Nix Nir's Story

Kaede

The Prince watches a bit startled as the woman with red hair climbs over the railing and joins the creatures below, "Can she do that?" he wonders. No one says anything to her, so he decides it must be okay, though he doesn't have the interest to join her. Kaede returns his attention to the girls sitting by the lake. While he still wonders how a girl from his lands wound up here, it's the other girl that captures his attention. "She would be the perfect distraction, if she does something interesting, like sing or play an instrument." he reasons. Returning the girl to his native land would probably curry favor with the Emperor, something he could use. But, ironically, it would also work against him as the favor would rest on his whole family, and his father would benefit. Then killing him would become problematic and could earn him the fury of the emperor. "Regicide is bad. Killing a family member is really bad. Murdering a man that the Emperor has heaped praise upon can be unforgivable."
The girls don't seem to have attracted the attention of any of the Masters. "Their tastes appear to be quite exotic. Run of the mill humans may be the ones they don't want." He contemplates that thought or a bit and if that's all that's available to him he needs to justify taking the girls, not just to himself, but to his army as well.
"The one girl could distract my father with her talent. And once he is dead and my brother too, I could use the return of the other girl as a way of appeasing a displeased Emperor. One must do what one must do." he whispers.
Kaede watches the whole display below for a while and then when the announcement for dinner is given he rises and watches them exit. "Anyone of them is acceptable." he nods. "Even that blood thirsty assassin creature could be of use to me... if properly inspired."
Kaede is not really that hungry, but the opportunity to sit with the other Masters and hear their appraisals is something he just can't afford to miss. If this is going to go smoothly, without a hint of discord, he's going to have to know which creatures are wanted by the others, so that he knows which ones are off-limits to him.

Nix watched as Kenner stood behind Peeshka and Peeshka released the two from wherever they were, somewhere inside the woman that is. It terrified her quite a bit, realizing how powerful both of them were. She wouldn't be able to kill Kenner, she realized now, because he was way too powerful for her. Kenner held the bowls of food underneath their nose and both of them woke up. Nix cocked her head slightly and looked at her own bowl silently. She hadn't aten yet, so she would have to. The woman with the dress sighed softly and ate as Kenner gave the two of them their bowls and asked Peeshka something. She sighed softly as she finished and watched Kenner walk away.

Nix wanted to go after him but did not, and she was back in a cage. She sighed and went to a corner and sat down, pulled her knees up and curled her arms around them. She rested her head on the top of her knees and closed her eyes, already wishing again she was dead. At least, if she was, she could be with her mate again. This made her sad and tears streamed down her face, she just let it happen. It would have to come out one way or another. Nix had been holding back her feelings for the years since she had watched her village die. The woman cried softly, not knowing if she could continue her life like this.

It was not long after the time that Kenner specified that the tone did sound, a light solid chime emanating from deep and high somewhere from inside Raven Loft.
Some have gone to sleep, while others full from their meal idled off into dreams as they lay in their beds. Hitha lay around the rock instead on on it, the large plush pillows allowed her to fall asleep faster then she would have normally.
While the little girl Silver had curled up and leaned herself against the Naga, a lone thumb perched in her lips and a soft look of grace that came from her dreams.

Nix had her feet barely brushed under the covers of her bed and she was still slightly whimpering in the half cupped moments of her soft breath, sleep had come but it was not without turbulence. While Bloodsong did not gather himself in a bed, instead he had pulled off the wool blanket and two sheets to gather around himself as he lay against the base of a bed. His ears twitched from moment to moment in time with a small smack of his lips, his dreams full with days of uncaring.

Miyako and Persephone slept apart from one another, the space between their beds was slight and the two looked as though mirror images of one another. A leg hung slightly off one side of the bed, while one arm laid flailed out to the other.
Quin was the last of the group to fall into slumber, she sat on her bed for several minutes after the others had drifted off into sleep and she eyed the room with a strange sense of disillusion.
But with all things her lids became heavy and she soon resigned herself to lay down on the covers and fall away. Not even worrying about removing her own boots she just turned over and was pulled away into her dreams.

The young prince Kaede had been lead back to his quarters with the other masters, he however was not so easy to put to rest. Kaede spent some time pacing back and forth at the foot of his bed and wondered about the plethora of slaves to be had outside of his door and what purpose they could be used to serve his intentions most fully.
But the worrying addled his mind for the whole time, it wasn't until after he stopped pacing that his body realized how tired it was and a long forcible yawn broke from his lips and he resigned himself to sleep after preparing for bed.

Kenner sat in his quarters, the chair in his study suited to his needs quite clearly as the head master held a large book in hand. He was not one to sleep so quickly and even then, sleep did not come easy to him and for good reason.
It wasn't until a leather glove began to slip its way around the back of his neck that he began to pay attention once again to his surroundings..~Please Kenner.. you look tired, come to bed..~ Peeshka pulled on with a low tone to her speech. Kenner only turned his head slightly as he looked around to stare into the empty eyes of her mask. "Alright then.. you talked me into it." He replied to her.

