define('WP_CACHE', true); {"id":101,"date":"2009-03-16T21:50:38","date_gmt":"2009-03-17T05:50:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/?p=101"},"modified":"2012-06-28T21:58:11","modified_gmt":"2012-06-29T05:58:11","slug":"chapter-11-unwelcome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crossed-paths.com\/logs\/archives\/101","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 11: Unwelcome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 11: Unwelcome<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em><\/strong>In Which A Mouse Tries To Block The Pair\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Path.<\/em><\/p>\n

———————————————————————————————<\/span>
\nArrin says: He leads her through the cave. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So back to the house? Or to the gold?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: The ferret shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know which way to go for either anyway.\u00c2\u00a0 Though I suppose, since we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re here\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin says: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Alright, just tell me when we get to the fork in the path again.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Catamount says: Jozra nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Okay.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He continues leading the way through the tunnel, giving a slight shiver once and a while.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Now and again, Jozra rearranges the damp clothes in her hands, trying to keep the wet parts exposed to the air and the dryer parts near her paws.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins towards her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know about you, but after all this I could go for a dip in that hot spring\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret laughs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aye, that would be wonderful.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And a nap on those rocks\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra nods exuberantly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And a hot lunch to go with it\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And a nice warm drink\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: She squeezes her eyes shut for a second. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 This conversation is making me hungry but I feel warmer anyway.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all in your head, think warm thoughts.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra sighs and then pricks her ears. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s that up ahead? Something seems to be glowing a bit\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns and thinks. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t remember anything glowing\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 Hello?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret peers ahead, trying to bring it into focus. Her paws stray instinctively to her tiny, concealed throwing knives.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grips his staff and calls forward towards the glow. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Hello?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s eyes widen as the glow moves, yet makes no noise.\u00c2\u00a0 She puts a slightly restraining paw on Soquan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulder. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s there?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He stops as Jozra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s paw grips his shoulder and perks his ears up, listening.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret listens hard but hears nothing. The light, on the other hand, wavers a little.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He steps forward a bit. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Is anyone there?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra stoops and fumbles around in the darkness for a pebble.\u00c2\u00a0 She finds one, stands and throws it in the general direction of the light.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He stops as he hears the pebble whoosh by, waiting.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The pair are rewarded by the clink of the pebble against a wall, the echo of said pebble striking wall, and a startled gasp from a third beast.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns and waits.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret moves her paw to the hilt of her long dagger. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Oy! We know you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re there, who are you?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He crouches, ready to spring.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The sound of someone shuffling greets their ears as the light fades slightly.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He turns towards her. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Should we follow?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret sets her jaw. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yep. Too curious not to.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She walks towards the light cautiously.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He does also.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The two soon approach a bend.\u00c2\u00a0 The ferret slows a bit and peeks around the corner. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Gah!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d She jumps back, temporarily blinded by the brightness of the light.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He steps ahead of her, staff ready.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse in the side tunnel squeaks frantically. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Please don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t hurt me!!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We mean no harm\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra paws at her eyes trying to clear the floaties away. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who is it?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He tests the air. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153By the smell if it, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a mouse.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse shivers and looks at the otter imploringly. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Keep her away from me!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Wodgreen: He chuckles. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Who? Jozra? Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t worry, her bark is much worse than her bite.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He nudges her a bit. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t that right?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret tries to grin as genuinely as possible.\u00c2\u00a0 She has more success in saying in a chipper voice. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yep!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He grins and throws an arm around Jozra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s shoulders, waiting for the mouse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s response.<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse glances fearfully between the two mustilids. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 what do you want?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were traveling through the tunnels when she saw your light. We got curious.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret nods. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We were rather surprised to see a light and decided it was best to investigate. Just in case, you know\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: The otter nods as well. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yeah.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The rodent seems to grow a little bolder now. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 well okay then.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He narrows his eyes. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are you doing here<\/em>, though?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What do you mean by here<\/em>?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse gestures around impatiently. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Here! In the cave!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re exploring, I used to come in here when I was younger, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m just showing my friend around.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Jozra nods eagerly. The mouse continues to frown. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Well, I would thank you not to come down this tunnel.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He turns and walks away in a huff.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153And why not? This isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t private property.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse stops and walks back towards the pair. He takes care not to approach to within reach, though. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153THIS tunnel is.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He frowns. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t remember it being private, and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m pretty sure of what you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re hiding.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Further down the tunnel, a slight clanking sound can be heard. The mouse\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ears flatten against his skull for a second before replying, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It is now.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jozra cocks her head and tries to peer past the blinding lantern light.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He gives a low growl. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Look, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be in and out, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a passage off of that tunnel that leads somewhere I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m looking for.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The ferret glances at Soquan, slightly surprised at the growl. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We won\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be long.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The mouse, on the other hand, seems to stand more firmly in the middle of the path.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He stands up to his full height. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Let\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 us\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 pass\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: The mouse begins to quiver again. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153No\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He takes a step forward. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153What are you going to do if we pass?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: Unexpectedly, the mouse breaks into a run and sprints down the corridor yelling his head off. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Intruders! Intruders!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Jozra stares after the mouse. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Err\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t expecting that.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He seems startled and his ears perk up, staff ready. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re about to have more company\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Yazeth: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It would seem so.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The ferret replies as the sound of many running feet begins to become apparent.<\/p>\n

Arrin Woodgreen: He stands beside her, waiting for the inevitable group of beasts coming.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 11: Unwelcome In Which A Mouse Tries To Block The Pair\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Path. ——————————————————————————————— Arrin says: He leads her through the cave. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153So back to the house? Or to the gold?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Catamount says: The ferret shrugs. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know which way to go for either anyway.\u00c2\u00a0 Though I suppose, since we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re here\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Arrin says: He … <\/p>\n