Birds Without A Key

Dream big and dare to fail

Taking in a breath, the delicate girl walked along the dungeon hall next to a jailer, keeping her eyes down and away from the prisoners as she would peek a glance up slightly at every glimpse of fur. The amount of wolves down here were unsettling but none of them were the one she was looking for as she migrated further and further in, waiting for the pelt of coal and gilded gold to appear before her. She needed to see her mother in the flesh, not just from some word of someone else or a letter, she needed to know she still hand a pair of arms to fold into when she was scared from a bad dream or cold from a winter chill.

Instead it was a vibrant rudy red that would catch her attention from anything else in the bleak place of criminals and violent individuals; she didn’t even want to know the reason for them being inside this place most often used for torture. She smelled it often enough, the blood washed from the fabric of her mother, even sometimes tending to her wounds as well when they’d turn their fang back on her. This wasn’t a kind place but the red she saw wasn’t that of blood.

“Gwydion!?” she said in pure shock as her gaze fully rose up from the ground, staring in horror at seeing her dear friend behind bars and it sent her mind into a spiral within an instant. It made her dizzy with the amount of things that rushed, the speculations that proceeded to rise like an ocean current threatening to envelope her under the waves. The jailer prompted her to continue moving, of which she declined as she moved closer to the bars, big doe eyes brimming and ready to flood with tears. Her throat is feeling dry and tight as if about to close up as she tries to find words within the jarring scramble.

The man just seemed to sigh at her before going to retrieve the executioner, it being a better option than taking the girl to a lower floor anyway. At least this higher one was full of low offenses, prisoners that likely wouldn’t harm the little miss.

Her ears fell back now that she was standing on the outside alone, feeling all the more vulnerable in such a cold unforgiving stone structure. “Was it a-all a lie, M-Mister Gwydion? I thought you said you w-w-weren’t…” her voice cracked and got caught in a loop as she strained back from crying. Was he actually a Jacobite after all, his dad not really a soldier and he wasjust playing with her for some cruel game?

Was the friendship a lie?

She would be oblivious to the fact there was another darker wolf in the enclosure too focused on the boy. Another she would learn she knew, that would weigh her heart down all the more.

code by claerie
@Gwydion @Orlaith

Gwydion Kinnaird

The guards threw he and his sister into their cell together and as the door slammed shut, Gwydion turned towards it with fear in his dark blue eyes. The 'clang' caused his heart to sink and as they walked away he and his sister were left alone in the dark with all the other... criminals. Anxiety consumed him quickly and his heart began to race as he started pacing the bars along the door from wall to wall-- how had this happened?!

As a kid he'd heard stories about the Theive's Guild and he'd wanted to join for a time but now... now he wasn't so sure. He didn't want to ever end up here again and he'd only been here about... 5 minutes?

He felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest as he turned to speak to Orlaith, who was stuck in here much longer than he, when he heard someone call out his name. Whipping around, he saw Aurora of all wolves at the bars, teary-eyed and in disbelief. Moisture welled in his own eyes at the sight of her and he cringed inwardly. He didn't want to be seen like this, especially by her.

"W-What are you doing here?" he asked before she questioned if everything had been a lie. "N-No! I didn't lie, Aurora... you have to go. I don't want you to see me like this, I'm a criminal." he said, sniffing as a few tears rolled down his cheeks.

He had attacked a guard and this was his punishment. He'd only fought his instincts to lie on that podium because his sister was in here and he couldn't dream of leaving her alone. He was just grateful they'd been stuck together and she hadn't been left with some monster. The real monsters of Rionnach were in here, not the Fae.

Gwydion neared the bars and looked into her eyes apologetically. He didn't want her to see him like this and think less of him but it was too late. He lifted a paw to hers and almost broke down completely sobbing. "T-The protests... I was there. I got into a fight with a guard and this is my punishment." he told her the truth.

@Aurora @Orlaith

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orlaith kinnaird

Anger.

