For a moment to the more keen eyed viewer, if they were to let their gaze wander from the sight of Parne and the swarm of pixies that surrounded him like bees surrounding a particularly sweet flower, they would have noticed a quite otherworldly effect happening within the woods around them – a rippling of the air much like that of the ‘wash’ left in the wake of an aircraft as the air seemed to distort like oil lying on top of the surface of a lake.<br/><br/>If one were to squint enough they would notice for the briefest of seconds that there appeared to be something… else… behind the gossamer wall that had descended around them, a woodland that was certainly not of this world – perhaps it was what the woodland once was, or in time would be, or perhaps even what it dreamt of one day becoming. Either way, it was gone in a blink despite the gentle rippling remaining in its place.<br/><br/>Parne winced despite himself – knowing that such an unleash of energy would no doubt act much like a brightly burning beacon, drawing much that he would rather they avoided towards them. He had no idea how long they would have, or exactly what would be drawn upon them – good or evil he though at the best of times to be a somewhat limited view of the world, even though his own people tended to draw rather strong lines between different extremes between those who wished for change, and those who wished for order.<br/><br/>At the moment all he knew is that it would be in their best interests to excuse themselves from their current hosts and be on their way…<br/><br/>‘I take it that appropriate payment has been made?’ he asked in as level a voice as he could manage, his voice uneven at the edges as he lowered his gaze to meet the gaze of their leader.