Elise hurried to keep up with Anna as the descended the mountain. The sky was quickly darkening and the young witch did her best to watch her footing but quickly realized that she was falling behind. Slightly embarrassed by her slowness, Elise was actually relieved when the other girl informed her that she would have to run ahead. The redhead nodded, ”It’s totally fine,” she said, ”I wouldn’t want you to be late after all and I’m sure we’ll chat again soon.” She smiled and waved to reassure Anna that there were no hard feelings.

Elise watched the more athletic girl dash down the path and sighed as her new friend disappeared out of sight. With the other girl gone, the forest seemed somehow darker but as she listened, the young witch realized that she wasn’t alone. All around her there were bugs and birds and other small animals, still awake despite the late hour. She stood for a moment listening to the small chorus of noises and reveling in the feeling of life resounding around her. She could almost feel the magic teeming in the forest…

After a few minutes, Elise started walking again but at a much more sedate pace as she continued to listen to the sounds of the forest. She was so focused on the music that she forgot to watch where she was going and all of a sudden found herself flat on the ground. ”Ughh…” she groaned in annoyance more than pain. Picking herself back up off the path, the redhead began to take stock of her injuries. Her hands were fine, apart from being a bit dirty, but her dress was torn and her ankle felt a bit sore when she put her full weight on it.

Holding out her skirt with one hand, the young witch made a motion with her staff and the torn fabric wove itself back together. With another motion, the tip of her staff began to glow, lighting the path before her. With a sigh, the redhead set off again, leaning on her staff slightly for support. ”How clumsy can you be Elise?” she muttered to herself. ”No doubt Anna made it back with no problems,” she continued, ”Why can’t you be more like her?” she asked, almost as if accusing her own body.

Fortunately she hadn’t been too far up the mountain when she fell and Elise made it back home with no other incidents. Anna had invited her to a drink at the bar, but there was no way she was going to show up in her current state. After washing her hands in the sink, the young woman pulled off her sock to look at her ankle. It didn’t look too bad so she replaced the sock and changed into a clean dress before heading out.

Freddie

As the mayor prattled on, Freddie noticed the way Leo gawked at the lights and frankly he was equally amazed. Even though they had been up for a while, a year in fact, Freddie had never laid eyes on them. He had heard the townspeople talking about how they shimmered in different colours and lit up the entire tunnel. Hearing stories about them was nothing compared to seeing them with your own eyes, though. Freddie had regretted not coming up sooner, but the past year was mainly spent around the shop with great aunt. She was showing him the ropes before her departed on her "Grand Adventure" as she called it. There simply wasn't any time... atleast that's what he told himself.

Moonhaven didn't seem entirely different to Sunnyvale. Although, seeing it in daylight probably would have changed Freddie's opinion. It was certainly more lively than Sunnyvale-at-night. People milled about the streets in small groups chatting and laughing. A few even greeted the three of them as they passed. "Good evening, gentlemen!" said the Mayor cheerfully," Lovely night, eh?" But he didn't stay to hear a reply. He just kept on walking towards their destination, which wasn't much further. Freddie merely smiled awkwardly and hurried after him.

"Here we are, boys," the Mayor said as he pointed towards the sign on the side of a building," 'The Owl's Claws' Brewing the best beverages since...eh...since..." Clearly having forgotten what he was saying, Abraham shrugged and gestured for them to follow him inside.

Freddie cocked his head at the sign and then realised that Leo was still there. He still felt a bit tense after what had happened this afternoon, but was determined to push the feeling aside. "The Owl's Claws," he said with a chuckle," Kinda sounds like one of those medieval taverns, right?"

Anna heard someone enter the bar and turned around. The older man who entered first, she recognized as Abraham, Sunnyvale's mayor. She had become acquainted with him once before, when she first moved in. "Ah! I see this little pub has grabbed Sunnyvale's attention! Welcome!" she joked. The mayor let the other boys in as one made a remark about the name.

"Well, I guess it does sound medieval." She thought about it for a second. "Well, the name was picked by my uncle, but it's quite catchy, so I'd hate to change it." She put down the rag and cup she had been cleaning. "So, what can I get for the three of you?" She looked over the two who accompanied the mayor. She didn't recognize either boy, and wondered if Elise knew any of them. They weren't bad looking, reminding her of their conversation earlier.

Leo

Leo was still taking in the town. There were stringed lights in the trees, there was music playing in the streets. The town seemed so alive! When he was younger he remember coming to Moonhaven once in a while, but it never looked like this!

Finally they arrived at The Owls Claws. Very perculiar name for a pub, but they all had interesting name he guessed. He had even heard of a town having one called The Snuggly Duckling! At least this one sounded a bit cooler. As Abraham kept talking, he was mostly thinking about how he needed to come back her more often. Though he did hear Frankie's comment about the pub name.

As they walked in, his attention changed to the blue haired girl the mayor was speaking to.

"Oh ho ho, first things first Anna, I'd like to introduce Sunnyvale's finest gentlemen! Right here-" Abraham patted Leo on the back extremely hard, making him almost fall over, but caught his balance just in time. "-is Leo, our new agriculturalist taking care of Sunnyvale farm." After laughing a bit nervously from the slap on the back, Leo smiled and waved at Anna.

"And over here we have the new General Store owner, Frederick." Abraham only lightly patted Freddie on the back.