Ceroill had been about to check out on the hoisting arm (where Anwyn had been before). He had just stuck his head into the smallish opening when Anwyn called out. Startled, he thumped his head soundly on the rim of the hole, and sat back hard onto the floor, holding his head. "OWww!", he muttered, then "Mph!", as he sat down unprepared. For a brief moment he muttered to himself in a most ungentlemanly language, which Anwyn would be familliar with if she spent any time in the less savory parts of the Old Town.
A peal of girlish giggles reached his ears. "Way Cool!", came a delighted exclamation, "Multi-cultural cussing ... and a few NEW phrases too ... I gotta remember to look those up ...".
Rubbing his head gently, Ceroill got himself up to one knee, and cast a not terribly friendly look in Anwyn's direction. Of course, he thought to himself, I come looking for her, and she creeps up behind me. Seems typical of the girl.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he calmed himself. She is young, he reminded himself. She is young and female. Of course she is going to be trouble incarnate. At times. At least she hadn't shouted. Be grateful for small mercies.....be grateful for small mercies.
Oberon sent him a muted wave of agreement. Regardless of species, young ones tended to share many of the same attitude characteristics. And since it wasn't reasonable to expect them to behave like adults, tolerance was required.
Anwyn blushed bright red. This didn't look good. Now she was obviously in trouble ... again. Biting her lip nervously, she started petting the kitten (who began to softly purr). It wasn't FAIR ! She'd tried to be quiet, and now he was mad at her anyways.
So she was surprsied when Ceroill DIDN'T yell at her. Instead he said (with somewhat strained patience) "Ah, there you are, lass". He began working his way around and under and over beams and trusses and such, heading carefully in her general direction. "The rest of your party has already gone their separate ways, I am afraid. So, unless there is something you have need of me for, I would be grateful if you would join them. I do not mean to be rude, but this has been a trying day, and I am hardly young. I need some rest, and that means you being on your way." He was trying to say it as nicely as he knew how, but the pain in his head made him more terse and blunt than usual.
Mairead looked up at Ceroill with puzzlement in her eyes. Sometimes humans did things that didn't make much sense, like Brother-Uncle's behaviour now. He had not been properly watchful, and had hurt himself because of it. And now he apparently wanted Mommy's human-kitten to go off off by itself, where it would certainly find even more trouble. Being one herself, Mairead though that she knew everything there was to know about the nature of kittens.
*Brother-Uncle hurt*, Mairead told Oberon, *He sleep -- NOW*. Maybe THAT would fix what was wrong with him. The owl sent back a wave of agreement, along with a suggestion that the kitten should follow her own advice as well. A small feline snicker came in reply. But it was tinged with her continued pleasure at the fact that it had gotten easier for her to talk to him after Mommy-human had found them.
Anwyn just pouted. "I don't NEED anyone ... I can take care of myself ... always HAVE, and always WILL", she insisted indignantly. Surely Kay would be alright later. In some ways, she was like what Anwyn had always secretly wanted in an older sister -- someone who would pay attention to her, teach her useful cool stuff, and NOT treat her like a nuisance (or a baby).
Then she added rather bluntly, "But I didn't want to leave this cute little bundle of fur wandering around alone. And anyways, you look like something that's been dragged through Hell a few times, so I might as well go ahead and get lost ... I'm used to it ...".
Feel quite rather slighted, Anwyn turned and went back down the attic stairs. Being very careful not to wake up either Kay or the hawk, she set Mairead down on the arm of the couch. The kitten observed her two bond-mates closely for a moment. Then she hopped up onto the back of the couch, settled herself down, and began grooming her fur.
Anwyn giggled, then wandered back down the stairs and out the door. Wondering what to do next, she ran over a few possibilities in her mind. But she found herself unable to decide which one to pursue first -- until her stomach growled. By the looks of the sky, it was at least mid-afternoon. That explained why she was hungry. Well then, a food stall first, perhaps.