Kivin Library Chronicles - Spooky Inspiration

Spooky? Kivrin mouthed the word like it was a strange idea to him. Mostly because it hadn't been anywhere on the list of things he had considered. Mostly because it seemed scary and that didn't seem entirely enjoyable? But if Val suggested it then he must enjoy it. Val certainly knew more about books and stuff than Kiv did. If nothing else Kiv welcomed the break of looking at the blank pages like the words would just suddenly happen on their own.

So Val had his undivided attention and curiosity as he scooched closer to Vin and plopped his head down on the table. "Yeah. They seem pretty neat." He remembered seeing one carrying a blob through Onyxia in passing. they seemed like a cozy ride, but he supposed they were kinda funny looking. A lot of blobs were too though, so who even knew? 

Kiv's headwings pulled in for a moment then relaxed. "But... blobs befriend them. They wouldn't do that." Of course on the tail of his initial optimism doubt followed. After all he wouldn't have thought anyone would have taken a book without permission and that's happened twice! Plus this was just for a story right? "...without a reason?" The uncertainty was clear in his voice, but he was still very sure the long legged basket friends were... well friends. So, if a basket critter were to run up and grab them, it would probably be to help them somehow. Right? Right...

Perhaps it was Val's dramatic timing or the thudding noise Val made on the table in tandem with the story. Either way Kiv was drawn in. Even though he was silently telling himself that the basket friends were friends, he knew that wasn't where this was going. Not with the sense of impending dread lingering in his core. He was so focused on the telling that he curled in and leaned a bit more heavily into Vin with a subconscious movement. Eyes wide as each thud drew the imaginary creature closer and closer and-


Loud sudden noises usually had an effect on him anyway, but with his body already tensed and coiled he jumped. Half trying to get away from the noise and half trying to escape the story, the conflicting directions sent him falling over Vin and on the floor upside down and dazed. Paws worked double time, even in the air, as they scrambled against the underside of the table to seek safety underneath it.

Eyes wide and too alarmed for details he only vaguely noticed the two intruders and the three black blurs shooting past the open door.

---

Van had been on his way back to the apartment and his siblings when he had run into Velvet. Considering Evrah and Kip's relationship with the tall blob, Van had heard of her. Yet, in spite of living one floor up, their paths hadn't crossed and they hadn't met. Until now.

She was... better than the impression Evrah had given them. Though Evrah's warnings did give Van the necessary level of apprehension to read between the lines and rebuff the several subtle offers the fox lady made as they reached the tower and made their way up the steps. They were in front of the door to the apartment that was listed as Kip's when the door to the top floor could be heard slamming open. 

Velvet and Van glanced at each other and then up the stairs with some curiosity. "Up to trouble probably... maybe they could use some help~" Van's eyes shifted to Velvet at the suggestive tone and so he missed Kip's appearance at the top of the steps, but not the look of alarm on Velvet's face.

Kip was booking it. Three hands grabbed her new friend while the fourth made short work of getting the door out of their way.

Vana's eyes followed Kip as he darted past with Vyers hot on his tail. Evrah, looking as irritated as ever, and then Ayvia were just behind them, presumably trying to stop the antagonistic feline from tearing into Kip... or vice versa really depending on how that whole thing played out. At Val's greeting her eyes went over to her sibling, "Hello." The word was calm and collected in spite of nearly being run over by Kip and a horse sized meowler. "It seems Kip might have started something with Vyers." Then her eyes darted to the two under the table. To Velvet she said, "Thank you for your help. Put me down." Her order wasn't delivered harshly but left no room for argument or confusion.

Velvet was amused that Vana had been so direct when the blob she seemed to take after most was typically... not. Her mouth quirked into a smile at the order and she gently released the fluffy snake-pup as commanded. She followed along behind Vana, shutting the door behind them, and made herself comfortable on one of the cushion-seats. After all, this was still technically Kip's place and she'd been here before. "Hello hun~"  She leaned over, lounging. The top of her shirt tugged down with the pressure of her chest against the table. Her gaze flickered over to Vana pulling the other two out from under the  "Even if it added to the mood I'm still sorry about scaring ya all."

All four eyes were still wide as Kiv was smushed, still upside down, into Vin and their cocoon of wings. Kiv was entirely okay with this as he shook right along with the other pup and found comfort in clinging right back. Which was how they were, tangled, when Vana careful and gently extracted them from under the table to check on them. Before Vana could say anything Velvet spoke up again and Kiv looked over at the stranger. "If you'd like I'd be happy to help ya relax~." A hand patted her lap to punctuate the offer to Kiv and Vin before shooting a look at Val as if to extend the offer his way as well. The whole exchange left Kiv confused which helped calm him down by itself. The fact that she also looked familiar kept his attention on their neighbor and he missed the slightly suspicious look Vana shot her.

Vana had returned Vin's nuzzle with one of his own to the top of the small pup's head before they ventured off to greet Velvet. "I think Kip and Evrah will manage... whatever it is." Vana acknowledged Val's question. "Kip at least seemed to be having fun." The green blob that spawned them always seemed to be having fun, but Vana trusted that if they needed assistance Evrah would have let them know.

As it was, Vana's attention was split anyway. He kept one pair of eyes on Velvet and one pair on Kiv. The other small pup, freed from both Vin and the table, had rolled over and shook himself bodily. His head wings and tail flopped all over the place with the action and a fond smile graced Vana's lips. He appreciated his tiny cute siblings- all three of them. Vana's focus was recalled fully to Vin as their... attitude towards Val gained a bit of accusation. Without really being aware of it, both Vana and Kiv, tilted their heads in unison at the display. Not that Vana was particularly disturbed by it but he was curious where it was coming from.

The tone of Vin's voice was immediately forgotten by the other small pup as it finally clicked in Kivrin's mind where he saw Velvet before. The picture! He figured Vin must have recognized her too considering how comfortable they seemed. Kiv pawed his way over with the intent to stand beside, and perhaps slightly behind, Vin while they found out more about her. Suddenly though, that wasn't an option.

"It's a pleasure to meet ya all as well." The fox lady said as she scooped Vin up and deposited them on her lap chuckling at . Interrupting the pups apparent agitation at Val. All four hands immediately set to giving Vin a good distracting scritch. "You might've seen me there, I've published a few books in my spare time and," winking at Val, "I sometimes have that sort of effect on people." Her eyes gravitated to Kivrin. He was still paused mid-step and was within arms reach. Clearly unsure of what to do now. If he tried to reach his original destination at this point, he'd have to wiggle in between Velvet and Vin to do so. And something about that seemed counter intuitive somehow. Though, he soon found it wasn't exactly going to be his choice.

Velvet smiled and easily scooped him up. The pup gave her no resistance as he was added to her lap. Rubbing the tops of both of their heads with a hand each and trailing the fingers of another through the fur on their backs she quadruple handedly handled the two pups. Extra careful, of course, to keep the affectionate rubs platonic under Vana's suddenly intense gaze. Velvet would have liked to have given the fluffy snake some scritches too. The not quite glare seemed to indicate that he needed some. But alas, Vana was out of reach and didn't seem interested in getting closer as long as the other pups seemed fine. She'd let him be. Back to Val then, "So, hun, what was this story we interrupted? A spooky one?"