T - Varde, Spidey, Kitty, Yuiven

[Varde]

((Fenzik rolled an 18. Good for him, but not so good for keeping Webster quiet. ))

Fenzik followed Farrago closely, half-listening to the others' conversations but keeping his thoughts to himself for the most part. He was still trying to figure out what was making him feel so strange, so... unsettled. Was it something chemical, something in the air? He had inadvertently imbibed some questionable fumes during a recent experiment back in his lab, but that had been at least a day ago, now... It couldn't be that.

The rat scanned their surroundings warily as they traversed the deserted streets, gaining a little bit of confidence now and then whenever he saw a familiar landmark. On several occasions he glanced over at Webster. The boy seemed to be keeping up with the group just fine, despite his injury. An injury that, in all likelihood, wasn't nearly as big a deal as Fenzik's paranoia-addled brain had made it out to be.

He was relieved to see the appearance of other Cards, as well. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was absently keeping a mental tally of the size of their party, and every so often, he compulsively did a head count. At one point, his brow furrowed when he realized the number seemed to be one lower than it should have been. He did the mental calculation a second time, and then a third. It was still off. He grew visibly concerned. "Where did --" he started, but he trailed off almost immediately when, to his embarrassment, he realized he didn't know who had gone missing. "Er..." It wasn't Farrago, obviously. It wasn't Webster... it wasn't those two new children... Who...? Well, one of the others would probably know. He swallowed his pride and began again. "Um, didn't we --"

But at that precise moment, Farrago suddenly hissed at the group, and the rat again fell silent mid-question. He listened as the bird explained their situation, and nodded obediently at Farrago's order to him. "Right," he acknowledged in a near-whisper, but no sooner had the word left his mouth than the feline began spouting a whole stream of enthusiastic questions. "No!" he hissed at Webster, cringing, but the child didn't even appear to hear him. Groaning inaudibly and chasing the kitten to Farrago's side, he said again, "Webster, no!", in a whisper that he hoped was only just loud enough to pierce the child's curiosity. Deciding to try a nonverbal solution, Fenzik resorted to cupping one of his paws over Webster's mouth. "Quiet," he said in a low, controlled voice, glaring sternly at the kitten and trying to look him in the eye. "He said we're in danger."

[Nathalia]

((Farrago ground his beak, making a terrible squeaking sound as he whirled about, aiming a kick at the Sorgaire girl. (rolled a 17, take it as you will).
"Lowlanders are th' reason yer skulkin' around in an alley tryin' not t' die! Stupid brat!" He hissed, fingers curling over something to the side of his belt. "I know yer type are sympathizers, but they started this mess an' it's a feckin' war. They'll kill yeh if they see yeh, now shut up!"

The Corvie girl and the kitten then crashed.
Both of them, horribly.
The Corvie literally, the boy...feckin' HELL.
Reaching down, he scruffed the boy, clamped a hand over his mouth and hissed. "Silence, lest yeh wanna be found an' skinned." Shaking him a little, he shoved the boy at the Corvie Rat. "Keep him to yeh, we're about t'be found if that light's any-"

An arrow shot down from the rooftop, tearing along Farrago's shoulder as he loosed a screech.
Something huge and heavy thudded into the alley in the midst of the group and too a swing at the Card nearest it, a Highland Wolf.
The smell of rot from the creature was obvious and it's thick head was indistinguishable as a single breed, and terrifying in its anger.

))


~Nathalia

[Spiderfly]

Amorette let out a short sharp scream as Farrago's foot thudded home between her ribs. She stumbled back, tears welling up in her eyes as she tenderly tucked a wing in over her bruised side. She looked up at Farrago and hissed.

"My FATHER is part Lowlander, and he's TWICE THE MAN YOU ARE."

What sort of adult attacked a child? What sort of god-complex did this idiot have? She doubled over a little, clutching her wing closer to her side but tried to keep her distance, figuring her last comment would earn her another swift kick or worse. She was shocked as her anger was broken short by the screech loosed from Farrago's mouth, right before something dropped into their midst and started swinging. A lowlander, and he looked angry. She didn't know what to do. . .

---

Evaline hissed as their leader suddenly turned around, landing a kick into Amorette's side. What the hell did he think he was doing?

