in tenebris est veritas.
Chaele drops the cushion that they had removed from the chair, staring at the stunned silent critters that stare back up at them. “Shoo,” is the first attempt to get rid of them, but all the hand-waving and stomping in the world could not convince them to budge. Further inspection reveals that there is one much bigger than the others, presumably the mother, so they attempt to reach in and grab it; a moment later, Chaele is sucking on a bloody thumb as the animal’s protests are made known.
With a retaliatory frown, the shaman lifts their hand over the largest mouse. A few muttered syllables are followed by a wispy, shadowy magic that pools around it. Its harsh, protective eyes falter with fatigue as its life is carefully drained, just long enough for Chaele to retrieve a small box and place its sluggish body gently inside. Its progeny follow eagerly, clearly still dependent, and the Abandoned sets the box a few paces outside the door. It is not a permanent solution, but it should clear the room long enough for the atheneum to acquire a resident cat.
They return to the room and regard the final task: the fireplace. It is likely that someone else might have a higher standard for its cleaning, but as far as they are concerned, the soot is where it belongs. They might dust it of cobwebs, at least, if only to save their residents from a fiery demise.
---
Chaele moves the mice outside and begins on the fireplace.
With a retaliatory frown, the shaman lifts their hand over the largest mouse. A few muttered syllables are followed by a wispy, shadowy magic that pools around it. Its harsh, protective eyes falter with fatigue as its life is carefully drained, just long enough for Chaele to retrieve a small box and place its sluggish body gently inside. Its progeny follow eagerly, clearly still dependent, and the Abandoned sets the box a few paces outside the door. It is not a permanent solution, but it should clear the room long enough for the atheneum to acquire a resident cat.
They return to the room and regard the final task: the fireplace. It is likely that someone else might have a higher standard for its cleaning, but as far as they are concerned, the soot is where it belongs. They might dust it of cobwebs, at least, if only to save their residents from a fiery demise.
---
Chaele moves the mice outside and begins on the fireplace.
