A response to a Whose Line post (which I then cheated and augmented with a prompt suggestion from WPW):
Mercury growled and took a step forward, only this time, Emerald wasn't there to stop him. Watts had gone too far this time. Unfortunately, before Mercury could take another step, a black-furred ... something was thrust between him and his target. Both his and Watts' eyes slid to look at the person holding the thing out. Mercury considered himself pretty tough, but he felt the blood drain from his face and arms when his gaze met the red-black eyes of Salem.
"You will stop this now. Both of you have been warned, repeatedly." She pushed the large wad of fur - was it a rug? - at Mercury. "Put it on." Mercury hesitated a hair too long. "Now!" He snatched the bulky object in both hands and realized that he was holding an oversize fur sweater. Reluctantly, he pulled it on over his head and gagged.
"Oh gross, this thing smells disgusting!"
"Consider that the next time you choose to pursue one of your petty squabbles." He jerked his head through the hole, or rather he tried to. When he didn't succeed, he felt her freezing cold hands grasp his arm, which immediately stilled all movement from him. She tugged at the shoulder and his head emerged. Her back was to Watts, who wore a smirk that Mercury wanted to wipe off his face with his boot. "Is something amusing Watts?" she asked without turning. "You will be joining the young man."
