Touya watched the prison loom in sight wearily. The advantages of getting in were getting slimmer by the second. He was sure their approach had been seen already but as they were still walking, they made it look as if they were just passing by. All the while the Therian was trying to figure a way into the fortified building. Had he only a bit more energy he could have possibly shape shifted into one of the guards, but he didn't even have enough energy for healing, let alone to take on the form of another human. It wasn't until Reginald spoke to him that a plan began forming in his mind.
“Fortunately, the prison takes in supplies daily to feed the prisoners. See those trucks over there? They travel along the dirt road, those supply machines. They’re steam powered, supposedly, but they’re also noisier than a dwarf forge. If you can figure out a way to sneak into one of them undetected, that’s likely your best bet of getting inside.”
Touya looked to where Reginald had pointed, his eyes easily picking out the trucks that were on their way to the gate. Estimating the time, the Therian figured that they had a few minutes before the convoy made it to the prison. Even then, the trucks would have to stop to be admitted inside, giving Touya just enough time to slip into the back of one and get inside.
“But, the real problem comes after. Assuming you somehow manage to locate your friend, and that he’s somehow still in one piece, you then have to smuggle him out without being noticed. It’s not too late to turn back now. In fact, we could use the time to prepare ourselves better for this.”
Touya turned his pale blue eyes upon the human doctor. They were unwavering and cold as he gazed at the man, "Who said I would be smuggling him out? I have yet to hear his words to me," though at the back of Touya's mind he was already trying to figure out how he would break Damea out of the prison. There was certainly no turning back though, not when he was right there. He decided that he would figure a way out of the prison when the time came, right then it was important to find Damea.
The trucks were drawing near and it was going to be his only shot at getting into the prison. Their course on the road had stayed just about straight to keep their suspicion down. However, as the trucks drew nearer to turn to get to the gates, Touya began veering towards the trucks ever so slightly.
"We'll figure a way out after we're in. Right now, finding Damea is my priority. Follow me if you still wish to 'watch over me'," Touya said, his voice on the edge of sarcasm as he muttered the last words to Reginald.
He watched them carefully, their loud steam engines rumbling forth and drowning out any kind of noise that may have been filling the empty expanse. The trucks turned then and started towards the gates. Once they were completely facing the other direction with their back-ends to Touya, the Therian started forward. He sprinted the distance, quickly getting to the back truck and getting inside as fast as he could. He tucked himself into the confines of the baggage and other supplies that rumbled about in the bed of the enclosed truck. Whether or not Reginald made it with him, he didn't know for he couldn't see in the darkness, nor could he feel anything aside from soft bags and hard crates. The truck sat still for a long time before it moved again, the roar of the engine signifying their entrance into the prison. Touya closed his eyes and breathed deeply, relaxing his body and trying to regain some of his lost energy from the past few days. He had a feeling he was going to need some of it.
There was a loud rap across the bars of his cell, waking him rudely from his nap. Damea turned over and glanced up to the guard who had called him. His mismatched eyes were bleary with sleep, making the person standing on the other side of the bars look like nothing but fuzz with a bit of shape. He slowly rolled off the bed and stood up, stretching and yawning loudly.
"Wake up, fire mage. It's time to eat," the guard announced as he reached up to unlock the cell. Damea didn't move knowing that anything he did could potentially set off the guard. Of course being in a high security prison did that to guards, so prisoners had to be careful unless they wanted a beating. Damea figured it made sense.
"Oh goody, the wonderful meals that I just can't wait to eat..." Damea replied.
"Be lucky you're getting food, you damn ingrate."
"Ingrate... that's new," Damea muttered as he reached for the plate of semi-edible food that was handed to him. He frowned at the mush in the bowl, the hard piece of bread that accompanied it and the cup of stale water. Not even enough to give him energy to do much. It had been like that for days though, so he'd gotten used to it. The hard ring of steel told him that while he'd been musing over his food, the guard had locked him back inside. Looking up he set the food aside and rushed to the bars, "Hey! Guard!"
