The tension in the moment seemed to lift a bit for John once the sheriff had decided to move his hand away from the holster and take on a much more approachable demeanor, making the comment about the woods in which John responds, "Yeah, who knows what kind of trouble lurks throughout these parts." He thinks back to the manor his great-grandfather has passed onto him, how easy it would have been to stumble around the wooded area without knowing just how close one would have come to its outer wall, the massive estate that somehow stays unnoticed to the eyes of untrained observers.<span style="font-style: italic">If that can remain hidden, as I have been told,</span>he thinks to himself,<span style="font-style: italic">what else could be out here that no one is unaware of.</span>The sound of the sheriff's voice brought the young man back to the current situation and smiled slightly as the uniformed officer gave his name, a gesture that John appreciates. It was the mentioning of the name "Ashley," as well as the sheriff's newly attained point of focus that brought back the situation to its entirety; strange people, weird behavior, some sort of dark and mysterious feeling under everything. As much as John tries to ignore the last feeling, it grips him and won't shake off no matter how hard he tries. It has grown over the years, the sensation of being able to feel some kind of deeper connection with the world around him. Of course, getting the budding druid to admit to such a fantastical idea would be nearly impossible, even Ambrosia hasn't been able to get it out of him. He knows there is someone out there who can do that for him, explain what exactly has been happening to him lately but he is not ready to meet that yet. The euphoria that comes from these connections has gotten to him even though he does not yet know what they mean. Fear and enjoyment coupled together makes a high unlike anything he has ever felt before and so far; This place is ripe with mystery.<br/><br/>So when Matt brought up the notion of bringing in a k-9 unit for a search party, John was a bit taken back when he was tasked with taking Ashley, as the young girl was apparently recognized as, back into town.<span style="font-style: italic">He knows something,</span>the desire to burst out with a single question passed through his head in a matter of moments but the urge is still there as he looks towards his wife who shoots back a fiery gaze.<span style="font-style: italic">As does she,</span>he thinks with a slightly contemptuous note that this woman that he loves so much is harboring many secrets that he yearns for.<br/><br/>"We were heading out that way anyways, dear," she responds to his look with one of her that told the keenest observers that she just as oblivious to things as the world wants to pretend that it is. She knew that this man could see beyond that though, her John. The act was not for him though and she knew that he knew that as well. There are some secrets that are not ready to be revealed, yet she knows that it kills the person she loves that she holds onto those secrets. However, will power and sense of purpose are more powerful in her than any else, even love. They have agreed to this concept a long time ago, when they first met many days ago.<span style="font-style: italic">We made promises then, love.<br/> You have to stick to them, we have to.</span>She didn't wait for a response back from John before she shifted her gaze to the young woman that still sat inside the back seat of the car, "Is that your name," her voice chanted the words, an innate quality of her ability to speak that allows for her words to come out like a song to the ears of the untrained, "Ashley?"<br/><br/>"Is that the girl?" That question by the sheriff broke off the concentration of both John and Ambrosia as their eyes met at the location of the sheriff, watching him turn towards yet another young girl who is apparently came trotting out of the woods, this one apparently dressed up for some kind of play or has some really keen interest in historical fashion. It was the smirk that instantly changed the mood of the situation from that of mess and confusion into something just a bit sinister, even more so when the child started talking, the sound of her voice that made the siren feel as if a shard of ice was penetrating her heart as well as make goosebumps appear on John's arm.<br/><br/>"What is..." the sentence could barely be spoken before the laughter of children broke the silence of the surrounding area, the trees seeming to have come to life and laughing along with whatever is causing it. The wicked feeling became more than just a feeling, it has come to this place.