<TIAMAT> *Cassie's in a bookstore looking for some magic books, but they have more than just those in there. It's a tiny little shop with narrow hallways and shelves overflowing with books, some of which are lying on top of the shelves and rows of books, others piled up in the corners and along the walls.

<JETMODE> *From outside, there's a cry of protest, and suddenly a blur of golden-brown fur shoots past Cassie's legs, manifesting itself in the form of a cat moments later, seated on one of the piles of books.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie yelps and nearly stumbles over the cat, the three books she had already picked out spilling to the floor. She flicks her bushy tail once and looks over toward the cat, grinning. "Fiesty little thing, aren't we?

<JETMODE> *Cinno flicks an ear dismissively, yawling. Kender apparently offended him.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie goes over to him and holds out her hand ... paw ... whatever. "Well, that's not good. Nope, not at all. Can't have you yelling like that or Lastor will have us both out of here. Come on now. *she inches her paw closer to skritch under his chin.

<JETMODE> *Cinno's eyes narrow, and he mrrs dangerously. Then he chirps a little and starts to purr. He's easy.

<JETMODE> *Kender's voice, a little louder this time: "Cinno?"

<JETMODE> *Cinno ignores him.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie grins widely and starts stroking Cinno's head and down his back with her other hand, still skritching his chin and behind his ears with her other. She glances over her shoulder when she hears Kender, ears flicking in his direction.

<JETMODE> *Kender wanders into view, clutching his right hand in his left. Evidently, Cinno left him a parting gift. He touches it gingerly and cringes. "Geez.."

<TIAMAT> *Cassie scoops Cinno up in her arms and stands up, turning to Kender, but speaking to the cat. "Well now, my fine furry friend, did you attack that nice guy over there? Or maybe he's not so nice, if you had to claw him. *she peers at Kender curiously.

<JETMODE> *Cinno preens and lashes his tail.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh? *he's looking exceptionally hurt and countryboy-ish right now*

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, still to Cinno: Ooh, he must be awfully mean to do something like that, huh? *she glares up at Kender in mock-severity. "Well, what have you got to say for yourself, mister?

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. *bewildered* B-but.. Cinno stole the fish ...

<JETMODE> *Cinno rumbles.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie shifts so she's holding Cinno in one hand and wags a finger at Kender. "Because he was hungry, you think? Maybe you should feed him, then he wouldn't have to steal his food!

<JETMODE> <Kender> I fed him this morning! He's just being greedy. *glares at the cat* I had to pay for that fish, you know, and I don't have much money.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie suddenly grins and giggles. "I'm just kidding. *she holds out her free paw. "Name's Cassie, an' I'm gonna be a mage! Who're you?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blankly, takes her paw* I'm Kender.. I'm training to be a Beast Master.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Ooh that's neat. So you get to work with the animals down in the monster corral, huh? That WOULD be fun, but I think I'd get too attatched to them if I was around them all the time...and then to see them go off and get beat up by some of the fighters here! Especially the Gladiator. Anyway, I inherited my mom's magical abilities, so I'm kinda stuck, though some of the Elementalists do help out with the magical creatures...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nodding, waits for her to take a breath* My dad was a beast trainer, and he wanted me to follow in his footsteps.. so I came here.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Oh cool! My parents are both instructors here. Mom teaches magic and Dad trains thieves, though ever since he married Mom, she's made sure he hasn't stolen anything ... well, at least not much. *bright grin* We've lived here about as long as I can remember ... hey, maybe my dad knows your dad! That would be weird, huh? See, he was training here before Mom came...this is where they met, actually...

<JETMODE> <Kender> Wow.. my dad never worked here -- Mom made sure of that.. Dorian Oanesdale was his name.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Hmm, I don't really recognize it, but I can ask Dad, he's known a lot of people ever since he came here. *she suddenly goes quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful.

<JETMODE> *Kender breathes a mental sigh of relief at the quiet. "Um.. can I have my cat back..?"

<TIAMAT> *Cassie blinks at him. "Huh? *she looks down at Cinno. "Oh! *laughs* Sure, sorry. *she holds the cat out, grinning. "He's pretty. What's his name?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *retrieves Cinno, who pretends he doesn't care* It's Cinnamon. Cinno for short. .. Lots of people seem to like him ...

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Awww, such a cute kitty, aren't you, Cinno? *she skritches under his chin one last time. "So watchya up to today, Kender?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh, I sort of have the day off, but I was going to go down to the stables for a while. *grins* I like the animals.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Yeah, but how can you stand it when they go in the Arena and you don't know if they're gonna be back? *she looks sad for a moment, then suddenly as if she remembered something. "OH! I have to go! I promised Mom I'd get my books and be down on the magic floor as soon as I was done. *she darts behind the shelf where she was and starts grabbing her books off the floor where the fell earlier.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh -- okay. I um.. well, it was nice meeting you.

<JETMODE> *Cinno yawls.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie trots back out carrying a stack of volumes and grinning broadly. "Yeah, same here! I'm sure we'll bump into each other again. Take care of Cinno for me! *she staggers up to the counter.

<JETMODE> *Kender chuckles. "Of course." Then he scratches his head and makes for the door.