Exton

The streets of Exton are surprisingly empty as the mourners wend their way back through the town. Ob touches his brother's mind, finding curiousity as well. Tori is still at the clearing with Torrent and taps Ike. There is laughter and a mischeivious touch to her thought pattern. Just before she closes her mind to her family, Ike sends You'll see when you get here.

Stoney stops at a barricade across the Tavern's street. He rolls down his window as an officer approaches. The man is somber, hat tilted low over his eyes. "Sir, I am sorry. You will have to turn around and go in another..." He pauses a moment, then tilts the hat back as he recognises Stoney. His brows are shaggy and fur covers the majority of his face. A werewolf in an officer's uniform. Stoney sends the image to the others, picking up from Ob and Pandora that he is a regular at the Tavern.

"Let me move this for you. Are the other cars the rest of Grace's mourners?" When Stoney nods, the werewolf murmurs "She was an asset to this community. We will all miss her." He motions to another officer who comes over. The man begins to clear the way, making a direct route to the Tavern parking lot.

Monty moves the sawhorse, letting the cars pull into the back lot. As they get out, he hands them all copies of the flyers. Ike is laughing. "These were all over town this morning. Mr. Schumacher and Leona, the Leimoniad who owns the flower shop, arranged it. There are so many people who love Grace and the touch of fantasy she kept alive that we would never have been able to fit them in the Tavern."

She bursts out laughing as a man in a tutu and store bought fairy wings walks past. "The idea is to be whatever your favorite fantasy creature is, since that is the basis of Grace's art. You won't believe some of the get ups... Anyway... It is a Celebration of the Life and Art of local artist and gallery owner Grace McClellan Harrison. The turn out is amazing. Wait until you see the demifae. I didn't realize they were real until Weebit showed me who was who. They are all "big", except a few that most people think are special effects. One of the makeup artists from the college is at a table making people look like "others"." She lowers her voice. "and making "others" look like humans in disguise."

It is only then that they notice just how grey Monty's skin looks. He opens his mouth and shows them a twin pairs of fangs. His words are slightly blurred as he tells them "I am a gargoyle tonight." He turns, showing them a set of grey prosthetic dragon wings that had hung in the window of the costumer's shop a few blocks away.

Ike steps back out of sight. A few moments later she emerges in her true grey and her feathered wings. She smiles and shrugs. "I think too many humans would remember the cat gargoyle that used to be perched on the roof."

There is a sound of music from further up the street. Ike tells them of the locals who are just playing wherever they sit, the gatherings here and there where stories and memories are being shared. A short stocky man in a red stocking cap and green jacket approaches. With him is a tall willowy woman dressed in vines and flowers. Monty shakes his hand and the man bows to the group. "I hope you do not mind. Grace wanted a party and we decided to throw one for her."

He leans close, his leather apron the only connection between him and the little man who owns the shoe repair shop down the street, and who spent many nights playing checkers in front of the gallery with Torrent.

"The polizei chief was all for it. He gets tired of looking human all the time. I didn't know how many of our polizei were "Others". Oh, Ob... The ice cream shop owner is convinced you are an Incubus and are sucking Pandora's life force in such a loving way."

Shaking hands again, the human realm elf and floral nymph wander back into the crowd following the sound of music. A jig starts and the little man begins to riverdance down the street. The nymph twirls and dances with him, matching him step for step.