"What is it now?"
"Could I possibly be let out of the cell today?"
The guard scoffed at him and turned away, jiggling the keys that adorned his waist. Damea's head fell forward and he sighed, "I guess that's a no," he told himself as he turned back to his food. He gave the scornful dish a sour look and plopped down on the bed opposite where he'd put the tray. His thoughts turned to the Therian once again for some strange reason. Lacing his fingers together he leaned forward and sighed heavily.
"I do hope that Touya's in better shape than I am," his voice whispered.
"Well, I think that answers my question."
Damea sat straight up, his eyes widening as the voice found his ears. The soft, deep tone couldn't be anyone else's. The fire mage slowly looked towards the bars of his cell to see the tall, lithe form of the Therian. His long silver hair was falling over his shoulder and most of it was in his face. The pale blue eyes were just as striking as ever, but there was a cold tint to them, much colder than before.
"Damn. I've been wondering about you so much lately that I think I'm beginning to hallucinate..."
The Therian scoffed at the idea, a sharp noise hissing out between his teeth as he crossed his arms over his chest, "I see. So now I'm a hallucination. Wonderful. I have a question for you, Damea."
"I have a few for you as well, are you here alone? How the hell did you get in here!? Wait.. why are you here?" Damea asked in quick succession. He was up and at the bars of his cell in a matter of seconds, peering out to see if anyone had spotted the Therian yet.
Touya frowned at him, "I'm the one asking the questions," he sighed then and gave a slight roll of his eyes, "I'm not here alone though, Reginald is with me. Getting in was easy, getting out... well we'll figure that out later. As to why I'm here, I have a question for you."
"Reginald... who the hell is that? Hold on, don't answer that one. You came all the way here... to a prison... to ask me a question? Are you insane!?"
"Did you mean what you said to me, that day in the carriage when April was bringing us to her leaders?" Touya asked coldly ignoring the fire mage. His voice told of his obvious irritation with Damea.
The fire mage raised an eyebrow as he gazed at the taller man outside the bars, "Of course I meant it! I mean what I say, don't you believe that? You wanted to ask me that? Touya! Leave before they catch you! It's dangerous here!"
"Are you... worried?"
"Why wouldn't I be!" Damea practically yelled, "You're putting yourself in unnecessary danger! Now go! I don't want you to be caught and thrown in here! They'd kill you within the day."
Touya's arms uncrossed and he leaned against the bars, grasping the metal between his hands. Damea noticed then that the Therian's bracer-like arms were damaged. The metal was jagged and looked as if a sword had been shoved through it. His breath sucked in hard between his teeth, "Your hands... You came when you were injured too!! You're the most idiotic Therian I've ever met!"
"You've met more of my people?"
"Of course! That's not the point! You're definitely in no shape to be here, where's this Reginald person! I demand that he drags you out of here."
"You're coming with me," Touya announced and took a step back. The metal across his forearms activated then, the sound of mechanisms whirling filled the hall and cell. Three long blade like pieces of metal on each arm slid forth and glinted in the light around them. Damea took a step back, his throat tight at what the Therian had just told him. So there had been more to the plan than just asking Damea a single question.
"Wait wait!!" Damea shouted, but it was far too late. Touya slashed at the metal of the cell that encased the fire mage. The bars trembled. A second slash right after the first trembled the cage again and the metal bars slid apart and fell one by one to the ground. With a hole in the cell, Touya reached his hand out to Damea. A second later and the magic trap that had been imbued in the bars released.
The explosion of electrical energy threw both Damea and Touya backwards. Damea hit the back wall of his cell and slid to the ground dazed. Once he got a hold of himself he witnessed Touya on the ground as well. He had to move fast then, the explosion was sure to have drawn a lot of unwanted attention. Damea stumbled to his feet and went as quickly as he could to Touya's body. The Therian was thoroughly dazed and wincing in pain. Pulling an arm up and over his shoulders, Damea stood, heaving the surprising heavy Therian to his feet.
"Alright, lets get the hell out of here!"