Setting things up.

[Deleted]

Sapphire sighed and stretched her arms far above her head. "Hnnnn," she groaned. It had taken a lot of work to get their section of the Alchemy guild up and working.

They had bought a building that was a simple one story warehouse type above ground, but beneath stretched a few levels of areas, making it a more then perfect place.

Pouting a little, she turned her head this way and that, looking for her and Zeppel's two students, Vayne and Jessica. Putting her hands on her hips, she called out, "Hey you two! If you're inside I need you to come out!"

Then she waited and waited....and sighed as they didn't show. "Guess they're wandering about."

*****

"Hey, Vayne! Wait up!" called Jess, her breathe coming in short gasps. They had been going on a walk, secretly, when he suddenly just took off running. Closing her eyes, she put on a quick spurt of energy and found herself running into his back. "Oh!"

Vayne quickly turned around and caught her, steadying Jess so that she wouldn't fall over backwards. "Careful, look," he murmured, pointing to a black cat that was laying on the street, injured.

[hisdivineshadow]

The cat was deathly still at first, but then reacted to their presence by lifting its head and letting out a pitiful mewl. Glazed yellow eyes turned their direction for just a moment, then the cat's head dropped back to the ground again.

[Deleted]

"Oh!" cried the both of them and Vayne started to reach for the cat, but Jess got there first, dropping to her knees and picking the cat up in hr arms. "Oh, Vayne! It's hurt....what should we do?" she asked with a sad face.

Vayne sighed and ran a hand through his hair, turning his head this way and that, trying to come up with an answer. He didn't know what their teachers would do if they brought the cat back...and he didn't know of any sort of animal shelter.

"Well, let's take him back," he said and Jess' sad face broke into a grin as she got up and ran past him. With a roll of his eyes, he turned and followed.

[hisdivineshadow]

Zeppel was on his way back to the guild house, carrying two bags full of supplies, when he spotted his students hurrying past. "Oh, Jess! Vayne!" he called out, curious. "What's your rush?"

[Deleted]

"We found a cat!" was all that was shouted back to him as they ran to the guild house.

[hisdivineshadow]

Zeppel blinked. "A cat?" After a moment, he thought to himself, Maybe they've picked up my penchant for taking in strays . . . The alchemist smiled and hoisted the bags a little higher on his shoulder, quickening his pace out of an eagerness to get back to the guild and learn the details of what had happened.

[Deleted]

They got back and ran indoors, startling Sapphire as they passed her by. "Hey! Guys!" she called out, holding a hand out to their backs. "Um...well, okay then...?"

[hisdivineshadow]

Zeppel arrived not long after, heaving a sigh of relief as he finally unburdened himself, dumping the bags on the floor for the moment while he stretched and rubbed his shoulders. Looking around, he spotted his assistant and called out to her. "Oh, Sapphire! Did you see Vayne and Jess come through a minute ago? I spotted them heading this way in something of a hurry."

[Deleted]

"Yeah," she said, smiling and walking over to him, crossing her arms under her breasts. "They ran further in, but didn't even stop to say hi." With interest, she leaned down and started poking through the bags.

"Wow, you got a lot of stuff. More then I expected."

[hisdivineshadow]

He laughed. "Well, we're going to need a lot of supplies, right? Especially when we get more students." Stretching, he cracked his back once, wincing just slightly as he did so. "Oof. But maybe next time, I'll have them run to the market."

[Deleted]

She laughed and picked up one of the bags and rested it lightly on her hip. "You're right," Sapphire said with a sparkle in her eyes. "We can always send them out to get the groceries...but...maybe we should check on them."

[hisdivineshadow]

"Of course." He grinned and lifted the other bag, then proceeded down the hall, calling out, "Vayne? Jess?"

[Deleted]

The two of them were whispering, heads together, over the cat they had found and only glanced behind them as their teachers were approaching.

"Hey, what are you guys up to?" Sapphire asked, setting her bag down on the counter.

[hisdivineshadow]

After setting aside his bag (he'd get around to sorting out the contents later), Zeppel walked over to get a closer look and gasped, "My, where did you find that cat? The poor thing looks half starved."

For its part, the feline was only just starting to regain consciousness, and was looking around suspiciously at the strange figures surrounding it. It opened its mouth to meow, but only the barest squeak came out.

[Deleted]

"Ah!" Jess cried, grabbing a little funnel and dripped water into the creatures mouth.

Vayne regarded their teachers and then sighed. "We found that cat just laying in the street. It looked as though someone had just...dropped it off there."

The beautiful fire-storm came up and stroked her fingers down the slightly patchy fur. "Poor thing..." she was hesitant, however, not certain if they should keep the cat.