The official Landing Day parade still draws a thick crowd along its route, but without the displays of the Knights Templar it seems a bit passe. The Temple Scouts lead the way, holding the tethers to a large misshapen balloon that supposedly represents the Ark, followed by a few parade floats.

The noisy Contraption float of the Technopriests still gets hoots from the Titanians, but over the past few years the general populace has become a bit jaded to machinery, and the Contraption is so notoriously stable that there aren't even the usual wagers being made on how far it will get before exploding.

More impressive is the float for the College Esoterica, which Spring Meadow had been helping out on. It's been made to resemble the campus on Caroban, complete with the open-air central harbor. The scale is exaggerated so that each school can be made out clearly, with a representative Mage sitting on top and waving. All of the color comes from thousands of tiny flowers growing from the surfaces, and Meadow herself waves from atop the School of the Sphere of Earth.

Despite the crowd, Anisa has been lucky to find a spot where she can both see what's going on, and in that Coal – currently perched on her shoulders – hasn't dropped anything cold, wet, or sticking onto her head yet, nor pulled on her ears in excitement.

"How you doin' up there, cotton-tail?" Anisa asks her little nephew, smiling up at him as she holds his legs to keep him steady. "Enjoying the show?"

Coal bounces on the doe's shoulders to express his enjoyment, and can't help but kick his heels into Anisa's collarbone in the process.

"Ah, there you are, Anisa!" calls out a familiar voice, as Xander Lightfoot squeezes his way through the crowd. "I was afraid I'd miss the parade, but it was really amazing how the Dock Patrol didn't event bother to ask any questions once they saw that Fenter was involved in the explosion at the warehouse!"

The white Lapine winces, but doesn't protest at Coal's antics as she continues to display a genuine smile. The doe watches as the College's float goes by, and waves a paw to Meadow. "Hey, there's Springer! Wave to her, Coal!"

Xander waves to the float as well, and comments, "Funny how they only picked pretty female mages to ride the float. I think the excuse was something about them weighing less."

The Temple Guard Marching Band performs the Rephidim national anthem as they follow the Caroban float, and behind them are various balloons and lesser groupings representing the various commercial Guilds and shipping interests. Of the rumored new Knightly Orders, however, there isn't so much as a hint.

Anisa grins at Xander, placing her paw back on Coal's leg to steady the hyper bunny. "You're not complaining, are you? They chose them because they're easy on the eyes of guys like you, but they can't openly admit that." The doe winks, and turns her attention back to the parade. "Uh oh, here come the Guilds. Wonder if I'll see any familiar faces?"

"Aren't I easy on the eyes of the ladies, though?" Xander protests.

An oversized mortar-and-pestle is drawn along by the members of the Alchemists' Guild, many of whom are waving sparklers to represent their role in the making of fireworks (but not munitions, this being a time of relative peace). Even Aaron is there, barely recognizable in a costume meant to make him look like a bottle of pills.

The doe laughs, "You're a regular work of art, Hotfoot. Hey look, there goes Flopear!" Taking Coal's little paw gently, Anisa waves it at the medicine bottle. "They say what you do for a living defines who you are, but that's ridiculous!" The rabbit gives a small giggle.

"Flopear?" Xander asks with a grin. "Ever called him that to his face?"

Anisa's ears turn a slight shade of crimson, but she nevertheless grins. "Of course not! That would imply an endearing quality! Besides, you should hear what we call you behind your back!" The Lapine laughs, and pokes the buck in the shoulder playfully. "What else is left? I'm in a party mood."

As the marching band moves further away, there is a brief discordant effect as another musical group comes along – the Bards' Guild float, pulled by a team of Dromodons. It, too, looks like it may have gotten some attention from an Earth Mage, though not quite as much: it is fixed up to resemble a wooded scene, with an abbreviated tree trunk and a few plants here and there, in one part, which segues into a sandy expanse with a scaled-down model of an Abu Dhabian minaret … a model of a Chronotopian clock tower … and various other landmarks of the world, each with a musician dressed in garb appropriate to the locale, and playing an instrument native to that land. Despite the strange collection of instruments, it all blends together fairly well, giving a very exotic bent that is not entirely unlikely what one might hear in the Bazaar. Behind the float, some bard apprentices in flashy costumes follow with scoopers (the Dromodon clean-up crew).

