T - Lucca, Lauryn, Nako, Harps, Spidey

[Spiderfly]

Finally, things were starting to get themselves under control. It sadly didn't surprise him anymore how necessary a Jack seemed to be in keeping things from becoming completely chaotic. He calmly watched the gathered rabbits beginning to get themselves in order, having not heard the voice earlier he wasn't aware of the immediate threat.

Until. . .

The Jack whipped around, trying to find the source of the voice. It was taunting him, and he didn't care, until it mentioned Yasmin.

"A DUEL IT IS, IF YOU'LL SHOW YOUR FACE!"

The Jack reached for his sword and had a brief moment of shock when he realized he hadn't thought to grab it back at the Warren.

"Get behind me and stay out of the way." He yelled at the other Rabbits, looking around the hallway for something to use as a weapon in case his abilities weren't enough. He roughly grabbed the handle of a nearby cupboard and pulled it open, hoping to find some sort of kitchen knife.

[Nako]

Regardless of how high and mighty the madame was, the second time the voice boomed out, she about jumped out of her skin. Anubis didn't have to tell her twice before she scrambled back behind the Torque Jack. Things were slowly starting to fall into place for the newborn Doe. Dead bodies in the Doe's room… this disembodied voice talking of keeping… that -corpse-. How vile! How… -confusing-. Why would a person want to keep a corpse? No doubt, a very sick individual.

She had half a mind to voice her extreme displeasure, but something told her it might be unwise. With orders barked at her for the first time in her life by a Jack, she found herself somewhat shaken and at odds with herself. Did she wish to be bossed around? Protected… hm. Yes. That would be most important. But being protected meant following orders. And her basic knowledge told her that a Doe needed a Jack. Her mind reeled, buzzing with these thoughts of what was normal and what wasn't, and about the potential danger. Would she end up dead, as well? Perhaps not dead in the way that her "host" had been (she refused to call that thing mother), but perhaps slain. Like the bodies in the Doe's room.

Layla had no time to think of that strange situation that had happened when she'd touched Jala. Some -creature- was trying to kill them! Or that's what everyone was screaming, anyways. She felt a profound relief when a Jack arrived. A very normal, valiant creature with Torquehelm colors and decked in gold. She skittered behind him when he demanded, a wash of comfort filling her mind. They were protected. This Jack would -save- them. Or at least…. the ones that could be saved. She gave a cursory glance toward the swollen Brighid. What had -happened- to those Does, and poor Jala?

[Dark]

There was no escape with the doors slammed shut, and their chances of survival were dwindling fast. Maeve contained a snarl of frustration, barely. Fear was slowly replaced by rage.

She did not appreciate being moved about at the whim of some unseen force. To be terrorized. Threatened. Disregarded. And Anubis. Maeve watched the Jack incredulously.

Had he ignored everything that was said? He seemed surprised at the presence of someone--something--else. And then he's bellowing a challenge, heedless of the potential danger, because one of his precious darlings was mentioned. Had nothing that had happened in the last nightmarish hours sunk into his head? And why did he not have a weapon?

And then he turned his back to dig around in a cupboard.

They were doomed.

Maeve gritted her teeth, and with a deep breath positioned herself between the other rabbits and the Voice. Her tail flicked dangerously behind her, and she momentarily caught Shelby's eye to give what she hoped was an encouraging nod.

Anubis might not be prepared to fight, but she was.

[Lucca]

There was the voice again...Shelby about jumped out of his skin when he heard it. At least it wasn't talking to -him-, though its words were still far from encouraging, and the boom of the Warren entrance as it sealed shut was enough to send his heart skittering nervously. He didn't need telling twice to get behind the Jack. Though...the Jack seemed a bit flustered, as well, getting all worked up at the name 'Yasmin' and going to root through the cupboards. That...didn't he have abilities he could use against the thing? Didn't all Jacks have abilities?

