<b>Allasea stood back, quietly staring at the three doorways. They all appeared identical and, as Lotharn had pointed out, there were no tracks to follow. At least, she thought, they'd arrived first. She studied each of the three in turn, but whoever had created them was smart, had covered any markings that might indicate the right way. Not that she'd been expecting a huge, lit sign or anything. “Well, it might be nice,” she muttered.</b><br/><br/>“<b>What might be nice?” Allassiel came up behind her, her nose crinkled as she held back a sneeze. “There's nothing. No clue or mark of any kind. Though I imagine they hadn't expected anyone to need to come in here after all this time.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>I think they did know.” Allasea tapped along the wall with her staff and shook her head. “But they didn't leave much clue to … Ari. There you are. What say you?”</b><br/><br/><b>The cat tilted her head as though deep in thought before letting out a small mrrwp? She wandered between the doorways, sniffing the air in each, suddenly bolting out of the room.</b><br/><br/>“<b>That wasn't much help, and we're running out of time,” Haldir's dry tone held a tinge of amusement with the frustration. “Perhaps we should just pick one and take our chances. It seems logical that they'd nestle the king in between the others, so the center path should be our choice.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>That's exactly why we shouldn't take the center path,” Allassiel countered, “for it would be automatically assumed that it's the correct path, and therefore not be.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>But then they would have known that someone looking would consider that and therefore the correct path would be avoided. So I still say that --”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Silence, both of you.” Allasea pointed to where Ari returned, dragging a pair of large branches between her legs. “What are you doing little one?” she asked.</b><br/><br/><b>Ari, in typical cat fashion, ignored her owner. Instead she dropped the branches on the ground, picking one up in her mouth and dragging it to the central entrance. While the two-legs watched, she pushed the stick through the doorway, pawing it as she would a small animal she'd caught, until it rolled partway down the path.</b><br/><br/>“<b>How is this going to help us an … what was that?!”</b><br/><br/><b>A flash of light interrupted Haldir's words and he stared, his mouth gaped open as acrid smoke trailed back towards them.</b><br/><br/>“<b>That,” Allassiel pointed out, “would be proof that the center path is not safe. Clever animal you have, Allasea. We're left with only two choices now.”</b><br/><br/><br/><b>Pegawen stared at the doorway, as the others paced back and forth watching the distance. When Ari came racing out, she blinked. “Is something wrong?” she asked the cat, only to be ignored. Ari ran towards a pair of old trees, long since dead from neglect, and gathered a pair of branches before returning to the barrow entrance.</b><br/><br/>“<b>What is that beast up to?” Flagdon asked, coming up behind Pegawen.</b><br/><br/>“<b>I've no idea, but Allas … mother has them well-trained. Still perhaps we should go see if they're in trouble.”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Lass, I think if that beast is so smart, she'd have come gotten us instead of a couple of twigs. They'll be out soon.” He laid his hand on her shoulder.</b><br/><br/>“<b>We don't know that. Perhaps someone's hurt. Branches can be used to splint a bone break. I don't care, I'm g ...”</b><br/><br/>“<b>Can you two stop arguing” Pippen broke in, waving a hand towards the distance, where Jax had reared up with a growl, staring at a small cloud of dust. “I think we're about to not be alone.”</b>