Open The Slups On Noodle Street

[Naika Rustyfangs]

As the rat finally seemed to get to action and the todd declared his readiness to help, Mälikä relaxed more. Korya seemed slightly agitated at the idea of being helped still. She was angry even at the idea of being carried. Yet...

Mälikä's heart hurt at seeing how this kitten was trying her hardest for whatever reason. Was it harsh life? Or was it having too easy of a life? It mattered little. Mälikä and Naika alike mellowed and saddened at the kitten clinging to her paw, tugging it with a slight tremble. It almost prompted for Naika (Mother) to take over... but alas, fortunately it was stopped.

Mälikä gently moved and give the kitten a kind hug, one that a grandmother cat would give to any of her grandkittens. "No worries little one. I am sure you can walk on your own. Just hold my paw." She genuinely encouraged the little one and then looked at the two males. Even Naika got quiet with their hatred as she too found the kitten's wellbeing paramount, after all, her only reason to be alive was Mariel, she did everything she could for her daughter. Seeing another kitten suffering really affected her to the bottom of her soul.

"Boys, please, hurry and take those things. I don't want to see her suffer more." Mälikä spoke to the two before letting go of Korya.

As soon as the two organised and picked up all the stuff, Mälikä slowly started padding towards the nearby clinic. She could spend a lot of money for that kitten and she knew she would. The motherly need to care was now overtaking her, but it was born in good intentions.

After all, Naika was a hardened criminal, all her personalities were a way to hoax the society.

But she wouldn't stand idle to help a child. No matter what.

 

[Boggy]

Boggy glanced at the newcomer fox, then quickly grabbed the lighter of the indicated objects: the bag and the bowls. He slung the bag over his narrow shoulders and made a show of holding the stack of bowls in both paws. "Well, me paws are full, so I guess yeh can get th' rest. Nice o'yeh t'lend a paw, aye."

He followed the pair of cats dutifully, keeping his mind on the gilders he would earn for his efforts. His ear flicked towards the fox. "Say, what's yer name, mate? Yer from the Slups?"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail looked up mid-bite as Naika guided the poor kitten with motherly efficiency. The old cat’s tone carried a weight that made even the bustle of the street hush for a heartbeat. He blinked, realizing the group was already gathering to move and that the blindfolded cat looked about ready to keel over.

He glanced down at his half-empty bowl. Without a second thought, he tipped it back and finished in a few quick mouthfuls, eyes streaming relentlessly from the burn. The heat rolled through him like a zephyr sent straight from Hell's Gates, spreading in his chest and belly like molten iron. He wiped his muzzle with the back of his paw and let out a breathy laugh.

"Hah! H...hiccup...hot as a forge fire, that is... Alright then, best not keep ye waitin’."

Setting the empty bowl carefully on top of the remaining items, he crouched to gather what was left to carry. Boggy had already snatched up the lighter things, so that left the stove. Swifttail gripped it with both paws, testing the weight, and straightened with a faint grin.

"Guess that leaves me the heavy bit, eh?"

Falling into step beside the rat, he shifted the stove against his hip as they started after the two cats ahead. When Boggy called over, he shot a sideways glance, tail flicking lightly.

"Name’s Swifttail Fairpaws," he replied between steady breaths, fighting off the urge to hiccup again. "Not from the Slups, nah. I’m out o’ the Trenches. Just runnin’ an errand fer m' employer... er... at least I was, ’til I caught the scent of that soup!"

A small laugh followed, half from the spice still stinging his throat, half from the absurdity of it all. He adjusted his grip and quickened his pace to catch up with the pair ahead, the warmth of the stove in his paws and the lingering burn in his mouth as he pushed through the narrow streets to keep up with the rest.

Though a smile lingered on his muzzle, his mind drifted toward the young feline who had conjured the soup in the first place. Was she sick? Was it the soup? Gates, he hoped his little impulse buy wasn’t about to cost him a night laid up by illness... or worse.

 

[Korya]

As the odd little troupe set off, leaving Noodle Street behind with a nearly-visible scent-trail of spice in their wake, Korya's ears flicked all about. Her mind was split half between the feel of the stones beneath her bare footpaws and the conversation of her helper-customers, as well as something else...

She tugged the paw she was clinging to again.

"Marm... er, what is your name? I'll have to repay you for all this... I may not have anything to do with Preykova Trading Company, because it's run by an evil, cackling witch, to whom I have no relation, but, er, what I'm saying is, I don't want to be in debt for this... I'll pay you back, someday, I promise. I think..."

She bit her lower lip and hugged the bowl she carried, a series of processes flitting through her brain - that was left, right, right, was it? They're smoother now, affluent... and I've lost so much money today, haven't I?

"...I think my noodle bowls might be worth more than three gilders? I think I misjudged the amount of food I made..."

