#anywhere

"I just.. please, if the bad men come... "

"What bad men?" Salma asks, approaching, and looking concerned.

"She's worried about Balor and Dark Kin even though we got the bad uns in the prison" Ariel explains "She wants me to run like a coward and desert my friends i a fight comes "A bit torn between being peeved and worried at this talk

Blink, blink blink. "That does not SOUND like our Princesca." Looking to Ellie, an ear cocked.

"Not a coward!"

"No, because you are brave and want to fight."

"That's why I must ask you to run. I want you to be safe, you're my friend. You and Salma are my best friends."

"And you two are mine and I want you to be safe too" Stamp of hoof and head nod

"I'll figure it out."

"AIn't nothing to figure, you can't walk around scared for me all the time" Ariel says

SOmething that sounds like a catfight

"Do you not want to be-" Cut off, eyes widening.

"Oh no...., the gatitos??" And she turns to check the hallway!

Near a window , Marion hisses at a big old Tom! She fluffs furiously!

"Ay, no no! Shoo, gato!" Salma flaps her skirt at him!

The tom is on the other side and hisses back..

"Azul!" Ariel yells.

And suddenly Azul is there.. she razes towardss the window.. Marion gets out of the way.. and the big Dog ALMOST crashes into it.. but stops at the last minute to let loose a BOOMING bark!

Ellie follows, lagging a bit.

This bark is simple, a message dogs have sent to cats for all time Your sneaky ways mean SHIT to me. I am DOG... RUN, as is the ancient accord OR DIE

And the TOm, startled... chooses flight

Salma, also backs away a bit from the puppy. It was an awful BIG bark.

Marion fluffs and hisses at the departing cat who was twice her size, in the ancient cat speech of "Yeah, you BETTER run!"

And then... Looks nonplused (Oh there's that word) as Azul turns to her and gives her head a lick

Ariel has to clutch at her heart. Oh the drama today

Salma drifts back and stands by Ellie - maybe a bit BEHIND Ellie. "Ay, who let that gato bandito in here? He scared Mamacita."

And reaching for Ellie's hand.

"Bad kitty."

Once Marion recovers, she looks at the dog that got her face wet, yet also barked at the enemy. Deciding this means a memasured response is required, she , without CLaw, only paw, bops Azul on the nose, then rubs under the dog with what could be affection, or could be an attempt to clean her face.

"Oh my. " Maria comes in. "Salma..we wish to see you for a moment."

A blink at Maria. "I did not do it?" She is not sure what it is, but it can't hurt to start.

"Or I did not mean to..."

Ellie checks on the kittens... gently relocating Tabby back into the basket.

And Tuxedo! Treachery!

Maria looks her over, then finds the finger with it's already healing cut. Mmm she nods "Did you wash? it?

She looks shy, and gives a little nod. "It is just from the... the art paper. It bit my finger." Construction paper gives a mean papercut.

"You should have tole us you were wounded in the pursuit of culture" Ariel says

Tuxuedo is normally one of the GOOD ones

"I told it, you are made of plants, and I can eat you up, but I do not think it listens well." A shuffled foot.

And Tabby! Again!

It's like whack-a-mole...

A quick wipe, and a bandaid is put on the spot.. "There."

It's a yellow one with googly eyes.

Azul plops down in front of the kittens suddenly a living mountain to block them. They can never leave again now.

The Gray one sees the obstacle, and recognizes well, this is there world now. Trapped in this valley, unable to ever get past Mount Dog

Salma edges away from Azul, eyeing the dog with a bit of trepidation. But she does seem amused by the googly bandage, "Gracias, now I have extra eyes to watch over my amigas with."

"There we go, ready for bed and milk."

"Azul won't hurtyah" Ariel says to Salma "he's just got a big bark."

"She's got a big everything. And hush, I am not scared of any silly perros."