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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 8:01:04 GMT
The small hand that held on to hers felt cold and made the short layer of fuzz on her skin stand on end, but she didn't pull away. She tried to squeeze the little fingers reassuringly, for all the good it did with her all too corporeal state. "Yes, of course. Anything, little one." As they waited and she listened, one floppy ear twitched and turned so that she could listen closely to the conversation nearby.
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 8:20:33 GMT
The conversation simply seemed to be two men gossiping about a particular spirit, one was not pleased with Cyburn's idea to raze the forest. "Don't you think it's pretty sick?" He asked, "and by sick I mean repulsive. Lighting fires to lure innocent creatures into cages and nets."
"Who cares if a few creatures get hurt though, the gold we'll get will be able to pay off any debts and fill our bellies each week." The other retorted, "frankly the idea doesn't bother me, I've lived in this putrid wasteland all my life, wars constantly rage and ruin the land, it's probably merciful to wipe them out now, intentionally, rather than letting them die as bystanders."
"Ugh. It's thick headed goons like you who are the reason I drink. My sister's a priestess who's been scouring the land looking for signs of the gods, says green grass and fresh water was the most beautiful thing she's ever seen. Even made a tribute at the shrine she found there. She'd never forgive me if I had any part in destroying it."
The arguing went on for awhile until it became banter in the background, the nameless girl looking at her feet as she asked one of several questions. "Why are do you want to save him? I not saying it's bad, it's good, but why?"
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 8:32:09 GMT
The conversation between the men almost made her want to smile. Almost. These were the humans she liked more, could understand even if they didn't. Kee silently vowed that when she was free, she would leave a sign at the shrine for the priestess. Faith ought to be rewarded, she reasoned.
"At first, it was simply because he was kind enough to save my life. He has a bit of an attitude, I admit, but when his life wasn't in danger and mine was, he came out and he saved me from a monster in the forest." She smiled a bit as she looked down at the girl, sifting her fingers in the ethereal hair. It felt odd, but not entirely unpleasant. "Then, in the forest when they went hunting, he wasn't cruel about what he had to do. I think he even seemed a little upset to have to do what he did."
Her voice lowered and she bent down to share a secret with the ghost, "I prayed for rain and the Creator answered. He sent rain, magical rain, and for a little bit, the puppy's mind was completely free from his master's control. He saved my life again - he turned against Cyburn. I know that he's a good person, that he's actually quite kind. But he's being influenced and he's been trapped in a form that isn't his own. I don't know if he likes me very much, but as far as I'm concerned, he's my friend and I'm going to help him."
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 9:13:12 GMT
"Hes very fond of Master." She replied, happy in Kee's embrace, she looked real but being touched felt like soft static to ones fingers. "But you are right, it not his fault, I knew when he attack me that he did not want to, it hurt him to do so, but that is what master wanted." Once the conversation had quieted down, she moved on, heading towards their destination, "the cellar is scary, I don't like it, so I will stay up here. I hide."
It was a fairly empty room with a concrete floor, piles of hay and empty barrels, with a metal hatch on the floor. "You pull the latch, this is only door not locked on inside. When you want out, make noise against it, I'll open."
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 9:20:56 GMT
"It's called indoctrination," Kee stated quietly. "The way he made Tyarnach feel about him. Never enough love to feel like family, never enough cruelty to breed hate. It would almost be admirable if it weren't disgusting." She bent down to pull the hatch carefully. Climbing was never a sure bet when it came to hooves, but as long as it wasn't too far down, she might manage. Before beginning her way down, however, she stopped and looked the little girl over.
"I know I'm not your mother, and nobody could ever replace her for you. But if you'd like a name, well... I always thought 'Isa' was a pretty one," She offered with a tentative smile, certainly afraid it wouldn't be to the little girl's liking.
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 9:44:58 GMT
"Isa!" The girl repeated happily, "yes I like this name, thank you friendly spirit deer, you're very kind, I like you lots." She blushed visibly before Kee steadied her way down the ladder. The air was unpleasant and smelt of pain, but overall it was quiet, there were no guards and very few cells occupied, at least few occupied by sentient beings. Hounds barked savagely at the Kee's presence, their sharp fangs gnashing together and their weight crashed against the cages, the doors and frames moved as if they would give way.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 9:58:18 GMT
"You can call me Kee," She whispered up to Isa one final time before focusing on the act of climbing down without breaking her legs. Any warm, fuzzy feelings she had acquired melted, however, at the greeting of the hounds. It wasn't that she was just afraid of being torn apart, although that was a very real concern for the moment. She also didn't want to risk having someone come down to see what was going about.
"Hush," She hissed gently at the hounds, and with it sent out a wave of soothing magic. Ideally they might sleep, but if she could at least get them to accept her presence without thinking she was food or an intruder, it would be a victory in her books. Then again, she wasn't going to try ensuring anything by doing something as foolish as touching each pup, even if it would transfer the magic more easily. "I'm not food and I'm not dangerous. Settle."
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 10:18:06 GMT
And they did, the barking silenced and a sort of peace returned to the cold damp area. It was a long hall, indicating that Cyburn might have kept up to a hundred slaves or animals in these cages at some point. Perhaps they might have even Bern cramped back when the numbers were high. But now all of the mage's investment had been poured into keeping his pride fighter fit for combat.
