The coach-ride through the Sylvanian wilderness was quite peaceful for most of the journey. The dappled sunlight passing through the leaves of giant trees had an almost hypnotically soothing effect, especially when the canopy stretched across the road to give the impression of travelling through a giant green tunnel.

No monsters lunged from the woods to attack the coach, and no armored Gallisians materialized to demand tolls. Blarf the Titanian dozed off early, still gnawing on his bone, and even Muffy proved that she possessed eyelids by napping as well. It was impossible to tell whether the mysterious Lady Viel was awake or asleep, since she never moved or made any noise, and her servant looked perpetually sleepy in any case. Only Dr. Twig, the Sylvanian Eeee, remained alert and affable throughout the journey.

"So you see," Dr. Twig explains to Tulani, with the occasional pat on the knee for emphasis, "it's weally not necessawy to wesot to messy old necwomancy to weanimate the dead." He's been going on about his experiments in non-magical resurrection for what seems like hours now, and very little of it makes any sense.

"So, uh, say this guy e's got his 'ead hacked off. So wha're gunna do then?" inquires Arkold, the smaller of the two lupines riding the coach. "I mean, if yer gunna sew it on, then you better use some fine material, and yer gunna have problems with flexibility."

Tulani nods politely to the doctor, suppressing a yawn, much calmer knowing that he is only interested in experiments of the non-magical sort and thinking brightly to herself, "It's not like you could actually resurrect someone without magic."

"Ah, a good question," Twig replies, turning his attention towards Arkold. "Surgewy would be wequired, natuwally, to weconnect the muscles and plumbing. A Life Mage may need to do that though. I've had some success with bits, however, but they don't last long without a body."

The wolf nods solemnly. "Yeah," he says understandingly, "I've had some run-ins with bits without a body an, eh, they don't last long. It's just flop-flop-flop and the show's over."

The Sylvanian Sphynx actually manages to only shudder slightly at the mention of decapitated heads, and turns her stare past the Eeee, and out the window, asking as she turns, "And you've been trying all this without magical aid, Dr. Twig?"

"Tell me about it!" the Eeee sympathizes. "And then you have pickle-bwine all over the place! But at least the parts don't explode anymowe, I've solved that pwoblem." He turns his fangy smile on Tulani then, and asks her, "Want to see one of my expewimental subjects?"

Arkold leans over and nudges Tulani in the shoulder. "'Eh, go on. It'll be fun."

Eyes widening at the prospect, Tulani swallows, prepared to hold down her stomach before politely responding, "A-alright."

"You'll wuv him!" Twig enthuses, and opens up his large doctor's bag. He rummages around in it for a moment, then pulls out a rather limp looking tree-lizard, the sort that can move its eyes independently of eachother. It doesn't appear very lively, and has metal studs stuck in its skull and along its spine. "I call him Oscaw," the Eeee proclaims, and holds the thing out towards Tulani.

Tulani takes the lizard rather nervously in her hand, since it doesn't appear very dangerous. It's actually almost… cute?

Oscar focuses both eyes on the Sphynx's face for a moment, then licks one of them clean with a thick blue tongue.

"'Ey if you're up on studyin' sewin' things tha' shouldn't be together, uh, together you might be thinkin' abou' takin a trip to Ashtoreth an' askin' to see their splicin' houses. Don' much care for it myself, min' you, but I've had more than one doctor patch me up. So I'm up to contributin' when I can," the Jupani suggests.

"Would you believe Oscaw has been wevived from death ten times now?" Dr. Twig asks, sounding proud. At Arkold's comment, however, the bat frowns. "Sewing… bits of different things together? I haven't gotten to that stage yet in my expewiments. Twansplanting organs and such is twicky work."

"Eh," is Arkold's response to this, "guess tha's why I'm a mercenary an' no' a doctor." The wolf gives a good-natured chuckle.

The behavior of the lizard doesn't particularly disturb the Sphynx as she's seen lizards before, but her eyes get a little big at the Doctor's comment. She holds the lizard a little closer to her face, looking it over intently, while muttering to herself, "Ten… times?"

"Yes, lizawds are vewy wugged," Twig explains to Tulani. "When it gets cold in wintah, many types pwactically shut down theah bodies, then come to full life again in the spwing. I haven't quite gotten the same wesults yet with mammals."

Oscar's eyes spin and twitch in different directions, and he is definitely breathing. Not zombie-like at all.

The lupine gives a vaguely interested nod as he glances around the cabin. When his eyes turn to glance at Lady Veil he subtly leans towards her and narrows his eyes, peering at her curiously.

Just a small amount of light penetrates the Lady's dark veil from the opposite window, but there is the suggestion of a flat-faced profile.