After all, -he- had an ability and he wasn't even a Jack...wait. Wait a minute. Shelby froze as he realized...he somehow, impossibly, now had an actual ability he could use in a fight. He glanced back to make sure the Torquehelm Jack was still busy, and then down at the dagger he was holding hidden under his chest. Surely this thing was magical, then? He looked back up and caught Maeve's eye, saw the way she was tensing...to fight.

She wanted -him- to fight? But he was just a Leveret! He was a scaredy cat, and everyone knew it! He couldn't...and the Jack had said to stay out of the way! Shelby's ears pulled back and he swallowed audibly, trying to think. Images came unbidden to his mind. His sister...his mother...Heike...he'd never see them again unless he got out of this. With an effort of will, Shelby moved to place himself beside Maeve, trying not to think about how utterly terrifying this was. "Ready," he whispered, the quietest sound possible, so as to not carry to the ears of the Jack who was on their side. Because White Rabbit help them if he found out two Leverets intended to try and fight beside him.

Shelby could barely believe he was actually doing this.

[Nathalia]

((Anubis's fumblings produce:))

Butcher's knife: This large, partially rusted knife was simply lying on the counter, practically waiting to be grabbed. Its handle is made of Ace bone and a carving in the base represents an Ace of Diamonds.
When touched, the knife will leap instantly into position in the new owner's dominant hand, the fingers curling naturally in the correct position without their thought or control.
The knife has a passionate dislike for Clubs and Canines and will take desperate swings at them whenever it can and as often as it can.
Though in means of attack, it is an ordinary weapon, it is able to dodge, (pulling its new owner out of the way) and shield small blows better than any non-magical shield and is exceedingly useful against non-magical weapon and bodily attacks.


((The voice seems to echo around them, chuckling and making odd, high-pitched noises as though only just paying attention by the skin of its teeth.
"Oveeeer eaaaageer! You are funny...sssssir. I might play with yooou, if you're goood."
The entire Warren seems to shake a little and a cabinet in the corner falls forward, revealing a small door that had previously been hidden. It looks to be slightly open, though stuck...is that where the villain is hiding?

Meanwhile, Aleah wakes up outside the Warren, his head aching terribly.
The last thing he remembers is an odd smell, something old and disgusting, before a sharp pain and awaking here.
The decimated Warren lies to his right, voices can be heard, barely, ringing out of it, though nothing is discernible...what's going on?
The front entrance, the only one he can see, seems to be sealed...
Maeve feels an odd draft from the hallway...seems to be coming from the front...is someone trying to come inside?))



~Nathalia

[Nako]

The most startling thing was that he'd been asleep. Sort of. With the way his head hurt, he hardly thought that it was from a normal slumber. Felt more as if he'd taken a dangerous dose of his sleeping tonic, but with a nasty bump on his head to prove to himself that wasn't quite the case. Had he been knocked out?

And abducted, from the looks of it.

Voices could be heard, and he stood up heavily and held his tender head at an angle as he came closer to a door. He couldn't make out who the voices were, but something felt a bit… off about the entire situation. He went to open the door, but it wouldn't budge. He knocked, hard.

"Excuse me? Is anyone home? I think I'm lost." He made sure to call out loudly since the voices sounded far away. Maybe he'd be heard, and they could explain what was going on.

[Kitty]

Calista's life thus far had been short, and utterly terrifying. Deep down she knew this wasn't how everyday life was, but with one frightening thing after another happening .... well, it was hard to listen to that optimistic inner voice. There was a Jack here! That was good, right? It seemed so.... it felt right to hear him making orders in that strong manner... until of course he gave in to the voice's taunting.

Quickly she moved toward the only rabbit who had given her any attention beyond looks of fear and huddled herself up against the Madame, shaking. For now her wounds had ceased their oozing as guilt and shame gave way to absolute terror. And then the voice kicked in again and made everything worse.

Was all of this a game to whomever was speaking or just toying with Anubis? A sick feeling hit her stomach when she realized that everything was the most probable answer .... this wasn't looking good for any of them. At this point she backed up, trying to hide behind the Madame instead of next to her and was momentarily distracted.

