Housepets!

Valiant was in the middle of an interrogation - he surely couldn't call that an 'amiable chat' - with the wolves, when everyone first smelled the new, unsettling odor. And then there came what Valiant recognized as the alarm!
Valiant produced his phone. "Rikki, situation?"
"Beats me, boss! Here everyone's getting ready for something big. Call the station, I updated their systems with a satlink!" A measure she had taken since the last fire, to the benefit of the area and especially the pandas.
"On it. Stay with Mitch, and take care." Valiant was about to speed-dial the police station...before he got a call from them!
And the news he received were definitely MOST disturbing...

Up the northern trail Mitch usually walks. Winni then heard the horn.
I'll go stay with the group of pets before I head to civilian center. Winni said.
And with that, Winni went back inside.
Well... I see that your trek through the woods is gonna have to wait. Sorry guys. I'm sure all this waiting is getting tiresome.

"His phone is busy," Elio said, putting down the receiver. "And Rikki's was busy, too. Which means that there is trouble at the panda vill--" and then came the sound of sirens! A police car...and a firetruck!
"Not good," Cinzia said, worried. "Frances, Scotty, please stay here until we learn what's happening."

"Oh... Okay... I hope it's nothing too serious..." The woman and her cat exchange a worried look, pondering the implications of this sudden development. Scotty scrubs the tears from his eyes with his paws and then points first at Vinnie and then at the floor in a clear "You stay here too" gesture.

"Don't w-worry, I'm sure we c-can all be patient," Will replied, hoping everything was okay. "Oh, uh, it i-isn't red, and isn't a w-weapon."

Many pandas had already gathered around the civilian center in front of the palace waiting. There were many murmurs and rumbling about the wolves. Most of them good. When finally the warning horn was sounded, they were mostly orderly heading into the center, and down into it's basement levels. Soldiers poured into the barracks along with Fellsward and Chealsyzyard. Fellsward looked at the pets sorrowfully.

"We really are sorry about this. We did want this to be a good day for you guys, it's really sad everything turned sour so quickly," he said. Chealsyzyard headed to the center hall in the barracks and removed a floor board sheet, revealing a secret tunnel!

"Pets first, a cadre of soldiers will take you to town. Once down, you will see a tunnel before you, behind, and to your right. Take the one ahead of you, it will lead into a waiting room where the soldiers will join you. It will take a couple twists and turns but you will arrive just in front of the fair grounds. We really are sorry about this and hope to make it up to you guys someday," he said.

"Winnifred! It's best if you head to town. The air will be fresher there," Ellsward said.
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At the warning horn, the soldiers and the Right Arm guards in the house acted quickly. Removing a floor board sheet down to a secret tunnel, shuffling the royal family down.

"Rikki, I want you to head back to town, two Right Arms will take you through the tunnels there, it's probably safer," Mitch said to her. Two guards with black neckerchiefs sided beside Rikki.
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Volkesvadir got a text message on his phone. He turned to the wolves.

"Wolves! I have been instructed to take you to the palace underground, if you would please, follow me," he said, heading towards the palace. His wife entered the civilian center. A number of guards were already doing crowd control, guiding everyone in. With their neckerchiefs on their noses.

Save the horns, the evacuation was mostly silent. With scared pandas following protocol and trying not to rush.
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At the sound of the siren, Vinnie jumped into Scotty's lap, startled! Then he got down and embarrassingly apologized. Sonjah burst back in and grabbed his paws!

"COME ON UNDERGROUND GOTTA GO BYE MAMA LEONE THANKS FOR TREATS BYE NEIGHBORS GAS LEAK STAY OUTTA THE FOREST YOU'LL BE OKAY THOUGH BYEEEE!" Sonjah managed to get out dragging Vinnie behind her out the door.

"THANK YOU FOR THE," Was all Vinnie managed to say before being dragged out the door. The two scurried to the edge of the woods in front of the house with Vinnie protesting all the way. They then jumped up into a large tree's hole and disappeared down into it, and into the feral tunnels underneath.

Got it. Winni replied.
I hope you guys are okay. Ladies first!