Tulani strokes a finger across Oscars spine, feeling the studs in his back before holding him back out to the doctor, and commenting, "That's incredible!" Looking questioningly in Arkold's direction, she follows his gaze to the veiled woman.

The light outside the coach is beginning to dim, despite it being early in the afternoon. The glance outside reveals the cause: dark storm-clouds rolling in from the West. The rumble of distant thunder can also be heard now, and a tiny spark leaps between two of Oscar's electrodes at nearly the same moment.

Dr. Twig quickly stashes Oscar back into a glass jar, and takes a moment to secure the rubber seal. "He doesn't like storms," the Eeee comments once the lizard is secured.

Arkold's ears perk at the thunder, but he seems too preoccupied with trying to get a look at Lady Veil to show much interest in anything else.

"It really isn't polite to stare," comes a whisper-thin voice from behind the dark veil.

"Oh! 'Eh." The wolf draws back as if someone slapped him. "I wus, jus', makin' sure you did'nt, uh, croak on us, m'lady. Would'nt wan' the good doctor to 'ave to revive anyone. Ha ha … ha?" The Jupani gives his most winning smile, tail wagging a bit.

Tulani starts slightly at the unexpected voice from behind the veil, while smiling a little at Arkold's discomfort.

The seated figure of Lady Veil still hasn't moved a bit, and her voice didn't even disturb the heavy veil. "Your concern is noted," she whispers.

The wolf offers a clumsy salute. "Uh. Glad to be 'o service, m'lady. Terribly sorry if it seemed, ah, rude, I was jus' … er … " He nods his head politely as he trails off and turns to look out of the window opposite Lady Veil.

Another rumble of thunder rolls through the air, and the coach begins to speed up. A panel over Tulani's head slides open, and one of the drivers looks into the compartment. "Eh, gonna try to get to the roadhouse afore the storm hits," he informs the passengers.

Arkold mumbles an inaudible response to this announcement.

Tulani nods politely to the driver before turning to the Veiled Lady's footman to gauge his reaction to the minor commotion caused by Arkold's staring.

The extra speed results in extra jostling as the wheels hit bumps and potholes along the road. While it doesn't do much to stir the sleeping Titanian, it's sufficient to rouse Muffy, who blinks her large eyes several times before asking, "Are we there yet?" Lady Veil's Gallee footman just continues to stare at a point immediately in front of his nose, as he has done for the bulk of the ride so far.

Turning politely to the sleepy Muffy Tulani smiles brightly. "Not yet. We're trying to get to a spot to wait out the rain," she says, before pausing to yawn herself.

"I like the rain," Muffy says, in that odd monotone voice of hers, and turns to look out of the window. A few flashes of lightning reflect in her eyes, and the thunder soon follows.

The rain is falling in force now, and the coach has to pull up nearly to the front door of the main building to provide some cover for its passengers. The compound is lit by covered lanterns, but they seem inconsequential compared to the nearly constant flashes of lightning. "Everyone out!" a coachman hollers over the thunder as he throws open the door. "We'll bring in yer stuff!"

"'Ey, Muff, need some 'elp there? Can' 'ave a little girl sloshin' through the rain," offers the Jupani man as he leans forward to get the door.

The Khatta kitten nods to Arkold. The light clothing she wears is clearly unsuited to the weather. Lady Veil's footman is already pulling down bags from the overhead storage.

Tulani waits for Blarf to exit, before stepping out of the coach, stretching her legs vigorously and pausing to look at the forbidding buildings, not too bothered as these things are fairly common in Sylvania. She reaches a hand back to see if anyone else needs help out.

"Right then. I'm used to water, anyhow." With a bit of struggling to get past the other passengers, Arkold opens the other door and climbs out. Once he's down he holds arms out to Muffy. "C'mere short stuff."

"Thank you, young lady," says Dr. Twig, as he accepts Tulani's hand. His other arm is clutching his leather valise too tightly to be of use if he should slip. Muffy exits from the opposite door into Arkold's waiting arms.

Lady Veil is no longer in the coach, but neither Arkold nor Tulani can recall actually seeing her leave.

The black Sphynx helps the Doctor down before heading towards the gate, smiling slightly as she watches Arkold help Muffy down.

The smaller lupine carefully takes the girl in both arms and shrugs his greatcoat forward as he leans forward to shield her from the rain. As he takes one last look at the cabin through his dangly and soggy blonde hair he notes Lady Veil's departure with a grunt of "huh," and then he's walking around the coach towards the entrance of the roadhouse.

