Jay huffed a bit and gave the world outside their little hidey-hole a sullen look. "I wish Mrs. Mouse was here! She always seems to know the best way to solve things. It's been so long since we were all together and I'm just not smart enough. Does the witch even have a physical form we can attack? I mean, Hunter could probably take off a leg and then some if the witch was a human..." Somehow, he doubted it would be that easy though.

~~~

The woman's smile stiffened just a bit. "My, my. You ask so many questions. Do you doubt my intentions, little one?" she asked August as she drew back. For a second, the rain started to pick up as the sky went dark again but the woman still used her body to shield August. "I only want to keep everyone safe here."

~~~

Mrs. Mouse reached out a tiny paw to pat Dew's leg. "It's alright. I know waking up here is...hard. There must be so much that you lost, people that you left behind." Each day she spent in this place, the faces of her loved ones grew fuzzier and fuzzier, but she knew they existed. Even if they might not expect to see her again after so much time. "However, there is a way out and we intend to find it."

August fluffed up his feathers, taking a mental note that this person was avoiding his question. That was all the confirmation his suspicions needed, but he decided to play along for now. "Oh, alright then. It's hard to know who to trust here. You wouldn't mind if I ask you a favor, then?" He requested instead.

Scarlet watches the rain as well, "Maybe she does have a human forum and I agree I wih Mrs.Mouse was here as well." Scarlet almost wishes that the rain would wash away her memories of this place but knows it won't.

"I certainly hope we can get out of this place. Wait! Whoever runs this place must have a way of getting in and out! Maybe if we find them, we can get out of here!" Dew suddenly shouts, excited.

"A favor?" Meloreia tilted her head, her smile as smooth as when she first appeared. "You're an interesting one to ask it but I don't have much conversation these days so please, tell me what it is you want? I'll do my best to help you out in exchange for the company."

~~~

Jay sighed yet again. "And August. I hope he's okay in the rain and with that creep Genesis..." He shivered at the thought of that ferret. It seemed they'd met all sorts of types in this menagerie and not everyone could be part of their pack. "I can't believe even one person thinks this place is utopia or something!"

~~~

Mrs. Mouse chuckled at Dew's enthusiasm. "That's good thinking. Ah...was it those wolves that said a witch kept this place? But considering the labyrinth that this place is, finding her won't be easy. I've even seen the door and nearly passed through it before, but I've still spent ages searching for it again. We were so close this time though! I just know it!" she huffed in frustration.

Scarlet agrees with Jay, "I hope Augustus is alright as well. I'm sure he escaped Genesis like we did." She watches out at the rain, "Because some people have different memories and different kinds of minds."

"Yes, a favor. If you could lead me back to the forest from where I came, that'd be perfect. That way I could rest and dry off. I'd go with you to your place, but I'm just not sure I could find my way around from there. I'd rather be someplace more familiar." August requested.

Dew thought for a moment. Do you remember any landmarks or anything around the door? Or even the general direction? She inquired

Meloreia hummed at August's request. "The forest? Well, it's true that a parrot doesn't belong in terrain like this. It's best if everyone stays in their zones since everything there is so perfectly suited to each animal. I don't mind returning you there since you've requested it."

~~~

Mrs. Mouse shook her head. "The door was in a forested area before, rich...beautiful with towering redwood trees all around it. Even in the day, embers like that of a firefly swarmed around the entrance. I had no idea that a hawk stalked us until that point though. I missed my chance..."

~~~

Jay nodded. "Yeah. As soon as the rain stops, let's go look for him. I have a feeling that a lot is going on even though we can't see it. Rain is funny like that huh?" It had a way of isolating people even when they stood mere feet apart.

"I like rain." Hunter points out. "Rain can be nice, calming, and very peaceful."
***
Grey nods slowly, not having heard this part of Mrs. Mouse's tale before.