Abby and the other two intrepid adventurers had picked a trail at random, eager to explore the forest while there was still daylight. Under the cover of the tall, mossy trees, the shadows lengthened and the temperature dipped, making Abby glad for her feather cloak and Moira's costume prop, a glowing skull that bobbed in the air a few steps ahead of them. Of course, Moira and Figaro could use their wands for light, but Abby had neglected to bring a flashlight.

What she did bring rested lightly in the bag slung over her shoulder, essentials such as a canteen of water, a flask of something stronger, and a little stash of gillyweed, most of which she planned to save for the campfire later. Raine's concerned look combined with Fauna handing her the canteen had been enough to clue Abby in that despite the fact that they were on Sasha's property and Sasha had carefully organized fun shenanigans, they were still wandering into a forest that had inspired a whole tradition of dark fairy tales.

The forest smelled like winter, its fresh evergreen scent sharp and sweet. Leaves and pine needles softened her footfalls on the trail. A creek babbled nearby, reminding Abby of the creek she knew from the woods where she'd called to the unicorns. Had that really been several months ago, in July? It felt like yesterday.

Abby shook her head, smiled, and glanced at her friends. They had to find this dead fox.

"What do fox prints look like? Moira?"

She waited a beat, then told Figaro, "I pretend Moira knows everything about animals because she takes care of so many."

Also because Moira could turn into one.

Golden goblet in one hand, wand in the other, hat on head, and mask on his hat came Figaro. He walked along letting the floating glowy skull lead the way. They were all keen to find the skeletal fox and see if it really did talk. Even in a magical world, talking animals were rare: either they were Animagi *cough*, or something Old Magic. Like, hedgewitch, MacBeth old.

"Mmhmm, oh yeah, Mo knows loads about animals, don't you, Moira?"

Because she could turn into one. He'd swore to secrecy and was going to work really hard to stick to that. No excuses.

Of everyone in the cohort, Figaro knew Abby the least, except maybe Peyton. But she'd been coming up in conversation more and more, likely because so many of the others worked in the Ministry together. Her name had come up in the paper a few times, and not in a good way, which was a bummer. But whatever had happened to her, she seemed okay to him. That was something.

"Hey, Abby, Fauna told me Professor Reid got trapped in lift with Pratt and them?" It was a question that was inviting an explanation.

Moira's mood had dramatically improved since eating, not that it would be apparent to anyone else who didn't pay attention. For those who did, her quiet stoicism was on the less grumpy side.

Glancing between her two friends a hint of amusement danced across her eyes. Moira knew they both knew about her animagus secret, though anyone could go learn about it if they looked through the book, but neither Abby or Fig knew the other one knew. Without any hesitation the witch decided not to tell them. This way was more fun.

"I've never actually seen a fox's footprint. I don't imagine it would be much different than a wolf or dog, just smaller maybe." The best she had for comparison was her own paw prints or Baldur's.

The fact that the fox was dead concerned her. Moira didn't think Sasha would meddle with necromancy again but this seemed a step in that direction. Except real foxes didn't talk.

Abby glanced at Figaro, catching his emphasis about Moira and animals. She shrugged and smiled. Little did he know that Moira knew quite a lot about animals (because she could turn into one).

"Hmm." Why did Moira look so amused? Abby eyed her with a glint of mischief.

"Well, be sure to point out any fox tracks with your," she paused a beat, "keen eyesight."

She laughed, then pretended she was laughing at Fig's comment.

"My poor sister!"

These were words rarely uttered from the younger Reid, but this time, it applied.

"She had some sort of mysterious Level Nine errand to run," she waggled her fingers, knowing full well it wasn't an errand. "But she stopped to visit me first. When she stepped into the lift again, it malfunctioned."

Her sister could have easily gone straight from the Atrium to level 9 and missed the drama, but instead, she'd stopped on Level 2 to see Abby, to place a gift on her desk, to show she cared. Abby felt a little guilty about that, and decided not to mention that Pratt had shared his chocolate.

"Stuck with Pratt and Bagnold," she smiled at Fig. "I'm sure she took them down a peg or two."