#anywhere

Jessica, on the streets, looks left and right for the childlings. And then up, just in case.

Holger peeks into an alley and declares "¿Bandidos, asaltantes, asesinos? Soy Holger! Soy fuerte. No dejaré que lastimes a nadie. Te lastimaré si lo intentas. ¡Así que no interfieras! "

"There's lots of places for commoners - like, oh, how a Steward runs the whole hold, or maybe a Chief Scribe or Herald..."

And Jessica thinks she hears some boy yelling in the distance, not alarmed, but very firmly

"Hsst!" A glance around and she ducks to the side of the alley, pulling Ariel and Ellie with her!

"What?" She's pulled.

"Banditos!" She whispers.

And, with on Banditos coming in, he goes into the alley, looks about and motions them to come after. The crumbled apartment building looks like it might fall over. There's a rusty stairway on the outside. He takes a breath and performs a dance. Trying for that New Zealand islander bad ass thing, but mostly it looks like he's slapping his knees

Jessica runs in that direction.

Then SPRING.. he makes it to the stair... and pulls a clasp..and down comes the ladder so the girls can going him!

"I don't see any banditos... look, he did magic!"

He calls out down "Está bien, no es hierro frío. Solo vigila tus pasos. La caca de pájaro podría estar en la escalera".

Jessica heard a CLANG!

"Oh, I misunderstood..." Her ears droop and she blushes a bit, dusting dirt off Ellie's dress where she pulled her to the side of the ally. "Let's follow after, ah, I will have to beg the Senoras to help me clean this." A tut.

And a giggle. "Watch for bird drops on the ladder."

"I think he said it's safe."

"Ewww, poop!"

"Tain't nothing but natural..." Ariel sounds like she's quoting someone, then admits "Still gross"

"Are the cats up the ladder?" She forges ahead, ready to climb despite the poop.

UP the stairs and ladder they go, clack clack past the second floor, past the third... and then... to the top floor "Una anciana vivía aquí. Tenía un gato. Quizás el gato sepa dónde están otros gatos. Le preguntaremos".

"ooooooh..." She breathes in excitement. "Gatitas!"

Peering around curiously, ears canted to listen for cats.

"Are gatitas kittens? I think ita is little."

And there is a cat sound..weak.. and mewing

And Holger gasps as he looks in

"Qué es, Holger?"

"What is it?"

Trying to peer around the troll.

Jessica dashes down the street, looking down alleys and up fire escapes, searching with all her senses (including that sixth sense that registers Glamour) for the childlings.

Holger says "La anciana está muerta. Y ... veo un monstruo."

"Un monstruo?" She gasps. "Esta bien la gata? Is the cat ok?"

"Does the kitty need help?"

She tugs lightly at Holger's shirt, anxious.

Holger's jaw sets, and he says ""Como Dios es mi testigo, ¡el Gato estará a salvo!"

There is a shattering of glass as he slams through the frail window, and lands before the monster. The girls can see a pestulant pale man... and Ellie sees one of the Dark Kin, a bringer of filth , corruption ,and disease! An old woman's body lays dead and ignored by the world. A large helpless cat mews piteously

"OH! Oh no!"

"Ay, dios!" She tries to put herself between Ellie and the scene. "Do not look."

"It's a dark one!"

And Holgar thrusts his weapon at the creature.. it laughs "strong you maybe boy but.." His head whips around "BUUUEAAAMMAAAYYN? KILL IT! KILL IT WITH FILTH SLAY IT WITH PLAGUE!"

And JESSICA Comes on the scene!

Well, below the stars

Stair*

The sounds get her attention; she dodges down the (alley?) to the (fire escape?) and looks (up?) towards the sounds.

"I do not think it will look any better in the light!"

Ellie is torn between shrinking back and trying to stand in front of her friends.

Jessica sees the girls.. and they're looking into a window.. and something is HOWLING in rage... and hate

no sign of the boy

She slings her maul back and climbs to join them.

"We should run away, but... but.."

A hiccup.