Herding Cats

Reave

(Narrative: Slice of Life featuring Reave, Tala, & Sarran (Briefly))


A junction of tracks in the Augerweald.
--- Area 47: The Augerweald ------ v23052 --

Tala holds two squirming cats.
You see exits leading northeast, south, and northwest.

Tala shifts the cats in her arms, muttering something under her breath.

You have emoted: Strolling aimlessly and accompanied only by her shadow, Reave casts her gray eyes
in each direction, unable to define her natural compass as the clouds rolled over the sun and
the cold began to settle in. She let her senses turn to sound instead, inhaling deeply as she heard
discernible noises in the background akin to caterwauling... Cats? She turns her head in the
direction of the sound and arches her eyebrows with an incredulous expression, "Well ain't you just
a hazard waiting to happen?" She calls at the young woman in the distance, recognizing her near
instantly, "What'cha wrangling those for? Going to set them on some poor sap?"

Tala's grip on the cats had tightened in an effort to stop their squirming, it only makes the noise
coming from them even worse. Her brows are pinched down in a frown as both arms tighten a fraction
more and concentration seems to be foremost on her mind. She goes to take a step, tilting her head
back to peer in either direction before the words from you cause her to jump and spin around
clutching tightly to her prey. Her violet eyes widen and she glances down at the two cats, "Uhm--"
and then slowly, "--n..no, not let loose."

You have emoted: Reave did not know whether to be fascinated or appalled, but the sight of Tala
grappling with a duo of irate cats was enough to pique her interest. Not reaching out to help
immediately, she stands there content to watch Tala for a few moments longer lest her own skin be
rend asunder by the sharp feline claws, "Not gonna set them loose?" She repeats, unfazed, as she
translates the young woman's broken Aetolian, "What is your plan then? They don't look very content
in your arms."

Tala seems to do well avoiding the flying paws but one catches her across the hand and she hisses,
almost dropping her arm-full of fur. She holds on just at the right time, a soft noise catching in
her throat as she hoists them higher in her arms and violet eyes turn towards you, "U...um.."
There's a pause before she seems to deflate, "Okay, loose them," she finally admits before she tilts
a head down towards the new cat that enters. There's a thoughtful look on her features before she
turns them back to you.

A low meow with simultaneous purring accompanies the entrance of a cat from the northeast.

Tala picks up a tortoiseshell cat.

With a conceited swish of its tail, a black cat saunters in from the northeast.

Tala picks up a sleek black cat.

Cold creeps over your fingers, toes, and ears, settling into your extremities.

You have emoted: Observing Tala scooping up an additional duo, Reave shakes her head as the
spectacle brought exasperated laughter from her lips and her features relax, "Easssyyy there! Are
you a mad woman?!" She squeaks out and steps forward quickly, oustretching her arms as she offers to
help Tala in her ordeal, "I must admit, I haven't found many individuals that create such ruckus for
themselves. Give me one of those gods damned cats before you wreck that skin of yours even more."
Incredibly aware her words were hoarse as if her throat was becoming irritated by the cold, she
attempts to clear it with a soft cough as her tone de-escalates, "Please?"

Tala's body twists lightly as she attempts to hold her bundle of cats, a claw catching across her
cheek before you step forward and the youth is scowling down at the squirming animals. Her violet
eyes flash dangerously at the felines before she huffs a breath and passes over the one who caused
the streak of blood across her cheek. "Yes, okay," she agrees, "Take monster."

You have emoted: Reave pauses as brief respite in silence sweeps over the two women, easily broken
again by the impatient mewling from the rambunctious bundle in Tala's arms. She winces, feeling
mildly sorry for Tala, as a claw extends and paints a tract of red across Hazard's face. A 'I told
you so' expression finds purchase in her gray eyes, but she remains silent, blinking, as a train of
disorganized thoughts halt her own reverie once the 'monster' is thrust suddenly in her direction.
She holds the yeowling, scrambling cat gingerly between her hands and out at an arms distance as she
slants a glare at Tala. "Careful!" She hisses, words biting in mimicry of the cold and mostly upset
her own arms did not obtain one of the more docile quadruplets, "You still have not answered my
question!"

Tala releases the breath she was holding when you take the offending cat from her. She pins the
three remaining cats with a sudden predatory glare, a huff of breath leaving her lungs before she
tilts her head up to look at you again, "Answer. Loose them." There's another hesitation before she
hoists the cats higher, seeming to look around for something to put them in -- a bag maybe? The
squirming almost has her dropping them but she then holds out another one to you, "Take more
monster."

You have emoted: With the grating mewls tearing at her conscience, Reave shivers, nearly losing her
handle on her singular charge only to be met by an additional challenge. Could she perform a circus
act and juggle two? She had come to the Augerweald to avoid such things, but the unspoken wager were
signals she heeded eagerly and her decision was soon made, "Fine, but if you're gonna loose them
eventually, you need to find yourself a sturdy enough cage or even a fecking bag." Irritation
brought about less delicate language as she tries to navigate the situation, "Call for it before I
take the second."

Tala's arms tighten even further around the felines before she turns that wide-eyed violet gaze onto
you. "Who call?" She asks, confusion flitting across her delicate features, hand tightening about
the scruff of the one cat enough to elicit a hiss from cat and girl alike as her own sharp nails dig
in. Her gaze shifts again around them, looking for something to hold her chargers as she shifts from
foot to foot to stave off the cold seeping into her feet.

You tell Gatny, "This might be a strange request, but could you mail me a bag if you have a chance?"