 

[Naika Rustyfangs]

It wasn't indeed too for to the nearest clinic. Mälikä made sure to not walk too fast for the blindfolded kitten. The other two helping beasts were chatting about as they carried the items while the old catma was assuring safety of the kitten. At the tug she stopped to carefully listen to the young one. Mälikä ears were after all not as good as they've used to, much unlike ones of Naika. It was heartwarming to both of them still to hear how much Korya wanted to repay the kindness, even if for a bit different reasons.

"Mälikä Ghazkhalik is my name! But worry not about that sweetheart. You have a heart of gold, but first, let's get you healthy okay?" Mälikä assured Korya before getting to slowly walk with her again. She give her some gentle paw rubs to show support before another statement was made. Mälikä just quickly said "Well... I know someone who can help you maybe, but first, come, here is the clinic!" and she ushered the kitten inside while looking at the two helpers. "Just wait for us boys! I promise it won't take too long."

About four hours later, after Mälikä paid in full for the needed medical procedures as well as making them happen instantly, she left with Korya and her new, fresh bandage over the now healed eyes. Instantly she sought to the two helpers and nodded her thanks "Bear with us a bit more boys! I promise I will make it worth your time! Also sorry for the wait, the doctors are sometimes hard to see that younguns need medical care just as much as the older or frailer beasts."

She shook her head and then only leaned down to Korya and took her paw. Mälikä was now content, it was time to do the part for Naika's plan. "Don't worry about repaying this, I am but an old widow who has way too much wealth for her needs. If you struggle with selling things, I can get you to work with a friend of mine who has a great nose for buisness! Yes, I think that I will also see that as a good compensate if you so insist little one! I help you, so you can help them!"

 

[Boggy]

Despite the agreement of receiving ten gilders that beginning of each hour, Boggy was miffed to note he had not received those gilders for the past four hours. He sat beside Swifttail, refusing to give up on the endeavor, as the promise of more gilders ticking up with each passing hour kept the rat's rear firmly planted on the bench in the waiting area of the clinic. He hugged the kitten's bag to his chest, the stack of bowls on the ground by his footpaws. Boggy had been regaling the todd for the last half hour with too many details about various items and trinkets he had come across, how much he had sold them for, who he had sold them to, and how, if Swifttail had any items of value, Boggy was just the beast to find a buyer for them.

The rat shot up when the cats returned, nearly kicking over the stack of bowls. "Yer promised ten gilders at the start o'every hour!" He waved a paw at the clock ticking on the wall. "S'been four hours, marm, an' I ain't seen me forty gilders what's owed to me."

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail’s ears flicked at the sudden outburst as Boggy’s squawk about gilders snapping him out of his daze. The rat’s voice had been a constant drone for hours now... pawnbroking, trinkets, spoons, baubles... all blurring together until Swift could barely remember his own name. He rubbed a paw over his face, stifling a yawn behind a tired grin.

"Four hours, was it? Feels twice that, hearin’ ‘bout every spoon an’ bauble ye’ve ever sold."

His tone was friendly enough, but the weariness beneath it was hard to miss.

The bench creaked as he shifted his weight, tail swishing once against the floorboards. His stomach gave a low growl, reminding him that his last meal had been hours ago... and fiery enough to still tingle at the back of his throat. He glanced toward the clinic doors where the faint smell of the harbor air slipped through the cracks.

"Clinker’ll have my hide if I don’t get those drawings soon," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his muzzle. He’d meant to stop for a bowl of noodles, not lose half a day to waiting rooms and moral obligations.

When the two cats finally reappeared, his ears perked and his posture straightened. Korya looked steadier now, a clean bandage wrapped across her eyes. Relief softened his face, even through the fatigue.

"Glad t’ see they patched ye up proper, miss!"

He managed a faint smile before glancing to the door again, like a sailor eyeing a distant shore. The old cat was talking about generosity and business connections, the rat about gilders, and Swift just... sat there, tail tapping idly.

Straightening again, he tugged at his collar just enough to make sure Silvie’s amulet-beeper was still tucked safely beneath his chest fluff. No need to tempt possible sticky paws of an opportunistic pawn broker, now. He then leaned back against the wall, folding his arms loosely, eyes drifting between the group and the door.

He wasn’t about to leave before things were truly finished. But stars above, he wanted to...

 

[Korya]

Korya wobbled. Specifically, she wobbled towards the voices, and bellowed:

"Miiiisterrrr Booogggyyyyy! Missssterrr Swifferrtails! I'm so sorrrrry, thank yoooou." She wrapped her arms around the rat, squeezing tight and burying her face into his belly. "You've been soooo kind... patient... hungrrry... I'm hungry!"