Once indoors, the passengers find themselves in a large common room not unlike a tavern, with long tables and benches between a roaring fireplace on one side and a bar on the other. Stairs along the back wall lead up to the second floor of the building. There are already several groups of people inside, from other coaches – including a group of cloaked Gallisians that keep to themselves off in one corner.

"Betty!" bellows the still not-quite-awake looking Blarf. "Betty! Blarf here!" The noise makes Dr. Twig cringe, and the Eeee quickly seeks refuge near the fire.

Arkold puts the girl down once they're inside and then he reaches up to run a soggy hand through his equally soggy hair as he looks around. "'Ey! Fire, beer, an' comfort. I never ge' tired of the sight of a tavern in a storm," he comments.

Careful not to whap anyone in the head, Tulani stretches her damp wings. Walking over to Arkold and Muffy, she bends down to the young girl and asks, "Would you like a drink?"

"'Ey, not goin' to ask me if I wan' a drink? 'Cause I do," quips the Jupani to Tulani as he walks around her. "I'm gunna see abou' our rooms. Go an' get us a table, eh, scout?"

"Stupid husband shut up!" bellows another Titanian voice from the kitchen area behind the bar. It's followed by a large female wolf, who embraces Blarf in a hold that seems anything but affectionate, especially when the two Titanians begin pummeling eachother on the back.

"I like milk," Muffy informs Tulani, paying no mind to the noisy wolves nearby.

Near the stairs, one of the rain-soaked coachmen is talking to a bored looking Rhian wearing a similar uniform, only dry, who is armed with a clipboard and pencil.

Ears twitching at the antics of the Titanians, the Sylvanian Sphynx rolls her eyes in Arkold's general direction before nodding to the kitten. She heads to the bar, where she picks up a mug of milk, which she hands to Muffy, and two filled with beer which she takes over to a table near the fire, motioning to Muffy to join her.

Dr. Twig quickly joins the two girls. "Quite the cwowd tonight, eh? Good thing room and boawad are incwuded in the tickets," he says, setting his bag on the table. Oscar (presumably) can be heard rattling around inside.

Arkold (who takes a wide berth around the Titanians least he be accidentally drawn in to the hug) meanwhile makes his way over to the Rhian with the clipboard. "Gunna need a few rooms," he informs the horse. "Prolly one for me an' two beds for the girls o'er there." He gestures in Tulani and Muffy's direction.

"They're with our group," the coachman tells the Rhian. "Standard fare."

"Heh, really?" The wolf's ears perk as he realizes something. "Then I don' have to pay for this trip much at all, eh? 'Ey, Sylvania is lookin' better all the time." And with that he turns to walk over and join the girls at their table.

Tulani nods to Arkold as he joins the table, handing him his beer and saying to no one in particular, "I'd hate to be caught outside tonight."

The wolf returns the nod. "Eh this ain't nothin'," he relates. "When I was on Ashtoreth we 'ad storms to make the sea turn upside down, an' whirlpools that could drink a city."

The equine makes a grunt, and marks something down on his clipboard. "Standard bunkroom's upstairs, lavy at the end of the hall. Got one private room left, but that costs extra," he informs Arkold and the others as he pauses by their table. "You're all on Route 1, in case you didn't know."

Muffy's eyes turn on Arkold as he talks about Ashtoreth. "I don't care for weather this wough myself," Dr. Twig puts in.

"Guess I'm not gettin' away without payin' after all. 'Ow much is the private room? I can take a bunk, too, heh, jus' wouldn' be right to keep it myself. Does the private room 'ave multiple beds?" To the doctor the wolf says, "S'not so bad when yer on a boat. Makes some sick, heh, bu' that's part of the fun."

Tulani turns to the others at the table, smiles slightly, and says, "Arkold's been just about everywhere. Haven't you Arkold?"

"Two beds in the private room," the Rhian replies. "40 shekels for the night, 60 for meals brought to the room."

The wolf looks up to the Rhian again. "I'll pay the private room for Muffy an' Tulani there. Bu' if they be wantin' delivery they're footin' it themselves," the man says. He digs in to his coin pouch and pays the Rhian. "I'll take a bunk. Somethin' else I'm used to." He then faces the others at his table and makes an expansive gesture. "No' everywhere, bu' it sure feels like it sometimes. Been to Ashtoreth, the bottom 'o the sea, Abu Dhabi an' Gateway. Rephidim. Bunch 'o places in between. Darkside … "

Smiling, the Sylvanian Sphynx pauses to give Arkold a quick hug around the shoulders, quietly expressing her thanks to the Jupani.

The Rhian hands over a wooden key to Arkold. "Please turn the key in at breakfast," he says, then moves on to the next table.

"Thank you, Mr. Arkold," Muffy says quietly.

