Major Thread Fortuna Vitrea Est

[Izakis]

Izakis took a graceful pose, ready to dance and fight alike when the two more beasts had arrived. As quickly then, she relaxed, seeing and hearing as they were allies. But while adrenaline and sense of meaningful tasks gave her strength and bravery, hearing that she was to return to the backstage took all the air from her. She took her cloth strip and wrapped it loosely around her chest, now feeling almost upset. She was however a civilian, one that had no idea how to fight or to do acts of investigation. She only knew one trade so far... but this little escapade made her want more.

She was sulked, but so was the vixen, albeit for vastly different reasons it seemed. "No need to beat yourself down dear. We did our best, and at least ssssecured the chandelier from crushing the crowd... that's ssssomething we can at least ssssee as our win! And our contribtion to this all." She was saying so with a warm, honest smile. There wasn't much of her usual seductive charm in it, just a genuine praise.

But then she somewhat meekly stopped Liza putting scaled paw onto her shoulder. "Thank you for the discussion and insights. Also for letting us help... Uhm... Just wanted to ask you a question before I leave." She stopped for a second, looking down onto her lower paws. "Would a useless beast, but one with honest will and heart in the right place be welcomed among your ranks?" Her blue stripes got greener again, while she asked the question with shyness that she had not felt in years.

@Kal Goldtail @Liza Fairpaw

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

“Aaah it’s all done now,” she said with a friendly shake to Finn’s shoulders; it very much wasn’t, deep down, but she was hardly about to tell him how much she’d feared for his safety in public. “You’re in one piece and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?”

Finn's torso waggled loosely as Cricket shook him, and a muted smile broke out through the gloom. He shot a friendly glance back to the gecko, and his tail picked up a timid wag. Gates, he was glad she wasn't mad with him! "Yeah, well... Alwyn took the brunt of it. I owe him."

"Kit, whatever you did, I am not after that. Good you see your mistakes and what harm you did."

The foxkit bristled ever so slightly as Minerva interjected... goodness she was officious! Finn was doing his best to not lose his temper with her -- she was an authority figure, and Finn's parents did their best to teach him to be respectful. But then Cricket threw in her two pence, and Finn had to cover his muzzle to hide the smile.

"I think ye be having far more pressing matters ter attend to," Jeshal replied to Minerva, whether she would be listening or not at this point considering the situation. "It be mentioning nothing of an immersive corpse rain experience on me ticket."

Corpses shouldn't interject, ever! Finn started as he caught the body out of the corner of his eye, moments before it crsahed onto the stage. The fox let out a gasp, and almost started to run towards the scene before remembering he wasn't on the Hide anymore. Cricket, Jesh, and Minerva were temporarily forgotten. He looked around to see if he could find Mr. Barrett -- was he even here? Gates, Finn didn't know what to do by himself...

“Finnian, there you are, time to get back to the formation, though we can carry some of the food and sweets for you. There has been something of a disturbance, and we need to make sure that you are safe. Be a good lad and come with us until we make sure everything is all right, would you? If you do, maybe we can let you see some of our larger swords at the barracks later, maybe even hold them, once the Lieutenant has finished his business.”

Finn nearly lept out of his fur as the stoat knelt down infront of him moments later. He knew he'd be in... ...well. Mild trouble for this little stunt, doubly so now that there was a dead body on stage. But now that Finn was with another working beast, he felt he could work up the courage to go and help. "O-oh! Oh hey, we should go over'n check on him!" he said, brush floofing out behind him as he readied for action, the embarrassment of the Slups inferno quickly forgotten. "Where's Theo, does he have his kit with him?"

 

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

Quietly losing patience with the stickly vixen, Jeshal's smile thinned, his gaze fierce. He knew he would not intimidate her, Forest knows what she had seen in her life; the stare was simply there for anyone who knew of him to read.

"I can go regardless, miss. Ye be no Fogey nor Smudgie and there be no violence or threat ter be handling fer one such as your very capable self. Ye should be commended for being such an eager member o' society. My experience, Bully always sorely lacked beasts what cared. Our current discussion merely concerns a misjudgement of focus. I thank ye for keeping an eye on our fair citizens, but I suggest ye cast your attentions ter the beasts pushing and shoving their ways out afore they break toes. Or would ye rather I speak to the MinoWar and tell them ye be spending your salary haranguing hungry younglings?"

He gestured to Cricket and Finn, the latter of which was now being addressed by a Stoatie and curiously encouraged to come along. What importance was the young fox to the Guard? It seemed a lot of care for a simple recruit.

@Minerva @Cricket @FinnianBrightfur @Alwyn Ryalor (as Oscar)​

 

[Kal Goldtail]

@Izakis @Liza Fairpaw

There was a vvisible tension that raised in Kal as the discussion with other Smudgies happened, but she relaxed slightly as they seemingly were left off the hook. Everyone seemed so... Calm, all things considered, it boggled her a lot. That being said, with watchful eye of Liza and the escort, she couldn't hope for a sneaky exit necessarily, and that meant risk - or occasion - to see her family up close. She was lost in thought when words directed towards her reached her. "Oh, um, yeah, coulda' been worse." She sighed. "I don't think I've caught your name, to be fair?" Kal added to hopefully appear more alive and less miserable. She didn't dare to look down after the body at all, and so her imagination was running wild as to how the poor beast looked now. The question directed at Liza was an interesting one, but Kal had no idea what kind of tricks could be up th4e sleeve of her temporary companion, so she only spared a slight rise of brow in intrigue.

 

[Talinn Ryalor]

Talinn’s eyes narrowed as the waitress vixen responded with her name, and he took a fresh look at her. She was, in many ways, the spitting image of his wife when she was younger, and the Fyadoran name, while not the most uncommon, was extremely unusual to be found all the way over in Tookumberry before the combined efforts of both Westisle and the Imperium had finally exorcised the sea routes of pirates between the two. Perhaps it was a coincidence-these things did happen-but he was reminded of a moment of what Vaelora had said. There were not four, but five. She could not possibly have meant-

“Miss Brewer, if I could have a moment of your-” he began, before being interrupted by his wife, who came up and put a paw on his shoulder. Ah, maybe she was there to have some cake and join in the ce-

Apparently not.

Talinn had to refrain from wincing at the comment of his wife about younger vixens, not entirely uncalled for, but not exactly fair either given the circumstances. Still, though, he was surprised that she extended one of her takedowns to the innocent, if not exactly high society material, waitress, claiming that she was not good enough for Alwyn. His eyebrows raised at that comment-not good enough for her son, given her own history and the fact that the least they could do for Alwyn is let him choose his own partner, especially with what they eventually planned to tell him.

He glanced over at his son on the stage as he thought of his firstborn, and he had to refrain from choking up. It hurt that they were at such a distance, but he had no idea how to even begin repairing that relationship-he was going to figure it out with Dusk first.