She pulled away from him as he stood and the two walked slowly towards the bed and as he laid himself down, he discarded the top of his robe by letting it fall to the floor. Peeshka took a knee on the edge of his bed and started to crawl in after him. The sound of her outfit making exaggerated stretching sounds along the way.
As she climbed up along the bed to his arms and snaked her way in between them she turned to look at him, which made him look back with a strange expression. "You know you shouldn't wear that to bed." He said as he reached up and lightly gripped the sides of her mask, slowly he began to remove the white shell and as it pulled away the dark emptiness of her face was there starring back at him. With the two same pin points of light pointed back at his eyes and with a nudge against him she curled up into his arms with a dejected sigh. They had both had a long day and in the view of things, they were looking forward to the days to follow.

The night that was present with the inhabitants of Raven Loft solemnly sleeping in their beds was easy, the wind blew with little restriction and the sun was just beginning to peek over the slightest hills beyond view from the doors on the massive foundation. The light had yet to reach the walls of Raven Loft however and even then it would still be some time before any of those within gained notice of what was occurring till mid day.

But within these halls something was happening, those with the last days behind in their minds were beginning to feel something is amiss. Not within the halls.. but within themselves.

Nix is the first to get an inkling of what is happening to herself as she dreams of days gone by, the desert of her home is present and she is basking in the sun of her remembered freedom.
She feels the same sensation as back when she originally bit Kenner, as if something was moving beneath her skin but at this time it was not painful. The ground below her began to shift and pull with a sensation traveling to her feet in turn and soon tall sprouts of grass erupted from the earth and the whole of the worlds perception shifted around her.
The world shifted violently, disrupting the normal euphoria of a dreamlike state and it was sudden that Nix found herself easily aware of what was transpiring around her. The air was heavy and cool as if she was high up somewhere and the scene was not recognizable. Bluish green grass covered the earth like a heavy blanket and the area around her was shrouded with an eerie mist, the least of which was her problems at the moment. Her ears began to hear the sounds of feet padding along the ground and the sound of a deep metallic banging amongst the mist, which was coming ever closer.

It was then that she saw them, large and heavy forms breaching the mist bank and approaching. The people approaching were human but not in any way she knew, the majority of whom were tall and blonde with striking blue eyes. Both sex's could be seen as man and woman clad in armor of leather and steel came forward, several striking their weapons on their shields. It was then that she noticed the two at the head of the army.
It was easy to recognize Kenner with his own features untouched by time and his body covered with small strips of paint while he hefted a large sword over his shoulder and the fur of wolves adorned his leather armor. But what she could see what a familiar feminine form next to him. It was Peeshka in an outfit not so different from what she wore now, however the helmet and latching buckles gave away what the limit of armor was at that time. By that time a strange scent caught her nose and she turned to look behind her, to her surprise another army was approaching from the other side of the mist. These soldiers were vastly different, many wore tattered furs and wielded weapons fit for barbarism. They each had the look of blood lust in their eyes and the stains of filth and bile caked exposed flesh.
The overly large man leading them began to shout, his tongue was incoherent to Nix's mind and as he yelled they began to charge. Kenner was standing stern as she turned to look back and he raised his sword to rally his army, thrusting it forward to incite their charge. The war was on and each army was charging headlong towards one another, with Nix in the center of the barrage and the last sight see could see was a massive clashing of bodies and the spray of life to the earth.

Bloodsong's thoughts are soon invaded as well, with the heavy breathing in the back of his mind. The visage of his homeland and his family are easily interrupted.
His dream shifts his mind to another place, a quiet place in the middle of a rural farmland. There in this place there is no fear of the night or the monsters that dwell in it and there is no evil. His vision drifts through the small town held here and he see's people who enjoyed a life not unlike his own, free of care and only occurring with the necessity of life as it went on. But yet there is an uneasy feeling that overtakes his mind, as if there was a stone sat before him that was easy to tell it was out of place. The village was quiet and not much could be heard for his ears to comprehend, save for the lite sound of crying. His vision floated toward the source set on rails that his mind followed and he had no real means to stop, but his consciousness complied with the move anyway. He came upon a small home where the sound of sobbing was coming from and he looked into the kitchen window. It was a woman who's beauty may have been pure but her body and mind had seen some years.
Above her stood a tall grim man with the sight of tears coming down his face slowly and in front of them across the table sat a portly man with a suit on. His look was that of a calm and kind man but his face spoke of bad news and as he continued to speak with the two before him they became more bereft with sadness.

