Call watched Eirach fearfully; he realized what was about to happen too late. He yelped painfully as he was harshly yanked to his feet, almost dislocating his shoulder. After the last time he had it dislocated, he preferred it not to happen again. Luckily, it didn't, but that didn't change the fact that his shoulder was now feeling sore. He didn't have time to hide his expression of pain as he was shoved towards the door, nearly falling on his face. He managed to catch himself in time, directing a glare towards Eirach.
That glare was quickly replaced with an expression that entailed fear.
He winced as Eirach squeezed his arm in a painful manner just before letting go of him. He immediately jerked his arm back towards himself, holding it almost protectively. He forced himself to stifle a growl upon hearing Eirach's remark. His memory was very sensitive to words, it seemed, for another memory began surfacing as soon as the remark set in. Poor little mage...
He looked towards the Whisper to distract himself. It seemed to be writhing a little in the pain he was suffering, and it made him feel absolutely horrible. He did not want to go down there, and watch all of his friends suffer. What if they thought he was a traitor? That thought alone was enough to accidentally project fear from his soul to Lucine's. Please... please no, please...
It hurt him to walk with everyone else.
Thalia was so close to snapping... so close. She would've actually snapped if any response was given to Lucine after she tried to divert attention away from the Wereraptor once more. She was trembling in her lone cage, filled to the brim with fiery hatred. Growls kept escaping her throat. She was ignoring any and all pain trying to intrude on her mental state. She simply didn't care.
But that changed when familiar faces came in.
They were all too familiar.
The b*stard himself, Athus, came in. Not the friendly one she knew from the past, no; it was the future one who branded her brother like cattle. Speaking of her brother, he was trailing slightly behind everyone else, looking horrified upon seeing the group caged like animals. After shockingly noticing him, her gaze went to Eirach, and suddenly, the flame was bursting within her. She was trembling harder as she heard her brother's screeches of pain in her mind.
"YOU," she snarled, shaking the bars once. She glared darkly at Athus and Eirach, taking notice of the Whisper being dragged off to another cage out of the corner of her eye. She was saddened that it had to be caught; worse yet, it didn't appear to be fighting back at all. It didn't even stop itself from slamming against the bars once it was shoved in there. The bars were made to stop magic, unlike the other cells the group were being held in.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" she shouted angrily, directing it at both Athus and Eirach. "How the hell did you even get to the past!? I'm not going to let you get away with whatever you're about to do!!"
As she spoke, Call was moving further away from his escorts towards the exit, slowly and quietly. He couldn't make out any sort of key on the guard standing near the Catling in the chair - which saddened him to a great extent - and because of that, he was determined to find a key from someone else. There was a high chance that Eirach would notice him trying to get away, but he wasn't paying attention to those odds at the moment. He looked at Lucine with clear sadness and worry on his face. I'm going to find a key, and I'm going to break you out, he repeated over and over, trying to send the message to her soul, just as he had before.
I'm going to break you all out. I'm not going to stand here and watch any of this.
Call watched Eirach fearfully; he realized what was about to happen too late. He yelped painfully as he was harshly yanked to his feet, almost dislocating his shoulder. After the last time he had it dislocated, he preferred it not to happen again. Luckily, it didn't, but that didn't change the fact that his shoulder was now feeling sore. He didn't have time to hide his expression of pain as he was shoved towards the door, nearly falling on his face. He managed to catch himself in time, directing a glare towards Eirach.
That glare was quickly replaced with an expression that entailed fear.
He winced as Eirach squeezed his arm in a painful manner just before letting go of him. He immediately jerked his arm back towards himself, holding it almost protectively. He forced himself to stifle a growl upon hearing Eirach's remark. His memory was very sensitive to words, it seemed, for another memory began surfacing as soon as the remark set in. Poor little mage...
He looked towards the Whisper to distract himself. It seemed to be writhing a little in the pain he was suffering, and it made him feel absolutely horrible. He did not want to go down there, and watch all of his friends suffer. What if they thought he was a traitor? That thought alone was enough to accidentally project fear from his soul to Lucine's. Please... please no, please...
It hurt him to walk with everyone else.
Thalia was so close to snapping... so close. She would've actually snapped if any response was given to Lucine after she tried to divert attention away from the Wereraptor once more. She was trembling in her lone cage, filled to the brim with fiery hatred. Growls kept escaping her throat. She was ignoring any and all pain trying to intrude on her mental state. She simply didn't care.
But that changed when familiar faces came in.
They were all too familiar.
The b*stard himself, Athus, came in. Not the friendly one she knew from the past, no; it was the future one who branded her brother like cattle. Speaking of her brother, he was trailing slightly behind everyone else, looking horrified upon seeing the group caged like animals. After shockingly noticing him, her gaze went to Eirach, and suddenly, the flame was bursting within her. She was trembling harder as she heard her brother's screeches of pain in her mind.
"YOU," she snarled, shaking the bars once. She glared darkly at Athus and Eirach, taking notice of the Whisper being dragged off to another cage out of the corner of her eye. She was saddened that it had to be caught; worse yet, it didn't appear to be fighting back at all. It didn't even stop itself from slamming against the bars once it was shoved in there. The bars were made to stop magic, unlike the other cells the group were being held in.
"What the hell are you doing here!?" she shouted angrily, directing it at both Athus and Eirach. "How the hell did you even get to the past!? I'm not going to let you get away with whatever you're about to do!!"
As she spoke, Call was moving further away from his escorts towards the exit, slowly and quietly. He couldn't make out any sort of key on the guard standing near the Catling in the chair - which saddened him to a great extent - and because of that, he was determined to find a key from someone else. There was a high chance that Eirach would notice him trying to get away, but he wasn't paying attention to those odds at the moment. He looked at Lucine with clear sadness and worry on his face. I'm going to find a key, and I'm going to break you out, he repeated over and over, trying to send the message to her soul, just as he had before.
I'm going to break you all out. I'm not going to stand here and watch any of this.
It watched silently. Manifesting as a young child of around 8 or so with a slightly chubby face and small body, it watched. The rest of it trailed in thin layers of ink covering the grounds. Isn’t this interesting … There’s not much drama these days. It wouldn’t mind any to be honest; it can’t hear the exact words however, only blurry slurred messes. Just as the same, only sounds like screams and howls come out of its own cell, the water blurring things. Only then will someone come inspect the cell. Otherwise, its left alone and alone and along forever … Forever and ever and it thought, I’m just going to rot here till these walls crumble. They never seem like they’ll fall. It didn’t understand. Just because it looked different, why can’t it be the child held tight by the older? But even as it looked different, it still get found out and despised anyways… It didn’t understand, is it something that it doesn’t have in its soul that the stupid childrens do have? Why can’t it have those things? It wants out of here for the moment though. Now.
~~~~~~~~~~
He glanced over at the catling, bits of sympathy here and there in the glance but quickly washed down by hate. Hope felt clearer in his head before, clearing the shadows … But so does the darkness felt more drowning, faster and stronger than before. Everything was so sharper and focused. He didn’t see whatever was happening in his own cell as all his focus was diverted between the world outside of these damn bars that needs some good destruction coming their way. It seemed so far away when being entrapped was an actual threat. It was curious as to what exactly got the other there, however he unfortunately had other things to do and save -assuming that can occur that is- before helping random strangers. And no matter how much he hated Torvald and his bunch ol’ sh**, the catling could actually deserve being here. Raph never believed in the logic of your enemy’s enemy is your friend.
When Thalia said something, he muttered again this time in a more intelligible language, “You know it would be better if you just shut your mouth full of sh**-”
He was cut off when more chaos was brought in by the arrival of more.
