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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 5:34:12 GMT
Gale wasn't listening. He didn't hear. His mind was locked tight under cement and barbed wire, walls tall and long to protect himself. The scout dragged Gale by his hair, lifting him up with a slight "hup" and tossed him over the back of the tiger. Rook was dragged by its throat, for better or for worse.
The two scouts mounted, their tigers stretching and yawning with their long, sharp teeth. The leader was last, and held a hand out to Omaron. "Come on, sir. Veilview is just a half hour run away."
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 5:37:53 GMT
Omaron felt like he'd have rather grabbed a venomous snake than the Kiltar's hand, but he made himself do it anyways. He had to play the part. It was acting; politicians were good at acting right? That's why he didn't look at Rook or Gale, or the teeth of the tigers, or anything but the Kiltar's hand.
"Good, thank you."
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 5:43:59 GMT
The man pulled Omaron up with ease, and set him in front of him, like a rabbit caught within the jaws of a snake. And then it was off, bouncing easily through the woods. Much different from horses, the run was smooth and streamlined, as if they glided through the air instead of rode giant beasts. Gale was silent, and all too still. Rook whimpered and whined and its breath came out harshly and quickly.
The scenery change was slow, but steady. Trees gave way for stone buildings. Grass turned into stone paths. Over cobblestones they flew and into a town that was gray as fog. Kiltar went about their day, separating to let the scouts through before forming again, whispering among each other. Their final stop was a large building in the center of town. Like a big bowl, it rose up, and lacked a ceiling.
The arena.
The two scouts dismounted quickly, handing their reigns off to servants. Rook and Gale were carried over shoulder like a bag of potatoes. The leader dismounted, and offered Omaron his hand. "We're taking them to holding. Follow me and I'll get you a room, unless... you'd like to see where the creatures are going to be kept?"
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 5:48:26 GMT
Omaron did not enjoy the ride, to say the least. He kept trying to get a look at Rook or Gale out of the corner of his eye, but it was difficult to catch more than a glimpse. When they got to the grey stone town, he couldn't suppress a shudder. Back in this den of wolves. Wonderful.
But then an unexpected turn of luck, though it could have been something else, when the leader asked if he'd like to see where Rook and Gale were to be kept. It was too good an opportunity to pass up. "I must admit I'm curious," he told the man flatly.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 5:54:45 GMT
The leader nodded. "Follow me, then." And he led the way, the scouts carrying Gale and Rook behind.
The man's boots thumped down the hall as he walked. The floors were well swept as they walked into the waiting room, filled with signs of fights, times, and odds. Through a back door he went, and down, down, down the stairs. It got colder the further down they went, water dripping from the walls. The light stopped coming from windows and instead from glass orbs embedded in the walls.
The holding cells were even worse. Stone walls and floor with a hay pallet and slop bucket. There were no bars, but a shimmer force field blocked the exit from the rooms. Two held one person each, and Gale was tossed into one, and Rook another after they were untied. They passed easily through the barrier, and thudded against the back wall. Gale bounced to his feet quickly, scream on his lips. He charged the barrier, and was met with a painful shock and bright light as the barrier buzzed and crackled. Numb, he tottered back, and fell to the dirty ground.
"Here we are, then," the leader said monotonously.
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 6:02:17 GMT
Turn through the door, straight for a while, turn right through a door next to a restroom, down one flight of stairs, two... Omaron did his very best to memorize the route they followed.
The cells were dank and completely depressing. He had to work to keep his face smooth as he nodded.
"That's all well and good then. Thank you." His eyes darted around for some sign of how the barrier worked, though that as much as anything else made his mind reel. What was this technology? How was he supposed to do anything about this?
As his eyes wandered, he saw two hooded and cloaked figures in the only other occupied cells nearby. Neither person moved or spoke, but he could tell they were watching him. It sent a chill down his spine.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 6:04:46 GMT
The leader nodded as Rook whimpered and Gale growled in the background. There was a gleam in his eye. "I suppose everything is to your satisfaction, then?" He asked in all sincerity. The two scouts had stepped back, and were in the stairwell, waiting with watchful eyes.
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 6:06:24 GMT
Omaron turned to face the leader of the scouts. "Yes, it is." But there was something about the way the other looked at him...
This wasn't right. Something bad was going to happen. His hands slipped into his pockets.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 6:10:39 GMT
And before Omaron could respond, the leader grabbed his shoulder, spun him around, twisted his shoulder behind him and shoved him into an empty cell across from Gale. "Good. I'm sure you'll find these cells satisfactory, then." The grin on his face was nasty and filled with poison. Without a second look back, he turned on his heel and strode towards his men.