"thanks," Jess said as she climbed into the tunnel. "And I had a fun time anyway."

xhunterko wrote:At the warning horn, the soldiers and the Right Arm guards in the house acted quickly. Removing a floor board sheet down to a secret tunnel, shuffling the royal family down.
"Rikki, I want you to head back to town, two Right Arms will take you through the tunnels there, it's probably safer," Mitch said to her. Two guards with black neckerchiefs sided beside Rikki.

Rikki just shook her head, as she took her phone. "No can do, my prince. You are going to my husband, and I won't leave you in a moment of crisis. Valiant and the wolves may take care of whatever's happening outside. But *I* will stay at your side."
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xhunterko wrote:Volkesvadir got a text message on his phone. He turned to the wolves.
"Wolves! I have been instructed to take you to the palace underground, if you would please, follow me," he said, heading towards the palace. His wife entered the civilian center. A number of guards were already doing crowd control, guiding everyone in. With their neckerchiefs on their noses.
Save the horns, the evacuation was mostly silent. With scared pandas following protocol and trying not to rush.

The ferals, with Valiant and Belisarius leading, followed their escort. "Sorry for disrespeting rank, Sir," the wolfdog said to Cesar. "But this is a territory I know, and people I know. You must trust us."
The wolves of the Palatinium pack nodded. "Whatever we can do to help the village and these people, we will," the scarred male added.
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xhunterko wrote:At the sound of the siren, Vinnie jumped into Scotty's lap, startled! Then he got down and embarrassingly apologized. Sonjah burst back in and grabbed his paws!
"COME ON UNDERGROUND GOTTA GO BYE MAMA LEONE THANKS FOR TREATS BYE NEIGHBORS GAS LEAK STAY OUTTA THE FOREST YOU'LL BE OKAY THOUGH BYEEEE!" Sonjah managed to get out dragging Vinnie behind her out the door.
"THANK YOU FOR THE," Was all Vinnie managed to say before being dragged out the door. The two scurried to the edge of the woods in front of the house with Vinnie protesting all the way. They then jumped up into a large tree's hole and disappeared down into it, and into the feral tunnels underneath.

Elio looked at the window. "Last time the pandas had lived such a crisis, it was due to a fire that Valiant and Rikki helped to put down. I wonder what can it be now..."

It was really cool to meet other pets that actually wanted to talk to me... Wiggins trailed off on the last bit awkwardly.

"I also had a really good time meeting you guys." Matatabi said, following after Jess into the tunnel.

Blay put his 3DS back into his pack, and quickly went through the other contents in order to make sure he didn't forget anything. "Well, it's been fun being here with all you people, maybe we could meet up again someday." Blay said as he climbed down into the tunnel while doing his best try at a smile.

"Heh. Yer great t' talk to, 'ey?" Chris claps Wiggins on the shoulder and then heads for the tunnel. By now she's beginning to scent the gas herself and she hopes it won't get strong enough to cause her an asthma attack.
"I's fine, sir. I's no' yer fault. Please tell 'is 'ighness fanks anyway on our be'alf." With that Chris follows Blay, Matatabi and Jess into the tunnels.

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As the panda hits his lap, Scotty's chair rolls back a good few inches and the cat giggles and flaps his paw in a "It's nothing" gesture in response to Vinnie's apology. After waving goodbye to the pandas, Scotty wheels his chair forward to its original position.
"Sonjah just said it was a gas leak. Think we should do something to help out or get out of town or something?" queries Frances, concerned.

Hlaoroo wrote:As the panda hits his lap, Scotty's chair rolls back a good few inches and the cat giggles and flaps his paw in a "It's nothing" gesture in response to Vinnie's apology. After waving goodbye to the pandas, Scotty wheels his chair forward to its original position.
"Sonjah just said it was a gas leak. Think we should do something to help out or get out of town or something?" queries Frances, concerned.

"No, we'd get a siren warning in case it was something endangering the whole neighborhood," Cinzia said. Trust us on that, we grew up with air raid alarm during WWII. We have always something packed up for a quick escape. Plus, we have our own shelter under the cellar. We bought this place because it belonged to some nuke survivalist. We'll show it to you, in case." She gave Frances a reassuring pat on her hand.