I know you hate me for what I did, but I did it to protect you and your siblings, and Alexei did strike first and hard. I had no choice. Please forgive me one day, Alwyn.

Turning his attention back to the waitress, he could see that Dusk’s words had cut her deeply, the vixen attempting to hide her forming tears and he felt a strong, almost paternal need to comfort her. He looked up hard at his wife, beginning to speak in defense of the young Ms. Brewer, his voice more than a little irritated and even hard as he delivered a rare reprimand to her, rarer still in that it was public.

“My dearest wife, say what you will about me and my intentions, incorrect as they are, but the poor girl was just doing her job. There was no cause to say such towards a hardworking server, it is unbecoming of our House and family. As for Alwyn, did I myself not disregard rank and follow my heart instead when I-”

He was interrupted as the corpse fell from the chandelier and landed smack dab on the stage, to the shock of the entire crowd, except for him and his Mistcloaks, one of which he had sent to the stage when the chandelier had first swung and informed him of the situation. It looks like they were trying to retrieve the body-and failed. What’s worse, the corpse fell directly next to Alwyn, Daniil, and the young singer on the stage, and he could see his son spring into action as Daniil attempted to calm the singer down.

He did not have much time, however, to reflect on this, as Fairpaws and the Songfox began to panic, and Kaii, more levelheaded, moved to protect Ms. Brewer, who cowered behind him, from fear of the assassin's corpse, and in a way likely from his wife as well. Dusk once again spoke, claiming it was part of the performance, but he much doubted that. Feeling the need to assert authority to regain control of the situation, he raised his voice authoritatively.

“Calm yourself, Mr. Fairpaws, I am sure that my wife is correct, but even if she were not, these sort of things happen from time to time. A worker who unfortunately fell while making adjustments, perhaps. If there is more to the story, I am sure my son Alwyn, the Unsmudgables, and the good beasts of MAUL will figure it out and move to handle any potential threats and secure our safety, not to mention, we are quite safe under the protection of my own Mistcloaks.”

He nodded his head towards the four elite foxes in their shifting gray camouflaged cloaks and brigandine armor, all equipped with large Auldarnian steel knives in their sheathes, and special, powerful crossbows modified to fire rapidly while still retaining most of their power. As if to reinforce the point, he finally took a bite of the slice of cake, noting that it was quite delicious.

“Now, dearest, as I was saying before the unfortunate interruption, I think that Ms. Brewer deserves something of an apology, and then we can perhaps tell her of the valor of our heroes of Urk.”

@Kaii Nashirou @Dusk Rainblade @SwifttailTheFox @Silvertongue Songfox

 

[Alwyn Ryalor]

Alwyn’s worst suspicions were confirmed, but it matched his expectations and thus did not unsettle him much, and it was not like he did not have experience in these matters handling protection for the Brudenells for some time and of course for the Empress herself, if under the direction of more seasoned Guardsbeasts. He was also not surprised that they came, again, for his father-he was the epitome of what they would consider a species traitor along with Amélie herself. What surprised him was that his mother had actually taken an active interest in protecting him-something had happened twelve years ago, and he did not know the details nor was anyone keen on telling him such-but relations between them had been frosty at best. And, just as inexplicably, upon his father’s return from Urk, it seemed to be warming up.

I don’t know what in the ‘Gates is going on there.

He took a moment to look towards his father, now accompanied by his mother, and...Fairpaws, the beast who helped to rescue both him and Finnian? Along with a few other beasts. They were guarded by his father’s beasts, but there were only four of them, and while they were skilled, he did not like that they were in the open, in a crowd of unfamiliar beasts, with assassins about-especially because as he had been trained and found out, they mostly worked in pairs, and the Supremacists were likely still up to something. He was about to look at his formation to see if Finnian was still properly secured, but then the Minister of Niceties himself showed up, with some stoat reporter from the Smelt who looked vaguely familiar.

Kilaris, for his part, took the black squirrel down more than a few pegs with his harsh retort, and insisted on continuing things as usual. Well, that was not unexpected from what he heard of the beast, and for how important this party was for his public image. Admitting defeat would be politically suicidal-but for now, Alwyn did give much of a damn, only glad that he did not answer to him.

I should offer to assist in his protection, but I was not even supposed to be here and only have so many beasts and he already has declined his own-

His thoughts were interrupted as Caden called forth to him to remind him of the prophecy that he had relayed to him, appearing from seemingly nowhere with a small fox-a kit?- in his arms, next to Daniil. What even?

Destiny or not, the validity of those prophecies from my father being from the Kitsune or not, I already wanted off this damn stage minutes ago. I came here to tell my mother and father something, not because I love the arts, and now I have to not only do that, but secure them and argue with them about leaving or at least moving to a more secure location. I have to be more direct with Daniil, now, and not in a language this damn Minister can likely understand.

“Danīru-san, omae no hogoka ni aru mono o tairetsu ni modose, kore wa meireida! Caden-dono ni mo kuru yō ni tsutaetekudasai! Koko de okotteiru koto wa sukide wa arimasen.” He barked to his cousin sharply in Southern Fyadoran, making it clear that it was no longer optional to come with him.

Daniil, bring that one under your protection into the formation this is an order! Tell Caden (honorific implying he is at the same level of experience/authority in this matter as Alwyn) to come too! I don't like what's going on here.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spotting Oscar, Theo moved to his partner, relieved to see Finnian there, catching the tail end of his question. He took a look towards the stage, seeing Alwyn barking commands in an unfamiliar language at his cousin, the new Guardsbeast Daniil. The pine marten’s anxiety intensified. They needed to go and soon, if Finnian was not back there in time….

“I am here, Finnian,” he said, calmly, but with a hint of urgency in his voice. “Unfortunately, I do not think there is much anyone can do for the beast except to pray. A fall from that height, how landed…” He shook his head. “...I can handle many things, but not that, and I do not suspect any doctor could either.

Oscar nodded in agreement.

“Theo is right, Finnian, and it is a little dangerous and it looks like Lieutenant Alwyn will be returning soon. I tell you what, you grab what you want right now, and we can all pretend this never happened so that you will not get in trouble. Isn’t that right, Theo?”

“Absolutely!”

