StarfrostedFox

Shadows of the Dark Forest (TheElvenqueen x AutumnFrost)

No rush! Whenever you get around to it. :3

I should read the first handful of stories. I've only been through the Omen of the Stars. But even then, they don't have the last two books in audio format. I had to go through them with my iPad reading them. It was rather hard to understand some of the cats names. Ha ha! I don't think they had any of the other books on audio, but I might have to check again. If nothing else, I can always look in iBooks. It's good to know that the later Siri's weren't all that great. Thanks for the heads up.

Shadows of the Dark Forest (TheElvenqueen x AutumnFrost)

Finally got my post up! Hooray! Sorry that took me so long. I have been getting things ready for my husband to be out of town for the rest of the week. I've just had a lot on my plate the last several days. But I really enjoyed writing my introduction. I even started listening to the first book in the omen of the stars series again, Just to brush up on warrior cat terminology. Ha ha! :3

Shadows of the Dark Forest (TheElvenqueen x AutumnFrost)

A new day was dawning brilliantly in the eastern sky, coloring the normally blue canvas with splashes of pink and orange. The first hints of golden light had just begun to spill over into what cats called the main camp and home of Dawn Clan when their current leader, Ashstar, stepped out of his den in the leader's tree, The larger of two such trees in the mountain clearing. He rubbed his lanky body against The edge of the opening that had been formed generations ago, scratching an itch beneath is tawny pelt before enjoying a limb shaking stretch, briefly digging his front claws into the wood of the tree limb beneath him. Yawn splitting his muzzle for a moment before the Tom shook out his fur, Ashstar slid into a seated position as his golden gaze swept over camp, watching the first of his clan mates stir.

A tiny spot of orange and white was streaking across the open space in front of the nursery cave, obviously attempting to make a break for a bit of adventure, but A beautiful black and silver she cat was in hot pursuit of the escapee. Ashstar released a mmrow of amusement at the sight of his mate Eagleleap chasing down the excitable, and rather slippery, kit Poppykit. Nearby, a sleek light brown and white tom was just stepping out of the warrior's den, releasing a wide yawn before going after an itch behind one of his ears. Poppykit streaked beneath Sandpelt's Front legs as the deputy of the clan was doing this, startling him to release a soft yowl.

"oh, sorry Sandpelt! Poppykit! Get back here you naughty kit!" Eagleleap's clear voice rang out, Clearly exasperated.

Another warrior, clearly having just been woken up, poked her head out of the den next to Sandpelt, Obviously curious and a little annoyed. When she spotted the bicolored kit scampering away with her leader's mate right on her tail, Sunspot couldn't help but give a heavy sigh before joining in the Chase, her long fur streaming out behind her.

Giving his head a brief shake, whiskers twitching with amusement, Ashstar maneuvered his way down from the leader's tree, landing nimbly on the ground before making his way over to his deputy. "that kit is going to make an excellent warrior one day." He meowed, drawing the attention of the light brown tom.

"She most certainly has the energy for it." Sandpelt sighed, giving his long tail several flicks.

"have you organized a Don patrol yet?" Ashstar then went on to ask, sliding into a seated position and curling his tail around his paws.

"no, not yet. I was just about to win Poppykit... Well, you saw." The deputy responded, giving his chest fur a few quick licks with his embarrassment at having reacted so strongly.

Ashstar tilted his head dismissively, excepting the fact that every cat got startled at one point or another. That was just how life was. "I'd like to join in on the patrol today. I could use the walk."

"Count me in then too." A slightly tired voice chimed in, Eagleleap trotting around the edge of the warrior's den A moment later. Behind her, Sunspot appeared, a resigned looking Poppykit dangling from her jaws. "I could use the time away from camp so that I'm not tempted to take this little scoundrel backwards through the barrier." She continued, giving the little kit in question a sharp look.

"That should be just fine. I was going to ask you to come on patrol anyway." Sandpelt responded, nodding his head at Eagleleap. "I'll just round up a few more cats and we can head out." He then said, looking back into the warrior's den before ducking back inside.

~|*|~

Paws Quickly flitting Around the stock shelves at the back of the medicine cat's tree, Dapplefern Happily sorted through the herbs, Making mental notes of which needed to be replenished soon. Flicking Her long tail, The medicine cat apprentice Scooped out a few dead leaves And added them to the small pile that she would throw out when she was finished. She hadn't been sleeping well lately, troubled by disturbing dreams, and cleaning and organizing the medicine cat Hollow was something that she instinctively started attending too. Another night of waking up well before dawn saw her cleaning once again, paws always moving.

