Hide and Seek

Cory Seafarer

The ball of fluff had run as fast as they could at the talks of protests and destruction that had happened in the south, their normally smooth coat like that of a porcupine, fear eating away at them. They had lost their father, their mother, all they had left were their siblings they cherished more than anything. Black wouldn’t likely have been there at least but the other two, it had their whole body coursing with worry. They had only just gotten their sister back, they claimed they wouldn’t do anything stupid and yet they felt like a twine had been cut all over again since the day they learned the massacre took place. It couldn’t be a coincidence.

Breaking into the castle grounds, their eyes were like daggers, an expression hardly imaginable on a normally charming visage such as theirs. Somehow, even as primal upset fueled them, there was still a childish presence to every glimmer in their eyes. Hope. Foolish hope. Those blue eyes that could fuel a soul dancing around the land, confused by the lack of bumbling bodies but most things seemed cleaned from what they might have witnessed had they come sooner.

“Nora! Caspie! Come out, come out. It’s safe now! It’s over!!!” They whispered yelled like a child playing hide and seek, trying to not get caught by a parent while hopefully loud enough for the other players to hear. Giving up the game as the seeker swiftly in hope to see the faces of those they cared about.

Maybe it was dumb to go calling out names like this, but they felt like they had no other option as they moved more and more toward the scents that could give them clues. Or if the fae were on their side, prove they had nothing to worry about and they’d be laughing again in no time. Together.

@Leoric

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He had spent the night shift sitting with the prisoners, though he avoided the area where the Seafarers were being kept. While the man knew he would need to face Nora eventually, it still wasn't time. His anger was still raw, hot and volcanic - he needed to wait until it was quieter; deadlier. More controlled. It would do him no good to try and hit a woman through bars. The day was coming; he wouldn't hide from his problems forever. And may those that were in his warpath find mercy.

It was still dark out; the moon shone high above and cast blue shadows across the castle grounds. Needing a breath of fresh air, he traded stations with another wolf and headed up the stairs, out into the courtyard. To his surprise, he was not alone.

“Nora! Caspie! Come out, come out. It’s safe now! It’s over!!!”

A pit - heavy, acidic and uncomfortable - formed within his stomach. Seems he would have to face the music sooner than he wanted. Having completely forgotten that Nora had more siblings than just the man down in the cells, an old memory popped into his brain.

Cory, from cadet days. What an absolute delight.

Anger swelled within his bruised chest at the thought - and soon after the sight - of them. Dark eyes narrowed to venomous slits as he purposefully strode across the grounds towards them, making no attempt at hiding the sound of gravel grating underneath his paws. His breaths came measured and hot as he stared down his nose at them, a million thoughts racing through his mind.

Would he drag them down to the cells, to join their sister? They were trying to find her, anyway. He would just be doing them a favour...

"Ironic that you would show up now, after all the fighting and bloodshed is over," Cain leered, unable to help his lips from peeling over large, weathered teeth. "But I guess that's typical for your kind."

His eyes watched their every movement; muscles taught and ready to pounce should they try to run away. "Do you want to see them? I'd gladly take you to Nora." he nearly spat the womans name out, disdain dripping from his voice. You won't leave after your visit, however. The large man leaned forward, toes digging into the gravel beneath him in anticipation.

Cory Seafarer

The sound of feet would make them spring up straight, about to go attempt to hide behind a bush but feeling like it was already too late at the feeling of a demonic pair of eyes looming over them from an eldritch horror. Their fur pricked on end, feeling like their whole body was being stabbed with a million knives yet nothing had touched them, yet. All the same, that sense of danger didn’t make them run, if anything it made them wait to see what this demon might do, taking in the sense around them but allowing their back to remain turned. Not much could be read from stone on stone, it was anyone’s guess who it was that was approaching. Anticipation itched at their paws, eager and ready to leap if leapt at.

Could just be their imagination. The ticking of stone being tossed around and clinked against nails, the breathing that sounded more like a bull that was about to rampage. It was all amusing but maybe they would just wake up! Surely this was just a cruddy nightmare, a really really long one. When they woke up it would all be fine. Everyone would be happy!

An ear would tip back to a rumbling voice, equally matching their vision of a fiery demon coming to smite them yet it held a familiarity. Head would tilt back upside down, crown nearly touching their shoulders as they took in the beast at a very different perspective. They couldn’t help to giggle just a little bit at seeing something that didn’t look like their vision at all! Sapphires sparkling, not thinking him threatening at all. Till again, something kept playing in the back of their mind.

“YOU!!!!” Cory said firmly and excitedly, as they turned around, pointing a paw at him. “WHO ARE YOU!?” they yapped, squinting at him for a long few moments, as if doing so would make their vision all the clearer and all the answers would come piling in.

And they were right! “Joffrey! That’s it!” they declared, completely missing the mark but they did realize they did in fact know this man. Too well in fact. Probably. Cory would squint again, not 100% sure but also definitely 100% sure.

