The Cheshire Cat Points Audrey in the Right Direction

Audrey Ashgrove slumps in her chair, pushing the thick book away from her and letting out a snort of frustration.

"I simply can not read another line... my head is so full of spells, rituals and all things Drow, it may explode!"

The Cheshire Cat opens an eyelid warily, stretching a paw before rising to pad across the desk from it's resting space atop some journals in the corner of the already overcrowded workspace. The feline has recovered somewhat from the disaster of its loss of collar, the potion ArchDruid Fitheach and Mage Gabriel managed to concoct, keeping it clinging to life.

Audrey looks up from under her fringe and grins sheepishly at her ginger companion. "Oh, CC! Did I wake you with my moanings? I do apologise!"
The Cat places his front paws directly on Audrey's book, licks at her hand and his attention is fixed on the page near his fur covered foot. He gazes into her green eyes with an intense stare before sinking his head again towards the ancient script.

"What has made you so alert, my friend," the young Mage follows the feline's gaze thoughfully, its paw placed strategically near a passage lower down in the book.
Audrey begins to read and her eyes widen, her lips forming a perfect O!
"Oh you wonderfully wise creature. This information is sure to help us in our campaign to rid the Lands of the Drow threat!"
She stands, clutching the alarmed cat to her chest and whirling around the room begins to recite... "Abrupt exposure to sudden bright light, hearing and vision excel that of humans, but can be confounded by loud commotions, Drider spiders can render Drow immobile and are their natural enemy, kindness is an abomination to them..."

Audrey Ashgrove plops down on the sofa and the Cheshire Cat uses the moment to jump deftly from her lap and pad across the room to its basket by the fire, throwing the aroused Mage a haughty look. She smiles and catches her breath, her mind whirling at the possibilities for ways to protect the folks of the Lands from oncoming Drow attacks.

She drummed her fingers on the book pile taking up space on the sofa and squirmed impatiently before settling back into the cushions and grinning, "Wait until Gabe gets home, CC! I'll show him that passage and have him set out to find a Ranger or Guard to show it to. Master Druid Jaekob must also hear of it. Tomorrow we can set about finding out whether there are Driders hereabouts...," she pauses and claps her hands together in glee before continuing, "I have such a good feeling about this. We can dispel those Drow and we will have your collar returned before you know it!"

The Cheshire Cat flicked the girl a shrewd look, lowering its head and licking unperturbed at its paw before slowly closing its eyes and drifting off into a tranquil sleep.

To be continued...