Things went bad fast then, and she barely had time to react when there was suddenly an angry looking lowlander amongst them, and Farrago seemed injured. The kitten hissed and hunched, readying her claws for whatever she might be able to do to help.

[Kitty]

[[ Talaith gets a little colorful here.]]

After he sent a kick at Amorette he had been in the process of trying to remove himself from Farrago's presence when he was snatch up by the scruff. His fur puffed out as he curled up into a little ball and tried to look as cute as possible despite being absolutely terrified. Then he was thrust at the rat and wasted no time hiding behind him, shaking like a leaf. He'd never been treated like that by anyone in his entire life. Not even grumpy old Mrs. Angora. For now he stuck close to Fenzik and stayed low to the ground, even more so when the heavy lowlander made his landing.

Talaith had been watching all of this unfold from the back of the group. Now, normally she wasn't a card sympathizer, nor someone with a kind heart.... but picking on kids? Now that was pretty low, even if you were angry. Her expression shifted to a rather sour one as she focused her gaze on the man, her tone was just dripping with malice.

Oh yeah, takes some huge balls to pick on kids doesn't it?

She moved back a bit when the lowlander made his landing and she spat in Farrago's general direction.

Oh goody, maybe he'll rip'em off and make you wear them as a stylish little hat?

She called him something as well, but it was in Solandrian.... but the connotations would be quick clear from her previous statements. She herself had no real stigma's against either realm, but... damn, pick on someone your own size or bigger .... never go down in that scale.... ever.

[Nathalia]

((Farrago screeched and whipped a knife out of his belt, slamming it backward at the Lowlander.
The creature dodged more swiftly than its bulk would lead one to guess and rammed a fist into the Avian's chest.

With a gasp, he fell backwards, trying to heave in air, beak gaping.
The Lowlander whirled on the rest of the group.
"Eard yeh, little lady, Father's part o'our group? T'en yer a part o'ours, quickly, come wit' me."
Turning to the others, he waves a huge hand at them.
"Come on, you lot, down that alley 'till y'hits th' fountain, I'll meet you there."
He rounds back on the prone Josiggy just as the Birds' fist catches him in the back, he lets out a grunt and grins ferociously.
"Barely felt t'at 'un, boy! Come on!" He yelled, slamming a return punch back into the man's side with a loud thud!

The Rabbit begins to feel a bit ill and...is her stomach getting bigger?))


~Nathalia

[Varde]

Things were quickly becoming much more complicated. Fenzik gaped at Farrago in disbelief and protested audibly as the bird delivered a violent kick to one of the children. His mind flooded with doubt, accompanied by guilt, at having consented to let this Josiggy lead them in the first place. Perhaps his first impression of Farrago hadn't been so inaccurate after all. The rat bore personally bore no ill will toward Lowlanders, and the longstanding feud was a source of puzzlement to him. However, there was no time for him to inject himself into the argument, for out of nowhere there was an attacker in their midst.

In spite of the situation, Fenzik was actually a little relieved to see Webster hide behind him. For once, the kid was showing some sense. But it wasn't safe to stay here -- the rat's mind raced, and he glanced around. There were a few shop entrances on their side of the street. Most looked closed up tight for the evening, but one door, not more than ten paces away, hung open. Perfect. "Come on," he whispered quickly to Webster, nodding toward their destination. "In there."

For a moment, he hesitated, trying to figure out his chances of protecting the other children as well. He considered calling out to them, but that seemed too risky -- the last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to their hiding spot. He resolved that he would get Webster there first, then try to signal the others from safety... hopefully without being too obvious. "Ready?" he whispered again, giving the feline an expectant look. "Go," he said, and dashed toward the doorway, hoping the kid would follow -- and keep up. For such a short distance, the impending danger made it feel like he was going to be running forever. But finally, he slipped through the shop entrance. To his knowledge, he hadn't been noticed.

It was even darker inside the shop than it had been outside, a fact the front door and two front windows did very little to rectify. While his eyes tried to adjust, Fenzik bumped clumsily into a shelf full of large metal pots and a second shelf laden with spatulas and wooden spoons before he deduced that this was some kind of kitchen supplies store. After making this realization, the rat turned back toward the door to make sure Webster had made it as well.

