A Pyramid Full of Wolves
Jan 6, 2018 13:12:50 GMT -5
Post by The Legion on Jan 6, 2018 13:12:50 GMT -5
Mumford recovered his decorum (what little he has, anyway) shortly after entering the hall, largely because the hall was empty of moving stone boxes. About a quarter of the way into the hall the young cat pulled up, sat, and started grooming himself like nothing had happened. There was no freak out here, nope. Mumford studiously ignored the other cats and the human who came after, aggressively licking the pyramid dust from his paws and then using the dampened pads to wipe off his whiskers and face. Lick, lick, lick. Nothing to see here, move along.
Alabaster darted into the hall shortly after Mumford, Tinker trotting along just off his flank, and both slowed when they found the young cat grooming himself. The eldest cat stalked over to Mumford and delivered a sound cuff to his ears, causing the kitten to flatten himself against the dusty floor. Alabaster placed one paw firmly on the kitten's head, pressing it against the ground as he hissed in his face. You are incredibly stupid, Alabaster snarled as he removed his paw and gave the kitten another firm smack with his declawed paw. Running off like that could get you killed. Stay close, and behave yourself. Tinker added a soft yowl of agreement, tailtip flickering madly, then the older cats turned their attention to inspecting the room while Mumford muttered protests which were completely ignored by his elders.
Hieroglyphics were studied, statues examined, nooks and crannies explored, and paintings scrutinized. Luna's presence was accepted but largely ignored by the cats - right up until Alabaster realized that there was a door at the end of the hall. Bah. Humans and their doors. Would you check that? he asked Luna, looking from the ranger to the door and back again. It looks too substantial for us to move. With his attention focused on the door, Alabaster missed the cat-headed statue's awareness and activity, too busy pursuing a way onward. When the door opened before Luna could reach it, however, he was looking right at the heavy wood, and went into full battle mode when a mummy passed through. Beware! he shouted, fur puffing out as he hissed in challenge at the mummy, seeking to hold its attention to give his mind-siblings a chance to escape.
Tinker darted over to Mumford's side, shoving the younger (if not much smaller) cat aside through brute force, to herd him out of the path of the lunging mummy. The orange cat and the white cat hugged the wall of the hallway, running past the mummy as he charged - and onward through the doorway, right under the Realm of Gods and Magic Female Faern as the Kal'daka threw fire after the mummy. Thank you! Tinker said to the Kal'daka as they skid to a halt before the altar. Hurry, Boo! she added as she peered back out past the floating wolf, watching Alabaster dodge the mummy - only to have it float right over his head. The eldest cat gave the levitating mummy a confused look, but when additional fireballs thumped into the bandage-wrapped being, the cat shook himself back into action. I'm coming, keep your fur on, he groused as he ran for the door,, avoiding Luna's path so as to not trip her up, and checking over his shoulder to make sure the mummy was not close enough to catch him before he darted through the doorway.
Once all the cats and the ranger were in the room, Alabaster asked Luna, If you would get the door now? She was the only one with hands to properly work the latch bar, after all. Then, Nice work out there, he admitted, though it was not entirely clear if he was addressing Luna or the Faern at that point. He padded over to his mind-siblings, looking them over and dispensing reassuring licks to both of the younger cats while the Ikal'daka siblings argued about their missing brother and the mummies, leaving them to their squabble - and leaving Luna to take the lion's (wolf's?) share of their attention. The wolves had not acted aggressively toward them, and they were familiar with the species, but since the young 'Daka were clearly agitated he was giving them a wide berth. Besides, Tinker was a little frazzled after the mummy's appearance and attack, though she had done well herding Mumford out of harm's way, and she needed some reassurance. Mumford, being of the obnoxiously resilient type, was excited by this turn of events, but knew better than to speak up when Alabaster was in bossy mode. The eldest cat may lack front claws, but fifteen years of experience made up for the missing claws and Mumford was not inclined to get his ears walloped again.
And then something roared, shaking dust all over the place, and the cats all paused, listening intently for any sound of stone slipping loose, doors creaking open, or other new threats that might accompany the vast noise.
Alabaster darted into the hall shortly after Mumford, Tinker trotting along just off his flank, and both slowed when they found the young cat grooming himself. The eldest cat stalked over to Mumford and delivered a sound cuff to his ears, causing the kitten to flatten himself against the dusty floor. Alabaster placed one paw firmly on the kitten's head, pressing it against the ground as he hissed in his face. You are incredibly stupid, Alabaster snarled as he removed his paw and gave the kitten another firm smack with his declawed paw. Running off like that could get you killed. Stay close, and behave yourself. Tinker added a soft yowl of agreement, tailtip flickering madly, then the older cats turned their attention to inspecting the room while Mumford muttered protests which were completely ignored by his elders.
Hieroglyphics were studied, statues examined, nooks and crannies explored, and paintings scrutinized. Luna's presence was accepted but largely ignored by the cats - right up until Alabaster realized that there was a door at the end of the hall. Bah. Humans and their doors. Would you check that? he asked Luna, looking from the ranger to the door and back again. It looks too substantial for us to move. With his attention focused on the door, Alabaster missed the cat-headed statue's awareness and activity, too busy pursuing a way onward. When the door opened before Luna could reach it, however, he was looking right at the heavy wood, and went into full battle mode when a mummy passed through. Beware! he shouted, fur puffing out as he hissed in challenge at the mummy, seeking to hold its attention to give his mind-siblings a chance to escape.
Tinker darted over to Mumford's side, shoving the younger (if not much smaller) cat aside through brute force, to herd him out of the path of the lunging mummy. The orange cat and the white cat hugged the wall of the hallway, running past the mummy as he charged - and onward through the doorway, right under the Realm of Gods and Magic Female Faern as the Kal'daka threw fire after the mummy. Thank you! Tinker said to the Kal'daka as they skid to a halt before the altar. Hurry, Boo! she added as she peered back out past the floating wolf, watching Alabaster dodge the mummy - only to have it float right over his head. The eldest cat gave the levitating mummy a confused look, but when additional fireballs thumped into the bandage-wrapped being, the cat shook himself back into action. I'm coming, keep your fur on, he groused as he ran for the door,, avoiding Luna's path so as to not trip her up, and checking over his shoulder to make sure the mummy was not close enough to catch him before he darted through the doorway.
Once all the cats and the ranger were in the room, Alabaster asked Luna, If you would get the door now? She was the only one with hands to properly work the latch bar, after all. Then, Nice work out there, he admitted, though it was not entirely clear if he was addressing Luna or the Faern at that point. He padded over to his mind-siblings, looking them over and dispensing reassuring licks to both of the younger cats while the Ikal'daka siblings argued about their missing brother and the mummies, leaving them to their squabble - and leaving Luna to take the lion's (wolf's?) share of their attention. The wolves had not acted aggressively toward them, and they were familiar with the species, but since the young 'Daka were clearly agitated he was giving them a wide berth. Besides, Tinker was a little frazzled after the mummy's appearance and attack, though she had done well herding Mumford out of harm's way, and she needed some reassurance. Mumford, being of the obnoxiously resilient type, was excited by this turn of events, but knew better than to speak up when Alabaster was in bossy mode. The eldest cat may lack front claws, but fifteen years of experience made up for the missing claws and Mumford was not inclined to get his ears walloped again.
And then something roared, shaking dust all over the place, and the cats all paused, listening intently for any sound of stone slipping loose, doors creaking open, or other new threats that might accompany the vast noise.