@FinnianBrightfur @Cricket @Minerva @Jeshal the Ironclaw @Daniil Ryalor

 

[Sean Wicke]

Sean threw the curtain separating the box from the hall wide toward Tanya, crimson flying toward her seemingly an omen of another crimson soon to decorate the hall. He'd misjudged her location since her roll, however, and he lost precious time maneuvering to swing at her with the hook, one slash going wide. This time he was wise to her dagger, his free paw going out to sweep at it as he found his footing and came at her once more, iron hook aimed right for her eyes. He might well keep his promise to make it quick, but it certainly wouldn't be pretty.

~~~

Marianna simply smiled mischievously as Iva seemed to embrace her feminine side. "Well, as the song says, "'Femmes Just Wanna Frolic'," the vixen quipped, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Hmm... I've always enjoyed seizing onto some unsuspecting todd, pretending that we've met before, and seeing how long it can go before he admits he doesn't remember me. The ones who try to go along with it and cover for not recognizing me at all are simply the best. Perhaps..."

She scanned the crowd, dismissing the knot around the Minister of Innovation entirely. They certainly didn't need that sort of attention. "Oh," her eyes landed on a weathered-looking fox with a prosthetic limb near the buffet. "Now that seems like an amusing specimen." She looked to Iva, inquiring, "Shall we go in together? We'll reference a steamy tryst in Marquistry Cape if pressed; otherwise, it's simply ad lib."

