(se) into the woods, the time is now

JUNIPER

you think i'm happy because i'm smiling,
but it's the easiest thing to do

Juniper was quick to respond to Alina's summons and showed up promptly, carrying her bow, her familiar old hunting knife, and the dagger Alina had given her. She was still getting comfortable with the dagger, but it was a very nice weapon, and she intended to make good use of it -- with her old knife as a backup, just in case.

"Alina," Juniper greeted the huntress, her tone light and pleasant. "We're going to go get the branch of a wicker woman, correct? I've been working on acquiring Ascended and Accepted parts -- a man named Gideon told me he could provide the latter."

She remained ignorant of the fact that Alina had already spoken to Gideon, not to mention Alina's successes in acquiring the other needed objects.

if you looked a little closer,
you'd find my eyes aren't smiling too.

table by Skylark