She was awoke by the sounds of bells echoing throughout the grounds, ringing off the towering walls all around. The guards outside of the tents were shouting and barking at other slaves. She slipped out of bed despite her reluctance and filed out of the tent along with others with her. She rubbed her eyes and meandered to the large tent that served as the mess hall. The workers in the kitchen were set up in a finely crafted shack, all sitting on stools as they worked, while the slaves sat on the ground atop frayed and torn blankets. They were fed very little, and what they were fed was far from substantial, even for her small frame. Her stomach growled and she ate the food before her. Before she knew it, the guards were hounding at them once more.

It's time to get ready to work already?, she thought. She let out an exhausted sigh and stood, returning her bowl to the kitchen and quickly departing. She ran over to the preparation center and there was given a shovel and a mining pickaxe. She grunted slightly from the weight, both having been thrown at her rather and handed to her. She sighed again. It was hard to say she was used to this, but she bore it anyways. Without incident, she turned to her working place and sat on the edge of the mineshaft. She swung her legs impatiently over the edge while she waited for the day to just go away. It didn't happen. She enjoyed her moment of rest before a guard came by, and, while walking past her, bumped her back forcefully, pushing her down into the shallow pit. She couldn't help but let out and instinctive scream before landing face down in the mud and dirt at the bottom of the pit. Her tools followed shortly after. She sighed softly as she lay there in the mud, a tear rolling down her cheek. She slowly pushed herself up to her knees, her arms, legs, and face covered in small scratches now, deep enough to bleed. She sat on her legs and hung her head.

"I hate this place..." she spoke softly to herself through her tears.

Marigold didn't sleep, he couldn't, it's not been long since his friend died, though smiling at the fact that he took 13 of em down, with just a shovel before he went down, he was lost, he didn't know what to do without him, they've been together constantly since they were 5, they could never separate them, as much as there parents tried, as they were always causing mischief in the village. Marigold just lay in bed staring at the ceiling, thinking of a plan to get out of here, no matter how good you are with a sword, brute force would not get you out of here, although apart of the growing rebellion, no one knew or had a surefire plan of how to get out of here, although he didn't want a way out,just a way to get to the commander to then kill him, as revenge.

Marigold got a couple of hours sleep when he was awoke by the bells, telling him it was time for work again, this time though some guards came into his room, waking up everyone else around him, Marigold just lay there not moving, he has been late for work a couple of times now, and as a punishment, not allowed any breakfast for a week. The guards threw him out of bed saying "You are close to the edge, a more wrong step and your asking for a execution" Marigold just went straight to the dig site, picking up a shovel for later, and given a pick axe, starting before anyone else, as they switched guards he still continued working, even though everyone stopped for a rest, the guard though, walking past this girl, Karren from what he recalls, the guard pushes her straight down into the mud, Marigold waited till he passed him and stole a piece fabric from the back of the guard, handing to the girl to wash the mud off her face, the guard noticing as he did it quite obviously said "Oh you wha.." He didn't get time to finish what he was saying as Marigold just said back "Oh just shut up" Kicking the guard into the mud, face first much like the girls just then.

The morning rose and a few of the slaves arrived already in the area. The night was long for her. Her beautiful white hair was pulled back to a messy pony tail and her blue bright eyes glimmered in the morning sun. Her arms was covered with somewhat of bruises along with her legs. A small cut on her mouth reached down towards her chin.

She closed her eyes as she remebered the night from before. She opens her eyes and steps out towards breakfast. The gaurd grabbed her arms, as if he knew she was going to do something, even though she wasn't. She turned and growled at him like some wild animal. He just chuckled and hit her upside the head. Before he could pull away, she bit his hand hard, causing to let go of Dove. She just gave a small smirk and walked towards breakfast.

Before she could take another step, her hair was grabbed onto and forced her downwards, slamming hard onto her back. She looked up, not once blinking. He threw the shovel down onto her stomach. No emotions showed through Dove's face. Though, he had a nasty expression on his. "Get to work you filthy wrench." He scowled. "No Breakfast."

