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Kaitlyn Singh

"You'll never get far in this world without having some fight in you."

0 · 1,090 views · located in Valie

a character in “The Shadow Children”, as played by xXxCryptic-AngelxXx

Description

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"You'll never get far in this world without having some fight in you."





Introductions






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Full Name: Kaitlyn Nichole Singh

Nickname: Kat [friends],
Kaitlyn [underlings]

Age: 20

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: Bisexual

Group: The Shadow Children

Rank/Title:Captain






On the Outside






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Appearance: Kat has shoulder length, wavy light blonde hair that she likes to part to the side and sky blue eyes. She's 5'8" and 136 lbs. She's slightly muscular, but thin. She has no tattoos, but her hands and arms are covered in the scars that come with years of combat and training.






On the Inside





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Personality:
Kat is... well the best way to sum her up is confident. To the point where it often borders on arrogance, but not without reason. She's a natural born leader and doesn't give an order without being confident it's the right move. She's also a bit of a flirt. Okay, more than a little bit. She's a Proud person but knows when to let her pride take a hit. Being in a position of leadership leaves little room for error so if she's wrong, she wants to hear it and acknowledge it. She's also fiercely loyal. Once she vows to have your back, she'll keep her word even if it costs her life. She's also incredibly brave.


Hobbies:
  • Swordplay,
  • Running,
  • leatherworking
Skills:
  • Swordplay,
  • Flirting,
Habits:
  • Bites her thumb when she's thinking
  • Clenches her jaw when she's frustrated
  • Throwing things when she's angry
Oddities:
Allergic to bees

Likes/Loves:
✓ Fruity teas ✓Leila ✓ the Herbalist ✓ chocolate ✓ Her sword ✓ Her Shadow Children ✓ Feasts (parties) ✓ dancing ✓ alcohol ✓ ecstasy ✓ the night sky ✓ combat ✓ running ✓ the forest surrounding their camp ✓ fireflies ✓ Cats ✓ gardens ✓ Adrenaline Rushes ✓ Green ✓

Dislikes/Hates: ✗ The Daggers ✗ The Red Lady ✗ Opening Up ✗ Being frightened ✗ losing confidence ✗ being bested in a fight ✗ bees ✗ scratchy clothes ✗ hangovers ✗ having her leadership questioned ✗ vegetables ✗ needles ✗ Her Past ✗ Red






The Past






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Biography
Place Of Origin: Valie
History: Kaitlyn was born Kaitlyn Jacobs to Denise and Aaron Jacobs. She was the oldest and the only child of the couple and was treated with respect by both parents. Meaning, just because she was a girl didn't mean she couldn't do "man work" and just because she was a girl didn't mean she needed to do "women's work". Although she did often so she could spend the time with her mother. She helped her father, a farmer, Out in his fields. For as long as she could remember she was friends with Leila and her family. Leila, Kat, and Leila's older brother were a trio that couldn't be separated. That is, until he was old enough to do more "chores" around the house. He couldn't spend his time "playing" when there were things to be done. Then it was just Leila and Kat and that was just fine with her. They wandered the woods and--sometimes--the streets of the kingdom, snatching treats from window sills and watching artisans work. That's where Kat fell in love with leatherworking and asked the leatherman if he could teach her a thing or two. Those days, they would return home with sugar on their faces and small strips of leather tied about their wrists.

After one specific trip into town, the two went their separate ways early, something about Leila's birthday preparations for the next day. She went to bed late, hopped up on sugar and excitement for her friend's birthday. She had made her something special at the leather shop and couldn't wait until she could give her friend her present. The first thing she remembers that night was the heat. And the laughter. She opened her eyes to find her room filled with smoke. She grabbed her knife and the arm of her favorite doll and headed out to discover what the commotion was. Maybe her mother had burned breakfast, but the sun had yet to rise over the horizon. What she found still haunts her nightmares. Her parent's room was ablaze and there were thick lines of red on the floor coming from the doorway. She cautiously followed them outside and into the new snowfall. Red was everywhere. In the flames, in the snow. And just feet from her was her mother's body, broken, bleeding, and dead. Her eyes stared into the space before her, but saw nothing.

She heard her father yell her name and turned just in time to see a woman dressed all in red bring a knife across the skin of her father's exposed throat, fist pulling his hair. She laughed high and shrill like a broken bell and the body fell into the snow. She was frozen, her knife held out before her. She was shaking, but she wouldn't put it down. She wouldn't go down without a fight. The woman was impressed by this and gave her an offer. To join her and she would get everything she wanted. She spit in the woman's face and cut the skin of her cheek in refusal. How could she have everything she had ever wanted, when half of that dream was dead in the snow? Shadows filled the trees and they swooped down, landing between her and the woman. Before she could say anything, before she could learn if they were friend or foe, she was swept up and carried into the darkness. What she had seen had finally hit her, and she collapsed in the person's arms.

She woke up not too long after to find her best friend asleep in a bed beside her. Part of her hair was singed and there were burns on her shoulder. She hurried over and held her friend's hand until she woke. When she did, they were introduced to the TSC and eventually became one of them. Vengeance burned like acid in Kat's veins and she fought and still fights everyday until she can avenge her parents' deaths and rid the kingdom, rid the world of the red evil The Red Lady spreads.





Face Claim: Natalie Dormer
Hex: #004d00

So begins...

Kaitlyn Singh's Story

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Khara Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow
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Time: 22:00






Image What started out as a quiet, clear night would forever be known as The Day of Blood and Fire.

It was late evening when the screaming started, emanating from the stone fortress of the castle. The people gathered at the doors, too frightened to go inside, but too terribly curious to stay away. The doors flew open with a bang and people, Nobles and Servants alike, fled from the interior of the building. They trampled people and wrecked stalls as they fled, but they wouldn't get far. There were plumes of smoke rising from the different districts of the city. Orange light began to glow and the air was filled with more screams. There was the crashing of glass, the clang of metal on metal, and the heartbreaking sounds of people losing their homes. Some even losing their lives.

The culprit? A woman dressed in the same shade of red as the blood staining the throne room who wears the face of the queen. But the queen is dead, the king is nowhere to be seen, and the princess is missing. This new queen, this Red Lady, and her young army are tearing down the kingdom. Not just to conquer it. No. To rebuild it. First comes the fire and the cleansing. Then the reconstruction will commence and the kingdom will be remade.

The key players are all in place. The Queen stands at the head of the square. A shimmering crown of gold sits upon her head, glowing in the orange light of the fires. The Captain and Vice Captain of her guard, her soldiers, stand on either side of her giving a... trial of sorts for the nobles that refused to help when she had appeared to them before. Her daggers moved throughout the city, seeking rats on two legs who must face their crimes against the crown.


