"Tower mice're fatter." Amaruve says, reminding the beast of the easy life he thinks she had back home.

(Insight if you're into a d20 roll: 20. Maybe it'd be Perceive in Redwall: 8)

(Interesting. What are you hoping to learn from insight?)

(also, are you guys okay with leaving your companions where they, er, landed?)

(BDaddLy thinks Treasure and Precious are from the Tower. Amaruve and I are trying to learn how confident Amaruve is of that.)

(Got it. The cat and its young are definitely from elsewhere, but you have no way of knowing what world that could be. Maybe it's the tower, but given that cats are walking ecological disasters, it's doubtful that you would have suffered one to live in your woods, Ama.

If you guys are not fighting, youre going to need to convince this cat of that fact IMMEDIATELY)

(Toxoplasma Gondii is no joke: https://youtu.be/xbBMVa2A68s  They don't last long in the woods though, but they tend to wander in from more domesticated areas.)

Cordelia, having already sheathed her weapon at the professor's behest, scowls intensely. These foolish little animals have jumped into combat without waiting for a retort from her group. Of course, it was a bit careless to suggest they might leave everyone on this island to die, but what's done is done. She wiggles her whiskers with a sniff as she thinks about what to do. It seemed that Jean would like to bring the creatures into the portal. It would seem safer for all the mice on the island if they did so as well. She thought about her major wounds. She was certain she couldn't take another hit without facing certain death - fighting was not a viable option for her unless it meant protecting the professor.

Hoping to suggest a peaceful revolution, she will scream for everyone to stop fighting! It is unlike Cordelia to scream, but such a situation calls for one to be loud and obnoxious.

If they do stop fighting by some miracle, Cordelia will state, "Look, there is no reason anyone needs to die today. Not the hare, not the mice, and not the cats," she will look to the cat and say, "We can help you to the portal and see about taking you back home. It isn't only because leaving you here would terrorize those who live here such as those who are fighting for their lives, but because I believe in the long run you will run out of food. You and the kitten shouldn't stay here for any reason. Come with us!"

Cordelia isn't 100% sure of the truth of her statement, but the supply of food for these cats does seem finite unless they enjoy trying to eat crabs with their pinchy claws. 

The cat who, moments before, was poised to pounce upon your fragile mousey bones, pauses. It ears perk up, and its slitted pupils dilate minimally. "As easy as that then, mouse? What power have you to accomplish this miracle?"

It pauses. "No, this is foolishness. You say you have the power to take me from this place? Here is your toll, then: That fat one there, the one with the axe you call Baobur. It struck my paw and drew my lifeblood. It will be weeks before I can hunt again. For this offense, he must die." It looks to you all. "That is my price. You will take me and mine through the rift once l feast on that one's flesh. Do that, and struggle not, else I will cut you down and dance among your sticky bones." 

Baobur grips his axe and glares at the beast. Daring it to try.

Cordelia, the Stardust beeps. For the first time in this world there is a change.

Local Potentiality: 10%

Jean holds up a hand. "That price is unacceptable, he is a friend and we'll protect him to the death if need be, which will serve none of us - However I propose a different price in addition to taking you and your young out of here. We will hunt for you until you are healed enough to hunt for yourself, this way you and yours will get more food than if you simply killed a single mouse. How does that sound?"

Manipulate: 9

(Someone getting 7+ on Help would bring that tally to a 10...)

Perspicacious, near in shock seeing Keenwhistle and Norn so quickly dashed against the rocks, cries out in support of Jean. "She's right! We won't let you hurt our friend, but let us help you, and no more of these people have to die."

Help: 7

Quote from Adaxter >>

...

Keenwhistle shakes her head. "No... No, friends. I do not understand what is happening here, but... however well-spoken it may be, this monstrous thing is evil. We cannot simply leave it to multiply. It would spell doom for every living creature on this island." She gestures to the stoat and weasel bones littered about the cavern. "It may be killing stoats now, maybe it even meant no harm to Riverside that night, but either it or its brood will come for us all- on this day or another." She unholsters her long bow and, seeing this, Norn hoists his twin scimitars. 