"Besides Hotfoot?" Xander asks, then gets momentarily distracted by some of the bards. "I have to head off the the Campus right after the parade and get started on the fireworks rituals for tonight. They partnered me up with Kelsey, and I really don't want to get on her bad side by being late! I think Meadow is supposed to come around and collect people to come see the show, then we hit Aaron's afterwards. He promised he'd have something to help cool me down."

The doe raises her ears up; one to listen to the music, the other to hear Xander better – both of which tickle the nephew on her shoulders. "'Cold Shower,' probably, they've gotta have some of that in by now." She smirks, listening to the bards. "That's a really pretty melody they're playing. I oughta ask Daddy to get someone to play at the Tavern some day. Any road, how much longer 'til you have to head over to the fireworks?"

A few nearby Lapis glance at Anisa and Xander when she mentions Cold Shower. Xander doesn't notice though, as he's looking up at the position of the sun. "I should head off pretty soon. Kelsey's on the float, but I can get the apprentices rounded up and the circles inscribed by the time she shows up, I think."

Anisa arches a brow at the other rabbits, but quickly turns her attention back to Xander. "Should I just wait here for Meadow then, or wait for her at the Tavern? They're probably getting close to the stopping point by now."

High whistles and a trumpet fanfare sound out, as several winged shapes zoom high overhead – the Sky Guard, decked out in ceremonial garb more colorful than the usually muted red and gray-white more normally seen on them. Most of them are Eeee, with a few much larger Vartans (allowed to wear their impressively glittering "shinies" for the occasion) taking up the wings of the formation. As they circle about, they fly into a new formation, momentarily forming the Star and Anchor as they pass again overhead, and dropping a few small specks that burst into a cascade of sparkling coolect glitter that flits and flutters down toward the street.

Holding Coal tightly, the doe looks upwards at the display, laughing as the sparkles descend down to them. "Careful Coal, they may think you're flying too!"

Coal goes ballistic at the sight of the flyers and their dropping sparkles, trying to stand up and catch some while Anisa holds onto his feet.

"You should probably wait at the Tavern," Xander suggests, laughing at the black-and-white coney's antics. "That'll be closer to the stopping point, and a more likely spot for people in the parade to come in and get a bit of refreshment. I know that I'd want a drink after being in a parade!"

"Careful, Cotton-tail! You don't have wings yet!" Anisa grins up at her nephew, enjoying his antics just as much as those of the flyers. "Let's just hope Daddy doesn't try to make me work a shift," the doe says. "I'm not sure if the boys have gotten back yet or not."

"Well, I'll catch you after the fireworks at least!" Hotfoot promises. "I'm gonna head back to the campus now. Have to make sure to put on a good show for you, after all!" The buck gives Anisa a pat on the back, then disappears into the crowd.

Following behind the Bards' Guild are some Himaatian Khattan dancers sporting brightly colored silks and zolks that they wave about, followed by a float that really does look like a piece of the Bazaar given wheels and pulled along by an assortment of exotic pack beasts. Several businessmen and proprietors of establishments ride on the float, waving and grinning to the crowd. A laughing plump Khatta fabric merchant tosses an assortment of glittering baubles and candies … but, alas, he's on the other side of the float, so none of it seems to be coming this way. Across the street, though, the crowd goes into a nearly mad flurry of activity to scramble for tossed goodies whenever he starts flinging them their way.

Anisa waves to Xander as he melts into the throng of people, and turns back to watch in amusement as the opposite crowd turns into a wrestling match. "Well small-ears, think we should head back home, or watch a little bit more?"

Coal makes grabby motions towards the float, and starts to suck on the end of one of Anisa's ears in reply, clearly wanting a free treat of some sort before leaving.