The first thing he realized was that the Whisper was -unfortunately- dragged back. Dissapointed, not at the entity though, he sighed and reconsidered his last card. It might work and he’d beable to survive this mess … Get someone to teleport him away and- but it was washed down by the shame that followed soon enough. Fu** how can I think about just leaving them here … why am I even considering it …
For the millionth time once again, his thought train that started whenever it had a chance to was cut off its track (thank god) when he noticed Thalia’s reaction towards a particular person in the newcomer group. Studying the face, he faintly recognized the man. The one with the house at the beginning, and the pink sky in the background … Thalia … Except with more scars and years etched upon the face. Almost as if …
Then Thalia said something, and it all made sense. From the future. The man is from the future and … but still, he didn’t know why the other’s are reacting so violently. Just what could someone do to cause such trauma?
Still yet, in a blink of an eye and a few scattered feathers he shifted defensely into the dragon once again. The form felt like it was in his control once again, unlike before. Not a seperate being, just a part of him like a tool. At least that’s one thing out of the way. Pressing himself against the bars to see more, the same feeling that pressed him often was pushing again. Always feeling like he was out of the loop. Confused. Not part of anything. But he had no one to blame but himself for that.
It watched silently. Manifesting as a young child of around 8 or so with a slightly chubby face and small body, it watched. The rest of it trailed in thin layers of ink covering the grounds. Isn’t this interesting … There’s not much drama these days. It wouldn’t mind any to be honest; it can’t hear the exact words however, only blurry slurred messes. Just as the same, only sounds like screams and howls come out of its own cell, the water blurring things. Only then will someone come inspect the cell. Otherwise, its left alone and alone and along forever … Forever and ever and it thought, I’m just going to rot here till these walls crumble. They never seem like they’ll fall. It didn’t understand. Just because it looked different, why can’t it be the child held tight by the older? But even as it looked different, it still get found out and despised anyways… It didn’t understand, is it something that it doesn’t have in its soul that the stupid childrens do have? Why can’t it have those things? It wants out of here for the moment though. Now.
~~~~~~~~~~
He glanced over at the catling, bits of sympathy here and there in the glance but quickly washed down by hate. Hope felt clearer in his head before, clearing the shadows … But so does the darkness felt more drowning, faster and stronger than before. Everything was so sharper and focused. He didn’t see whatever was happening in his own cell as all his focus was diverted between the world outside of these damn bars that needs some good destruction coming their way. It seemed so far away when being entrapped was an actual threat. It was curious as to what exactly got the other there, however he unfortunately had other things to do and save -assuming that can occur that is- before helping random strangers. And no matter how much he hated Torvald and his bunch ol’ sh**, the catling could actually deserve being here. Raph never believed in the logic of your enemy’s enemy is your friend.
When Thalia said something, he muttered again this time in a more intelligible language, “You know it would be better if you just shut your mouth full of sh**-”
He was cut off when more chaos was brought in by the arrival of more.
The first thing he realized was that the Whisper was -unfortunately- dragged back. Dissapointed, not at the entity though, he sighed and reconsidered his last card. It might work and he’d beable to survive this mess … Get someone to teleport him away and- but it was washed down by the shame that followed soon enough. Fu** how can I think about just leaving them here … why am I even considering it …
For the millionth time once again, his thought train that started whenever it had a chance to was cut off its track (thank god) when he noticed Thalia’s reaction towards a particular person in the newcomer group. Studying the face, he faintly recognized the man. The one with the house at the beginning, and the pink sky in the background … Thalia … Except with more scars and years etched upon the face. Almost as if …
Then Thalia said something, and it all made sense. From the future. The man is from the future and … but still, he didn’t know why the other’s are reacting so violently. Just what could someone do to cause such trauma?
Still yet, in a blink of an eye and a few scattered feathers he shifted defensely into the dragon once again. The form felt like it was in his control once again, unlike before. Not a seperate being, just a part of him like a tool. At least that’s one thing out of the way. Pressing himself against the bars to see more, the same feeling that pressed him often was pushing again. Always feeling like he was out of the loop. Confused. Not part of anything. But he had no one to blame but himself for that.
Eirach didn't let Call's drifting get past her. Her gaze followed the boy as he edged towards the exit, a slight grin on her face, like a cat watching a mouse trying to escape the slick walls of a bath.
Athus had his attention on other things.
The guards did not know who he was, obviously. The officer remaining was looking unsure of himself and a little confused, but the Life Spirit hadn't sent him back with no clue whatsoever. He produced the seal of the Council, Torvald's crest at the centre, from the pocket he had stowed it away in when the need for it was no longer absolute, and handed it to the guard.
He checked it, looking mildly surprised. "Of course, sir. The guards should know your position. I'll be passing this to Torvald."
"What's going on here?"
"Catling assassin. If he's from the Clans he wasn't by himself."
"Someone's after Torvald?"
"Likely, sir. We've taken measures-"
"Not quite enough of them. The Clans will have their own ways into the keep, but this means they've been hired." It was in his interest to keep Torvald alive, as much as he hated the man. "Someone's making a move in the city. If I had to guess-" his gaze flicked around the prisoners in their cages, "I'd say there are one or two missing."
The guard looked alarmed. "Missing?"
"This isn't the full group. They have a Sunvaar, another vampire, and a werewolf. Eirach, don't torment him."
He had said the last part as a side note, noticing Eirach had set the door handle to sear Call when he touched it. She gave the boy a grin that was both wicked and reproachful, releasing the magic from the handle innocently.
"We were told by - someone looking out for Torvald's interests - that they should all be in the same place."
Eirach didn't let Call's drifting get past her. Her gaze followed the boy as he edged towards the exit, a slight grin on her face, like a cat watching a mouse trying to escape the slick walls of a bath.
Athus had his attention on other things.
The guards did not know who he was, obviously. The officer remaining was looking unsure of himself and a little confused, but the Life Spirit hadn't sent him back with no clue whatsoever. He produced the seal of the Council, Torvald's crest at the centre, from the pocket he had stowed it away in when the need for it was no longer absolute, and handed it to the guard.
He checked it, looking mildly surprised. "Of course, sir. The guards should know your position. I'll be passing this to Torvald."
"What's going on here?"
"Catling assassin. If he's from the Clans he wasn't by himself."
"Someone's after Torvald?"
"Likely, sir. We've taken measures-"
"Not quite enough of them. The Clans will have their own ways into the keep, but this means they've been hired." It was in his interest to keep Torvald alive, as much as he hated the man. "Someone's making a move in the city. If I had to guess-" his gaze flicked around the prisoners in their cages, "I'd say there are one or two missing."
The guard looked alarmed. "Missing?"
"This isn't the full group. They have a Sunvaar, another vampire, and a werewolf. Eirach, don't torment him."
He had said the last part as a side note, noticing Eirach had set the door handle to sear Call when he touched it. She gave the boy a grin that was both wicked and reproachful, releasing the magic from the handle innocently.
"We were told by - someone looking out for Torvald's interests - that they should all be in the same place."
Call's breathing hitched when he noticed that Eirach had been watching his movements the entire time. That didn't stop him from moving, however. If she wanted to just flat-out stop him, she would've already done it by now. Maybe she wanted to toy with him, make him think he had a chance. That thought made him inwardly frown. He couldn't bear to look at any of his group caged like this; his sister, his Night Wolf, and most importantly, Lucine. If his message got through to her, then at least she would know what he was doing. For whatever reason, he still couldn't pass any telekinetic information to the Whisper.
He knew one thing; it wasn't the bars of its cage doing that.
He heard the conversation between Athus and the guard, almost growling when he mentioned the other members of the Night Spirit's Trusted who weren't behind bars. He knew Athus wasn't going to mention him as being apart of the group conspiring against Torvald. He didn't want to tell them himself either, or he would risk getting thrown into a cage himself. There was a small chance that Athus wouldn't let that happen. Small.
As soon as his hand touched the handle of the door, Call suddenly cried out. The handle was searingly hot, burning his hand. He withdrew it quickly and held his wrist in the other hand, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. He barely heard Athus scolding Eirach for heating the handle purposely, and he didn't see her grinning at him. He wasn't going to collapse because his hand was burnt. As if. He had done that enough times.