Gatny's psychic whisper trails through your mind, "You want a pack?"

You tell Gatny, "Aye!"

A snowy owl soars towards you, alighting briefly on your shoulder as it drops an elegant white
letter into your hands. With a soft hoot, it takes flight once again, gliding peacefully away.

You tell Gatny, "Thank you!"

Gatny's psychic whisper trails through your mind, "Most welcome."

You have emoted: "Gotta do everything myself, I swear..." Reave mutters darkly, staring off at the
distance, agitation melting into relief as a snowy owl flickers into her line of sight and drops a
package in her arms - nearly knocking the cat out simultaneously, "Can you take this one, while I
open this bag and you can begin to shove the bastards in?" She cranes her curly head, gesturing at
the feral cat which was making quick work of the package with its claws.

You sense that Sarran has placed Tala under his protection.

Tala tilts her head back her attention caught by the rustling of wings as the owl flies into view.
There's a pause as she peers at it and it's package before she looks over to you struggling with the
feral before she moves closer, shifts the bundles in her arms and snags the cat by the scruff of the
neck and lifting it clear of you and the package. Only when you opens the bag does she shove that
one all but head-first into the bag before she's holding out the other.

Sarran shimmers silently into view, hovering protectively over Tala's shoulder. He blinks rapidly a
couple of times, trying to get a good look around at the sudden shift in scenery.

You have emoted: Doubt writing itself across her sharp features, Reave eyes the bag restraining the
maniac felines before she tethers it shut and holds it out towards Sarran with an incredulous stare,
"Are you her help?" She addresses the young man, wincing as she shuffles the struggling bag within
her hands, "Take this. She desires to loose them!"

Sarran makes no move to take the bag, instead looking from you to Tala and back again. A troubled
frown knits his brow as recognition hits. "Tt-t-tala," he says quietly, but urgently, to her. "Th-
that's uh - sshh-sh-she's Ssss-sy-syssin!" It's a warning, and one of Sarran's hands is already
edging toward the hilt of a sword at his hip.

Tala is busy shoving the felines into the bag that you hold and it takes a moment for Sarran's
presence to register. Only when you hold out the bag does she twist to look over her shoulder, her
violet eyes widen at Sarran's urgency and she turns to look at you and then back to Sarran before
she lifts a finger to point at you, "She friend, Sarran," she says, brows tilting down into a frown
even as her fingers reach out for the bag.

Reave curses, nearly dropping the bag as a claw evades the fabric and catches her finger - drawing blood, "I don't give a flying feck what I am, are you gonna take the bag or not!?" She shakes her head dramatically at Tala, "No, you have help. Let -him- do it."

Was. Was a friend. Sarran's expression is deeply conflicted. He doesn't go so far as to draw his
sword, but...He doesn't stand down either. He still makes no move to take the bag. If anything, he
sort of backs up half a step.

You think: I'm gonna drop kick this bastard if he doesn't take this lady's bag.

Tala tilts her head, violet eyes blinking as she stares at Sarran and then at you. The cursing from
you has her attention drawn back to the bag and a rumble leaves her lips, vibrating into the air
around them; the cats still in the bag as if sensing a predator. She tosses a look back to Sarran,
brows furrowing as he takes a step back; she takes a step towards Sarran, confusing flickering
across her delicate features.

Sarran seems relieved when Tala move with him. He relaxes visibly, his hand even shifting back away
from his hilt again. No danger, then, at least not immediate danger. Only then does the youth sort
of frown in confusion. "Wh-what uh...what - are you t-two doing...?" He asks, haltingly. Does he
really want to know?

You have emoted: Reave barely masks her annoyance as the claws leech more precious blood from her
fingers, "She's bagging cats!" Her stare bores into the seemingly spellbound man before she grits
her teeth, eventually hissing out in pain, "Take it!"

Sarran starts a little, and moves automatically to obey - now that he's not on high alert, his
instinct prompts him to comply when given an order. He takes the bag in both hands, then just stands
there with it, at a loss.

Tala watches Sarran before her gaze goes back to you and the bag of felines. There's a moment where
she seems to flash you a smile before she turns a mischievous look onto Sarran. There's a hop over a
branch before she makes her way towards Sarran; a mischievous light brightens her violet eyes, a
lopsided grin on her lips before she answers the two, "Going loose in...public spot."

You have emoted: "Thank you..." Reave murmurs, with little more than a breath left, as her gray gaze
widens in surprise towards Tala, "Why in a public place? Do you know what shambles they'd create of
people?" It was a rather obvious statement, but also simultaneously a verbal relisation, "You truly
are hazard!"

Understanding takes its time in dawning. Sarran isn't the /sharpest/ sword on the rack. He looks
from Tala to the bag of feral cats. Back to Tala. "L-like uh...like...th-the Vebae? Or uh...l-like!
At th-the next ssss-sermon?" He offers, helpfully.

Tala tilts her head towards you, a smile blossoming across her features before she turns and snags
Sarran's arm and then finally his hand to drag the other off, "Or...Roux office?"

Sarran shakes his head quickly, immediately shooting down /that/ idea. "N-nn-n-no way, uh - th-the
Rrr-ro-roux might get h-hurt," he points out, suddenly worried.

Tala nods her head at Sarran, a frown on her lips, "Sermon far away," she says, a questioning look
in her eyes to the other teen.

Tala beckons Sarran to her.

Tala leaves to the northwest.

(Scene fade - leaving a VERY bewildered Reave)