She sniffed at him, at her bag clutched in his paws, and practically tore it from his grasp, spilling the contents. She quickly found the box of raw shrimp, now quite soggy, and ripped it open and began filling her mouth, sobbing through her chewing.

"You're all - snarf - sooo kind! I prrrromise, I'll... make you all morrrre noodles! Mnnrnf-chomp, Miz Mälikä's going to make... mmm, sooo much money, with me, and you'rrrre all my business parrrtnerrrrs..."

She sat back on her tush, legs spread wide, and snacked away, babbling.

"I'm... not verrrry good at being a harrrdy Norrrthlanderrr, getting infections... stupid strrreeeee-eeets! We don't th...thrrrow chamberrrr pots out windows where I'm frrrom, no no no, except, one time... one time, I threw one off the balcony... SMAAAAAASH! KER-KRRRRAAAAaaaaashhhh... brkl-brkl-brkl-mew." She hiccuped and beamed up at the ceiling, her thick tail brushing the clinic lobby's floor.

What happens in the doctor's office stays in the doctor's office, but what did happen...?

~ ~ ~

"Miss, please hold still, it's just a little... ow! Madame, you may restrain your charge!"

"Get your spicy paws off my face you quack! That stings!"

"The infection will spread if your eyes aren't cleaned! Hell's teeth, my arm... she punches like a point-black ballista! Here, how about something to calm your nerves - "

"Calm your face if you get closer to me again!"

"...extra strength, I think... Take this stick, I have a feeling she's a biter."

"My fists are biters! Gerroff me! Waaaaah!"

~ ~ ~

"...and thaaaat's how I punched the doctor out and tended my own eyes, and I was verrrry brave," said Korya. She popped the last shrimp in her mouth and stood up, then slid back to the ground.

"Uhoh, the ground is the walls again... are we still in the clouds?"

 

[Naika Rustyfangs]

Mälikä was definitely looking tired, which wasn't too surprising considering her advanced age. Naika's body may have been still rather young, but mentally it adapted perfectly to the personality that took over. As Korya started her story, still being held by exhausted yet relieved and smiling Mälikä for support, the cat grandmother only could chuckle a bit. Korya really, really fought against the doctors... for about three minutes. After that, Mälikä herself grabbed and held the unruly kitten by the nape of their neck. Showing rather impressive strength despite their posture, and allowing the doctors to sedate Korya.

However, such corrections didn't need to be voiced now. More important matters were at paws. First of them was to do something that Naika was not a fan of, but Mälikä did promise it.

Using spare paw to reach for her purse, Mälikä spoke assuringly. "Shush kitten, you are in the safe place. Most importantly, without those nasty wounds of yours! Just stay in my paws and you will be all right, you just need to rest a bit upon those clouds you see..." She then turned to the two other males, Naika didn't see them being worthy of their pay. They were grumpy and clearly unhappy with the fact they were helping. Typical. Only way to get a male to do something was to give them money or your tail. Mälikä fortunately stopped Naika before speaking out loud any of her misandrist thoughts, instead letting out a long sigh.

"And I am so sorry boys. I did not know it would take an entire surgery on this kitten's little, precious head. You however are truly great! As promised, I have something for you!" She pulled out the cluth purse and produced from it a pawful of silver gilders. Then giving them to the todd and the rat as if they were candies. Each of them getting five silver Gilders, worth fifty regular ones. "Here here, I do believe you could've used a bit extra for all that time wasted! I hope you will get to properly eat and sleep for those. You two look like you could use a hearty meal, maybe I should invite you for a dinner... but my grandkittens would be very confused I am sure." She gave another giggle before hiding her purse again between the layers of her clothing and getting Korya away from the box of shrimps, making sure that the kitten won't now overeat and end up with stomach issues.

 

[Boggy]

Boggy fairly snatched the gilders from the old cat's paw, pocketing them immediately. He looked on at the kitten with vague disgust as she ate raw shrimp from the ground. Not that he was disgusted at the prospect of eating raw shrimp off the floor, but rather at the kitten herself, knowing she had cooked a meal he had eaten not long after being hit over the head with a chamber pot. There were some things even a Slups resident such as himself knew ought not come into contact with food. He hoped the spice was enough to cleanse whatever humors might have been lingering in that soup from her contact with it.

Deciding that he had profited enough from this particular escapade, the scrawny rat dropped the stack of bowls on the bench and began to sidestep away.

"So's, unless yer be needin' me fer anythin' else, I was jes' gonna see meself out...?"

 

[SwifttailTheFox]

Swifttail watched the rat’s paw snap shut around the glittering pile of silver and had to fight the instinctive urge to whistle. That was no small handful of coin for an afternoon spent sitting on a bench and nearly burning their tongues off.

His own share of gilders weighed in his paw a moment later as Mälikä pressed them into it. He stared down at the little stack, then curled his claws around them with a slow breath. It coukd buy him a very fine dinner. A week of dinners, at that.