She slowely stood up. Dirt covered her back. Still, no emotions. He was getting agravated now. She just walked right past him and towards the dig site. He jerked the shovel from her grip and threw it at her tent. "Now, what do you have to say to that?" He said, crossing his arms. She still had no emotion go across her face, like a robot's.

She raised her hand and arm and gave him the bird. (Middle finger.) His face flustered with anger as she walked away. Once again, jerking her down with just her hair. She could feel the pain spiral up her spine, and yet showed no emotion.

It's quite common around the grounds by now for a vast majority of the slaves. Every slave has some sort of lacuna in their being, bereft of any level of love or comfort. The ersatz of their souls barely keeps them conscious anymore from the daily onslaught of abuse. However she is not one of them. She still greets any slave in the morning or any well-mannered guard who would not take offense to a slave nodding or waving at them on their way to their respective jobs. Beneath the soot and grime every slave wears (they only get to bathe so rarely even on good behavior) her pale skin has been left unmarred by any whips as of yet. The woman had shown a great deal of compliance in her work.

This has caused some of the slaves to resent her from what she understands. And in a place where hostility is shown by superiors, it is even more difficult when your own "kind" turn on you as well. It's happened a few times and it will continue to happen. Then again it is only the Nature of things and who is Dymphna to ask it to change? Not that she'd simply stand by if something atrocious were to happen. Such as now. Kneeling in a pit with her pick, being strategic, she pauses to wipe her hands on her apron before catching a pale flash. A guard obviously has an issue with one of the other slaves. Named Dove from what the Celtic woman remembers.

Her teeth worry her bottom lip. She shouldn't get involved, she could get hurt, but Dove was being dragged around like a rag doll. How cruel for the guard to do that! What sort of man touches a woman like that, even a slave? Dropping her pick her tattooed bare feet slap against the terrain. Most of her life she's been barefoot in all sorts of weather and land, nothing will change that now unless the weather conditions become intense. She grips her hands together with a brow furrowed in earnest concern. "Sir guard, please...let her get back to work, she'll behave."

[I'll post as Virgil some other time~]

Karren stared, wide-eyed at Marigold as he hand her the piece of cloth. The corners of her small mouth curled into the slightest of smiles as she wiped the mud from her skin.

"Th-thank you, sir..." she spoke timidly. When she noticed the guard turn back to Marigold upon realizing he stole the cloth, she sunk back, scooting backwards in the mud. Her eyes filled with fear as she thought of what might happen to this nice man. She watched as Marigold kicked the guard into the mud as she just was and swallowed back a lump in her throat.

"Shouldn't... Have done that..." she stammered, her mouth parched and dry, having difficulty speaking. Nearby guards, upon seeing Marigold brash action, rushed over.

"Hey! What are you doing, slave?!" they called. She watched as the guards surrounded him, whips and batons raised up and ready to strike. She gasped and scrambled up out of the pit. She ran over and, pushing the guards out of the way to get to him, stood between Marigold and the guards to protect him. Her action was more brash than his, but she didn't care. He was the closet thing she had to a friend at that moment and she wanted to protect that. The guards, without hesitation, brought down the whips and baton upon her chest and back. She winced and whined, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Please stop..! Don't hurt him..! It was my fault..! Don't punish him for protecting me!" she cried out. Blood slowly oozed down her arms from the lacerations caused by the whips. The guards furtherest from her dragged Marigold out of the way and stood between him and the crowd as she finally collapsed to her knees and they beat her relentlessly. The guard that had been kicked down into the mud was now with the group of others, kicking her in the side. When he was satisfied with her punishment, he turned to Marigold.