He opened his eyes to look at the Whisper in its cage. It was inspecting its now-burnt hand blankly; the same one as Call's. It had nothing to treat it with, and neither did Call. He frowned sadly as he watched it, then directed his gaze towards Athus and the guard just in time to overhear important information; at least, to him anyway. It seemed as though they knew the remaining Trusted's location, and that they were working with a Clan. They probably went with the 'enemy of my enemy' approach.
Call set his jaw, turning towards the door again. He didn't care if his entire hand melted away. He was finding a d**n key. He wasn't going to stay here as long as he could do something. He swiftly lunged forward and took hold of the handle with his healthy hand, not caring if it was burning or not. The pain in his injured arm increased due to the action, but he could care less about that. He flung the door open and dashed out, breaking into a run. He didn't realize that he could actually be stopped with ease.
After all, Eirach had been watching him the whole time.
Thalia was p**sed.
Here she was, yelling at Athus and Eirach, who were somehow in the past with little to no explanation in her mind, and they were ignoring her. That somehow made her even angrier. She felt the dangerous need to rip them to shreds... no. She wanted to rip someone to shreds. Any one of the guards in this place would do, or hell, even Aysin and Torvald. She had done it to Tjamin. She didn't see why she couldn't to the same to those a**holes.
She took noticed of Raph transforming into a dragon, which only made her want to take her raptor form. However, for whatever reason, she wasn't trying to do so. Her gaze was fixed on Athus, her glare searing. A fire was behind her eyes, one that her brother's eyes often took. She was still shaking, even though at this point, she was trying hard to stop.
Her efforts ended up failing.
She heard Callum cry out, and turned to look in his direction. He had been trying to exit, probably to help them somehow. He wouldn't just abandon his group without reason, unless his Shadow magic got the best of him, which it couldn't. Athus was here, which meant he would be able to cut off said magic. It appeared that Eirach had burned him by heating the handle somehow, which made Thalia furious. She fixed her angry glare on Eirach instead of Athus, baring her now-sharp teeth.
"How dare you hurt him," she hissed. She had missed the part where Athus scolded Eirach for hurting Callum. She also didn't realize that revealing her relation to her brother would only make things worse. She did notice Raven growling in response to Eirach's action. That almost made her smirk, but her pride was outmatched by her anger. "How dare you, after what you did in the future... you should be glad we're separated by these bars, otherwise I would've already torn you apart."
Call's breathing hitched when he noticed that Eirach had been watching his movements the entire time. That didn't stop him from moving, however. If she wanted to just flat-out stop him, she would've already done it by now. Maybe she wanted to toy with him, make him think he had a chance. That thought made him inwardly frown. He couldn't bear to look at any of his group caged like this; his sister, his Night Wolf, and most importantly, Lucine. If his message got through to her, then at least she would know what he was doing. For whatever reason, he still couldn't pass any telekinetic information to the Whisper.
He knew one thing; it wasn't the bars of its cage doing that.
He heard the conversation between Athus and the guard, almost growling when he mentioned the other members of the Night Spirit's Trusted who weren't behind bars. He knew Athus wasn't going to mention him as being apart of the group conspiring against Torvald. He didn't want to tell them himself either, or he would risk getting thrown into a cage himself. There was a small chance that Athus wouldn't let that happen. Small.
As soon as his hand touched the handle of the door, Call suddenly cried out. The handle was searingly hot, burning his hand. He withdrew it quickly and held his wrist in the other hand, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. He barely heard Athus scolding Eirach for heating the handle purposely, and he didn't see her grinning at him. He wasn't going to collapse because his hand was burnt. As if. He had done that enough times.
He opened his eyes to look at the Whisper in its cage. It was inspecting its now-burnt hand blankly; the same one as Call's. It had nothing to treat it with, and neither did Call. He frowned sadly as he watched it, then directed his gaze towards Athus and the guard just in time to overhear important information; at least, to him anyway. It seemed as though they knew the remaining Trusted's location, and that they were working with a Clan. They probably went with the 'enemy of my enemy' approach.
Call set his jaw, turning towards the door again. He didn't care if his entire hand melted away. He was finding a d**n key. He wasn't going to stay here as long as he could do something. He swiftly lunged forward and took hold of the handle with his healthy hand, not caring if it was burning or not. The pain in his injured arm increased due to the action, but he could care less about that. He flung the door open and dashed out, breaking into a run. He didn't realize that he could actually be stopped with ease.
After all, Eirach had been watching him the whole time.
Thalia was p**sed.
Here she was, yelling at Athus and Eirach, who were somehow in the past with little to no explanation in her mind, and they were ignoring her. That somehow made her even angrier. She felt the dangerous need to rip them to shreds... no. She wanted to rip someone to shreds. Any one of the guards in this place would do, or hell, even Aysin and Torvald. She had done it to Tjamin. She didn't see why she couldn't to the same to those a**holes.
She took noticed of Raph transforming into a dragon, which only made her want to take her raptor form. However, for whatever reason, she wasn't trying to do so. Her gaze was fixed on Athus, her glare searing. A fire was behind her eyes, one that her brother's eyes often took. She was still shaking, even though at this point, she was trying hard to stop.
Her efforts ended up failing.
She heard Callum cry out, and turned to look in his direction. He had been trying to exit, probably to help them somehow. He wouldn't just abandon his group without reason, unless his Shadow magic got the best of him, which it couldn't. Athus was here, which meant he would be able to cut off said magic. It appeared that Eirach had burned him by heating the handle somehow, which made Thalia furious. She fixed her angry glare on Eirach instead of Athus, baring her now-sharp teeth.
"How dare you hurt him," she hissed. She had missed the part where Athus scolded Eirach for hurting Callum. She also didn't realize that revealing her relation to her brother would only make things worse. She did notice Raven growling in response to Eirach's action. That almost made her smirk, but her pride was outmatched by her anger. "How dare you, after what you did in the future... you should be glad we're separated by these bars, otherwise I would've already torn you apart."
Eirach was off like a shot the minute her quarry made a move for the door, her eyes lighting up. She caught up with him easily, diving and knocking him to the floor in the corridor, grabbing his hair and yanking it back hard enough to feel like she was tearing it out of his scalp, jerking his head backwards. "Struggle, little mage..." She teased, putting her knee against the small of his back to press him hard against the floor.
"Eirach! That's enough!" Athus had pulled himself away from the conversation as soon as he saw the commotion, heading towards the door, perfectly aware of everything Eirach wanted to do if she was given the chance. "Just bring him back here."
He closed his eyes briefly at the wereraptor's threats. He had been ignoring them - they were empty, given that she was trapped behind bars, and Eirach was listening to him, for now. He was finding it hard to recall much about some of the group; he knew he had had dealings with them, but it was an ongoing struggle to hold onto memories of the End. Faces were blurred out, voices were vague.
Eirach draggeed Call to his feet by his hair, slamming him against the wall as though to wind him before dragging him back to the dungeon and throwing him to the floor, stepping deliberately on his fingers, hard enough to hear a snap. She gave him a malicious smile. "Run if you want to, it'll be fun."
"Eirach," Athus warned quietly.
The guard watched most of this exchange with a distant expression, as though his mind was somewhere else, but when Athus brought his attention back to the Catling, he seemed to come back to himself. Athus knew Eirach listened to him because of the interest factor, as well as muscle memory. He knew the mood she was in, and the boy needed to stay intact.
"I can help getting some information out of him, if you'd like." Eirach looked up as he said that, as though clicking instantly onto the suggestion.
Eirach was off like a shot the minute her quarry made a move for the door, her eyes lighting up. She caught up with him easily, diving and knocking him to the floor in the corridor, grabbing his hair and yanking it back hard enough to feel like she was tearing it out of his scalp, jerking his head backwards. "Struggle, little mage..." She teased, putting her knee against the small of his back to press him hard against the floor.
"Eirach! That's enough!" Athus had pulled himself away from the conversation as soon as he saw the commotion, heading towards the door, perfectly aware of everything Eirach wanted to do if she was given the chance. "Just bring him back here."