Wiggins chuckled slightly as Chris patted his back.

ooc: Probably last post before I get back from vacation.

ic:

The entity reached it's outstretched tendrils like an ancient, archaic entity. Feeling between trees, bushes, branches and rocks, the smog rolled it's way through the woods. There seemed to be no boundary that could stop the smog ever creeping towards the panda village. Not even the lake. Like an angry god, it scurried to engulf the village. The town was quiet. Eerily quiet. Filled with dread and foreboding hoping that there would be no ill effects. Residents hurried orderly down through the tunnel system. Vinnie and Sonjah staying close together, joining the others under the Civilian Center. The pandas on watch took nervous, short breaths watching the dark monstrosity billow softly towards them. The more superstitious wondering what ancient rights or proceedings they had forgot to anger such a god to send such an ill omen. Crows called through the air to one another waiting for the dead to drop. A stillness filled the woods as creatures, big and small, Borues included, headed underground to avoid the mysterious plague careening through their homes. When the smog finally reached the village, it had slowed down just enough, but it's light blocking effects could be seen in the entrance tunnels. Darkness engulfed the now evacuated village. Mitch stood beside Rikki, rubbing her nose softly.

"H-honestly y-you should h-have gone to t-town," he said, before quieting as the smog drifted over the palace. Luckily for once, every hide and tail was accounted for. Well, almost every hide and tail.

Who's missing? Was the question floating around the civilian center with fears of having lost someone.

ooc: Okay, NOW last post.

ic:

"I'm j-just thinking about your safety love," Mitch says back to her, embracing her in a hug, and then continued to rub her nose. The smell grew stronger as the tunnel entrance above them blackened to darkness.

Once everyone had gotten into the tunnel, Wiggins and Winni followed and shut the door above them.
Well...
That smelled dreadful... I hope Cheal made it back to the palace or wherever he needed to go safely... Winni said.

Valiant, Belisarius, and then the rest of the pack emerged from what the wolfdog hoped to be a safe area...Yes, it was! crosswinds and uphills. he leaned down so to bark into the hole. "Guards, go warn *everyone* make them come here, quick! So far this is the safest place. Everyone still in the tunnel make sure that the entrances are sealed 100% or that stuff will be their demise, hurry!" Then he produced his phone and speed-dialed the firefighters. He hadn't to wait long. "Chief Ramsey? Officer Valiant Leone. Where are you?"
"We're at the apothecary's labs right now!" came the hurried voice from the other end of the line. "There's a heck of a mess here! Some idiots spilled canisters of Chlorine for pharmaceutical use. It interacted with some other stuff and now it's pouring like liquid smoke..." then he realized. "Where are you, officer?"
"Uphill north of Grandstaffe Village. Yes, the thing rolled down here. Complete and prompt evacuation via the underground tunnel network, but you can bet there will be cases of intoxication. For what I can see, whatever was mixed with the chlorine made it inert enough not to ignite in contact with wood. But cleaning it all will be a...well, a naughty dog. Sir."
"I see, Officer. Excellent job so far. The veterinarian service will be sending units to your position. We're all busy trying to contain this sonuva and finding why the heck these guys were storing enough chlorine to fight WWI. Over!"

"I'm sure 'e will 'ave done. Righ' now dough we need t' ge' us t' safety." With a flourish a small flashlight appears in Chris' paw and she leads the way down the tunnel, making sure that her inhaler is within easy reach, just in case.

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"I... I can't imagine what it must have been like to grow up like that... You must be brave and strong of spirit." Frances observes. Scotty picks up his tablet again and exiting the game, types a new message.
"Does our house have anything like that or does it just go up?"

Hlaoroo wrote:"I... I can't imagine what it must have been like to grow up like that... You must be brave and strong of spirit." Frances observes. Scotty picks up his tablet again and exiting the game, types a new message.
"Does our house have anything like that or does it just go up?"

"The shelter?" Cinzia asked. "Sorry, this is the only house around I know of. Oh, and Frances, we're just happy not to have to live through that again. But we'll be happy to show you some pictures if you want."