"How dare you? Do you want to end up like that friend of yours, boy?" the guard spoke as he drew a sword from his hip, putting it under Marigold's chin and lifting his head up. The other guards around Karren kicked her back into the mud in the pit. She lay there motionless save for twitches of her fingers and face. Her skin was now coated with a bloody mix of mud and dirt again. Her hands curl into fists, biting her lip hard enough to break the skin.

Marigold saw the guard rush towards him, he knew that was going to happen, but he didn't mind he knew the consequences before it happened, and was happy to face it, but as he was about to be beat, the girl he just saved forced her way in between them, they were so quick to beat her Marigold didn't have time to react, Marigold surprised and impressed by the girl. Marigold saw her as she got beat to the ground, blood oozing out of her. The guard said after that "How dare you? Do you want to end up like that friend of yours, boy?" Marigold did not work well with intimidation, feeling a sword under his chin, he doesn't raise his head at all he just simply reply's "I know the consequences of my actions, and I'm happy to take them, but you know me, do you think i really mid if you kill me right now?" Marigold quickly and swiftly, without giving the guard time to react takes the dagger out of the guards holster, near his chest.

Marigold holding it to the guards throat, says "How many do you think i can take before i die? 5 maybe 6" Marigold looking straight into the guards eye "I know full well I'd be dead by know if i wasn't your best worker, and no doubt you don't want to injure him, instead you'll won't feed me for a week, i can take that, but she gets the rest of the day off to rest her wounds, and you walk away like none of this happened" The guard gulped, he was frighted, he heard stories about Marigold, but he was a lot more fighting in person, Marigold put the dagger back in the guards holster, and the guard walked away.

Marigold picked up Karren and took her back to the bunks, thanking her for trying to help, but saying next time that he can handle himself, he stayed there for a bit to check that she was okay.

((lol, do you mean Karren? Because Dove is was never involed with it. :P ))

The gaurd looked at the girl, asking him to stop. He gave a small chuckle. "Oh dear, I am truley sorry for hurting your 'friend.'" Starcasism was heavy and soaked his words as he spoke. Dove watched as the girl she only knew the name to tried to help her. Dymphna, was that her name? Oh well. Dove watched and fell his grip loosening on her hair. He looked down and spit on her face, along with throwing the shovel onto her stomach.

He bent down and now Dove could tell he hasn't brushed his teeth in who knows how long. "Your little friend has saved you.... street rat." His words felt nothing torwards her but was sharp. He walked away as her blue eyes followed him towards another to get them up for the day's hard day work. No emotion went across her face as her eyes darted back towards Dymphna. She sat up and stood, wiping the spit from her cheek.

She looked back at Dymphna. "Thanks, but I didn't ask for your help." She said with a cold piercing voice. Still emotionless, as always. "Besides," She looked back at her and small smirk whipped her face. "A street rat can handle its self." She threw Dymphna a sack of nuts he successfully swiped from the gaurds. "My thanks." She said, walking away.

She was amazing at stealing was hardley ever caught. Well, she did have 15 years of practice and practice does make perfect. She filled her throat with some water from a troph that was made for cleaning faces and hands and dishes and such. Being banned from the breakfast takes tolls on her even though she doesn't show it. She hasn't eaten dinner niether; Nor lunch. Not eaten into 18 hours will bring your body down. Water can't supply her forever in substitute for food, but now, she would eat dinner.

Today was the day she would be good. Just for some dinner. Then, she would probably bounce back to herself. Thoose nuts she gave Dymphna wouldn't last long anyways in Dove's hands.

Loki had stepped through the gates to the slave grounds just as the young man with the white hair and the girl with the deep blue-black hair were surrounded by guards... I'm going to have to do that? All just to maintain my cover... But for how long? He wondered to himself. He had been sent by The Organization to build an alter ego, and place himself within striking distance of his target, but his superiors had not revealed who the target would be... With any luck, it would be one of these punk guards. He smirked underneath his chainmail face veil, knowing that no one could see the expression on his face.

