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Jayden


"Why until dawn? What happens at sunrise?"

"With the coming of the sun the veil between worlds, your lands and where I am currently, will strengthen again. That will make it more difficult for you to see me, hear me, and even know that I am around." The old ghost's voice sounded almost forlorn at the thoughts he was expressing.

Jayden


"Then I need your advice, Grandfather, before the sunrise," Jayden said urgently.

"What can I do during the daylight hours which will be of help until the darkness - and you - return?"

Grandpa's spirit looked at him and offered him a sad rueful smile. "It doesn't work that way. You can see me now because of what day it is. All Hallow's Eve. You call it Halloween, but it used to be called All Hallow's Eve. It was a pagan holiday at one point in time. The reason it was venerated was because of the thinning of the veil between life and death. You probably have heard of the Day of the Dead, that is the celebration of this same idea.

"When sunrise comes, the veil will begin to thicken. Within a day or so you won't be able to hear me or see me till next year." He seemed to think of something else, but he remained silent, just watching Jayden.

Jayden


His grandfather's revelations were disturbingly, if vaguely, familiar to Jayden. His grandfather had told him some odd stories when he was a youngster, similar to what he was now saying.

It used to scare him as a child... it bothered him even more as an adult.

"What can I do between now and sunrise? And what about the cats? How long have they been able to do the kinds of things I think they are doing?"

The spirit shook his head. "Those are things you aren't meant to know. Let us just say that there is a reason why they were worshiped in ancient cultures, and why almost every human household has at least one. They protect us more than you should know."

Jayden


Jayden glanced over to the fading vision of the boy and then back to his grandfather's spirit, scowling and obviously not sanguine about what he was hearing.

"So... we're just around to shelter them, feed them and empty the litter box while they take care of the heavy lifting?"

The old man's spirit quakes with his merriment. "That is probably the best summation I have ever heard. Just don't let them know that you know. They are overly protective, in case you hadn't guessed."

Jayden


"How the hell could I let them know I know?" he grumbled.

"Do they understand English?"

Dizzy

She is pleased to be back in the fresh air and out of that tunnel. Looking down the hill she can make out her burden and hopefully the spirit keeping a watch. She is so relieved.

She sets off at a slow run, her tail weaving behind, helping her balance.

Again the old spirit laughed. "Yes they understand many languages, to a certain extent." He suddenly got quiet finishing with "I am sure I shouldn't have told you that though."

Shadow

As before, he wished to remain unseen by the burden and had the wherewithal to do so. He followed Tiger in the dark.

Jayden


"Of course they do," he muttered in a sardonic tone as he rolled his eyes briefly skyward.

"Why should it surprise me that they are accomplished linguists?"

Dizzy

She is disappointed that he doesn't see her coming but then burdens are not good in the dark. So she winds herself around his legs so that he knows she is there.

Jayden


Jayden flinched and cursed but, looking down, he realized it was the cat. He squatted on his haunches and scratched lightly behind her ears.

"Well, where the hell have you been, Dizzy?"

He looked around.

"And where's your friend?"

Dizzy

At the ear scratching, she rubs her head hard against his hand, wanting more. A purring starts to build inside. She leans against him, liking the warmth he emits.

The night is bright with stars and smells fresh out here in the woods. It is as if the night air is clearer than it had been just a little while ago.

Grandpa spirit watches over his grandson Jayden, saying nothing, seemingly content to just be able to watch.

[OOC: What is the plan? There are about eight more hours of darkness.]

[OOC: I didn't think Jayden was capable of making plans in the current scenario. ]

[OOC Not the remotest of a clue..think we need GM guidance. Characters may have ideas but this player doesn't. ]

[ooc: What remains outstanding to be considered?]

[OOC: For the cats, there is the question of whether or not they have done enough? Have the actually foiled Sable's plans and returned the burdens back to normalcy? Would they report it? If so to whom? What do they do with Jayden? How do they pat him on the head now that he is curious?]

Dizzy

"Shadow. We should maybe go back and see how your burden and the others are fairing? See if there is any change? Then maybe try to touch base with the other cats? There is no leader now but they need to know what is happening."

She deliberately leaves her burden out of the conversation. She thinks that Shadow might make a good leader and he might be motivated to try for that position.

Shadow

In the darkness, the shadow of a cat mrred his assent.

"Wise. See to our Burdens, and alert the rest of the parliament. If there remains work to do this night, we all must be on guard to protect what is Mi- Ours."

Dizzy

She smiles to herself, having noticed the slip.. and to be fair to Shadow.. the quick correction also. They need a strong leader, ideally to avoid another Sable situation. She would be happy to put him forward and support that.. though likely he would not need either.

"It will be quickest by the noisy metal thing."

She strolls to the car and meows at the door.

[OOC: Technically there is still a leader. Sable was being groomed to take over, but was only second in command. Jezzabella is still the head of their little town's felines.]