The hour was growing early, and though he really didn't wish for the company to depart so soon after arriving, he imagined that they would indeed have to leave soon.  If they didn't, they would either be stuck in the catacombs for the remainder of the day, or have to find some ridiculous path back to their room to avoid greeting the sun via a shaft of light through a window or from beneath a door.<br/><br/>Suddenly there came the noise of footsteps from in the distance.  Someone had entered the catacombs, a human by the sound of it.  Though he did not tread lightly, as though he were sneaking.  Merely walking, or so it seemed.  Winnifred left the perch of his shoulder and crept through the bars of the gate, struggling against the curtain, to investigate.  She was the eight-legged welcome committee, and no one would get through the cavers without being spotted by her first.<br/><br/>Admittedly, there was little she could do in the way of defense, but her bite did sting a human pretty good.  She could look intimidating sometimes,especially if she got the jump on someone and clacked her mandibles just behind their ear. Up the wall she crept, and there hung until the visitor passed beneath her.  With all of her eyes trained on him, she watched his search.<br/><br/>Eurich also stood and moved over to the curtained door to listen.  It didn't seem like one of his mother's informants, but the tread was a light patter, a practiced quiet pace.  He wondered if it was someone for him or to fetch the others to their rooms?  Either way, it was a shame their meeting should soon end.