The smirk vanished as the poor girl was beat to the ground, lacerations and bruises growing all over her body... He had heard rumors of the cruelty of these camps, but had never expected... The guy with the white hair took a stand, and expecting the guards to kill him on the spot, he put a hand on the hilt of his scimitar, slowly walking in that direction. What am I doing? I am a weapon. I have no conscience. I am a weapon. I have no guilt. He began to recite his code, the code of every other like him, but then the young man swiftly drew the guards dagger. Loki stopped in his tracks, three paces away, blade half drawn, but if he needed to, he could make it to the guards' throat in a blink.

"How many do you think I can take before I die? 5 maybe 6." He could hear the man say, Loki saw the guard's fear in his eyes. He was surprised by what the young man said next, about how he was the best worker, and would be dead if not for that, and that the girl gets the rest of the day off... Loki couldn't help but smile beneath his face veil at the man's bravery. As the guards walked away, Loki followed after them, sliding his blade back into it's sheath, hoping he had not blown his cover already... He didn't dare to look back at the two slaves, although he wanted to.

The world is not always shrouded in night, and so we move in the illumination of the day, in the guise of a target, and simultaneously find our targets, never aware of our presence, like shadows in the night. He recited to himself, tensing up his shoulders, swinging his arms arrogantly, and leering about like all the other guards were doing.

He would have to go and present his arrival to the guard commander, and then take his persona's belongings to his persona's bunk. Hopefully he would get a day shift, so that he would have the night to lurk about. He preferred that over disguises any day.

She was limp in Marigold's arms. She was completely beaten and broken, blood still oozing from wounds. She looked up through unfocused, hazy eyes.

"H-huh...? Who..." she stammered as she looked up to try to see his face. She tried to force her eyes to focus.

"It... It's you... You again..." she mumbled. "Th-thank... You..." She looked up once more, looking towards the tent she called home, as much of a home as it could be here. She clutched onto him as a soft mewl escaped her throat. Her eyes closed and her vision faded to black. When she awoke, she was in her bed, or at least a bed. She stared up at him through half-closed eyes. She leaned back, her hands shaking violently from the lose of blood. She smiles weakly at Marigold, then passes out once again.

Marigold waited for her to pass out for the second time, he was only there for about 10 minutes, but she was going to be fine, she was losing a lot of blood, but being treated by some of the slave, who knew at least something about first aid, she'd live at least, Marigold got up and walked back to the mine, he couldn't stop for long, he started to ferociously mine away, Marigold even though missing 20 minutes of work, made up for it and more, making far more progress than anyone else around him.Marigold was known for being completely unpredictable, and knows full well the guards want him dead, but he is too invaluable to the camp, so he just carried on his day to day work, waiting for a opportunity to get to the commander, to slit his throat.

The man's sarcasm oozed from his mouth like pus, words thickly wading through the air as though moving through grime. Dymphna winces when the guard roughly releases Dove. Once the man was gone she approached the other woman, worried. It's clear to see pessimism runs amok in the ranks of the enslaved. Not that it much surprises her. "You never need ask me of anything. It is simply done." the gypsy responds calmly from Dove's glum voice. Her deft hands catch the bag and she slips it into one of the pockets on her apron. She let Dove walk off, taking cue that the white haired woman did not wish to be bothered.

Dymphna got back to her own work in the mine. She noticed a white haired man furiously at work in the back. Is he related to Dove? Very strange for such young people to have white hair. Nonetheless Dymphna grabs her pick and begins to swing away at the wall, hoping that someday there will be starlight to guide the slaves.

Dove grabbed her shovel and walked over towards the digging area. She practically threw her shovel down into the dirt, she wasn't use to this at all. She thrashed her foot onto it, forcing it down and shoveling it up and out. She really didn't know what she was doing, but she just did it.

