<TIAMAT> *It's midmorning and sunlight is streaming merrily through the windows of the infirmary, where Whisper has been sleeping peacefully, for the most part, for the past day and a half.

<JETMODE> *Jukka is in a chair next to her bed, kicking her feet now and again as she works on mending one of her shirts.

<TIAMAT> *After a while, Whisper stirs slightly, mumbling something incoherent. A moment later she gives a yell and half sits bolt up, but clamps down the scream and collapses back to the bed quickly, moaning and burying her face in her pillow. That's one hell of a headache, let me tell you.

<JETMODE> *Jukka starts, pricking herself, then yelps and sucks her wounded finger. After a moment, she looks over at the bed. "Good morning, Whisper."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper mutters something completely incoherent into the pillow. Though it's still obvious that it wasn't a very happy incoherent mutter.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Well, perhaps not. Roary can probably get you something for that headache, though.

<TIAMAT> *She doesn't respond for a few moments. After a while, she rolls over slowly onto her back and glances around the room with bearly eyes, blinking hard in the sunlight. "What...happened? Where am I?"

<TIAMAT> *It's kind of like having a really bad hang over.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *back to mending* You evidently got some really bad news and tried attacking someone.. she had you brought here and they administered a sleeping draught. You were fairly hysterical, from what I understand.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, still a little confused: Oh. *she thinks for a while, the memories of the past couple days filtering back in, and she sits up slowly, holding her head in her hands. "Oh no...no, no, no...Kender...

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *puts a hand on her shoulder, instantly alert* You found something ...?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper starts a little and jerks her head up, wincing sharply, then flings the covers away and makes to get up. "I have to go. Now.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *sharply* Wait! Just you wait! Going off on your own got you into trouble before. Why don't you try trusting your friends?!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sits back down on the bed hard, looking a little startled, but then she frowns. "This is my problem! Kender...it was my fault...*she winces sharply, holding her head in her hands.

<TIAMAT> *Roary has appeared in the doorway from one of the adjoining rooms and is watching quietly.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> It is not your problem! Jarod and Cassie -- they're his friends, too, and they want to help. You can't shut them out like this, especially in this condition.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper doesn't say anything for a moment, though she's trembling slightly. She looks up at Jukka, a weird look in her eyes. "Who are you, anyway?"

<TIAMAT> *Roary takes a step back, then turns 'round a disappears into the next room quietly.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *blinks* My name is Jukka. I'm a friend of Jarod's -- I've been helping them.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Jukka. *she rubs her forehead again* Do you want to know what I found, Jukka?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> .. Please. The others will want to know, as well.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper takes a deep breath to steady her voice which, despite being calm, was a little shaky. "Gulzak. ... Gulzak took Kender. Do you know who Gulzak is?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *blinks, then looks faint* I.. I have seen him.. but why would he?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, darkly: Because he wants me.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Oh my. *mouth twitches* That doesn't sound pleasant at all.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I assure you, it isn't. *she stands up again* So, as I said before, this is my problem.

<TIAMAT> *She's barely started for the door when it bursts open and Cassie rushes in, giving a squeak of relief when she sees Whisper. Jarod follows her, looking a little anxious, and at the end is Roary, who's trying hard to avoid Whisper's gaze.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *relieved* Jarod.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods a bit to her. "I...felt Whisper wake, and Roary met us halfway up here. *he frowns a little, giving Whisper a concerned look. "Are you all right?

<TIAMAT> *She's glaring slightly. "I'm fine.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, quietly: What happened?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: I don't have time to explain. I have to go. *and she starts for the door again.

<JETMODE> *Jukka stamps her foot. "Whisper!"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper ignores Jukka, but a moment later, she suddenly cries out and clutches her head -- again. If anyone cares to notice, Jarod's gone all trance-like like he did when he was trying to locate Kender.

<TIAMAT> *But he doesn't hold it long. He breaks the connection almost immediately -- he just wanted to get her attention. "Jesus, Whisper, you're so stubborn sometimes!

<JETMODE> *Jukka looks puzzled.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper steadies herself, glaring at him. "There isn't TIME -- it might already be too late --

<JETMODE> *Donna and Kevin are trying to lurk unobtrusively near the door -- more likely with very little success. Donna's eyes widen at the scene, and Kevin's ears go rigid. "Oh, shit" would sum up their expressions fairly well.

<TIAMAT> *Roary, who was standing a little meekly behind the rest, senses someone in the doorway and turns -- and gives a rather startled squawk when he spies Donna and Kevin.

<JETMODE> *They both jump when they hear him, then swivel their heads in unison. Donna hisses. Kevin groans. "The brat!"

<TIAMAT> *Whisper hears the commotion and glances up, peering around Jarod and toward the door. Her gaze hardens when she spies the two. "YOU!"

<JETMODE> *Donna's pretty smart -- she sees that look and bolts, grabbing a frozen Kevin by the arm and yanking him behind her.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper yells and starts for the door, half-stumbling into a rather startled Jarod, but before either of them can do anything else, Cassie darts around them and through the door, chanting. A moment later, she fling a small fireball between and past Kevin and Donna, which errupts into a small wall of flame in front of them, blocking their path.

<JETMODE> *The pair skids to a halt, spinning and eyeing the approaching group with something resembling wild terror.

<JETMODE> <Kevin> Aw, c-come ON ..

<JETMODE> *Donna merely hisses.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grabs the hare by the front of his tunic, running him up against the nearest wall. "What did you do with Kender!?

<JETMODE> <Kevin> *yelps when he hits the wall* We didn't do anything to him, lady, I swear! It wasn't us!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod edges over next to Jukka and mutters, "These must be the two Alpha mentioned the other day...but what's going on?

