The afternoon comes and the cats are to make their daring rescue attempt tonight at the building that they investigated earlier. The roof presents a challenge to get to, but they know they can sneak in with the burdens as they come and go. Maybe if they arrive early enough they can go in as trapped cats and assist their escape that way.

[OOC: All volunteers who are going to rescue cats, dogs, and other animals trapped in the horrid building.]

Tiger-Lily

She waits nears the bins at the back of the building where they had agreed to meet. She is probably early, probably because she is nervous.

Sitting down she starts to groom. Always settles her nerves.

Shadow

Beneath the bins, already two-dimensional, the shadow of a cat lurked and waited...

Soot

Leaving her Burden safely behind, she showed up to help.

As before the lone guard arrives in the blue conveyance that is loud. He rattles to a stop and gets out slipping a long tube into his belt. He then shuts the door of the car and starts towards the building. Those cats that had scouted know that he will enter using a key and that might be a good time to slip in, unless they are like Shadow and have other tricks to gain entry.

Tiger-Lily

"Shadow, we'll meet you inside. Soot, can you move unseen? Otherwise, just follow me."

If her friend has to stay visible then she will too. Fortunately both of them are small cats.

Shadow

A two-dimensional tongue flicked out and around the impression of a set of claws, all of it darkness within darkness.

"If the Burdens become aware of any of you, I'll try to make good use of the distraction. Try not to be the distraction."

Shadow to shadow, shade to shade, the eponymous cat oozed and glided towards and beneath the agreed entranceway.

Soot moved to follow Tiger-Lily. "I can get to places most wouldn't think even we can, but unseen walking in the manner of Shadow is not mine."

Tiger-Lily

"I have an unseen way of walking different to Shadows but you need to see me to know where to go. So I won't use it unless I have to."

She looks at the burden walking towards the building.

"When he opens the door we need to move fast and slip in behind him, taking cover and waiting util he moves on."

With that she heads closer, staying very quiet and keeping behind the burden so he can't see them.

The burden was quite clueless and the cats are able to scurry into the large building. Inside it smelled worse than it had outside. It smelled of the pungent evil things they put on the floor. It no longer even had a hint of comforting animal smells.

The animals were quiet in their cages. It was as if an evil had come over the room. They knew something was up, and they feared it wasn't good. The smell of fear was palpable in the room.

Tiger-Lily

Her nose is slightly in the air as if trying to distance herself from the floor smell which is most unpleasant. She had forgotten how bad it was.

She waits in shadow staying quiet and still until the burden goes. She is tense though, the atmosphere affecting her, as well as her memory of the time she was in such a place.

Soot

She follows Tiger-Lily and flattens herself to the ground. It's not just the smells but there are bad deeds here too.

Shadow

He hated the small of this place, his hackles raised. The problem remained as to how to get their caged kin out of the building, and he still had no real answers to that. He watched the other cats enter from a concealed shadowed vantage, making sure everyone got in.

In a few moments time all the cats who had come to rescue the other animals were inside. The burden headed off deeper into the building. The question of what to do next was now present.

Tiger-Lily

Well they know that the burdens come and go so they have to make the most of the time they have.

"I suggest that we go and talk to the other cats and see if we can find a way to get the cages open. We also need a way out of the building too."

Soot looked around for any open windows or access points high up where burdens might not think cats could go. Her own burden made that mistake many times.

From the earlier scouting. The cats know of some windows that were closed but we're easily accessible via rooms deeper in the building.

In this room there are several burden sized doors and a big door. Also along the top of the room are windows but they are far out of reach. It would take a special cat to get up there never mind opening them.

Shadow

The darkness in the darkness spoke,

"Getting the cages open will take much less than a nap, and those we free can help get the others open. The more cats we have, the more we can do. To the cages."

Soot looked at the windows. Getting there herself could be done, but not so with the others unless they were equally skilled. She mrrred her agreement with what was just said and moved to the cages.

Tiger-Lily

She nods.

"We must succeed. You don't know how awful these places are."

She is determined to try her very best to get these other cats to freedom. Assuming they succeed, there will be other concerns though as the cats will need help on the outside too.

The first cage was the worst. It seemed resistant to their efforts. It refused to allow them any leeway. But finally, the little latch slipped open and they were able to free an old white cat. The cat had seen better days, no longer possessing of a burden, it had been sent to this horrible place. Yet outside of the silver bars, it was able to help, and help it did.

The moments passed. They were undisturbed. Success seemed within their grasp. Freedom echoed as more and more came out of their little cages. Cats, ferrets, snakes, anything that could be a pet, was let loose. Even those mangy things called dogs. They were stupid and only bounced around, not really helping. But they seemed to listen to the cats enough to not actually bark.

They had an army now. The question was, what to do next.

Shadow

Looking out over their army from his umbral vantage, the shadow cat suggested,

"How about we get the dogs to jump at a window until it breaks?"