The wolf's ears go all akimbo at the hug. "'Ey, 'ey, none of that mushy stuff. Don' worry about it you two." He actually looks vaguely embarrassed as he grabs the key and pushes it into Tulani's hand.

"Ah, chivalwee is not dead," Twig says, then glances towards the corner table full of Gallisians. "At weast, not the pwopaw kind of chivalwee."

Arkold follows the bat's gaze. "Hey, Gallisians. You can tell by the cut of their clothes if no' by their looks. Don' recognize the fashion though. Used to be up on it. Hard to keep clean in a war, though, uh … Hey! Don' Sylvanians 'ave a thing against them anyway? Bu' you jus' let 'em use yer roadhouses?"

Tulani happily places the key in a pocket, before pointing out the extra beer mug to Arkold. At the new comments she turns to look across at the Gallisians' table, eyes narrowing slightly, and ears perking forward.

"It is unlawful for a woadhouse to turn away twavellers," Dr. Twig informs Arkold. "So wong as they awe not invading."

Indeed, the Gallisians look more like merchants than Chevaliers. They don't even appear to carry any visible weapons.

"Hey! Beer." The wolf scoops up his glass and begins on it. He gives Tulani a grateful grin between guzzles. Then he nods to the Doctor. "Guess it can' be 'elped. Some nerve though. Bu' I guess they ain't soliders so … " He trails off as he has another sip.

"I have a stuffed poodle," Muffy says. "The fur is soft."

Still looking towards the poodles, Tulani sits, taking up her own beer mug and wondering to herself what they could be doing here, almost missing Muffy's comment.

The wolf glances down at the little girl. "Tha' so? I remember the shops in the Noble Quarter, wha' with their fancy dolls. Bet you'd like 'em."

A nearby peal of thunder rattles the roof, and shouting in the kitchen breaks the silence that follows. "Dinner almost ready!" bellows the she-wolf Titanian. Blarf may be back there with her, because he certainly isn't out in the main room.

"I didn't say it was a doll," Muffy tells Arkold, staring at him with those oversized eyes.

The wolf pauses mid-sip, his beer mug hanging from his muzzle. He glances at the little girl and then to Tulani to see if the Sphynx heard that.

"Ah, dinnah!" exclaims Dr. Twig. Standing up, he says, "Excuse me, but I should go make awangements with the chef." On his way to the kitchen, he pauses to let the Gallee footman of Lady Veil precede him, the attendant having just come down the stairs.

Tulani jerks at the kitten's comment, looking at her a bit more cautiously, before glancing nervously to Arkold.

While the adults are glancing at eachother, the kitten grabs Dr. Twig's bag and opens it up. "There was something moving in here," Muffy says, by way of excuse.

Arkold gives Tulani a nervous shrug before he puts his beer mug down and reaches over to ruffle the kitten's hair up. "Kids these days. Always makin' jokes," he offers lightly.

The Sphynx immediately moves to remove the open bag from the little girl's hands, saying, "Dr. Twig keeps a pet lizard in there," before going into a short speech about not opening things belonging to other people.

Muffy makes an agitated 'mew' sound at the ruffling, and almost pouts as the bag is taken away. After the lecture, she asks, "May I see the lizard, please?"

Tulani pauses thoughtfully for a moment as she closes the bag and sets it on the Eeee's seat, before responding, "I don't know, you'll have to ask Dr. Twig when he gets back."

Arkold watches the exchange between the white kitten and the young Sphynx with a strange expression on his face. He frowns, brow furrowed as if he were thinking about something.

As if on cue, the bat returns to the table carrying a large black sausage. "It looks like dinnah will be stew tonight," he reports as he retakes his seat. "And I bewieve my ears are buhning," he adds, grinning at Tulani and Muffy.

Tulani coughs lightly and gestures towards the kitten, explaining, "She wanted to have a look at Oscar, Dr. Twig."

"Please?" Muffy adds, although without the attempt at sincerity young children are usually able to fake.

The wolf's frown breaks in to a thin grin. "Never good to talk abou' an Eeee behind 'is back," he remarks.

"Well, I suppose it's time to feed him anyway," the Eeee says, setting down his sausage. He reaches into the valise and pulls out a smaller jar first, one filled with various bugs, and sets it on the table before reaching in for the larger jar. "Oh bothah," he says as he retrieves the larger jar. Inside are a twig and some leaves, but no sign of Oscar. "He has escaped again, the wascal!"

"Heh, really? 'Es faster than I'd 'ave given him credit for," says the Jupani. He has another sip of beer and returns to grinning.

