After meeting up with Aza'zel, Fisher still felt... Shaken. There was something bizarre, disturbing, about all of it. His friends from his youth were now his enemies. and his enemies his friends... At least the Barkfriends never changed. He could count on Black forever, he was sure of it. Shivering with anticipation to meet the white cat once more, see how she had changed from a puffball of fur with claws... into, well, whatever she was now... Was exciting.

"Hello!!" Fisher called as they approached the Princess' tower, tail wagging. "Remember me? It's Fisher!" He went on, blissfully unaware that he had seen her recently, all grown up. He hadn't realized it-- but he was about to be in for a shock. In the meanwhile, he could only stare up the tower of bones, thinking about how fun it would be to climb. He'd probably ruin it all if he tried, but it didn't make the urge go away.

"Come on out!"

open ;; @Black @Mau

Black followed along with silent obedience, stoic and blank as ever. He simply gazed up at the bone tower as they approached, lingering just behind and to the side of Fisher like a protective shadow.

It was tall, and neatly put-together and he found himself wondering who had made it, and why. Then he found himself wondering why they were here, his slow and bleary mind working over the last few hours to try and remind himself.

The white-cat. Kitten. Fled soaked into the dark. Well enough to run. I hoped she survived. I hope it is her.

With the memory, and the sudden realization that he might, finally, be getting to see Mau again--and alive (though he hadn't known her for more than a moment)--his large, thick tail began to slowly wag. He stepped closer to the tower, snuffling around its edges, licking his jaws. Big ears pricked up, listening for any sign of sound--if she were at the top, his eyesight wouldn't have been good enough to pick her out, anyway.

"White cat?" he rumbled questioningly, glancing back to Fisher with a tilt of his head.

His eyes and furrowed brow and wagging tail, far from his usual sombre self, spoke of hope--and even excitement.

________________

@Bones

Mau had not left her tower's space since returning from the trial. It had been a fun adventure of sorts, but she felt it unnecessary to leave home again afterwards. She would stay put, enjoying the solitude of her lonesome tower's secluded view of Canis. There, even from inside her tower's safe rooms, she could keep a steady vigil of the cave's events and visitors. It was one particularly warm evening that brought forth a familiar pair of faces. She woke to their voices as they closed in, and emerged when she was called, at the top of her tower, from behind. She looped around quickly and silently, leaping to the top roof with grace and seating herself there regally. There, she looked down upon the pair and her expression turned to one of deep thought and consideration.

"Little weasel from the trial!" She exclaimed after a moment, looking at Fisher. "And the big dog from the ice tunnels!" She now looked at Black, ears perking forward. "I didn't think I'd see you two darlings again! Welcome the Canis!" She purred, smiling politely, all refined and proper, clean as a whistle despite her surroundings. In fact, the area around her tower was immaculate. Even the bones were polished and tidy, those unused pieces kept in tidy stacks off to the side.

"What brings you by my Tower of Bones?"

---

Tags: @Fisher @Black

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Well gosh. There she was, the tiny white kitten all grown up! She was still smaller than Fisher, but not by much! She was all the way up on her tower (which took a lot to resist the urge to climb up and make a mess of, honestly) as she greeted them. She had made this all by herself, huh? He felt a buzz of pride-- after all, he had been the one who had saved her life in the beginning, when she was just a small one.

His tail set off a rapid paced wag. "Hey there, Mau! Looks like you've all grown up, huh? It's me, Fisher! And Black, you remember Black." They were here because Black had wanted to see her-- Fisher had less fond memories of the tiny kit's claws in his skin, but she had barely left nicks... Compared to the huge scar down his flank, he could hardly care.

"We were looking for old friends, and we just wanted to make sure you were alright after the tunnel..." His voice drifted off as his ears reprocessed what she had said. Mau had been at the trial?! He hadn't seen her there-- but then again, he had been so busy glaring at Makyna and Leon... Jeez. "You were at the trial? You've gotten so big I hardly recognize ya!"

open ;; @Black @Mau

Black slowly sat down, hoping to calm himself, but now his entire rump was wagging, sliding back and forth a few inches across the stone. His eyes were locked on the cat and sparkling with joy, ears flopped back, and he found himself emitting a rather undignified, soft series of whoofing whimpers. Finally he raised one paw, pawing at the empty air between them before setting it back down.

"I am glad that you live," he managed, at last, still staring at her with wagging butt and bright eyes. His thoughts raced, all the things he wanted to say rolling unspoken through his mind, showing only in the unmistakeably cheerful glimmer of his gaze.

I had wanted to follow you. I did not wish to leave you alone. I wanted to come and find you. I lost you. The monster had to be found. You ran, so I thought you were all right. I still should have found you. I am glad that you live.

He didn't bother wondering why she was here, how she had come here, or why she was lounging atop a pile of neatly-stacked bones.

She was alive; and that was all that mattered.

________________

@Mau