It was then that Bloodsong took notice of the time when they would look back into the edge of the house and see a door closed with a wooden cross strung across the middle and he was inevitably drawn to it, his body and mind passing through the door with ease and he entered into a dimly lit room.
There he saw something that stung with a heavy memory, a girl of young years and quite familiar laid in a bed near the side of the room. The area around her dotted with toys and gifts with small letters and flowers poking from small packs and post. She was heaving into a rag in her hands and with each draw her face became more pale, this was the one Peeshka took the form of. But she was no monster however even though her life was not so angelic.
The main source of light for her was a large window that she stood in front of after removing herself from the bed and discarding the rag into a basket. She knelt at the window and clasped her hands together, this was an act that Bloodsong had seen before with others in Thaiden. As if this could bring them comfort and in some cases it did, but for this girl it seemed that it was not doing what it was supposed to do. He could see that she was past due and soon she would not be able to survive as she held a strong face while staring through the glass.

The moment was somber and held a great distaste in his mouth as he watched and as she continued to pray something began to happen. She gained a smile on her face as something caught her attention outside the window, this was so much of an interest that he stepped forward to see. But what he saw was not a very good thing for him, it was a woman and to be more precisely it was Peeshka. She was in a fine dress and woven face mask, beckoning towards the girl with a long finger and as she did so the window became unlatched opening the world to her.
She looked back and peered at the door to her room with the sound of the others still sobbing as she climbed up over the window seal. Bloodsong was trying desperately to motion for the girl, but his voice was silent and his feet were stuck in place. She ran to Peeshka with a slight limp in her step and embraced the tall dark woman with wide arms and she in turn knelt to embrace the girl. It wasn't until he saw her lift the girls chin and the same torrent of white light began to pour through her woven face mask that he too could feel the singeing sensation once again and the world went white hot once more.

To say the least Nitha's rest was best and least disturbed of them all.
Her sleep was still coinciding with the thought of Kenner taking her and Silver away, but the whole adventure drove on with no real distractions. That was however until she opened her eyes, which is when she realized she was not alone somehow. Though the small girl was still curled up besides her Nitha was filled with unease, voices could be heard whispering to her and not just so but to her clearly and coinciding with one another.
They were the voices of many people and though she could not see faces, their tales spoke trials about what had happened to them. One spoke of how he was tortured for days on end, with a fly sown in each ear and he was finally left in that pit. One fly spent the next few days telling him its secrets while the other ignored him and rolled his earwax into small ball.
The other was a woman speaking of those she met in her travels and the fine dishes she ate in their company. The turn came however when she recounted the act of poisoning them at said dinners and watching them die in their final moments. It was obvious that some of the voices spoke of the same thing in their memories.
An item that allowed them to meet and speak with such fascinating people and in discovery it was this that she noted they also spoke it was for such an item that they lost their lives.

It was instantly thought of now that it was the very same item that Nitha now possessed, as they spoke of a ring. Many who wore it on their finger or on and necklace and even a few that wore it as she did now. But what came next also spoke volumes, that they received the item as a gift from a man that many of the voices claimed as handsome and charming.
The voices and tongues began to climb in volume as she tried to resist the sounds, Nitha gripped the sides of her head in an attempt to drowned them out and even grasped at the ring in her ear to remove it. But to no avail, for some reason her arm refused to pull the item from her body as if some force prevented her from doing so. As the voices grew to an almost unbearable sound she shut her eyes once again and the voices stopped. For a while it was calm and she opened her eyes when she felt it was safe, come to find then that she was still laying down. The young Silver was still sleeping easily at her side and the room was quite with the flow of air through the halls.
One of the guards was peering in through the gate at her as he averted his eyes from Quinn, giving Nitha a small nod in response to her meeting eyes with him.

Nix was in the desert of her home and she is basking in the sun of her remembered freedom. She loved the warm sun shining down on her body and the warm feeling that covered her like a blanket. The sky was clear blue, as it almost always was, and a smile was forming her face into happiness. Happy that she was home.

Then again, it never seemed her luck stayed long. Nix feels the same sensation as back when she originally bit Kenner, as if something was moving beneath her skin but at this time it was not painful. This was not nice and she wondered what was going on, already hating it. She knew something bad was coming, and she wasn't too happy about it. The ground below her began to shift and pull with a sensation traveling to her feet in turn and soon tall sprouts of grass erupted from the earth and the whole of the worlds perception shifted around her. Nix swallowed and looked around her as the world shifted in front of her eyes, making her slightly nervous for what could be coming next.

The world shifted violently, disrupting the normal euphoria of a dreamlike state and it was sudden that Nix found herself easily aware of what was transpiring around her. The air was heavy and cool as if she was high up somewhere and the scene was not recognizable. Bluish green grass covered the earth like a heavy blanket and the area around her was shrouded with an eerie mist, the least of which was her problems at the moment. Her ears began to hear the sounds of feet padding along the ground and the sound of a deep metallic banging among the mist, which was coming ever closer. So Nix took a look around, hoping this would end soon with her waking up.

