T - Varde, Spidey, Kitty, Yuiven

[Varde]

Fenzik stood near the doorway, staring out dumbfounded at Webster, trying to decipher why the youngster hadn't followed. The kitten's one moment of sensible action had evidently come and gone. "Webster!" he dared to hiss, trying to catch the feline's attention while hoping to avoid catching the attacker's. "Come on!" He was ignored, if he was heard at all. The rat watched in helpless dismay as the child took off running in the opposite direction.

Fenzik sighed, putting a paw to his newly aching forehead, and backed a few steps further into the darkness of the shop as the others went obliviously past. He was terribly conflicted. He didn't know who to trust. But he quickly resolved that since the rest of the group seemed to have resumed their journey toward the fountain -- including Farrago, if not voluntarily -- he really ought to follow.

But the Corvie was still mentally kicking himself for being so unprepared earlier. "If I'm to go out there again," he muttered unhappily to the empty shop, "I'm at least not going out empty-handed." Now that he could see the shelves a little more clearly, he made his way along a couple of them, skimming their contents for anything that might prove even somewhat useful. Not that he had any idea what he was preparing for. Another battle? More ink-chasing? Fen was quick to snatch up a hefty-looking frying pan, and after some deliberation, Zik finally selected a canister containing a white powdery substance the rat guessed was flour.

"All right," Fenzik asserted, feeling better now that he had a couple of resources at his disposal. Against his better judgment, he left his hiding place and followed the Lowlander's hulking silhouette. Cautiously, he kept near to the buildings on one side the entire way, just in case the attacker was to look back and the rat needed to duck inside once again. When at last he spied the fountain, he both breathed a sigh of relief and quickened his pace.

[Spiderfly]

Amorette sidled closer to Webster, feeling the urge to both keep an eye on, and protect the oblivious youth. It wasn't even as if they were vastly different in age as far as she could tell. But.. . in truth, the kitten didn't seem completely with it as far as the current surroundings were concerned. She saw the same debris in the fountain and looked away quickly, swallowing down a lump in her throat. She spoke up, but quietly.

"Why do they think you're dangerous? What's going on?" Her brow furrowed in frustration. Was it just the same prejudice she had grown up around? Or was there more serious things going on?

---

Evaline nodded slowly, taking in everything as calmly as she could.

"I'd like to know what's going on too. Things were fine, normal even, and then suddenly. . " Her stomach twisted slightly and the Corvie sighed heavily. She considered herself quite mature and in control for her age, but this. . . this was just too strange.

"Are we safe here for now?"

[Nathalia]

((The Lowlander gave them all a little grin.
Kids...poor things, Cale'd take 'em through.
"Safe enou' fer now, y'are." He mumbled, as the Kitten fished a few feathers out of the fountain.
One of them tingled a bit...

He rolled the Josiggy over with his foot, considering taking him off behind a shoppe and killing him before the Bird could fully recover.
Not a good thing t'do in front of kids, but...
He was just turning to see where he might duck into to do the deed, when he caught sight of the Rat.
Excellent!
"There y'are, was hpin' you'd catch up t'us. S'your name, sir? Mine's Mirung." The Lowlander extended a large hand and Farrago gave the Rat a pleading look from the ground as he coughed up a bit of blood.
His ears flicked back as one of the kids started asking questions...so then, they all did.
"Well," He started, picking the Josiggy back up, with an unkind twist that gave an audible snap! somewhere around Farrago's middle. "We can be dangerous, but only when we're hurt first. They's started a war, so they 'ave. Cale's our leader, th'Lowlanders, I mean. Gotta get back t'him, he'll protect you lot. The city were evacuated fer safety...didn't work righ'." He grunted waving them on.
"Come on, just a few blocks down this way an' we'll be there, see that light?"
He asked pointing over the rooftops to an orange-ish glow.
"We're headed up that way, c'mon now." As the kids plowed ahead, he dropped back to speak to the Corvie.
"Sir? 'Ow you feel abou' killin'? Y'don't 'ave t', of course, but if y're willin', I need someone t'hold this idiot down."))


Small Red Feather: Once a week, Webster is now able to cause another person to think he is their child for a full half hour. During that time, he may not hurt them, if he does...PM the Admin. The affected creature will treat him as they would treat one of their own kids...be that for ill or good.

