Aria sat as far back from the door of her cage as possible. It really wasn't very far. She wore worn, faded jeans and a loose gray t-shirt, and sat with her knees huddled up to her chest. Her dark brown hair fell nearly to her lap in straggly tangles. She had thrown a fit when one of the scientists tried to mess with it, afraid they might cut it off. In punishment for that, she sported a split lip much like Blade's, a dark bruise on one cheek, and scratches on her arms from the cage itself when she was thrown back into it.
She herself was silent, and had been for quite a while now. No speaking, because she couldn't speak. No mental words, because she couldn't summon up the energy to start a conversation while she was stuffed in a crappy dog cage in a crappy facility, listening to every creak, cough, and shuffle of her fellow inmates.
As the scientists returned with Blade and threw him back into his cage, she winced for him and shifted awkwardly to a kneel, as if expecting them to come to her next. Her expression was sullen and unhappy, but it softened with relief as they marched out the door.
She slumped against the back of her cage and watched Blade for a while. She tilted her head quizzically as he got up and began to spin around his cage, then her eyes widened in realization as the bars shrieked and tore from the sharpness of his wings.
What are you doing? The projected thought hung in the air, tentative and worried, but also eager. She didn't expect an answer; it was obvious he was escaping, and there was no time for small talk. Her bright blue wings loosened in excitement, unfolding against the pitifully small confines of her cage and molding themselves against the bars.
She wrinkled her nose at the smell of smoke and dragged herself to the front of her cage. She stared, wide-eyed with hope, as he struggled out of his prison.
Let us out too! She shouted, tugging ineffectually on the grid-like bars of her cage. Her gaze darted to the door, expecting scientists to rush through.
She glanced quickly at Talon, who was closest, then at Frostbyte and Eclipse. Her gaze lingered on Eclipse, wondering if she had enough strength to bust out of her cage as well.