"Contact the empress. We have her toy, a Kiltar that was aiding it, and another present for her."
And they left swiftly, the wooden door slamming with finality.
Gale's golden eyes fixated themselves on Omaron, the rage burning in them.
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 6:19:07 GMT
Omaron hardly knew what happened. His arm was twisted sharply behind his back and his hair stood on end for a moment as he passed through that sinister barrier. And suddenly he was just as much a prisoner as Rook and Gale, though perhaps less ill-used.
"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted, walking back toward the doorway. He got a little too close; the tip of his nose clipped the force field. A sharp buzzing pain took him, and he was forced to jump back with a yelp.
One of the hooded figures snickered. It was quite plainly watching him. But Omaron ignored it for the moment and just rubbed his nose, feeling awful. He'd failed. He'd failed, and now he and Rook and Gale were in worse trouble than ever.
He met Gale's eyes, and his face twisted in misery. "I-I didn't... look, you do realize I told them those things to try to get us free, right? I'm not one of them."
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 6:24:11 GMT
Omaron's soul felt confession was met by angry hissing. Gale spat, and stood, pacing his cell. Bare feet slapped the ground as his hands open and closed into fists, his eyes darting about. Had to get out. Had to get out. But there was no way out. No, he and Rook were in this hell-hole once more and it was ALL OMARON'S FAULT. Gale pulled at his hair, and let out an anguished yell. All his fault, all his fault, all this LYING, SELFISH, STUPID, KILTAR FAULT. Rook cowered, settling in the corner of its cage on the pallet. It stared at Omaron with watery eyes and whined, wishing to be back out of this terrible, stifling place.
Still, Gale couldn't help glancing at the hooded people. What made them so special, keeping their clothes? Maybe they were just ugly, and the Kiltar didn't want to look at them. Yeah, that was probably it. His wing flexed with agitation. Out. He needed out.
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 6:33:35 GMT
Omaron grimaced at Gale's display of anger and fear. "Gale, listen! Talk to me! There's no way we're getting out of this without cooperating, and-- now Gale, stop shouting, I know you're upset with me and I don't blame you, but please listen!"
"I don't think he's listening to you," the cloaked figure said in a bored, masculine voice. Omaron rolled his eyes.
"No really, whatever gave you that idea?"
"Emkai, don't provoke them," said the other. Her voice was brisk and feminine. "The man is right. Our best bet is cooperation, and waiting for the opportune moment to strike."
Omaron frowned but didn't say anything to Emkai or his friend. He needed to focus on making Gale understand, even if that seemed impossible.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 6:57:58 GMT
Gale indeed was not listening. He tuned out their words as he focused on not losing it and attacking the walls around him uselessly. So he paced, constantly walking back and forth, looking up and down the halls. Waiting. He would be ready. He would kill them all.
Rook, however, was listening. Less on the words and more on Omaron's face and expression. He was still so sad, and unhappy and didn't want to be there either. With Gale's violent outbursts and the pain the scouts inflicted on them, Rook knew this was going to end bad. It stood now, claws clinking against the stone floor. Hesitantly, it reached the edge of the cage, and it gazed at the hooded figures, head tilting to the side. A whimper escaped it.
"What do?" It asked, ears twitching as its tail curled around it. Rook's voice trembled with fear, and it spoke again, urgently. "What do? O. Omaron. Omaron, what do?"
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 12:43:37 GMT
The hooded figure that wasn't Emkai looked up at Rook's words, turning her head toward Omaron to watch him. Omaron rubbed his forehead before collapsing back on his pallet of straw. He was the reason Rook was here too, and there was nothing he could do to help it.
"I don't know. Blast it all, if I'd just... I should have..." What should he have done? No answers were forthcoming. His eyes pricked with tears, and he wiped his nose on his sleeve irritably. Weak, he'd always been weak.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 15:51:55 GMT
Rook whined loudly, whimpering and chittering. "No, no. Omaron. O. Omaron parent. No. No. What do? What do?" Gale covered his ears and did his best to block it out. It had been so much easier when he was alone and only had his anger to focus him. But now Rook was crying, its mouth hung open as it uselessly tried to get more words out.
Its monstrous arm rose, and Rook slammed it against the barrier. It yelped, stumbling back. But it did it again. And again. And again. Until its arm felt too heavy to move and pricked with pins and needles and shook heavily. Rook whined again and sat back on the floor, helpless. The barrier shimmered and glowed, minuscule cracks appearing in the light.
Rook looked towards the hooded figures. "What do?" It asked again, rubbing at its eyes. "What do? Ah... Ah."
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