Soot

She looked to see if there was a window she could open that would allow all of them out. Failing that, perhaps one of the doors.

They knew of a window down the hall, but it was inside of a burden room. Though it did have a convenient thing to leap upon to get to the window. In this room the windows were quite high, which would make the nonmagical dogs difficult to use in that manner. But elsewhere in the building, they would be a quite fine foil.

Tiger-Lily

"Perhaps we can distract the burden.. and then use the window in his room?"

She is not sure how to distract him and in such a way that he would go elsewhere. Then she has an idea.

"Burdens go to that small room every few hours. Maybe we can trap him in there or just use the time when he is in there?"

Soot

Her tail twitched in support and approval of Tiger-Lily's suggestion.

Shadow

He 'Mrr'ed his assent.

The plan started. The cats just had to implement it. The room was easy enough. The burden's could be distracted. But?

Tiger-Lily

"Either myself or Shadow.. or maybe both of us can go in ahead of the others as we cannot be seen so easily and get that window open. Once the burden moves, then the rest come quickly."

She looks at Soot and Shadow.

Soot

She gave a cat smile. "I can distract the Burden."

Shadow

The two-dimensional cat concurred, then began slipping underneath the door.

"Both. One of us will work it out."

Tiger-Lily

"Then as I can't slide under doors, I'll go invisible and wait for your distraction Soot."

She smiles at the small cat, ready to apply her power.

Soot


She had scoped out some hiding places even most cats couldn't get to. Those would serve as places of concealment if needed. Heading in the opposite end of the building, the distractions would start.

Little attracted Burden attention as much as things crashing to the ground. That was where she would begin.

Moving to the other end of the building she found a likely target. It was some kind of noise making device on a high shelf. It might take some teasing but she was sure that she could cause it to fall and make the desired distraction.

The other animals took the cue from the other animals and hid as best they could.

Tiger-Lily

She uses her ability to not be seen and positions herself close to the burden's door but off to one side so she can avoid contact if and when he emerges, close enough though so that she can slip in behind him to rejoin Shadow. Somehow she must also ensure that the door remains open so the other cats can get in too.

She hopes that Soot will be OK.

Soot

She looked around to find some good places to hide where a Burden might not think to look. Just in case. Then Soot started the distractions with a shove.

The thing proved to be much heavier than it seemed initially. Yet the small black cat with determination was able to shove it off of the high shelf. The resulting crash was very loud to her sensitive pointed ears.

Behind the thing burdens sat behind to make scratching sounds with the long skinny things they picked up, rather than claws, she could easily hide. There were many different spots that would allow her to evade being scene by an angry burden which undoubtedly it would be.

She heard one burden exclaim to the other "what was that?" in a loud voice. Then the clomping of their clumsy feet as both of them came down the hall towards the little room where the distraction had been made.

The other animals crouched, laid, and generally tried to not move nor make any sounds as the burdens moved away from them. It was obvious that the burdens had no idea anything was amiss, but then did they ever?

Shadow

The instant the Burden was out and looking away, the shadow of a cat flitted betwixt door and window, giving it a quick look to see what irritations prevented it's easy opening.

Tiger-Lily

As soon as the door opened and she had room, her invisible presence ran quietly into the room and looked for both Shadow and the window, intending to get their quickly so she could help.

The window was an easy leap from the top of the scratching surface. It was even open just a little bit towards the bottom. Cool night air wafted inward to ruffle their fur. A bit of applied cat pressure and the smaller animals would easily be able to escape. The larger ones, maybe not, might take more finesse.

Tiger=Lily

Seeing the window is already partially open, she turns back quickly and brings the other cats ready for the escape, trusting that Soot will keep the burdens occupied.

Shadow

Time to apply that pressure and clear the way. Getting between the upper and lower parts of the opening, he reverted from two to three dimensions, aiming to push the upper part further upwards by doing so.

Shadow is able to secure the movement of the window, however a consequence of his action is that he drops out of the window first.

The cats being the most intelligent of the captured animals make their way to the clawing surface and out through the now open window. The less sentient creatures are slower and wait their turns.

Tiger-Lily

She encourages all of the others to exit is as fast and as orderly way as she can. She keeps an eye out for the return of the burdens and intends to wait for Soot.

Ooc I'm sorry if you folks were waiting on me and I caused game stoppage; I was waiting to see if Soot needed to do more distracting so was leaving the rping up to you!

The burden followed the errant noises as he was meant to. Thus leaving the opportunity for the animals to continue the escape. So far it was working.

Soot notes that her contribution is assisting in no small way.

Animals began to climb from the now open clear thing above the platform to scatter things. The dogs were having a hard time to keep from barking out of joy.

Shadow

From his position outside, he watches the escape, swatting the flank of anything without the brains to run out of sight. He considers returning back within, but figures the others have it covered at this point.

