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[the_lioness]

*It's two o'clock on Sunday afternoon. There's nothing particularly remarkable about this afternoon in comparison to others. The winter sun shines brightly off the snow and frozen lake, and every now and then a sharp crack sounds from the forest when a weak limb collapses under the weight of fresh snow.

Other than that, it's quiet. Perhaps too quiet.

The patio has been cleared, and as promised in the invitation, refreshments and a warm fire await.

Lucy and Alanna, however, do not. Or do they?

All shall reveal itself in time.*

Comments

[the_lioness]

*Perhaps Lucy and Alanna are simply detained in the kitchens or some such thing. That's a perfectly plausible explanation. Really.

Still, the cider smells of apples and cinnamon, and the cookies look fresh.

The fire, however, is rather oddly placed away from the patio.

Out in the open.

Perhaps that should be investigated.*

[last_adam]

*There's cider. Cider! It's not alcoholic, but it still tastes good and, if needed, that can be easily changed. There's nobody else around yet, but the fire is warm and Adam is happy as he pokes at the cookies.*

[iustus_rex]

"You're lucky they're not poking back," Edmund observes.

YET.

[creator_raven]

Very soon Raven is leaning over, putting his face dangerously near the cookies.

"They are so fierce, then?"

[kitchen_maid]

Amy is bundled up, and accompanied by two squirrels, who are chasing each other round her feet. The crow on her shoulder looks very dignified, and manages, somehow, to seem disapproving.

She's rereading an invitation she has in one gloved hand, and looking around for Lucy or Alanna.

"Well, Peter Aurelious," she says to the crow, "I'm sure they're around somewhere."

"Qwa," says the crow.

[iustus_rex]

Edmund has taken this invitation as the excuse he needed to have an actually warm coat.

Well, admittedly, in this case it's a cloak, but that's because they work better for keeping one's legs warm when riding anyway.

Also he has gloves, for much the same reason, although they're tucked away for now as he wraps his hands around a mug of hot cider instead, looking around for Lucy and Alanna.

[called_lioness]

If Edmund is smart, he'll note that it's entirely too quiet.

And that one of the women who sent the invitations is his baby sister, who's more than a bit inclined to mischief.

But there is nothing to worry about! Nothing!

[the_seafarer]

"Hullo, Ed," Caspian says, coming up next to his friend. "Should we be worried, do you think?"

[creator_raven]

Raven tilts his head at the positioning of the fire, then shrugs.

There are cookies, after all, and he is very bad at resisting temptation.

Sometimes.

[the_lioness]

*There are cookies.

ON PURPOSE.

(Seafoam helped pick them out.)*

[kitchen_maid]

"Hello, Raven," says Amy.

"Qwa," says the crow on her shoulder.

"I don't suppose you've seen Lucy or Alanna, have you?"

[iustus_rex]

Edmund has cider. This is good.

Also, it has been far too long since he's seen Raven.

So between the two of them, that probably explains the grin.

"Hullo, Raven," he says, which is probably dependent on the second, more than the first.

[nitro-is-ace.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Cocoa. Someone knows how to bribe an Ace effectively. She sets about preparing herself a mug, and is eyeing the fire as she does so.

Honestly, it's only a matter of time until she goes over there. There hasn't been a fire yet she's been able to resist.

[the_lioness]

*The fire flickers alluringly. Ace should definitely investigate. There may or may not be two dragons lurking about, and one of them might be eyeing Ace with interest.

Puff breathes out and the flames rise sharply. Brightly.

She has SKILLS.*

[the_lioness]

*The quiet seems to grow more pronounced for a moment, almost as if every living thing outside is suddenly holding a collective breath.

And then there's the sound of a stifled laugh as several large snowballs fly through the air, aimed for the group by the fire.

Any of them. One can't be picky in an ambush.

Where did they come from? From behind that tree or up it?*

[kitchen_maid]

Well, that was . . . not even remotely unexpected.

Peter Aurelious takes off, qwaing annoyedly.

Amy's too busy laughing, at the moment, to do much in the way of investigation, let alone retaliation.

But Simon Perryvall and Mr. Pemberthy are headed for the tree . . .

[called_lioness]

They might find a blonde and a red-head laughing hysterically as they lob snowballs.

Might.

[last_adam]

*A few shots in, and really, it's only inevitable that Adam would get hit. He... well, he squeals. It's cold, snow is.*

Alanna! Lucy!

*He yells in the general direction of snowball-ness as he picks up some snow to form his own.*

[giftedthom.livejournal.com]

*One of them hits Thom.

One of them ALWAYS hits Thom.*

[creator_raven]

One of the snowballs, coincidentally or not, hits Raven in the back of the head.

He laughs, possibly startled, possibly not, and pitches forward.

Hello, snow, nice to meet you.

[the_seafarer]

It's hard to look dignified when you have snow in your hair, melting down the back of your neck.

And when you yelp.

"Lucy!"

At least he's laughing!

[the_seafarer]

Perhaps there is no perhaps about it.

However, Caspian is likely far less wary than he really should be.

After all, the note didn't seem likely to be anything worse than a picnic...right?

[called_lioness]

Only if you trust ANY note signed by Lucy and Alanna.

The fact that a snowball has just been lobbed at his head suggests it is possibly not the best idea to do so.

[once_a_queen]

Susan is bundled up completely. She has been sniffling all morning, and she's worried she might have a cold coming on. Still
she'd rather not miss this. So she has cider, a thick wool scarf, and desire to be with friends and family.

[the_lioness]

*Susan might have the sniffles, but she looks dry and warm in comparison to the others. Alanna smiles wistfully and waves at the obviously smart woman not rolling about in the snow.*