Dullahan

9 - Other - 3

So the pattern repeated itself, much to Eldred's frustration. They played more than two rounds of hide and seek, the dryad children begging for one more round again and again, the older children relenting, and they would all be sent off to hide once more. It quickly became clear to him that this was a game they had played many, many times, and the hiding spots Eldred was seeing were the most obvious and easy to find, if one was familiar with the gardens.

He was glad when finally Murna got her way and convinced the others to play chase instead after they had reconvened at the fountain. Immediately, she lunged for Sail, one hand tapping his back. "You're it!" she shouted, darting away before the older boy had a chance to tag her back, and the children dispersed once more, laughing and shouting. There were squeals as Sail caught one of the younger children, sprinting away so that the child tagged one of their friends instead, and the chain continued, cycling through as each person went for one another. Eldred kept his distance from the tagger, at one point narrowly escaping being 'It' as Wyn chased for him, only changing course when Nor stumbled, tripped by Sail who ran away laughing.

Most of the game was spent near the hedges on the outskirts of the open area, most of the children collecting in groups to talk while they watched the tagger chase someone else, only starting to move when the action was brought closer to them. Quickly it became clear that the only one who would consider trying to tag him was Wyn, each other child too busy trying to catch their friends, and Eldred found it easy to stay out of Wyn's path, the boy a chaotic force who chased whoever was closest.

Still, the game came to a close eventually, many of the children grinning as they all converged in the centre of the space, a loose circle forming, small groups sitting down in the grass.

Conversations sprung up around him, again the other children talking fast and excitedly about their days, a few complaining about having to do some task they hated, others talking about what they wanted to eat for dinner. One particular conversation caught everyone's attention, Murna talking with another girl a little younger than her, hands outstretched.

"I can!" she cried, scandalised. "Look, I'll just have to show you."

Silence fell over the group, all of the children interested in just what Murna had to show. Eldred, having missed the beginning of what sounded like an argument, watched just as intently as the others, wondering what had drawn such attention.

The girl shut her yellow eyes, shuffling her legs until she was sitting cross-legged. She splayed her fingers as though she were feeling the air, taking in a deep breath as her brow furrowed in concentration.

Something rustled in the hedges a short distance away, heads turning to stare as a small red-furred snout nosed its way out tentatively from between the leaves. The fox stepped out into the open, steps hesitant, and paused, one black paw raised in indecision. The children around Eldred whispered and gasped with excitement, a few looking between Murna and the fox. The animal's ears twitched, swivelling as it listened to its surroundings. Murna's concentration seemed to intensify, her eyes now screwed shut, fingers tense. The fox started to walk towards them, disappearing briefly into the long grass before it reappeared on the other side of the fountain, coming to a stop again as it watched the children.

Its yellow eyes scanned the faces, legs spread in preparation to run at the slightest threat. The children had gone quiet again, all very aware of the wild animal, careful not to spook it.

Murna gasped, her eyes opening, grin spreading on her face, the fox turning tail and bolting back in the direction it had come, glancing back just before it slunk back into the hedges.

Immediately, the children exploded into laughter and clapping, the other girl bumping into Murna amicably, Nor on her other side talking excitedly, slapping her back in congratulation.