#anywhere

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Ariel strokes the kittens , socializing them is the reason she'll give, but mostly because she loves the kittens.

And she sings to them, "Soft kitty,
Warm kitty,
Little ball of fur.
Happy kitty,
Sleepy kitty,
Purr Purr Purr"

The kittens seem to approve of her singing, and Ariel smiles and then whispers "There are sooo many beautiful voices in the halls right now. And sounds and music. And Spencer on his way. I am not best by half, and will not win." She says softly, a confession, "I tell myself that I will do my best, and try my hardest, and love the singing for it's own sake, but I really do hope I do okay. I don't wanna disspoint my friend"

"But boy those others are so good sounding" Ariel says

She laughs as the calico noses at her legs "Hey, that's tickling me"

Indeed, the calico is nosing at Ariel's furry legs. What a strange cat this is!

The calico meeps.

"You're so cute" she picks up the calico and snuggles

Purrrrrr.

"Ellie needs you kittens more than I do, cuz someone put in her head the idea that cuz she got stuck with a title she can't be silly or have much fun. You guys remind em otherwise when she won't listen to Salma and me...so she gets first pick, but I get to pick one of you. You trying to audition?" Slyly she asks the little calico

"ih!"

"Well, you'll each have to puuuurr form in a mutliple categories... agility, sweetness, smarts, oh, and cuteness."

The calico blinks. Cutely.

"ooo you're a contender" Ariel admits

And rewards with gentle scritches under the chin, have to be careful cuz the chin is so TINY

"Well , you don't get in mucch trouble as the tabby"

"ih," Indeed, Tabby is vexing.

"That's not a challenge mind, don't go getting into trouble just to get attention" stroking now "And don't go assuming I'm a push over just cuz we satyrs wear our hearts on our sleeves. I can be veerrry particular"

She bats at the hand, is this a toy?

"Silly thing... that's not something you're supposed to swat at. Clem says you shouldn't use hands as a toy with cats of they'll get used to attacking it. Fortunately, Tonto left some ribbon things" She finds the little makeshift 'ribbon octopus' and uses that to shake about the calico

ooo .. eight little ribbons fluttering about

OMG THIS IS AMAZING.

little paws waggle in the air!

Ariel giggles but does not neglect her ribbon dangling duties "Ellie? You have to see this"

The tubby grey kitten opens a blue eye, makes a half-hearted bat towards one of the ribbons, then curls up closer to mama. He has decided that it is still nap time.

"ooo you are such a huntress you are" Ariel coos then laughs at the gray "Well, you got your lick in"

He opens a mouth in a yawn - wiiiiide.... and then the energy of doing so saps him back into sleep.

"I suspect," Ariel observes, "He will not be a good mouser at all"

bat-bat-bat-bat!

"Now you will be just a fierce mouser, protecting the grain"

Ariel's little heart lights up at this kitten, then she whispers "The DeBukes, specially the older ones, say animals are animals, if they don't work not much point to em" then she lowers her voice "But I seen Hearth Agnes pet the dogs when no one was looking. And Hearth Emmit sure does get clumsy with the bacon sometime when old Alpine looks with beggar eyes despite the Hearth being furious if he did."

"Trolls" She snorts

A headbutt to Ariel's chin.

a laugh and snuggle