"You know what I'll keep it so I won't have to worry about animal control so much."he said"Now about your village can you take me there?"

Nora nodded.

"Sure thing dear, we don't mind visitors," She heads back down the stairs. Then she felt a small rumble coming from within the chapel itself.

"What in the world?" She said surprised.

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"Uh, Bel I don't think..." Mitch began, more worried about him then figuring out the chain puzzle.

*KA-CHUNK*

The rocks gave in again. This time sounds could be heard at both ends of the cave. And the water in the shrine pool drained.

ooc: Anybody who's played Myst, Riven, or other adventure games know that something like that isn't entirely impossible. I thought it'd be neat to have things happen at both ends.

Now the macabre remains were visible at the lights of the torch and the collars. "Uhh, I'm not sure this is a good thing..?" Valiant asked/said.

"What was that?"Souske said while looking at Nora

"Well, that water sure had to go somewhere!" Mitch said, "We can't take a look at what's behind, so let's see if there's anything changed up ahead at the entrance."

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"I really have no idea dear," Nora said, "Let's have a little look around shall we?"

"Fine by me."said Souske while pulling out his rifle and switching into a russian accent"Just to be safe."

"Maybe, they probably didn't have enough time," Mitch said, thinking a bit, "All I can think of is that, the new comers would be slightly resistant or unaware of the disease. But since the natives had no immunity, they'd die off first, and would come to the new comers first to get treated. Then once they'd die, well, maybe it was hitting people so fast, they didn't have time to bury them. So, throw the bodies in the water, then go off with your loved ones to die."

Lance could see the entrance up ahead in the distance "There it is guys lets go see if that chain did anything." he said breaking out into a bit of a jog.

Valiant's group followed. "By Sant'Antonio, this wasn't a boring day after all."

Mitch could see the entrance as well. He couldn't wait to...

"And you are going the wrong way," Borues said at the junction point.

"GAHH!! BORUES!" Mitch said at him, "Why I oughta...Wait, what why?"

"Eh heh heh, come and see," he said, waving to the tunnel, "And you needn't worry about the dead either."

"I'm not scared of the dead," belisarius said, meekly. "I just don't like their...deadness."

Archy watched the whole thing... then took off for the play area. There were things to climb on, run through and slide down that'd make this a bit more fun.

Ian veered towars the play area, he couldn't outrun Jess maybe he could lose her there.

Borues led the group into the burial chamber that was there.

"Welp, now we know where the water went," Mitch said, "Bel, I think you used too much strength. Heh." The cavern was now filled with water. The floor obviously lowered, and something interesting in the center of the pool. A raised dais, with a stairwell leading down, and steps leading to door.

"I had always wondered about this room when I came here, now I know why," Borues said, "So, you folks going in?"

Valiant exchanged a glance with Belisarius. Both nodded. "At this point, why not?"
"I'm in if you guys want to," Rikki said, looking at Mitch.

Mitch rubbed his paws together gleefully.

"Excellent!" He said, "All right, let's...*"

*GRUMBLE*

"Eh heh," he said, looking down at his stomach, "I say, how bout after lunch, I get my crossbow, and we get more supplies eh?"

"Oh man this is just soooo tempting." Lance said as he stared down the stairwell. "But I think for this leg of the journey we are going to need some supplies, some food at least we don't know how big the place could be." Lance said.

Valiant and Belisarius exchanged a look. Eventually, the canine ex-cop's experience won over his curiosity. "Hm, I believe you're right. Too bad, but at least we can come back fully equipped. Rikki?"
The black ferret nodded, sighed. "Vabbè, I guess I'll have to play the damsel in distress for my warrior king next time. Mitch?"

"Eh heh, suit yourselves, I'll be hanging around," Borues said as he left the hallway.

"Heh, sure, though you'll probably end up rescuing me!" Mitch said to Rikki, "Now, let's go get something to eat and hope we're not all, how do you guys put it? Grounded. Heh."

Jess followed into the play area, determined to catch Archy.

Lance slapped his forehead and groaned. Man, thanks for reminding me my Mom and Dad are going to be ticked off at me when I get back I never told them where we were going and its been all day. Rikki how did she seem when you called her?" He asked as he began to walk out of the cave.

"Well, i think she sounded a bit concerned, but not in panic. I guess she trusts you enough, dawg."
"My humans know I can manage my danger," Valiant added. "They'll hold no grudge long as Rikki and I, and Bel, are safe."

"Gee, good to know who the important ones are," Mitch said in a slightly irritated tone.

"No no, YOU CAN'T CATCH ME!" Archy said, bolting up a slide and then onto the monkey bars, trying to get away as fast as he could while still going places that would make his pursuers slow down... Presuming they followed him exactly.

Instead, Jessica ran past the slide and under the monkey bars to close the gap, she actually was very close to Archy at this point. "You won't get away that easily."

Rikki quickly kissed him on his cheek. "You are strong and brave, and i'm sure your friends at the village trust your judgment too!"

"ACH! NO!" the dog said, quickly swinging and wrapping himself around the monkey bars like a someone climbing along under a log. Despite this, his tail was wagging like crazy below him.

and Jess took full advantage of this. She reached out her paw and tagged the wagging tail. "Tag, you're it," she said as she continued running to increase the distance between her and Archy.

Mitch blushed slightly.

"I meant here," he said, then he added with a whisper, "I just thought he was a bit arrogant thinking only you guys are the important ones."

"Well I didn't mean for it to come off that way sorry about that Mitch." Lance said as he got back on to the path in the woods taking a few twists and turns as the walked down it. He took in a deep breath as he walked making sure to get a good sniff of the clean outdoor air. "Ah, the camp shouldn't be that far from here." He said.

"Not you, what Valiant said," Mitch whispered to Lance.

"They'll hold no grudge just so long as Rikki, and I, and Bel are safe," Mitch said, trying to match Valiant's voice.

Mitch then tried to remember the whole sentence.

Oh. He thought.

"Yeah, sorry Val," Mitch said, "I thought you meant, ah never mind."

Rikki hugged the red panda. "Aw, but if you want, you can register as pet of our family, so that you too will become important to our humans."

"Ehhh, I'll pass," Mitch said, hugging Rikki in return, "I don't think my mom or dad would appreciate it. Besides, I value my own independence too."

Ian saw Archy get tagged and continued running in the same direction as jess.

Archy jumped down and took a second to look at his tail, "traitor" he said as it continued to wag. After that he looked up and gave chase after Ian. FULL SPEED AHEAD! He bolted up to tag the other pet's back and then quickly arc'd around and headed back the way he'd come.