"Yeah."

"That sounds very uncomfortable, I'm sorry."

"It didn't hurt but it was certainly startling and bewildering."

"Yes, I imagine so."

"I'm hoping that since outworlders are a known phenomenon there may be some known phenomenon causing us to arrive that I can learn about."

"Maybe the Queen will know. She would've seen all the ones who've come here before."

"That seems the best bet."

"Good luck."

"Thanks."

They proceed. Eventually it comes time to stop for a proper forage. Numerous nuts and berries are located, and two rabbits; Starlight is very pleased with himself.

Do they have a way to cook rabbits?

They do! Starlight doesn't mind either way but if May prefers roast rabbit, roast rabbit it is.

Roast rabbit: pretty tasty. Nuts and berries: likewise.

Excellent. Once everyone has had a chance to eat and a short rest, they continue onward. The landscape continues to be surpassingly beautiful.

"I don't think many places on Earth are this pretty! Is it an established scenic route or just some wilderness?"

"It's just some wilderness," says Button. "Much like any other. But it is lovely, that's true. Is Earth not like this?"

"Earth has nice places but they're - messier?"

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"Like - flowers have petals missing and not everything is looking its nicest during the same times of year and there is more dirt on things and the grass doesn't look like it has been to a hairstylist and - it's a little hard to describe really."

"I've seen flowers missing petals but I think I might see what you mean," Button says thoughtfully. "I wonder why that is."

"I'm inclined to think it is a thing about here, and not a thing about Earth," says May, "because it seems more likely that Earth is what you get when you have an unattended system. But it's possible that both places just have different underlying rules that get different results. I also feel here almost like I can see better? Everything is - higher contrast without being garish, sharper somehow -"

"Oh, that's interesting. I can't imagine what could be causing these things."

"Maybe magic! Earth doesn't have it. I don't yet know much about how to expect magic to affect things but it is definitely a good candidate."

"What, no magic at all? That does sound like it would tend to lead to things being very different."

"Not a speck, except apparently for person-devouring vortexes."