They had completely dismissed the words tossed their way up until their siblings were mentioned, making their tail sway as they started to nod enthusiastically then abruptly stop.

“Wait no! I’m not falling for your trap, pretty big boy Joffrey!” as they lowered the raised paw, tail raising defiantly. Though they did find it weird he specified Nora again, making them not go and run. Rather, they pranced up to him to gently knock their chest against his, narrowing their eyes, not breaking eye contact while leaning up. “Boop!” they chirped as they bopped his nose with their own if he hadn’t tried anything to get them away before then, offering a big childish grin before darting away from him while sticking out their tongue in a taunt, scampering up some cobblestone sticking out up a wall, hoping the larger being would be too big to follow as their own paws barely fit on the rock climb.

@Leoric

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If the little rats intention was to confuse the man, it worked. Leoric blinked, once, as the creature yelled various words, skirting around the question that the soldier had asked. His intimidation seemed to not sink in one bit. If it were any other day, perhaps Leoric would have even been impressed. He glanced back towards the dungeons entrance when they mentioned a 'Joffrey', then back. What? He began to wonder if this wolf was even sane. They seemed completely off the wall bonkers, and he thought that maybe it would be safer for the entire town if they were locked behind a cell door.

But it wasn't a good day, and so his frown only deepened the grooves on his face; his eyes darkening as a rage began to build within his massive body. He watched their every move, lurching forward as he was boop'ed on the nose - touched when he had given no consent. When they were close, he realized that he recognized those eyes... Nora's face flashed within his mind.

Siblings. He should have known - he should have remembered.

He was quick for his size, staying close to the heels of the intruder but unable to angle his head down to bite at them. As they clambered up the precarious wall, small pebbles broke loose only to rain upon his face.

A booming snarl ripped from his throat as he tried to reach them, standing on his hind legs and stretching his head up towards them. But still, his teeth found no purchase on the flesh he sought. Frustration welled within his chest, pouring out in the form of growls and snarls; his claws scraping at the castle stone as he tried to get as high as them - but it was fruitless. Within seconds, they were well out of his reach, and he remained on the ground much to his ire.

The soldier gnashed his teeth, clicking together as saliva spat from his lips. "If I ever see you around here again, I will throw you in a cell!" his threat rang clear in the air. His fur all stood on end as he finally took a step back, baring his teeth in anger - the only thing he could do now. "Nora will rot in her cell forever, and there is nothing you can do about it."

With a final glare towards them, Leoric hesitated for a moment before turning and stalking away; stomping down the dungeon steps into the depths below.

-- exit leo via temper tantrum, unless stopped --

Cory Seafarer

Fur would ruffle up as chase was suddenly made, glad they hadn’t held still now in wait to see what the tall man would do in the seconds that followed their oh so loving kiss. There wasn’t much fur there, mind you, far less fluffy thair your average canine, far more suited for the ability to swim a little quicker in water and maneuver at a dime’s notice. That agility was easily noticed in how easily they scaled the wall, making it look almost effortless until they reached the top, slipping at the last second and would almost fall right back down but luck was on their side for the moment, not falling into the rabid gator’s mouth. Some stone would tumble, cascading down onto the brute as he snapped and hopped, half expecting him to will the wall down with his anger alone.

“Oh come on, it was just a boop! It’s not like I nipped you Joffrey! Ya know, Cory is starting to think Joffrey isn’t your name but I think I went to school with you…cadet school… Yep! That’s where I’ve seen that mug before! I liked it a lot better back then, you are too grumpy now,” they chattered as they continued to get snapped at from far below, head tilting like a cheshire cat but the smile would never show, far from happy with how he was acting. They didn’t get what they did wrong, they thought it was fun, a little game but it seemed they read that atmosphere very wrong at first. They’d much prefer a game of tag.

Any light that had touched their eyes would suddenly fade as Nora, their sister, was brought up a second time and threats were tossed up at them. A sadness would replace it, leering at the man with a malicious gleam that never touched their eyes before today. That innocence was tarnished by the whip that was his tongue. “Nora will be free, she’s a sweetie and the most caring sister- no wolf ever! She has no reason to be there, you you-” they looked for an insult, not having any at the ready since they were usually trying to give compliments. “-you doodoo pighead sandybutt! And if she did anything, you probably attacked her first and she was just protecting herself from your big ugly face!” they growled, rage brimming to the point they almost thought about jumping down and attacking him but wasn’t about to stoop to his level.

“And you’ll never catch me! Sir Stinkerson!” they made a fart noise with their tongue, lip curled, watching them till they would vanish.

Worry lined their face, hoping Nora would not be hurt for their outburst. “No no no no, what did I do? What do I do!,” they cried, quickly hopping off the wall but on the opposing side he had been, not sure where to go. They needed Black. No, they couldn’t risk getting her taken too! They needed someone to help them, someone smart and they could trust. They wanted their daddy but they didn't have him anymore.

-end thread-

@Leoric

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