Image The Shadow Children were mostly settled in for the night, the younger ones already asleep in their cots in the glow of the lanterns while the older ones worked and did their playing. The herbalist was at the one of the man tables near Soup, their kitchens, playing cards with her brother, the Medic. The weapons master was in her treehouse, staring up into the night sky, an open bottle of wine in her hand. The Captain was up in her treehouse, another young man wrapped around her finger. The master of the guard was out with her troop, scouting the forest and the kingdom for any sign of the snakes called Daggers. And any sign of her missing brother.





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ImageThe missing Princess--Drew--was fleeing her kingdom, dressed in rags and covered in dirt. Her hands were riddled with blisters, sore and festering from the prison work forced upon her. Her back still stung where a whip had cut her skin and painted the walls with her blood. The sound of screams shook her body to her core. So much so, that she had fallen to her knees repeatedly until she was too far to hear them. She turned, high enough to see the smoke and flame filling the night sky. She let out a choked sob and collapsed, her tears leaving streaks in the dirt that coated her cheeks. Her kingdom was falling to pieces and she was powerless to stop it.

"Winn," she said, barely a whisper, "Winn, we should go back." She pushed herself to her feet, her legs weak beneath her. She had been working in the gardens all day after being sick all night from the drugs they fed her. She didn't have a choice. She needed to eat to survive long enough to escape. And she had, but it was bittersweet. She didn't understand why Angelina chose to strike that night when it was obvious she had her men in the castle for weeks. Her torment had only gone on for days, but the time seemed to stretch down in the cells. She wouldn't tell Winter the truth about what was going on down there. Not yet. She doubled over and wretched. Whether from exertion, drugs, or shock she couldn't tell.

She straightened and wiped her mouth. "Winn, we have to go back."






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ImageKat swung from the hammok she had hanging one of the walls of her treehouse--They were comfortable but not as practical as a bed--dressed in her underthings and a long shirt. She was unaware of the events taking place on the other side of the walls. She was sure the others thought she was fooling around with one of the boys--young men really--but in truth she had sent him away hours ago when he realized that she wasn't interested in anything he wanted. She had her own needs. They were met. She was done with him. Now, she let her mind wander. More about the past than the present. The happy parts of her past anyway.

She had half a mind to reach for one of the bottles she had tucked away, but then she remembered that Leila had been in her room earlier that night and she had yet to get her report from her vice captain and Mavis. She would need that before she decided to incapacitate herself for the night. Things in the forest had been quiet lately which Kat found incredibly unsettling. "What are you up to you crimson bitch?" She mused to herself.






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ImageLeila sat in hear window, leaning against the back frame. There was a throwing knife in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. If she cut her hand, it wouldn't be a big deal. It wasn't her dominant hand and she had someone who could fix her up. She just needed something to take the edge off. It was getting closer to her birthday. Closer to the day her life turned upside down all those years ago. She looked out the window again only this time she was staring down at the tables where her best friend and his sister were playing cards with some of the other kids. She supposed this family wasn't all that bad. Things hadn't been the same at home for a long time anyway.

She took another swig of wine and gulped down the sour liquid. Wine wasn't her favorite, but Kat always had some stashed away in her treehouse and never locked the door. She too was oblivious to the monstrous deeds happening on the other side of the wall. Hell, the forest could be on fire and she wouldn't know. She was watching the stars with a reverence. The only way she was leaving her treehouse was if Will came in her and talked her out of it.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Khara Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow
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ImageSomething was off. Mavis couldn't tell what, but something about tonight was different. The woods were clear, nothing but the odd animal. Maybe Mavis was just paranoid as the anniversary of her parents death was coming up. Nothing would happen, she was worried for nothing.

Still she had to be sure. If they got attacked tonight because Mavis though she was seeing things the teen would never forgive herself. She sent all but one of her party back to camp with the instructions to tell their Captian that Mavis would return later. Kat would need to know after all.

She made her way to the edge of the forest, her ruined home in the distance. Was that smoke from the city? Mavis had to check this out. She turned to the Shadow Child with her, hand on her blade. 'Return to The Captain. Tell her of the smoke. I will go further and look for signs of those blasted Dagger.'

'But Mavis-'

She silenced him with a glare. Young as she was her troops respected her. He nodded grimly and after placing a calloused hand on her shoulder, ran off. Mavis faced the castle again. Just what was happening?

She took a deep, calming breath and took off, a blur in the night. As she got closer Mavis could hear the screams. Painfully she was reminded of the flames licking at her skin, her brothers screaming for her.

She shook her head. Now wasn't the time. Something big was happening and Mavis needed to find out what. The Castle's main entrance was in sight but Mavis didn't need that. Anyone of intrest would be escaping in the smaller routes, sewers and holes in the ground.

Not wanting to be noticed, but wanting to see what was going on Mavis did what she does best. She scrambled up a tree and planted herself on a thick branch. If no one important came out within an hour she'd return to camp.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Khara Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow
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The day had finally come. Besides the day of her gaining her crown, the day of reckoning had come, as well. It's been days that she had been exacting her revenge as today was just pure icing on the cake. Angelina roamed around the castle with a few grapes inside of her hand. She popped them all into her mouth then turned to look towards the throne room and saw that there were blood on almost every single aspect of the room. The aroma of smoke began to crept at her nose as she knew that the day she took over that there was going to be turmoil - Her turmoil.

Angelina was heavily guarded by her recruited group of misfits. She wondered if this display of the day would bring out those obviously terrified children in the woods. They were pathetic in her eyes as she continued her waltz throughout the castle as most places she went, she could see the flames still burning a bright orange. The black smoke of already burned places that were slowly turning to ash.

As she entered the square and took her rightful place in front of her throne, she directed her soldiers to stand guard beside her. She stood there proudly and looked as she had one of her hostages tied with their hands behind their back to a wooden pole. Angelina looked at the person as she parted her lips to speak.

"One last chance to bow down to me or suffer the consequences." She spat as the male tied to the pole eyed her with a disgusted look. "I'd rather burn in the deepest depths of hell before I bow down to a wretched person like you." Angelina chuckled as she lowered her head to look down at the ground before her eyes fixated back towards the male. "Well, let me help you out a little bit, huh?" Before the male could even respond, masked men that carried torches had already set the male ablaze as his piercing screams filled the square.

