Briar Rose had struggled through the crowd, thinking it might have been wiser to walk around rather than through. It had seemed doable at first, but the massive throng of people had quickly turned against her. There was such a crowd pouring through the gates that Briar Rose found herself ducking and weaving around people -- and creatures of all shapes and sizes, too.

She felt, needless to say, a bit silly. Having collected various leaves, some of which she could not identify, she had tucked them carefully in her journal, lacking her purse or an appropriately-sized pocket. While she was certain the Mayor (or Mayor-Elect, was it?) had not intended to mislead her, animals thought differently than humans. Bigby was a shining example.

Besides, leaves were probably acceptable barter from animals, but Briar Rose was human.

Briar was chiding herself silently when her shoulder caught someone, hard enough to cause her to stumble a little. Immediately forgetting her own problems, she turned with a look of angelic innocence and regret on her face, the look seemingly emphasized by the dirty smudge on her cheek.

"I am so sorry!" she exclaimed at once. Her words paused, however, as she looked the woman? over. She carried a spear, Briar noted, and she wasn't entirely human... Rather than dwell on it, however, Briar smiled easily. "I'm afraid I wasn't quick enough. This crowd..." She gestured about her. "It's an absolute nightmare."

After a heartbeat, she also admitted sheepishly, "And I was dreaming a little, I suppose. I'm Briar Rose."