[Kitty]

He'd found a hiding spot behind the rat, but the rat didn't stay still for too long. Partially crouched, partially curled and very stiff Webster stayed exactly where he had been before and stared around at everyone gathered with wide eyes. There were quite a few things going on all at once, more then one person trying to tell him where to go and he was .... confused. And scared, but more confused then anything else.

He took a few slow steps toward Fenzik, his fur poofed and his body close to the ground, and then just .... stopped. He didn't know what to do, but he did know that he didn't want to stay here. Everyone seemed to want them to go to the fountain though, there had to be something special about it then.... right? He looked back at Fenzik, flashed him a mildly apologetic look and then put his paws into motion and ran. It hurt his paw, the pressure reopening the little splitter hole, but he headed toward the fountain anyhow.

Talaith moved toward the fountain as well, stopping briefly when she suddenly felt quite ill and.... strange. Maybe it was just the fight going on so nearby? Yeah, sure.... that worked. She looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out at Farrago before following the feline. She couldn't let him go alone, could she? Well yes, but she didn't exactly want to leave the group quite yet.

[Spiderfly]

Perhaps it was foolishness, but Amorette was relieved when she heard the Lowlander accent of the newcomer. And his demeanor seemed much more. . . fatherly. She was probably imagining all this, but when he said to go to the fountain she nodded, finally feeling as though she was in the right hands. Besides, he hardly seemed the type to kick a child.

Amorette looked pleadingly at Evaline, begging her to trust this new leader and to move with her towards the fountain. She hesitated for only a moment before moving quickly down the alley after Webster. Even though she wanted to call out for him to slow down she didn't, deciding quietness was the best option.

---

Evaline hissed at the sudden upheaval of things and scraped her claws against the ground in frustration before taking off after Webster and Amorette. Where had that rat gone? She spared a quick glance behind her before moving towards the fountain slower than the other two children.

[Nathalia]

((The Lowlander swiftly caught the young ones up, glancing over his shoulder and hoping the Corvie would soon follow.
Dragging along, half over his shoulder and groaning in agony, was Farrago; half-conscious and looking quite beaten.

The Rabbit under the cloak has begun limping due to the fact that her gut seems to be swelling horribly. What in all the lands?!
Her feeling of unease and illness spreads, though the Lowlander catching them up doesn't seem to notice.

"You kids arigh'? Come on, get runnin'." He urges, keeping to the back to make sure nothing sneaks up on the lagging Feline.
"S'a'righ', m'gel. Jus' keep goin'."
Near the fountain, the man urges them to stop, dropping the groaning Jossigy and sitting heavily down on the edge of the marble plinth.
Inside are scraps of ice floating about...as well as a few red feathers.
How strange, wonder what they're doing there?

"Righ', know yeh've got questions. Ask 'em." He says with a small smile, jabbing the Josiggy Bird in the ribs as Farrago coughs up blood.))



~Nathalia

[Kitty]

When the others started to run the same direction as well, it seemed more like a game then anything else to the mixed realm kitten. This encouraged him to run even faster, trying to win the little 'race'. He very nearly got tripped by his selkie fluff a time or two, but managed not to slip and meet the cobblestones with his face. Mirung definitely didn't need to spur this little guy on into running all the way to the fountain.

When he arrived he came to a halt and lifted his tail high, curling it ever so slightly at the end in triumph. He hopped up onto the edge of the fountain and was going ot simply sit and rest, but his attention was instantly snagged by the red feathers and ice floating in it. His ears perked and his whiskers flicked forward with interest before he hunkered down and wiggled a bit. His tail started to swish back and forth a bit before he reached out a paw and started to swat at the feathers, only half paying attention to the rest of the group now.

Talaith on the other hand, didn't enjoy the running as much as Webster. In fact, the more she ran the harder it was to actually do so. By the time they got to the fountain she was lagging behind the others and had a limp. When they arrived at the fountain she flopped down on the ground for a bit of rest and to, hopefully, kick this sick feeling that was quickly spreading.

Her nose twitched a bit as she looked up at the rather large Lowlander, and his little hostage Farrago.

Where is everyone?