[hr][color=479268][Center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5192827][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLjQ4OTM2OS5RV2xzWldWdUlGWmhibUoxY21WdS4w/messy-handwritten.regular.png[/img]	[img]https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pPX_aFUYSlI/X7HCbnDj2EI/AAAAAAAAEWY/Z6n2lQrjTCQpXGeObFaoW1I23yxHukQ0ACLcBGAsYHQ/s130/AileenMaeveVanburen_Icon.png[/img][/url][/center][/color][hr]
The sounds were coming from the Study, Aileen determined. She crept quietly toward the closed door, holding her breath, her heart pounding harder as she approached. Her arms were aching, but she kept her shield up to make sure nobody would catch her unguarded from behind. 

Aileen squinted through the crack in the door. There appeared to be three feminine figures in the room; two were rummaging, making a bit of noise as they did so, and the third was facing the others... and was holding a shovel? Nobody was talking now, so she couldn't tell who was in there. Would it be better to wait and keep watching, or to run in and try to take them all out at once while distracted? In the end, Aileen decided to wait a little longer to make sure there wouldn't be any friendly fire.

But then--commotion! Aileen was spotted! Unfamiliar voices were shouting inside. A piece of furniture was pushed over and glass shattered.  Aileen took one step back and--FUMP! A human shoulder hit the blunt part of her shield, shattering it, and the young woman crumpled to the floor while shouting in pain.

[color=479268]"M-Miss Matthews?! A'm so sorry!" [/color] Aileen hastily apologized as she helped Arabelle to her feet, strangely fumbleling because the hall was...shaking? Thundering footsteps and nerve-wracking barks confirmed her suspicion--hellhounds. As if stirred into action by fear, Arabelle shot off across the hall on her own. [color=479268]"W-wait for me! Let me 'elp you!"[/color] Aileen called  out, chasing after her.