Dapplefern had known from a young age that she wanted to be a medicine cat and had been absolutely thrilled when she had been chosen to become an apprentice to Icerain. She hadn't been under her tutelage for long, but had learned so much already. She highly respected the older medicine cat, Working very hard to prove herself worthy of becoming a medicine cat herself.

The sound of some cat yowling floated to her only a minute later, causing the she cat's ears to instinctively perk up.She left her work reluctantly, Quickly trotting over to the opening in the tree and looked out, surprised to see the clearing outside already awash in early morning sunlight. Blinking her light blue eyes a few times, she hunted around for the cause of the disturbance and spotted the clan deputy talking with The leader, a couple of other cats chasing after a kit that had obviously escaped from the nursery. Poppykit, If she wasn't mistaken. The Little she cat had been quite the pawful since she had recovered from being abandoned in the forest. No one knew who her mother was or what clan she might have come from, but had been discovered by one of the warrior patrols hidden in a cluster of poppy flowers on the edge of the territory. It had already been a half moon since then...

How Time flies... dapplefern thought quietly to herself as she watched Sunspot manage to catch the runaway in her jaws, the little kit meowing in protest. Her gaze then shifted back to Ashstar and Sandpelt. I wonder if the Don patrol has been put together yet... It would be a marvelous opportunity to get some new herbs... she noted as she looked back over at the pile of dead leaves she had swept together. Deciding that it probably would be a better idea to ask her mentor if she could go rather than volunteering herself, Dapplefern began climbing up the side of the tree, heading for the next branch up where her and Icerain's nests were.

"Icerain? Are you awake yet?"she called out softly as she got to the opening, poking her head inside.

Blood in the Moonlight (Apple Jax x AutumnFrost)

In response to him finally declining the offer of the dagger she held out, Celinny outwardly gave her shoulders a shrug before she slipped The small blade back into place. "Suture self." She murmured. Inwardly, she was intrigued. She had grown up with and had been raised by people who had had such opposite standards from Jax, She was staggered by such a concentration of goodness in one person... Not that she was openly going to admit that to him. Not unless she got to know him better. And the chances of them getting the opportunity to know one another better was slim.

Again, she found herself quietly, but intently, listening to Jax begin to lay out and even strategize a little with important information, detailing information about the stables, the people who worked in them, and the security of the gates. Tilting her head slightly as she listened, picturing herself heading back to the guard at the foot of the stairs before she and the former captain worked on securing themselves a pair of horses. She wanted to snort Saufley at the idea that she wouldn't be able to handle the stable Master alone, but quickly dismissed the instinctive reaction. She would just have to show Jax that it wouldn't be a problem.

Quirking up her lips in a smile as he then asked her if she had any ideas on opening the gate without alerting the guards, Celinny gave her head a brief nod. "I think I've got just the thing to get that gate open. No offense, but I don't trust you enough to detail that exact plan. Perhaps if we can get out of here safely and you don't betray me at the next opportunity, I'll let you in on that particular secret." She explained, not unkindly. Mist was her ace, More than capable of getting into the guard house and pressing the switch before the guards could react. But he was her best kept secret, she didn't want to risk his identity being divulged by preemptively telling Jax about him.

Giving one last cursory glance over his appearance, Celinny then opened the door once again, peeking out and glancing down the hallway. "wait here. I'll go take care of that guard and then whistle for you when we are in the clear." She said back over her shoulder before slipping out of the room and jogging down the Corredor, fingers already reaching into her belt for the necessary vial.

She paused for a moment as she reached the door to the staircase, rearranging her expression into one of sheepishness, before cracking open the door and peering timidly through the gap. As she expected, the guard immediately turned his head in her direction, though his expression was somewhat bored. She ducked her head, as if embarrassed.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She mumbled at the ground. "I am supposed to go and get some more water..." She explained in an uncertain voice, casting a quick look up at the guard from beneath her lashes

"is that all? That's fine lass. Hurry up, will you?" The guard responded, relaxing back against the wall where he had been leaning, lifting up a piece of parchment he had in one hand to return to his reading.

