(no subject)

[crowschild]

Thorn Hall is a large estate in county Cork. And while it has all the trappings of a normal farm: with fields, and pastures, an orchard of various fruit trees, a barn with horses and a few cows grazing, there's something about the land that just feels more real. As soon as they cross the borders onto the land its palatal. There land is alive. And not just in the green and well taken care of sense but also in a wild woods and blood spilled. An over abundance of crows and ravens rest in the trees watching them as they walk. There is a spirit of Thorn Hall and it brushes across Cavan just briefly as if judging his intentions Cavan is, after all, a stranger to this land and world. The fact that he's with Rory is definitely a plus and it retreats. Though there is a sense of warning. If Cavan does anything it disapproves of ...

If Rory notices anything about it, he doesn't show it. But he's quite used to the Hall.

The reason why Rory told him about a password is immediately made clear when a small girl, about five years old, drops out of the trees in front of them. She has the same hair and eye color as Rory and is wearing a dress that probably got mud on it as soon as she stepped out the door. She also carries a spear coated in pink paint and sparkles.

"PASSWORD!" she demands, holding the spear threateningly.

Comments

[boy_druid]

Cavan does pause to breathe in, as the maze sends out its siren call of scent, but he's wise enough to stay with his tourguides. "I suppose there's really no such thing as wild or domesticated bees, really. It's just a matter of where they live." He nods mildly.

"Do they... talk to ye? I mean... I've only just started to learn how to listen, I think, but everything seems to communicate more, here, than back home."

[crowschild]

"No, I guess not, much like cats," Grady agrees. "As for talking? I've learned how to understand them, but Finn and Trever are the ones that can actually talk to them. Not very interesting conversationalists, I'm told."

They've reached the hives now, which are near a kitchen garden and a general flower garden, with rose bushes that are clearly less dangerous than the ones that make up the maze.

A few chickens scratch at the earth hunting for bugs and cluck quietly to themselves.

The hives themselves seem to be in excellent condition. Very happy and healthy and like everything else, just a bit more alive.

I am so sorry, work ate me alive.

[boy_druid]

He can't help but get distracted by the garden, pace slowing as he peers at the plants there. Of course, there are bees on those, too, busily working away to keep the herbs and vegetables pollinated. "There were some at the last monastery I used to sit and meditate by, I used to half fancy I could hear them talking..." He's not sure if it was just his imagination, but he's not willing to discount that he might have actually heard them, either.

CLEARLY. XD

[crowschild]

"Well, like I said, Finn and Trever can talk to them understand them properly. Perhaps they were trying to talk to you, even without words. They're quite clever," Grady says.

A few bees buzz over to Cavan and inspect him, one landing on his nose.

Annnd then I got sick. Ugh.

[boy_druid]

"Perhaps I just need to learn to listen better." Boring though their talk may be, he'd love to be able to understand it properly. Cavan is always ready to learn anything and everything, ever a student of the world.

When the bees approach he holds still, watching them with interest, and beams when one lands on his nose. He'll try not to go cross-eyes watching it, but he may or may not succeed. "Hullo miss. Do I smell like honey?" He uses it regularly enough in his food, after all.

You poor baby. *petspets*

[crowschild]

"How good are you at reading their dances?" Grady asks, watching as the bee sits on Cavan's nose. "They seem to know good people, I've noticed."

Rory starts to say something but a whirlwind of pink comes bursting out of the backdoor. Ceilidh comes running out with a large pink sheet fluttering behind her. She also has a bright hideously pink owlet riding in a shoe box with her.

"UNCLE GRADY! PRINCESS STICKY BUBBLE GUM AND I ARE GOING TO GO FLYING!!!" she yells before zooming by, the sheet flapping as she runs. The owlet makes some excited noises.

Grady glances at Rory who sighs. "I'll be right back." And then the younger McCallum brother goes trotting after his wayward niece.

"It's really nice to have younger siblings sometimes. I was the second youngest until he and Grace came along."

I'll live but still coughing up crud.

[boy_druid]

"I was trying to translate them all, writing them down in a journal..." He blinks as the bee takes off in mild alarm, thanks to the whirlwind of pink. At least she's not likely to go far, and he can hardly blame her, but he does shift a bemused look to the girl. What a name for an owl. Strangely appropriate, though.

"I've never had any, but there were a lot of boys under the druids' instruction..." He watches her flapping away, with the other man chasing after to make sure girl and owlet both don't wind up hurt.

"I'd ask what it's like, but that's probably a hard thing to answer with nought for comparison." He grins apologetically.

I hate that part.

[crowschild]

Ceilidh is very good at naming things. She's also very good at running; she's making Rory work for catching her.

"It's like going from having to do all the chores to being able to tell someone else to do all the chores, essentially," Grady says easily.

[boy_druid]

It's amazing how fast such short legs can go.

Cavan gives a laugh. "I live alone now, so I'm used to doing all the chores myself. Speaking of that... ye wouldn't want any bread, by any chance? I don't know how to pay ye back for getting to see this place, but I make bread once a week, with honey..." It's not a chore, really, but he always has so much extra and so few people to give it to.