It was the only emotion coursing through her bloodstream. The young woman was devastatingly quiet as she was tugged away from the courtroom and thrown into a cell - thankfully, with her brother... the decent one anyway.

Arran's face flashed through her mind again, making the anger flare into something far more disgusting. She never wanted to see him again; he could remain in the stupid army for the rest of his life for all she cared. They were family, it wasn't like she was even trying to be a violent protestor! But Arran came after her like she was one; chasing her down like some stray down and biting at her heels. Though her body was bruised and bloody, it was her heart that wept the most. Her desperate attempt to keep her family whole and loving was destroyed in seconds.

And so she sat in the back corner, her dark furs blending into the damp atmosphere almost perfectly, save for her mask of rust and bright blue eyes. Gwydion got much lesser of a sentence than she, but he shouldn't be here either... her brows knit together as she watched him in silence, pained to see him so teary.

Then, they had a visitor.

"Gwydion!?" Orlaiths head shot up, eyes searching through the gloom to catch the face of the girl who called. Ah - it was her. Elias's bride-to-be... but how did she know her brother? Curiosity welled within her eyes, overtaking the negative emotions, if just for a few moments. Her brother met her at the cell bars, explaining his situation through tears and Orlaith's heart broke all over again. If these two had any kind of close relationship, she didn't want to see it destroyed over something that wasn't her brothers fault.

So she stepped forward out of the darkness, her eyes dull and face blank as she greeted Aurora with a quick nod. She felt as if she were in shock, and wondered where Elias was... nervousness made her heart beat faster within her thin ribcage. Would a noble such as himself want anything to do with a girl like her, who now had a criminal record? After all they had been through, she really hoped not.

"If it's any consolation, he speaks the truth. There was so much violence... we didn't even know it was going to happen. And then our brother attacked us. Gwydion was just trying to protect me." it was obvious as the siblings stood together that he was much larger than she. And since they didn't have their privacy at the moment, she made sure to make a mental note to thank Gwydion later. The young woman watched the near stranger on the other side of the bars, urging her to believe them.

@Aurora @Gwydion

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Dream big and dare to fail

Her ears would bend back as the young man would greet her at the bars, watching him but with a downcast gaze that forever remained submissive in gesture. The question was logical, many would find it odd to see her here of all places without any explanation but she wasn’t sure how much of one she should grant him as her claws scraped the cobble under her toes. “To m-m-m-m-...m-make ssssure mama is okay,” she said softly, her tears only making it harder to speak but whether they were there or not, her stutter would forever remain. She wished it would just go away already so she could speak as quickly as she wanted but the glitching was ever there, her mouth and her brain refusing to align.

The sniffling would make her gaze raise, moving a little closer to the bar till her rose tipped nose might peek past the bars, wanting to brush them away with gentle kisses. She understood at that moment why others hated to see her cry, she hated seeing it upon his face as well, much preferring his smile over anything else. She’d shake her head at him telling her to leave. “I’m where I ss-ssshould be,” she argued if only a little, not about to get into a war with him though it was rare she held any boldness within her. So quick to tuck her head and obey but the Highlands had been a scary place and with it she had grown up, she wasn’t just a little baby anymore.

Her muzzle would tilt down to avoid any chance of it touching his when he approached her, feeling herself shaking like a leaf on a windy spring day, so close to being pulled away. Weak. She hated this feeling but it was one she had grown accustomed to, just hopefully she wouldn’t faint. The touch of his paw on hers would ground her some, her rabbit heart fluttering in her chest, trying to keep her conscious for at least a bit longer.

Before she could speak, another voice came into light, catching her attention and drawing it past Gwydion. What surprised her most of all was that it was familiar, another voice she knew well enough. “Miss Orlaith?” she said just as softly but with a mixture of surprise. Her tears only seemed to well even more along her eyes at the sight of the young female, her heart feeling like it was constricting where she stood.