Jar of White Powder: This odd powder smells a bit rank...maybe it's gone a bit moldy? Eeew. It can be eaten or used in a breeding, but be careful, Fenzik, who knows what it will do...



~Nathalia

[Varde]

When greeted, the rat approached the Lowlander uncomfortably. "Fenzik," he answered distractedly, returning the handshake as was only polite, but his gaze was locked on Farrago. "Er, my name, that is. It's... my name's Fenzik," he managed, finally breaking the stare and assembling his words into a complete sentence. He felt incredibly torn. He didn't want to pick sides in this... this... whatever it was. He didn't trust either of them at present, but he felt a swell of sympathy for the bird. Maybe Farrago deserved what he was getting, but maybe he didn't. Who was the Corvie to decide?

"A war?" Fenzik echoed in disbelief as Mirung shed a little more light on their situation -- or, at least, his version of it. If there really was a war, and the city had really been evacuated, why this was the first he had ever heard about it? These things took time... Sure, he had been preoccupied chasing that ink blob, but that had been a matter of hours, not days. "The hell kind of place is the Capital City for a war, anyway?" he wondered, only half aware that he had spoken the words aloud.

Fenzik was a little surprised when Mirung addressed him again, but upon hearing the Lowlander's request, his jaw might very well have dropped to the stone street. He stood as though in a stupor for a few moments while he processed it, his head hurting more intensely now. The rat turned slowly, hoping desperately that he had misheard. "How do I feel... about what?" he repeated incredulously, emphasizing each word. But he didn't wait to hear it again. "No," he said firmly, and he would have left it at that, but by now the wave of pent-up frustration had become impossible to hold back. "No, I won't. Why? Why does he need to die? What has he done? And what makes you," the Corvie continued, pointing an accusing finger straight at the chest of the Lowlander, who towered over him, "any better than him?" His heart was racing, and he was beginning to question the wisdom of this tirade. His left tail swished back and forth excitedly with the frying pan in tow, testing its weight. "No," he reiterated. "I refuse to support your petty feud. Dammit, I'm a scientist, not an executioner. And I'm not a judge, and I'm not a babysitter," he added, waving one paw in the direction of the group of children. His anger was now almost wholly spent. "Just... just put Farrago down, and walk away," he said, trying in vain to make his voice sound more commanding than pleading. "No one needs to die tonight."

[Yuiven]

((I am so, so sorry! It has been quite some time since Amaterasu put in an appearance, and a lot has happened since her last post. As I was unsure what to do, I just picked Amaterasu up and set her down here.))

Night had drawn a cerecloth blindfold of midnight blue and deepening black over the desolate cityscape. Clouds of fog were hovering close to the cobblestone streets while Amaterasu, who had caught up some time since, laid flat on her stomach beside the fountain to catch her breath; tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth, sides expanding and deflating as she panted, after her mad dash down the alley.

Ever since Farrago's startling revelation that the long-standing cold war between Josiggy Marsh and the Lowlands had escalated, breaching the boundaries of their respective realms, quite a few things were settling into place in the tumult of her mind. The handful of survivors found so far, the foul odour of the dead and injured stinking up the air, the mysterious stains on Farrago's clothing, the various stages of damage on the buildings and the scuffle between the Josiggy bird and the Lowlands beast.

Now the utterances of Mirung (not that she truly cared to know the rotter's name) only served to confirm her worst suspicions:

What was once the beautiful Capital City, full of happy Cards, had turned into a war zone.

After taking a few frantic gulps of air to refill her oxygen-deprived lungs, the wolf exhaled slowly, then pushed her dog-tired body up to her feet with a soft groan of effort. Planting her front paws firmly on the rim of the marble basin, Amaterasu leaned over the side and began lapping up the cool water like a dying woman in a desert finding an oasis, deliberately ignoring the chunks of ice floating like little icebergs and the blood-red feathers skimming daintily across the surface. Once she had drunk her fill, the humble Highlander slumped back down to the ground with a sigh, eyes drifting half-closed. Yet she remained in a state of watchfulness, looking around as the group spilt up-- Webster, Amorette and Evaline went on ahead towards the Lowlander's camp, the Rabbit-in-disguise flopped down nearby, her symptoms worsening by the minute, and Fenzik engaged in conversation with that rotten thug, Mirung, while Farrago lay crumpled on the ground.

