[ Lottie Matthews falls asleep, and she doesn't wake up.

At least, that's what she assumes, for a long while, has happened. What else could it be? She's in a completely different forest, in a completely different season. The cabin is gone. The wilderness has wrapped her in a blanket of its own, and taken her elsewhere.

After spending a few days in the woods outside town, however, Lottie is forced to conclude that this experience is too long, vivid, and uncomfortable to be a dream - even if her dreams are often some degree of vivid and uncomfortable. So she picks herself up, walks back into town, and learns that Charlotte Matthews has been missing for seventy-two hours. Exactly the amount of time she's spent in the woods.

You've missed school, they tell her. Can you go back tomorrow? Lottie doesn't know how to say no. She's good at saying many things, but not that.

The next school day passes by in a haze. Lottie sits at the back of the classroom - not in her assigned seat - and does not say anything to anyone. She makes quite a sight, with her puffy, badly bruised face, and split and bloodied lip. But it's all going fine, or at least, as well as these things can go.

Charlotte, the teacher reminds her. It's time for soccer practice.

Lottie walks out onto the field. She smells the freshly-cut grass, and feels the warm sun on her skin. She hears, distantly, the idle chatter of the team.

She tastes meat.

And then she's on her hands and knees, tasting bile. Lottie heaves, and digs her hands into the dirt, and the onlookers are probably realizing she isn't participating in soccer practice today. ]

[ Much like her general habits in regular school, Lottie hangs back in the crowd during the Witch's Retreat. Unlike school, however, Lottie pays attention. Her pupils are wide, and her jaw is nearly clenched. She's focused, and taking this seriously, regardless of whether or not this excursion was advertised on a fun little poster.

Still, she remains silent until she's paired with a partner. Once the Witch partners her up and leaves to go work with someone else, Lottie reaches into her jacket. She pulls out a long, severe hunting knife. The hilt fits her palm comfortably, and Lottie grips it like she's used one of these before.

Lottie presses the sharp edge of the knife into her palm until it bleeds. Then she makes a fist with that hand, squeezing out every last drop.

Since she doesn't want to be rude to her partner, Lottie offers the knife to you. ]

[ Lottie doesn't usually stop and chat with people on her way between school and home. This place still feels... artificial, somehow, even though Lottie logically knows that she feels that way only because she's grown accustomed to the wilderness.

But a little glass of cider couldn't hurt, right?

A few minutes later, Charlotte has forgotten all about her desire to get home as quickly as possible. She's supposed to meet up with someone, actually! To study. But Charlotte can't remember where that was, exactly. The nice thing about small towns is that someone here will be able to help. Charlotte is sure of it.

She can't exactly remember why her face is all bruised up, or why it hurts to walk too fast or breathe too deeply - one too many rough soccer practices, maybe? That doesn't deter her from approaching you, though, wearing a pleasant and polite smile. ]

Hi - have you seen Laura Lee? I can't remember if she has piano practice today or not. We were supposed to meet up to study.