~~~

Daniil winced as Alwyn barked commands at him in their native tongue as Caden rejoined them. "Hai," he responded automatically, putting his arm around Asta and pulling her into the group as gently as he could manage. "I'm sorry Asta," he murmured, "I'll get you clear of this as soon as possible. I'll keep you safe, I promise it." It was a bodyguard's promise, one made with the awareness that the only way it could be broken was at the cost of one's own life.

~~~

Dusk winced at the honestly quite deserved rebuke from her husband. As much as she made a point of not deigning to denigrate those beneath their notice, this had been a marked departure from that ethos, and one entirely unearned by the poor girl. The heartbreak on the young vixen's face was enough to nearly rip out Dusk's own heart, guilt clawing at her for the cruel words. I need to keep her away from the family, she reminded herself. She can't get involved - and heavens forbid, don't let Alwyn ever see her. That boy would chase anything female in a heartbeat; a pretty, innocent young thing like Mina Rose would be to him like seer's sage to a cat's nose. She was not ready to have that sort of intervention with her son yet, and certainly couldn't imagine how to definitively ward him off of Mina Rose without giving up the whole game. Well, then again, she is supposed to be his cousin.

Dusk took a deep breath, fixing her gaze on Mina Rose. That in itself was a colossal effort. Dusk had never seen much of herself in her other two daughters; Ameliya had inherited a certain plainness of the face that, based on the portraits in Storm's Peak, ran recessive in the Ryalor bloodline. Her saving grace was that her fashion tended toward the dowdy and her manner toward the hysterical, which in trifecta was actually enough to make her sympathetic rather than simply pathetic. As for Anastasia, well, she was some other creature entirely. The only reflection Dusk saw of herself in that girl was akin to spotting one's own image in a glacier as it cascaded down upon one's own head: distorted into a sinister, deadly beauty best beheld at great distance. Mina Rose, though... There was a softness about the girl, an earnestness that begged for the same in all treatment toward her. Perhaps she was a bit dull, but then again, she'd been raised in Tookumberry, a place that seemed to be created by the gods for the purpose of dullness. That was why Dusk had picked it; dullness, she'd believed at the time, would mean safety for the girl.

And look how that worked out.

She swallowed as Talinn not-so-subtly coerced her to apologize to the girl. She really should; she hated the sight of those tears in her daughter's eyes, didn't want to see that hurt in them any longer. She could hear Thistle's voice in her ear, the hedgehog asking what she would do to make amends. Dusk inhaled deeply, steeling herself. I'm so sorry, Mina, love.

"You're right," she allowed. "That was beneath me. I know perfectly well that your tastes run much richer, dear husband. As for Alwyn, well, one look at the girl certainly tells me we've nothing to worry about there. His usual sort looks more the temptress and less the tempest-tossed." She gestured to the young vixen condescendingly. "Even he would think twice before taking on such a charity case."

It had the intended effect, and Dusk hated herself for it immediately. The vixen's eyes widened in shock, the unearned pain there apparent as, unknown to the girl, her own mother drove a dagger into both their hearts. Unable to muffle the sobs that broke free, she turned and ran from the group, running blindly toward the stairs to the balcony levels in desperate search of privacy. Everything in Dusk wanted to run after the girl, to hold and comfort her, to explain, to apologize honestly, to be a mother to her for once in her life. Instead, she had to keep up the act, sniffing as if an unpleasant odor had just departed. "Just as well," she stated, feigning indifference. "Take it from me, dear husband, that one was only angling for a wealthy match. Best to put that kind out early; otherwise they dig in like a burr, and you've ten times the trouble in removing them."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail had also drawn his dagger in his reaction to his two companions wielding their own weapons, the blade catching the chandelier’s flickering light. Silvie and Kaii stood firm at his sides, and in this storm of panic, it only steadied Swift’s heart. It sure was emboldening that his friends were always ready to jump to his protection. What a welcome change after the five years he spent as a beggar in the Slups with no real social circle.

Then Talinn’s voice rang out, calm and commanding, and Swift faltered. His grip loosened a fraction. Had he overreacted? He hadn’t even drawn his weapon until his mates had, but still, the Duke’s rebuke stung, heat creeping under his cheek fur. A quick breath steadied him. The minister was probably right. Likely some poor worker had fallen, rushing to mend the chandelier. Tragic, but not a reason to flee in a blind panic.

However, it was the Duchess’s words that cut sharper than any blade. “Stage art,” she’d said, flippant as tossing scraps to gulls. And worse yet was the venom she leveled at Mina Rose. Swift’s ears snapped forward, his tail bristling in outrage. Hell’s teeth, the vixen’s tongue was cruel. To strike down a serving beast so needlessly? He didn’t care if she was the Duchess. She could've even been the Empress herself and it still would have boiled his blood.

He glanced at Mina, seeing her shrink under the weight of it, eventually fleeing the group in a bout of tears, and something fierce welled in his chest. Five years he’d been spat on, starved, treated as nothing in the Slups. He knew too well how words like that felt when they landed. Now, to hear them aimed at that young vixen, already trembling from the chaos, it was nearly unbearable.

“Ye’ve no call t’speak so, ma’am,” he muttered under his breath, voice low but firm, meant only for Silvie and Kaii’s ears.

With a slow exhale, Swifttail sheathed his dagger. If the Duke could keep steady and the Duchess was lofty enough to be trading barbs instead of commands, then the danger had surely passed. He shifted closer to Silvertongue, laying a paw gently on his arm, a small anchor amidst the noise.

“I apologies, sir,” he said quietly to Talinn, dipping his head. “I’m still new t’this level o’society. Please, mates… put up yer arms.”

@Silvertongue Songfox @Kaii Nashirou @Talinn Ryalor @Dusk Rainblade @Mina Rose Brewer

 

[Matisse Dubois]

At last slithering his way between the throngs of confused beasts, Matisse popped up with timing which was either merciful or terrible depending on perspective. Like a moonshadow the spymaster was on the scene beside Dusk no sooner had Mina Rose begun to depart, noting the prevailing mood of the small gathering in silence before attention turned to his employer.

He hadn’t signed up for doing more work than the morning had required, but needs must, and the sable was becoming increasingly uneasy. A polite, deferential nod of the head was given to the gathering in acknowledgement before he turned his muzzle to the vixen’s ear, making quick his report.

@Dusk Rainblade (and just so y’all know he’s about) @Silvertongue Songfox @Kaii Nashirou @Talinn Ryalor

 

[Tanya Keltoi]

The heavy fabric momentarily enveloped her, and Tanya cursed herself for being so foolish as to fall into such a trap. She reeled backwards to gain herself some space, inadvertently keeping safe from the hook’s first swing.

It was the second, combined with the sweep at her dagger, which forced a choice. Unable to focus on both movements, the vixen allowed the dagger to be swept from her paw and go skimming down the hallway, jerking sharply backwards to avoid the point of the hook. Oh, he was serious. It was a close call, barely missing her face to catch painfully in the jacket at her collarbone. Should have kept the cloak.

Running on instinct to keep momentum to try and force the wildcat to disengage, even if it was risky as the smaller combatant, Tanya propelled herself forward this time with the weapon still caught in fabric and fur. Attempting to trap the hook and her assailant’s paw between their bodies, she bared her fangs and snapped at his throat.

@Sean Wicke

 

[Cricket]

As much as Cricket might have liked to hear Jeshal’s answer, yeah why /do/ you care? the todd gave a masterclass in response to the officious vixen – and, of course, chatter about a body proved mighty distracting.

The gecko had been half-tempted to follow Finn if only to keep an eye on him and his safety. Dead beasts weren’t of much interest considering her upbringing but he’d been two for two on disastrous adventures and she’d like to keep him from joining said corpse. She took a step forward when voices hailed the todd and he was approached by members of the Guard.

Cricket froze. They did not seem to mean Finnian any harm, if anything being rather chummy with him and he likewise. That he was in no danger allowed her own fear of the Guard to settle more definitively; in spite of herself the gecko shrank behind Jeshal, unconsciously decided that he was her safest bet for now. Silence, likewise, was probably for the best: she did not fancy attracting Guard attention nor provoking Minerva’s ire lest she be thrown out on her tail.

@Jeshal the Ironclaw @Minerva @FinnianBrightfur @Alwyn Ryalor

 

[FinnianBrightfur]

Spotting Oscar, Theo moved to his partner [...] “I am here, Finnian,” he said, calmly, but with a hint of urgency in his voice. “Unfortunately, I do not think there is much anyone can do for the beast except to pray. A fall from that height, how landed…” He shook his head. “...I can handle many things, but not that, and I do not suspect any doctor could either."

“Theo is right, Finnian, and it is a little dangerous and it looks like Lieutenant Alwyn will be returning soon. I tell you what, you grab what you want right now, and we can all pretend this never happened so that you will not get in trouble. Isn’t that right, Theo?”

Cricket froze. They did not seem to mean Finnian any harm, if anything being rather chummy with him and he likewise. That he was in no danger allowed her own fear of the Guard to settle more definitively; in spite of herself the gecko shrank behind Jeshal, unconsciously decided that he was her safest bet for now. Silence, likewise, was probably for the best: she did not fancy attracting Guard attention nor provoking Minerva’s ire lest she be thrown out on her tail.