It was then that she saw them, large and heavy forms breaching the mist bank and approaching. The people approaching were human but not in any way she knew, the majority of whom were tall and blonde with striking blue eyes. Both sex's could be seen as man and woman clad in armor of leather and steel came forward, several striking their weapons on their shields. It was then that she noticed the two at the head of the army. Nix took a closer look, frowning slightly and unsure until she noticed those specific things she had seen earlier.

It was easy to recognize Kenner with his own features untouched by time and his body covered with small strips of paint while he hefted a large sword over his shoulder and the fur of wolves adorned his leather armor. Wolf fur? Nix got slightly nervous. But what she could see what a familiar feminine form next to him. It was Peeshka in an outfit not so different from what she wore now, however the helmet and latching buckles gave away what the limit of armor was at that time. By that time a strange scent caught her nose and she turned to look behind her, to her surprise another army was approaching from the other side of the mist. These soldiers were vastly different, many wore tattered furs and wielded weapons fit for barbarism. They each had the look of blood lust in their eyes and the stains of filth and bile caked exposed flesh. Nix frowned, and looked back at Kenner, thinking of what to do.

The overly large man leading them began to shout, his tongue was incoherent to Nix's mind and as he yelled they began to charge. This startled the hyena woman and she looked at the other side where Kenner was. Kenner was standing stern as she turned to look back and he raised his sword to rally his army, thrusting it forward to incite their charge. The war was on and each army was charging headlong towards one another, with Nix in the center of the barrage and the last sight see could see was a massive clashing of bodies and the spray of life to the earth. Nix could only close her eyes and hope she didn't get hit or hurt.

Nix awoke almost with a scream but managed just to keep it in. She noticed she was on a bed, which she didn't remember. She had been sitting in the corner ever since Kenner had left her in the room with the other slaves. That had caused her emotions to flow freely and she had cried until she had fallen asleep, but she hadn't remembered at all that she had laid down on bed. Nix sighed and turned on her side, facing the wall and closing her eyes. The tears came again and she let it go with soft whimpers. She wasn't tired anymore and wouldn't fall asleep. She would whimper softly until everyone would wake up and the new day would start. The hyena woman sighed as she curled up in the blankets and buried her face into the pillow on her bed.

Kenner

The morning begins with a resounding tone coursing throughout the halls of Raven Loft as somewhere withing a bell is being struck. The light has begun to crawl up the side of the mountain home and the guards had just finished switching details with their replacements.
The sound of boots trotting down the long hallways and the voices of multitudes of patrons coming from within give the hold a sound of a small city unto itself.

Kenner is the first to be awake from his a Peeshka's rest, though for arguments sake they both find it hard to do such a thing and even more so for her. He had managed to gather a cup of tea from the dinning hall adjacent from his room and was now reaching the bottom of the staircase. He would give and receive the usual greeting from the new guards on watch and passed by into the holding area.

Roldan was already standing in the doorway looking over the slaves with a pad in his hand and taking head count.
"Ah.. good morning Master Kenner" He gave with a slight nod but still did not manage to turn his head completely towards Kenner, a tune to how his head was still in his work.
Kenner gave him a touch on the shoulder as he walked passed."Good morning to you to Roldan, and how are our guest doing this fine morning? He gave as an obvious question.

"Good, as far as I can tell." He answered. "The Maidens should be here in a few minutes to help them prepare and tehn the day should be yours."
Kenner gave a slight smile as he walked on towards the beds and looked on at the slaves.."I trust everyone had a good nights rest.." it was obvious by the looks on the torrent of faces coming his way that it wasn't like that at all, no matter how much his smile tried to smooth things over.

There was a knock on Kaede's chamber door after the rise of the sun and a voice issued from behind to obstruction.. ~Master Kaede, you are invited for breakfast in thirty minutes and Kenner said he will be joining you to discus your intentions.~ Peeshka was sounding rather fulfilled this morning, despite how torrential her speech made things sound.

Nix had fallen into a light slumber when she heard an annoying sound, a bell or so it was. She opened her eyes and looked around first, then sat up and rubbed her eyes. She could hear footsteps, probably from guards moving around and watched as a guard started counting them. The hyena woman rolled her eyes and looked down. Then, Kenner came in but she just laid back down again and watched the ceiling. She sighed softly and looked at Kenner's direction again.

Quinn was making her way to him and she wondered why, but didn't bother to get up and go to him as well. She had no desire to do anything today. She just wanted to continue her sleep in the hope she would feel better. Nix turned to face the wall again and closed her eyes.

Kenner

The voices and slight movements abound Kenner made him sure in his mind that the night was not entirely true for the other slaves. His being approached by Quinn did tell him that she was willing to forget what transpired with her and Bloodsong not merely a few hours ago.
He looked at her and took her wrist in his hands, he held them aloft for a moment and looked at her with his same smile. "All in due time Quinn, but for now you need to get readied for this day." he turned his head as the sound of humming began to come from the other gate and he looked back at the others as he released Quinn's arms.