"Here you go, dear," comes a familiar-sounding voice that can be picked out by sensitive Lapi ears. "Now, I already gave you one! I have to make sure these last so I can give them out to each of you. Please share!" Why, it sounds like Beatrice!The voice doesn't come from the float itself, but from somewhere along the near side of the street, though the owner of the voice is not immediately in view.

The doe laughs as the baby bunny's action tickles her ear tip. "Ow! Okay, okay! We'll try and get some candy! Hold on… " The rabbit starts to push her way through the crowd, but is stopped in her tracks by the familiar voice. "Well wouldn't you know it," she says up to her nephew, "looks like Mama's grandmother senses were tingling. Let's go see if she has any for you!" The Lapi does an about face, and follows her ears for the source of the voice.

The end of the parade can seen approaching behind the Merchants Guild float now: colorfully dressed tumblers and dancers from the Opera House.

As Anisa moves forward, she can see better that some of the riders of the float have hopped off as it has slowed down, in order to rush about at the fringes of the crowd and hand things out – coupons, mostly, but also some samples of some of their wares. In the case of Beatrice Snowshoe, she's handing out a few of her "trademark" carrot-cupcakes (or, that is, miniature versions of them), on little pieces of flatbread that serve as napkins (though to the undiscerning, they're edible, too).

Spotting her mother, Anisa begins to push her way through the crowd and closer to the front. "Excuse me… 'scuse me… coming through… gotta baby here, folks… 'scu- HEY! Watch it, buddy… pardon me… HEY MAMA!" The Lapi waves to her mother, smiling brightly as the older doe approaches.

Beatrice's ears bounce up, as she looks about in surprise, then focuses on Anisa. "Oh! Hello there, dear! Oh, thank the First Ones your father sent you to help out! There's an extra basket on the float… " She leans, gesturing half with a nod, half with her ears, toward the float.

The younger doe splays her ears in confusion at her mother's words. "Help out? Mama, I'm watching the parade with Coal!" She motions up to her nephew.

An enterprising Kavi swipes an extra carrot-cake muffin while Beatrice is distracted. Lest he be found out and asked to give it back, he promptly stuffs it into his mouth and looks quite content.

Coal, meanwhile, reaches out for his Grandmother, making characteristic happy-Lapi muttering noises in lieu of actual speech.

Beatrice looks up at the beaming face of Coal from atop Anisa's shoulders, and then her ears blush and she giggles. "Oh, of course, dear! Well, if you see any of your brothers, send them along to help out, would you?"

Anisa takes a couple of mini-cupcakes, and hands them up to the baby buck on her shoulders. "I'll do it with glee, Mama. You'd better keep up with the float, though!" The rabbit motions to the moving display, which is slowly trundling down the street.

Crumbs start to get into Anisa's ears as Coal messily eats his tiny cupcake, and inevitably a frosting-smeared hand grabs one of her ears to let her know that the outrageously costumed dancers have gotten his attention now.

"Hey! The kid got two!" a Kavi protests.

"Oh dear," Beatrice huffs, and hands the Kavi another cupcake. (Never mind that he's already had two… ) Then she sees that she's about to be overrun by acrobatic Kavi if she lets the float move on further without her. "Oh my! Goodbye, little Coal! You be good and don't chew on Anisa's ears! Bye!" She waves and hurries along, clutching her basket close.

As her mother follows after the float, Anisa starts to push her way back through the crowd to keep from getting crushed by the larger folk surrounding her. "Bye, Mama! Be careful!" The doe flattens her one free ear to keep the crumbs out, and makes a mental note to wash her head fur when she gets home. "Well buddy, what now?"

Despite the recent recharge from the cake, the speckled coney lets out a yawn. It's probably time for his afternoon, pre-dinner nap.

The doe grins, "I thought so. C'mon, let's get back home so you can rest up for tonight's fun." The white Lapi pushes through the remaining bit of crowd blocking her way, and sets off towards the Tavern with a yawn. "Oh my… looks like I could probably use a good nap too."