It was definitely strange how familiar Finn was with the guards beasts -- a fact Finn was reminded of when he saw Cricket retreat behind Jeshal. It wasn't that urchin's didn't like the law, per se! They just seemed to perpetually be on the wrong side of it. The foxkit waved a paw to Cricket to usher her back out. "Hey, naw it's... it's alright Cricket, they're here for me. Alwyn's got me under some sorta... protection? Rgghh!" Finn wiped his face with his paws, exasperated -- exasperated I tell you! -- at the EMBARRASSING suffering he had to endure.

Drawing a breath, he attempted to explain his predicament. "Sssooo I sorta snuck aboard the Golden Hide, and went to Urk, and the cap'n -- he... sorta made me a member? And he nearly died, but we saved'm and I'm staying at his place. And then... Alwyn's his son, and..."

Finn cried out in frustration again, and his shoulders slumped in resignation. As awful as it was to be in a protective escort, Alwyn did save his life. At the very least, Finn owed him some measure of respect, even if he was driving him mad. "...and... I'unno. He's so protective. Oh... uh... Cricket, this is Theo, he's the medic. And Oscar works with'm... and this is Jesh and Cricket. I knew Cricket before I got on the Hide."

Seemingly, Finn saw no urgent reason to leave. He looked back to the tragedy unfolding on the stage, and let out a huff. Turning back to Theo, he frowned. "Well shouldn't they at least cover the body up? Show some respect for the dead until they can sew'm up in 'is hammock? Mr. Barrett would have my hide if I didn't ...oh, I guess he doesn't have a hammock..."

 

[Orina Emberkin]

Beneath the stage, all was set. Michel ran one last check on the mechanical clocks ticking away and ensured the fuses were positioned correctly to be lit at the appropriate time. He stopped and listened as the Minister strode across the stage towards the plinth. The fox smiled. So long as the rat stayed there for another minute and a half, the plan would not be a failure after all.

Blowing out the lantern, Michel darted out into the narrow hallway and went up the stairwell, counting under his breath. He made his way into the back halls of the opera house towards a rear exit into an alleyway. There was an Unsmudgable standing guard. Michel waved his clipboard and tipped his flat cap at the beast. They gave him a nod as he exited. As soon as the door shut behind him, he started running.

—

Chalice of wine in paw, Kilaris scaled the plinth, surprisingly nimble despite his tipsy state. The rat took a drink from the vessel and waved off the pair of Unsmudgables who had hastily followed him across the stage.

“Please, I’m fine. Just stay down there.”

The rat flung a paw wide and inhaled deeply, steadying himself in a heroic pose as he addressed the beasts in the theater in a well-practiced, booming voice that carried to the furthest walls of the auditorium.

“Good beasts of Bully Harbor! Please, calm yourselves. All is well and has been handled by the brave Unsmudgables and cunning MAUL agents here to protect you and I this night. For behind this very stage, an assassin was readying to strike at none other but myself–preparing to cut me down most tragically on my birthday.” He lifted the back of his paw to his forehead and closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the gravity of his statement to settle in with the audience as surprised murmurs and gasps spread through the crowd. He gestured to the crumpled body. “But as you can see, he was thwarted in his attempt and paid the ultimate price for his ill-conceived plan.”

—

As the Minister of Niceties made his way across the stage, an Unsmudgable dashed up beside Orina, out of breath.

“Vice Minister. We found the assassin. He took out several of our beasts in the catwalk and now he’s fighting one of ours in the boxes.” They pointed upwards just as the curtains in one of the boxes billowed out. Orina set her jaw.

“Thank you. Hold my boot.” Kicking off her left boot, she shoved the article into the Unsmudgable’s paws. She leaned down and pushed a lever in the ankle of her prosthetic limb. Three sharp metal claws unfolded from the foot of the prosthesis. With several leaping strides, the squirrel dashed to the ornate column that rose from the side of the stage. Her last stride turned into a jump, and she landed on the column, paws grabbing hold and metal claws digging into the surface. She did not stop moving, scaling quickly and nimbly upwards until she was at the edge of the nearest box. Taking hold of the edge, Orina swung herself in and darted through the curtain into the hallway beyond the boxes towards the sounds of fighting.

Nearing the pair, who clearly each had full intent to kill the other, Orina bellowed, “Stand down both of you! You’re on the same side!”

---

Asta allowed herself to be ushered into the group of Guardsbeasts by Daniil. She looked over her shoulder to Caden, trying to get his attention. He caught her eye and waved her on.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m right behind you.”

She nodded, curious as to why he was carrying Whisper, and took Daniil’s paw, holding him tightly as they and the formation of Guardsbeasts moved quickly away from the stage.

Though Caden wished to follow directly behind them, he held up a paw to Alwyn. “Just one moment. I’ll be right behind you. There’s just somebeast I need to warn.”

On the stage, the Minister had begun his speech.

Caden approached Aiken, feeling he had an obligation to warn the stoat. “Aiken,” he said. “Good evening. This will sound strange, but I think you should get back up into the atrium. Something odd is going on here and we have suspicions it might not be safe by the stage.”

Without waiting for a reply, he turned to one of the nearby Unsmudgables, a young fox. “I can’t give you orders, but it would be in your best interest to get your Minister off the stage and get the audience out of the theater.”

The fox gave him a quizzical look. “What? Why?”

“There was a threat,” Caden improvised. He shifted Whisper in his grasp and pointed to the body. “This dead beast here was just the beginning. Until we know the area is secure, we need to get everybeast away from the stage.”

Feeling as though he had given them enough warning, the marten turned and started to jog after the Guardsbeasts.

“I’m very sorry,” he said to Whisper. “I’ll put you down once we get back to the atrium.”

---

Afton Kilaris raised his chalice triumphantly. “I will not be brought low by fear of death! To this assassin, and all others like him, I celebrate in the face of their contempt. I stand tall and proud, and I encourage all of you to do the same.” He paused, noting with annoyance that at least the front of the crowd had stopped listening as his Unsmudgables were, for some unexplainable reason, moving them away from the stage. A young fox Skillblade jogged across the stage, ears flattened and tail tucked in apology. He spoke in hushed tones to the Smudgies at the base of the plinth. Afton cleared his throat loudly and continued.

“Yes, I encourage all of you to stand tall and proud and continue celebrating! For we will not bow our heads to threats, nor will we allow the incendiary actions of a few violent individuals to–”

He did not get a chance to describe what they would not allow, as there was a concussive BOOM from beneath the stage that drowned out his voice. The entire stage ballooned upwards with the snapping of timbers, throwing Afton from the plinth. A billowing, explosive cloud of searing grey and brown further shattered the stage and drowned out any screams from the beasts on it, then orange and white flame roared upwards and consumed the entire front of the opera house in a scorching, cataclysmic blast.

—

Liza ushered Izakis and Kal along the catwalk towards the stairs backstage. She slung a paw on the skink’s shoulder and smiled up at her.

“Mate, if you want to join the Smudgies, jus’ show up at Niceties headquarters an’ put in an application. You can use me for a reference if y’want. We accept all sorts; plenty o’work for beasts with different skillsets. You’ll get trainin’, o’course, an’ the pay isn’t half bad even when you first join up.” She winked. “Best Ministry t’work for, in my opinion, but I s’pose I’m biased.” They had made it to the stairway, Liza motioning for the vixen and lizard to take the lead.

Then the entire stage exploded in a roar of flame and force. While they were on the very edge of the explosion, most of it concentrated at the front of the stage, all three were thrown upwards and back, seared with heat and sprayed with broken pieces of stage and the twisted metal of the pipe organ. Liza landed on the now-burning catwalk on her back, completely winded and her ears ringing, unable even to take stock of herself as she tried to understand in her dazed mind what had just happened.

—

Caden felt as though he had been struck by a searing wall of force. The sound of it alone deafened him, and he felt himself thrown forward as heat scorched his back. He instinctively wrapped himself around the small fox in his arms, hoping in some calm, detached part of his mind that his weight landing on them had not injured them.

Completely dazed, the jack vaguely registered the smell of scorched fur and flesh. He could barely hear the screams around him for the ringing in his ears. Had his heartbeat always felt so loud? How could something feel loud? He tried to push up with his right paw to give Whisper some space, and the ripping pain through his shoulder and back brought him back to full consciousness. With it, came the clawing cold of fear and dread.

Oh ‘Gates, Asta and Daniil.

 

[Dusk Rainblade]

Dusk kept her face still, the picture of bemusement, even as she saw the looks on the faces of the todds around her. The horror, anger, and disgust in their eyes at her treatment of the poor waitress only reflected the self-hatred bubbling up within her. I'll make it up to Mina someday, she promised herself silently, clasping her paws in front of her waist. She noticed one of the gray-furred foxes, not the one to whom Mina Rose had been clinging but the one who seemed to be attached to the orange-furred troubadour beside him, mutter something she couldn't make out, but she was sure was of a sentiment with the thoughts already running through her head on a repeating circuit.

She was about to suggest they seek out some dessert that hadn't made collision with the floor when Matisse, one of her agents on her personal shortlist of candidates for the Director's Men, stepped up to her side and quietly whispered in her ear. Dusk froze, smile plastered on her face as the tidings he brought poured like quicksilver down her ear canal to her mind. "Thank you, Matisse," she stated quietly, straining to keep the surge of panic and annoyance out of her tone. "Gentlebeasts, I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me," she addressed the assembled todds. "It seems that there may be -"

Then the peace shattered.

