Too nervous to stand around, Mika turned back into the stall with the female packmule and began readjusting the molly's trappings. Finally hearing the familiar jingle of armor, Mika quickly tied off the halter. He exited the stall just in time to see Audrey enter the stable halfway, their packs in her outstretched hand and even Ed's lute strapped to her back.
"It's about time, what took you so long?" Mika called out irritatedly, but stopped short as Audrey stepped inside, a strange squirming mass hanging from her other hand. At first Mika only noticed the baggy clothes under the unruly mop of hair. It was only when he looked slightly closer that he noticed poking out from under the hair what appeared to be two triangular furry...ears? And on the hands...claws, and curling out from behind...a rather feline tail!
"It appears the innkeeper had a pet," Audrey grimaced, lifting the struggling urchin slightly. "I found this little lightfingers rifling through our packs. Guess when the master is out the cats will play."
"I do not believe that is the true form of that particular adage..." Ed started, launching into an in-depth solo discussion about sayings regarding the relationship between cats and mice. Ignoring him, Audrey dropped the packs and lute by the door, stepped towards the empty stall next door to Ed, and tossed the young boy into a corner on the straw. The child turned and hissed at Audrey, who was standing blocking the stall exit beside Mika. Before either of them could react, the boy quickly scaled the sheer wooden side of the stall and paused only for a second atop the narrow stall wall to look for an exit.
That second's hesitation brought Mika to his senses, and immediately he cast a quick enchantment. Paralyzed, the lad fell into the neighboring stall.
"Zounds!" Audrey and Mika heard Ed cry out. "What manner of beast is this?"
"You're one to talk," Audrey snapped, swatting Ed on the haunch as she entered his stall, much to his indignation. "Move!"
Mika was close on Audrey's tail, and only now managed to get a good look at the child, who had luckly tumbled into a mound of straw.
"I thought cats always landed on their feet," Audrey snorted.
It was at that point that Mika realized something important. The boy had some cat-like features, and a light dusting of fur, but he was definitely humanoid in form. All of the individuals Mika had seen up to this point who had been changed by the stone had been changed completely, even in mind, but this boy was still in mid-transformation. While Mika pondered the implications, Audrey quickly began trussing up the lad.
"Is that truly necessary?" Ed asked, looking on. "He's just a little fellow, after all."
"You didn't see the way this 'little fellow' tried to claw my eyes out when I found him," Audrey retorted. "Anyway, now maybe we can get some answers."
Catching Audrey's drift, just as Audrey completed tying the boy's hands together - having already finished his legs - Mika released the spell on the boy. Audrey began pulling back, but then tumbled backwards and landed on her rear, startled by a sudden small blur. The mysterious object leaped from the boy's arm to Audrey's, whose quick reaction allowed her to grab the tiny creature in one hand. The little white mouse bravely tried to gnaw on the large hand surrounding it, but could make no imprint on Audrey's leather gauntlets. Mika and Audrey stared at the critter, then looked at each other. Their wonderment was cut short, however, by a surprising sound.
"Let go of her!" the half-cat boy yowled.