The sea captain looks to the ranger of the Long Patrol. The smallest of nods is shared between them. Maybe they sense that your resolve had faltered, or on some level they recognize that your desires do not truly align with their own. Whatever the reason, the hare leaps into the air, firing a shot at the creature's eye while Norn runs along the stone wall, one scimitar striking bright sparks in its wake as he sprints toward the cat and its young. They surely know that this action is death, but still they charge.

The cat is faster than lightning. It whips around its young, taking an arrow to its cheek, but lashing at Keenwhistle with wicked claws. The rabbit is dashed against the wall of the cave, where she lands in a crumpled, bloody heap. Norn leaps upon the cat's back, attempting to sever its spine with his blades but failing to achieve more than two shallow gashes before he, too is thrown against the cave wall with a sickening snap.

(Somehow I missed half of this post. No wonder things are going poorly.)

(+1 to Jean's attempt to coerce = 10...)

The cat looks between Jean and Perspicacious, visibly surprised by their offer. It then looks to Cordelia, to Amaruve, to Elodin. The poofy gray kitten wriggles its way between the monstrous creature's paws, then lets out a piping mew. The mother's ears return to upright points as her posture relaxes. "Perhaps... Perhaps a more peaceful arrangement can be made," it says, gazing distractedly at its treasure. Cordelia, the stardust lets out a chiming tone.

Local Potentiality: 100%

Suddenly, the cat's eyes glaze over and it sits upon its haunches. The kitten steps forward and its eyes begin to blaze with a pure white light, mirroring the light of the rift. It considers you for a moment, then speaks in a familiar voice, "My dear friends... Life cannot sustain itself indefinitely outside of its own reality. I suspect that you have felt that already. Even now you feel the pull of the bodies you wear, yes? You have started losing your awareness in the skins of the souls you displace." The kitten that is Vasht takes a deep breath, and the light of the rift surrounds Norn and Keenwhistle. "Small and simple they may be, even these creatures possess a strength of spirit our enemy cannot hope to match."  The hare and the sea captain begin to stir, their wounds knitting as breath returns to their bodies. "They deserve another chance to oppose him, wouldn't you say?"

The cave begins to shudder and the kitten looks upward, a troubled expression on its face. "He will likely reveal himself to you now. He hoped you would throw yourselves at the cat and die horribly, I suspect. I am bound in the space between the worlds, but you won't be without assistance. If you are ready, then it is time to complete your promise to these cats and move on." Another sad expression. "Best of luck, dear ones. Know that your bodies are Lost, but your spirits are strong. You will find the way home, if anyone can."

And with that, the light fades from the kitten's eyes. You are left in the cave with the two cats, who look at you silently and expectantly. Keenwhistle and Norn are unconscious, but a quick inspection reveals that they will likely awaken and recover on their own soon. The rift is before you, shining with a silver light.

It's time to move on.

Amaruve approaches the portal and waits for the others keeping a sharp eye on the cat.

The cat stands silently, no longer malicious or monstrous. It walks up to the portal, unaware of its exact location. The cat looks and moves differently now, almost as though whatever common language you shared moments before is now lost. Now it's just a cat with its kitten, and it's waiting for you to show it where to go. 

Eyes wide, perspicacious rushes to the side of Keenwhistle, noticing the hare is now healed. "Farewell, friend. I can't even pretend to know all of what is transpiring, but your aid and spirit will always be remembered." She lays her hat at the hare's feet, and then runs toward the portal, ignoring the now more docile feline. Looking back at the other members of her own party, she yells over her shoulder, "Here we go again!"

**Freeze frame high five as we all jump into the portal**

Jean, glad to leave this world behind her, attempts to usher the cat and it's kitten through the portal before hopping in herself.