Ramla yawned then said, "So you are saying with those snowshoes you call feet and that bulbous body, you cannot help us?"

The penguin looked back at Ramla. Ramla smacked her lips and twitched her ears. The light gave the cat's eyes an eerie glow and it didn't take the Faylinn long to catch Ramla's meaning behind her words.

For one instant the fligibberty bird was motionless. Then with a sudden burst of new found energy, the Faylinn began talking swiftly again and gestulating with its stubby wings . "Welll, on second and third thought, maybe there is something I can do."

Ramla smiled and cleaned an already immaculate paw and purred, "That's more like it."

Turning her attention to Neith, Ramla said, "Neith, please stay here or go with me to my Per. And the two of you, too." Her gaze took in Hero and Scratch. "The rest of you are, I'm sure, welcome to stay here. Right Gato?"

"Of course, my dear Alpha. There's plenty of room around here." Gato rolled his eyes to emphasize the spaciousness of the cavern.

Neith spoke up. "Dear Ramla, I do so appreciate your generous offer and I think these little ones should stay with you or Gato. I don't feel right, knowing the Grandparents will worry. I really must go home."

Ramla understood Neith's loyalty to the two-leggers of Orwell Farms. Neith was faithful as the morning light to make several trips a week by Gato's but she did not live in the Prime nor did she have any desire to leave the folk who cared for her. No matter to Neith that the snow grew heavier and stacked flake upon flake to cover the ground. Ramla also knew what it was like to free those who cared for and about you from worry. That was why she needed to get to her Per. It would not do for her Caregivers to get worried. They would be sending a search party out in this storm if she wasn't in Per soon.

"As you will, my friend." Ramla told Neith. "At least come with me to the Per, first. It is an easier trail to the farm from there."

Hero and Scartch perked thier ears at this. They were going to Ramla's Per! Neither had had that privelege before and had expected they might have to become famous before getting inside The Per. Now here they were, going as guests with the offer to stay out the storm. How lucky was that!

"Gato," Ramla turned to the tavern owner. "We're leaving, now." The two youngsters started for the front door.

"Oh boys," called Neith. "This way. We're going through here."

Gato held back the huge tapestry to let Ramla, Neith, Hero and Scratch through. The latter two whispered in awe that they were truly going into the caverns they had thought was made up for entertaining and even for scaring adventurous younsters.

Gato, smiled and shook his head at the youngsters as they passed out of sight into one of the many cavern corridors.