A Cat's Tale Has No Sound(Stealth Training)

[Danerec]

Brightening 26 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

After his performance for the day was over, Danerec sat outside the tent that held his cot on a crate, sharpening his knives with a whetstone. Crates seem to abound here, he noticed as he stood up to return his knives to the small cabinet next to his cot. What could they possibly put in so many crates?

Returning to his seat, his curiosity was about to get the best of him and force him to open a crate to his right and see what was in it, when suddenly a cat jumped out from behind it. The cat was jet black, its fur sleek against its long body.

"Allo little fella," Danerec whispered, moving slowly towards the cat. The feline turned and looked at him, as if it was measuring him up. Danerec stopped for a second as it looked him over. He seemed to be deemed fine by the cat though, as it promptly turned its head back and began to clean its paws. Beginning to move again towards the cat, Danerec almost leaped forward when he was close enough, only to miss the cat entirely as it hopped lightly away. Looking up quickly after crashing onto his chest, Danerec watches as the cat ambled around the edge of a crate. Slowly he picked himself up, overly aware of every rustle his worn attire made. Taking large, slow steps around the crate, he watched as the cat sat there looking at him, its eyes watching seemingly uncaring. The cat rose from it's sitting position and began to move away from the tents.
Well, I don't have another performance until tomorrow... Danerec thought with a last look at the large circus tent before he turned and began following the cat again. It was then that he realized he couldn't see it anymore.

"Whoa--Where'd it go?" He waited a few more minutes in case it was hidden again in crates. When it didn't reappear, he scratched his head and turned on his heel. Ah well...might as well go eat...

Brightening 27 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

"Mmmmrow?"
Danerec had been dozing on his cot after a particularly tiring performance when he heard the cat. Slowly sitting up, he scanned the tent. It was only midday, so he could see quite well. The black cat was rubbing the side of its face against the rough canvas of the tent flap.
Slowly Danerec moved his right leg off of the bed, using that foot on the floor and his hand placed on the edge of the bed to slowly lift himself out of it without it creaking. His shoes were at the foot of his bed, but he didn't bother retrieving them.
Walking slowly, rolling step, and trying to keep his body movements minimal, he approached the cat at the tent flap. Danerec nearly pitched forward as he overbalanced on a particularly slow step; the cat jerked its head towards him as he pinwheeled his arms in dismay, trying to save himself from falling.
When he finally righted himself, he realized the cat had disappeared again. Danerec waited a few minutes to make sure it was gone. Sighing heavily, he walked back to his bed and dropped onto it.

[Danerec]

Brightening 28 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

Practicing the tumbling he had learned last cycle, Danerec executed a simple side roll, and immediately noticed the black cat as he rose out of it.

The feline was sitting at the edge of his tent, licking a paw carelessly and then rubbing it across its head.Cat's have small paws, he thought. Smaller feet make smaller sounds...
Danerec rose up on the balls of his feet, walking slowly sideways away from the direction the cat's head turned as it rubbed its paw across it. The cat continued to clean itself, unperturbed. Sneaking along the edge of his tent, he tiptoed up to the tent post between him and the cat. Bending backwards slightly he passed under the rope and continued on towards the cat. He was nearly 3 feet from the animal when it stopped short with its paw, its head snaking around to look at him. Danerec froze, and the two studied each other. He looks so at ease, Danerec thought to himself, still with the feeling that the cat was sizing him up.

The cat turned and tore off in one fluid motion, bounding away from the tent towards an alley. Danerec chased after the cat, running flat out, all thought of stealth, balance, and poise forgotten. As the cat bounded into the air, Danerec watched as it landed gracefully on a ledge. The ledge was 4 feet across, jutting out of the building that created the alley. It was about waist high, and Danerec knew he could make it easily if he jumped. Planting his hand onto the ledge he spun his body up onto it landing on the balls of his feet with a soft thunk. Shifting to stand up straight, he caught the cat running and leaping off the ledge out of his peripheral vision.

Walking forward to the edge, Danerec glanced down before dropping off, tucking and rolling looking quickly around, he saw the cat's tail whip around the corner. Danerec lightly ran after it, the only noise he could hear a swishing sound when his legs crossed.