"Kassandra, make it stop." She muttered towards the female as Kassandra nodded her head and grabbed her bow along with an arrow and shot it towards the male, ultimately silencing him. A smirk began to form among her lips as she took a few steps forward and looked down at the other nobles before her. "This is just the beginning. There is plenty more where that came from. Bow down to me or the King you all once knew is next." Yes, those last words she had uttered were simply breathtaking as no one truly knew what happened to the King - Their King. At least they knew that he was truly alive or maybe she was just toying with them.

Angelina along with most members of The Daggars truly knew where the King was kept hidden. He was kept in a tower within the castle as she didn't quite know what to do with him yet. She didn't know if she wanted to kill him or just torture him until he cannot take it anymore and asks for his own sentencing. Angelina couldn't think about that now as she eyed her loyal army. "If this doesn't bring those children out of those woods, I do not what will." She spoke softly as she turned back towards the audience. "Now, we feast!"

After she spoke those words, the audience was still at a hush as they followed her to the dining area, a place in which she has yet to burn. Her army trailed behind her as she entered the room and took her rightful seat at the top, where she could see down at everyone else. "Now, we wait." Angelina spoke as she sat back and relaxed for now as it seemed like people were actually enjoying themselves.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Mavis Crusico Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn Character Portrait: Alexandei Joscelyn
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ImageWinter was right. He was always right. She hated that he was always right, but he was perceptive and logical which helped keep her in line. In this case, he was keeping her from running back to her death. She just couldn't help but feel she was abandoning her people to the likes of her... gods her aunt. She didn't even know her mother had a sister until she saw the woman. For a moment, as the woman stood at the bars of her cell, she believed it to be her mother and begged her to let her out. Then she saw her eyes and the darkness in them and backed away from her. It wasn't her mother. No. A monster wearing her mother's face...

She looked over at Winter and nodded. "You're right," She murmured. "Lets go." She took a step forward, her leg wobbled once but held her up. "I can run." She said before really believing that she could. She could hear them now. The pounding of soldier's boots on the cobblestone road. She stiffed, fear consuming her where once she would've been brave. She had heard them so many times from behind those metal bars... She took off as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew Winter would be able to keep up. Hell, he could outrun her. He had many times when they spent afternoons in the sunlight and floral aroma of the gardens while she was temporarily shirking her "princessly duties".

She allowed him to lead her through the streets, stopping when they heard boots stomping around corners or the clang of metal on metal as guards attacked each other. It was chaos. No one knew who to trust. For a split second, Drew worried that she was being deceived, but shook it from her. If was residual from being in her cell. She thought she could trust the guards, some she had known for years growing up in the castle. But Winter? Winter would never. She had known him practically from the time she was born. There was no way he would turn on her. She grasped the cloak about her shoulders as she ran, thankful he had given it to her. It was autumn, edging closer to winter with every moon and she only had the rags she was given in exchange for her torn party dress.

They were nearing the walls now. Her lungs burned and ached and her feet were blistering from lack of proper footwear, but she pushed. If she could just get through the wall.. It loomed before them. A promise of freedom, but also a promise of imprisonment if they couldn't get out the gates. If they were guarded by too many.. or they were lowered. It took four guards to lift one. They would never pull it off with just the two of them. Thankfully they were open... And there were only two guards.






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ImageKat had begun to doze in her hammock and had thought to get up and grab the blanket from her bed when she heard an urgent knock on the door. She blinked at it sleepily, startled slightly by the sound in the quiet of camp. There were two things it could be, someone reporting trouble outside camp, or someone wanting her to solve something petty inside camp. "Captain Kaitlyn!" A small voice called from the other side. She sat up straight, the drowsiness shed like a blanket as it fell from her shoulders to rest in her lap. Only the little ones called her Kaitlyn. And if it was a little one, something was very wrong.

"Hold on, Sweetheart!" she answered as she moved quickly across the room to her makeshift wardrobe to pull on some trousers. The older kids were used to her being in different manners of dress, but the little ones were... well too little. Once she was fully clothed, she opened the door and knelt down so she was just slightly shorter than the guard that stood before her. They looked frightened, eyes wide and shoulders shaking. "What is it, soldier?" She asked, voice light, but serious. The child took a few breaths, still out of breath from running and crying. Kat stood and moved to her bedside table where a jug of water sat. She took a glass, poured it, and then handed it to the child to drink. "Deep breaths, hun." Once the child was calm enough, they ran a hand down their face before delivering the news.

Kat's whole body tensed, but she gave a soft smile and patted the child on the head. "Thank you for alerting me. Go get something to snack on and return to your hut. We will not be needing you tonight." Being a guard was one thing, but fighting against the daggers was another thing entirely. The child nodded gratefully and climbed back down the short latter onto one of the many bridges until they made their way down to their hut. Kat shut the door and pulled on better clothing and a small section of light chainmail she had managed to acquire from a recent job. She also grabbed her sword which she strapped to her waist before pulling on her boots, and exiting her room. She moved as quickly and quietly as she could until her leather clad foot was firmly on the ground.

"Captain's Guard! We are needed in the city!" She commanded as she moved about camp. She saw little faces poking sleepily from windows and doorways but were quickly shuffled back inside by the older ones. They told different stories, a drill, a bear, a dragon. Something they could spin into a bedtime story. Those children deserved chocolate one of these days for all the work to do to keep the little ones calm. She grabbed ahold of one of the older guards, someone who had been off duty this night and told him to run ahead and tell Mavis to lead the people into the tunnels. "Keep her from engaging unless absolutely necessary. She'll probably be after blood since it's almost..Well you get the idea. Keep her safe. We need to keep each other alive right now. Worry about killing them later." He saluted and took off into the short cave tunnel that lead out into the dark of the forest. Kat found Andei and Will playing cards at one of the tables and knew, by the tarot cards on the table and the look of fear in her eyes, she knew something was wrong. Kat cleared her throat, and shuffled her feet. Momentarily at a loss for what to say to her friend. She couldn't say, "It'll be okay," because she wasn't sure that it would be. She wanted to hold her and promise nothing would happen, but she didn't. Instead she said, "It'll be okay, Andei." Smooth. She shook her head and turned her attention to Will. "Where's Leila?" She had been all over camp, but hadn't seen her. She turned her head up to the window of Leila's treehouse and frowned. Leila sat staring at the sky, Kat's bottle of wine in her hand. She sighed, rubbing her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. "Will, go get her down and sober her up would you? We'll need her to get things ready and... as much as i hate to say it" She hated to put her sister in danger, but Leila was very skilled at many things. Things they would need. "Bring her. You both are needed in town."

She didn't bother to wait for the question she knew was coming. "The Red Bitch made her move." She took off to finish rounding up her troops. Where's my Vice Captain? Where's Frere?"