"I understand that most of this is still.. out there.. for most of you, but I will make sure to have everyone attended to and set on your path." the sound of humming becomes slightly louder as he looks back. "Now what happens next I suggest everyone just stay calm and let the maidens do their duties then breakfast will be served." He gives a slight bow as he back out the main gate and exits the holding area.
The approaching sound of the humming tune was growing more and more little footsteps to signal such an approach.

As a guard swings the door ajar several forms enter and begin to spread among the room.
Each is apparently a woman dressed in clean white linens and each carries a set of items, they move in concert with one another and it is noticeable that the humming is coming from each and every one of them. The tune in fact is soothing and crisp with very little wane in its tone. The girls move and break off into small groups of three separating themselves among one slave a group. They bring with them bowls of warm water and towels in hand, while one carries a wooden box in both her hands and they get to work.
They wipe the exposed areas of the body clean and brush hair with a gentle touch, it was obvious that this kind of treatment was more then a usual slave was expecting.

There was another woman there however and she did not work with the others, instead she stood near the center of the room and basked in what was transpiring. She wore a heavy brown linen dress that possessed a cowl much like the other women in the room, it hugged against the sides of her face and left the greying skin of her moth exposed. Dark almost purple lips framed her mouth and the slightly crooked smile was no more inviting then her appearance.
One arm was wrapped around her waist while the other dangled beside her, a gloved hand revealing that she was lacking one of the fingers normally had by other humanoid beings. She stared almost blankly into space, though the same problem with Peeshka remained here as her eyes were not discernibly in view.

* * * *

While the others worked down below Kenner was about to enter the dinning area after passing by the guards downstairs and sending them onto their assigned duties. He pressed the door open to see Kaede sitting at his side of the table and looking about the room, only to avert his eyes to Kenner when he entered.
A kitchen attendant was standing at the opposite side of the room near the kitchen door and noticed when Kenner entered, he gave her a nod and that was her signal to bring out the food. As he sat he leaned into his seat and looked at Kaede.."I am glad that you chose to meet me for breakfast, not many masters are willing to be up so early in the morning. I did have some other masters as guest a while back and their company was rather disappointing." No sooner then when he finished did several of the kitchen staff come back through the door, they carried platters with cooked sausages and bowls of boiled eggs with dates and other fresh fruit.

As they laid the items down near the center of the table Kenner reached out and took a date, popping it into his mouth and eating it. "I understand you had some questions for me?.."

Nix wasn't happy when three or so woman like creatures cornered her. She never liked to be touched, and this was making her rather scared. She had the strong urge to chance but did not and closed her eyes as she shivered. The woman in white started washing her and Nix was doing her best not to chance and attack the woman. She was whimpering softly and heard that the Wolfkin didn't like it either, but he was worse. He had to be held done, where Nix was just letting it happen quietly. She didn't want any kind of attention from the guards as well.

As the sponge went over her arms and legs and feet, Nix was hoping it would be done quickly. Her hair was a mess though. It had to be untangled from the braid, then brushed through it and washed. This was hurting more then she'd thought and she was getting much more the need to change and attack. The hyena woman tried her best not to yelp but ocasionally a soft yelp would escape her. Once they were done with her hair and it was neatly braided again, and she was done washing as well, Nix opened one eye slowly and looked around. She shivered again and looked at the Wolfkin, then scooted to her bed and sat down onto it.

Nix looked at herself for a moment, then let out a sigh and calmed herself down. That was a nightmare for her, but it was over now so she could relax again. She heard her stomach growling that it wanted food and Nix looked around, hungry for some food. At this point, it wouldn't even matter what kind of food it was. Nix would work anything in.

Kenner

Kenner looked on across the table and Kaede as he spoke, knowing full well that he was talking about and was at first surprised that he was considering the other Masters supposed feelings and needs. But it was the mention that Kaede had certain needs and expectations for the slaves he hopes to take with him.
Smiling slightly as he leans into the table.."I can understand you needs and the attempt that you will be making with your family.. such privilege comes with its own dangers." He begins to lift a small cup to his mouth and pauses "And please refrain from calling me Lord Kenner.. I hate that title and my name suits just fine by itself." He continues to finish his drink

Afterwards he eats another date and speaks again. "The training can take up to a month and a half at least, at most two. We keep them here along with their intended master so the two can get more acquainted.. your treatment of them will be paramount however." As he speaks a female guard walks in walking silently and cautiously, she leans in and places her mouth to Kenner's ear. He in turn leans his head into hers as if he was expecting her to be there and she passes a message to him.
He rubs his hands together as she pulls away and moves back out the main door, closing it behind her.
"Well.. everything is going fine for now, our little wolf-kin is still fighting slightly but that is his nature. Soon the additions will receive breakfast and then the day can start in earnest." He continues to eat as Kaede does as well and he looks back up for the table with the need to clarify something to the young noble. "Kaede I feel I need to inform you that I knew your grandfather and his father as well, so if you even intend to waste my time.. all I have to do is wait you out." He says so with a strange smile on his face and then continues "But as for the treatment of your purchase, whatever happens to them after you leave Raven Loft is your responsibility however.. anything negative that reaches my ears will look badly on the owner."