Celinny gave an awkward curtsy before starting forward with her head down, watching the guard out of the corner of her eye. At the last moment, she pretended to trip over her own feet, stumbling forward with a squeak of alarm. As she had hoped, the guard reached out instinctively to steady her, catching her around one arm. At the last moment, Celinny righted herself, moving quickly in close to the man and suddenly snatched out her hand, completely covering his mouth and stifling any noise he might've made, her other hand reaching up to prick a needle coded in her sleeping solution into the soft skin at the side of his neck. After only a moment, the man's eyelids fluttered, Dropping closed sleepily. She carefully levered his body weight to allow her to quietly lower him to the floor before she stepped back to the prison door. Poking her head inside, she gave a short whistle to alert Jax of her success.

Of Men and Elves (Siaya-Dragalorn x AutumnFrost)

A deep breath through her nose as the sounds of the human walking away finally faded saw a mild cooling of Aeylisia's temper and she took A moment to rub her fingers against her temples as her headache throbbed within her skull. She then sighed heavily through her nose, pursing her lips as she looked over what materials she had already gathered. Casting one more quick glance in the direction that Shade had gone, the elf finally continued with her task of starting a fire.

Dry wood sorted out from the damp or green, A handful of kindling placed within a tent like structure of some of the sticks, and a ring of stones encircling both of them, Aeylisia finally sat back down with a huff, thoroughly exhausted and ready for the day to be over. Stifling a sudden yawn, the elf concentrated on using the least amount of magic and effort to call forth a small spark that leapt from her palm and into the kindling, coaxed into a small flame by a few gentle puffs of air. Breaking into a smile, Aeylisia worked on feeding sticks into the ever increasing flames until she had A decent enough fire going, the clearing illuminated by the flickering light and chasing away the chill that had begun to settle over her.

Releasing a second longer yawn, Aeylisia finally laid down on her side, curling one of her arms under her head as she watched the firelight dance. What a mess she had gotten herself into. The day had started out pleasant enough, time on her own to enjoy the quiet of the forest and the melody of bird song... But then the humans had gotten involved, had set her forest aflame. And now she was here with Shade, Her leg torn by the claws of a manticore and her Energy and magic spent... And now the fire was in the forest around her once again, her body naked and ravaged by cuts and slashes, shivering uncontrollably while tears streamed down her cheeks. A half consumed branch fell off a nearby tree, slamming into the ground Close to her, sending up a shower of sparks that bit and stung at her exposed skin. Aeylisia sobbed as she heard the heavy footfalls of an approaching monster, her heart slamming into her chest at the inevitability of her demise. With a roar, A creature that was half man and half manticore burst free of a burning bush, grinning wickedly as it spotted her shivering in the middle of the clearing. With triumph on its face and murder in its eyes, the creature leapt upon her...

A stick suddenly popping loudly in the fire startled Aeylisia to wakefulness, A half strangled gasp escaping her lips. Her entire body seized with panic as her heartbeat erratic against the inside of her ribs. Hot tears leaked from her eyes as she panted into the quiet of the night, expecting every moment to feel the ripping of claws into her flesh... But no... The manticore was dead. She had shot it with an Arrow in the face, had seen the sword sticking out of its neck... With a quiet sob, The Elven woman pushed herself up into a sitting position, her feet on the forest floor, hugging her knees close to her body. She put her head down upon her knees and began to cry in earnest. What am I going to do?

She wasn't entirely sure how long she had been sitting there, cheeks and knees wet with her tears, but she felt her stomach flutter with panic as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Head jerking up, Aeylisia stared into the forest with wide Red rimmed eyes, terror freezing her joints. But then an unfortunately familiar figure stepped into the light cast by the fire and then her fear melted away into inevitability and embarrassment. Hoping that Shade hadn't glimpsed her tear stained face, Aeylisia dropped her head onto one of her arms, using the motion to wipe at her cheeks with a sleeve.

She listened as the human settled down onto the ground, giving quite the show of yawning, and then asked her who was going to take first watch, adding in the irritating nickname he had adopted for her. She sighed, Not really in the mood to have another argument, and lifted her head to place her chin on her arm. "I am willing to take the first watch of the night..." She mumbled, her voice sounding as if she had a bad head cold, which only added to her embarrassment.

Blood in the Moonlight (Apple Jax x AutumnFrost)

Celinny Windwood

Nickname: Lin or Linny

Age: 24

Race: Human

Appearance: She is a long lithe woman, with wiry muscles and a caramel complexion. Her hair is a deep black in color and usually hangs to just between her shoulder blades in loose curls. Her cheekbones are high and proud, but are gentled and softened by rounded edges, as is her chin, complementing her heart shaped face and full lips. Set above a long nose that turns up very slightly at the end and below a set of slender arching eyebrows are a pair of almond shaped light blue eyes, a starburst of gold around the right pupil.

