Gwynn brushed back her copper hair and gazed at the dim lights of the Dancing Dove. She halted and lingered hesitantly, peering about her with cautious hazel eyes. Gwynn waited for Katherine.
"She was just outside of the Dove," Gwynn murmered. "She should be somewhere around here."

Katherine followed Gwynn as the girl led her to the Dove. she had only been there once, and that was with her brother. She sighed as Gwynn had found the spot that the cat was usually found at. "I do hope that she hasn't had her kittens yet." she murmered back to Gwynn.

Gwynn nodded grimly. "Yeah. I hope she hasn't." The page walked quietly towards a ditch near the side of the Dove. "Some where over here." Gwynn murmered softly. "The cat's small and gray. I think she had a white patch on her chest." Gwynn surveyed the soggy ditch with watchful hazel eyes.

A woman with long auburn hair strode into the opening of the alley and spotted two girls searching the filthy trash strewn ditches. Eulia eyed their clothing, obviously made of fine goods, and heard one of them say "I hope she hasn't had her kittens yet."
Eulia smiled at the girls concern for a cat. As she walks over towards the blond she hears the redhead state a description.
"If you don't mind me saying, I believe I saw a cat of that kind in the Dancing Dove. I can take you to her if you like. And if you don't mind going in with only my protection. I'm well known enough there so you lasses should be fine."
Walking back towards the entrance of the inn she looks back over her shoulder.
"Are you coming?"

Katherine jumped as she heard another voice behind her. She turned and saw a woman with long hair. She reached towards her sleeve which concealed one of her daggers. When she heard the woman talk about a cat, she relaxed. "So she's in the Dove?" she asked. "Can you take us to it."

Hearing the girls offer, she nodded. "We can protect our selfs just as well." she said smiling as she followed the woman towards the inside of the Dove.

Chatting at the girls started walking into the Dove. She'd trust the noblettes to follow.
"I'm a soft heart myself, and when I saw the poor thing I asked one of my friends here whether she would let me keep her here. One of the people I live with isn't fond of cats, but i have a weakness for animals I've seen about."
Eulia thought about the blonds gesture toward her sleeve. Well Eulia didn't mind, no noble could match her with anything small enough to fit under a sleeve. Not even two

Gwynn, too, jumped when she heard a movement. The page squeezed her hazel eyes shut, hoping they weren't about to get caught. Gwynn turned around slowly, and saw the auburn-haired woman.
"Hello." Gwynn murmered, and relaxed as the woman's talk entered her ears. "Thankyou." Gwynn followed the woman towards the Dove's entrance. "Katherine and I wanted to make sure the cat had her kittens safely, so we were going to take her back with us." Gwynn brushed back a stray strand of hair and trotted to catch up with the woman. "What is your name, Miss?" She asked politely.

"Well, most people call me Lia. And you two are?"
Nobles, Eulia finished to herself.

Katherine looked at the woman. "It's nice to meet you Lia. I'm Katherine of Blackwater, and this is my friend Gwynn of Northwatch."

"It makes me feel better that someone is taking care of the cat. I was worried when Gwynn told me that there was a stray cat out here, specially when she is about to have kittens."

" Katherine of Blackwater, Gwynn of Northwatch its nice to meet the two of you. Well we can't take care of her for long. Not with her kittens anyway. She hasn't had them yet though. Maybe you two could check back every few days and pick up a few of the kittens once their born. Otherwise they'll most likely go down a river. Poor things... Well I've been paying for her milk. Everyone pays for everything here. She's been killing some mice though so the kittens might yet earn their keep. It's all a matter of luck."
Turning her head to look at the two girls Eulia twisted her mouth into a wry smile.
"What brings you two down here into the dregs of society. Surely a cat doesn't constitute such interest and ventures?"

"Actually, the cat was mostly the reason of our small adventure. We were going to take the cat back to the castle with us, and take it to one of the stable hands to take care of. That way the kitten wouldn't be out in the open. But if she's already being taking care of, that's great."

She turned and smiled at the woman. "But can we still see her anyway?"

"Oh of course" Eulia said smiling broadly "Where do you think I'm taking you?" reaching a door into a storage room Eulia turned the knob. It was locked.