* * * *

With the maidens now done with their duties they quickly and cleanly gathered up their things and began to leave the holding area, still humming the same low and delightful tune that preceded them. The other however that came with them stood still near the center of the room, she was content to look on as the morning routine came to a fold with the slaves. Even so the smell of a meal was begin to wash into the large room with the preceding of the air that moved throughout the building. It was the kitchen staff again and this time there was a different set of individuals that came before. Most likely a cause to the staff being switched out due to a shift change.
The carried plates of soup and eggs much of which was scrambled with a covering of cheese, the meal itself was meant to be hearty so it would fill them up and keep them going. The flavor was only to come in at second since feeding them was a priority. The woman looked on still and gave a switch of her stance towards Bloodsong, his thrashing had caught her attention and she took a step towards him. "All bathed off now.. isn't that a nice feeling?" He voice cut the air and there as a sense of unevenness to it, like it was spiced and laid across the edge of a blade.
She turned to look across the whole group and began to speak again."I am Lady Bella.. when the time comes I will train you in the finer aspects of a servants service to their master and I will also instruct you in the manners of class and status." Though her eyes are not visible or the fact that she has any could be known, her head stays pointed at Bloodsong.."But I can see why Master Kenner had his reservations."

She raises her hands and claps them together then continues to wring her hands.."Now are there any questions or.. concerns either of you would like to voice?"

Nix wasn't happy as she sat on the bed she hadn't left. The young woman watched Quinn interact with the strange lady quietly, and then focused her attention on the servant serving food. She hesitantly tried it, but found it taste like nothing to her. Nix sighed and shove the plate away. She didn't want to eat it, even if she was so hungry. Nix closed her eyes in an attempt to block out the reality, and go back home where she belonged, with her tribe. She wished she had died, and wouldn't live now to be turned into something she hated to be. Tears ran down her face and she buried her face between her hands.

She took a deep breath and stopped it. Nix wiped her tears away and laid down on the bed. Everything around her vanished as she stared at the ceiling, and refrained herself to think of what would become of her. She was once a leader, and now she was nothing more but a slave, a servant to others who seemed to lazy or so to do things. Nix never liked the idea of slaves, she had heard of it before but she hated the idea of turning someone into it or even being one.

Nix lost track of reality as her eyes closed. For her part, her reality was being dead and being reunited with her loved one, and her tribe. Nothing else in the world mattered to her but that. Being reunited with her loved one, she wanted to be with him again. Not even Kenner could change her mind. No one could change Nix's mind, and she wouldn't let it happen either.

Quinn stood in a stunned silence with a plate of food that had been handed to her. Not only had Lady Bella put a collar around Quinn's neck, but she had also said that Quinn was most likely going to the arena, unlike the others. This concerned Quinn, because she wasn't quite sure what this arena meant. The only meaning of an arena she could think of was one where people fought. She wasn't going to be fighting, was she? It was the only conclusion that she came to. A small part of her did feel a little rush of excitement at the thought of fighting strong enemies, but her rational side told her that she most likely won't live very long in this arena.

She set her plate aside, and began to fiddle with the black and red collar around her neck. She pulled and twisted, but the collar wouldn't come off. Feeling annoyed, Quinn examined the collars of others in the room. It seemed that they all had different colours than her. One thing that she noticed was that all the non humans wore black on their collar, so this made her wonder if the colours had different meanings. There were also a few that did not have a collar at all, and this made her wonder if they were new like her. She spotted a woman with the same red and black collar as her. This woman had blonde hair tied back into a braid that hung down her back. Quinn became curious.

She quickly tied her drying hair back into a high pony tail, grabbed her plate once again, and approached the bed that the woman was sitting on. Quinn stopped right in front of the woman, and casually commented, "It looks like we have the same collar around our necks." She took a couple bites of egg and continued, "You don't seem to be human either, what's your name?".

Nix watched the ground beside the bed quietly as she thought of her mate. She often wondered what would have happened if he hadn't died. Would she then be with him? The woman felt tears, but swallowed them back and shook her head. She looked up as someone approached her with the same collar as her and recognized it was Quinn. Nix wasn't sure what Quinn wanted from her, but she guessed some contact with someone else would matter right? She sighed and sat up a bit more as she cocked her head slightly, watching the woman stop before her with the plate. That Quinn could even eat that.

''Looks like it,'' Nix agreed to the comment of of Quinn. She turned her gaze to her own plate, but shook her head mentally and looked back up at the woman. ''My name's irrelevant. But if you must know. My name is Nixal Fger Nir. Just call me Nix,'' the former tribe leader said and sighed. She moved aside so if Quinn decided she wanted to sit down beside Nix she could. ''And I'm not human indeed. I am what you call a Werehyena,'' she said and was a bit pained by telling. Nix sighed and looked away to the other side.

