The pair continues to climb the mountain and banter along the way, definitely chemistry between them. pick axes crack into ice and rock followed by an anchor and carbineer. using rope and all the necessary equipment to help climb faster and safer. This mountain use to have easier access and even elevators in some places, all is now gone. With several cliffs, over hangs, plenty of boulders and heavy stones that are unstable. Some small patches of brush and trees were standing along with some with life
while paying too much attention on Cheshire laughing, an axe slips out followed by whiskers slipping. whiskers start to let out a whaling scream as he starts to lose all grab and fall. Bang! his head slams into the side of the mountain with Cheshire holding onto his leg, they meet eyes and she says "looks like I saved you this time." in a sassy yet flirty manner. They share a giggle as they head up more climbing to a ledge where they could stand and sit just to take a break. taking time to build a fire, cook some food and rest for the rest of the journey which could still be awhile yet. noises of nature fill the air, hoots, howls and some roads echo the sky as starts and the moon fill the night. the Tabaxis meet eyes and quickly look away in an awkward and flirty way. As the two meet eyes more and more whiskers scoot closer as each time they meet eyes, they stay there longer and longer. He slowly leans forward, eyes start to close, her face lights up red as she loses hers too. Time seems to almost stop it moves so slow, their lips about to meet for the first time. Slam! A noise stops the moment as they both instantly go on high alert mode.
"Why would anyone come to this mountain, even if they are running from the law, this place is dangerous and incredibly unstable." Cheshire asks as they both look around to investigate, figure out what made that noise. Whiskers explains "Dr Teelak probably knows what she is doing and the area way better than most, after all it use to be her home." Cheshire asks for more information being curious what happen to all the beings that lived on this mountain. whiskers didn't know much but was happy to share what he did know. "This entire mountain use to be a trade hub with the yeti folk and outsiders, different species from all over would come to trade and learn and live, it was truly beautiful. One day the quakes started and once the started the never really stopped, one could happen right now as far as we know. As time went on after a few months a lot of the shops were barley hanging on. Everyone moved away and guests stopped coming." A sad look filled her face when asking, "what caused the quakes to start?" "The official report was that a lava vein expanded and rock collapses from the inside making the mountain unstable." "There were always theories that claimed otherwise, they say…" before he could finish a new voice startled them both. Their eyes quickly searched and found an older female yeti coming from near by trees, and brush. "he..hey there".. she stutters as she also takes a step back, arms quickly up to cover herself not only out of defense but also because she was terrified. Cheshire leaps forward but is stopped by whiskers, his arm out blocking the way. "wait! Can't you see she is scared? Give me a second?" He continues with his eyes on the yet. "Dr Teelak? Is that you?
As the Dr starts to feel safe, she steps forward with "I was listening, you were kind of right. The bounty… that why you are here? I know too much information. I was working on a new form of, well a from of energy. Something I thought was going to be used to benefit everyone, but I was tricked." She goes on to shyly and softly tell her story, obviously no will to kill anything. The government tricked me, I found out the quakes were cause by a particular bomb. This bomb was mad from my research behind my back, and that's not even the worst part. This bomb has a after effect that will cause a sickness like no other and eventually death. They claimed I was behind a bombing and killing of an entire colony but they did it all and this mountain! the blew up deep in the center for mining and imprisonment which is why the quakes still come 4 years later. They want to weed out the population as well as keep out visitors, no outsiders allowed. Now years later I'm here trying to prove my innocence, clear my good name.
Whiskers seemed to give her story some credit, not exactly trust yet but he knows something is going on and the report they got obviously is not the truth either. They get invited back to her hideout, deep inside the mountain a station that was secured extra so the quakes don't bother you while inside. The trip to it Is defiantly not for the weak, several tight spots and small ledges to traverse through. In the moments when it was just the two hunters and the yeti was ahead or first through a tunnel Cheshire would be fast to share her opinion of the matter. The job had to be done and she wanted, no needed to get the experience, complete the jobs and move up and rank. The two Tabaxis on opposite wavelengths but whiskers, at least was able to hold off her taking action, he wanted to learn more. "Why did the government want to get rid of everyone when it was obviously helping with the economy?" Before he could ask his second question Dr Teelak spoke up, "almost forgot you need to take this pill to be immune against the plasma radiation." She hands each hunter a pill before taking one herself, "this will make sure you stay safe and healthy, unlike where they tested that first bomb."