No guards were present, and torch light made the contents of ever cage visible and Tyarnach had to be in one of them.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 10:22:42 GMT
"Good," Kee whispered to the hounds with gentle praise. "Thank you. I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't get much praise or decent attention from anybody, but I have to hurry along." She trusted they would understand her, understand that at a better time she would have freed each one of them to run wild in the forest and chase rabbits to their hearts' content. But now, she had to find one in particular.
She made her way down the hallway slowly, checking each cage. Even with no apparent guards, she was still cautious about keeping her steps quiet and slinking along. She would have called out for him, but she was terrified that any moment now she would be caught, that someone would pop out of the shadows and drag her back. Shivering at the thought, she searched on for the telltale blue and white beast.
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 10:38:56 GMT
It was right at the end. In direct line of anyone entering, behind reinforced steel doors where a clump of familiar white fur was visible thanks to the glow of nearby flames. The lump twitched occasionally but not much, and the only sound it made was the scraping of metal as it shifted slightly.
Tyarnach didn't expect Kee to seek him out, deep inside he felt guilty for her capture, even if she surrendered herself. But he was not supposed to be thinking of these things, not right now, his mind was supposed to be blank and kept that way until Cyburn needed him.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 10:48:02 GMT
For a moment she only watched, chewing the inside of her cheek to resist crying out and trying to run herself in to the cage to comfort him. Instead, Kee sidled along to the side of the cage and leaned down, poking her face in close. She didn't want to startle him, but reached her fingers through the gaps and tried to touch his fur. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" Her voice was a bare whisper, and she expected him to be able to hear her in such a quiet place. At least, quiet when the hounds weren't baying and snarling.
"I might have come sooner but he had me in this... trap. A rune of some sort. But the little girl helped me escape and find you."
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 11:12:05 GMT
Her familiar voice perked his ears up, and he tried to move, desperate to turn and face her, he tried to turn only to let out a hiss. Yes, he was hurt. A extension of his punishment for 'not needing his master' who always tended to his wounds, but as an example of how he would feel without Cyburn, he had been beaten unconscious with no way of fighting back. At least now he was aware of his pain and the one who was talking to him.
It took a moment for him to turn around, unable to lift his heavy head from the ground and face her. His usual glowing blue eyes were now pale and barely held signs of life behind them. He would have desired her comfort and consolation if he didn't know better. This was his punishment and he was forced to accept.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 13:58:52 GMT
As with so many things during her stay in this house of horrors, the sight of Tyarnach's pitiful state sparked her anger with Cyburn. It was quenched only by a stronger sense of compassion, and she worked her hand, then her arm, through the bars. It forced her into an awkward position, cheek pressed against the cold metal as her fingers brushed against his fur. "It's okay," She whispered hoarsely. "Everything will be all right." As best as she could without pulling away, she turned her head and tried to look around for some sign of a key to open the cages.
"I know you can hear me," She told Tyarnach softly. "I know you must be in pain, too, but I need to know if there's a way to get you out of there. I can't help you from out here."
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Post by karaikou on Sept 9, 2015 14:13:58 GMT
The scraping of his cuffs could be heard as he pulled himself as close as he could so that he could feel her touch, hoping that it would take away some of his pain. But even though he seemed to move, he could not find the strength to talk and all he could offer was a tilt of his head. To the left of where they sat there was a rock wooden door hidden in the shadows, but inside held the keys to just about anything with a lock, cages, collars, shackles and more.
It was the room used by the guards often used by those looking to sneak a nap in while on duty, and aside from a rugged bed and keys, there was plenty of other resources, from bread to armor but getting the door open was going to take some force as it was originally intended for Cyburn and family to hunker down in during a war or attack on the city.
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Post by sparklemuffin on Sept 9, 2015 14:37:04 GMT
Kee followed his gaze silently, brow furrowed. She didn't know what the room contained, other than the necessary keys. The door concerned her. Even in the shape of a buck she would have difficulty getting it open on her own. With a small sigh she looked back into the cage and ran her fingers over the bridge of Tyarnach's snout. She was distinctly aware that the healing that came to her with a single thought was not having an effect on him where he was, and that the only comfort she offered was the sort that did not close wounds or revitalize. "I have to make a go at that door before I can do anything for you." She pet his cheek and smoothed back his mane of white fur before reluctantly withdrawing her hand and standing up.
For the countless time since her arrival, her form shifted again, and she was beginning to get accustomed to the small spikes of exhaustion that followed briefly. One antler was still missing, and though she had drawn the power from it and rendered it useless, she was still not working at her best. It was only reassuring to know that if her attacks on the door happened to break the remaining antler off, she would have an excuse to draw the power out of it.
Backing as far as possible from the door, she positioned herself carefully and lowered her head. Running at it full tilt, she drove forward with the full force of her antlers. Designed for sparring with similarly powerful males, it would at least withstand another run or two if need be. After the crash of hitting the door, she wheeled back a few steps to inspect the damage. Of course, it was also a bit loud, and she was left hoping that the cellar was sufficiently thick enough at the ceiling to muffle some of the noise.
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