<JETMODE> *It's three AM, and the halls are finally quiet. The undead attacks, oddly enough, slacked off around two, the beasties slipping away into dark corners. People are still on edge, but at least they're not in any immediate danger.

<TIAMAT> *There's been no sign of Baron Teal for the past two or so hours, either, so the guards are a little ... lost. One of his lieutenants is trying to reorganize troops and get shifts going so some of them can get some rest, but it's hard to get to everyone.

<JETMODE> *People are shellshocked and terrified, and a great many of them are injured.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod would like to try and reorganize his group, as well, as he hasn't seen Whisper, Cassie or Roary since just after the attack started, and he hasn't seen Kender at all.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *wanly* Thanks for letting me stay with you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Well, I couldn't just let you stay out here with all this going on -- it's no problem. *he's looking weary, but not quite exhausted yet, and he's determined to make sure everyone's okay.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *headshake* I've never seen anything like that. Ever.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Neither have I. And no one seems to know what happened.

<JETMODE> *As they approach the room, they can probably hear some frantic yowling, not to mention claws scratching at the door.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod slows when he nears the door, hearing the yowling. He glances at Jukka worriedly. "Cinno -- Kender's cat -- but... *he frowns and fumbles with the lock, pushing the door open slowly.

<JETMODE> *Cinno shoots out like a streak of lightning. He skids to a halt in the middle of the hall and whirls back to Jarod, stomping frantically on his feet and howling.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod doesn't have time to look into the room as the cat bolts past, as he's attempting to keep his balance. "Cinno -- what -- stop -- stupid cat! *he nudges the cat away as he looks up into the room. "Kend--

<JETMODE> *Jukka scoops the cat up, following Jarod.

<JETMODE> *The room is a total disaster. Tables and chairs are overturned, books and paper scattered everywhere. The beds are torn, and the blankets ripped apart. But most of all, there's blood splashed everywhere. Walls. Floor. Ceiling. In all its crimson glory.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod stops dead just past the door, terror spread across his face. "...oh my god...

<TIAMAT> *He starts shaking and clutches onto the doorframe to keep from collapsing. "What.."

<JETMODE> *Jukka drops the cat and takes his arm. She frowns, surveying the room. ".. this .. could those monsters have done this?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod doesn't respond right away; he takes a deep breath to steady himself, then takes a slow step into the room, looking around for something. Anything. A sign of Kender.

<JETMODE> *His backpack is gutted and shredded on the floor. Cinno dashes in and paces, howling again.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod turns a slow circle until he's facing Jukka. "B-but...the door was locked...

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *shakes her head* I .. I don't know.. *shivers* This room.. has a bad feeling.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod takes another deep breath, starting to come around from the initial shock. "We...we have to find Whisper... *he starts for the door, then pauses. "I mean...I have to find Whisper. She might know...where Kender is...but you don't have to come if you don't want.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *stoutly* Of course I'll come. It would be wrong of me not to.

<JETMODE> *Cinno howls his agreement.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances down at the cat, then back up and Jukka and nods. "All right. ... Thank you."

<JETMODE> *She smiles. "So where's this Whisper?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: I...I don't really know. I haven't seen her since last night, when the attack first started... *frowns* Her room's on the sixth floor, so she might not have been able to get back to it...but she might be with Cassie. *he starts out the room and toward the nearest staircase, either forgetting or not bothering to shut the door*

<JETMODE> *Jukka pulls it closed and hurries after, scooping Cinno off the floor again. "Jarod, we have to be careful. There are still undead about."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances back at her, but doesn't break his pace. "I know...but..." He shakes his head and starts downstairs.

<JETMODE> *She hurries after, sober.

<TIAMAT> *Like before, the Cassie's door is shut and locked, though unlike before, all the lights are off.

<TIAMAT> *This doesn't seem to deter Jarod, however, as he marches right up and starts banging loudly.

<TIAMAT> *He continues in this fashion for some time until, finally, a light flickers on, and Cassie's drowsy voice can be heard, slightly muffled. "Mom? Dad? Kender..?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: It's Jarod, Cassie, open up!

