Aryel tensed as something snapped in the underbrush nearby. Being trapped like this with a predator approaching was about one of the worst things that could happen. Her vision was somewhat restricted by the root cage around the front half of her body, but she was able to make out the form of something as it approached. Java, seeing it too, squeaked in fear, prompting Aryel to nudge him urgently, hoping he would climb up as high as he could. The bat was still too young for flight, but he was already an expert at scuttling up trees, and proved that now by climbing the roots and up the tree trunk. She watched nervously as the approaching creature jumped on top of the root cage and climbed carefully over it. Before she could call out for help, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Wha-Lupus?"

Indeed it was Lupus, arrogant as ever as he stepped from the root cage onto her back and lay down, all the while taunting her. Aryel raised her head and turned her head as far as it would go to shoot him a baleful look. "Get off my butt, Snowball." she snapped. Damn. As if she didn't have enough problems, now she was going to have to endure this mindless creature again. Java, who was hanging by his feet from a low branch, became curious and made to get back down again, carefully dropping from the branch and holding his little wings out as far as they would go to land on the root hollow with a quiet thunk. Her initial joy at seeing his first "flight" was dulled by worry and anger. Lupus had better not hurt him.

And as if her day couldn't get worse, another familiar form joined the little party, this time with a bouncy, gangly mutt in tow. She shut her eyes as Crowley spoke, ears plastered to her skull, the picture of exasperation. Damn, damn, a thousand times damn. Managing not to let her anger culminate in a furious string of swear words, she fixed him with a look of pure contempt. "We really do have to stop meeting like this, eh Brindlebutt?" she said. "As for what I was thinking, I was trying to get into this hollow to get a few moments of peace. So, unless the two of you are here to pull me out, you can just keep walking." Her attention was drawn from the stallion to his beast, who was jumping around Java and barking. Java, initially startled, now stretched his neck forward to smell the hellhound pup and tried to copy his bark, managing to produce a squeak that was more like a high-pitched yip. Although neither of them knew it at the moment, that yip was the beginning stage of his future vocal magic, and would later morph into a voice capable of shrieking someone into submission. "It's a pity that pup of yours was bonded to one as undeserving of compassion and friendship as you." Aryel said, lip curling in disgust.

Walk walk walk walk.
"Talk talk talk talk."