He closed his eyes briefly at the wereraptor's threats. He had been ignoring them - they were empty, given that she was trapped behind bars, and Eirach was listening to him, for now. He was finding it hard to recall much about some of the group; he knew he had had dealings with them, but it was an ongoing struggle to hold onto memories of the End. Faces were blurred out, voices were vague.
Eirach draggeed Call to his feet by his hair, slamming him against the wall as though to wind him before dragging him back to the dungeon and throwing him to the floor, stepping deliberately on his fingers, hard enough to hear a snap. She gave him a malicious smile. "Run if you want to, it'll be fun."
"Eirach," Athus warned quietly.
The guard watched most of this exchange with a distant expression, as though his mind was somewhere else, but when Athus brought his attention back to the Catling, he seemed to come back to himself. Athus knew Eirach listened to him because of the interest factor, as well as muscle memory. He knew the mood she was in, and the boy needed to stay intact.
"I can help getting some information out of him, if you'd like." Eirach looked up as he said that, as though clicking instantly onto the suggestion.
Call didn't believe he was going to make it.
He couldn't possibly make it, not with Eirach on the loose. He just now realized that she would go after him as soon as he made it out of the door, and before he could process that information, she was already on him. He gasped as a heavy weight knocked him to the floor, immediately struggling to push her off of him and get up. He didn't want to go back there. If he was to be made to watch the torment of those he cared about the most, then he would rather go to hell.
He was about to shout at her to release him when a hand suddenly yanked his head backwards, as if trying to tear his hair out of his scalp. He cried out in pain, gritting his teeth afterwards. He felt a knee against the small of his back, pushing him closer and closer to the ground. He was struggling to breathe, and he couldn't break free. Her teasing words didn't help the situation at all. Struggle, little mage...
He heard Athus calling for Eirach to stop what she was doing, feeling somewhat relieved. The pain was still filling his mind, however, and disrupting most of his thought process. The part that wasn't as shrouded was telling him to get as far away from the cause of the pain as possible, which was Eirach. He wasn't able to do that, for she had lifted him up by his hair, making the pain even worse than it already was.
As soon as his body was slammed against the wall, each breath he took came in gasps. He had the wind knocked out of him by the action, and he struggled to recover as he was dragged back down to the dungeon, Eirach's fingers still curled in his hair. After realizing where he was, he squirmed about, reaching towards the exit until he was thrown onto the floor. He continued to struggle until Eirach's boot began pushing down on his fingers. His eyes widened, filling with pain as they flicked over to Lucine's cage just a moment before he heard a snap, accompanied by additional pain.
He howled - albeit through his teeth - in agony, his body trying of its own accord to escape at this point. He looked up, only to see a malicious smile on Eirach's face. He winced a little, feeling as though his hair was still being pulled back by the fire mage. Memories of the End flashed through his mind for a few seconds, which only made everything so much worse. A jolt of pain accidentally flew from his soul to Lucine's, and he was unable to hold it back. He suddenly heard familiar, angry howling nearby. No... Raven...
He overheard Athus ask Eirach if she wanted to help "get information" out of the Catling, and soon enough, he had another agenda in mind. "No!" he hissed, grabbing Eirach's ankle with his free hand, tightening his grip immediately. In his inner mind, he knew very well that he was making a stupid decision, and that it wouldn't amount to much, besides him getting throttled some more. But as long as he could do something, he had to keep going.
Raven could hear everything.
She could hear both mages scuffling outside the dungeon, and she could hear Call crying out, his voice filled with pain. There were times when she wished her hearing wasn't as advanced, and this was one of those times. She didn't know what was going on out there, but she couldn't do anything about it. She whimpered, beginning to shake. She could feel anger bubbling up within her, and she recognized that feeling immediately. It was how she felt during the End.
Memories flashed through her mind for a few seconds. Memories of watching as her companion was slowly being killed by the fire mage. That only caused her anger to spike. She growled as Eirach came back into the dungeon, dragging Call by his hair. He was struggling to escape, and Raven wished she could help him. Her hackles were raised, and her ears were flat against her skull as she mentally struggled to fight the madness threatening to take over her sentient mind, set on replacing it with a feral beast.
She had only been like this once before. It was a memory she would rather forget, and could only really remember in circumstances such as this, when she was helpless. She pressed her wings tightly against her back as she shook violently, backing up, only to accidentally bump into the bars of her cage. She didn't notice any of the other people in her cage, including Cessa. She wanted to close her eyes, but she found that she couldn't. In fact, they were widening fearfully and angrily.
She barked furiously as Eirach began crushing Call's fingers while the boy struggled to break free. After she heard the sound of cracking bones, her claws unsheathed themselves, and a howl of anger and aggression ripped out of her throat against her will. Her amethyst eyes flashed orange for a split second, and her field of vision narrowed until she could only see Eirach and her companion. Everyone else around her might as well not be existing at that moment.
The Night Wolf rushed forward, in Eirach's direction, only to slam against the bars. She snarled in frustration, ramming the bars over and over again in an attempt to reach her. The Forbidden Form was rising again, and even though a small part of her was still attempting to prevent it from succeeding, just a little more torment would push her over the edge...
Thalia hissed lowly as her threats were once again ignored, watching as Eirach raced out the door after her quarry. She knew Callum wouldn't make it out unscathed, and that alone saddened her. Her threats would always be ignored, and they were pointless, seeing as how she was trapped in a cage and they were not. So why even spit them out? Perhaps it was to keep her sane, somehow. She didn't feel like tormenting herself by trying to keep it in. However, since it wasn't succeeding, she would just have to stop herself from generating any threats.
She looked at Raph with worry in her eyes. Her anger was pushing her to transform into a raptor, but for whatever reason, she was holding back. She couldn't free out of her cage no matter which form she was in, and even though Raph was a dragon, she had a feeling that if he really thought he could get through the bars of his own cage, he would've already tried to ram them.
"Raph..." she whispered, unable to finish whatever thought she was about to spew. Besides, she would've been interrupted regardless. She caught sight of Eirach reentering the dungeon, and sadly, Callum was in her grasp. He was being dragged by his hair, which infuriated Thalia further. She held back a shout as she heard a snap, caused by Eirach stepping on her brother's fingers. Her shaking - which she had managed to control for the most part - started up again, especially after hearing him howl through grit teeth.
Unable to control the transformation, Thalia's humanoid form was gone, replaced by an angry raptor. However, unlike when her group was first brought here, she had control of it. She snarled at Eirach, still gripping the bars tightly. She stuck her muzzle through the bars as far as she could go, snapping at the air. She was only able to do this a few times before she took notice of Raven ramming the bars, clearly angered by the same sight Thalia herself was angered by. She also noticed Call trying to keep Eirach from... something. She hadn't heard Athus' question to Eirach, so she didn't know.
Call didn't believe he was going to make it.
He couldn't possibly make it, not with Eirach on the loose. He just now realized that she would go after him as soon as he made it out of the door, and before he could process that information, she was already on him. He gasped as a heavy weight knocked him to the floor, immediately struggling to push her off of him and get up. He didn't want to go back there. If he was to be made to watch the torment of those he cared about the most, then he would rather go to hell.
He was about to shout at her to release him when a hand suddenly yanked his head backwards, as if trying to tear his hair out of his scalp. He cried out in pain, gritting his teeth afterwards. He felt a knee against the small of his back, pushing him closer and closer to the ground. He was struggling to breathe, and he couldn't break free. Her teasing words didn't help the situation at all. Struggle, little mage...
He heard Athus calling for Eirach to stop what she was doing, feeling somewhat relieved. The pain was still filling his mind, however, and disrupting most of his thought process. The part that wasn't as shrouded was telling him to get as far away from the cause of the pain as possible, which was Eirach. He wasn't able to do that, for she had lifted him up by his hair, making the pain even worse than it already was.