"Oh, I don't want to make you relive it." replies Frances, turning down the offer.

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Following the pandas' directions, the group soon emerges under the fairground, just as Chealzeyard had predicted.
"Wewl, dere we go." Chris says, stepping into the sunlight.
"So... Wha' shall we do now, den?"

Well, my parents aren't home... maybe we could all just hang out there or something? Wiggins offered.

A man grabbed a cardboard box labeled 'ammunition' from the back of a small blue car before taking it into the home he was moving into. This man who wore a simple T-shirt with denim jeans was named David Davidson, he often thought his parents had a sick sense of humor.

Upon laying the cardboard box with the others in his home he looked around for something and sighed, "Star!" He sighed once more, for he knew decisive action was required. He opened up the box labeled ammunition, its contents were a strangely large, pink marshmallow gun and a box of cupcakes.

With his prized item in hand he ran up stairs to find, as he expected, his feline son playing his 3DS due to the fact his computer wasn't set up.

"Freeze gaming feline!" He shouted pointing his cupcake launcher at Star. Star did just that, knowing what would happen if he moved and he did not want to wash frosting out of his fur again. Star didn't move a muscle as his father gently plucked the gaming device out of his paws, "Now Star, you know our little agreement, right?"

Star nodded, wishing his father had forgot, "Yes dad."

His father clapped his hands together, making sure not to fire any cupcakes, "Goodie! Now uphold your end of the bargain, go and socialize or Mr. Mini Nintendo here gets frosted." He said the last part with a grin that would make the Joker envious.

Star's eyes went wide as saucers, gazing at his handheld as if he'd never see it again, "Okay, okay! Just don't do anything hasty." He got off the floor, walked down the stairs, out the front door and out onto the sidewalk in front of his new home. The wind buffeted his fur as he walked down the sidewalk and muttered under his breath, "I just hope the pets here aren't as crazy as dad."

He heard a shout from the window of his home, "One, I heard that! Two, don't worry! Everything will be fine!" After his son was out of sight he began unboxing the more important items, "I hope."

Blay emerged from the tunnel, and took in a deep breath. "Well, I was planing on just heading home, but I guess I could hang out a bit more." Blay said taking out his phone; quickly sending a text to his owner.

Everyone else? Wiggins asked.

"I'm fine with that." Matatabi said.

"Fanks! I'd love to! I'd invite yers all over too bu' we only jus' got 'ere so we've not unpacked yet." Chris replies with tail going nineteen to the dozen.

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Scotty suddenly jerks in his chair as the elbow upon which he'd been leaning slips off the edge of his armrest.
"You all right there?" The cat blushes a little though it's invisible under his fur, and mimes what had happened, giggling silently in an embarrassed manner.
"Just slipped. I'm fine." says his tablet.

"I'd love to come along," Jess responded.

Star continued to walk until he saw a bunch of animals walking out of a tunnel, he shivered slightly at the sight of said hole in the ground, 'Must be some sort of secret club house or something.' He thought. He took a deep breath and started towards the group, muttering to himself, "Alright Starry, you gave dad your word, just walk up to them, say hi and, hopefully they won't tear your ears off."

Once near by the pets, yet still unnoticed, he raised his voice slightly though not much, Um, hello there?" He said, voice tinged with uncertainty.

"W-well..." Will thought for a bit, and nodded. "I g-guess. I mean, there w-were still 5 questions left, a-and it be sad if we d-didn't finish."

