Insert 90's Dance Music Here [Wedding Celebration]

ooc. feel free to ignore Epitaph, he just needs some encouragement/time to work up some courage

There was a big gathering today, he'd been told. A wedding had taken place, and there was to be a celebration. In his experience, weddings were more of a violent affair for slaves. A pooling of resources between newlyweds often meant twice the danger when you were the one counted as a resource. However, miss Shaye had invited him to attend, promising fun and an opportunity to meet more of Abaven's members. His limited knowledge of non-lethal herbs led him into the Serpent Plains in search of a gift for the attendees. The walk was good for his atrophied muscles, allowing them a chance to build up their strength. It was a short trip, thankfully. There weren't many plants flourishing at this time of year, and he would be lucky if he succeeded in finding what he sought.

It took a fair amount of searching. Sniffing about for the distinct, musky odor of cannabis led him about in circles. However, a small plant, hidden in the shelter of the trees near the edge of the plains, was finally located. Not many of the leaves were intact, much less the growing buds that he sought. Regardless, he carefully plucked what he could find with his front teeth. Using a broad leaf from one of the tropical trees that seemed abundant in this area, he wrapped the small parcel up.

As if on cue, a sonorous howl caught his attention. Clutching his gift loosely in his jaws, the ebon wisp began to limp in the direction of the call. He recognized Rhyme's voice almost instantly. As he muddled scents of a gathering began to waft towards him, any confidence was immediately drained from the male. He tucked his tail between his legs, tattered auds flattening against his skull. He kept his head low as he approached, moving with short strides as he hunched himself over to seem small and unobtrusive.

Oh no. Miss Shaye wasn't here yet. Pausing on the edges of the gathering, he peered about warily. There were more wolves here than he had dared to interact with in months. There was Rhyme, with the small woman he'd met when he'd first arrived. She seemed to have an even rounder belly now, if that was possible. An absolutely giant male towered over the rest, with two young foxes scampering about his heels. Oh, Epitaph didn't like this. Not one bit. A woman paler than snow clung to a larger male who was wholly unfamiliar to him. They must be the newly wed couple. Should he deliver his gift directly to them? He caught sight of a collection of bottles, and a freshly dead deer. Perhaps it should be left there.

Another face, he recognized from his time in the slavers' camp. The older woman he had spotted only once or twice. Had they been accumulating other refugees? At her side... A man who sent icy fear tripping up the dark male's spine. A giant in his own right, coloured slate blue. Something about him, it reminded him of Grim. His worst master. The one who was responsible for the final crippling in his leg, and the one who had so wantonly abused him for months. It was something about those eyes, and their intensity. Epitaph didn't like it, and he wanted to go back to Shaye's den now. He didn't want to come out ever again. Eyes watering furiously, he looked around for miss Shaye. She wasn't here, she wasn't anywhere.

Trembling violently, he took a step back. This was too much, and he was overwhelmed. Should he leave his gift with the rest, and take his leave? Oh, he didn't know what to do. Not in the least.