But every time he looked at the silver, he saw Korya’s bandaged eyes, heard the way her voice cracked as she spoke, and her clinging to Naika’s paw like a lost kit. This didn’t feel like deserved pay. It felt like being thanked for doing what any decent beast ought to have done.

He rose from the bench with a soft creak of the wood, padding a half-step closer to the old cat, ears tipped back in bashful respect.

"Mälikä, was it? Yer far too kind, proper an’ no mistake… but I can’t in good faith keep all this."

He opened his paw, the five silver gilders gleaming in his palm.

"I only meant t’ lend a paw where I could. I've had m’ supper, and m’ share o’ the adventure, but I’m glad enough just knowin’ the little ones safe. If ye’d humour me, maybe ye can put this back toward her care, aye?"

He offered the coins back without trying to force them on her; if she insisted, he’d find some other way to sneak them into a donation box or slip them under a ledger later. But his conscience needed it said.

Meanwhile, Korya’s sudden collision with Boggy’s middle drew his gaze, and Swift couldn’t help the snort of laughter that escaped when she launched into her shrimp-sobbing monologue. The her rant about chamber pots and smashing balconies painted a vivid picture, and it wasn't pretty.

When she finally wobbled back and asked if they were still in the clouds, he crouched a little to bring himself closer to her seated height, tail tip curling with a quiet warmth.

"Nah, it's hard to imagine it being anythin' but sunny when you're around!," he said, amusement softening his words. He let that hang a moment, then added, gentler, "Ye were brave as any Northlander today, whether ye feel it or not. Took a hard knock, dug in yer paws, an’ still found time t’ worry ‘bout feedin’ strangers. Not many can say the same. An’ fer what it’s worth, those noodles o’ yours? Worth more’n three little gilders, easy. Once ye’re on yer paws proper, I reckon ye’ll have beasts lined up down Noodle Street an’ three alleys over. Might even see some o’ us regulars back again, aye?"

He gave Boggy a good-natured nudge with his elbow as the rat tried to sidestep away.

"This one nearly danced ‘is footpaws clean off fer a bowl. That’s a powerful endorsement where I’m from. Reckon ye’ve earned yer keep today, mate. Hope those gilders stretch ye through a few decent meals that ain’t tryin’ t’scorch yer soul. An’ if our paths cross ‘gain, I’ll know just who t’ask when I’ve a trinket needs a sharp eye on it."

A familiar weight tugged at his shoulder as he slipped the small satchel’s strap back into place, the errand he’d started the day on nosing back into his thoughts. Clinker. Those cursed drawings. The realization creeping in that the afternoon sun had crept towards evening while they’d sat in that waiting room.

He exhaled through his nose with a resigned huff.

"As fer me," he said, straightening up and giving the trio a sheepish grin, "I ought t’ be gettin’ back t’ m’ own duties ‘fore m’ employer decides I’ve fallen in a canal. Was meant t’ collect some drawings, not fall headfirst into a noodle crusade."

His eyes returned to Korya one last time, warm and steady.

"Ye mind what Mälikä an’ the doctors told ye, alright? Rest them eyes, keep that bandage clean, an’ don’t go tryin’ t’ carry the whole street on yer back till yer ready. The world’ll still be there waitin’ t’ taste yer spice when ye are."

He dipped his head politely to Mälikä, then gave Boggy a small, two-fingered salute.

"Thank ye both fer lettin’ me tag along. If fate’s feelin’ playful, I’m sure we’ll run into each other ‘gain. Bouillabaisse has a way o’ throwin’ familiar faces back at ye when ye least expect it."

With that, Swifttail took a half-step toward the clinic doors, ears still canted toward the little group behind him in case one of them called out. His paws were turned toward the Trenches and an irritable weasel with a missing set of gate plans… but a bit of his heart stayed back with a stubborn kitten, an overgenerous old cat, and a rat still blinking away phantom flames from a bowl of very memorable noodles.

 

[Korya]

Korya's bandages dampened. She continued to burble and blubber, mewing out noises that were hardly words. She found her footpaws again, and pulled away from Mälikä to once again wrap her arms around Boggy, then Swifttail, catching the fox after a few missed swipes through the air.

"Thank you," she managed, and wiped her weeping nose on Swifttail's tunic. She released him, and stumbled back to her new caretaker, tripping over a box spilled from her bag along the way with a sad little mrrp. She plomped herself down on the floor again, still woozy, but with a stomach full of raw shrimp to settle things.

She let out a huge yawn.

"I think... it's time to go ho--"

And somewhere in her drug-addled mind, she realized she had no idea where she was, where her home was, or where her things were, and began to panic, scrabbling about the floor collecting all the little boxes she'd tossed aside in her desperate search for shrimp.