[ The ringing in his ears nearly draws him to look over his shoulder, to see if she's still there, but at the last moment he resists. Maelle's touch brings him back. Silence, then, except for the breeze in the foliage and the distant chattering from the party.

Looking down at her, he offers his own strained smile and rolls his shoulders back. In a setting like this, if they're all scattered about, it should be only a matter of time before they find one another.

But he's glad that he found Maelle first. Or, really, she found him. Saved him from himself.

This time, at least. ]

I'm sure the others are around here somewhere.

[ Slowly, he'll move forward to lead the way, tense for whatever else might await them in the hedgemaze. ]

Just stay close. If we see or hear anything strange, maybe best we try to ignore it.