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn Character Portrait: Alexandei Joscelyn
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Andei's silent, gentle touch told him everything it needed to. A reminder that things were different now, that he didn't need to prove himself any more. If only it was that simple. But he smiled at her, thankful for her comfort.

The stench of smoke hit him at the same time as it hit her, and he watched as Andei pulled out her tarot cards. He didn't understand tarot all that much. But Andei's expression told him everything he needed to know- as did the fact that she actually spoke to him. When she was using her words, it was worse than they'd thought. He understood the gaps in her wording as well, feeling his stomach plummet to the floor. It was like the night their parents had been killed. The night that Will had probably nearly died. The night that Andei stopped talking.

Before he could do anything other than get to his feet, though, Kat appeared, only confirming the worst of his suspicions. He didn't miss her comforting of Andei. Kat was the only other person Andei would actually talk to instead of her usual, silent communication. Will was glad that she had somebody else, and only more so that it was Kat. If anything did happen to him, Kat would take care of Andei. She wouldn't be entirely alone. That gave him comfort, more than he was going to admit. He didn't know the exact details of their relationship, but he wasn't going to push Andei for them either. As long as she was happy.

He nodded at Kat's instructions, glancing up to Leila's room. If both of them were needed, then things were bad. They could sometimes get away with leaving one of them behind, but not now. They needed as many bodies as possible, and if it was what Will thought it was, then they'd need a field medic anyway.

Kat confirmed his worst fears in a few short words. The Red Queen had struck again- and for real this time. They had to move. He turned to Andei. "You know what I put in my field pack, right? Can you go sort that out for me while I attempt to deal with Leila? Put in anything and everything you think I'll need," he said, before climbing the ladder and going to Leila's room.

He knocked, counted to ten, then entered anyway. "On a scale of one to ten, how drunk are you right now?" He asked, leaning against the door. "Because we're needed in the city, and you need your wits about you. The Red Queen is on the rampage."

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Khara Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow
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ImageLeila snorted and grabbed another knife from her bedside table and started twirling it as she had before. "I've got plenty more where that came from." She raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to come nearer, but she knew he wouldn't take it. Instead he would just stand in the doorway and attempt to talk her down from there. Unfortunately, he knew exactly what to say to get her to do so. She listened with feigned disinterest as he spoke and snorted again when he spoke of handsome men falling at her feet. She didn't want to be a hero. She didn't want glory. But handsome men? She looked up at will. Well.. that probably wasn't happening any time soon.

The temptation to wait and watch was easy to overcome when faced with the second option. There was no way she would allow Will and Kat to do anything dire without her. No. If she was to die in battle it would be with them. There was no way she could live without them. She'd forget how to function without her sister and her best friend. A sick feeling rolled in her gut at the thought of either of them being dragged back, broken and lifeless to be buried. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the nausea to pass and when it did, she looked up at him again. She stood and walked over to him, slightly unsteady, but nothing a run couldn't fix. She held out her hand for her knife to be passed and she held up the uncorked wine bottle for him to take. "I think, Doctor, you drive a hard bargain."

Once her knife was once again in her possession, she went to grab the others before also grabbing her cloak and making her way down to ground level. When she was most the way down she started barking orders as if she was the captain and not Kat. "Alright, we haven't received much ammunition from our jobs as of late, so everyone will have to stick mainly with sword. Only those deemed "sharp shooters" are allowed to use a bow or cross bow tonight. Blasters, grab whatever you need in case of an emergency, but do not get selfish with the powders. Save them for what they're meant for in times like these. Emergencies. If I see any explosion with our signature in it, you will be hung from the cave ceiling by your toes until your legs go numb." She continued on like that until they were at the mouth of the cave and ready to leave.

There, she saw her sister. She sauntered up as if she hadn't stolen her wine and as if she hadn't been drinking most of the evening and said, "Hello, sister dear." That was honestly a dead giveaway. It was only ever Kat or Sis. Never Sister Dear unless she was drunk.





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ImageKat finished rounding up those who could fight, many had left before the others, members of the guard currently on and off duty. She split them into two uneven groups. A mix of those with skill and all those under the age of fifteen were made to stay behind and guard the little ones. Even though Kat was sure the Daggers wouldn't be attacking their home base (not that the idiots would be able to find it) since their attacks were focused on the city, but she would rather be safe than sorry.

As she was making her way to the cave entrance, she glanced up to check on the status of Leila's coming or not and smirked as she saw a familiar dark haired figure make her way clumsily downwards from her treehouse. She shook her head in bemusement as she began to bark orders at the others even though most had already gathered their weapons. She didn't bother to say anything until her sister was beside her at the cave opening. "You're late," she greeted with a smirk, but the time for talk had passed. With a nod, she turned and took off through the trees. Branches whipped by her face, but none struck her as if the trees were aware of their urgency and parted so they could pass. She heard Leila give out a curse every so often as they ran which told Kat two things. One of which she already knew and another that surprised her, though she'd never admit it. The first was that Leila was still buzzed from the wine. The second that the trees seemed willing to hinder her. Guess she must've done something stupid.

The made their way to the hill that overlooked the entire kingdom when she stopped them and motioned for them to split up. The different groups were to go to different parts of the city in search of people to bring down to the tunnel systems. Kat, Leila, Will, and two others were going through the front. They were to serve as a distraction for the Daggers. Not that they would truly take the bate, but they had to try.

With a crack, the sky opened up and the rain came down, causing the cobblestone streets to become slick, but it did little for the fires. Kat pictured the streets in chaos, but now they were just a mess. There was noise in the distance, but most of what she could hear was glass breaking and fires raging. No Daggers in sight and no people. At least, no people who were living.

"Come out, you red bitch!" She yelled into the streets, her voice echoing off the stone. "You're going to regret waking your neighbors!"





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Image Drew froze. She recognized those faces. She had seen those faces before. Not just in the castle, but after... in her cells. It took a moment of coaxing to get Drew to snap out of it enough for her to move and hide. Normally, she'd whip out her sword, but--other than the fact that she didn't have it--she just... didn't have the fight in her at the moment. She should be angry with those men, but instead all she felt was fear towards them. It was herself she was angry with. Angry that they had broken her. Angry that she had allowed it.

So now she watched, practically cowering behind a stone wall. Valie's once strong princess reduced to hiding in the face of danger. How sad. How sickening. Maybe The Red Lady was right about her. Maybe there was no way she could ever be queen.. The sound of metal on bone broke through her daze and brought her attention into the present and what she saw she hoped to never have to see again. Winter had sliced one of the guards' heads clean off and had stabbed the other into the wall. He was angry. Why was he angry? Well... besides for the obvious reasons.