Smiling slightly, Tulani begins looking under the table and on the legs of it and her chair – anywhere a lizard might have liked to climb. "Do you think he's loose in here or did he get away outside?" she asks.

"He must have wanted to be cwoser to the fwames," Twig says, putting down the jar and looking towards the fireplace. "Could you help me catch him? Storms make him fwisky."

Arkold glances at the Sphynx. "What do you say Tulani, up fer a critter 'unt?"

Grinning at Arkold, the Sylvanian Sphynx stands and begins heading towards the fireplace, looking under chairs and watching the floor as she goes.

The wolf pushes himself up from his chair and makes his way towards the fire to check.

Arkold stands around the fireplace, looking this way and that. He sets his jaw as it becomes increasingly obvious he can't seem to locate what he's looking for. Eventually he just drops on his haunches and holds the palms of his hands to the flame for warmth.

Tulani frowns for a moment before spotting a bit of movement on the outer stones of the fireplace, remembering how some lizards know how to camouflage themselves. She creeps quietly forward, before flashing her arm out to grab something next to one of Arkold's feet.

The disguised lizard finds itself in the clutches of the nimble Sphynx, and its thrashing about gives Arkold enough warning to move away before a miniature lightning bolt zaps out from the stud on Oscar's head to burn a little hole in the floor right where the Jupani's foot had just been resting.

"Oh! Gwoves!" Dr. Twig yelps, and returns to his bag to get out a pair of rubber gloves. "Keep him away fwom metal!" he calls back in warning.

The Jupani backs away from the lightning-spewing critter and bumps into a table behind him. "Woah, don't see tha'a very often. Good catch there Tulani," he breathes.

Grinning victoriously, Tulani holds the lizard out at arm's length, careful to avoid bringing it close to anything metallic.

"Fresh!" yelps the Rath'ani woman whose tail Arkold brushed past. She leaps up onto her seat, momentarily obscuring the Jupani's vision with a tangle of petticoats.

Another bolt of electricity jumps from Oscar's head to a stud on his tail, arcing cleanly over the back of Tulani's hand and causing the fur to puff up.

The wolf blinks in surprise as skirts suddenly cloud his vision. "'Es no' really fresh, 'es more like refried really. An' yer blockin' me view ma'am," Arkold comments distractedly as he tries to get up.

Clad in protective rubber gloves, Dr. Twig returns and holds his hands out for the lizard. "Be caweful of the wiggling," the Eeee cautions.

The black Sphynx yips at the electric arc, before peering curiously at the studs on the lizard's back and, keeping a tight hold on him, delivering him into the Eeee's hands.

Several people at the Rath'ani lady's table chuckle as she continues to dance about hysterically, accidentally stepping on Arkold's head a few times before she calms down. Dr. Twig carries Oscar to the table and places him back in his jar. A parting zap from the lizard blows the Eeee's dark glasses off his nose, but otherwise causes no more damage.

"Does he bite?" Muffy asks Twig.

Quickly reaching down to pick up the fallen glasses, Tulani then hands them to the Eeee, suddenly remembering his eyes on the coach.

Arkold finally manages to scramble to his feet. After giving a rather speedy apology to the table lest he have to remain any longer, he makes his way back to his seat. He rubs his head as he goes muttering about being, "Too old for this."

"Ah, thank you again, Miss Tulani," the bat says, perching the glasses back onto his muzzle before removing the rubber gloves. "And yes, sometimes Oscaw can be a bit gwouchy, Miss Muffy," he tells the kitten.

Tulani listens to the Jupani mutter for a moment, before sighing and handing him her almost untouched mug of beer.

The wolf accepts the beer as he passes Tulani. He takes a draught as he drops into his chair, beer running down his muzzle. "Nex' time I'm leavin' the findin' to the scout," he declares, nodding to Tulani. "Tha' Rath'ani woman jus' nearly flattened me 'ead."

During all the excitement, the gray poodle servant of Lady Veil has been setting a place at the opposite end of the group's table, including a small tablecloth, linen napkin and a setting of fine china. As a final touch, he lights a candle in a silver holder.

"Stew!" Betty announces from the kitchen, and sets out a large steaming tureen on the bar next to a pile of bowls and eating utensils. "Get while hot! Got meat of some kind innit! Yum yum!"

Arkold perks up noticeably at the mention of food. He's up and out of his seat (with mug still in hand) faster than he can say, "'Bout time".

The Sphynx's ears perk at the mention of food as well. She stands and heads for the tureen.

A line is already forming, and the Rhian reappears to set pitchers of water and loaves of bread on the tables. The Rath'ani lady is in front of Arkold, and she actually bats her eyes at him over her shoulder before gathering up her bowl.

