind of man," Cara-Jane remarked. That was obvious given the boyfriends she had in the past and her current infactuation with Irei. It hadn't just been the alcohol driving her; the man was alluring, after all. As for her conversation with Caitlin, her poor sister was deluded. They headed towards the freshwater lake where the two wanted to have a swim despite the weather being a little chilly for it and just a little less than an hour, they saw it on the horizon.

Cara-Jane adjusted the wrap around her waist a little and looked towards the shoreline of the lake, where she saw two figures. Curious, she walked closer and saw Irei with someone she didn't recognise. Introductions would come later, but first her pace increased and she ran towards Irei, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him an enthuastic kiss. "Hi there," she said. "Long time no see. I missed you." She glanced at Sascha and stepped back. "It's nice to meet you. My name is Cara-Jane."

Who: Caden, Irei, Caitlin and Cara-Jane
Where: the wine bar
When: early evening
What: Drinking and fun.

"No, that's ridiculous. There are easier ways to get Camilla out of the toilet than that," Caitlin said in response to Cara-Jane's comment. From first glance, it didn't seem as though the aspiring lawyer was not the vain type, but she wanted to look her best to give a good impression. Caitlin prefered a natural look instead of piling on the makeup. She walked with Cara-Jane and Caden to the wine bar for a pleasant night out - not that she was going to drink that much. Every time she went drinking with Caden and Cara, she often was the sober one to drive the two back to their house.

Caden grinned as they entered the wine bar. It looked like they still had difficulty sharing the bathroom just as they had in Australia. His sisters and preparation time in the morning made it impossible for him to take a shower. He always woke up extra early to get the loo before the rush, but now that he shared his own place with Adair, it was much better. As Caitlin saved a table for them, Caden walked to the bartender and ordered a screwdriver for Caitlin, a mojito for Cara-Jane and a chocolate martini for himself. It only took a few minutes to receive their drinks, but before they did, Cara-Jane tugged on his arm.

Cara-Jane had been eying the cute Asian man at a table for the past couple of minutes. He was rather attractive, but she doubted that she'd have the courage to go up to him and introducing herself. She knew what she had to do - get her older brother to help. "Cade," she whispered. "Look at the guy behind us, but discreetly." Caden glanced back at the man and then to his sister. "Can you order a mojito for him?"

Oh, the affections of the young. He smirked. "I'll make things easier for you, Cara-Jane." After he ordered and received the mojito, Caden walked over to the table where the man sat and held out the drink to him. "Hello there, my name is Caden McCall and my darling sister Cara-Jane wanted to give this mojito to you. Three fresh mint sprigs, two teaspoons sugar, three tablespoons of fresh lime juice, one and a half light rum and club soda. I'm clairvoyant, sorry about that. Cara-Jane's much less annoying than I am."

He turned to wave over his sisters, who headed to him like the wonderful women they were and they smiled at Irei. "My other sister, Caitlin," added Caden.

Who: Caden, Idehr, Caitlin, Cara-Jane and Maddy
Where: Malcolm and Idehr's forest cottage
When: morning
What: Caden asks for a piccolo. - Snippet!

Caden walked with his sisters Caitlin and Cara-Jane the short distance from his forest cottage to Idehr the carpenter's cottage. He decided to go with a piccolo instead of a flute so it could be made with wood instead of metal. How on earth was he going to find enough metal for that? Lighting one of the cigarettes he stole from Adair, Caden continued casually on the way to his destination. His sisters chatted, half bickered as they walked, talking about the new outfits they designed the other day.

"So how would the top look on Camilla?" Cara-Jane asked. Camilla was twenty-two, three years older than the nineteen-year-old Cara-Jane. The two didn't get along as well as Camilla did with her elder sister Caley, 24. The two were quite serious and loved to spend an exorbant amount of time making sure that they looked their absolute best. Caitlin was a bossy thing, but at least she knew how to lighten up every once in a while. Caden suspected that was his influence - wanted to believe it was, anyway.

Caitlin thought for a moment. "I think the style fits her all right, but it'd look better on Caley. She's expressed more interest in it and you know how she gets when she wants a piece of clothing," she said with a pointed look at Cara-Jane.

( ''You're right,'' said Cara-Jane with a laugh... )