He gave his call for her to come out and she felt the corners of her mouth lift ever so slightly as she made her way out to him. It brought back memories of playing in the gardens as children, giving each other clues as to each others' whereabouts while playing hide-and-seek. In a place as big as the castle, one needed hints in order to keep them from playing the day away with the same match of the same game. She stopped a couple feet from him. She reached out with a hand and wiped a spot of blood from his face. "I wish you didn't have to do that.." She whispered and then made her way out of the gate. "You have to show me the way to camp. I don't know how to get there. Also, do you have my sword?"

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Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn
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Drew emerged from her hiding place, it wasn't far, and honestly she was barely hidden. He wondered briefly if she saw what he'd done and what she thought of him for doing so. A small part of him, whispered to him, wondering too if she herd what they said about him. It wasn't important but he wondered.

She approached him, stand a respectable distant from him, and all he wanted to do was reach out to her, hold her close and tell her he wouldn't let anything happen to her, but now was not the time nor the place for such a thing, nor was she -evident by her body language- in the proper state of mind for such an embrace.

To his surprised, his reached out, her hands, marred by callouses, brushed blood from his cheek, causing him to turn his head ashamed. "I wish you didn't have to do that..." She said and Winter watched after her. He knew her to be kind, and a gentle hearted woman, but he never expected such forgiveness for men who took turns defiling her body. Guilt weigh on him like a ship's anchor, keeping him from moving. It wasn't until she spoke that he moved to her, a few long strides and he was at her side once again.

"You have to show me the way to camp, I don't know how to get there and do you have my sword?"[b/]

Winter almost smiled. Almost. He was glad she wanted her sword, she was sounding more like her old self but he was dreading this conversation. He made a camp for them, hiding his swords, and the one he'd been forging for her but most of their hope lay in a myth. He had no idea where to find the Shadow Children and up until a few days ago, He didn't even believe them to be real. He swallowed.

[b]"I wasn't able to retrieve it from your chambers"
He told her before rubbing the back of his head, upsetting a few of his dark curls. "I have one for you at camp, but I must confess something once we get there." He told her but that was it for the time being. When Winter want to talk, he wouldn't, it irked her, hell, it irked most everyone, but that was who he was. He only said what was important there and then. Telling her that their only hope rested on some mythical faery like children, and that's what he'd been doing this entire time, while she was in those cells, suffering at the hands of his former comrades, and the Red Lady's wrath, was not of the upmost importance right now. Besides he himself wasn't prepared for that conversation.

They move through the gates and soon they were free of the city and beating through the forest. rain began to pour down, giving the forest an eerie calm. Winter offered to carry her again, she'd been on her feet enough.

They made a beeline for the camp, Winter leading the way and found it unmolested. It was a fort like structure, blending in with the forest, made of fallen tree branches and brush, against a large tree, set upon moss, crude in it's build but it would keep them. The rain would make a fire impossible, even though he built the pit slightly underground, he pulled the brush aside, to allow her entry. Once inside, she would see a small cot for her, though it was wet now, a satchel full of food and clothes, he would have grabbed her something but all he could managed were some of his more smaller shirts and breeches, and a few belts to keep it from falling from her, and a whole host of swords wrapped in leather, most of theses she would recognize, as she'd seem him use them before. It was at the moment that he realized, he'd never taken a human life before and certainly never felt fury in the way he had. It made his chest ache in a was he did not appreciate. Pulling the brush too, he sighed. "It's not much but it'll have to do for now. I'll lit a fire once the rain stops." He said and took a breath before sitting against the tree.

He didn't realize how tired he was until then, his body felt heavy.

"Before we do anything else, I have to know, How are you...truly?" He said watching her face, now was the time for them both to grieve, they would need to get it out of their system now, before the real work began and the time for it passed.
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Alexandei felt useless. She knew she wasn't, having given Will a field pack of everything he would need. needle and thread, salves made of aloe for burns, stinging nettles for numbing and ground deadly nightshade should he be attacked.

Panic threatened a she thought of her bother being attacked again. With her not there, she knew he was with Kat. Andei's mind went to her, the way she held her, letting her know everything would be alright, even if she knew it might not be. Most would find that offensive but not Andei, it told her Kay would try her damnedest to make sure things would turn out alright, or at the very least, she would protect her bother in the field.
Andei calmed her breathing, knowing Kat wasn't there to help her through a panic attack as she so often would. "They will be alright, they'll return, they'll be safe." she thought to herself while she decided toofocus on the gardens, and tend to her plants. That was her job, that was how she was useful.

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn
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Will could see the gears working in Leila's head. And, sure enough, eventually, she stood up, holding out the wine bottle for him to take. He smiled, taking the bottle and handing her the knife in return. He followed her out, but went a different direction from there. First, to drop the half-empty bottle back to Kat's room. His sword never left his side, but he still had to try and get his hands on some armour. Attacking a medic who had their back turned while working on an innocent would be exactly something that the "Queen's" men would do. Luckily, he found a piece of chainmail that just covered his torso. It wasn't ideal, but it would at least protect most of his vital organs.

And then, finally, it was to see his sister and tell her goodbye. They kept it brief, neither wanting to dwell on the forthcoming events. So he took the pack, said his goodbyes, and followed the rest out to the woods. He quickly caught up to the head of the group and followed Kat closely. Once upon a time, traversing these trees had been difficult for him. But tonight, he could keep up easily, his feet light trees almost seeming to part around them.

On entering the city, Will felt his stomach drop and twist at the carnage. At first, he forced himself to follow his team- but he couldn't stop himself from stopping to check pulses, to listen for frightened breaths, to watch a shadow a little longer to check that it wasn't human. All he found was dead bodies, people he was too late to save.

He rolled the hilt of his sword nervously in his hand, watching the surrounding streets and alleys as Kat called for them to come out. They'd been startlingly thorough, showing no mercy- not even to children. Kids who were too young to defend themselves. Kids who hadn't even been able to run. This was worse than ever before.

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Khara Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Raven Delacroix Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Kassandra Capps
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Tom led himself and his Vice Captain out through the castle passageways. Then Raven approached. Her usual severe attitude in place. Tom had been angry at having a kid on his team. A girl her age couldn’t possibly serve any use and would only get in the way. At least that’s what he had thought, but the truth was she was the one of the group with the best head on her shoulders and was always useful. “Delacroix. Everyone is found inept when compared to you.” Tom said wearily, appeasing to side of her that thought herself permanently in the company of idiots. Sure he liked Raven, but right now he was lacking the patience for all of his team’s different idiosyncrasies.

