(no subject)

[nepetaleijon]

Three days ago, there was an explosion in the woods out back.

It caused an earthquake. Not a big one, but ... it didn't have to be very big to set things shaking in the mountains, and to cause a rockslide that blocked off the entrance to Nepeta's cave. And, at least temporarily, something is interfering with her Trollian server. Leaving her unable to message anyone for help.

(At least there wasn't a cave-in this time.)

Between clearing the rockfall, and improvising heavier clothing out of her furs against the suddenly much colder weather, and making sure the fire doesn't go out, and periodically thrusting a stick through the few cracks in the rockfall to make sure there's still a passage for air ... it's been a busy few days. But she's finally made it out of her cave and started toward Milliways ... only to discover that the woods are changed too.

There's more snow. There's a lot more in the way of vermin; most of them harmless, but some of them almost as dangerous as Alternian wildlife. And there's a concrete bunker by the lake, shooting at people.

She's managed to get past it all, and to collect one friend who doesn't seem to realize how dangerous it's gotten out there ...

... and finally staggers into the bar, in a whirl of snowflakes.

A hot drink is probably in order.

Comments

[basic_powers]

She'll be lucky if she gets one, the way things are going now with bar orders. You order cocoa and get something that tastes like it was filtered through a horse's old gymsocks.

..so it's probably a good thing that Tyler stops her from getting to the bar when he sees her come in.

"Nepeta!"

[nepetaleijon]

"Hi Tyler!"

She sounds cheerful enough, even though she's clearly exhausted and shivering.

[basic_powers]

...He's just going to get her over by the fire where he's got a little pot of water going already.

"Oh man, what happened to you...was it that earthquake a few days ago?"

[nepetaleijon]

She nods, and then shakes herself to send bits of melting snow in all directions.

"My cave up in the meowntains got covered in a rockslide! And I couldn't reach anybody by Trollian or anything ..."

[basic_powers]

"Yeah, I've been meaning to find Karkat and ask him about that..." Ugh! Dude!

He didn't need that ice shower!

"Don't try ordering anything from the bar, none of the orders have been coming in right unless someone makes them. And the basement stores went missing the other day."

[nepetaleijon]

Sorry, Tyler. But a wet cat is an unhappy cat.

"... what's wrong with the bar?" She twists around to look at it, a little worriedly.

[basic_powers]

"No one knows, but she's been having trouble making orders.. someone ordered hot cocoa the other day and got aztec cocoa..the religious kind with a human heart inside of it." At this, Tyler's taking the pot of hot water away from the fire and two metal camping cups, along with two spoons and two packets of cocoa mix are removed from a jacket pocket.

[nepetaleijon]

"... cocoa made with blood?"

That ... actually sounds like it could be pretty tasty, but by now she knows better than to say so to Tyler.

[basic_powers]

"Human blood. That's just cannibalism nasty." Soon enough though he's handing her one of the cups of hot cocoa, with marshmallows in the camping cup.

"Here...I'd offer you a snack, but my emergency food stores got replaced with a flood of vermin."

[bloodyvirgo]

Kanaya notices the other troll's entrance, swiftly moving to join her.

"Nepeta! You're Safe!"

[nepetaleijon]

"Kanaya!"

Nepeta throws her arms around the other troll, scattering melting snow everywhere.

[bloodyvirgo]

It's a testament to her worry that Kanaya doesn't bat an eye at the snow on and around her at Nepeta's greeting. Instead, she hugs back tightly.

"There Is Something Very Wrong, Going On."

[nepetaleijon]

"My cave door collapsed! And I couldn't meowssage anybody and I had to dig my way out and there's a robot bunker out there shooting at people --"

[bloodyvirgo]

She blinks.

"Really? There Wasn't One Out There The Other Day..."

"Nonetheless, I Don't Think You Should Go Out There Again."

[nepetaleijon]

She shakes her head.

"... I guess purrhaps I should get a respiteblock?"

[bloodyvirgo]

A thoughtful nod.

"That Is Probably The Best Course Of Action For Now. If Things Settle Down, I'm Sure We Can Wrangle Karkat Into Helping Us Unblock Your Cave."

[nepetaleijon]

She nods.

Although not without a quick hopeful look around the room to see if a particular grumpyhorns is around.

[seat_five_girl]

Just being inside is warm enough for Ako to start with, thank-you very much. She'll take a moment to try and shake the snow out of the hide and start it on thawing out before it is offered back to Nepeta.

That and generally getting out of layers of coats, sweaters and scarves because being in a warm room doesn't do nearly as much good with all that insulation in the way.

[nepetaleijon]

Nepeta is peeling off layers in turn, and shedding melting snow all over the place.

Wet cat is unhappy cat.

[seat_five_girl]

Melting snow is a sign of progress. It means you're about the melting point for all the ice.

This is more convincing once you're over by the fire though. Ako can move the stuff that way easily enough. (Her present modus is better at holding clothing than loads of building materials or shaving cream.)

[nepetaleijon]

Before long the two of them are basking in the heat from the flames. Nepeta takes off her longcoat and hood, and drapes them hopefully over a stool near the fire to dry.

And then rolls over on her back and yawns extravagantly.

[seat_five_girl]

Ako, meanwhile, it balling up the wrapping paper and throwing it into the fire in small enough chunks it doesn't cause any real problems.

"This is much better."

[nepetaleijon]

"Defurnitely."

It's warm. Purr purr purr.

[seat_five_girl]

"Not that I'm not happy that you came by Nepeta-san, but why were you out today?"

In the terrible cold and all.

[nepetaleijon]

"My cave up in the meowntains got closed off by an avalanche," she says, looking discouraged. "And then my Trollian stopped working and I couldn't talk to anyone! So after I dug myself out I decided to come here and see efurybody."

It's lonely being cut off from the internet.