Introducing Iris Snippet
The white cat let out a low yowling noise. Eve looked at it in surprise. The fur along its back was beginning to rise and its ears turned toward the back of its head. The other three cats responded immediately. Their eyes focused on the bushes. Next to her, Add started to stand.
A large dark grey cat with barely visible black stripes on its legs appeared from the bushes. At first Eve didn't understand why the other cats responded to it the way they did but when she scanned the cat, she found injuries. She rose quickly to her feet, "Its hurt." There was a cut oozing blood on the side that wasn't facing her and one of its ears had a small tear. Otherwise it was just bruised.
"Where's the other one?" Add muttered. His eyes scanned the bushes.
"Other one?" Eve repeated.
Add nodded, "Ginger. Dynamo said she had kittens."
Eve frowned. She wasn't aware Dynamo communicated with Add. She didn't need to suggest looking for the cat. Add was already walking away but he paused long enough to pet the injured cat and say something she didn't catch to it. She hesitated but inevitably followed him. If something hurt that cat then the ginger one Add mentioned was no doubt also in danger.
Add seemed to know exactly where he was going. He left the park entirely, skirting down an alleyway. Eve followed him through a second alley. At the end there was another one on the right that led to a busier street. To the left was a small alcove. Boxes were everywhere, mostly in stacks, though some were clearly knocked over. Garbage was strewn about, all leading to a large tipped over bin near where the alcove and alleyway met.
Laughter echoed from behind one of the box stacks of the alcove. With a quick scan Eve identified two boys. One was around Elsword's age, while the other seemed closer to Elesis'. She also recognized the fading life signs of an adult female cat. The younger of the two boys held hit by the scruff of its neck.
"Hey!" Add snarled. He stalked into plain view of the two boys, leaving Eve little choice but to follow. She sighed quietly. This wasn't going to end well for those two boys. She noticed the cat the boys held was ginger, though it didn't appear to be carrying kittens.
"What?" The older boy turned while his companion shrank against the wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" If anything, the older boy's cocky sneer only enraged Add more. That confirmed to Eve that the cat the boys clearly tormented was the one they were looking for. Unfortunately, attempting to save the mother cat's life was highly unlikely to succeed. Because of that conclusion, she set dealing with the two boys and finding the cat's kittens as higher priorities.
"Add." Eve skirted around him and placed herself between him and the two boys in front of them. She was certain Rena would prefer it if they didn't get into a back alley fight with a couple boys, even if the odds were clearly in their favor. Not to mention the possible repercussions should Add cause too much damage to them.
Add hissed but stopped moving. He crossed his arms over his chest.
Eve held Add's arm just to be sure he wouldn't go anywhere. She turned to the boys, "What are you two doing?"
"None of your business," the older boy sneered. "You and your friend can run along now."
Eve's eyes narrowed, "Do not assume when you have no knowledge of what you're speaking of." She glanced at the cat, still held up by the scruff in the younger boy's hands. Her gaze returned to the older boy, "That cat has done nothing to you. Why did you torment it?"
"We're just having a bit of fun." The boy's features turned feral and he cracked his knuckles, "Now run along before I rough up that pretty little face of yours."
Eve didn't blink. Add was more of a threat to her than this boy was and he had yet to act in a way that would cause her any damage. "So you're cruel? That cat did nothing to you yet you tormented her to the point of dying when she has kittens to take care of."
"Kittens?" The older boy repeated.
Eve frowned. Why would this human seem so excited at the prospect of kittens? Did he intend to harm them to? Her eyes narrowed, "You're disgusting. Leave here. Now. And don't harm another innocent creature for as long as you live."
"You're trying to tell me what to do?" The older boy scoffed, "That's funny. This isn't any of your business. This is your last warning, princess."
"I am a queen." Eve corrected calmly. "You're warning holds no meaning to me. I've faced down much worse than a spoiled boy." She lifted her head so that she was looking down on him despite being shorter than him. "However. I would suggest you heed my warning and leave immediately."
"What're you gonna do? Talk me to death?"
"I do prefer not to fight those who cannot defend themselves, yes," Eve nodded.
The boy laughed. He stepped forward menacingly, "Cannot defend themselves, huh? We'll have to see about that."
"Very well." Eve stepped out from between Add and the two boys and let him go. She meant it when she said she preferred not to fight those who couldn't defend themselves. Add had no such standards. She turned her attention to locating the kittens. Moby pinpointed a nest like area behind one of the boxes in the back corner of the alcove
Eve very carefully moved the boxes to reveal the nest. She knelt down. Making sure to be very gentle, she picked up a tiny squeaking kitten. It was warm brown and blond with a white belly and paws. Its eyes appeared sealed shut and its ears were folded back against its head. It was the only member of its family that still had any signs of life. She noticed its temperature dropping and blinked. If its temperature dropped too much it would surely die. Could it not stay warm on its own? When she made her hands warmer the tiny creature quieted. It was so...helpless. Almost frighteningly so.