“Khara. Good.” Tom said as Khara’s face appeared out of the shadows behind him. Sure Khara acted more like a ghost than a human, however if one knew her well enough and they knew what signs to listen out for one could know when she was around. In fact it had become a bit of a game between the two of them with her always trying to catch him off guard. Not that either of them were childish or joyful enough to ever voice their game out loud to each other.

Then Raven asked what they were up to. Tom could feel both Kass and Khara giving him inquisitive stares. Whilst keeping his face impassive, Tom sighed internally. He hated having to explain things and honestly he just wanted to get moving. “I’ll explain on the way.” He said leading his group through a few more corridors and then out a back door of the castle. It was a little-known peasant entry that led to a narrow alleyway that smelled of urine more often than not.

Tom had taken no more than ten steps when he ran into his weapons master returning to the castle. “Bribois, come.” He ordered the bloodied man, not breaking his stride. In fact as rain started to fell from the sky he speed up his pace. The rain would only watch away tracks and clues. “So the Princess has somehow managed to escape and our new orders are to re-capture her.” Tom explained to his current comrades. He looked pointedly at Julien, “Alive. Obviously.”

Tom took a few more steps before looking at Khara. “I’m going to need your expertise on this one, first though I think we should-“ Tom’s instructions were cut off by some rather noisy citizens. "You're going to regret waking your neighbors!" From the side street he’d led his team into, Tom couldn’t see who the voices and numerous footsteps belonged to, however he could of recognized that voice anywhere.

“Of course the forest brats are here,” Tom groaned to his team. Using his own little nicknames for the orphans who likes to hang out in the forest and cause trouble for everyone else. His old friend, Kat, and his sister, Leila, included. He did not have time for this. They were clearly up to something, no one makes such obvious movements against an enemy, but he also couldn’t just ignore them and let them do whatever they wanted. Thinking quick on his feet, Tom easily evaluated the Daggers he had with him. “Okay, Khara and Delacroix. You guys keep going, find the princess.” Khara was easily his best tracker and whilst Raven had many strengths he preferred Julien and Kass had his back. He trusted their skills more. “Don’t either of you dare come back with empty hands.” He dismissed them and turned back to his remaining comrades.

“Okay. Kass, wanna’ get up high. Watch our back with your bow?” Tom said to Kass treating his Vice captain with suggestions rather than the orders he gave the rest of his team. He hoped she’d take him up on his suggestion. At least with some sort of marksman they could bluff that they numbered more than three. “Brisbois, with me,” He ordered before creeping down another side street that led to a large courtyard the forest brats had gathered in. With eyes on his enemy, Tom was able to identify Leila, Kat and three others. “Keep going, I’ll distract them and you can come at them from behind,” Tom whispered his combat suggestion to Julien.

Kat’s back was to him and silently Tom pulled out a small dagger. Narrowing his eyes he held it between his forefinger and thumb before letting it fly directly at one of her comrade's head. He ducked back behind the corner without seeing the result. Tom called out tauntingly, ’Red Bitch’? I’m not expert on royalty but I believe you’re supposed to say ‘Her Majesty’? Tom pulled out his sword and dragged in along the ground so it made a loud scraping sound, very clearly directing them to his location. He crouched down ready to attack whoever came around the corner looking for him.

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Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Kassandra Capps
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ImageLeila rolled her eyes at Kat's display. She was going for distraction and was doing a good job of it, but she wished she didn't have to make them all look incompetent. Her stomach lurched at the number of bodies that littered the street. People discarded in the gutters like trash. If this was how The Red Lady intended to rule her kingdom, Valie was doomed. She retrieved the sword at her waist and drew it quietly. She had the sudden sensation of being watched and she knew they weren't alone. She began to wonder if the bodies in the street were really dead..

There was a familiar metallic sound singing through the air and she just barely had time to turn and deflect it before it sunk into the back of Will's head. The knife fell to the ground with a clang. Leila faced back now, her eyes searching for the assailant. She prayed that Kat would remain facing the street. And then his voice called out in response to Kat and her veins turned to ice. Tommy.

One hand gripped her sword tightly. The other reached down for her own throwing knife, ready to toss at that bastard's head when he showed himself. "Tommy! What have you done! All these lives! All these people! They're dead because of that woman you serve! How could you! Don't you remember all those trips we made into town? These people were kind to us!" The sound of metal on stone cut through the air, rising goosebumps on her arms. It made her teeth feel like they had been rubbed with sandpaper. Kat turned at the sound of the sword on stone and Leila cursed under her breath. She turned to watch Kat's back--albeit reluctantly. "Show yourself Coward." She muttered into the orange light of the town painting in flames. Something still felt off, but she couldn't put her finger on it.





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Image Kat's feline like eyes watched the dark, looking for movement. She distantly heard steps on the stone, but she could not be certain of friend or foe so she wouldn't bother to investigate. Not just yet anyway. Something flew at them and--thankfully--Leila had managed to stop it. Kat refrained from turning around just yet. The Daggers used diversion often to strike a foe. They're too cowardly to kill honestly. Men, Women, Child all murdered from any angle. Including being stabbed in the back. She heard Crow call from behind them and Leila responded before she could get a word out. Her heart ached for her sister at how she pleaded with her brother. They had the same conversation repeatedly about how far gone Thomas was. The little boy she once played with as a boy was gone. He's gone, Lei. Let him go.

But they were here to distract and give the others time, So.. "Coward! You hide from me?" She called as she turned her back to the street. Leila sighed and covered for her. Sorry Kiddo. This has to be showy. She grinned, feline and took a sauntering step towards the sound of metal on stone and Crow's voice. "You know what I'll do to you when I get my hands on you Thomas Crow!" She knew he probably couldn't see her, but she knew the others were probably watching. She pretended to slash her throat and die from the blood loss. She knew the others would have her back if something happened. Her eyes were trained on the rooftops looking for that damned archer of a vice Captain, but if she was there, she couldn't see her yet.




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Image Drew nodded at his words, but it didn't erase the guilt she felt leaving her people behind to die. She had no ideas as to what her aunt had planned for those who remained in the kingdom, but she knew they couldn't be good. Not with the amount of fire and ash she saw throughout the kingdom. "If you had tried to stop them.. you'd be dead.. or worse. She might've tossed you inside as well." At the sound of her name--not her title-- her head snapped up to look at him, but he was looking down at his hand. There was red, angry skin on his finger where a blister had formed and broken open. She moved towards him and stopped to take a look at it. His skin was warm beneath the ice of her fingertips. "We should probably clean and wrap that. We can't let anything get infected out here. Where are the bandages?" Then she realized she didn't know what exactly the plan was. He had said something about the Shadow Children, but had he finally believed the stories? That they had existed.