~~~

Sean realized he'd overcommitted only too late; while he succeeded in striking the vixen, albeit lower than intended, and disarmed her of her dagger, he found himself far closer than he'd wanted to be, and her full weight was coming at him when he was least prepared to handle it. He fell back, the vixen's teeth closing toward his throat, and he abandoned his grip on the hook, using the arm she'd caught between their two bodies to try to hold her back. As they hit the floor, he gritted his teeth at the aggravation to his existing wound, his mind already racing to find what he could use to counter her. The long floor runner, maybe? Flip them, grab the carpet, haul it to wrap her up? Unlikely to succeed, too heavy to move quickly. Maybe a blow to the neck to drive the hook in a bit more, distract her until he could find his next move, except he had no clear access to it, and her own claws were poised right at his stomach. Knees then, he'd have to bring them up and try to kick her off him, afford himself some space and regroup...

The pair froze, the vixen's teeth at Sean's throat, Sean's knees pulled up to his chest and his footpaws against the vixen's gut, as a voice cut in. They stared at the squirrel who had seemingly just appeared from out of nowhere in the box, huffing a bit and clearly irate. As her words and their meaning sunk in, Sean slowly started to relax, his footpaws lowering back down to touch the floor.

Then the explosion came.

The blast was powerful enough to shake the floor, disentangling the pair and sending them tumbling a few feet. Sean picked himself up as soon as the world stopped spinning and he could feel his paws again, though the ringing in his ears did nothing to help his disorientation. The stage, balcony, and catwalk that had been the site of his last encounter with the law was now ablaze, several of what might be corpses caught up amidst the wood and flame. He privately hoped that the Unsmudgables had vacated the site. Killing government agents was messy, and he didn't need that sort of heat tied to him even peripherally right now. Still have a job to do, he reminded himself. He looked to the squirrel and nodded his acknowledgement, then glanced to the vixen who had just moments before been the focus of his murderous efforts. "Later," he promised. Whether that vow was one of reconciliation or retribution, he didn't elaborate; instead he turned and, favoring the side on which the vixen had struck him, he hurried in the direction of the doors to the atrium. He needed to find his charge and make sure he was still alive, after all.

~~~

Daniil's eyes widened as he caught the concern in Caden's expression and motions, the tenseness that indicated a looming threat. That same tension infected Daniil as he felt himself torn between his duty, both to the Guards and to protect Asta with his life, and his desire to protect Caden as well, to pull him away from whatever danger it was that worried him so.

The choice was ripped from him as the stage erupted, the blast thankfully aimed more upwards than outwards. It was that which bought Daniil a few precious moments for his training to kick in and for him to throw himself across Asta, putting his body between her and the danger. For a moment nothing else mattered, only keeping Asta safe. Then the wall of sound and force passed, and, as the ringing in his ears was slowly replaced by sound, sense returned to him as well. He dared to lift his head, looking about for any sign of Caden. There was too much smoke and chaos about; his senses were overwhelmed, and processing what he was seeing was too much for him. He could feel the frigid coldness of shock setting in, pouring into his bones and turning him to ice himself. Caden. No no no no no. The scene of carnage overlapped with another grand hall thirty years ago, a different body limp on the floor, his sister Mileya's voice crying out in distress at the sight. Caught between two tragedies hung Daniil, suspended on a rope above a darkness that threatened to envelop him whole.

~~~

Morgan didn't even think; on pure instinct she grabbed Vihma and tackled her, the pair landing behind the table she'd just been considering pilfering. She'd wrapped her arms tight about the weasel, maximizing her coverage of her partner's frame as best she could as chaos roared from the stage. It wasn't until the reverberations of the blast stopped echoing through the house and the cries of pain, distress, and despair started up that she raised her head, carefully pulling herself off and away from Vihma. She glanced briefly over the table toward the stage - or, at least, what had been the stage a minute before - and then offered her paw to Vihma. "C'mon," she urged the weasel jill, "I think we oughta go. This don' seem like our kinda party."

~~~

Marianna crouched by instinct, covering her head, at the massive boom that echoed through the atrium. It took a moment for the logical side of her brain to override the emotional reaction that, from somewhere deep in her blood, told her they were under attack. The roof wasn't caving in; there was smoke and fire from the auditorium, but they were no longer there. Thank goodness Iva suggested we move, she thought immediately. It seemed her partner's sense for danger was more finely tuned than her own - something she would certainly remember. "Iva," she addressed the fox, anxiety creeping into her tone in spite of herself. "Are you alright?"

~~~

Mina Rose had made it up to the balcony level, collapsing in a corner against the outside wall, and had just huddled for a good, cathartic cry when the blast echoed through the building. The force of the blow flung open the doors to the first balcony level, a gout of plaster flying into the air as the doorknob struck the wall with enough force to punch a hole in it, eliciting a small shriek from the vixen as she covered her face. As soon as the sound of the blast subsided and the support structure of the building stopped groaning in pain, Mina Rose carefully stood up and, coughing from the dust and smoke, pushed her way down the short hall, one paw over her nose and mouth to shield herself from the worst of it. As she came out onto the balcony, she saw down to the stage, and she froze.

Immediately the devastation catapulted her back just a few weeks past, to the Admiral Rainblade Inn, her home, ablaze and awash in the blood and corpses of beasts who had been family to her. "No," she whimpered, the two moments overlapping and merging in the present. All your fault, a voice within her whispered, volume and guilt building with each reputation. All your fault, all your fault, all your fault!

"No!" she cried, turning and bolting back the way she'd come, running blinding, coughing and crying and wheezing from the dust and despair alike. She wasn't thinking, she didn't know where she was going, she couldn't see through the dust and tears -

Her foot found thin air instead of the floor, and her momentum carried her forward, a brief weightlessness making her stomach lurch before the world turned up toward her and she hit the stairs. She rolled and tumbled, each angle seeming to find a place to strike in which she'd never before considered the prospect of acute pain, before she rolled out onto the floor, dazed and whimpering. Someone was calling her name from a great distance. Was it her mother? Had she been dead the whole time, lost in a purgatory of her own design, just waiting to be called onward? Maybe that would be nice - maybe Geremy would be waiting for her there too, and she could apologize for lying when she'd said she loved him...

"Mina Rose!" The voice was much closer, and paws were lifting her up, cradling her. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw... no, not her mother, but Aunt Dusk. The vixen was looking at her with actual fear and concern and... love? She had to be unconscious and dreaming, she decided; there was no way that the vixen who had said such horrible things right to her face could actually love her. She decided to embrace the dream, watching passively as Dusk raised her head, looking about. "Someone - you!" she called in the direction of the todds, the handsome Mr. Nashirou among them, a bark in her voice that brokered no dissent. "Help me with her!"

 

[Aiken Brudenell]

Aiken Brudenell & Adelyn Ufrey

Aiken hadn’t quite been used as a prop before, the way Kilaris had pulled him around. He wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it. Of course, he offered a weak smile for the attention, dutifully retrieving his notes to take down the Minister’s heroic quote. It was his job to do so, and good for job security that he captured such things. Niceties may have lost its way, but in this scope he could serve both truth and his employment – bravery could be admirable and instructive, even in its lesser forms.

As the Minister argued with Vice Minister Emberkin, he made to awkwardly step away, Adelyn reaching for his side once again. She looked at him with a look more annoyed than disturbed with the party’s disruption. Aiken thought to say something to her, only for Caden – that marten who’d once helped to save his life – to appear before them, giving a warning that made the stoats look at each other quizzically.