As he came around the corner Danerec saw the cat climb into an old pile of boxes covered with an old leathery tarp. Tiptoeing up he peered into the old crate, smiling broadly as he saw a litter of four kittens as the cat he followed stepped past them deeper into the crate. Turning, Danerec looked around to mark the spot where he had found them. "I'll be back later, and I'll find you guys a home!" he whispered, turning on his heel.

Around the building to his right he heard a scuffle and a few muffled shouts. Alarmed Danerec shifted down, lowering his center of gravity. Treading lightly on the balls of his feet to the corner, he peered around it to see two people assaulting a third. The muggers seemed to both be orcs, and Danerec knew he would have no chance against them. Vigilante justice doesn't happen everyday I guess, he thought as he stealthily crept backwards the way he had come chasing the cat, watching the orcs in case one saw him and made to chase. The afternoon sun was blocked by the tall buildings, and it was quite shadowy, but you never knew.
Finding his way out of the maze of alleys and back to the circus tent, Danerec made it to his cot, his heart thumping in his chest.
That's enough adventure for one day... he thought, laying down to calm his nerves.

[Danerec]

Brightening 29 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

After his performance Danerec made his way back out to where he had found the kittens. He didn't want to take any more time than he needed, as he didn't know if those thugs haunted that place regularly or if they were just there by chance the other day. On the same token, he was being extra careful not to make any more sounds than necessary, and stuck to the shadows. Somewhere along the way though he realized he had taken a wrong turn.

Um....I could have sworn it was around that corner... he thought as he reemerged from a fenced in alley. Looking around once more he realized he was a building down from where he was the other day. Traveling up the back road to the next alley Danerec realized the man who had been assaulted the other day was still laying in the doorframe where the orcs had left him. Although he didn't know why, Danerec felt enraged. The fact that that could happen, and not be discovered until this much time has passed... Shaking his head, Danerec looked quickly up and down the street, and then crossed over to the body. It wasn't until he was a few feet away that he realized the man wasn't dead. The man was leaning against the doorframe because he had fallen that way after the orcs had left. He seemed to be trying to say something, so Danerec leaned closer.

"they rolled me for everything!" he wheezed. It seemed like his breathing was labored, and he clutched his side tightly. "I had a ring, and a coin purse which they took," he continued. "They went into that" he gestured to the building behind me and to my right, "building after. If you could get me my stuff back, I'd compensate you for your time." Looking over his shoulder at the alley with the cats, he weighed his options. I could use some money, but it really isn't my business... But I could use some money...
"I'll be right back," Danerec said. Rising he quietly made his way over the the door that the man had gestured at. Finding it unguarded he entered the room, opening the door as quietly as he could. It creaked slightly as he opened it, but he found lifting it when he pushed it quickly open relieved it of that nuisance.
The room was dark, and Danerec could only make out a table. testing the floor he found it creakless, and he softly entered the room, his feet making a slight tft, tft sound on the dusty floor. Suddenly a loud noise rent the silence, and Danerec flinched. Dropping low, almost to his knees, he waited to see what would follow the loud sound, and possibly what had created it. When it repeated itself, he rose slightly. Looking past the table he realized there was a hulking shape laying in the corner, up against the wall next to another doorway. Thank you mother, for being an elf, he thought to himself as his sight made out more details in the minimal light.
Through the doorway there was another hulking figure against the back wall of the other room, and to his side a small box.
If they haven't sold it all already, I bet what I'm looking for is in there, Danerec mused, making his way stealthily forward around the table. He was extra cautious as he passed into the other room and passed the first sleeping orc. The room he entered then was bare but for the box and the other orc. These guys are probably squatting. I bet this place hasn't been legally lived in in years... Danerec realized he had let his mind wander. Looking down, he also realized that he had kept moving forward as his mind wandered, and was almost right on top of the orc. Stopping himself in his tracks, he smoothly stepped to the side until he was away from the sleeping form, and bent towards the box.
As there was nothing around it keep it there, and the orc wasn't holding it, Danerec felt bold enough the lift the entire thing. It fit easily into the crook of his arm, and didn't hamper him in the least as he made his way out. Remembering to lift up on the door as he swung it quickly shut, he paused before it fully closed, closing it softly to minimize noise further.
Stepping quickly back towards the fallen man, Danerec returned to him the things out of the box that were his. When he offered money out of the returned pouch, Danerec declined. "With all this loot to pawn off, I'll be fine," he said. Helping the man to his feet, Danerec remembered the kittens. "Hold on a second," he said. Helping the man to lean onto the doorway again, Danerec jogged lightly down the alley to the cats' crate. The mother was winding between his feet as he lifted the wooden box off of the pile. Setting the box of loot into it next to the mewling kittens Danerec moved more slowly to the man. "Ok, let's go."