Clothes Wear: When on assignment, Celinny prefers wearing all black attire. A longsleeved tunic tucked into a pair of cloth pants, with the sleeves then tucked into elbow length black leather gloves. Soft soled mid calf leather boots adorn her feet, while a belt with a multitude of pouches and loops is tied at her waist. A cloth mask that can be pulled up to cover the bottom half of her face is left hanging around her neck for easy access.

When she's not working, she is more often than not seen in a simple pair of breeches, A darkly colored short sleeve tunic with a white longsleeved undershirt beneath, and a pair of sturdy mid calf boots that lace up in the front and fold over at the top.

Weapons: She owns a myriad of small daggers and usually has at least five on her person at any given time. Various vials of poisons, sleeping drafts, and paralytic Solutions are kept in her belt, along with needles to administer these liquids. She has a long bow and quiver that are matched silver and black. Finally, she has a rapier that she keeps in a dark red sheath, a figure of a running wolf engraved on the pommel.

Personality: She is fairly easy-going and laid-back, personable and cheerful, prone to sarcasm And jokes. She loves to laugh and strives to keep a positive outlook on life. She has a determined and rather stubborn streak to her and doesn't easily give up. When the situation calls for it, she can be levelheaded and very serious. If offended or angered, she becomes somewhat aloof and cold, distancing herself from the individual or situation that affected her until forgiveness is extended or amends made to rectify the situation. In cases where she is the problem, she persistently apologizes until she receives forgiveness. When it comes down to it and there isn't an opportunity to escape, she is a fierce warrior And protects those she considers friends.

Distinguishing Marks: On the back of her left shoulder, she has been burned with a branding iron, leaving a mark of an intricate "S" encompassed in a circle. Accompanying this Mark is a long thin white scar that stretches at a slight diagonal from just below the right side of her neck to the opposite hip.

Other: She has The fortunate companionship and trust of an endangered shape shifter believed to be of fae origin named, formally, as "Silvered Mist of Changing Form" for the silvery mist that surrounds his shape when he changes, but is in formally known simply as Mist. Celinny has limited mental communication with him and can share a portion of his magic, giving her The ability to make small physical changes to her appearance.

Shadows of the Dark Forest (TheElvenqueen x AutumnFrost)

Oh, no worries. I had seen it, it just seems like I forgot to post my reply. Or my post didn't go through. One or the other. I am loving the characters that you have so far! I've enjoyed reading about them.

I hope your laptop is fixed soon! That would be so exciting! :D

Where would we like to start the story? With the patrol attacking the rogues? I can start work writing a post that gets a patrol together.

Blood in the Moonlight (Apple Jax x AutumnFrost)

Pushing lightly against the door until it clicked into place, Celinny focused determinedly on the grains running through the heavy wood, tracing one of her fingertips along a few of the veins as she focused her thoughts on the guard she was about to be dealing with instead of the state of undress of the men behind her. Her not looking was not due to any shyness or lack of curiosity, she was itching to catch a glimpse of Jax in such a vulnerable situation, but she wasn't entirely sure how the Captain would react to her sneaking a peek. So instead she studied wood grains and planned the next step in their escape.

When the rustling of fabric finally quieted down, Celinny glanced back quickly over her shoulder once before turning around and leaning her back against the door, hand surreptitiously falling to the hilt of a dagger tied to her belt. She gave Jax and his skin tight clothing a scrutinizing look from head to toe before being unable to restrain a soft bubble of laughter, a grin splitting across her face. "You... You look ridiculous." She just managed to get out before allowing herself to be momentarily overcome by silent laughter that shook her slender shoulders. Catching her breath, she was just on the point of committing to a concerted effort in finding a set of larger clothing when Jax dropped an unforeseen problem into her lap. Her laughter cut off abruptly, light brown eyes blinking twice quickly as her brain caught up with the situation.

"You can't climb the wall?" Celinny looked slightly aghast at this revelation, a completely silent explosion going on inside her head and destroying the careful plans she had already set in place. The rope coiled at the top of the wall now seemed like a pointless effort... Slowly closing her mouth that had fallen open, the young woman bit briefly at her lower lip as she quickly reorganized her plans.