The young woman regained herself and looked back at the other woman. ''And what about you? You're not human either are you? And what's your name anyways?'' she asked.

Kenne

Several minutes passed as Bella watched the other slaves in their moment, they ate the breakfast that was given to them aside from Nitha who did not seem to like the taste of her meal. She looked at Nitha and leaned her head to the side as she approached.. "You should eat.. you have no idea where this day may take you." She spoke out to Nitha with the same craned edge in her smile. She could also hear the two others Nix, and Quinn conversing on the side of her perception.

But that was not the only sound that could be heard, it was like a distant rumble that was working its way through the building. Everyone could hear in and whatever was making the noise was angered. It was coming from the master hall but getting closer and at that realization Bella turned her body from Nitha keeping her attention square on the guards at the main door. They also had a strange look on them, each one getting tense and straightening their stance as if something was about to happen.
Then something did happen..
The sound was an argument being held between the recognizable voice of Kenner and a woman with a soft but soured voice. The main gate swung wide as Kenner made his way into the holding cell and his expression told entirely that he was getting agitated at what was transpiring. Then the conversation hit the room with the woman speaking first.. "I still don't care what you think you have to say to me Kenner but at the end of this all your prisoners will be set free, do you understand me?" The woman behind Kenner was shorter and fairer in skin then most, her features were actually quite exotic as she pointed her long thin fingers at the back of his head. She had dark brown shoulder length hair and almond shaped eyes with an equally brown texture.

Her lips were full and her cheekbones were high, her face would actually look quite beautiful were it not tortured with her expression of anger towards Kenner.

Kenner turns on the balls of his heels and faces her quickly speaking up on his case.."I do understand Miss Shia, you are not smart enough to understand that no matter what law you claim on me or my house it will do no good. Raven Loft is not considered a true section of Thaiden so its laws do not apply here.. it has been this way since before you took your station." He pokes her in the center on her chest right below her collar and looks her dead in the face.
"Now leave, before I have the guard force you out.. I have lost my patience for you today." The woman Shia's face goes stern for a moment and she gives him a glowering stare before responding.
"Alright Kenner.. I will go, but when I come back you will be sorry and your house will pay for its atrocities." She turns to leave, passing by several of the guards in a huffed anger. Kenner takes a moment to calm himself as his face is away from the slaves and turns to smile once again at the whole of them.

"Well.. I hope everyone's night was fine."

Quinn plopped down right beside Nix, crossed her legs, and said, "I'm Quinn." She had never heard of a werehyena before, and she didn't know what to make of the creature before her. This woman resembled a human, but she was not one. She didn't want to offend the woman by admitting that she had never heard of her kind, so Quinn had just nodded like she knew exactly what she was.

She pointed to her own horns and said, "I'm a demon from a clan of the northern mountains." She glanced down at the full plate that the woman had pushed away. "You should really eat that. I know what it feels like to starve, and it's on of the most horrible experiences I've ever had, trust me. You never know when you'll be able to eat again." She took another bite of her own food when angry voices were heard.

Kenner and a woman Quinn had never seen burst through the gate. Their argument hit her ears with interest. The woman seemed to want to free all the slaves in Raven Loft and Quinn was enthusiastic for that idea. The woman looked very unique compared to the other humans she had seen. Or maybe she wasn't human at all. It was getting harder and harder for Quinn to tell the difference. But one thing was clear, the woman was absolutely gorgeous. After the woman exited, Quinn knew that she had gained valuable information. "Miss Shia, was it?" She murmured under her breath, and she looked thoughtful.

Quinn turned back to the werehyena beside her, and lowered her voice so that only Nix could hear her, "You want to get out, right? Because I think we just found our ticket out of here." Her eyes flickered to the door where Miss Shia left. "We need to contact that woman somehow. Will you help me?" Quinn's black eyes stared into Nix's with ambition.

Nix watched Quinn plop down beside her and nodded at her name. She watched as the woman explained what she was and where she came from. ''A demon? Wow...'' Nix was quite interested by that fact. She had prayed to her Gods every single day quietly, even here. So to meet a demon was both interesting and strange. Then Quinn told Nix she should really eat and with hesitant movement she picked up the plate and looked at it. She looked at Quinn, then back at the plate. ''I guess,'' the werehyena answered quietly before she took a bite and sighed.

Then, Kenner and some kind of other woman came into the room, both seeming frustrated with each other. She picked up the sound of freedom which immediately got her attention. It seemed Quinn had heard the same and she turned her head towards the demon.

''Sure, I'll help ya. After I get out I'll get myself killed.'' Nix looked at the direction of Kenner, then back at Quinn. ''Yeah. Lets get out of here,'' she said quietly so only Quinn could hear her.