<TIAMAT> *There's a pause, then the lock clicks open and Cassie pokes her head out, rubbing her eyes. "Jarod, what--

<TIAMAT> *Jarod brushes past her, asking, "Is Whisper here?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie stumbles out of the way, blinking in surprise. "She's asleep--

<JETMODE> *Cinno springs from Jukka's arms and leaps at Cassie, howling.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's voice, from further inside: Or was asleep, rather.

<JETMODE> *Jukka hovers at the doorway, looking a wee bit left out. ;)

<TIAMAT> *Cassie blinks at the cat and strokes him. "Cinno, what're you doing here? Where's Kender?"

<JETMODE> *Cinno yowls something dismayed, burrowing his face under her chin. Not a happy kitty.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper appears in the room, nearly colliding with Jarod, who was going to look for her. She looks a little grouchy. "What's going on, Jarod?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, anxious and dismayed: Whisper, isn't Kender here!?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper stares a bit. "No, we all thought he was with you--

<JETMODE> *Cinno wails.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Yeah, he said he was going to find you right after the attack started, and we haven't seen him since. *Cassie scratches Cinno's chin.

<JETMODE> *Cinno crabs at her and butts her jaw again.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's gone rather pale and has started shaking again. Whisper looks at him with growing concern. "Jarod, what happened..?"

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *with a glance at Jarod, murmurs* Perhaps you should come and see..

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: See what?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Where?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *a bit distressed* His room. I -- *looks at Jarod*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod swallows hard and starts for the door, still shaky. "Come with us."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper and Cassie exchanged mystified and worried glances, then follow Jarod out, Cassie shutting and locking the door behind them.

<JETMODE> *Jukka hurries along, trying not to radiate the distress she's feeling.

<JETMODE> *Cinno is crouched in Cassie's arms, looking miserable.

<JETMODE> *The room is .. much like they left it.

<TIAMAT> *The two girls are just as horrified as Jarod was -- if not more -- when they set foot in his and Kender's room; Cassie gasps and nearly drops Cinno, and Whisper's face is white as snow as she takes a slow step inside. "What...happened?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: I...I dunno.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *nods*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper pauses, then turns to him, staring. "What do you mean, you don't know?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, distressed: I mean I don't know! We came back, and it was all like this--

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, quietly: And Kender..?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *sideways glance at Jarod* We don't know where he is..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: ... We have to find him. Now. *she starts for the door, a mixture of fear and determination on her face.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *startled* Wait -- wait. Please! *she hurries over and takes Whisper's arm gently* We don't even know where to start looking.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, desperate: But--!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *firmly* Whisper, wait until morning, at least. The undead are still wandering the halls, and night is when they're stronger. Tomorrow, we can start to look. *she glances at the copious amounts of blood and decides not to voice her other suspicion*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I can't just sit here and do nothing!

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *soothingly* Rest. You'll do better helping him after a night's sleep.

<JETMODE> *Jarod might notice that she's projecting again, unconsciously, a wave of soothing emotions.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod swallows again, picking up the emotion without actually realizing it, though it's helping him calm down. "She...she's right, Whisper. We're all exhausted. It's been a long night, and it will be harder searching now than in the morning."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper jerks her arm out of Jukka's grasp, a look of pained desperation and anger crossing her face as she takes a few steps out into the hall. She pauses, shaking slightly, then responds without turning around. "Fine. But if there's no word from him by dawn, I'm going."

<JETMODE> *Jukka sighs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie clutches Cinno close, looking more scared than anything. She's close to tears, poor thing. :(

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs at her, and Jukka slips over, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you .. all right?"

<TIAMAT> *Cassie starts a little at Jukka's touch, then shivers. "Y-yeah... *she sniffs.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: We...should get out of here. This place isn't safe.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie sniffs again, but nods. "We can stay at my place."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *doubtfully* Is there room enough?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: I think so. There isn't much choice, is there?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *laughs* Well, I can stay somewhere else, if it gets to be a problem.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie shakes her head a bit. "No, it's no problem. Really."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Let's go.

<TIAMAT> *And she's starting for the nearest staircase.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *a little intimidated* All right..