The table was set. The decorations...perfect. The lighting, afternoon shades of orange. A perfect hue for a perfect tea party.

Six places were set here around the stump of a large tree. One for him. Five for the others. Each place was set with a white teacup, except for his, which was adorned with a red teacup. The tea was already poured for them. In the center were various hors d'oeuvres, special pinecones and mushrooms to be exact, for them to eat at the party.

And here they arrive, five guests brought to his table, their heads all adorned with candles.

Jorogumo, the lady of the night, dressed in white and crowned in black.
Amazon, the fawn of nature's splendor, with eyes bright and face beautifully smiling.
Kaoori, the little mother, in blue regalia adorned with stars of gold.
Wesker, the bone king, his body reflecting death itself in black and bone.
And finally, Nekumbra, the spider doe, in golden fur and brown arachnid legs.

The five come and sit at the table. The stage was set. Let the festivities begin.

"I have gathered you all here for a special ceremony.", Mr. Sanguine speaks, "Above us, the moon glows in crimson, the beckoning time for all who serve the Autumnal Equinox. For you see, this moon is unlike the others in the sky. It is known as the Hunter's Moon, the Blood Moon, or for the purposes this afternoon, the Sanguine Moon.", he smiles here.

"This afternoon is a festival of many things. Change, balance, remembrance...but there is also a hidden meaning to why they call it the Hunter's Moon. For you see, those who hunted and preyed upon the victims of early times used an afternoon like this for opportunity. They would track down their prey in the twilight hours, taking the very lives of those who were worthy of sustaining them through the winter months."

The guests looked to one another, unsure what this even meant. None dared to speak up and question these words. In the silence, Mr. Sanguine sipped some of the tea. "Therefore, I have a proposition for all of you. Go on, do not be shy. Drink your tea and savor the first taste of the Sanguine time."

The deer bent over their individual teacups, lapping the tea with their tongues, the taste was exquisite and foreign to them. They did not see Mr. Sanguine's toothy grin while he watched them sip the tea.

"Alas, your task has already been completed. We shall praise the Hunter's Moon that you, my treasured friends, shall become my bounty for the winter.", Mr. Sanguine spoke.

The others were about to speak when suddenly they began to choke. The five writhed and curled, scratching at their throats, their bodies starting to become discolored and pale.

"Ah yes, I suppose I should have explained your...proposition. You see...I treasure the five of you dearly, to the point where I simply must have you as a part of me.", Mr. Sanguine spoke, walking past each one of them while they suffered. "It was very simple putting the poison in your tea. I wonder if any of you noticed that odd taste...must have been similar to cinnamon. Yes? Well now you understand. You are my treasures, you are my collection. And during the winter, when there is little to eat, I will treasure your bodies as my feast. So you see, the Hunter's Moon does not only apply to those who hunt. It also applies to those with the will to survive."

The area was silent here. The five were all laying motionless. Dead. The conclusion of the tea party.

"My collection is now complete. You were simply too valuable to me for anyone else to claim. Our celebration of treasured company will be eternal."

He sips his tea once more, in the red teacup. The only one of the six teacups that was not poisoned.