“You’rrrre siblings?” she realized, surprised they were even allowed to be kept together in that case. Her two toned pastels skipping between the two, finding it a little hard to believe if it wasn’t for those breathtaking eyes they both had. Brilliant sapphires. Such pretty eyes, not just their eyes. It made her face warm a little until the thought was refocused on the topic at hand as she mentally talked herself out of getting flustered. If that were the case, why were they both trapped behind metal if they were innocent? If their father was a soldier like Gwydion had claimed, where was he? Did he not care about his children?

Maybe he had a…misstep. Injured somewhere or just didn't know.

“You-you could have disposed of m-me in our travels if y-you were so evil. You d-didn’t, I consider you both m-my friends,” she glanced up at Orlaith before resting on Gwydion, feeling like if either wanted to hurt a Mainlander, were truly evil they would have taken advantage of the seclusion. She could have vanished so easily without anyone knowing who to blame. It would have been a perfect crime. Just as they could have held her for ransom or tortured her for information she might not even have.

code by claerie
@Gwydion @Orlaith

Gwydion Kinnaird

As Orlaith came to his defense, he hoped Aurora could understand. He didn't want her to think less of him but he also felt like he thought less of himself now. He had caused himself trouble and finally it had caught up to him. He was in literal jail with literal criminals and he sure felt like one of them now more than ever.

Aurora confirmed she was here seeking out her mother and Gwydion's stomach twisted. He didn't want to see his father and the look of disappointment on his face at seeing his son in jail. "My dad hasn't been down here yet. I don't know if he knows we're here... and my mom..." he swallowed. He didn't know she was down in the cells with them because he'd been carted off before she'd made her stand in court. This whole debacle would definitely make him think twice about his life decisions.

As she refused to leave, he sighed when she drew away from his touch. At least she would allow his paw to find hers for some form of comfort.

He hated seeing her this way, he much preferred seeing her smile.

It would seem she knew Orlaith too and his ears perked as he glanced at his sister. "Y-Yeah, she's my sister. Arran, he's in the Army... I don't know if you know him, but that's our brother. Well maybe not anymore. He attacked Orlaith during the protests. " he said with a scowl. He still couldn't believe it.

At Aurora's final words, he looked a little aghast. "I'd never hurt you," he promised. "We are friends." he cemented with a nod. He brushed his paw against hers gently and offered a sad smile.

@Aurora @Orlaith

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orlaith kinnaird

Aurora recognized her instantly, seeming just as shocked as she was that the two were siblings. An uncomfortable prickling ran down her spine at being called a Miss, however the young highlander remained quiet and only smiled in greeting. Orlaith was curious about the comment about the girls mother - did she work down in these dungeons? She didn't have time to ask, however.

“You-you could have disposed of m-me in our travels if y-you were so evil. You d-didn’t, I consider you both m-my friends,”

Orlaith lowered her blue eyes for a moment, a tinge of guilt blossoming within her heart. When they had met, with Elias, she would have thought that the Noble girl would see her as a threat to eliminate at the earliest convenience. Instead, she had been such a sweet, gentle girl, that Orlaith found herself thawing of the initial distress she felt when first meeting her. While she was still immensely jealous that she would be wedding the Ice Prince, she could at least somewhat accept now that there could be worse girls lined up to marry him.

She only wished that she could be in that line too.

At Gwydions words, Orlaith reaffirmed him by nodding at the fact they were all friends. Her ears angled back at the mention of their father, though... and her depressed stare found focus on Auroras face again. Would father be mad at them? Words were failing her as she struggled to deal with her emotions and thoughts.

"I can't wait to be out of here," she mumbled to no one in particular. She hated how damp and cold it was, hated the sounds of everyone else down here and hated how the meals were disgusting. She missed her bed, her friends and family. As she thought more about it all, tears welled within her eyes and when she blinked, fell down her cheeks to wet the dark furs.