The wolf reaches up and touches his free hand to his forehead as he inclines his head to the Rath'ani. "Sorry 'bout that again, Miss," he offers, this time apologizing without the rush to flee. Then it's his turn and he uses his free hand to scoop up his bowl and prepare his meal.

Tulani smiles at the Jupani's gesture to the lady, before picking up her own bowl and looking to see if Muffy is in line.

It doesn't take long before everyone is seated again. Muffy sips daintily at her stew, which is so thick it would be better eaten with a fork, while Dr. Twig is happily sucking on the end of his black sausage.

Off in their corner, the Gallisians eat quietly, while the only other poodle in the room removes a bottle of wine from the basket which produced the table settings, and pours some into a crystal goblet. He hadn't gone near the stew line.

Arkold "wolfs" down his stew. Given how fast he's eating he's either very hungry or just used to eating fast. Tulani has seen him eat before and to her it might seem like a combination of both. "So," he comments between bites, "wha'cha all make 'o Miss Veil an' 'er servant down there?"

"I am suhpwised that she will be dining with us," Dr. Twig opines while looking for a new spot on his sausage to sink his fangs into.

Nodding in agreement with the doctor, and looking down the table towards the still veiled woman, Tulani pauses after an enthusiastic bite of stew, "She's very reserved, isn't she?"

"Yeah," agrees Arkold, "don' often see the nobility dinin' with the common folk. S'not like she don' have a room and a delivery service. Odd. An' yeah. Maybe she's in mournin' or somethin'."

Tulani says, "Yeah… maybe."

After the wine is poured, the footman vanishes back into the kitchen. Only then does the Lady remove her hat and veil, setting it down on the bench next to her. Her long white hair is bound up in a prim bun, and pulled back to expose surprisingly pointed ears. Human looking, the woman has skin as black as space and eyes as pale as ice. Even Arkold would have trouble placing the woman's age.

"She's pretty," Muffy says, before expertly slicing off a thin piece of bread for herself.

Arkold draws back slightly when the woman removes her veil. "Did'na think she'd ever take it off. Wasn't, uh, sure she'd actually have a face." He stabs his spoon into the soup and shoves it in his muzzle, chewing thoughtfully.

Tulani looks momentarily startled by the woman's appearance, and takes a moment to look in the lady's eyes before hurriedly returning her gaze to her soup.

The footman returns bearing a platter of food for his mistress. He slices off pieces of meat from what could be a roast bird, and serves her steamed vegetables and wild rice as well. Lady Veil says nothing, and eats in elegant silence while the poodle just stands next to her at attention.

"You have been beyond the Gateway," Dr. Twig whispers to Arkold. "Could she be Abaddonian? I heaw the humans theah awe mowa vawied than the wocal types."

"Can' say I've seen 'er like," offers the wolf. "Lots of strange types on the surface 'o Sinai too. Mos' of the Abaddonian 'umans I dealt with were, uh, man I never could say it right, but kampen-fuzzen-group … en. Right stiff bast-" he pauses as he glances at Muffy, " … -ions."

Oblivious to the conversation around her, Muffy is holding a bit of meat on her fork in front of the mouth of Oscar's jar. It takes several zaps before it's cooked to her satisfaction.

The Sylvanian Sphynx hides a smirk behind her hand at Arkold's quick linguistic twisting before glancing back at Muffy. "Is that safe?" she asks Dr. Twig while gesturing to the child's improvised cooking.

"Oh goodness," the Eeee says as he catches the kitten's antics. "I nevah thought of twying that. Oscah usuawwy only cooks moths and woims that way – I think he actually pwefers them cwispy."

"S'better when it's crispy," agrees the Jupani. He takes a slice of bread and uses it to sop up some soup before gnawing on it. "Y'know, with all this rain I don't even feel as hot."

"You have a fevah?" Dr. Twig asks, setting his blood-sausage down to peer at Arkold with concern. "Nothing contagious, is it?"

Brought back to present issues by Arkold's comment, Tulani immediately turns to him, furrowing her brow, and asks, "How are you feeling?"

"Naw," replies the wolf with a shake of his head as he uses the back of his hand to clean off his muzzle. "Jus' somethin' I picked up in Abu Dhabi. 'Ad it checked out already. Gunna be needin' a mage prolly, but I'm doin' all right so far."

"It isn't fatal then?" Muffy asks, looking almost disappointed.

Arkold eyes the child. "If it is I'll try an' die aroun' you," he jests. Then he ruffles her head again.

The kitten makes another mew of complaint at the ruffling, then smoothes it back down with the back of her paw.

