The room stretches around you, its neatness is almost frightening. Each chair has its place, each table is set specifically. Amber sunlight streams through stained glass windows, casting green, red and blue patches over the gleaming marble floor. As you look around more closely, you note in one corner of the room various statues reside.

Most of the statues are more than lifesized, towering over you like alabaster and marble giants. One particularly menacing creature glares down at you from its seven foot height. A panther, black as burnt steel and smooth as a water polished stone gazes blankly down, its square muzzle caught in the the twists of a feral snarl. Canines set in of ivory glint wickedly, and you note as you back away, wings, made to look leathery and worn are folded over its back.

A shudder sinks down into the marrow of your bones, and in response you slide away.

Turning toward the door, a low rumbling growl, like the smoothed over roll of thunder issues from behind you. You turn hastily with wide eyes to see the sleek form of a massive cave lion slide out from his guise beneath the floor length curtains. A ruff of spiney golden fur stands up about his chiseled feline face, eyes the colour of sunlight through honey glitter with emotion. Muscles slide languidly underneath the velvet of his coat.

You blink, jumping back a bit.

Black lips curl back into what looks to be a grin? A grinning cat? After all you've seen, this doesn't startle you overmuch, and you stand firm. At this, a low throaty chuckle issues from the lion. In slinking movements he pads over, circling you as liquid gold eyes measure your form critically, and unabashedly.

WELL, if he's going to be THAT way...

"Here kitty kitty kitty..." you smirk and wiggle a finger tauntingly at the rippling coated feline, thinking yourself quite clever.

With movements holding roots in the motions of a stream over smooth rocks the lion approaches...looking none too happy. His lengthy tail lashes from side to side as spines of mane stand up about his lowered face. A thin growl curls from his mouth.

hastily you back up, perhaps thinking it would have been wise to NOT do that. Determined not to back down you hold your ground against the huge cave cat who comes so close you can feel the whispery touch of whiskers, and the warm breath against your skin. Quite suddenly he places dinner plate sized paws against your chest and leans his full weight on you, standing on hind legs so hishead is far higher than yours. Of course, youhaven't any choice but to fall backwards, trying to save your skull from smashing against the hard floor by cupping hands over it.

You open your eyes slowly, expecting the worst. Unfortunately...you're pretty accurate. The lion's sharp muzzle full of strong ivory points is held about two inches from your nose. Burning copper eyes glare down without the lion ever having to affect an expression. Must be those hugely slanted eyebrows. For a moment your head feels light, as if it contained tiny moths that were cavorting about blindly, then it is gone. Heaving a snort, the lion's voice purrs deeply.

"You called I came. You'll find I'm fairly obediant." Here the big cat smirks, and snaps his teeth quietly at you, enjoying the shudder it exacts."You might want to be careful what you order me to do."

The weight lifts from your chest (making it considerably easier to breathe by the way) as he removes velvety paws and pads toward the door.

That's it? Ooo, some warning. You didn't even get hurt. Pushover, you think shoulders shaking with unshed chuckles. The lion shoots an almost smug gaze your way before sliding out the door silently as a wrath.

Wel, no sense hanging around here, you decide and make for the door. It's locked. A tight mage lock seals the door. Frustrated, you kick at the bottom opening your mouth to release the building obscenities... but no words will come. You open your mouth again, desperately trying to make any noise that will come to you... but nothing works. No sound, no voice, not even a squeak. Voiceless. Mute. Clawing at your throat in panic you look to a mirror. Nothing LOOKS out of place...

As your hands take on an almost primitive pose of scrabbling at the door your limbs feel suddenly heavy, leaden as if you'd been running a marathon and were about to collapse. The feeling is so intense, you consciously attempt to lie down where you stand... but your knees will not bend, as won't the rest of your joints. Slowly, a cold hardness creeps into you flesh until you cannot move, see hear or speak...but remain completely conscious.

Another statue for the collection...