TS: Three candlemarks later

Danerec laid on his cot, the box of loot in front of him. At the foot of the cot the box of kittens sat, and once in a while he heard a bit of mewling come from it.
I probably shoulda taken the money, Danerec thought as he looked at the single item left in the box he had lifted. Picking it up he studied it close to his eyes. A silver ring with a dark Jade stone. Oddly it fit his index finger easily, and he slid it on. Might as well reap the rewards of a good deed, he thought. Moving to the end of his bed, he lifted a kitten up out of the box. "And I've gotta get you guys a home. Still," he let out a huge yawn. "There's always tomorrow for that."

[Danerec]

Brightening 30 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

Danerec woke up to hear a scratching sound on the floor near his pillow. Opening an eye, he saw the mother cat crouched there, staring intently at the tent wall. Danerec studied the cat's posture. It wasn't standing straight up, it had lowered it's center of gravity and dropped low to its haunches, its muscles tight. In his mind Danerec remembered doing that himself.
The cat stared intently at the tent wall, and Danerec realized another thing he had done when he was trying to sneak by the orcs the first time. Keep your eyes on your target, he thought. Suddenly, a mouse crawled under the tent wall and darted forward across the ground. The cat didn't move at all until the mouse was inches from it, and was about to pass it. Then it dove forwards, batting it between its paws. And don't be hasty, Danerec thought.

Climbing gently out of the bed Danerec almost glided forwards barefoot towards the cat. He kept most of his body still except for the feet that carried him forwards.

And...

Make use of...

Distractions.

Danerec reached the cats side and swooped it up. The mouse it was tormenting scurried off, and the cat hissed angrily. Turning it in his hands to face him, he said, "Thank you, ma'am." Setting it back down, he laughed to himself. "Go find some breakfast for yourself now." while I find a home for you and your young...

[Danerec]

Candlemark 12 Brightening 30 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

"C'mon, you know you want a kitten!"
The families, couples, and single persons just kept walking past, their eyes passing from one carny tent to the next, right past Danerec and his box. With a sound that was half between a groan and a sigh, he sat down next to the crate of kittens, and looked into it. The kittens eyes were all open, and they were tumbling around inside as if they couldn't stop. Danerec smiled to himself as he watched them play.

Remembering where he was as someone passing kicked his foot, Danerec stood up again and started shouting out his offer of the kittens. Soon the people milling about would go back into the main tent for the next performance, and he'd be left with the kittens. Bending down he lifted on of the kittens from the box, cradling it in his arm as he continued to shout. "Perfectly fine kittens here, ranging from black to tiger striped ones, c'mon people, who doesn't want a cat?" Seeing a family passing by, Danerec stepped out slightly from his spot and asked, "A kitten for the young en's sir?"
The two children immediately started jumping, shouting encouragements for the father to buy the animal. The father sighed, and asked, "How much?"
Danerec thought for a moment."15 Crowns," he replied. As the transaction occurred Danerec noticed someone was watching him from the other side of the family,and they weren't friendly eyes. As he traded the kitten for the money, Danerec stooped and started pushing the box of kittens behind the tent to his left, watching out of his right eye the feet of his watcher. When he straightened up again the feet began moving, and Danerec started to walk around the front of the carny tent.
Somehow they know it was me, he thought, referring to the orc that was tailing him. Slipping quickly around the opposite side of the tent he rolled onto the ground, lifting the tent wall a bit and rolling inside. Inside the tent was nothing but a man who claimed to be blind, but could really see. Danerec had seen through his trick after watching countless times. Hearing heavy footsteps pass by the tent, Danerec stiffened until they disappeared. Exiting the tent by way of the entrance this time, he returned to the site of his kittens and picked up the slightly lighter crate. Disturbed by the appearance of the orcs he had stolen from, he returned with the kittens to the performers tent.