There was a lot to take in, and Amaterasu wasn't sure what to do next.

[Kitty]

The kitten was having quite a bit of fun fishing up the feathers when he paused for a second when one tingled in his paw. his ears shot forward as he stared at the soggy thing in his paw, suddenly quite aware of a new, and interesting, ability he could use now. That would certainly come in handy for the all but attention starved little mix. This distraction from 'fishing' came just in time to clue him in on the situation, and his tail swished in an almost thoughtful manner as his gaze shifted to the fire-like sight they were directed too. Now that was pretty cool looking!

He shook his paw, splattering the wet feathers right in the rabbit-in-disguise's face, before hopping off the ledge of the fountain and prancing toward the portal. Farrago all but forgotten to his one track mind.

Talaith sputtered and scowled when the wet feathers hit and clung to her face. Oh how she loathed children of any variety when they did dumb things like that! She hated babysitting the brats of Jacks, much less cards, and now that they weren't being treated entirely unfairly and harmed.... she could allow those feelings of irritation to return. And.... guh, did they really have to start moving again already?

As she was getting up she stepped on one of her ears and pulled it free from the confines of the beanie, which made the thing slip off as her other ear found enough give to gain freedom. When she heard the quiet thud of fabric meeting ground, and the sensation of her ear and nose-hawk springing back up into their rightful positions, she froze. Oh.... shit.... totally not a good thing. She wasn't thinking straight, not with the feeling of sick and swelling of her belly... and now... now they were going to like... eat her or something, weren't they? They were already talking about offing Farrago there, she'd heard that much as she hadn't been able to get up and move as fast as the kids.... and they didn't really seem to notice her much either.

However, she panicked as she got to her feet and balanced herself by splaying all four out a little wider then normal, a tremble running down them. She made her voice sound as threatening as was possible, but didn't move from her spot. Hell, she didn't' really have anyway to defend herself except for a bite, or some kicks.... and if Mirung got her? She highly doubted he'd feel a thing. A brick of a card that one was.

You.... you stay away from ME! Do you hear me?!

[[ She demanded a little more drama before she pops.... so.... ye have a rabbit in a sweater now. <3 ]]

[Nathalia]

((Mirung stared at the Rat for a second, before letting out a rough bark of laughter.
"Aha! No worries, mate. Yeh dun wanna kill 'im, y'don't 'ave to. I was jus' askin' in case yeh'd get angry iffin I didn't let y'ave a part in th'fun, y'ken? I'll go take 'im apart in that alley, you watch th' kids, aye?"
He chuckled to himself, hefting Farrago back up and making to walk off.
The Rat continued to speak.
Slowly...Mirung turned back around.
"Why does he need t'die? You ask why?" The man snarled as Farrago twitched over his shoulder, groaning in pain and gingerly sticking an arm out toward Fenzik.
"Cause this 'ere piece o'dung's been murderin' Lowland kids all night long. E'll kill more iffin' e'can...wanna see what he's done? Fine, y'don't wanna be a part o'the feud...too damn late." He cast about for a few seconds, before pointing to a shoppe three doors down.
"Smell that pong on th' air?" He snarled. Stalking down to the door, he kicked it in violently. Pointing. "There, still think this scum deserves t'live?" He snarled.

Inside was what may once have been a painter's shoppe.
Collapsed over the counter is a woman; half Lowland and perhaps half Morganberry.
There's an arrow sticking out of her skull and a beheaded child's corpse lies twn feet from her, his little Lowland tail broken in a few places...he might have been tortured before he died.
A little Kitten, just like Webster.
"That's why were killin' em." He growled, pulling out a knife.
"You gonna stop me?"

He snarled, turning back toward the group when the cloaked creature's cloak slipped and she began to have what he could only assume was a heart attack.
"Easy!" Mirung cried, dropping Farrago at Fenzik's feet and hurrying over, as he eyed her odd appearance...what...was she?
"Easy, marm. No ne wants tae hurt yeh here, cept that Bird. I got 'im though, no worries."
He seems to have mistaken her for a Lowlander with an odd mutation, gingerly trying to approach her with a kind voice.))