All this talk of Arkold's illness only seems to increase the frown on Tulani's face, until she shakes her head and smiles, remembering to stay positive. "You'll be better in no time Arkold."

A nearby thunderclap shakes the rafters again, making it sound as if some sort of heavy creature is stomping across the roof.

"Eh, 've survived worse things tha' a little fever. I'll be fine," offers the wolf consolingly. "Don' worry 'bout me. 'Sides I go' me lucky medallion to keep me goin'."

"Oh, a family heirloom?" Twig asks.

Arkold continues to go about eating his soup. Soon enough he's done and is taking to scraping the bottom of the bowl with bread. "Somethin' else I got in Abu Dhabi. Only this thing ain't givin' me a fever," he answers as he tries to recover a slice of bread he dropped in the bowl.

Tulani smiles and nods at Arkold's account, before offering to get refills on drinks for everyone.

The Jupani pushes his mug over to Tulani. Then he pauses, glances to his other beer mug, and pushes that forward too.

"Ah," the Eeee says, "I would like to visit that city someday. I hear it holds many mystewies." He politely declines Tulani's offer, while Muffy holds out her empty milk cup.

Politely taking the three cups, the Sphynx heads once again for the bar, snagging a piece of bread as she stands which instantly disappears into her mouth.

"You ain't kiddin' doc." The wolf gestures in vague patterns with his bread-free hand as if outlining the various sites. "All sorts 'o oddities gather out there. Lots 'o people headin' for Gateway too. An' all sorts 'o exports. You jus' gotta get over them Khattan Emirate kitties an' their jabberin' pretty-speech."

The poodle's eyes never leave Tulani as she passes by his mistress, although Lady Veil herself shows no signs of noticing the Sphynx – or anyone else in the room, for that matter.

"I will have to visit the pwace," Twig says with conviction. "Especiawwy once the Zoowogical Gahdens awe opened."

"One thousand pardons, Oh great and bountiful master of the universe," remarks Arkold in a falsetto as he does a mocking impression of Emirate cats. "May your hair glow like gold that I wish to steal from you for this trinket that isn't worth the delectable weight of your co-" he lets his voice drop back to normal as he nods to the doctor's sentiment. "Oh, that. I heard 'o that. Can' say I'm too interested in seein' odd critters. I see enough 'o them jus' wanderin' as a mercenary."

Returning with two full mugs of beer and a fresh cup of milk Tulani sits and passes them out asking, "Gardens?"

"No' like actual gardens. They're like critter gardens," Arkold clarifies. "Jus' a fancy name for a zoo."

Tulani ohs softly, before snagging another piece of bread and chewing it thoughtfully.

"The Countess Ophelia herself told me about them," Dr. Twig says to Tulani. "The Emir is cweating a twue Wonder of the Would! I only hope it is completed in my lifetime."

After drinking some of her milk, Muffy asks, "Oscar is dancing. Is that normal?"

"Countess Ophelia. Huh. I think I 'eard her name once. New Years… Bu' maybe I'm thinkin' o' someone else," remarks the wolf. Finally done, the Jupani pushes his bowl away and leans back to sip his beer.

The black Sphynx jerks her head around, a piece of bread still stuck in her mouth, to look at the Doctor's lizard.

After glancing at the agitated lizard, Twig announces, "Evewyone duck, and covah yoah ears!" He then hides under the table. Muffy also crawls underneath.

Tulani flattens herself to the ground, pulling Arkold down with her and covering them both with her wings before clapping her hands to her ears.

There are a few calls of, "What's he going on about?" from the other diners at the Eeee's proclamation.

Following the eyes of the others, Arkold twists to peer at the lizard until he hears the doctor's warning. No stranger to orders of "duck and cover," he scrambles under the table with the doctor, leaving his beer on the table.

A moment later, the floor jumps and blinding white light flashes through the edges of the shuttered windows. The thunderclap comes almost instantly, causing ears to pop and mugs to shatter as the building shakes.

Ears ringing, those that didn't take heed of the warning pick themselves up from the floor, and several soaked sentries burst in through the door in a panic.

Lady Veil is nowhere to be seen, but her servant is calmly packing away the table settings.

"WHAT IN DAGH'S NAME WAS THAT?" hollers the now temporarily deafened Jupani to the doctor. He rubs his ears sorely, and wonders if his beer survived. Then he blinks and yells, "MUFFY! 'EY MUFFY!"

The kitten is still curled up into a ball near the stunned bat. "Lightning stwike, wight outside," the doctor explains to Arkold, unsure if the Jupani can actually hear him or not.

Arkold glances between Muffy and the doctor before peering at the doctor and asking, "WHAT?"

As hearing returns, there is a persistent howling sound… but apparently it's from Blarf and Betty, and not some horrible sign of hearing loss.