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *starts* Oh! She -- she found out who has Kender --

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, drippingly, venomously: You know what I mean, Kevin. Where is Gulzak keeping him?

<JETMODE> <Kevin> *dazed* The usual place, you know..

<JETMODE> <Donna> KEVIN!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances over at Donna, then slams Kevin up against the wall again. Hard. "Where is he!?

<JETMODE> <Kevin> *now dizzy* O-ow.. d-down below -- er.. old torture room. *eyes glaze slightly*

<JETMODE> <Donna> *makes a disgusted noise*

<JETMODE> *But you'll notice, she makes absolutely NO move to help him. :P

<TIAMAT> *Roary's eyes glaze slightly as Whisper's eyes widen in astonishment, and she throws Kevin. Right at Donna. "Where!? Where is it!?

<JETMODE> *Donna side-steps the flying hare and he hits the floor with a crash. "You won't like what you find down there," she remarks nastily.

<TIAMAT> *Roary, timidly: I...I know the place...

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances over at him, then stalks toward him, and he backs off hastily, right into the wall. But she doesn't look like she's going to attack him. "You have to take me there. *pause* Take...us there."

<JETMODE> <Jukka> Can you remember the way?

<JETMODE> *Donna, in the meantime is packing up Kevin and getting ready to slink off. They're going to want to hide from Gulzak for a while after this.

<TIAMAT> *Roary glances nervously between Whisper, who's glaring absolute hatred at Donna and Kevin, and Jukka, then nods. "I...I think so."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod places a hand on Roary's shoulder. "We haven't much time. Lead on."

<TIAMAT> *Roary nods and starts off down the hallway, Whisper right behind him. Jarod exchanges extremely worried looks with Jukka and Cassie and follows.

<TIAMAT> *Roary leads them all the way down to the ground floor, making one small stop for Whisper at her place (it was on the way) so she could pick up her short sword. She doesn't use it much. Only when she thinks she's going into a tough fight.

<TIAMAT> *Once on the ground floor, it takes Roary a few minutes -- during which Whisper grows a bit impatient -- to locate that stairway in the corner, which is as dark, if not darker, than it was the first time he was down it.

<TIAMAT> *Roary hesitates on the top step. "This is it.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod peers down. "Dark enough down there.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie shudders. Whisper pushes past them and starts downstairs without a backward glance. "Come on.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *takes a deep breath* It doesn't feel.. like a pleasant place.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Not at all... *he takes a step or two down, then stops abruptly with a short yell, shaking.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances behind her sharply.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> What's wrong, Jarod?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Such pain... *he closes his eyes, rocking a little. "Such pain and suffering eminates from down there.

<JETMODE> <Jukka> *takes him firmly by the arm* Close it out, Jarod. Or you can stay here..

<TIAMAT> *Jarod opens his eyes and glances down at her, face determine. He shakes his head. "No. I can't stay here.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, quietly: Are you all right?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod shoots her a sideways glance. "I'll be better once we get out of here. Let's go.

<JETMODE> *Jukka smiles at him and gives his arm a squeeze.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods and they start down the steps again. Whisper takes a deep breath once they reach the bottom and starts down the hallway.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper takes the door and gives it a good yank. It doesn't budge. She glares at it and pulls harder.

<JETMODE> *Jukka steps up beside her with a faint smile. "I believe I can be of assistance."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances over at her, hesitates, then nods, stepping aside.

<JETMODE> *Jukka immediately sets to work, frowning a little because the lock's a bit rusty and grimy. She does, however, get it open pretty fast. She steps aside when she's done.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: .. Thank you. *she takes a deep breath and pushes the door open, jaw set, and steps inside.

<JETMODE> *The room is hardly lit, torches guttering low, and the limited light from the hallway isn't much help, either. There's a figure hanging from the chains over on that wall. Bloody, bruised, broken, and unconscious -- but definitely Kender.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nearly collapses to her knees. "Oh my god... *she runs over to him shakily, touching his face gently. "Kender... *she stares in horror at his bruised form, then, as if suddenly remembering, checks for vital signs. Pulse. Breath.

<JETMODE> *He's alive and breathing, all right. In fact, at her touch, he stirs and moans.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod wavers in the doorway as waves of every bad emotion wash over him. Cassie takes one look at Kender and lets out a thin scream. Roary takes a few steps forward, watching in horrified fascination.

<JETMODE> *Jukka gives Jarod a concerned look, but she hurries over to Kender and murmurs. "Let me get him down."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Kender..? *she brushes his face gently again, then turns to Jukka with a nod.

<JETMODE> *She has to stretch a little, but Jukka still works the chains loose like a pro. Kender tumbles loose one cuff at a time.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper catches him best she can, lowering him to the floor gently and staying by him. Roary makes his way over, kneeling on his opposite side and looking over him carefully. Jarod's standing a bit back, holding Cassie, who's sobbing into his robe.

<JETMODE> *Jukka finishes unchaining him and stands, glancing at Jarod with a strained expression. "We should get him out of here -- quickly."

<JETMODE> *Kender moans again, but he shows no sign of returning to the world of the waking.

<TIAMAT> *Roary nods in agreement. "I can't do anything for him -- not here, anyway. We need to get him to the infirmary, fast.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Jukka...take care of Cassie for me, will you? *he detaches himself from the fox-chick and, between him and Roary, they manage to get Kender up as easily as possibly and make for the infirmary, Whisper keeping pace with them silently.

<JETMODE> *Jukka quickly steps over to Cassie's side, putting an arm around her shoulders and leading her from the room.