A spider was standing in her way from finding the safety and security of a corner, pfft... she wasn't afraid of them! Not in comparison to other things that had gone on anyhow. She picked up a paw and squished the eight legged little thing before backing into that corner and trying to shake the webbing, and spider carcass, from her paw. Eeeew.

[Spiderfly]

It was only a brief second before Anubis spotted a knife, his hand instantly reached for it and he had a moment of surprise when it practically leaped into his right hand. He would have taken more time to be amazed by the feeling of belonging as his fingers curled deftly over the hilt, but he had bigger things to worry about.

The falling cabinet caught his attention and the Jack cautiously surveyed the small doorway that had appeared. If he found whoever this . . voice was, perhaps he could keep him busy long enough for the Does and leverets to get out. Or maybe he could even kill him. But if he left the room and was deceived they'd be alone at the whims of this maniac. He shot a glance behind him, then his gaze settled on Maeve and the other leveret with a knife.

"You two, get them out of here and protect them. Do you understand me? I'm going to buy you some time. . ."

His eyes rested on Dafina for a second and he nodded to her before turning towards the small doorway.

---

Through all the craziness Dafina heard a voice, she was sure of it. And it wasn't that voice. She glanced back at her Father who was now halfway through the doorway before yelling down the hallway. "In here!" She yelled back. They were going that way anyways, but if the stranger who had just arrived could find them at least they'd have one more number in their group.

[Nako]

Madame was quite suddenly aware of a body being mashed up against her own; a trembling and frightened one that took her by surprise. It was the pretty frightened one, so pure in her realm and similar to her in some ways. They surely did look similar with having wings, and both being rather ravishing examples for Does. She couldn't help but feel a certain sense of kinship with the Doe and therefore, acceptance.

After all, the Doe thought that -she- could somehow offer protection. And that would assume the Madame held a sense of power, at least in her own mind.

Then they were being pushed further back into the hallway, toward the shut door. She obliged, bodily pushing the frightened Doe across the wall she had begun to so desperately hide behind. Or at least that's the motion she'd make. If the Doe refused to budge then the Madame would end up pushing into her until she was forced to go around.

"Just stay with the group, dear. Let the Jack handle this and we'll just… stay out of the way." And stay alive.

Her ear twitched. A voice from outside?


Aleah could have sworn he'd heard Dafina. His ears pinned back when he heard the sense of panic in that voice, even if he hadn't heard the words. Was… she in trouble?

Aleah began to desperately find a way into the warren. He'd bang on the door with his fists. If this did nothing, his claws would be the next option, slashing at the door. If this proved fruitless, he's give another look to see if there was any alternate way in. Was the ground under the door soft?

If all other options seemed unable to bear fruit, he'd dig. Those claws weren't made for walking, but they had the capability to dig through dirt and rock alike.

((Okay so I gave like… a lot of response options for Aleah. DX I hope that's alright. I just didn't want to hold things back or miss out by 'fail' attempts))

[Lucca]

Even as he'd found some sort of courage, Shelby was still shaking with fear. This was certifiably a nightmare, and he wished he could wake up, now, even though he knew with painful clarity that this was reality. He wished he could be whisked away somewhere else, where Alicia had gone. It was bound to be less horrible than here, with the scary voice and the scary Jack and the scary exploding Rabbits. His ears pinned back against his head and his teeth chattered a little with fear, but he stayed where he was, letter opener pointing out into the darkness...

Until the Jack gave an order. "R-right, Sir. I understand," Shelby managed in a squeaky voice, and turned to look at Maeve. "T-take point?" he asked her, using a phrase he'd heard in one of the books Mom read to him and moving to take up a position at the rear of the group. He scanned the faces of those he was assigned to protect, trying to memorize the faces of the Does, even the ones that were still dripping with things he didn't want to think about. He gulped audibly, trembling a little as he saw what a HUGE knife the Jack had found, and started to nudge any stragglers towards the door. "C-come on." He would be more than glad to get out of this place...oh? Was that another voice at the door? At least it didn't sound creepy...maybe it was help? A daring, hopeful thought.