The loud, angry woman who was shouting about freeing the ones in the cages piqued Bloodsong's interest. Someone from outside of the cage cared about them? Knew about them?

Perhaps there was a chance for all of them to be free, so they can go home.

Home...

He sighed and shook off the sadness that tried to creep up onto him. No. He had to stay strong. He glanced around to see what was going on, the demoness and the hyena woman were talking quietly to each other. It was secretive, whatever it was. Although he was too far away to hear them, and he couldn't read their body language to see what was going on in detail.

Quinn stared at Nix blankly, and in her surprise she forgot to whisper and her voice came out louder than expected, "Kill yourself?" Her eyebrows crinkled together in confusion, " Why would you escape only to kill yourself?" She then shook her head quickly, and before Nix had a chance to respond, she said, "Never mind. I don't need to know what crazy thoughts are going through your mind." Quinn wasn't sure if she had picked the right person to talk to about this anymore. This woman now seemed... unstable. She wondered if keeping this woman in a place of surveillance was actually the best thing for her at the moment. But she didn't think that she could really go back now that the woman had agreed. It wasn't really any of her business what this woman did after they got everyone out, anyway.

Quinn decided to proceed with more caution, and she lowered her voice to a whisper once more, "Anyway, we don't only need information on this woman, but on Raven Loft as a whole. We need to know about how to get out of the building, and if there are any types of magic barriers set up. I'm not sure if many of the others are from around this area, so we need information on the layout of the land around Raven Loft, and about how far we have to go to get into the borders of Thaiden, because their law seems to be different for slaves. I think if we get that far, then we should be safe from pursuit." Quinn pulled her hair over her shoulder, and twisted it between her fingers, her eyes thoughtful. "That woman seems passionate about helping us. If she does not come back, we will need to get her a message somehow." Her voice trailed off into silence.

Her eyes wandered to a guard at one of the gates, and she turned back to Nix, "All right. Our first task is to gather information. You see that guard? What better person to know information than the people guarding Raven Loft. The guards that watch us don't seem very high in rank, and I wonder about their loyalty if they were to be offered a high enough price. During the day it seems that there is always someone high rank with us, like that Peeshka woman or Lady Bella. But at night it's only the guards." Quinn's face turned very serious as she lowered her voice even more, so that Nix had to lean in closer to hear, "Lets have a chat with the guards tonight. At Midnight. Will you be there?"

Nix looked at Quinn as she almost seemed to shout. She snarled lowly, not wanting anyone to know about this. It was her fault anyways, if she had kept herself quiet Quinn would not have known and she would be free to do as she wanted once outside. But, did she actually want to leave this place. Where would she go? Back to the deserted desert where no one was and where she would be all alone? Nix looked into the direction of Kenner. And she would betray him, after finally having stopped her rebellious behaviour, now she wasn't sure anymore. She looked back at Quinn as she rattled on talking.

Nix listened closely, information. Great. Of course they would need that. But she wondered if she would in any way get information, well, maybe when she would threaten to kill him. She looked at the guard Quinn mentioned and then at Quinn again. ''Sure,'' she answered, seeming not to pay that much attention, as if she wasn't there with her thoughts, but somewhere else. Nix sighed and closed her eyes, praying quickly in the hope of success, more for the others than for her, then opened her eyes and nodded quietly at Quinn.

"Did you even pay attention to anything I said?" Quinn narrowed her eyes at Nix, who looked as if her mind had been else where for half of her explanation. Quinn wondered if Nix even knew what she was nodding for. Annoyance rose in her quickly, and she stood up. She towered over Nix, and said in a harsh whisper, "You're obviously not serious about this. Maybe you don't have a reason to get out, I don't know." Quinn crossed her arms, "But I do. I have so much I wish to accomplish that I can't wait for someone who's going to slow me down. I'll just have do it myself." Her eyes turned from anger into disappointment, and her tone grew sad, "I guess I had thought that you were going to be more like me. I don't know why I tried to depend on anyone, anyway." She turned sharply, and stormed off to the other side of the room.

Quinn sat on the edge of the fountain, and she hugged both knees to her chest, and leaned her forehead against the fabric of her pants. She needed to calm her emotions. She tried to reason that it had been best to push the woman out of the plan, because the woman would be too unpredictable and Quinn needed to be cautious. Nix had proven a couple things in their conversation. The first, was that Nix was not very interested, as she had stopped paying attention half way through. The second, was that she was the type of person who went along with others without question. Through out Quinn's explanation, Nix did not ask questions, or even put in ideas of her own. Quinn had even found it strange that the woman had seemed unfazed by a demon asking her if she wanted in on the plan. Quinn knew that her race wasn't the most loved, and it was odd that the woman hadn't been at least suspicious.

She reached her hand down, and lightly skimmed the water with her fingers. She knew that she was still going to question the guards, but it would have to be alone.