[Fallen_Snow]

A Cobalt Sahound wandered through the darkened temple, not even a bit afraid. It was night, and most of the monks were sleeping. He was planning to rob them. Something good too, not just some dinky little prayer statue, more like some crystals off a chandelier, or some of the gifts left for the gods that answer prayers here. He snuck in easily, some of the night owl monks just supposing he was going to pray to a god. Pfft, fat chance. He prayed to no god. He barely even listened to the staff at the zoo he lived in. He didn't know why they took him in.

[[1]]

[Fallen_Snow]

As he slowly walked through the Temple, he noticed some trinkets worth stealing. But he didn't reach for them, not just yet. Some monks were still up. He walked through and layed down at a shrine for some god, deciding to take a nap. Maybe it would refresh his spirits, and maybe the monks would be gone.

Nightspots suddenly awoke, a breeze making his body go chill. He jumped up, most of the candles had been blown out. What was that? Where had that sudden breeze come from. Maybe it was the gods- he thought, then cut himself off. The gods don't exist! He sighed and felt in front of him. Nothing was there. Then he noticed some candles in the distance that were still lit. He quickly ran toward them and grabbed in his jaws. He lit a few more, and carried that one with him so he could see. He traveled a bit deeper into the temple, finding no monks in his way. "Perfect." he whispered.

[robopup24]

Lithium 1.1

She was no monk.
The Chernboyl crept through the silent halls in her human form, her eyes focused on the path ahead. Creeping alongside her was a huge wolf, its emerald eyes gleaming eerily in the darkness. A noise. Lithium turned and saw a Sahound, lighting the candles. The Chernboyl became interested. What was this Sahound doing here? The wolf beside her slightly shifted, impatient for a hunt. The Chernboyl ran her fingers down its fur, smiling underneath her scarf.
This should be interesting.

[Fallen_Snow]

Nightspots thought he heard something behind him. He looked back and saw a monk- at least, she LOOKS like a monk. "Hello..." he said calmly, though his legs were shaking. Was he going to get caught? Suddenly a breeze blew the candles out again, including the one he held in his mouth. "Dang it." he growled, and spat the candle onto the floor. "Hello? Monk, are you still there?" he asked.

[robopup24]

Lithium 1.2[/i]

She retreated closer to the shadows, shying away from the light. The wolf gave a low growl, warning the Sahound to avoid coming closer. Lithium stroked it before answering, "I am here." Lithium looked at the Sahound with intense curiosity. "Who are you?"

[Fallen_Snow]

Should he give away his name? He faltered for a moment. "Ni- Niknak." He finally said. He decided it'd be better to lie. He shook himself and let his eyes adjust to the darkness. "Who are you, monk?" he asked, eyeing her figure suspciously. He could barely make it out in the darkness. No candle shown. He smiled. He could get out of here as quick as those candles went out. He slowly slunk parallel to her shadowy figure, being careful to stay as far from her wolf friend as possible.

[robopup24]

Lithium 1.3

"Who am I?" The human Chernboyl slightly chuckled. "It doesn't matter now. How would you like to play a little game, Niknak? After all," She paused for seemingly dramatic effect. "Your kind is playful, aren't I right? If you win, you'll get...a rather...special prize. If you lose...well, let's not think about that now." Lithium noticed his discomfort around her wolf. "Ah, don't worry about Tradition. He won't bite...unless I tell him to of course. So, will you play this little game of mine?"

[Fallen_Snow]

Nightspots looked at his paws, then at the far moonlit opening. Could he make it out? He doubted it. That wolf was starting to scare him too. One false move and she could command him to kill him. He took a deep breath and turned toward the shady monk character. "I... I will play your game." he said. He gulped; why did he feel like he was sentencing himself to his own death?

[robopup24]

Lithium 1.4

"Yes." Lithium gleefully hissed. "Wonderful. The game will be simple: I will hide these jewels," She flashed some huge rubies, all differently colored, in front of the Sahound's face. "In different locations. You will have all night to find them. If you do not..." She left it at that. With a lazy flick of her hand, the rubies disappeared. "I suggest you should start...now."

[Fallen_Snow]

Nightspots almost howled with delight. Just what he was looking for. But where to look? It was too dark to see anything. "How many do I have to find, monk?" he asked, his tail twirling. He was excited to find them. And if he didn't find them all in time, he was sure that he could escape a monk. He scoffed in his head that monk seemed to think he wouldn't find them; he was a master theif, how hard could it be?

[robopup24]

Lithium 2.0

Lithium grimly smiled. "Five, little Sahound. If you manage to find them before the time limit, the special prize and the jewels are yours. The clock starts now. But be careful." She leaned in a bit closer, her strange eye glimmering the dim light. "It won't be easy as you think."

[Fallen_Snow]

Mightspots blinked his watery eyes, the monk had breath a bit on the musty side. "Gotcha. But I'm a master at the- hide and seek, so this'll be easy." he barked, then started to feel his way through the temple. Soon, he found himself trekking down a hallway, a could see a faint light ahead. He ran toward it to be greeted by a large torch. He growled with satisfaction and pulled it gently out of its holder. He was glad with his fourtunate luck. He wondered how much time he had. He sniffed the air. Stale. He twitched his tails in frustration. He was nowhere NEAR a fresh air supply, which meant he was deep within the temple. He cursed himself for not finding a light quicker. He looked about, seeing different places that the rubies could be. But that monk had been right, it wasn't as easy as 1-2-3. He had barely searched a fifth of the temple before running into Lithium and her wolf again. He decided to stay silent and see if she noticed him. He felt it odd that a female would be a monk. He shrugged it off though, there was no time for dilly-dallying. He went a different way into the temple, and suddenly found himself in a small courtyard.

[robopup24]

Lithium 2.1

So...the Sahound realized how this game was going to be played. Lithium crept after him, Tradition following after her heels. "Having trouble, Niknak?" She quietly taunted. "If you need help, I'm glad to give it." Tradition sneezed. Ha, his master, giving help? The only reason she gave help was when it helped her evil plans...

[Fallen_Snow]

Nightspots found her breath on his back, and he almost slipped up, his hair starting to go perpendicular to the ground. "Yes, please... I'm sorry, I don't think I ever asked your name. May I know it, please?" he asked. He knew it sounded stupid, the question, but he couldn't think clearly because of how much this monk seemed to get under his skin. NO ONE could do that. He wasn't one to be easily frightened. He turned to look at her and met Tradition face to face. "Oh, hello..." he whispered exasperated and backed up a bit, out of the wolf's close biting range.

[robopup24]

Lithium 2.2

"Lithium." The human Chernboyl hissed. "Now, seeing that you need help, I'll give you a hint: water flowing uphill." Tradition growled in amusement at Niknak's fear. The wolf crept a bit closer but Lithium pulled him back with a sharp glare. Reluctantly, Tradition slipped back to his mistress' side.