Dani looked out at the city below her and sighed. Visions floated in and out of her mind unasked. Such was part of being cursed with the Aldaran Gift. She saw images of what she knew was a ball, but she didn't know who the man was that it surrounded. The girl looked vaugely familliar to her, but she wasn't sure who she was...
The images disappeared at the sound of the knock on the door. She moved to answer it and found a courier who apologized at great length for not having delivered it earlier. She took the note off the package and smiled. Then she closed the door and unwrapped it.
A slow smile crossed her face as she read who it was from. She laughed in delight at the sight of the arrangement of chocolates, and decied to pay his shop a visit to thank him .....
Danette was still bothered by images as she made her way to the shop where the choclates had come from. The closer she came, the more intense the visions became. Once she was outside of Leaves, that was when the visions became their worst. Dani stopped and set her hand on the doorknob and was surprised when the door opened.
Upstairs, Oberon cocked his head towards the staircase. Someone had come in, someone human. But it was not _his_ human -- this new one was female, like the one he'd been asked to guard. He jumped down from the headboard of the bed to go investigate.
"Hello? Is anyone here??" she called out.
Oddly enough, there came no reply from Mestru Merrick. Perhaps he was out back in one of his cozy little backrooms and hadn't been able to hear her. Someone was here -- she was sure of THAT much. There had been a thump a minute ago, so _someone_ must be here. And weren't those footfalls she could still hear (though they sounded like they belonged to a much smaller person) ?
Danette looked around her. She noticed a curtained opening that smelled like it was a workshop. She also noticed a small door, but didn't open it. It would be inappropriate.
Upstairs, the kitten's ears twitched. Something was up. Mairead peeled open an eye and looked around the room. Yes, indeed, something was different. Big-brother-bird (who was protector and NOT dinner) was going somewhere. But he should be staying HERE. Why was he abandoning them ? She gave an imperiously-demanding meow of inquiry. He ignored her, so she decided to follow him instead. Her small human and bird-sister were obviously not going to be going anywhere yet, so it should be ok.
Ever so quietly, Mairead slipped out of the bed, her small black form blending in with the shadows. She caught up with Oberon at the top of the stairs. But where he stopped there to listen, she continued cautiously onwards.
Downstairs, the kitchen was empty. Yet she could hear someone on the other side of the door. But it wasn't the RIGHT human -- this one smelled all wrong to be 'Uncle'. However it didn't smell unfriendly, so Mairead gave a small inquiring meow (and then a few ore). The door was far too large for her to move by herself. But perhaps the human would hear her and open the door. If there turned out to be danger afterall, then she could always run while Oberon retreated to defend the rest of the pack in the sleeping-room.
'Geeze girl! Now is not the time to develop scruples', Dani told herself, and went ahead and opened it anyways. As she cautiously pushed open the door, she looked down at the sound of the meow, and thought of Midnight as she reached down to pet the cat.
Mairead purred softly as the gentle fingers brushed through clumps of her muddy fur. Ahhh ..that was soo much better. This new human was indeed friendly, and perhaps she could be useful. Anyone who smelled like cat, MUST know how to properly care for one. 'Uncle Human' was taking far too long to return.
As she stroked the cat, Dani looked around around the room. She decided that this was likely Mestru Merrick's living room/kitchen. Hopefully he wouldn't be too angry at her for having let herself in. But she was only trying to be friendly. The room was very cozy looking. There was a woodstove (but no oven for cooking or baking food), a small spice rack, a larger herb/tea rack, some sausages hanging from rafters, and a small ice box for cold storage. A small table with a couple of chairs sat empty as if waiting to be occupied. And a few pots and pans sat near the basin/sink.
But there was nobody there except for herself and the cat. Two staircases suggested a possibility that one of them might lead to Mestra Merrick's wherabouts. But THAT would be rude -- walking into someone else's cellar, sitting room (or worse, bedroom). Being uninvited in his kitchen was rude enough already.
Meawhile, Mairead wallowed in the sheer bliss of having a human fuss over her. But eventually duty won out over pleasure. The small cat took a step away from the human she, then stopped, looked back and meowed. When there was initially no response, she sighed. Humans could be so dense sometimes. Most of them just didn't understand -- and many of them often didn't even bother to _TRY_. Patiently, she repeated her actions; one step towards the stairs, a look back and a meow, then a pause before starting the sequence over.
Dani smiled. She watched the cat and nodded. She laughed as she said "You want me to follow you!" She laughed at the cat's antics and then followed .
Meanwhile, upstairs Kay was stirring. Her subconscious pushed her to wake up; _something_ important was missing. She groaned softly as she opened her eyes. Then the realization struck her. The hawk was still cuddled against her chest. But where was the cat ? And where was the owl ? Instinctively she tried to reach out to one of them. Bad idea. The connection was still there, but it made her head ache worse than ever. "Awww ... damn", she muttered softly. Now she'd have to actually get up.
Kay tried her best not to wake the small bird as she awkwardly got to her feet. After a few false starts, amadaine got jostled awake anyways. Sleepily-blinking bright bird eyes at her human, she made a soft scolding sound then quickly changed it to a quietly-worried cry.
"Hush, love", Kay whispered, we'll get fixed up soon enough ... I can't believe I let us all go to sleep all filthy like this ... and I don't even recall whose bedroom this is either ...".
"Mairead ? Oberon?", Kay called as loudly as she could, as she made her rather unsteady way to the bedroom door and out towards the stairs. Wherever had those two gone ? If only she didn't have such a headache, she could have called them from the bed. If Mairead was anything like the cats she'd had back home, then the kitchen was likely where she'd find her.
Passing by what must have been a sitting room/den, Kay noticed that (just like in the bedroom) the furnishings were in warm colors and patterns. Everything looked so comfortable and well worn that it reminded her of something out of an ancient Terran novel. For a moment, she imagined that she was in an upscaled version of a Hobbit's house. A small giggle slipped out from between her lips, as she realized she was being silly. Whoever's house this was, she doubted very much that it was a Hobbit.
A warning hoot caught her ear. "Silly bird", she said softly, looking up ahead. "What're you doing there ?". Bright eyes glistened back at her and a claw rose to point down the stairs. "Oh, ok ... I get it", Kay muttered, "time to feed the cat ... some things NEVER change ....".
Grumbling softly to herself, Kay began to navigate the stairs, staring carefully down at her feet so as not to trip over anything that might be there. At least now she'd get a better chance to maybe recognize part of this house.
Danette heard the girl's voice and froze. She looked up at the stairs and the same visions that had driven her this far washed over her. At a loss for words, she waited for the girl to speak.
As Kay approached the bottom of the stairs, she looked around the room. NOW she recognized it. This was Ceroill's kitchen, but where was he ? "Silly cat", she muttered, stepping out into the room and looking for Mairead.