01-19-2018, 06:30 PM
The feline sighed. “I don’t know, but there’s a good amount of ‘em. Probably at least five if I were to guess.”
“That sounds manageable.” the mage murmured. “Do you have any idea whatsoever as to the origin of these rats?” Knowing where the vermin were coming from would make Eric’s job a lot easier. And besides, he was not sure if it would be fine to move any of the man’s belongings in the search, but he thought it might be a tad awkward to bring it up. However, Everstorm did not have to worry.
“No idea, so feel free to look behind some things. Just don’t open anything. The door is down that hallway.” The cat extended his paw towards an opening to Eric’s right. He turned as if to follow Jams, but glanced back at Eric. “If you need anything else, just give me a shout. Alright?” He walked briskly into the confines of his home, cutting off Eric’s reply.
At that moment the mage realized he had no idea how to deal with the job he had volunteered for.
Oh well, I may acquire some useful knowledge from this.
He strolled across the entrance hall, kicking up enough dust to distort the room. A mop was leaning across the doorframe, as dirty as the floor. Eric gently moved it aside, but could not avoid choking on the dust he had already disturbed.
Sputtering, he lurched down the hallway. An assortment of knickknacks and household items lay strewn about the place, and Eric nearly tripped over an old stool. Finally reaching the door to what was presumably the basement, he shoved it open and entered the clear air beyond. He took care to close it to block out the dust, but let some air in.
Everstorm, still slightly coughing, led himself down the creaking stairs. The basement seemed to be a bit of an improvement to upstairs, but at a glance it looked to be as neglected as the house above. The light spilling through the crack in the door dimly illuminated the room, allowing Eric to see, at least a little. Boxes were haphazardly stacked against one wall, threatening to come crashing down at any moment, while a trio of squatting barrels sat in a corner, their half-decayed shells sagging. Two large tables dominated the last two walls, with various tidbits laying upon them.
Surveying the walls, Eric saw no sign of rats. He decided to check behind the two tables first, but his attempts to move the tables were to no avail. Surrendering, he stowed his robes in his bag, and lay down to look under one of the tables. As his eyes started to adjust, something dark flashed across his view; but when he turned to gaze at where he had lost track of it, he saw not a thing. He quickly took a quick peek under the other table, but nothing else appeared.
He regained his feet. Dirt and dust caked the mage’s white tunic, but he did not seem to notice. His footsteps echoed throughout the room as he hurriedly crossed to the stack of boxes. Quickly moving some off the cardboard mountain, he began to uncover the dark brick wall lying behind it. However, before he could set down the last box, it slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor. Cursing himself, Eric stooped to scoop up the contents.
Two framed photographs had fallen out of the box, and curiosity got the better of the magician. Both were similar, simple portraits likely taken on the same background. In one a young male kitten mischievously grinned at the camera. In the other, an ecstatic cream-colored female showed a huge smile. Suddenly conscious that he was snooping, Eric deposited them back into their box and this time laid it down gently.
Regaining his sense of urgency, the mage dragged away the last remaining box, stopping as it revealed a crumbling hole in the wall. Practically dolphin-diving onto the floor, Eric glimpsed several hissing rats crouching in the space. They jumped towards the entrance to their lair, but a blazing fireball smashed into the group. Eric already had his sword drawn and ready as he again looked into the depths of the nest. Three crispy rats had fallen about the chamber, and no others appeared.
However, something glistened at the back of the cave. Without a second thought Eric reached his hand inside, and scooped out the object. A portrait identical to the two, differentiated by its broken glass front, lay in his hand. In it was a faded picture of a pretty she-cat with a large pink bow wrapped around her snow-white neck.
I wonder if Mike has been looking for this? I better bring it to his attention.
Eric started off back up the stairs, clutching his discovery in his hands.
“That sounds manageable.” the mage murmured. “Do you have any idea whatsoever as to the origin of these rats?” Knowing where the vermin were coming from would make Eric’s job a lot easier. And besides, he was not sure if it would be fine to move any of the man’s belongings in the search, but he thought it might be a tad awkward to bring it up. However, Everstorm did not have to worry.
“No idea, so feel free to look behind some things. Just don’t open anything. The door is down that hallway.” The cat extended his paw towards an opening to Eric’s right. He turned as if to follow Jams, but glanced back at Eric. “If you need anything else, just give me a shout. Alright?” He walked briskly into the confines of his home, cutting off Eric’s reply.
At that moment the mage realized he had no idea how to deal with the job he had volunteered for.
Oh well, I may acquire some useful knowledge from this.
He strolled across the entrance hall, kicking up enough dust to distort the room. A mop was leaning across the doorframe, as dirty as the floor. Eric gently moved it aside, but could not avoid choking on the dust he had already disturbed.
Sputtering, he lurched down the hallway. An assortment of knickknacks and household items lay strewn about the place, and Eric nearly tripped over an old stool. Finally reaching the door to what was presumably the basement, he shoved it open and entered the clear air beyond. He took care to close it to block out the dust, but let some air in.
Everstorm, still slightly coughing, led himself down the creaking stairs. The basement seemed to be a bit of an improvement to upstairs, but at a glance it looked to be as neglected as the house above. The light spilling through the crack in the door dimly illuminated the room, allowing Eric to see, at least a little. Boxes were haphazardly stacked against one wall, threatening to come crashing down at any moment, while a trio of squatting barrels sat in a corner, their half-decayed shells sagging. Two large tables dominated the last two walls, with various tidbits laying upon them.
Surveying the walls, Eric saw no sign of rats. He decided to check behind the two tables first, but his attempts to move the tables were to no avail. Surrendering, he stowed his robes in his bag, and lay down to look under one of the tables. As his eyes started to adjust, something dark flashed across his view; but when he turned to gaze at where he had lost track of it, he saw not a thing. He quickly took a quick peek under the other table, but nothing else appeared.
He regained his feet. Dirt and dust caked the mage’s white tunic, but he did not seem to notice. His footsteps echoed throughout the room as he hurriedly crossed to the stack of boxes. Quickly moving some off the cardboard mountain, he began to uncover the dark brick wall lying behind it. However, before he could set down the last box, it slipped out of his hands and crashed to the floor. Cursing himself, Eric stooped to scoop up the contents.
Two framed photographs had fallen out of the box, and curiosity got the better of the magician. Both were similar, simple portraits likely taken on the same background. In one a young male kitten mischievously grinned at the camera. In the other, an ecstatic cream-colored female showed a huge smile. Suddenly conscious that he was snooping, Eric deposited them back into their box and this time laid it down gently.
Regaining his sense of urgency, the mage dragged away the last remaining box, stopping as it revealed a crumbling hole in the wall. Practically dolphin-diving onto the floor, Eric glimpsed several hissing rats crouching in the space. They jumped towards the entrance to their lair, but a blazing fireball smashed into the group. Eric already had his sword drawn and ready as he again looked into the depths of the nest. Three crispy rats had fallen about the chamber, and no others appeared.
However, something glistened at the back of the cave. Without a second thought Eric reached his hand inside, and scooped out the object. A portrait identical to the two, differentiated by its broken glass front, lay in his hand. In it was a faded picture of a pretty she-cat with a large pink bow wrapped around her snow-white neck.
I wonder if Mike has been looking for this? I better bring it to his attention.
Eric started off back up the stairs, clutching his discovery in his hands.
Avatar courtesy of Jade Harley.