Dragomir sat up in his bed before the guards came in to wake everyone. When they were all corralled out into the mess hall, he just trudged along, not really feeling up to being a jackass. He ate his food silently watching the guards abuse the other slaves. His back was still sore from his most recent whipping. He couldn't help but laugh a little at how stupid the guard had looked when his greaves came undone and fell to the ground. Damn, I'm good. When he finished, he just left his dish on the ground, not really caring. They didn't pay that much attention.

Dragomir made his way to the dig site, taking a shovel and pick axe from the guard before the could throw them at him. It was the one had pranked. Before turning an making his way to his assigned area, he gave the man a quick wink and a smirk. He made his way, silently, to his position. He set his axe on the ground and slammed the shovel into the ground. A loud thunk was heard and he threw his head back. "God damn it. Really?" With a sigh, he set the shovel down and grabbed the axe. He swung it hard, striking the stone, chipping some chunks off.

Loki had finished introducing himself to the commander, not really impressed with the man, whom he had judged without ever showing it on his face. He had memorized the commander's quarters, taking note of all the quick and easy ways in and out, but the commander wasn't necessarily the target. It could be one of the slaves, he knew. But for now, he was just to observe, the order still not given. Hopefully by the weeks end he would have it, and then a day of planning or so, and then leave. He already was disgusted by this place. He had never seen human-beings treated like this. He even gave his targets more dignity than these slaves were permitted.

Not much time had passed since the incident he had watched earlier, but, as Loki came walking out of the commanders chamber and towards the Slave Grounds, he saw that the white-haired man was already ferociously at work. He looked around at the other slaves, pretending to be prepared to enforce the law on them, at a white-haired girl, who seemed to be somewhat awkward with this sort of work, as well as a dark-haired man who was busy at work, seeming to have been around for a while, as he seemed comfortable with his work.

He removed the chainmail covering his face, then took out a whetstone and his dagger, and then began to sharpen it, the blade almost singing against the smooth stone. The sound echoed in the mine. He almost immediately noticed how the sound was irritating one of the guards, and when he didn't stop the guard came striding up to him, his shoulders broad, and his chin jutting out, acting like he was the biggest badass in the world.

"Stop doing that, new guy." He said to Loki, authority ringing in his voice. "Now." He almost shouted as Loki continued without acknowledging the big idiot. Loki dragged the blade slowly across the surface of the stone, the sound shrill and high pitched. The idiot guard reached out towards Loki's dagger, and Loki dropped to a knee, spinning around with his other leg extended, knocking the guards feet out from under him and sending to the ground flat on his back, and knocking the air out of his lungs.

Loki stood over him, looking down into his eyes which had begun to tear up. "You'll call me Sir, you big idiot. The commander has put me in charge, in his absence of course, during the first day shift. I'm in charge 'til three. Back to your post, now!" He said adamantly, then spit on the ground next to the guard's head.

I was surprised when the commander gave me first shift command, but hopefully I sounded like just another guard just now. I can't have anyone expecting anything, not even one of the slaves, so I'll have to act like a guard too, if anyone gets lazy.... I hope they don't.....

She sat down by her shovel. A gaurd walked near her and jerked her up. "Get back to work." He growled.
She bluntely looked at him. "I will get back to work if you put me down." She said, with an even colder tone, almost challanging him. He flung her down and took her shovel. "Dig with your hands, you filthey bitch." He said, dragging her shovel behind him.

She watched as he left before hoping up. She looked at the small bag that had something in it that she swiped from him. She stole it perfectly. She opened it and sniffed it. "Jerky." She said, popping one in her mouth. The tasted was bitter, but it was better than nothing. Sure, the salt and spices made her mouth water a bit, but she was so hungrey. It was about 15 minutes later when she finished the bag. It just merely wet her appetite.

She kicked the dirt and threw her hands up. "Boo! You suck!" She yelled bluntley at the gaurds. They nearly swarmed her, cursing at her and pushing her around. She knelt down and started to beg, it looked and sounded real. "Please, I am so sorry. Please forgive me." She wept, even tears where swarming down her face. They just laughed and kicked dirt into her face.