What manner of danger could threaten them all, surrounded by security from multiple ministries? There wasn’t time to ask before Caden turned to another beast, issuing something close to an order before jogging off. A flicker of confusion, and Aiken turned to his mate, giving her what little context he could offer for the strange interaction.

“That was – that was the beast I told you about.”

“The… what did you say his name was? Caden?”

“That one, yes.”

Adelyn’s eyes tracked the white-furred marten through the thin crowd, curious.

“Funny, I’d have thought he was made of sterner stuff. Not the first time there’s been a body found at an event like this, is it?”

Aiken quibbled with the question in his mind for an instant too long, falling behind on his notes as the minister kept speaking from the stage. “Eh, I wouldn’t say it’s exceedingly common, at least not with this sort of security.”

Adelyn slung her arm around his, pulling him away. The male stoat made to protest, but she was adamant.

“Come on, Aike. Another paperbeast’ll get the Minister’s speech. Don’t you want to see what all the worry is about?”

Walking after the albino marten, the two stoats never made it far from the stage. Aiken opened his mouth to speak, to say something as Adelyn pulled him along, but the words never came. A flash of light from behind, a woosh of dust and debris, and the world went dark.

~~~

Vihmastaja Rhoodie

@Morgan Liu

Vihma had been enjoying herself, enjoying Morgan – enjoying Morgan enjoying her. She felt light as the breeze, a flutter in her chest, more warm than any wine could make her. Though she’d not pass up the chance for good wine in a fancy glass, or even straight from the bottle – certainly not shared with a beast who made her feel drunk with only her gentle closeness.

That was what it was for a beautiful moment, the ferret’s paws about her, the weasel making her lover linger on the way over to the table with its bottles and glasses.

Vihma blinked. She blinked, and the force of the blast pushed around her, and she was on the floor beside Morgan, the sound of the shockwave and a thousand falling pieces of shrapnel raining across the auditorium.

The weasel took Morgan’s paw almost automatically, though she couldn’t help but look around at the destruction, hesitant to leave what she thought was safety. There were dead already, she’d no doubt about that. A blast that large, around so many beasts…

“Gates, fire ‘n… what ‘appened? Y’think it’s an attack?”

Then she looked to Morgan, as though seeing her for the first time, her eyes scanning the ferret’s body in so much different a way than she’d have liked, looking for red, bloody spots of injury like that which still haunted her nightmares from Urk.

“Gates, Morgan, ye alright? Ye didn’ get ‘it, did ye?”

 

[Jeshal the Ironclaw]

For a fleeting moment, Jeshal’s left ear angled toward Finnian as he mentioned the Hide and proceeded to say his own name in a surprisingly informal manner. Time was, beasts wouldn’t have dared call me ‘Jesh’, he thought with vague amusement.

Whatever response Minerva had for him was cut through by the announcement from Kilaris attempting to assure the crowd. For his part, Jeshal was reassured. There were so many factions here tonight that a true threat didn’t seem likely, save infighting. Something felt off that he could not place, something nagging in his heart that there was danger he was not recognising.

Too late.

At the poignant part of Kilaris’ speech, the stage exploded. A large section of flaming wood careened in their direction, only the buffet table standing between them. Jeshal threw up his gauntlet as the table upended and smashed into him, shattering the glass he held. Some instinct had his other paw curl around Cricket as he went down, trying to prevent her from being squashed by searing wood or by his own weight against the wall.

((Let me know, Kaii (Minerva), if you wish anything editing when back from your break <3 Same for Cricket with the slight auto. My imagining is that this might have also hit Minerva but may have avoided Finn))

@Cricket @Minerva @FinnianBrightfur @Alwyn Ryalor (for the guards)

​

 

[Kaii Nashirou]

The marble fox was nodding along the Duke's words. While it was still a mystery to him who the duke was, he was fully agreeing with the sentiment he was now portraying. It mattered not who one is, where did they come from and what do they believe in. Any words like the ones Dusk ushered were much beneath someone at her position.

And then she somehow got worse. The inferno of cold, blue flames raged behind the stoic facade Kaii held. His eyes boring into the Duchess with intensity that could be deadly for beasts of poorer fortitude. Noticing as the poor waitress run away in tears, Kaii's sense of justice was pushing him to fight. Not just for her honour, but for all those at the bottom of the society, like he once was, like his friends were, like this girl possibly was.

While Kaii wished for nothing more than to point his quarterstaff at the Duchess and duel her for the heinous remarks, he also wasn't stupid. He knew it was neither time nor place. Besides, that would end his journey on the spot, as he would either get assassinated should he win or smeared should he lose. Patience spoke through him and with Swifttail words that let him know he wasn't the only one with such thoughts. "She deserves a lesson in humility." Kaii whispered back and moved his thinking elsewhere with a sharp nod.

More specifically, while he was registering the speech of the Minister of Niceties, his mind was attuned to the fact that even Duke seemed appalled by Duchess behaviour. Rightly so, but he should know her well. And that to Kaii was showing she was not behaving in the way she would've. Combined with the earlier observation that the two were similar...

That was where Kaii's thoughts had to stop, because there was explosion happening near them.

Instinctively he turned his back to it and moved to shield his friends. It wasn't needed, but he had an obligation to protect them. He did feel the shockwave and lone piece of wood hitting his back, but they were far enough for either to not be too harmful. "Are you two fine?" He yelled, ignoring the ringing in his ear from pressure changes. Instead glancing over the two, spotting no harm.

His gaze turned to the Duke who also seemed to be alright. Then he turned and saw the destruction in the place that used to be a main scene. Glad to see that those he cared for in any way were alright, he did now focus on looking if any beast was in need of his help.

Then from the staircase near them, the vixen from before, Mina Rose, tumbled out. She was looking purely miserable, after such humiliation and now the beating the stairs gave her, Kaii saw in her his own reflection. He lived through those too.

He acted to move even before Duchess called for him. Albeit he did register that she did so. Looking at her in passing, there was sternness in her voice that Kaii could only read in one way. The same unapologetic, iron-fisted care he had in the critical situation.

But he decided to leave that consideration for later. For now, it would be for the best to leave the place, both for him and his friends alike. Picking up Mina Rosa into his arms, using the metal pole he had to rigidify her back, he turned to his friends with just as uncompromising stern look that duchess just served. "We should be leaving to the atrium, now." He called and awaited for his friends to follow them.

@Silvertongue Songfox @SwifttailTheFox @Mina Rose Brewer @Talinn Ryalor @Dusk Rainblade

---

Minerva liked the older todd words, albeit she would much rather solve their issue with weapons, words had to do for now. And while she was utterly annoyed with the situation, she couldn't deny there was some twisted joy in the argument the two had. "Indeed. We are not talking about the same. To me that hatchling is not a concern anymore, I did twice said I accept she is under your care. I am since then concerned with why. To show such care for a random orphan, it rings my suspicions. That is why I am inquiring you for more deta..."