~Nathalia

[Kitty]

She turned her gaze to the door that the large biped opened, her large ears going back a bit as her eyes widened. Cards really were the awful brutes she'd heard so many horror stories about, weren't they? She wondered briefly if they ate rabbits too, like she'd heard a few times in the many warrens she'd been traded too. She definitely wouldn't put it past them if they abused children of their own kind and the like.

When the attention turned to her she scanned the area for a weapon of any kind and found a rock. She cupped it in her paw and waved it threateningly at the pair of cards, although she'd really only end up making herself look more cute and pathetic then scary. Mirung alone would probably only hoist a brow at her if she chucked it at his forehead. Good job Tally, threaten two adult cards where the smallest one was easily twice your size.

And then she stopped, one brow lifting rather high as she eyed Mirung. He didn't think she was anything but a card.... did he? Well, the bigger they were, the smaller their brains she supposed, but she wasn't quite ready to give in completely. There was a Corvie over there after all, and she'd heard the worst things about them and she waved the rock at the rat a little more.

Webster slowed down a bit to let the girls catch up and he ran between them, tail still high and curled in a happy manner. He was suddennly al ittle curious from something Amorette had said earlier and turned his attention to her versus where he was going.

You're daddy runs a shop? What kind?

his whiskers twitched with curiosity as he awaited the interesting little mix's response.

[Spiderfly]

Oh for goodness sake. Everything was just. . . Evaline sat down, nursing a dull headache that began to start behind her eyes. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and all that was left was the painful crash leftover. She blew through her nose away from the group to clear it of blood and coughed slightly before sitting. Now what? . . Her eyes roamed back and forth over the group and the fountain.

---

Amorette fluttered her wings slightly as she moved. She had always found running somewhat awkward and found that occasionally using her wings helped her to maintain balance. She tilted her head as Webster came back up to her, funny kitten.

"Uh. . oh my parents have a rose shop!" She brightened up after this statement. "I was named after a type of rose actually, same with all my siblings."

She grinned, blissfully ignoring everything else that was going on around them. "Sometimes we sell glass figurines and other flowers too."

[Varde]

Fenzik winced visibly at Mirung's angry reaction, despite having expected the like. To be honest, the rat was a little relieved the enormous Card hadn't simply decided to shut him up like Farrago. Feud notwithstanding, those who solved one of their problems with violence tended to solve many of their problems with it.

When the Lowlander led the way into the shoppe, sheer curiosity compelled Fenzik to follow, albeit with some trepidation. What he saw now he could never have expected. The horrifying scene inside froze the Corvie -- including his tails -- solid in his steps. His stomach turned in stern displeasure, and something vile-tasting caught in his throat. He looked away quickly, but he had already taken in far more than enough of the gruesome details. The rat stared at the bland grey pavement of the street for a while to try and wipe the image from his mind, but it would not leave him. It felt at the moment as though it might be permanently burned there forever.

Just when Fenzik thought his heart couldn't pound any harder, he was proven wrong when Mirung pulled out a knife. The rat wanted to answer, to defend himself, but although his mouth moved, he physically couldn't gather enough air to form words. Much to his helpless relief, Mirung got distracted by something and ran off -- but left Farrago behind.

The rat let his gaze shift to the crumpled figure of the Josiggy, whom he looked over with a new set of eyes and a hundred silent emotions. Had the bird really been responsible for what he had just seen? How could he have done such a terrible thing? Did the feud really run that deep in their blood? He had been a mere child when he had first learned about the timeless feud, but he had never been as close to it as he was today. Fenzik thought about Farrago, then about Mirung. He didn't understand either of them. Either Card, without the other, might have seemed an amiable enough companion, but as soon as they had encountered each other... it was like their personalities had become entirely different. When he thought about it this way, he felt pity for the two of them more than anything else, as though they were both the unwitting victims of something greater.

"Did you...?" Fenzik finally managed to squeak. "Did you really... do all that?" he asked the bird mix, against his better judgment. He didn't even know if he could trust the answer he would receive, but either way, he was simply desperate to know what could have driven someone to commit such an act.