"Well, I'm not going to abandon you now just because of a detour..." Grimacing playfully, Celinny pulled up the edge of her tunic and unbuttoned a pouch on her belt, withdrawing a dark folded piece of fabric from within and holding it out. "take this and tie it around your face." She said softly, shaking out the cloth to reveal a woven dark grey scarf. "Since we can't let anyone get a good look at your face, covering up the majority of it is essential. What is left exposed, I'm going to ask you to wrinkle up as much as possible, appear as much in pain as you can. You are going to pretend to be my very ill brother, coughing will help this appearance, and I will be taking you to see our equally ill and perhaps dying mother in the village across the river on the north side of the castle."

She was going to have to be especially convincing if they were going to get past the guards at the front gate unscathed. The idea made her want to sigh, But she held the temptation back and instead made herself smile, a simple quirking up of the corners of her mouth. "where would the stables be located?" She asked, reflecting on the scant calculations in her mind of the distances she had been able to map out of the building earlier. It would take them out of the way in escaping, put them at risk, but they needed an easy way out. "We're going to need horses if we're going to look convincing. Their size will be useful if we end up needing to force our way through the gate." Reaching to the middle of her lower back, she slipped free an extra dagger, holding it out hilt first. "But just in case things take a turn for the worst..." Her expression clearly stated that she sincerely hope that bloodshed would not end up being necessary, but if it came down to his and her life at the cost of another's, she would fight.

Of Lords and Faeries

Pears had to be one of the best fruits that had been given to the world, William mused to himself as he chewed on one of the slices the manservant had brought only a short time ago. They were among one of his favorite foods and he appreciated that those in the kitchen had thought to provide some with the cordial he had asked for. With a satisfied smile, he swallowed his mouthful and took a sip from his goblet before he turned over the parchment he had been holding in his hand, studying the information carefully.

Thomas, on the other hand, sat rather stiffly, disapproval strong in his rigid posture. He hadn't been happy since William had chosen Mrs. Campbell above all of the other applications that had been provided, Disregarding the neat stack of parchment altogether. His disapproval with his Lord's choice did not color his decision to partake of the snack however, his own goblet held carefully in one hand as he ate One of the pastries. William quickly had to cover his mouth with his hand to hide another smile, giving the impression that he was thinking deeply even as he put aside the application.

"i'll keep the interviews with mr. Weinhart and Mr. Phillips, But I have decided to cancel the other interviews." The young Arrington finally managed to say, placing the applications for both men on top of the one for Mrs. Campbell.

Mr. Lockwood visibly relaxed, just a bit, and offered a thin lipped smile. "Very well Sir."

Before Mr. Lockwood could show any annoyance at the smile that turned up his lips, William quickly change the subject from the staff, though his fingers sought a few fresh pieces of parchment, a quill, a bottle of ink, and a small container of sand. He asked questions on how the accounts had been managed, which were doing well and which were doing poorly. He made comments about his own accounting endeavors, spoke of plans for future investments, and even brought up the idea of hosting a ball in the relatively near future, opening invitations to those in the village as well as the Irish Nobles.

"I must say though." William finally sighed at one point, leaning back in his chair and looking out over the gardens and the forest beyond. "Hosting a hunt with some of the local noblemen and ladies sounds like a grand idea to celebrate my move to the country." He admitted, wondering quietly if his hunting dogs had made the trip quite as well as he had. "my uncle always did like a good hunt. It seems like the perfect way to honor his memory."

"Yes." Thomas drew out nasally, having finally relaxed back into his own chair. "Edward did always enjoy himself a jolly good Chase." He agreed, sounding the most relaxed William had ever heard him. "The event would certainly be a way to introduce yourself to those of great standing."

William ran his thumb along the side of his chin thoughtfully. "Indeed. I shall have to make those arrangements." He then stood from his chair, taking a deep breath. "for now, perhaps you would care to join me for dinner before your departure."

"gladly my Lord. My thanks." Thomas excepted graciously, setting down his empty goblet on the desk before rising to his feet and following the young Lord out into the hallway, the two conversing lightly as they made their way to the dining hall.

Blood in the Moonlight (Apple Jax x AutumnFrost)

As Jax spoke, outlining the details of what she needed to know, Celinny's gaze was intent on his every movement, carefully memorizing his instructions and the map his finger was tracing in the dust. Her thoughts briefly flickered towards the cat patrolling the front of the building, gently touching his mind and requesting he look towards the doors, counting them out as she looked through his eyes. A thrum of amusement coursed through their connection as he picked up the thread of her plans,and she grinned in response, the expression carefully hidden behind her mask. A moment later however, the jubilant expression faded as the Captain offered up a plea for the safety of the inhabitants of the palace and she gave him a steady stare, eyebrows angling down into an expression of complete seriousness.