"Where are we going, Winn? Are we really hiding out here until things.. what? Blow over?" She ran a hand through her tangled hair, shaking slightly with the cold. Her breath was beginning to form clouds in front of her as the temperature continued to drop. As she looked for medical supplies, she found a satchel at the foot of her cot and pulled it over to her to search it. It contained clothes and food, obviously for her, but no bandages inside.

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn
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Will was only aware of the knife heading for his head when Leila knocked it out of the air, mere inches from the back of his skull. A shiver ran down his spine as he wrapped both hands around his sword, raising it as he scanned the streets carefully. The two sisters took up their own displays- but that had never been Will's style. He kept his back to Leila and Kat, searching the shadows for the slightest sign of movement. The sound of metal on pavement sent chills down his spine, but he knew that they were trying to distract them. He kept his attention on the streets themselves, listening closely to his surroundings. They had to be surrounded.

He shifted onto the balls of his feet, already mentally flicking through tactics. Andei had put nightshade into his pack, so even if he was disarmed, he wasn't going to be entirely helpless. They probably had archers on the roofs, so he needed to be ready to stick close to the ground and move as quickly as possible. If they had to scatter, the shadows would be best to avoid the archer- but that was also risking encountering more foot soldiers. So, the best tactic was probably to stay as close to his opponents as possible, make it hard for them to strike without risking injuring their comrades. That is, if the Daggers weren't beyond attacking their own people.

Something moved in the shadows, causing his hands to tighten around the sword. He didn't call out though. Partially because he didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to them, but also partially because he couldn't think of anything smart to say.

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Kassandra Capps Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn Character Portrait: Julien Roux Brisbois
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It wasn´t a surprise to Julien to see most of his Queen creatures coming from the castle as he was arriving nor was it to see that both of the Corvus had a determined or slightly angry expression on their faces but for some reason that anger found his way directed at Julien, taking away his excellent mood, disgust and nuisance was the usual vibe the little Lady deigns to bestow on Julien but being scolded by his Captain wasn´t some playful antipathy "Yes I´m greatly displeased by nobility but I haven´t killed Angelina yet my Crow... nor anyone who can be beneficial for the future of Valie"it wasn´t important for Julien if people did not understand his way of life but he respected his leader, this and similar things coursing through his mind while the Captain was talking to The Inquisitor...

"You're going to regret waking your neighbors!"

"So Kat is finally here I wonder if she found Frere maybe I really will get my second chance at a dance" With this thoughts cheering his mind he turned his attention to the direction of the screams he quickly assessed his weapons and wounds, the a gash on his right thigh and the one on his arm were going need some favoring the rest weren´t of importance like the split lip.

There were only five Shadow Children in the courtyard and that gave Julien some doubt, although selfish and too passive none of them were oafish, at least not those that he remember and Kaitlyn couldn´t know how many of the Queens people would answer such a challenge "What are you thinking Kaitlyn... and why have you brought the young ones, you did not intervene when everything was at its worse and now that things are finally starting to right themselves you come and bring those that know nothing into this purge His eyes dissecting the kids behind TSCs Captain, two seemed weak and disturbed by the dead bodies and the other two seemed equally disturbed but more ready to join their song of steel to the orchestra of the night “Keep going, I’ll distract them and you can come at them from behind,” The Crow said and this inspired Julien, making his way quickly around the courtyard he decided to give aid to his captains plan for distraction. Selecting a shadowed alley close to the Captain he hung his dark coat to a pole with a knife coming from the sleeve barely in eyesight of the two brown-haired shadow boys and climbed his way to the first floor of the house next to it, waiting and observing his knives and his scythe were ready he just needed the boys to make a move towards the mildly billowing shadow or the reflection of steel or Crow

"Give me a small opening and I´ll test your painting skills all the models are in their positions" In his mind he already had envisioned the end image for this encounter, the dark haired girl was skilled enough to create quality art and therefore she would escape mostly unscathed probably carrying a broken forest Jaguar maybe even with a defeated soul after my asymmetrical perfection was discussed and the fate of the other three determined. Those three and both of the Daggers with him were the wild inspiration the strokes that would create their own colors and bring versatility to this piece, he just had to wait for the right time to bring down his stormy brushes and give life to this courtyard.

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Kassandra Capps Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn
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Once her group had trailed off for the mission that she had given Tom and he delivered the message, she was still within the dining hall and enjoyed everyone within her presence. Angelina was really enjoying being the Queen of Valie as she sat there and drunk from her goblet a few times. Her ears twitched when she heard a familiar voice. A voice that called her the red bitch, instead of Queen. Her eyes peered towards the doors and her piercing stare went to the outside.

Angelina had stood up as everything seemingly stopped. She waved her hands towards her people as they all stared at her. "Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you that everything is alright. I'll be back." She said as she scurried her way towards the outside, her eyes were locked on her Daggars, as they split up. She knew that Kass was going to be perched up on the roof somewhere as she went and stood beside Tom, a soft smile came over her lips.

"Now, now, darling, you're a little bit too late for the festivities." She muttered towards the Shadow Children captain, Kaitlyn. "But I am sure we have some food left." Angelina continued as her eyes peered towards Tom with a chuckle. "Oh, Tom, I've been called much worse." She said as her hand rested upon his shoulder now, her piercing, cold stare fixated upon Kaitlyn now. "Surely you do not want to get into this fight here. Especially with those little weaklings behind you."

Her index finger pointed towards the people that stood behind Kaitlyn as she smirked. "Plus, this is no longer your territory as you no longer know the ins and outs. So you might be at a slight disadvantage here, dear." Her eyes went back towards Tom as she smirked again. "This isn't some silly forest where you children hide. This is a kingdom and if you wish to fight, at least let's do it right." Her movement made her step a little bit forward now as she smiled.

"The battle arena. Captain versus captain is too easy and boring, might need to make this interesting. Your best against our best, perhaps." That was all she had said before she turned heel and went back to stand behind Tom now. "But if you refuse the challenge, which is clearly understandable within your case then you must never show your face here again but..." She breathed a little before she continued. "I'll like the princess to be returned to the kingdom. No harm will come to her but if she is not returned, her father might suffer the consequences." Angelina had made her demands as she waited for Kaitlyn to respond.

"The choice is yours, dear." Angelina said as she now stood there with her arms folded over her chest.