Dr. Teelak goes on to describe an absolute travesty, they tested the prototype bomb on a colony on a local moon. The bomb was set off on what they believed to be a safe distance away, however, they couldn't know the awful after effects. After the explosion there were toxic fumes and chemicals that filled the air and seeped into the soil. Eventually this effected the colony as they were affected and essentially poisoned. Over the course of less than a year everyone had this sickness and the colony was quarantined. Their entire population was gone just 3 months later, all dead, all via the sickness. It wasn't me thought, and they have everyone thinking I designed stuff just to kill, pollute and harm the system. As she finishes, they walk into her bunker like hideout, shelves with some essentials and rations line the walls along the entrance, this leads to a hideout deep in this mountain. It had a few rooms, a place to shower and all the necessities, she has been her for quite some time. This was built as a safe place by the government to protect a select few from the sickness, but has been abandoned. toward the back of the hideout was a hole in the wall leading to a big cavern within this series of caves. The Doctor says that they will be safe here and asks for there help, she needs help to figure everything out. They walk into a small kitchen area with a table for them to sit and talk. Just the bare minimum with a small kitchenet set up by a small table where she asked the two to sit. Dr. Teelak began to heat up her kettle of water and starts to prepare tea for everyone.
"What makes you trust her so much?" she whispers to her partner in this mission. He leans in and softly says "its common, especially with a civilization trying to expand, and before I came the report seemed off. It really comes down to a hunter's character and ability to sense a vibe, ya know, read the room. I bet the government wanted the people gone to sell the land rights or something." A loud whistle fills the air as the kettle goes off, Whiskers leans in close to Cheshire, hand placed on her leg. "All hunters have their reasons and some are of course not the best, but me, I wanna do the right thing." In this moment she officially decided she could trust him, and she now found proof of something she never thought possible, a good and decent hunter is out there. Every time she has encountered a hunter, they were assholes.
The group all talked and discussed this government conspiracy for a few hours, whiskers thought it was obvious that they needed to help Dr. Teelak with her goal. She was trying everything in her power to find a cure to the sickness cause from the plasma bomb she had a hand in. Cheshire excused herself to go and get some fresh air she said, as she walked outside looking flustered. She is having an internal conflict about what to do, she has to complete the job, she has to move up in ranks. She knew the right thing was to help Dr. Teelak but she has reasons to do the job! She had a goal. She had loved ones to save, to be avenged. "Are you okay?" whiskers speak up without her realizing he was even there. After jumping a bit, she slaps his shoulder. "Don't scare me like that!" Their eyes meet and lock together for a brief moment that felt long, two or three seconds in reality but so much was expressed and it seemed to last minutes. "What is on your mind? I can tell something is wrong, you need to talk?" whiskers asks as he grabs her hand. She pulled away and her whiskers twitched a bit, as she softly said "I'm fine." As the pair talked for a bit, she was clearly holding back something but she wanted to talk about it with him, trust was building.
A quick interruption from the DR to let them know she was going to sleep and that she was grateful for their help and understanding. whiskers saw Cheshire look away with sort of a guilty look. Softly after she left whiskers "you know it's not a hunter's job to take the law or matters into their own hands, we should catch the target and then turn them over and hope the system works for them. We don't decide who deserves to go to jail or receive punishment and we didn't commit the crimes. I believe I should try and help all that I can and this is how I do it." Cheshire comes back with "I can honestly tell she is telling the truth and I do want to make this world a better place. There is way too much evil and pain in existence." They clicked more as they talked about their beliefs and views of the world. His want to be optimistic and see the good in everyone, even though his hardships, knowing that most governments are corrupt, most systems are broken. She did not share her deepest truths and he could tell. She did acknowledge that she thinks most beings are selfish and cruel but hopes that the good ones out there can create change. "I have my reasons for waiting to complete this assignment, I need to move up in the ranks." She proclaimed as they started to drink a bit and share secretes, as cats ever the curious creatures. "Why do you want to move up in such a corrupt guild and industry?" He softly asks as he takes a drink and looks deeply into her eyes. Both Tabaxi's have their tails raised and slowly moving, emotions coming up and drunkenness setting in. "I..I can't tell you but I need to get information from the inside to help someone I love." She answers shyly as she looks away a bit again, but Whiskers reaches over and lifts her head by the chin softly so their eyes meet. "That must be emotionally draining and scary." Her eyes start to water as both cats start to make a noise, they are softly purring and this breaks the tension as they hug and gently nuzzle a bit.