As soon as his body was slammed against the wall, each breath he took came in gasps. He had the wind knocked out of him by the action, and he struggled to recover as he was dragged back down to the dungeon, Eirach's fingers still curled in his hair. After realizing where he was, he squirmed about, reaching towards the exit until he was thrown onto the floor. He continued to struggle until Eirach's boot began pushing down on his fingers. His eyes widened, filling with pain as they flicked over to Lucine's cage just a moment before he heard a snap, accompanied by additional pain.
He howled - albeit through his teeth - in agony, his body trying of its own accord to escape at this point. He looked up, only to see a malicious smile on Eirach's face. He winced a little, feeling as though his hair was still being pulled back by the fire mage. Memories of the End flashed through his mind for a few seconds, which only made everything so much worse. A jolt of pain accidentally flew from his soul to Lucine's, and he was unable to hold it back. He suddenly heard familiar, angry howling nearby. No... Raven...
He overheard Athus ask Eirach if she wanted to help "get information" out of the Catling, and soon enough, he had another agenda in mind. "No!" he hissed, grabbing Eirach's ankle with his free hand, tightening his grip immediately. In his inner mind, he knew very well that he was making a stupid decision, and that it wouldn't amount to much, besides him getting throttled some more. But as long as he could do something, he had to keep going.
Raven could hear everything.
She could hear both mages scuffling outside the dungeon, and she could hear Call crying out, his voice filled with pain. There were times when she wished her hearing wasn't as advanced, and this was one of those times. She didn't know what was going on out there, but she couldn't do anything about it. She whimpered, beginning to shake. She could feel anger bubbling up within her, and she recognized that feeling immediately. It was how she felt during the End.
Memories flashed through her mind for a few seconds. Memories of watching as her companion was slowly being killed by the fire mage. That only caused her anger to spike. She growled as Eirach came back into the dungeon, dragging Call by his hair. He was struggling to escape, and Raven wished she could help him. Her hackles were raised, and her ears were flat against her skull as she mentally struggled to fight the madness threatening to take over her sentient mind, set on replacing it with a feral beast.
She had only been like this once before. It was a memory she would rather forget, and could only really remember in circumstances such as this, when she was helpless. She pressed her wings tightly against her back as she shook violently, backing up, only to accidentally bump into the bars of her cage. She didn't notice any of the other people in her cage, including Cessa. She wanted to close her eyes, but she found that she couldn't. In fact, they were widening fearfully and angrily.
She barked furiously as Eirach began crushing Call's fingers while the boy struggled to break free. After she heard the sound of cracking bones, her claws unsheathed themselves, and a howl of anger and aggression ripped out of her throat against her will. Her amethyst eyes flashed orange for a split second, and her field of vision narrowed until she could only see Eirach and her companion. Everyone else around her might as well not be existing at that moment.
The Night Wolf rushed forward, in Eirach's direction, only to slam against the bars. She snarled in frustration, ramming the bars over and over again in an attempt to reach her. The Forbidden Form was rising again, and even though a small part of her was still attempting to prevent it from succeeding, just a little more torment would push her over the edge...
Thalia hissed lowly as her threats were once again ignored, watching as Eirach raced out the door after her quarry. She knew Callum wouldn't make it out unscathed, and that alone saddened her. Her threats would always be ignored, and they were pointless, seeing as how she was trapped in a cage and they were not. So why even spit them out? Perhaps it was to keep her sane, somehow. She didn't feel like tormenting herself by trying to keep it in. However, since it wasn't succeeding, she would just have to stop herself from generating any threats.
She looked at Raph with worry in her eyes. Her anger was pushing her to transform into a raptor, but for whatever reason, she was holding back. She couldn't free out of her cage no matter which form she was in, and even though Raph was a dragon, she had a feeling that if he really thought he could get through the bars of his own cage, he would've already tried to ram them.
"Raph..." she whispered, unable to finish whatever thought she was about to spew. Besides, she would've been interrupted regardless. She caught sight of Eirach reentering the dungeon, and sadly, Callum was in her grasp. He was being dragged by his hair, which infuriated Thalia further. She held back a shout as she heard a snap, caused by Eirach stepping on her brother's fingers. Her shaking - which she had managed to control for the most part - started up again, especially after hearing him howl through grit teeth.
Unable to control the transformation, Thalia's humanoid form was gone, replaced by an angry raptor. However, unlike when her group was first brought here, she had control of it. She snarled at Eirach, still gripping the bars tightly. She stuck her muzzle through the bars as far as she could go, snapping at the air. She was only able to do this a few times before she took notice of Raven ramming the bars, clearly angered by the same sight Thalia herself was angered by. She also noticed Call trying to keep Eirach from... something. She hadn't heard Athus' question to Eirach, so she didn't know.
He growled, his claws holding onto the bars in a humane way as he hissed in frusteration. This is getting them no where and despite snapping and going into madness again was tempting as ever, it wouldn’t solve anything. It never does. The vampire gave the bars another pull, but they were too strong to be able to pull apart. His toxin only works upon biotic things and not abiotic things like metal, leaving the dragon trying to get through things that weren’t possible for him to leave. The red forked tongue flashed in and out of the serpentine jaw occasionally, with the long tail propping the rest of his body up higher.
Hearing his name however, gave him a quiet moment of calm in building pressure. The head swerved a little to face her, reassuring but clearly vexed eyes glancing back. The crown of feathers was flairing in threat, and the lips pulled back to show teeth. He stopped for a moment, realizing hos fruitless this was going to be and wanted to give up again. If there’s no point than why do anything at all- but he went back to struggling when the clear sound of snapping in the air. He knew the sound well enough to the point of what made the crack and the inflictor already in his head without looking over. It didnt’ even matter to him who it was, but just that they were inflicting demage upon them.
Slinking back, he rammed against the bars with a powerful burst, but unlike before wasn’t in a uncordinated way; instead, his wings were tucked tightly behind his back as if it’ll make him smaller and let him slither out like a snake. His thin long neck passed through the bars, along with his head twisted slightly to fit but the bars stopped his shoulders from passing through. Snapping in midair at Athus, at first glance it seemed more as if the vampire was hungry for blood -which he is- but on closer glance his eyes were focused on both on the now a raptor Thalia and the general area out of the bars. Leaving a few down feathers behind, his neck didn’t hurt like before from previously being snapped as it have healed already. The metal clawtips left ear ripping sounds along the metal bars, and he spat along the way, “You fu**ers stop getting your sh**ty hands to ‘help getting information out of him’!! Damn it fu** these bars-” His mimickery was oddly close to the orignal, and he didn’t expect anything to come out as reaction. They’d already ignored their previous attempts, but it felt good to get it all out.
With another lunge he snapped his fangs again, biting nothing but air. Parts of him wanted them to just kill him and carry his corpse outside and maybe then he’d be able to somehow -unlikely a voice mocked- get the rest of them out. “Fight me a**es!” He wanted progress. They’re going nowhere at this and progress means new chances to save the fu**ing world so they can all fu**ing go home.
He growled, his claws holding onto the bars in a humane way as he hissed in frusteration. This is getting them no where and despite snapping and going into madness again was tempting as ever, it wouldn’t solve anything. It never does. The vampire gave the bars another pull, but they were too strong to be able to pull apart. His toxin only works upon biotic things and not abiotic things like metal, leaving the dragon trying to get through things that weren’t possible for him to leave. The red forked tongue flashed in and out of the serpentine jaw occasionally, with the long tail propping the rest of his body up higher.
Hearing his name however, gave him a quiet moment of calm in building pressure. The head swerved a little to face her, reassuring but clearly vexed eyes glancing back. The crown of feathers was flairing in threat, and the lips pulled back to show teeth. He stopped for a moment, realizing hos fruitless this was going to be and wanted to give up again. If there’s no point than why do anything at all- but he went back to struggling when the clear sound of snapping in the air. He knew the sound well enough to the point of what made the crack and the inflictor already in his head without looking over. It didnt’ even matter to him who it was, but just that they were inflicting demage upon them.
