[If people go out to frequent the garden, a wrong turn may take them somewhere entirely different today.
The treeline of the forest seems to be much, much closer, and if one were to step inside it becomes apparent this is not the forest on Wonderland's edge. A thick fog rolls through barren trees, leaves scattered and roots sick as they carve through the underbrush. Bits of ash and leaf float by on cold winds, as if a fire has been through recently. It's quiet, except for the sounds of the wind... at first.
Out of the corner of your eye, figures can be seen in the distance, black shadowed shapes of people, limbs extended to points like cartoonish waifs of spirits. They always seem a bit far off to reach, even if you head towards them, looking only slightly dissimilar from each other but with no details able to be made out.
What happens, of course, is that you'll hear them first.
Voices can be heard in whispers on the wind, but are the only distinct things about these figures. For those who have been here a while, some will be quite noticeable as some old, maybe not quite so forgotten friends, that reach out just in whispers.]
And finally, through the treeline, a little girl in a gingham dress with red hair braided into twin pigtails seems to be running from it all.]
[ooc: Feel free to try to have characters interact with the shadows or catch her-- the voices are intentionally hard to make out, but can be heard distinctly, especially if characters had CR with some of these people before!]
shepard's palace | the gardens | ota!
The treeline of the forest seems to be much, much closer, and if one were to step inside it becomes apparent this is not the forest on Wonderland's edge. A thick fog rolls through barren trees, leaves scattered and roots sick as they carve through the underbrush. Bits of ash and leaf float by on cold winds, as if a fire has been through recently. It's quiet, except for the sounds of the wind... at first.
Out of the corner of your eye, figures can be seen in the distance, black shadowed shapes of people, limbs extended to points like cartoonish waifs of spirits. They always seem a bit far off to reach, even if you head towards them, looking only slightly dissimilar from each other but with no details able to be made out.
What happens, of course, is that you'll hear them first.
Voices can be heard in whispers on the wind, but are the only distinct things about these figures. For those who have been here a while, some will be quite noticeable as some old, maybe not quite so forgotten friends, that reach out just in whispers.]
"Things any better in the future, or whatever? For kids who - y'know, wanna better shot at things?"
"Watch over, and protect them, will you not?"
[If you go further, more distinctive figures can be seen; two near identical children, running hand in hand, whispering in shadowed voices. The calming whisper of a woman with authority in her tone, punctuated with the grief of a close, masculine voice. Someone younger, promising help. Someone louder, swearing to do good.
And finally, through the treeline, a little girl in a gingham dress with red hair braided into twin pigtails seems to be running from it all.]
[ooc: Feel free to try to have characters interact with the shadows or catch her-- the voices are intentionally hard to make out, but can be heard distinctly, especially if characters had CR with some of these people before!]