@Aurora @Gwydion

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Sif Asgaut

Her heart was in her throat as a jailer came to her in the lower corridors, not liking the sound of what she was told and she made quick work to ascend to the higher levels of the prison, single ember fueled with worry and anger at the same time as it rested on the blushish coat of a young woman speaking to a cell. It wouldn’t take long to reach the girl, the jailer on her tail for a little bit but would leave some space as the executioner pressed her forehead into Aurora’s, letting out a sigh of relief to have her daughter back. She knew she had been found but this was the first time she had seen her, that panic melting away but worry would still remain. “Thank goodness you are okay. You shouldn’t be down here Dove. You should have waited for someone to fetch me. When did you become so reckless… again?” she muttered softly, not liking the idea of others learning the executioner had someone to use leverage on.

Gaze would skip to the cell, taking a step back from the girl, a sense of annoyance flickering to the two her daughter had been speaking to. “I see you are acquainted with my former cadet’s delinquents. No surprise with how much Sorcha ends up down here, they would find their way here too. A shame, I’m sure he’s having a heart attack right now,” she grumbled, though despite it she didn’t think children belonged down here. A slap on the wrist should have been all that was sustained with some community service but the girl was sentenced for a fairly long time and there wasn’t any point in her arguing with the courts. That bailiff was far from easy to sway, it was written before they had a chance to defend themselves.

Sorcha on the other hand deserved the timeout, in fact she’d happily double the woman’s sentence if it got her to ever learn her lesson to stop doing illegal shit. Her ribs still aching from the woman body checking her so hard, fairly certain she would have a bruise there for a while. It was apparently a horrible idea to go easy on her but she couldn’t help but be impressed all the same by her tenacity.

“Come, you are going to be staying with someone for a while,” she wouldn’t stall any longer, nudging Aurora to follow her. Not about to baby her down here to put a target on her back. She would pause a few steps away, looking over her shoulder in wait for the girl to do as she was told before taking her out of such an unfitting place for the fragile doll

-exit Sif-

@Orlaith @Gwydion

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Dream big and dare to fail

“Maybe I could t-t-tell him for you? Or…not?” she wasn’t sure if he did or didn’t want his dad to know they were in prison right now, though she’d need more information in order to get a hold of him if it was a yes.She couldn’t just go yelling for a Gwydion’s dad, well she could but she didn’t want some creep pretending to be their dad and it not be at all. That wouldn’t result in any touching reunions if she got the wrong wolf.

She would shake her head slightly at the knowledge about their brother. “I don’t know an Arran,” she answered gently, leaning throw the bars to gently try to kiss a tear away from his cheek if he would let her as he finished everything he was going to say in return. “It’s okay, you s-still have your sister…and me,” she offered, trying to bring at least a little bit of light into this gloomy place. She wished his tears would just dissipate entirely, her own face still stained but the fall of tears had subsided for the most part, only the waterline remaining full of tears and worry.

Her attention would shift to Orlaith, ears splaying on her head as she wondered how long both were going to be trapped down here for but no amount of time would be any less dreadful. They both looked miserable, far more miserable than had it been the other way around. She was used to solitude, used to being kept hostage in a lavished estate, selfed like a prized porcelain doll so she wouldn’t break. The only difference is she wouldn’t get everything she asked for but she would still be served by the guards much like the maids and servants that waited on her and ensured she ate and didn’t go anywhere. Prison and home didn’t sound so different.

She was about to speak to say she would tell Elias about Orlaith, get him to come visit her but before her voice could surface past her opening lips, the sound of pawsteps would swiftly drag her attention away. The light clicking of nails barely processed before her space was being invaded, tears welling back up into her eyes to see her mother was okay but clearly recovering from injuries. She could see the wounds on her shoulder and neck, the smell of herbs plastered in her fragrance of snow, not matching at all. “I’m sorry,” she whispered back, about the only thing she could get out as her head slipped from her mother’s to gently nuzzle into her cheek affectionately. So greatly did she want to cuddle into her side like a puppy again but she would refrain, for now.