The Sylvanian Sphynx checks herself for a moment to make sure her ears aren't bleeding, looks to make sure everyone is okay, then snaps her head around to the sentries rushing in the door.

The Khatta sentries are soaked, but even through their heavy ponchos their chests can be seen heaving. Wet or not, their fur is poofed out and their eyes are wide. Betty eventually brings them mugs of hot cider, while Blarf pokes his nose out of the door. "Hah, storm missed! Hit compost shed! Stupid storm!" he shouts.

Tulani lifts her large wings with a loud flap, folding them on her back and speaking unnaturally loud due to a dip in hearing, "Whats going on?!?"

Betty smacks Blarf in the back of the head. "Stoopid! Told you not store hammers there! All melted now! Stoopid!"

"WHA- … oh." The lupine sticks his finger in his ear and wiggles it before giving a shake to clear his head. "Tha' was some light show," he remarks as he climbs to his feet. Once up he takes a survey of the damage. "'Andy lightnin' detector you got there, Doc. Might like that in Blitz-em."

Straightening after crawling out from under the table, Dr. Twig says, "Not to worry. These structures have lightning rods to prevent damage to the buildings." He glances at Oscar's jar, then reaches over and shakes it. "Blast, he's dead again! No… wait… he's just stunned!"

Poking her head up to look at the lizard, Muffy asks, "Are you sure? Maybe he's just faking being alive."

"She's go' a point there," remarks Arkold as he retakes his beer.

The entire group of Gallisians shuffles quickly towards the stairs, and several other guests look in need of a change of clothes as well. Or at the very least in need of good combings.

Amazingly, Arkold's beer mug is still intact.

"I know you're alive," whispers Arkold to his beer. He takes a swig and drops back in his seat. "Ah."

Tulani sits back down, watching guests pass up the stairs, turning occasionally to look at the wet sentries.

With the commotion over and the Rhian manager making the rounds with a mop and bucket, Muffy lets out a soft yawn. After she's finished haranguing Blarf, Betty shoos the sentries back outside to watch for bandits and monsters – then goes back to smacking her husband back into the kitchen.

"Maybe we ought an' take a look at our rooms," suggests Arkold. He sits up a bit and turns to regard the stairs. "Don' remember if Muffy 'ad anythin' to bring up."

"He's definitely alive," Dr. Twig reports, after Oscar gulps down a mealworm dropped into his jar. "That was not an involuntary weeflex."

"I saw them bring our luggage in," Muffy tells Arkold.

The wolf nods. "Oh, okay then. Guess we don' need to go look."

Nodding to Arkold, Tulani heads towards the stairs, motioning to Muffy to come along.

The kitten follows Tulani up to their room, which is private if not luxurious. Two narrow beds are along the walls, with their belongings stacked at the foot of each. Under the single barred window is a table with a washbasin and pitcher. The wind rattles the window shutters, but they look too heavy to be blown open.

Arkold pokes his head into the room from the hallway after the two enter. "Nice," he remarks, "Jus' remember 'ow nice this is when poor Arkold is sleepin' with the 'elp." He grins.

The Sylvanian Sphynx smiles and rolls her eyes at Arkold before yawning briefly and picking out a bed. Sitting down, she looks towards the window for a moment as the wind rattles the shutters.

Dr. Twig, among others, pass behind Arkold on the way to the general bunkroom… and someone pinches him in passing to boot.

The wolf gives an uncharacteristic yelp at the pinch. He twists around to look down the hall with a smirk across his muzzle. "I think I'm goin' to go look at my room," he remarks and then he's off down the hall.

Muffy rummages through her bags and pulls out a stuffed toy that is almost completely composed of patches, then crawls into the other bed.

Tulani yawns and lies back in a moment, watching Muffy for a bit.

The general bunkroom is much like any other bunkroom Arkold has dealt with. Beds are stacked three high, with simple privacy curtains. Surprisingly out of place is a thick carpet running the length of the room though, and some low burning oil lamps so that nobody has to stumble around in the dark.

"It's too bad about the storm," Muffy says, staring back at Tulani over her patchwork plush-toy. "Otherwise we might have seen some monsters."

Having always preferred the top bunk, Arkold walks around until he locates one that isn't taken. "Sure beats ship bunks," he remarks to no one in particular.

The Sphynx just blinks for a moment in response before looking past Muffy and once again at the rattling shutters.

After locating a free bunk Arkold strips off his coat and places a dagger under his pillow. Then he drops back into bed with his arms folded under his head. "One more strange place. 'Ope Raneah's doin' well," he says quietly and settles in for some shuteye.