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Character Portrait: Drew Phoenix Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Winter Valentine Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn
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ImageThe sound of heels echoed on the stone as someone walked towards them. An arrogant someone who knew that they could take their time moving and no one would object. No one, but Kat anyway. Finally She thought and pushed herself up until she was standing. "I honestly hadn't expected my taunting to bring out the Red Lady from her chambers. Aren't you supposed to be feasting on whatever the poor commoners could provide, and entertaining whoever is left to torment? Why bother with us little people if you're just so high and mighty now?" It was a weak taunt and she knew it. The whole point of being out here was to distract. She was honestly surprised Crow and Kassandra weren't painting the cobblestone streets red with her blood. Surprised, but thankful.

When the arrogant queen spewed off some hoity toity talk about "the proper way to fight in a kingdom", Kat skeptically raised a blonde eyebrow. A battle arena? Who does she think she is? Caesar?" She could feel Crow's eyes on her and she thought for a moment. Technically the two were equally matched. Crow was stronger, but Kat was faster. They had spared more than a few times since his betrayal, and both ended up badly beaten each time and they only left because of their people. You could say what you wanted about Thomas Crow, but at the end of the day, he'd stick his neck out for his men. So would Kat.

Then Angelina gave Kat something to really think about: a bargain. The princess's life for some well earned peace and quiet. Kat pretended to mull it over for a moment to buy her people time to evacuated whomever they could. She even put down her sword. There was no way she would ever agree to such a thing. The Princess--wherever she was--was the only way that the kingdom could ever be whole again once they sorted this mess out. But peace...

She took a deep breath and looked at the "queen" in the eye. "I have no seen the Princess, but if you give me time I will have her and I will transport her to you." She could feel Leila's eyes on her, wide with surprise and suspicion. "But you must swear on your title that you will leave us alone." This part, she wanted--no needed--to hear. Even if Kat managed to find the princess and... well she wasn't sure what she would do, hide her? Ship her off to a different kingdom so she can rally their forces? Maybe that would buy them peace...There was a high whistle that rang throughout the air, three short bursts.

Time's up. And I didn't get to wipe the smirk off Crow's face.. "Your word, and we will disappear." She knew she should bow, make it believable. Hell she probably should've even said "Milady" or "your majesty", but she nearly vomited from thinking of such an action let alone actually going through with it.





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Image"The Shadow Children?" Drew asked in disbelief. It wasn't so much that she didn't believe, she grew up on those stories. It was more that she couldn't believe that Winter believed. Even as a child, he would listen to Victoria's stories and would tell her not to fill Drew's head with fairy tales when she would have to be queen one day. She needed to be logical and realistic. Of course, Drew would throw one of her many pillows at him which would spawn a pillow fight that would leave the two gasping for air from laughter. Those were the days...

Her fingers felt something warm and dry in the back and she pulled out a set of clothes: a long shirt, breeches, and a belt to cinch at the waist. "Are these for me?" She asked hopefully. She couldn't wait to get the rags off her. The smelly, thin, torn, itchy rags. She held the fabric to her face and sniffed. They smelled like home. So much her eyes pricked, but she wouldn't allow herself to cry right now. If they were going to find the children, they either needed to get moving or to get some sleep and either way, she needed to be warm and dry.

"I don't know about getting help from the other kingdoms," She said quietly, frowning down at the clothes in her hands. "Father never shared their relationships with us to me. We have visitors all the time, but I was always ushered off to some lesson or to play with visiting children.. well you know." She sighed. "The Shadow Children are probably the best hope for Valie now." She looked out the front door at the dark, damp forest. "When are we leaving?"

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Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Kassandra Capps Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn Character Portrait: Julien Roux Brisbois
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Tom's sister called out first. "Tommy! What have you done!" He closed his eyes listening to rest of Leila's talk. She didn't understand. He didn't serve the Red Lady exactly. Sure she was in charge, but they worked together. They both had a vested interest in seeing her on the throne. The kindness his sister spoke of wasn't an act Tom could recall. No part of Tom's childhood involved kindness. So now he wasn't in it for anyone else. He was doing all of this for himself. He would have been happy to have Leila come along with him but he has given up on that dream. She didn't understand his choices and he'd long since accepted her as his enemy.

Tom sighed at Kat's taunts. Honestly he wasn't like the others. He didn't thrive on blood and violence and he didn't look forward to a challenge. It wasn't that he was reluctant to hurt his former childhood friend, but it honestly just felt like so much effort. Luckily Tom saw out the corner of his eye, the Queen appear. Smirking he sheathed his sword and stepped out into the light, showing himself to the forest brats. The Queen followed him out. When she stated that he'd been called worse, Tom smirked at her, and said, "I bet you have."
He wasn't too concerned with Angelina's safety he was sure Kas and Julien were in place, though he didn't dare look for them and give their places away.

He listened to Angelina's proposal. Their best vs His best. It would be interesting, again he'd fight if he had to, but he wasn't showy enough to immediately assume he was any better than Julien or Kass. Then he listened to Kat's deal. Giving up the princess? Now that seemed very unlike her. Smirking he put his hand to his sword's hilt. "You're hardly in the situation to position to make demands. We have you surrounded." He bluffed easily. Though he was very confident that him, Kass and Julien could easily hold off the brats.

Then he looked to Angelina. "I think it only takes one to go off and collect the Princess for us. It's probably best we keep the rest as an insurance policy." He asked sarcastically in a flippant manner. Tom was going to make sure some of these brats were staying here under his comrades' watchful eyes.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Leila Singh Character Portrait: Kaitlyn Singh Character Portrait: Tom Crow Character Portrait: Will Joscelyn Character Portrait: Queen Angelina
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A chill ran down Will's spine as he heard the woman's voice. He didn't have to guess who it was. He kept his back to her, though, watching the shadows. There was still movement in the shadows- not much, but enough to make him uneasy. She would be the perfect distraction for an ambush, and they'd all be easily overwhelmed.

He hadn't exactly been relaxed, but now that the Red Queen herself was there, he was even more tense. Her offer did nothing to help that- and Kat's acceptance only made it worse. What was she doing? They couldn't betray the princess, the one chance of a whole kingdom. And besides, they didn't even know where she was. Lying and betraying the Queen would only end badly for all of them.

"Kat," he said quietly, his eyes still on the shadows. "Think about what you're doing. All of the consequences." He knew that she'd probably thought it through already- but betraying the queen could result in all out war between her Daggers and the Shadow Children. And they were not prepared for war.

The movement in the shadows was still there. But why weren't they coming out while their queen was there? They had to be outnumbered, especially with the self-proclaimed queen. So why were they still hiding? Waiting for one of them to try and attack her? Did they seriously take them for fools?

At Crow's comment, Will couldn't hold his tongue. "So why do your soldiers hide in the shadows instead of coming out where we can see them? If we're so painfully outnumbered, then them being visible shouldn't make any difference," he said.