At the mention of a cadet, there were a few that came to mind but only one that she had complained about a lot and had stressed her out. “Baelfire?” she asked mousily, receiving a small nod from Sif back, gaze casting between the cell and the executioner a couple times before finding herself being whisked away. “Y-y-yes. Of course, mama,” she said quietly, barely registering the comment about staying with someone right now. She would start to follow for a moment before pausing to look at Gwydion and Orlaith, not sure what to do or say to them. “This isn’t goodbye,” she smiled at them weakly, before following her mother out of the dungeons.
-exit Aurora-

code by claerie
@Gwydion @Orlaith

Gwydion Kinnaird

"I think he'll find out soon enough on his own..." he trailed off, his ears twitching at Orlaith's comment in the background. Aurora didn't know their brother and as she placed a kiss upon Gwydion's tear-stained cheek, he smiled gently at her. He returned the gesture quickly, side-glancing his sister and wondering if she'd make fun of him for it... not that he really cared. His attention was all on Aurora for now, until another arrived. Blinking, he watched their interaction curiously and with a little jealousy as he realized this must be Aurora's mother she had mentioned when they'd met.

He hoped his father would greet him like that instead of with disappointment in his eye... maybe she was right as he listened to Sif call he and Orlaith delinquents. She'd also mentioned his mother and he wanted to ask more about her, but she was already disappearing into the dark of the dungeon.

Aurora's soft apology pulled a small smile from his lips, but that was all.

Gwydion was told this wasn't goodbye and he only sighed as she walked away, turning to his sister and shaking his head. "I can't believe this is happening..." he said. Now that they were alone there wasn't much else to do or say. He moved toward his sister and gently brushed his muzzle against her shoulder. It'll be alright..." he tried to say it but it wouldn't come out. They'd be out of here soon. This wasn't forever, he had to remember that.

[ exit gwydion ]

@Aurora @Orlaith

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orlaith kinnaird

Aurora stammered through her words, and Orlaith waited patiently as she got what she wanted to say out. Nodding her head at the question of letting their father know, she wasn't able to respond with any actual words since a cloaked lady approached soon after. A soldier of some kind. Slowly, the earthy furs along her spine shivered, bristling defensively the closer the woman got.

Delinquents, she called them. How dare she! She wasn't even remotely aware of how they had happened to find themselves there, and instinctively Orlaiths lips curled into a silent snarl. She made sure to remember what the woman looked like - gold cloak, and one stupid eye. Eventually, their paths would cross again. Especially if her and Aurora would remain friends once she got out of here... the Highlander got a burst of satisfaction at the thought. This chicks precious little girl will be friends with delinquents.

She knew, however, that saying anything in response at the moment would be unwise. And so she remained quiet, though nothing about her demeanor was kind or submissive. It was almost like she was daring the soldier to do or say anything more - but instead she told Aurora to leave, and left herself.

"This isn't goodbye," their friend whispered, before being whisked away but the helicopter parent. Gwydions sister looked to him when he spoke up, and she simply shook her head.

"I can't believe this is happening..." he sounded so defeated, as if their mother had taught them nothing about standing up for themselves or being strong. Orlaith restrained herself from glaring too harshly, instead bumping her snout against his in an effort to reassure him. "This is only the beginning, brother," she hissed, not wanting any more guards to hear their words. "We will get out of here, alive and well. Just you wait. We are stronger - we are better than this, than any of them." she paused for a moment, before sighing and walking to the back of the cell again. "Mom and dad will understand, though Arran has been brainwashed. It doesn't matter."

She slid to the ground, her furs beginning to shine from being so unclean down here. With a low grumble, she tucked into herself, inviting her brother with a nod of her head. "Let's rest, and hopefully soon our parents will come and save us." Whether or not she believed they could, however, was a thought she would keep to herself.

@Aurora @Gwydion

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