[Danerec]

Candlemark 16 Brightening 30 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

With his performance of the day out of the way, Danerec sat behind the performers tent and thought about the orcs.
How could they know it was me? he wondered, picking at a callous on the palm of his hand beneath the ring he had stolen. Could they have noticed this? He mused, taking off the ring to study it again. It wasn't very uncommon, so Danerec put it off as paranoia. Shades, maybe this whole experience is just paranoia. Maybe he just wanted to mug me.
Leaning back against the outer wall of the tent, Danerec thought, or maybe someone told them. There's no other way they could know, they were sound asleep! He sat up quickly as he remembered a detail he had missed.
The first orc he knew was asleep, because it was snoring.

The other one, however, hadn't been.

Cursing himself for being so stupid, Danerec jumped to his feet. For all he knew they'd tailed him since he left their hideout, and tracked him to the circus. If that was true, they could be staking the place out, waiting for him to leave.
But there's only two of them, he thought. There's no way they could cover every exit and entrance. Running to the street which held the entrance to the main tent he stopped dead in his tracks yards from it. An orc's hulking back blocked his way.
Stepping slowly and lightly backwards back around the curve of the main circus tent Danerec didn't allow himself a decent breath until he was out of sight of the orc. Not that way, then. He thought. Passing by the performers tent he took the route around the crates that would lead him towards the back alleys where he had come across the orcs a few days before.
Danerec stopped himself again and rolled to the side behind a large crate, as an orc he'd spotted in the street began to turn.
Taking deep calming breathes, Danerec shook himself. You're getting paranoid, Dane! They can't all be after you! As something furry rubbed against his hand Danerec nearly jumped. Looking down he realized it was the cat he was stalking before; it was rubbing its head along his knuckles and purring rather loudly. Pushing it away with the same hand, Danerec nearly shouted aloud when he felt its teeth bite into his hand. Pulling it away, he examined his hand and found that the cat had only nipped at him. Either way, it had given him an idea.
Peering cautiously out from the crates, he saw that the orc had turned back around to face the streets. Drawing a throwing dagger, Danerec stalked slowly down the alley of crates towards him, taking careful aim as he moved. When he reached the right distance from the orc, he threw the dagger, piercing the orc's left shoulder.
As the orc bellowed in pain he turned to find the reason. By then Danerec had sidestepped to his right and crouched behind a crate, drawing another dagger.
Hearing heavy footsteps approaching his crate Danerec gripped his dagger loosely by the tip. Rolling to his left side and rising to stand, Danerec realized the orc had closed the distance between them too quickly, and adjusted his aim as the orc's expression changed from anger and pain to surprise, and then back again. Throwing his second dagger Danerec rolled backwards away from the orc, seeing as he came up that his throw was slightly off, and had hit the orc in the gut instead of the chest.
Drawing a third dagger Danerec continued to back up as the orc stopped momentarily to wrench the dagger from its torso with its right hand. Danerec stopped and took aim to throw again, aiming for the orcs chest again. It was the biggest target to hit, and as his skill for small accuracy was off as he had told the circus instructors, he didn't want to chance a miss.
Please throw true, Danerec thought as he let the blade fly. The orc took the weapon full in the chest, and its grimace of pain flickered. For a moment, he seemed bewildered as to what had just occurred, and seemed to totter back and forth. Drawing a final dagger Danerec took careful aim and threw it again, hitting the orc just below its collarbone in its right shoulder. The momentum from the blade spun the orc only slightly as it fell finally.

