<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/ZslMtVb.png)<br/><div align="center"><strong>Janise Hutchins</strong></div></div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Courier;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>S T O R Y T E L L E R</strong></span></span><hr/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 8pt;">Next Post: 5.30.22 | June 4th, 7:00pm | Clearing | <strong>CJ</strong>, <strong>Danica</strong>, <strong>Faith</strong>, <strong>Felix</strong>, <strong>Layne</strong>, <strong>Liam</strong>, <strong>Lorelei</strong></span><hr/><br/>The fury infecting Faith is observed with keen amusement, even as there's clear confusion at the evident stuffed animals that speak. Janise glances at them with interest, humming a tune from the old world as she contemplates.<strong>"Such fascinating familiars,"</strong>she says, finally. Perhaps she would have said more if Faith hadn't drawn her gaze, fire sparking in the young woman's hand.<strong>"Oh-ho, a firestarter then. I haven't seen one of your type in--"</strong>She's interrupted as the fire is thrown, a frown tugging at her lips even as the flame is warded off. There's the beginning of annoyance brewing as her skirt smolders, a tap of the pestle setting it to right.<strong>"If you're just going to be <em>rude</em>, I'll simply leave then, shall I?"</strong>she mocks, the mortar raising slightly. It's clear she knows the group wants the egg.<br/><br/>The begging intrigues her enough to stay, however. The despair is<em>delightful</em>, and possibilities run through her head as Faith drops to her knees.<strong> "You could simply come with me and find out what I need it for,"</strong>Janise teases.<strong>"Such knowledge I could share, knowledge not seen by mortals in centuries. Would it help if I looked as I did earlier?"</strong>she asks, the beginning of illusions beginning to blur her form... until Layne interrupts.<br/><br/>She detests being yelled at, especially by a<em>boy</em>. The arrogance alone has her jerking her head to the side, Faith all but forgotten. Things are rapidly spiraling out of control, and through grit teeth she offers to Faith,<strong>"We could even bring your mouthy little <em>toy</em> along, though he might need to be collared."</strong>Genuine anger sparks as she lifts a hand, and a seamless strap of leather appears around Layne's throat. Janise tugs on it magically, lifting the boy onto his toes and dragging him forward.<br/><br/>Things may have taken a turn for the worse if Felix's voice hadn't come from directly behind her. It has the witch flinching, the spell failing as she swerves and swipes out with the pestle, accidently side-swiping the hammer and knocking it away before it hits. In her haste and anger the egg tumbles to the grass, however, so the hammer not managing to wound her is of little consequence. Either way, the egg ends up scooped up by Felix. It's an action that has Janise stunned, made speechless as she turns back to stare at the group.<br/><br/>She clenches her pestle so hard the stone cracks, and her nails grow longer, gaining the appearance of claws. For an instant there's a look of utmost loathing upon her face, and then... she laughs, anger disappearing as swiftly as it came. It's not even a cackle like earlier, but merely an amused, almost indulgent laughter that takes years off her face.<strong>"I can appreciate a trick as much as the next witch, boy, but there's only so far you can take it. What do you intend to do now?"</strong>She stabs the pestle into the ground, leaving it to stand upright as she crosses her arms.<strong>"You can't actually stop me if I wish to take it by force. At best, the egg ends up destroyed."</strong><em>Not</em>something she's inclined to risk.<br/><br/>Though her eyes burn a sickly yellow, she still smiles, head tilted as if curious.<strong>"So tell me, young one. What now?"</strong>