"...Captain, you might not know me, but I would never bring death upon another being unless they deserved it first." Her eyes momentarily blazed, becoming two spots of blue fire. "I vow to you that none shall die by my hand this night." After several heartbeats had gone by, slowly, her stony expression of conviction faded, replaced by her more natural amusement, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Now... You should erase that map of yours and sit tight, or loose if that is more your preference. I have a job to do." Pushing off from the ground in a silent fluid motion, Celinny took a long, deep breath of cool night air, held it for a few seconds, then released it in a nearly silent rush as she loped forward gracefully into the darkness like a hunter stalking her prey, mind sharp and determined. One way or another, Jax was getting out of this prison.

The silvery bobbed tailed Tom was sitting perfectly calm in front of the fourth door of the building, kneading his claws methodically into the ground as he waited, looking expectantly towards the corner of the structure as a figure moved in the shadows. He didn't need to taste the air to know that it was Celinny crouching there, he recognized her outline far too easily to mistake her for any other human. He purred loudly at her approach, arching his neck and shoulders into her fingers when she reached down. Then he twitched his long whiskers expectantly, muscles tensing as she crouched down to his level.

"Time to test your size limit Mist." She breathed, quickly casting her gaze to either side to check for approaching guards. "Slip past that door and see if you can unlock the bolt. And try not to take all night about it." She teased, giving his neck another scratch.

Releasing a reassuring meow, Mist leapt confidently forward, a silvery haze forming around his body as he rapidly shrank in size, replacing the sleek body of a cat for something a little more convenient. Wings vibrating with a gentle hum, a tiny fruit fly zipped quickly through the air, sliding into the key hole and coming out on the other side. Hovering in place for a moment, Mist carefully studied the inner hallway, paying close attention for any sign of movement. After a long minute, the little shifter decided that things were safe enough for the time being and drifted down to the knob of the door, turning his scrutiny on the locking mechanism above it. With another silver pool of mist forming around his miniscule body, The fruit fly swelled in size, rapidly transforming into a small black monkey with a white and grey face. Blinking dark brown eyes several times as he adjusted to the new height, the capuchin reached forward with deft fingers and grasped the knob in both paws, twisting it until he heard a definite click. Satisfied, Mist gave his long tail a twitch before leaping down onto the stone floor and scampering to one side as the door swung in word

"maybe you should become a monkey more often. It rather suits you."

Celinny had waited as quietly as she could just outside the door, barely even breathing as she lay in the shadows at the base of the building, watching carefully as a patrol moved past with a soft clinking of armor and weapons. Huffing with relief as the trio moved by with barely a glance at the door leading to the storage area, she quickly rose to her feet as the lock gave a quiet but distinctive click. Reaching out, she twisted the knob in her hand and swiftly pushed it inwards, stepping inside and glancing around for her companion. That was the point when she had made The playful comment about his monkey shape, receiving a toothy grin in response before Mist sprang nimbly onto her arm and climbed swiftly to perch on her shoulder, Twining a tiny paw into her tresses to keep his balance.

"You can stay there, just see that you don't pull too hard." Celinny breathed, tugging gently on the tail trailing down her chest, receiving a chirp and a flexing of fingers in her hair in reply.

The hallway wasn't as long as she had been expecting and for a moment , Celinny hesitated, gaze sweeping across the walls. Walking over to the closest door, she twisted the knob and peered inside, only to withdraw again when she was only met with crates of what looked to be food stocks. Stepping to the next room, she was relieved to see shelves of folded cloth and racks of glittering chainmail. Slipping inside quickly, she closed the door behind her and took a look around in the storage area with an air of caution. Nothing immediately jumped out to snatch her, obviously, so the young woman began poking around through the different uniforms, enjoying the soft texture of the cotton against the skin of her fingertips as she finally removed her gloves.

"...Cooking staff... We don't want one of those, I'm not trying to burn down the building." Celinny murmured softly as she read a neat paper label stuck to one of the shelves beneath several stacks of white tunic uniforms. "And we definitely don't want one of these." She stated to the next shelf stocked with tidy piles of blue colored garments worn by the serving staff. She couldn't exactly picture herself taking orders from anyone, let alone the royalty or higher ups of the place she was trying to break into. The next shelf looked more promising, the label indicating that it was the attire for those who busied themselves cleaning the palace. "Cleaning staff it is then." She decided as she began sorting through the stacks of female uniforms in search of one that was her size.