the phone at Leone house rang. Elio went and picked it. Before he could speak, he heard a familiar voice.
"Dad?" the dog at the other end of the line knew his Dad always picked the phone.
Elio heard the anguish in his dog's voice and felt a cold shiver running through his heart. "Valiant, what's happening? Here looks like another wildfire started, but there's no smoke in the air, only this stench of--"
"Chlorine, yes. Someone at the apothecary lab had stored massive quantities of chlorine barrels for pharmaceutical use and some has spilled together with some other chemicals. The cloud ran down from the hill and to the area where Grandstaffe village lays. The Pandas have evacuated, and Rikki is with Mitch, helping out. I'll be there for the duration of the crisis as well, we need all hands available. But I need a favor, Dad, Mom."
Elio nodded. As usual, Cinzia didn't intervene to interrupt. In occasions like this, she had been educated to trust her man's judgement and stay calm, not to act like some scaredy girl.
"The Palatinium wolf pack, Belisarius' family, had come just today to meet Grandstaffe's royals. Of course, of all days..." the dog's voice cracked. "Bel is fine, and his family too, but right now I need them to stay somewhere safe. I already alerted the authorities of their presence, and they'll prepare the papers. But in the meantime, while I am here--"
"Just don't worry, figliolo. Let them come here now, we'll give them a roof and food. They are *our* family as well, not some bunch of strangers. You and Rikki do your job, don't disappoint me. We'll take care of things. We're proud of you."
"Thank you, papà. Really. Walter will be here with a van for them." The line fell.
Elio put the receiver onto the bachelite cradle, and quickly recapped the situation to his wife and their new friends. "Officer Watkins will be here with 12 big wolves. I'll go fix the shelter and the cots, we need the extra space."
Cinzia patted Frances' shoulder. "Well, I guess this is a good moment to learn some basic cooking if you want to. Do you and Scotty have problems with wolves?"

Wiggins jumped and stomped his foot on the ground sharply at the sound of the new voice behind him.
Don't kill us!
Then he saw it was just a cat.
Oh, sorry... I didn't see you there. he said blushing a bit.
Well we shouldn't stand around here all day, the gas may leak into the tunnels. Winni pointed out.
Right... Follow me and lets get somewhere not deadly. Mister Cat, your welcome to join us!

Upon noticing the new cat Blay jumped a little, and positioned slightly behind Jess, with his face pointed away. "Welcome," He said quietly, directed at Star.

MrNeonShot wrote: Right... Follow me and lets get somewhere not deadly. Mister Cat, your welcome to join us!

"I agree. I- *cough* I'm asthmatic an' dis chlorine smell is ge'in' a bi' strong fer me likin'." Feeling the gas beginning to irritate her, Chris takes a puff from her inhaler, letting the medication open her airways. Feeling marginally better, she follows the rabbit, knowing that the relief won't last long while she's exposed to the gas.
"Hi, Mr. Ca'. I'd bark a' you if I wasn't 'avin' t' keep control o' me breaf a' th' moment." she jokes.

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The lady and her cat stare at the Italian couple for a moment, having forgotten Valiant's mention of his partner over their breakfast earlier.
"Like... real wolves? I've never met any... I suppose they're like big dogs really. So being a cat I shouldn't like them." Scotty jokes making Frances giggle.
"Yeah, I've never seen any either, except at the zoo. I try not to judge people before I meet them though. I'm sure they're perfectly nice... Are they... wild wolves...?"

Hlaoroo wrote:The lady and her cat stare at the Italian couple for a moment, having forgotten Valiant's mention of his partner over their breakfast earlier.
"Like... real wolves? I've never met any... I suppose they're like big dogs really. So being a cat I shouldn't like them." Scotty jokes making Frances giggle.
"Yeah, I've never seen any either, except at the zoo. I try not to judge people before I meet them though. I'm sure they're perfectly nice... Are they... wild wolves...?"

Cinzia nodded, a kind smile plastered on her face. "Why, of course. Just like Belisarius was, before meeting Valiant. They may be a bit...diffident, at first, but if our boy vouches for them, you can be sure there is no danger."

Star blinked a few times at the mention of gas and chlorine, 'Not even going to question it.' He thought. "Well, um, sorry for startling you all, but let me introduce myself. My name is Star. How are all of you?" He said nervously.

"Nice to meet you, Star," Jess said, offering her paw to the new cat. "I'm Jess, and the cat behind me is Blay. Welcome to the neighborhood."

"Yeah, welcome to the Plateau." Blay said, still looking away. He could smell the gas getting slightly stronger. He started scrapping his claws against eachother in a slight case of anxiety. He didn't really mind meeting new people, but all this and the gas was too much for one day. But he couldn't just leave, not yet.