Slinking back, he rammed against the bars with a powerful burst, but unlike before wasn’t in a uncordinated way; instead, his wings were tucked tightly behind his back as if it’ll make him smaller and let him slither out like a snake. His thin long neck passed through the bars, along with his head twisted slightly to fit but the bars stopped his shoulders from passing through. Snapping in midair at Athus, at first glance it seemed more as if the vampire was hungry for blood -which he is- but on closer glance his eyes were focused on both on the now a raptor Thalia and the general area out of the bars. Leaving a few down feathers behind, his neck didn’t hurt like before from previously being snapped as it have healed already. The metal clawtips left ear ripping sounds along the metal bars, and he spat along the way, “You fu**ers stop getting your sh**ty hands to ‘help getting information out of him’!! Damn it fu** these bars-” His mimickery was oddly close to the orignal, and he didn’t expect anything to come out as reaction. They’d already ignored their previous attempts, but it felt good to get it all out.
With another lunge he snapped his fangs again, biting nothing but air. Parts of him wanted them to just kill him and carry his corpse outside and maybe then he’d be able to somehow -unlikely a voice mocked- get the rest of them out. “Fight me a**es!” He wanted progress. They’re going nowhere at this and progress means new chances to save the fu**ing world so they can all fu**ing go home.
Eirach looked down at him, almost in puzzlement. His hand was around her ankle, something that seemed to have triggered something thoughtful and a bit distant in her, but unfortunately the respite was brushed out of the way and replaced with her normal grin within a few seconds.
"The little mage wants attention..." She slammed the heel of her other boot against his wrist, causing it to snap, yanking her ankle out of his grip. Athus was paying more attention now, frowning slightly.
"That sounds like an idea," the guard complimented, watching her. "We don't even know which Clan he's from."
"Eirach, divert your attention. Please."
She started towards the Catling with a grin, listening to Athus and leaving Call on the floor. He moved over to him, taking his good wrist and helping him to his feet. "I'm disappointed. I thought you would understand at least that the Night Spirit was misguided." He spoke to him quietly, so only Call could hear, before releasing him. "Best you stay away from the door." He said in a more normal tone.
Eirach looked down at him, almost in puzzlement. His hand was around her ankle, something that seemed to have triggered something thoughtful and a bit distant in her, but unfortunately the respite was brushed out of the way and replaced with her normal grin within a few seconds.
"The little mage wants attention..." She slammed the heel of her other boot against his wrist, causing it to snap, yanking her ankle out of his grip. Athus was paying more attention now, frowning slightly.
"That sounds like an idea," the guard complimented, watching her. "We don't even know which Clan he's from."
"Eirach, divert your attention. Please."
She started towards the Catling with a grin, listening to Athus and leaving Call on the floor. He moved over to him, taking his good wrist and helping him to his feet. "I'm disappointed. I thought you would understand at least that the Night Spirit was misguided." He spoke to him quietly, so only Call could hear, before releasing him. "Best you stay away from the door." He said in a more normal tone.
June gave Aerik a look, wondering why they were gathering like they just went on a nice picnic trip around a campfire, but she just sighed, rubbed at her arms a bit as a sudden wave of chilled air passed by. As she approached the fire herself with Tem, she could feel the comforting heat emitted from it, as far as she was aware about a certain incident involved her being thrown into a bonfire before, it didn’t scare her to come near the powerful element again, in fact, it was somewhat comforting. Unconsciously, she touched at her trimmed ponytail.
The light illuminated from the fiery flower reflected the color of her eyes, at the moment she looked just as feral as the feline hybrids in the group. Slowly, she sat down beside the rest, after all, they weren’t in a hurry. Just hand her a bottle of beer and it’d have made her forget about the world. The question however, brought her out of her own thoughts and she consider it for a moment, her gaze dart to Tem and Aerik before shaking her head and sigh.
“Bern, actually, just a small place, adventurers passed by there whenever they wanted to head for Visage or Dragontooth.” June gave Aerik a small grin as she recalled the first time the woman walked into their trading post center in the said town, Valdis has been the one coming along with her and June was on her shift that day. A lot of memories came flowing back to her as she think about it “But I guess you could say Colsar now. Our journey has been… long and painful.” She admit truthfully, stretched her arms up to the sky and let out a deep sigh.
“Started out from Colsar, got captured by one of the Clans in the south, escaped from a wildfire, went to see the Mage lights, now we ended up here.” Summarizing the important events only, however there was something that didn’t sit well with her “How long have the person you sent to scout the place been out for? I don’t feel so good about this.” After all they were going up against a no doubt high security keep and Torvald, someone that created partnership with some of the Clans, someone who was capable of backstabbing them when everything’s done and over with, no harm in being extra careful, and since when luck has been on their side in this kind of situation. If experience in this kind of thing didn't teach them anything before, they'd be damned.
June gave Aerik a look, wondering why they were gathering like they just went on a nice picnic trip around a campfire, but she just sighed, rubbed at her arms a bit as a sudden wave of chilled air passed by. As she approached the fire herself with Tem, she could feel the comforting heat emitted from it, as far as she was aware about a certain incident involved her being thrown into a bonfire before, it didn’t scare her to come near the powerful element again, in fact, it was somewhat comforting. Unconsciously, she touched at her trimmed ponytail.
The light illuminated from the fiery flower reflected the color of her eyes, at the moment she looked just as feral as the feline hybrids in the group. Slowly, she sat down beside the rest, after all, they weren’t in a hurry. Just hand her a bottle of beer and it’d have made her forget about the world. The question however, brought her out of her own thoughts and she consider it for a moment, her gaze dart to Tem and Aerik before shaking her head and sigh.
“Bern, actually, just a small place, adventurers passed by there whenever they wanted to head for Visage or Dragontooth.” June gave Aerik a small grin as she recalled the first time the woman walked into their trading post center in the said town, Valdis has been the one coming along with her and June was on her shift that day. A lot of memories came flowing back to her as she think about it “But I guess you could say Colsar now. Our journey has been… long and painful.” She admit truthfully, stretched her arms up to the sky and let out a deep sigh.
“Started out from Colsar, got captured by one of the Clans in the south, escaped from a wildfire, went to see the Mage lights, now we ended up here.” Summarizing the important events only, however there was something that didn’t sit well with her “How long have the person you sent to scout the place been out for? I don’t feel so good about this.” After all they were going up against a no doubt high security keep and Torvald, someone that created partnership with some of the Clans, someone who was capable of backstabbing them when everything’s done and over with, no harm in being extra careful, and since when luck has been on their side in this kind of situation. If experience in this kind of thing didn't teach them anything before, they'd be damned.
Call looked up at Eirach at the precise moment she looked down at him. He swore he could see something else other than fire behind those eyes. It was probably false hope making him see that, but he ignored that possibility. He could see distance, even thoughtfulness, however, it was quickly wiped away, which made his breath hitch a little. He tightened his grip on her ankle, looking up at her with desperation. He tensed his entire body, just in case she decided to walk forward anyway, which would force him to try and hold her back.
He listened to her speak, shuddering lightly. His eyes landed on his own wrist the moment he felt her boot slam against it, followed by a louder crack. He couldn't keep himself from shouting in pain as Eirach broke his wrist, jerking her ankle out of his grip and leaving him on the floor. The Whisper's wrist flew back in a supernatural manner, breaking at the same moment Call's did. Perhaps part of the reason why he didn't hold the pained noise back was to subconsciously try and keep Eirach's attention.
Keep her attention...
That single thought swam in his head as pain joined it, trying to distort his thought process, but he would rather go to hell than let it win. He had already done that enough. If he had managed to get it together earlier, he would've been able to see Death outside of the physician's tent at the regiment camp... or at least, he thought it was. His memories were hazy.
He focused on steadying his breathing as he was pulled up by his good wrist by Athus. He let the man's words sink in, almost wanting to shake his head at them. He really thought he was trying to leave because of that? The real reason was beyond all of that, and it was simple, really. If he let the people he was close to die, he would never forgive himself. Heck, he may not even be around for much longer afterwards. There was no point to keeping him squarely in the middle. Either he got to free his friends or he got to join them. He wouldn't take this.