As Celinny untied the mask from around her face, Mist leapt from her shoulder onto the floor, scampering over to the door and shimmering briefly with silvery vapor before shrinking down into a tiny lime colored lizard which flicked its tongue in her direction before poking his head beneath the door to keep watch. Smiling fondly at her companion and briefly wondering, not for the first time, how she had gotten so lucky to earn his trust, the thief then proceeded to remove her belt, pants, shirt, and boots. Folding her clothing together neatly, she then tied the pile together with a leather cord, setting the bundle aside as she reached for the gray tunic and leggings, shivering slightly in nothing But her white shift and her socks. The clean new cotton Felt good against her skin as she quickly stepped into the pants, pulling The tunic over her head and tugging it into a comfortable position. Retrieving her belt from the floor, she buckled it into place around her waist and allowed the hem of the shirt to fall down over it , smoothing out any odd looking lumps until she was satisfied. Casting a last glance over the shelves to see that she didn't miss anything, she retrieved one of the white handkerchiefs next to a stack of socks and tied it over her hair before pulling on her boots and tightening the laces.

"I'm going to have to use a bit of your magic for this next part Mist." Celinny informed her partner is she stepped over to him and sank into a cross legged position on the stones nearby. The lizard's only visible response was a brief flick of his long tail, but she could sense the feeling of approval through their mental connection. Taking a deep breath, the woman closed her eyes and began to concentrate, reaching out towards the shape shifter through there link and pulling on a small thread of his magic as she had learned to do once. Gradually, changes began to appear in her visage, her hair lightening to a honey blonde, the curls flattening out, her skin lightened several tones,and when she finally opened her eyes again, their vivid blue had changed into a light brown. Blinking quickly a few times as a lingering tingling sensation coursed through her body, Celinny retied her hair into a simple braid, unuse to the smooth texture.

She wasn't entirely sure how she had discovered the ability to tap into Mist's powers, granting her the very slight ability to change the color of her skin, hair, and eyes, but it had been a few years ago when she had discovered the little trick, desperately frightened as she had been infiltrating a rival thieving crew, The animal shifter at her side for the first real mission. She had desperately wished she could change her appearance Beyond the simple make up she had been using at the time and somehow, much to her surprise, her hair had become a light brown, her skin the color of caramel. Mist had been almost as shocked as she was, the body of the rat he had been using fluffing up. Together, they had perfected the ability, strengthening the bond that held them together and helping her become one of the best thieves in the history of her family.

Retrieving a small stick of light brown clay from one of the pouches and her belt, Celinny proceeded to run her thumb over the end of it after licking the pad of her finger and polished of her disguise by dotting several freckles across the bridge of her nose and the tops of her cheeks before getting to her feet and spreading out her arms. "well, how do I look?" She asked the little lizard as he tilted his head up at her curiously, smiling at the image of a stranger that she perceived from his thoughts. "good. I don't look a thing like myself. Now, you better get into something a bit bigger so that you can hold onto my things." She went on to say, collecting the bundle of clothing from the floor and turning back to find a lean bodied Black Labrador blinking up at her and giving his tail a wag. Smiling with approval at his choice, she looped the extra length of cord around his belly, tying it off with a knot when it was secure.
Giving the dog several scratches behind his floppy ears, she then straightened up and once again smoothed out her tunic, briefly running her hands across her hair to check that every strand was in place before she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, glancing both directions to make sure that she was still the only human in the vicinity. Satisfied by the lack of movement, she jogged over to the door leading to the outside of the building and cracked it open, allowing Mist to slip past her and out into the night.

"You know what to do. Keep watch. And don't let the magic fade from my appearance."She whispered, receiving a steady look from a set of big brown eyes and a resolute nod. Then The dog was gone, vanishing into the darkness and leaving her alone with in the doorway. Taking a deep breath, Celinny quietly shut the door, twisting the lock back into place and turning to face the hallway once more.

"There you are!" A clear voice suddenly rang out, causing Celinny to start painfully and widen her eyes as A middle aged woman rounded A corner further down the hall, her gaze as severe as the tight bun she had pulled her salt and pepper hair back into. Her expression didn't improve in the slightest as she marched down the hallway, stopping inches away from Celinny, even becoming a touch more stern perhaps. Planting her hands as fists on both of her hips, the woman frowned with obvious displeasure. "Don't just stand there gawping at me like a fish just been caught Lassy!" Celinny immediately closed her mouth with a snap. "Molly said you'd be down this way, waitin' for your first assignment, but I wasn't expecting big eyes and no manners."

