She smiles brightly, "Good to know!"

"You will need my guidance, if you want to get the scepter as quickly as possible. I believe the closest trod to Silicon Valley is through the Briars."

Puck's eyebrows shot up. "The Briars? Youre risking an awful lot, cat. Why don't we try a trod a little less, oh I dont know...lethal? If we double back, we can use the trod through the Frost Meadows. That will bring us close to San Francisco, and we can easily hitch a ride from there."

Grimalkin shook his head. "If we want to reach Silicon Valley, we must go through the thorns. Do not worry, I will not get you lost. The trod past the Frost Meadows has become inaccessible. It sits too close to Tir Na Nog."

"Still dont see the problem, cat."

Ironhorse snorted. "THE FROST MEADOWS HAVE BECOME A BATTLEFIELD, ROBIN GOODFELLOW," he said. "WINTER HAS ALREADY CUT A SWATH OF DESTRUCTION THROUGH THE WYLDWOOD, AND THEY ARE ADVANCING ON SUMMER AS WE SPEAK. THERE IS A HUGE ARMY OF UNSEELIE BETWEEN US AND THAT TROD. THE CAITH SITH IS RIGHT--WE CANNOT TURN BACK."

"Of course I am," Grimalkin agreed. "We go through the Briars."

"Briars it is then." She nods, glancing at Puck.

Grim trotted off with his tail in the air, confident in his victory.

Puck grimaced and shot her a humorless smile. "Right. The Briars. Just a second, Princess. Hey, Rusty," he called, motioning to Ironhorse, who pinned back his ears, "why don't you walk ahead of us, huh? I want your big ugly butt where I can see it."

Ironhorse glared at him balefully, tossed his head, and strode after the quickly vanishing Grimalkin. The Iron faery left a faint path of destruction in his wake; branches curled away from him, plants withered and grass shriveled under his feet, leaving burned-out hoofprints on the trail. Shaking his head, Puck muttered something very rude under his breath and followed, leading them deeper into the wyldwood.

She chuckles and follows Puck.

"The Briars," Puck began, keeping a wary eye on Ironhorse walking in front of them, "or Brambles or Thorns, or whatever you want to call it, is a maze. No one knows how big it really is, but its huge. Some say it encircles the entire Nevernever. There are rumors that if you're in the wyldwood and start walking in any direction, you'll eventually hit the Briars. You can find patches growing most anywhere, from the Greatwood and the Venom Swamps, to the courts of Arcadia and Tir Na Nog. Out here, in the wyldwood, the Briars are rather...sadistic."

"Sounds quite thrilling. I'm always up for an adventure." She mutters, staring at the sky.

Puck gave her a very eerie stare. "They are alive, Princess," he warned in a low voice. "Not in the way that we're accustomed to, but do not take them lightly. The Briars are a force, one that cannot be tamed or understood, even by Oberon or Mab. And they're always hungry. It's easy to get in--getting out is the tricky part. Not only that, but the things that live in the Briars are always hungry, too."

She frowns, "Thanks a lot Puck, now I'm gonna have nightmares." She mutters, glaring at Puck.

"They say that there are doors hidden throughout the Briars, some constantly shifting, some only appearing at a special time under special circumstances. Rumors are that, within the Briars, there is a trod to every doorway in the mortal realm, from an L.A. strip club to some kid's bedroom closet. Find the right door, and you're home free." The grin grew wider, and he shook his head. "But you have to get to it first."