by Arcaii » Sun Dec 13, 2015 7:39 am
Choices:
1: First, left
2: Second, left
3: Second, right
4: Second, right
5: Second, left
6: First, right
7: First, right
Roll says... 5: Second, left.
You wait until the pattering of feet fades away a little before ducking through the space between the steps and heading up to the second floor, turning left. It's definitely less populated - you hear more kittens squealing downstairs, and there's maybe two or three mollies sitting outside of the rooms with open doors. You sit against the wall and shut your eyes, turning your ears to listen in.
The first three doors closest to you have a babble of unfamiliar voices. The middle one has a queen or two coaxing someone who's apparently nervous, judging by the gentle, soothing tone they're using. The other two just have young cats chatting about inanities that only those who don't have to forage for themselves would worry about. You scoot along the wall, opening one eye to make sure no one sees you.
"...sh they'd let me go out and hunt or something, is all."
You freeze.
"It's for your safety, honey," someone older says. "Those dogs-"
"I don't care about the dogs," Thimble says. "It's everything else that worries me. Everyone else."
"It's rather nice here, for us," the other molly says. She has a loud, almost whiny voice, even though she's very obviously trying to be quiet. "The guards here have taken a shine to you, you know."
"I just ate," Thimble says. "Don't talk about them."
You peer around the doorframe. Thimble is with a short black cat, who's reclining on a rotting pillow. Thimble herself has just stood up and is heading for the door, with her head turned back to look at the molly. You pull your head back quickly.
"Sorry, but it's true," the cat says. She isn't facing your way. "If you just talked to them-"
"I'd rather talk with the dogs," Thimble says curtly, stepping through the door.
"Frankly," you say quietly. "So would I."
Thimble jolts and flinches at the same time, whipping her head around before noticing that you're right next to her. Her face is stretched comically, eyes bulging and mouth almost hitting the floor.
You grin.
She gapes at you for a moment. Then she darts a look at the other cat, who's still turned away, and looks back to you. She gestures with her tail and trots quickly down the hall. You follow her, watching behind you for witnesses.
She leads you into an empty room at the very end of the floor, walking past the second bed and moving behind it in the corner. Then she promptly turns around and leans into you with a half-tackle, half-hug that would send you to the ground if she wasn't holding on.
"You're okay," she says. Her voice and body are shaking. "Heaven above, you're okay."
You simply don't have it in you to make a remark. You just lean into her back and sit in silence. You're shaking a little, too.