The look on her face must have been one of confusion, because the woman proceeded to then snort in frustration and give her head a shake. "What are they teaching you younglings these days?" She growled, rolling her eyes and giving her head yet another shake. "I'm Doulah, I'll in charge of your duties under Molly, The head of the cleaning staff. She hired you and the lad here," she jerked her thumb over her shoulder at a rather intimidated looking young man with a head of dark curly hair that Celinny noticed for the first time, "as part of the night shift in the prison block. Starting to ring a bell?"

Finally managing to swallow and give her eyes several blinks, Celinny Felt her stunned mind quickly leap forward and grasp comprehension of her unexpected situation. She hadn't been planning on running into anyone else on her way to the dungeon, but she couldn't of been given a more perfect scenario then the one that had just landed in her lap. Adopting an air of timidness and folding her hands together in front of her, she gave a jerky uncertain bow, hoping to play up the mild sense of stupidity the woman had assumed of her. "Y-Yes Ma'am. I didn't mean nothing by it. Never been inside such a big castle before."

Doulah waved One of her hands through the air to cut off anything else she might have said. "Fine, fine. Mercy me. What's your name child?"

"...Heather." Came the timid reply.

"well then Heather, you'll be working with Dugan here to clean the dungeons. Look sharp, I'll show you where to get cleaning supplies and water" Doulah said, snapping her fingers and turning quickly into the same room that held all of the work uniforms, the pair of young people following after her. The older woman immediately went to a second smaller door on the other side of the shelves, pulling it open with a sharp yank to reveal several mops and brooms, a stack of buckets, and a multitude of blocks of soap. She pulled out a couple of the mops, two buckets, several bars of soap, and a handful of rags. Dividing the supplies between the two, she then lead them over to a trough with a hand pump, instructing them both to fill their buckets and then waiting quietly as they hurried to obey. When both buckets were full, Doulah let them from the room and down the Corredor, following the exact instructions that Jax had given earlier as she took them to the staircase that would take them both into the prison. As she got to the door, the woman unceremoniously yanked this port ajar as well, squinting down and nodding briskly at a guard standing at the foot of the steps, looking almost board with himself. "These pups are on their way to clean the dungeon. They shouldn't give you much trouble." The way she said it made it clear to the pair of apprentices that she would skin them if she found out that they had done anything else. Nodding with understanding, the soldier simply opened the door and allowed the two to pass through, shutting the door behind them without a second glance.

A nervous little laugh suddenly escaped Dougan as he readjusted is mop and bucket. "Don't worry too much about Doulah. She's more bark than she is bite." He said reassuringly, offering a friendly smile.

Celinny released a small giggle herself, blinking several times and shaking her head as if coming out of shock. She smiled shyly at Dougan, adding a few more blinks for good measure. "I sure hope you're right. That was scary." She squeaked, biting hesitantly at her lower lip. She blinked again and began to walk towards the left, saying as she did so, "We'd better get started though, before she decides to actually follow through on her threats. Let's start over here and work our way forward." She suggested, relieved when the young man followed after her without question.

Immediately turning down the hallway to her left, Celinny hurried as fast as she could manage with a full bucket of water in one hand to the end of the Corredor. Setting down her bucket and mop, she reached into one of her pouches and began acting as if she were unwrapping a bar of soap, instead withdrawing a short needle, the sharpened end enclosed in a glass vial filled with a orange liquid. Uncapping the needle, she waited patiently as Dougan approached, watching him as he set down his own bucket and mop and began to unwrap an actual block of soap. Quick as thinking, Celinny's hand shot out, sticking the end of the metal into A rather surprised looking Dougan's throat, smiling sweetly as he blinked several times at her stupidly. Without warning, his eyes abruptly rolled back into his head, his body collapsing onto the stone floor with a rustle and a smack as his head hit the hard surface. Not envying the headache the man was going to have when he woke up in a few hours, Celinny calmly washed the tip of the needle in her bucket of water before resealing it in the crystal vial and slipping it back into her belt. Reaching into the other side, she withdrew a couple of lock picks and turned around to face the door to the Captain's cell, working for only a few heartbeats before the lock clicked and she was able to twist the knob, pushing the door in word.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I got sidetracked." She said cheerfully to the man inside, stowing away her pics once again. "Help me get snorey in and you can switch clothes with him." She said, indicating the snoring man spread eagle on the floor behind her with a lifted eyebrow.