"I hope you learned your lesson ugly!" One shouted. She stood up, tears where done and gone as she held her prize in front of her face. Six bags of food. One apple, one bag of nuts, another bag of jerky, some bread and an orange. She gave a sly smirk and started to eat her food while digging. It only took another 15 minutes to finsh that. She moved onto another ground where she saw a (Dragomir)guy with a pick axe and a (Loki)gaurd covered in armor, like the rest.

She moved towards a group of gaurds. She spit at their feet. "Go die." She gave off a growl. As last time, they swormed around, insulting her, cursing, the usual. Once again, she squat on her knees and begged and cried. "Haha! Stupid girl!" One said, jerking her up from the hair. "Get back to work." He said, throwing her out of the group. A grin swept across her face.

Theese gaurds had alot more food. She had two bags of nuts, three apples, a loaf of cut up bread and four bags of jerky. She stuck some jerky on bread and stuck it into her mouth as she dugg with her hands; since her shovel was taken. The rest was well hidden in her slave ware, which was a shirt and some pants. She had made herself a small inner pocket that only she knew about, great for storing food; and thats exactly what she used it for.

Marigold saw this girl (Dove) cleverly steal these guards food, she paid the price by having her shovel taken off her, and a few beatings, but though she was was a slave, Marigold felt obliged to tell the guards of this, even though he hated the guards, he hated dishonorable acts even more, and thinks that anyone can do whatever they want, but they must always pay the consequences, he looked around, he saw this guard, put another to the floor, but it seemed like he dint want to be here, Marigold could tell these things, observing people and finding there weaknesses used to be all he did, witch included a lot of sneaking around of course, but Marigold went to him nonetheless, he said he was in charge here, but he gave the guard a chance to do this quietly, Marigold whispered in his ear "The other Slave with white hair, is stealing food, search her and you will find your evidence" He them walked back over to the mine site, the other guards were looking at him weirdly, he never talks to guards, unless it's a threat, the other guards were confused.

Loki was shocked that the white-haired man had came and told him of the thievery taking place. He wondered why he would tell a guard of something a fellow slave had done, especially after what had happened earlier that morning between him and that group of guards, but couldn't figure out any reasonable answer, except maybe, this man was far too honorable to let his morals be sunk just like his position.

"Ah, very observant of you," Loki said to the white-haired male, But now I'll have to take action, damn!, he thought to himself, "Thank you, slave." He said, trying to sound like an arrogant prick like all the other guards, though he thought he might have slipped up by adding the 'Thank you' part.

He walked over to the white-haired girl, busily trying to dig into the hard ground with her bare hands, and cleared his throat behind her.

"Slave, I have reason to believe that you have been... 'Relieving' some of the guards under my command of certain items. Do you deny this?" He said, making sure to stand far back enough so that she couldn't steal anything from him too.

This is exactly what I wanted to avoid... When I find the food on her, I'll have to punish her.

Dragomir paused to watch the girl deal with guards. She thought she was sneaky, but he saw her stealing the food. She was good, but he had been there for years and knew all the tricks. When he saw the man who was friends with the merc speaking to a guard, he knew what he was doing and made his way over to the girl. He arrived behind her just in time to hear what the guard said to her. He pushed the girl aside and stood in front of the guard, that maniacal look in his eyes. "Are you accusing a poor, young woman of theft? You're probably just looking for a chance to frisk her, aren't you?" He made a motion with his hand signaling to the girl, hoping she would realize it was to get rid of the food. "You're a poor excuse for a human being." His tone ws demeaning and threatening. What were a few more lashes, anyway?

Dove looked up at the gaurd, but before she could reply, she was pushed. A man with black hair. Was he standing up for her? She saw the motion with his hands and she looked down, continuing to dig. With in a blink, the food was gone from her posession. She had quickly shoved it down deep to the hole, and besides, most of it was gone. She looked up at the guy and stood.