"Bloody hell!" She exclaimed. sighing exasperatedly she whipped out a set of lockpicks and opened the door. Waving the girls into the dimly lit room she realized what she had done. Desperately searching to avert attention she spoke again

"Umm... You may bring her with you to the palace if ou like. I daresay she'll be better taken care of there. Someone I live with has an aversion to cats, and she won't be able to stay here forever. You should take her if you have a place to bring her."

Gwynn listened as Eulia and Katherine spoke, nervous hazel eyes peering around the dark Inn. The page sighed, releived that they hadn't been followed, and followed the auburn-haired woman.
"Yes, I think we will take her back to the stables." Gwynn nodded, glad that she hadn't had the kittens yet. "I'm sure all the hostlers would be more than willing to take the cat in." The page smiled, and searched the dark room for the cat.

Eulia heard the cat mewling loudly as they stepped into the room. Groping around the room, Eulia found a candle and lit it with the tinder box that was near it. She walked over to the table and set the candle down on the floor.
"Well there she is." Eulia said pointing to the cat which was laying on a lump of old rags. The cat hissed wildly and Eulia got a little nervous. Normally the cat was much quieter. Crouching down to the floor Eulia saw that the she was in labor.
"Holy Mother of Mithros! The cats having her babies!"

OOC: Just for fun.

Katherine looked at the cat, and then to Eulia. "You wouldn't have a small basin of water, would you?" she asked as she sat down next to the cat. She took off her bag and opened it. She pulled out two very small blankets, and a polished box. She stroked the cat and sighed. "The mother is not going to make it through this..." she said as she saw the first kitten appear.

" You don't know that!! She may make it yet, cats do this all the time!!"

Rushing out of the room Eulia returned with a bowl of water.

"Here, I don't know anything about this sort of thing. ANything else you're going to need?"

"Acutally, I do. She's not in good shape." she said as she stroked the cat. "She's covered in scars, and she's sick. Just look." She showed Eulia the cat's eyes, that were pink and puffy.

Katherine washed her hands in the basin, and dryed them. After that she helped the kittens as they came out. When no more where coming she sighed. "Six all together." she said as she watched them nuzzle against there mom.

Prancing around Katherine birthing the cats Eulia watched as each pink ball of life came out of the mother cat. Eulia admitted the cat didn't look well.

"She hasn't looked like that though. Maybe the births taking to much out of her. I mean, all the alley cats have scars, but... oh I don't know! If she dies the kitten will need milk" Eulia realized.

Running out of the room Eulia fetched a shallow bowl of goats milk.

Setting it beside Katherine Eulia bit her lip, "Its thicker.You'd better feed them so they don't become attached to a dead cat. Oh dear..."

Gwynn bit her lip nervously, small hands wringing behind a tense back. The page lifted a finger and toyed with a stray lock of coppery hair, hazel eyes pinned on the cat. Finally, Gwynn spoke.
"You're right, she doesn't look well at all. That's exactly why I wanted to bring her back; she was skinny, and not the healthiest thing I'd ever seen." Gwynn paused and took a deep breath. "If..if she doesn't..well..If she doesn't live, we'll have to bring the kittens to the stables. "Six..I hope the hostlers will agree to take them in."
Gwynn kneeled, and dipped her finger into the bowl of creamy milk. It was warm and thick. The page opened one of the tiny kitten's mouths, and placed her milk-drenched finger beside it.

Eulia watched Gwynn begin to feed the kitten with a blank expression. What seemed like a lifetime after she started Eulia thumped to the ground and did the same with a different kitten. She barely was aware of what Katherine and Gwynn were doing, and she was feeding the mewling jostling kittens mechanically, not even reacting when one bit her finger. Instead she just fed them with her other hand.

Katherine watched as Eulia and Gwynn started to feed the kittens. She opened her bag and pulled out a couple more small blankets. She gently picked up one of the kittens and wrapped it in the blanket. She dipped her finger into the goats milk and held it by the kitten. It started to lick her finger. She smiled watching this, she loved taking care of animals.

Eulia's first kitten had stopped eating so she took one of the blankets and wrapped the already sleeping baby creature in it.

