Gryffyn met with the High Council and explained to them the matter with the Huntsman and the Baron. He prefaced his story however with the news of the arrival of the priests, as it was paramount to understanding the situation with the Huntsman. As he'd promised, he made it stop snowing but gradually, so it would look as if it just let up on it's own. The people would speak of it later as a 'freak storm'. He also made sure that Vassily went home with a boar, so everything would look 'normal'. But things would not be 'normal' now, and they all knew it all too well. "We must decide what it is we do now," Gryffyn said. "Do we stay and pretend they aren't here? Do we leave...again? Where do we go, if we do? It's only a matter of time you know, before they take over the rest of the isles. Or...do we stand and fight them? That is what we must decide, Council. I have said my bit. What say you, Fayidh?" He turned back to see Fayidh sitting there with his jaw on the ground. The King of the Fey shut his mouth abruptly and raised a brow at their spiritual advisor. "I have to say that under the circumstances, I approve of your action - although I am still very angry the Great Stag is gone!" "Don't you see Lord Fayidh, they slew the Great Stag to a purpose. That purpose was to anger us," Fionna spoke up. Fionna was their Healer and the beloved of Gryffyn. "Be angry with them, not the Huntsman. He was only looking out for his family and livlihood. We have no right to deny the people this, or we teeter on becoming like our enemies.' "I say we send some away and they can begin again - somewhere else - as we've always done. Somewhere far, far away. The rest of us will stay and fight - for there are those who still live the old way, like Boudicca and the Iseni, and the Trinovantes. We cannot leave them without aid in this." Thus spoke Maeve, their Queen. There was a long silence, and then Macha spoke - the sister of Maeve. "I say we wage full-out war!" "And risk losing everything and everyone?" Maeve countered, shaking her head. "Nay. That would be death to our entire race, sister. Is that what you want?" Macha shook her head. It seemed Maeve's way was the only thing to do, then. But who would go and who would stay? To the Great Western Land? "I volunteer to remain behind," she said - in case anyone cared. (Maeve and Macha will appear sometime, promise!) ***** Poser figures by me (Fionna, Gryffyn and Fayidh). Digital painting/collage with some fractals. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day my dears! R.