Breathing deeply to calm himself down, Danerec realized that he had taken another's life. No time to grieve over it, he thought as he approached the orc and began wrenching knives out of its dying carcass. Taking a look at the orcs face, he thought dryly, not that there's a reason to in this case anyhow... Wiping his blades on the orcs worn shirt, he replaced them in his belt and began the arduous task of pushing the body out to the street.
Checking both ways to make sure no one would see him, he pushed the body onto a bit of canvas that was used to cover some crates, and dragged it across the street into the alleys, rolling the body off behind a large garbage bin. Holding the slightly blood smeared tarp away from himself he returned it to the crates, checking once again to make sure he wasn't observed.

[Danerec]

Candlemark 22 (dusk) Brightening 30 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

Danerec sat in the performer's tent on his cot, staring at the kittens as they slept in the crate. Three left, he thought. And an ugly brute waiting to trade me in for my cash is left somewhere out there, came an afterthought. Hearing a sound outside the tent, Danerec instinctively reached for his knives, but dropped his hands when he saw the cat amble in through the flap. By the glow of the candle light Danerec could hardly make out the cat's features, but noticed when it moved how light rippled slightly off its sleek fur.
"Hello mama kitty, what can I do for you today?" he asked as the cat made its way to his cot. "You scared me missy, I could hardly see you! you blended in..." Danerec's voice trailed off as he thought about it. She blended into the darkness almost perfectly... He resigned himself to remember to find a dark cloak or something in the circus supplies in the morning. I would be able to sneak out at night, probably right past the orc if he's still there... But what to do in the daytime? A disguise? Danerec thought he could find a decent disguise attire wise, but he'd have to search for something to possibly disguise his face.
"Ah, who am I kidding?" he asked no one in particular. "I'll have to scare him off, or something! I can't live under a mask for the rest of my life!"
The cat began rubbing the side of its face against his hand, and for a minute Danerec was distracted as he petted it. Remembering his train of thought though, he stood up from his cot and walked to the tent flap. Turning to look behind him, he rubbed his middle finger and thumb together in a light snapping motion, and said, "C'mon, I owe you a meal," to the cat. Staring at him a moment, the cat stood stock still and then seemingly in two bounds was at his side.
Making his way to the tent where the carnies ate, Danerec fished around and found the cat a bit of some meat to eat. Walking back out of the tent he wound his way around the circus grounds looking for the supply tent.
Listening intently as his feet moved from crunching gravel to swishing grass, he realized how much noise he made just walking. Stopping, he slowly lifted one foot off the ground and placed it a little bit in front of him, listening to the grass swishing. Replacing his foot where it started, he listened as the wind blew the grass, noting the sound it made. Picking up his foot, he placed it slowly and softly back down a bit in front of himself, as if he was taking a step. The sound the grass made was almost the same, but not quite. Shrugging of the discrepancy in the sound, he tried to move forwards as lightly as possible, with as little noise as possible. The grass made less noise than the gravel, but there was sound nonetheless.
Finding the supply tent after many minutes of walking slowly through the grass, Danerec found and lit a candle as he looked through the various bits of circus costumes. The cat trailed behind him as he moved from box to box, searching for a black cape that could provide some cover in the dark. Finally he found one in the second to last box in the tent.
It had a hole where some sort of weapon was probably stabbed through it, but it would do. Setting the candle down, Danerec tried the cloak on, throwing it about his shoulders grandly and throwing up the hood. It was slightly large on him, the bottom trailing along the ground and the hood almost swallowing his face.
Beggars can't be choosers, he thought. I could probably get this fixed up if I go ask that seamstress I met...what was her name? The one who thought I'd learn to sew...
Taking the cloak's excess cloth in his hand so as to stop it from trailing on the grass and making noise, Danerec crept back out across the grounds, the cat running out of the tent to tail him after sniffing at a few more of the boxes.