"Here", she said to Katherine "He can be put in the bag now."

She turned back to the other kittens and fed the next one that came tumbling into her lap.

[[ OOC: Hope any of you don't mind my intrusion. ]]

Strawberry sighed as she finished up an order out in the Tavern. Smiling at the man, she turned to head back to the kitchen. She glanced Eulia twice already in the kitchen, looking quite rushed. She couldn't help but wonder what the actress is up to. Looking over at her boss, she grinned at him, "10 minute break, please?" She questioned, keeping innocent as the man viewed her as such. He just nodded his head, glancing at the clock as he prepared a drink.

"Thank you." She stated, walking graciously into the kitchen. Now where is she? She walked around the perimeter for a bit, as she noticed a light flickering in the storage room. She winced, as she opened the door to poke her red-headed self in. There she spotted the three females. Two she didn't know. Friends of the familar one, she guessed. If that girl did have friends, Berry wouldn't know.

"You know, there are more -" She stopped as she looked down at the kittens, stunned. "Lia?" She questioned, suprisingly fitting herself in while closing the door.

OOC: Not me

IC: Seeing Berry in the doorway made Eulia start. She put another wrapped kitten in front of Katherine. Standing up she introduced the two younger girls.

"Berry, this is Katherine or Blackwater, and Gwynn of Northwatch. I've been keeping a cat they had also spotted here for the last few days. I found them looking for her in the alley. She started to have her kittens a while ago. They want to take them all back to the palace to be looked after by the hostlers. Please don't tell. There are more what?"

Katherine took her bag and placed it in her lap. She placed the kitten she had in her hand gently into the bag. After that she placed the other two Eulia had taken care in the bag as well.

She looked at the one Gwynn was feeding, and saw that he was still licking her finger. She smiled. -He's going to be the one that eat's alot.- She took the last kitten and fed him. After she was done, she wrapped him up and placed him in the bag along with his brother and sisters.

Katherine turned and looked at the doorway as another lady walked in. She sat there as Eulia introduced them. "It's nice to meet you, Berry" She said using the name Eulia had used.

"The pleasure is mine." Berry responded, as she gracefully sat herself down. She watched with some pity as the kittens were placed in the bag. They were so small... "And I was going to say there are more comfortable spots to be sitting in."

Sighing she looked around the storage room, eyes falling on the mother. "Did she not make it?" She questioned faintly at the familar cat.

"I didn't say anything, but the mother died as the last kitten was born. She was already sick from being out in the alley. Giving birth took the last of her strength." She said as she covered the mother with a rag.

"You did good." she whispered to the mother cat. "You kittens are all alive and healthy"

"I'll bury her if you like" Eulia said in a decidedly unatached voice. She refused to cry, she refused to cry, she refused to cry...

Gwynn lifted her chin and smiled shyly at Berry.
"Hi." She murmered, but her voice was quiet and sad. Poor cat. The page's hazel eyes watered, but she refused to let the tears escape.
"Th..that would be good Eulia.." Gwynn stroked one of the kittens and dipped her finger in the milk and lifted it to his maw.

Katherine rubbed her eyes, wiping away the water before it rolled down her cheeks. She took the last cloth she had and wrapped it around the kitten that Gwynn had been feeding. She picked it up and put it in the bag as well.

"We should be going..." She said whispering to Gwynn. "We'll be in trouble if anyone finds out we snuck out of the palace. And we need to get these kittens up there quickly before the wake up."

"Well." Eulia said taking a deep breath.

"It was nice to meet you two. I'm sure the kittens will be fine with you watching over them. I should take care of her shouldn't I?" she nodded to herself, and reaching for an empty sack she wrapped the dead cat up gently. Its body was still warm.

Gwynn nodded to Katherine and brought her eyes back to Eulia.
"It was nice meeting you too." She murmered, wiping back loose strands of copper hair. Gwynn added softly "Thankyou for helping us."
She picked up the bag gently and stood.

Eulia turned to the girls.

"Perhaps I could come with you to the palace to bury her? There isn't much in the way of proper dirt i nthis part of the city. It wouldn't do to bury her in a trash heap."