He, again, looked over to the Whisper's cage, its expression pained. It was lying down in its cage, its single eye shut tightly. It seemed as though the creature was trying so hard to block out everything that was happening outside the magic-restricting bars. He looked towards Raven next after he was released, paying no more heed to Athus' words and rushing to her cage. She was panting heavily, and she was no longer ramming the cage. She was growling very loudly; soon, it would be too late to help her. He would have to do it himself.
"Shh... Raven... I'm okay," he whispered to her, reaching a hand through the bars and placing it on her head. It hurt his broken finger - or was it fingers? - but he didn't care. She opened her amethyst eyes, tears brimming in them. He could tell through the mask made of shadows which she wore. "I'm not dying, I'm fine, okay? And... and you're gonna be fine too. I swear. You have to stay fine, for me. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me."
The wolf whimpered and sobbed a couple times, nuzzling his hand. Call wanted to smile, but he couldn't. Not while his companion was behind bars. Not while everyone else was behind bars. He had been with these people just the same, and if they "deserved" to be locked away, then so did he. It was because of his status as a human, wasn't it? Even if Torvald did know that he was with them, he'd probably somehow be more lenient with him. That'd be absolute bulls**t though, and Call wouldn't accept it.
The Shadow mage took deep breaths, trying to send comforting waves to Lucine's soul, especially after the accidental wave of pain he had let slip from his soul earlier. He wouldn't collapse because of a few broken bones. His wrist and fingers hurt like hell, but at least they weren't prohibiting him from walking. Deep holes in his stomach and multiple flesh wounds ranging from deep to merely scratching the surface did, and he no longer carried those injuries.
He was relieved that he had managed to suppress Raven's Forbidden Form... for now. Maybe, just maybe, there was more than one way to unlock it. The second way - if there was one - was definitely hidden. Paranoia ate away at him, forcing him to make an attempt to shove it down. The stubbornness that never seemed to fade away in these kinds of circumstances overtook his thought process once more as he walked near the door, turning to face Athus. His jaw was set.
"I can't stay down here," he protested, his voice carrying the seriousness of what he was saying. "I have no purpose. I can't be expected to just stand here and watch all of this. Due to this, I wanted to head back to the room." Okay, well, sort of. You're doing good so far, probably. Don't lose your confidence, Callum. "I bolted out the d**n door because I knew that she was going to pounce and attack me as soon as I did." He glanced at Eirach as he spoke with no emotion in his gaze, looking back at Athus when he stopped for a moment.
He tensed in place, keeping his voice nice and calm. "You certainly don't want to deal with me when I'm mentally unstable," he reminded him. Coincidentally, both eyes - including the grey one - flashed a bright orange for just a second. "My group certainly didn't, and I only ended up dragging them down with me. I don't wish to keep doing this to everyone any longer. I have no purpose down here but to stand here and watch, which is not what I'm going to do."
He backed up. "I am leaving this dungeon," he said with confidence. His heart beat faster in his chest as he thought about what Eirach might do to him next. Whether he liked it or not - as a matter of fact, why would he like it - he was scared of her. Memories of the End were enough to instill that fear in him. He spoke with a gentler voice next. "I don't care what is done to me. I'm sorry, but I'm too uncomfortable down here. My mind cannot take anymore suffering. Send Eirach after me, I don't care. I'm just going to keep trying to leave this dungeon. Then, in no time at all, the rabbit hole will open up, and that's when I will finally dive down..."
His head pounded as he turned and opened the door once more with a bit of difficulty this time, due to his broken bones. He proceeded through the door at a quick pace, his eyes narrowed and his jaw set once more. He continued to ignore the admittedly agonizing pain he received from Eirach as he walked, half-expecting someone to drag him back down there. He didn't seem to realize that he had brought up his group while talking, using the world my when referring to them, and the one guard down there could've overheard that. He had forgotten that the guard was even there in that moment. At the moment, he was focused on sending yet another message to the soul he loved so dearly.
Lucine... I'm going to get you all out. I will. Giving in is not an option.
Thalia suppressed the urge to roar when Eirach snapped Callum's wrist, the boy presumably attempting to stop her from making her way over to the Catling, after which she would probably torture the poor creature. She grit her teeth, however, not a single growl emerged from her throat. She wanted more than anything to leap through the bars and stop it all from happening.
She was relieved to see that Raven was taking more control of herself by the second, even though she had indeed heard another bone snapping. Even with enhanced strength, those bars were sturdy as hell. She turned her attention to Raph, frowning deeply while she was still in her reptilian form. Her tail swished from side to side as she tried to clear her angered mind. She shot a single, poisonous glare at Eirach to do so before turning her attention right back to Raph, her facial features softening.
"Raph," she said, knowing that only the Undead in the room would understand what she was saying. If she was aware of the moment when Eirach had understood Raven whilst taking care of Aerik's wounds, she would've been more careful with what she was saying, maybe even thinking that the girl would be able to hear her speak, rather than hearing her chirp and purr. She heard Callum speaking to Athus, but she payed little attention to what he was saying. She didn't see him walk through the door once more, either.
"Try gnawing on the bars... they might wear with your poison," she suggested, cocking her head to the side a little. She opened her jaws and bit down on the bars the best she could, slowly scratching at the lower half with her claws. She glanced up to finally notice that Callum was no longer in the room. "Their attention isn't going to fall on us. We're not sentient, according to them, and we don't hold information that they would need. At least, it doesn't seem that way. Best we use our time wisely while we don't have that attention."
She paused. "These bars seem too sturdy, though... I can't even break through them with my strength. I don't even know when they're gonna let us out. They sure as hell aren't going to leave us in here unpunished," she growled, her tail lashing out against one side of her cage.
Everything is nothing... nothing...
The Whisper had blocked outside occurrences from being perceived by it after its wrist broke without anything making contact with it. It didn't care if anyone outside of its cage took notice. It squeezed its eye shut, its face adorned with a pained expression. It wasn't moving whatsoever, lying on the ground in the middle of its cage, feeling powerless once more. Strangely, it felt absolutely no motivation, or even emotion. Not even for its partner, other than a small prayer for him not to die.
It's amazing how change works... one moment, you have such aspirations and dreams. You're a wide-eyed youth, maybe older. The next moment, you're changed. You've been exposed to the true horrors of the world, and the harsh truth of reality.
You don't talk much, your mind is suddenly numb to scenes which would normally leave scars in you. You're different.
Funny how I questioned myself again and again when I first came here... I didn't know why I was here with everyone else. Not exactly. Not at first. But I had to come to terms with the truth; that I am only here because the kid is. I know I forgot the truth somewhere along the lines... it was probably because I was so distracted with the end game. Or maybe it was because I actually gave a d**n about everyone else who was sent back, and more. The chaotic state of this world sickened me, and I wanted to help change that. I had hope, that maybe, just maybe, we actually had a chance to succeed.
Why does the truth have to hit so hard? There's no point in caring. There is no success in sight. If one side loses, another one wins, and then what? We're back at square one. Year after year, slaving away, but it's all for nothing. What are we even doing?...What am I even doing? I have no significance. No one really does. So many worlds, so many dimensions, and each of them all have billions and billions of little specks. They're all just the same.
Everything...
...Is nothing.
Call looked up at Eirach at the precise moment she looked down at him. He swore he could see something else other than fire behind those eyes. It was probably false hope making him see that, but he ignored that possibility. He could see distance, even thoughtfulness, however, it was quickly wiped away, which made his breath hitch a little. He tightened his grip on her ankle, looking up at her with desperation. He tensed his entire body, just in case she decided to walk forward anyway, which would force him to try and hold her back.
He listened to her speak, shuddering lightly. His eyes landed on his own wrist the moment he felt her boot slam against it, followed by a louder crack. He couldn't keep himself from shouting in pain as Eirach broke his wrist, jerking her ankle out of his grip and leaving him on the floor. The Whisper's wrist flew back in a supernatural manner, breaking at the same moment Call's did. Perhaps part of the reason why he didn't hold the pained noise back was to subconsciously try and keep Eirach's attention.