[Danerec]

Candlemark 6 (dawn) Brightening 30 of Immanis season of Spring
Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum

Danerec stood stock still in the performer's tent, which was still dark. He would notice the sun was just coming up, if he could see it through the buildings of Prime.
Running through his mind his thoughts of a cat's stealth, he crept across the space and back again, fixing his gaze on a cot farther into the tent as if it were his target. Don't wake the performer was the game he had come up with to keep the things he had learned fresh in his mind. He rose before everyone else early and stalked slowly through the tent between the performer's cots, ever wary of movement that would mean he had woken someone, or they were having a bad dream and were threatening to wake up. At times like these he froze, or dropped himself low into a crouch, using whatever objects he could in the tent as a shield from view. If he could make it across the tent and back again, he figured he had won. So far he hadn't, as either random performers would wake up for the day early, or he'd knock something over and wake someone up to have them curse at him for his clumsiness.
Today Danerec made it about 2/3 of the way across the tent before he stubbed his toe on a cot, almost toppling it and the tall vagaran performer from it. Apologizing profusely as the mountain of a man got up and yelled at him, Danerec quickly made his way from the tent out into the open air.
Remembering that he had left his knives in the tent however he returned, strapping them into his belt one by one and examining their edges as he did so. Their use in his act was starting to dull a few, and he made a mental note to remind himself to get them sharpened.
As Danerec entered the main circus tent his eyes immediately shot upwards at the high dome, as they always did when he walked in without much to do. I could never do trapeze, he thought.
Noticing a dark shape against the stands, Danerec became wary. It was almost halfway around the ring from him, and was hard to make out clear shapes.
It could be an orc... he thought to himself. A thought occurred to him, and he boldly headed towards the shape, but slightly in front of it; there was an entrance over there.
Maybe if I act like he doesn't concern me, he won't suspect me or even take notice...after all, I'm supposed to be fleeing from him right? Danerec reasoned to himself. Drawing level with the figure, he chanced a look at it that was crucial to his ploy, but he hoped seemed casual. As his brain registered what he saw, Danerec stopped dead in his tracks.
The figure was a rolled up mat that was leaned against a pillar the tent was pitched over. Bursting out laughing at his own foolishness, he continued on his way through the tent.

[Danerec]

TS: Same day, 4 candlemarks later

Sitting once again outside the large tent peddling kittens, Danerec was extremely wary of any and all orcs traveling through the crowd. His eyes flitted from face to face, and occasionally he would extend his offer of selling a pet to a passersby.
In the meanwhile the mother cat he could see was strolling through the crowd, rubbing up against legs here, weaving in and out between people large and small alike. Danerec watched raptly as the cat crossed from his side of the crowd and disappeared onto the other side, reappearing as it leaped onto a stack of crates outside of one of the carny tents that lined the walk up to the main circus one.
That's one way to stay hidden...behind other people. I wonder if I could get through like that... Danerec moved his crate of kittens out of view of the main thoroughfare. Standing up he scanned the moving throng of people for a way to start his walk through them. Finding a bit of free air between a short halfling and a relequis that was a bit behind him, Danerec stepped quickly into the crowd. From there he knew he had to step quickly or else the relequis would either walk into him or grow impatient from having to wait for him to move. Spotting a thin avenue to travel between a heavyset human and a carny that was moving towards the main tent Danerec stepped quickly between the two and past them into a momentary hole in the middle of the crowd, shift his body to bend as to not be bumped by the large man. Traveling slightly out of his way with the moving traffic Danerec found another hole, and then another, slipping through the crowd of people easily the more he worked at it. Realizing he was just about across the square, Danerec walked briskly through the last gap and turned to look at what he had just crossed. Hardly winded, he leaned against the crates upon which the mother cat sat purring in the sun nonetheless.
You're a lot better at this than me," he acknowledged to the cat. Remembering the kittens he was trying to sell on the other side of the crowd, he readied himself and threw himself back into the throng of faces and bodies, weaving through until he reached the other side. That felt like it was quicker that time, he realized. I guess I'm getting the hang of this...

[Danerec]

TS:Minutes later

"Allo sir, you look like you could use a furry companion! I've got just what you need, a fuzzy lil'--" Danerec stopped talking as the man continued brusquely by. Seeing a more likely candidate to take home a cat, Danerec approached a young elven woman. "Good day ma'am, would you like a furry companion? A cat, I mean by that. Look at this fuzzy lil' guy," Danerec said holding up the kitten in his hand. The elf looked delighted at the baby cat, and asked to hold it. Nodding my consent she held the kitten in her palm, petting it. "Just 15 crowns, and he's your's," Danerec said. The girl nodded, handing the kitten back to Danerec as she reached for her money purse.
After the transaction was made, Danerec peered down into his crate and saw that there was only two kittens left. He'd sold 3 so far, and made 45 crowns. As soon as he sold the rest of them, he felt his obligation would be over. He almost laughed at the thought of it, but at the same time felt strongly about it. The cat's taught me stealth,and I'm repaying it with taking care of her children. A fair trade, I guess...

