Pawtuxet approaches the entrance to the temple, not quite happy with the situation. She has absolutely no idea why she was summoned, for reasons good or bad, only that the request had to be respected.

She pauses momentarily by the treshold, before stepping inside the stone walls.

Inside the temple, things are unusually busy. The recent outbreak of war has made even the seemingly stolid temple abuzz with activity. Temple scouts run, not walk, down corridors, and even Savanites seem to be less careful in their manners.

Pawtuxet makes her way down the crowded corridors, as her size repeatedly requires her to step out of the path of a hasting temple executive.

Finally, Pawtuxet reaches the office that she was directed to. A ornate sign on the door reads "Office of Review.", with a long list of names following in tiny script.

Pawtuxet stops in front of the door, halfway blocking the corridor as she studies the list underneath the sign. Mostly to put off her actually opening it. Wondering if these names, of which some appear familiar, should mean more to her, she gently raps her knuckles on the surface.

The names indeed appear familiar- some of them belonging to the most illustrious families of Rephidim. Others are more inscrutable… after a moment, a Savanite servant opens the door. After a polite gesture of greeting, he motions for Pawtuxet to follow him, striding swiftly past a desk and down a corridor.

Pawtuxet takes a small step backwards as the door is opened. She smiles and nods to the Savanite, then follows his lead through this new corridor.

After a short walk past a number of doors and offices, the Savanite reaches… nothing. The end of the hallway terminates abruptly with no continuation.

And the cheetah… jumps upwards?

As the cheetah reaches the ceiling, his fist *slams* into a tile… which shoots upwards. Hissing sounds begin to come from the end of the corridor… and a grinding noise begins… The Savanite lands nimbly, and stands at the corridor's side.

Pawtuxet abruptly stops by the sudden commotion from the Savanite, following his action closely to the point of where he's back on the ground, then studies him curiously, wondering what that was all about. She turns her head towards the noise.

The end of the corridor… lowers, with a whirring and grinding noise that grates on Pawtuxet's ears… the Savanite apparently is able to ignore the sound, and simply waits calmly. In about a minute, the stone wall at the end of the corridor has sunk into the floor, revealing an office inside…

Flattening her ears firmly, Pawtuxet watches as the concealed office gradually appears. Despite the unpleasant noise, she is able to replace some of her suspecion with curiousity.

At a desk inside, a very old-looking Rath'ani sits, her fur grayed with age and with thick spectacles over her eyes. "Well, come in, it'un, what are you waiting for?", she says in a lively though slightly creaky voice, glancing at Pawtuxet.

Pawtuxet involuntarily shakes her head, as she tries to cast off the ringing in her ears from the noisy installation. She carefullt steps into the office and nods to the Rath'ani as she stands by her desk. "Um… I'm Pawtuxet. I believe I was summoned here."

The Rath'ani smiles up. "Of course you were. And knowing those waashu-brained ninnies, they didn't tell you why, did they?", she says, adjusting her glasses a bit.

Pawtuxet grins slightly as she shakes her head, confirming the accurate statement, "No, I was just asked to show up here today." She relaxes somewhat, growing increasingly certain that whatever her reasons for being here are, they are less likely to be negative.

The raccoon taps a finger idly on a long, thin paperweight- made apparently of gold plated wood. "It has to do with a bit of a problem we've had, it'un. Little Rephidim West is quite vital to our current operations, but there's still a lot of area there covered with that substance. And without a detailed inquiry into the matter, we won't find out for an Aeonian's age."

Pawtuxet's ears turn upwards, revealing her recognition of the matter. "I see," she nods, "I accompanied the investigation party that found the paquebot, but we found nothing which could explain what had happened."

Pawtuxet adds after a moment's thought, "As far as I'm aware."

The Rath'ani nods… "This office has reviewd the ship's log, and all the crew we could find. But you, a Savanite, and a Kavi who we only know as 'The Waashu Biter' were the first ones in. And you three also found those young cubs… poor dears, they were so frightened, they still won't talk about it."

She taps a finger on the sheets. "And there still is, as I said, much area yet on Little Rephidim West yet to be searched through."

Pawtuxet raises a brow, "The Waashu Biter? Yech, he must have gained that title after our last encounter. Or he just didn't mention it." She brightens up as she remembers the cubs, then looks at the Rath'ani, "Is that why I was summoned? To resume investigation of Little Rephidim West?"

"Precisely said.", the old one states with a smile. "We would like you to be part of the Inquiry team, traveling back there. You'll be paid fairly for your work, and given funds for needed supplies. In return, we expect an accrate and complete written report of all your findings… and depending on how complete it is judged, perhaps future… considerations." She picks up a quill, dipping it in an inkwell. "But you were saying you knew the Kavi by another alias?"

Pawtuxet says, "I've only met the kavi twice… and I don't think he ever did tell me his name. It might be the Waashu Biter, but that sounds more like a title to me." She sits down on her haunches, curling her black fwuffy tail along her side, "Anyhow, I would very much like to be part of the team. What happened on the paquebot was a total mystery to me, and I welcome the opportunity of further investigation. Also, I find your terms fair and, ofcourse, agree to them," she notes with a slight smile.

The old raccoon sets her quill down. "A shame… this office has been searching for him a while. We're unsure at this point why he was even on the ship… some records here say he was processed, but Melchizedek's off beyond where we can contact him, and now with the war… what a pile of Vermite droppings this whole mess is.", she says in semi-muttering tones. "Wouldn't know why the ninny would try to process a Kavi in the first place… "

The Rath'ani hands Pawtuxet a thin sheaf of papers. "Glad to have you on the inquiry, it'un. Read these and come back next week, hmm? And Reppi out in the hall can give you your advance pay."

Pawtuxet accepts the papers with a slight nod, "I'm always ready when unknown factors have to be revealed." She begins turning towards the entrance, then reconsiders, "If I meet the kavi again, would you like me to tell him you're searching for him?"

"Oh yes, it'un! Tell him to come to the Office of Review, and to see Venerable Officer Nuttenboltschen. It would be *so* appreciated if you could find him.", she says with a slightly unnerving smile, and turns back to her paperwork.

Pawtuxet rolls up the papers and places them in one of her bags, then looks back at the Rath'ani who's already busy with something else, "Very well then, I shall. Good day officer." She turns and leaves the office.

The Officer calls out, "Good day… " as Pawtuxet departs into the hallway, brushing past the Savanite who's been waiting there the whole time. As the fox'tauress clears the door, the Savanite *stamps* on a floor tile, causing the grinding and whirring to begin again and the door to slide back up…

Pawtuxet grimaces as the earshredding noise starts anew. Tugging down on her ears as a visual compaint, she looks to the Savanite, wondering how he can stand it.

The noise subsides as the ground returns to its initial level with a deep thump, after which Pawtuxet nods to the Savanite, before making her way back through the corridors and eventually to the outside.