Keep her attention...
That single thought swam in his head as pain joined it, trying to distort his thought process, but he would rather go to hell than let it win. He had already done that enough. If he had managed to get it together earlier, he would've been able to see Death outside of the physician's tent at the regiment camp... or at least, he thought it was. His memories were hazy.
He focused on steadying his breathing as he was pulled up by his good wrist by Athus. He let the man's words sink in, almost wanting to shake his head at them. He really thought he was trying to leave because of that? The real reason was beyond all of that, and it was simple, really. If he let the people he was close to die, he would never forgive himself. Heck, he may not even be around for much longer afterwards. There was no point to keeping him squarely in the middle. Either he got to free his friends or he got to join them. He wouldn't take this.
He, again, looked over to the Whisper's cage, its expression pained. It was lying down in its cage, its single eye shut tightly. It seemed as though the creature was trying so hard to block out everything that was happening outside the magic-restricting bars. He looked towards Raven next after he was released, paying no more heed to Athus' words and rushing to her cage. She was panting heavily, and she was no longer ramming the cage. She was growling very loudly; soon, it would be too late to help her. He would have to do it himself.
"Shh... Raven... I'm okay," he whispered to her, reaching a hand through the bars and placing it on her head. It hurt his broken finger - or was it fingers? - but he didn't care. She opened her amethyst eyes, tears brimming in them. He could tell through the mask made of shadows which she wore. "I'm not dying, I'm fine, okay? And... and you're gonna be fine too. I swear. You have to stay fine, for me. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me."
The wolf whimpered and sobbed a couple times, nuzzling his hand. Call wanted to smile, but he couldn't. Not while his companion was behind bars. Not while everyone else was behind bars. He had been with these people just the same, and if they "deserved" to be locked away, then so did he. It was because of his status as a human, wasn't it? Even if Torvald did know that he was with them, he'd probably somehow be more lenient with him. That'd be absolute bulls**t though, and Call wouldn't accept it.
The Shadow mage took deep breaths, trying to send comforting waves to Lucine's soul, especially after the accidental wave of pain he had let slip from his soul earlier. He wouldn't collapse because of a few broken bones. His wrist and fingers hurt like hell, but at least they weren't prohibiting him from walking. Deep holes in his stomach and multiple flesh wounds ranging from deep to merely scratching the surface did, and he no longer carried those injuries.
He was relieved that he had managed to suppress Raven's Forbidden Form... for now. Maybe, just maybe, there was more than one way to unlock it. The second way - if there was one - was definitely hidden. Paranoia ate away at him, forcing him to make an attempt to shove it down. The stubbornness that never seemed to fade away in these kinds of circumstances overtook his thought process once more as he walked near the door, turning to face Athus. His jaw was set.
"I can't stay down here," he protested, his voice carrying the seriousness of what he was saying. "I have no purpose. I can't be expected to just stand here and watch all of this. Due to this, I wanted to head back to the room." Okay, well, sort of. You're doing good so far, probably. Don't lose your confidence, Callum. "I bolted out the d**n door because I knew that she was going to pounce and attack me as soon as I did." He glanced at Eirach as he spoke with no emotion in his gaze, looking back at Athus when he stopped for a moment.
He tensed in place, keeping his voice nice and calm. "You certainly don't want to deal with me when I'm mentally unstable," he reminded him. Coincidentally, both eyes - including the grey one - flashed a bright orange for just a second. "My group certainly didn't, and I only ended up dragging them down with me. I don't wish to keep doing this to everyone any longer. I have no purpose down here but to stand here and watch, which is not what I'm going to do."
He backed up. "I am leaving this dungeon," he said with confidence. His heart beat faster in his chest as he thought about what Eirach might do to him next. Whether he liked it or not - as a matter of fact, why would he like it - he was scared of her. Memories of the End were enough to instill that fear in him. He spoke with a gentler voice next. "I don't care what is done to me. I'm sorry, but I'm too uncomfortable down here. My mind cannot take anymore suffering. Send Eirach after me, I don't care. I'm just going to keep trying to leave this dungeon. Then, in no time at all, the rabbit hole will open up, and that's when I will finally dive down..."
His head pounded as he turned and opened the door once more with a bit of difficulty this time, due to his broken bones. He proceeded through the door at a quick pace, his eyes narrowed and his jaw set once more. He continued to ignore the admittedly agonizing pain he received from Eirach as he walked, half-expecting someone to drag him back down there. He didn't seem to realize that he had brought up his group while talking, using the world my when referring to them, and the one guard down there could've overheard that. He had forgotten that the guard was even there in that moment. At the moment, he was focused on sending yet another message to the soul he loved so dearly.
Lucine... I'm going to get you all out. I will. Giving in is not an option.
Thalia suppressed the urge to roar when Eirach snapped Callum's wrist, the boy presumably attempting to stop her from making her way over to the Catling, after which she would probably torture the poor creature. She grit her teeth, however, not a single growl emerged from her throat. She wanted more than anything to leap through the bars and stop it all from happening.
She was relieved to see that Raven was taking more control of herself by the second, even though she had indeed heard another bone snapping. Even with enhanced strength, those bars were sturdy as hell. She turned her attention to Raph, frowning deeply while she was still in her reptilian form. Her tail swished from side to side as she tried to clear her angered mind. She shot a single, poisonous glare at Eirach to do so before turning her attention right back to Raph, her facial features softening.
"Raph," she said, knowing that only the Undead in the room would understand what she was saying. If she was aware of the moment when Eirach had understood Raven whilst taking care of Aerik's wounds, she would've been more careful with what she was saying, maybe even thinking that the girl would be able to hear her speak, rather than hearing her chirp and purr. She heard Callum speaking to Athus, but she payed little attention to what he was saying. She didn't see him walk through the door once more, either.
"Try gnawing on the bars... they might wear with your poison," she suggested, cocking her head to the side a little. She opened her jaws and bit down on the bars the best she could, slowly scratching at the lower half with her claws. She glanced up to finally notice that Callum was no longer in the room. "Their attention isn't going to fall on us. We're not sentient, according to them, and we don't hold information that they would need. At least, it doesn't seem that way. Best we use our time wisely while we don't have that attention."
She paused. "These bars seem too sturdy, though... I can't even break through them with my strength. I don't even know when they're gonna let us out. They sure as hell aren't going to leave us in here unpunished," she growled, her tail lashing out against one side of her cage.
Everything is nothing... nothing...
The Whisper had blocked outside occurrences from being perceived by it after its wrist broke without anything making contact with it. It didn't care if anyone outside of its cage took notice. It squeezed its eye shut, its face adorned with a pained expression. It wasn't moving whatsoever, lying on the ground in the middle of its cage, feeling powerless once more. Strangely, it felt absolutely no motivation, or even emotion. Not even for its partner, other than a small prayer for him not to die.
It's amazing how change works... one moment, you have such aspirations and dreams. You're a wide-eyed youth, maybe older. The next moment, you're changed. You've been exposed to the true horrors of the world, and the harsh truth of reality.
You don't talk much, your mind is suddenly numb to scenes which would normally leave scars in you. You're different.
Funny how I questioned myself again and again when I first came here... I didn't know why I was here with everyone else. Not exactly. Not at first. But I had to come to terms with the truth; that I am only here because the kid is. I know I forgot the truth somewhere along the lines... it was probably because I was so distracted with the end game. Or maybe it was because I actually gave a d**n about everyone else who was sent back, and more. The chaotic state of this world sickened me, and I wanted to help change that. I had hope, that maybe, just maybe, we actually had a chance to succeed.
Why does the truth have to hit so hard? There's no point in caring. There is no success in sight. If one side loses, another one wins, and then what? We're back at square one. Year after year, slaving away, but it's all for nothing. What are we even doing?...What am I even doing? I have no significance. No one really does. So many worlds, so many dimensions, and each of them all have billions and billions of little specks. They're all just the same.
Everything...
...Is nothing.