TS:Same day, candlemark 16

Danerec had sold the last of the kittens and finished his performance for the day when he found himself sitting on the crates outside the performer's tent again. The mother cat was resting on his lap, purring as he rubbed the the cat's head. Suddenly the cat lifted its head, alert. Danerec stood up quickly, holding the crate beneath him so that it wouldn't move. Peering around in the direction the cat was looking, Danerec realized there was an orc stalking down the alley between the crates. Danerec knew there was no way past the orc without being seen, and his heart began to race. Trapped, he thought. What a wonderful way to go...
Looking around for the cat, Danerec saw it head towards the crates. With nowhere better to hide, Danerec followed the cat, and realized there was a tunnel under the crates. The particular way they were stacked left a hole through them that was large enough for him to crawl through. The only problem was that he didn't know where it led to. Being the only choice he had though, he didn't care whether it led out the other side or circled around to the alley where the orc was. Dropping to all fours he crawling after the cat into the hole, hardly seeing where he was going, feeling his way along for the most part.
Seeing light up ahead Danerec crawled cautiously forward to the opening, peering about. Finding that the orc was nowhere to be seen, he pulled himself out and stood, swiveling to take in his surroundings. The cat's tunnel had taken him to the otherside of the mountainous pile of crates, and he circled around the edge of it to find the alley. Rack up another lesson from the cat, he thought to himself as he drew a throwing dagger and started to sneak around the edge of the crates into the alley. Always know your surroundings.
Sighting the orc's hulking back Danerec let fly with his dagger, drawing another and aiming as soon as he saw it hit. The first throw had landed in the orcs right side, the second taking him in the back of the left leg. Not exactly where I wanted to hit him, but good enough, Danerec thought as the orc staggered on his wounded leg, trying to turn towards his attacker. Drawing a third dagger Danerec threw it to hit his stalker in the lower back, and threw a fourth right afterwards to the orcs left shoulder, at the base of its neck. Danerec almost laughed grimly at the fact that he was quickly turning the orc into a pincushion as it was trying to turn around without toppling. Gods, what is happening to me? he questioned himself as he threw a last dagger into the orcs back. The orc toppled sideways into the wall of crates, which threatened to to fall on top of him. Running forward Danerec grabbed his regular dagger and stabbed it into the base of the orc's neck opposite his throwing dagger, just to make sure he was dead. As he had before Danerec wiped his blades on the orc's shirt after withdrawing them from its skin. Looking for the tarp he had used before Danerec wrapped the body up in it and dragged it out again across the street to the alley. I can't believe this is happening... he thought. I've killed twice now...and I haven't felt anything over it. Dragging the body to where he had deposited the other one, he was surprised to find that the first orc was no longer there.
Well, either some authority found him, or some critter or other made a meal of him. Repulsed by the last thought, Danerec shivered as he rolled up the bloody tarp for the second time in days. Sneaking across the street Danerec was glad for the fact that it was a quiet street. If someone was watching him from a window he hoped they couldn't have seen the body, assuming he was taking out the trash. The fact that he had taken out two orcs though had made him think he had learned well from the cat. You learn things in the oddest of places, he thought, finding his way back to the crate he had been sitting on. He sat back down, thinking deeply on what had happened the past few brightenings. In the grand scheme of things a cat's tale has no sound, he thought. But in the smaller schemes...the ones you see everyday...it causes ripples that echo in your life. Smiling at his attempt at a wise statement, Danerec realized he was right. What I did will have echoes...I wonder how darkly they'll ring...

[Aviator]

Basic Stealth completed! Good work Danerec. Keep it up!

Danerec: Stealth +2 exp