She looked at the both of them. "What if I said I was stealing? Are you going to beat a starving person to death? Or how about search me. Oh! I know, are you going to kill me? Cut my hands clean off?" She said, her voice was almost ice cold and sharp. She put her hands out. "Well... Im waiting." She scowled. Her brother ednured so much more than this. She started to wonder how he was. He was only about 10 or 11 years old. She wouldn't be surprised if he was dead, but she wanted to clear this from her head.

Suddenly, her stomach growled; quite loudly too. She looked down at her tummy. She looked up, back at the gaurd. Her blue eyes where locked onto the gaurd, waiting for his next move.

Marigold saw this black haired guy defend Dove, Marigold was impressed, but Dove had to pay for her actions, no matter how many people help her, or how well she manages to hide the food, not seeing where she put the food Marigold, quickly walks over to the scene, " It is not a accusation, i saw it , and if we search this area, some remains will be around here at least" Marigold looks at Dove "You should always take the consequences, fit for the action, for theft i believe that either a couple of days without food, or 20 lashings, you chose, or if you want to play stupid, we can just find it and double the punishment"

Marigold not even really paying attention to the guard, he then looks at Dragomir "I respect what your doing, but, she has to pay the consequences for her actions" Marigold kept his calm demeanor he then looks at Loki "I can distract this guy whilst you look, if need be."

Well, at least they're all convinced I'm just some guard. Loki thought to himself, but I thought slaves were supposed to be spineless, weak people. How else would they come to be enslaved? Ah, well, this land is nothing like my home...

"Slave, do not presume to know my motives." Loki said in a stony voice to Dragomir, "I don't know what kind of examples these other guards have made, but I am not of the same filth they seem to be made of." He said, disgusted at the remark about frisking her. Then he focused his attention on the girl, noticing just how thin she was, and then looking down again to where she had been digging with her bare hands. He heard her out, then looked at her standing there with her hands out, and just as he was about to respond, heard her stomach growling. He lifted his eyebrow, then shook his head. "Girl, no matter your reasons, you cannot steal while I'm on watch. I don't give a damn what you do after 3 in the afternoon, but until then, I will enforce the rules of this camp, in accordance with the wishes of the commander." Curse it all! I'll have to punish this girl, and I might even have to do the same to this fool trying to protect her!

And then Marigold walked up, speaking to his fellow slaves. "That will not likely be necessary." Loki said in response to Marigold's offer of distracting Dragomir. Loki whistled, his hand raised, and three nearby guards came over. "If this slave," Loki was pointing at Dragomir, "tries anything, you are permitted to bring him down, by means of non-lethal force. Understood?"

The three guards said in unison, "Yessir!" having seen him dispose of the big idiot guard earlier.

"Now, young lady, if you did say you were stealing, as you just asked what the consequences of which would be just a few seconds ago, I would ensure that you are not harmed, and you will not go without a meal, since it seems like you have already been without a few too many. However, I cannot let you go unpunished. So, as punishment, if you admit to thievery, you will have to work through your break hour, and you will have no free time tonight between 10 and 12, instead, you will work until 11, and then go directly to your tent." I hope this punishment is not too hard on her, but at the same time I have to look like all the other guards... This will be a difficult job... "And, if you do not admit to thievery, you will be given 25 lashes after I find the remains of anything you stole. No I will not cut off your hands, and no I will not kill you, don't be stupid, a dead slave is worthless! You should know that."

He turned back to Dragomir, his brows drawn in what he hoped looked like anger, but in another life and another time he felt he could have liked this man, foolish as he was. "And you. Just for having the stones to call me a, what was it? 'Poor excuse for a human being'? Yes, I believe that's right, just for calling me that, whatever her punishment is, yours will be the same." Loki smirked wickedly, surprised he had thought of something so messed up. "If she confesses, which I hope she does for both your sakes, then you will both work through the day, excluding meal time, until 11 tonight, and then go to your tents. If she fails to confess, and after I find what was stolen, which cannot be far from here if not on her person, you will both be given 25 lashes."