Soot

Keeping alert, and ahead of the burden, she will make more noises as needed to keep the distraction going.

Tiger-Lily

She continues to urge the escapees to hurry, concerned to get as many out as they can. She hopes that Soot can make her way here also so that she can be sure her friend escapes too.

Soot knew from her earlier explorations that her ability to get away lessened by the steps of the burden she was luring. She also saw that the bulk of the animals were no longer in view.

TigerLily got the last of the non-sentient animals out of the open clear thing. Now they had to get away. Their job was almost finished.

Outside Shadow saw the last ferret drop and skitter away. All that remained inside were his compatriots.

Soot would head up to one of the out of the way exits she'd seen earlier. She would make sure the noisy burden wasn't around when she walked to it in a way that gravity and physics would say couldn't be done.

She never studied law anyway.

This might keep the burden distracted a bit longer looking for her.

She wanted to quickly circle around to let the others know she was out too.

Ooc cat walk to a small outer window.

Tiger-Lily

"Shadow, lead them away. I'll follow with Soot."

She turn to look for her friend, hoping she isn't trapped somewhere. If she doesn't see her then she'll go and look whilst in her invisible state.

Shadow

He arched his back and mrowled in response,

"They're already away! Get yourselves out of there!"

Soot is able to fool the burden and get out.

Tiger-Lily also is able to escape being invisible.

Soon they are all together with the two dimensional cat.

The others have run off making good their escape. Some of the dumber animals will no doubt be caught again soon. But many would be free and escape whatever horrible fate awaited them in there.

Soot

She looks at the others and her whiskers go forward in a smile as she nonchalantly washes a paw. She nods to the other two and says, "A good scouting led to a good plan."

One should not heap too much praise after all, but the compliments were well deserved to them.

Tiger-Lily

Now visible, she looks at the other two.

Usually holding her dignity high, she is so pleased that they have managed to free the animals from a fate she had been destined to share, that she let's her inner kitten free and rolls on her back in the grass.

Shadow

Presently in three dimensions, not having changed back after opening the clear thing, the ginger Tom stretched and then began slinking back towards His territory. He had a reputation to assert and maintain, after all. As a parting mew,

"We did what we were tasked to do, for that is what we are, our duty as the True People."

[OOC Anyone going to report their success?]

Soot

"Then," she said thoughtfully considering her paw, "We should let them know about it. Do one of you wish to do this?"

Tiger-Lily

She regains her feet, dignity now back in force.

"Probably not me, I'm the newcomer.. and I need to check on my burden. He's only in the very beginner stages of training. Which one of you two has been here the longest?"

Soot

She called to Shadow. Even if he was leaving his ears could hear. "Do you wish to do the telling?"

Shadow

He trilled behind him, by way of affirmation,

"We came. We saw. We liberated."

Soot

Soot looked between the two others (though with Shadow it was his departing form) and her eyes danced with mirth. "I suppose that means I shall. Even if length of stay in territory may not be something that was discussed. May your training of your burden go well, Tiger-Lily."

ooc Exit Soot, stage out to go let someone know

Soot scoots. Off. Shadow on his way and Tger-Lily heads for her burden.

As Tiger moves she notes a small cat following her. She remembered it from the escape.

Tiger-Lily

She says goodbye to the others and heads for home, noting a small cat following her. It may be lost or have nowhere to go. She can't take it home. Her burden isn't trained well enough to handle two cats.. but she can't just abandon it either.

She continues on for the moment but keeps an eye on it whilst considering what she might do.

The cat follows her closing the distance slowly.

Tiger-Lily

She stops to wait for it. Maybe she can find out what it wants?

The little cat crept up tentatively. "Um Miss. I want...," the little squeak of a meow trailed off. "I want to say tthankk you for rescuing me. I am sure that I was done for." She kept her eyes down cast and showed respect to the more powerful and competent Tiger-Lily.

Tiger-Lily

Well that is cute.

"You're welcome. What are you going to do now?"

She feels compelled to ask but a part of her is reluctant to get involved.

The little cat said "get out of this town. It is cursed. Evil is everywhere between the spirits showing up all over to ... I just don't know what else. You are too nice, you should get out too. Just thought I should tell you. Before you end up in a bad place, or your burden does."

Tiger-Lily

"Yes there does seem to be a lot of activity here."

She does sound concerned.

"I appreciate the warning but I have a burden to protect. Good luck to you though, I hope you find a happy place."

The little cat nodded at the sentiment. "Protect your burden well. I lost mine to devilish trickery. That is how I ended up in there."

Tiger-Lily

"I will. I lost my first burden a while ago and ended up in a similar place. It was awful. The smell alone was bad enough.. but being locked up.. unthinkable So I know how you felt. My current burden rescued me so I owe him big time."

And she does feel that sense of debt and gratitude.

The little cat turned and walked off down the street to hop over a hedge and disappear. The street seemed a little darker without her.