She wasn't allowed to finish, the explosion shook the building. Minerva had only one reaction imprinted into her mind to such noise. It came from avalanches and falling icebergs. Thus she tried to grasp and pull as many of the other beasts to the floor, but it was too little too late.

A massive chunk of wood smashed into the table, pushing the todd and the hatchling alike into the wall and pinning them. What hit her, wasn't enough to make her fall, but she did roll to mitigate some damage from the strike. Standing up again, she felt the pain and considered getting away. But she was a soldier now so she moved to do what she was told was her primary objective. Saving lives. Which she did by using her spear as a lever to pull the wood away from the metal paw and scaly orphan.

After the ringing in the ears have stopped, Minerva asked the others by her with a voice that was carrying no nonsense. "You wounded? If so, tell me what hurts. If not, it is time to evacuate." She pulled an arrow and her bow, ready to fight if needed, to fulfil her orders. Fortunately, she didn't have to like someone to do her work properly.

@Jeshal the Ironclaw @Cricket @FinnianBrightfur @Alwyn Ryalor (His Guards)

---

Iva, despite the pain, curled around Marianna as soon as the explosion happened. Encasing her lover in protective cocoon made from themselves. While doing so, Iva dig her claws into the outfit, shredding it a bit in order to produce the throwing stars, ready to fight. It was at this moment that, for the first time, Iva had to make a choice of running away or protecting Marianna. She herself was glad the latter won without any hesitation. And upon finally hearing Marianna voice over the chaos and ringing in the ears, Iva dropped the voice, the act was gone from them.

"Am fine. A piece of sumthin' hit me butt. 'Sides that an' strained back, am not wounded and glad t' see ya ain't harmed either." Ivo pulled Marianna up, himself howling almost from the pain in his back. "Let's get sumplace safe. Come." He offered her his paw, ready to go, still holding those throwing stars in other paw should anything happen.

@Marianna Furotazzi

---

Izakis was nodding with surprising eagerness while hearing that she could find a place among those like Liza. That one night already shown her how rewarding it felt and that she wasn't really useless in anything but her profession after all. She wanted to ask more, to fully assure herself that it was a real option.

But explosion did so for her.

Being lighter than most, she was sent flying a bit further than Liza or Kal. While it wasn't helpful in managing the searing pain, not a good type of one, that run through her entire body, it did help with not being hit with as many pieces of rubble and shards of metal or wood. Her scales did also stop some of those, some have cracked or were scratched but she was still in a bit better shape then the two mammalian femmes she was with. The catwalk they were all at was ablaze. And she, being reptilian, was put into overcharge with the heat.

All that, allowed her to recover much sooner than the other two. She felt that her arm was shredded, but she still had her tail and other arm to use, and fortunately, skinks like her are great at regenerating. Thus, using the adrenaline and the heat, she moved on all fours to the other two as swiftly as she could, then using her strong tail to remove the rubble that was on them and trying to gauge if they were alright. "Hey, gals! If you can move, now is the time to do so! Flames are creeping by!" She yelled at them with equal parts concern and panic.

@Liza Fairpaw @Kal Goldtail

---

Whisper was smooshed under the weight of Caden. The explosion barely registered by them but not missed. In fact, it put a stop to the downward spiral Whisper found themselves on. Their worries and depressive thoughts weren't forgotten, but there was a feeling of being protected. It confused the poor fox again. This beast in their mind was both a protector and the one who held intent to harm them. Such dichotomy was unbearable. Whisper let out a primordial scream as soon as Caden tried to raise himself up.

Seeing the damage around, all the wounded and even dead made Whisper understand, Caden was actually on their side. Even if they were kitnapping them, Whisper was feeling safe and that had to be enough for now.

So they did pull out a little flask of water, one that Whisper had to clear their throat between longer flute pieces. It was waaay too little, but it was only thing Whisper could offer to their saviour, even if one that Whisper's mind still considered a kitnapper.

So they opened it with shaking paws, and pointed to Caden, giving it to them a sign of their trust and as meagre thanks for their efforts.

@Caden S. Freemont

 

[Silvertongue Songfox]

There was too much chaos going on. First, the body falling from the chandelier, then the sudden arrival of the Duke's wife? A bitter, cold-hearted vixen from what he could discern. Ironically a perfect match for a beast such as the Duke, no offense to him. Though her smarting remarks were certainly uncalled for. Then, a massive explosion nearly threw him from his feet.

"Hellgates, let's just get out of here!" Silvertongue exclaimed, putting his lute away and grabbing Swifttail in his arms. "If this is common occurance for the social elites, I want no part of it!" He declared, immediately looking for more danger as he started to move towards the exit.

 

[Lord Yaro Ashpaw]

So much for the plan. If only Yaro had been allowed to kill in simpler ways than a two-stage poison. A shame it would have fallen back on MAUL if he had, and with this level of security it was too much of a risk. Honestly, he would have admired the sheer chaos of what transpired.

If Yaro hadn't been standing quite so near to the stage.

The wildcat was blasted off his feet towards one of the exits, his fine coat and whiskers singed. He bared his teeth and hauled himself up, his calm composure fallen into that of an injured predator. He tried to get a glimpse of Dusk or even Matisse, but there was too much smoke.​

 

[Matisse Dubois]

Keeping his gaze politely distant as he relayed his information, Matisse was gripped with the same lurch of unspecified dread in the calm before the storm; when it broke, however, he had hardly anticipated such a scene. Explosions were hardly unheard of in the scheme of his career but the sheer visceral nature of it made such an event difficult to absorb passively

The shock made him flinch, brows lowering in bemusement followed swiftly by consternation. This was not in the plans: either he had been lied to or something was fundamentally wrong. How, in that case, had it been able to happen? His duties for the assassination had been unrelated to security but now he wondered if he should have taken a post tonight.

Following his Minister the sable kept paw on one of his blades, ears pricked and eyes searching. On the one level there was a practicality to assessing the danger of the chaos as it unfolded, on another he was noting the tone in Dusk’s voice, the speed at which she had reacted. He would make no comment but the matter was noted for later examination. Tonight, he suspected, would be full of such memorable happening.

As the injured youngster was seen to with all due care, Matisse stood ready in the face of evacuations and beasts hastening for the exits. Unwilling to leave his Minister (nor, indeed, run the risk of immediately ushering her to an exit where there may be a crush in the mad scramble), he looked to Dusk. “Orders, ma’am?”


@Dusk Rainblade (and presumably nearby @Talinn Ryalor @Kaii Nashirou @Mina Rose Brewer @SwifttailTheFox @Silvertongue Songfox)