He looked again to the girl. "This man who stood up for you, will you have him put through the sting of the whip just to try and deny what your fellow slave has told me to be truth? Or will you confess, and simply work a little longer today, with your savior by your side?"

Dragomir scowled. He could tell that something was off with the guard. He couldn't figure it out, but he seemed a little different, more hesitant. He listened to the guard drone on impatiently. When he heard the punishment he and Dove would be receiving, his teeth clenched and he couldn't help but gulp.

Dragomir took a deep breath and held a hand towards Dove and said, "Look at her. She's skin and bones. She has enough difficulty as is, dealing with your so called men, as cowardly and disgusting as they are. No woman deserves the treatment they receive here!" He noticed a few slaves had stopped or slowed their work to watch as the events unfolded. Wanting to get his point across, he stepped back up to the guard, giving him a slight push. "So, I'll take her punishment, whatever it may be, including my own."

Dove said nothing as they spoke. When she heard Dragomir spoke, it kind of made her a bit angery for pitying her. She looked at him and then at Loki. "Sure, I did steal. The remains are in that hole." She said, pointing over. She looked at Dragomir, gentleness and greatfulness flooded in her eyes but her words where sharp. "I will recieve my own punishment. I don't need your pity." She walked towards Loki. "I won't steal again, unless I can have my shovel back, and a pick axe, and a small water cantene." She said boldly but bluntely.

She could tell he was soft, because no other gaurd would have given her such a small punishment. Why not milk it? Why not take advantage. "If you refuse, then I think I just might steal again. This time, I might just lie and eat it all before you even find out. There won't be much proof will there?" She was almost challenging this gaurd, and this gaurd speciffically. Her blue eyes where locked onto his once again. She wasn't mad that she got caught, it just ment she was a bit tired or hungery, something like that, she just got caught. To be honest, she really didn't care all that much.

Rule one of living in the streets, as long as your alive, you should do anything to stay alive. She glanced back at the person who had told on her. She could guess he knew nothing of the streets just by the way he acted. If he lived in the streets, the part of town she lived in, he wouldn't survive a week. She knew this. She locked her sight on the gaurd again. Waiting for his answer to her deal.

Marigold sensed something was off with this guard, it was such a little punishment, compared to what most of the guards would of given, but he did not mind, the punishment was really more fitting to the crime, but upon hearing her requests, having her shovel and pick axe back was fair enough, but having a small water cantene was unreasonable, Marigold overruling the guard says loudly "No you will not have a water cantene, why would you get special treatment for stealing? If anything you should get something taken off you, just be thankful for this punishment" Marigold challenging her now "If you do eat all the evidence, the guards can't do anything, but i will give you the punishment you deserve" Marigold did not hate the girl, in fact he had no opinion, people do what they have to do to survive, but they must always pay the consequences, to do anything else is dishonorable. He then looked at the slave defending her

"It does not matter who the person is, be it your daughter, or your nemesis, they all get the same punishment for the same crime, or act, let me put it this way, if this girl killed a man, would you let her go just because she, is skin and bones, think about it, does what a person is or who they are really matter, why should one person get a different treatment from another, if they both commit the same crimes"

Dragomir laughed when Dove put on the tough girl act. "It wasn't pity, I'm not like that." He listened to everything everyone said. It was all just so stupid. When Marigold piped up and got his piece in, he turned to the slave, glaring at him. "People do things they wouldn't normally do in poor conditions. I've been here all my life and even I know that. You may not think you belong here, but obviously you do. The only difference is that you're not dressed in armor and carrying a blade. You aren't any better than the scum that run this damn place.\" With that all said he turned around and returned to his place to continue digging. "Let me know what my damn punishment is," he called back.