Animals Within

The sudden change in Atticus made her almost step back from him. The daggers simply within his statements were nothing she had ever heard him speak, nothing in such a manner of rage. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. After facing Lythedh, she supposed she should be used to it by now. But hearing it from the man before her was something else entirely. And she would do anything to make things how they were before, before the Lord came in between. Wrenching her own feelings back and forth, she took the advance and stepped back once, the cold interior of the room swarming her again until she was lost completely from his warmth. Her mouth opened to speak, as though to deny that they needed to rush, but she stopped herself. He was right. The longer they waited, the tighter the ropes became as the wheels churned. Yet she couldn't see herself leaving and losing him once more. It would be all for nothing, in the end. No matter if she got away without Atticus. Lythedh would pull her right back, and she would never leave the Estate. Pushing these internal notes down deep into her gut, she breathed in, holding her head a little higher as she forced herself to turn to the windows behind her, stepping over to them and crossing her arms over her quivering chest. The sooner they got this out of the way, the sooner things could be normal again. She needed to use his training to her advantage. She needed to be the predator everyone expected her to be. "He's likely to be heading west," she told him over her shoulder, nodding to the sparse trees that grew into a larger and deeper jungle of the tiger's territory. "We can play it off as me showing you the territory for training, out to the east, claiming I would not want to disturb him. Once are far enough, we can run. Who knows if any guards will get on our tail, but at least I have this damn thing to shove my way past them." She pulled her ringed hand closer to her as she pondered its true weight in the events that would unfold. She would deal with the legalities later. Right now, it was a weapon, one that could charge her past the barricades and into who knows where.

Theo's shoulders dropped further at her constant pecking at him. Though, he really shouldn't be surprised, she hadn't acted any differently so far. Shaking his head as though to remove the comments and let them glide down his back and out of sight, he continued his strolling to the building, racking his brain on what his focus exactly was. Now that he was here, almost alone in his plans, he wasn't sure what he was meant to do. He doubted Atticus would need much of his help now, considering he'd been gone for a while. Perhaps it was not a free for all, though they could also be opportunity. He wouldn't know. Glancing back to the sugar glider as she glided over and ran up him again, he huffed, smirking ever so slightly at her outrageous comments. "Who said I needed them for riding?" he remarked, waving a hand. But an idea wafted to his mind, thinking about the possibilities of the mounts ahead. "Lord Lythedh is out hunting. If he wants food, we can give it to him."

Aaliyah's back stayed turned to him, his words drifting in the air that constricted them in this room. She was surprised as any that he had made friends with a guard, but in their circumstance, anybody was useful at this point. A thought came to mind to use him as bait, but she scowled internally. She would not kill anything closely related to Atticus ever again, and she knew this well. No matter the situation, she would starve rather than eat any meat from a kind she cared for. "If we are desperate, we can roll in the decomposition pile out near where scraps are thrown, but I cannot assure you that there will not be a pile of bones." A shiver went through her at the vision of the guards throwing out the leftovers of her mates meal from the night previous. What he had consumed was up to her imagination, and she was sure it was close enough to reality by this point. "I'm sure there's sewage and a river we can wade in nonetheless. We find the elk, and we set out. If you want to get out of here so quickly, then you said it yourself. No time to waste." Her body turned a degree to him, though her eyes focused on the items within the room rather than the stag. "We have time for talking later." Even though she wished things could have waited, it was not an option now. Atticus would not stand to be constrained under Lythedhs power any longer.

"I've seen the most gruesome of murders of my kind, unfathomable torture. Sending unattached horses will not scar me further." Theodemars voice was as heavy as his footsteps, which tredged on, determined to make a plan and put it into action. Anything to help the escape from the tiger was a positive. His head whipped to the glider, even as he couldn't see her well. "If you have any better ideas of keeping him away from the mansion, be my guest. But this is the best plan I have right now. I have two people depending on me. Maybe. But I won't let that prohibit me from finishing it, for my sake or theirs." Nodding as though affirming an agreement with himself, his eyes were back on the wooden and stone building, beginning to walk around trees as he marked just where the Lord had been previous with his gaze.

Aaliyah's shoulder faced him as he spoke, feeling as though she were cowering still in a shell of herself. All of this madness was going to fold over on her one of these days, and she would pay the price dearly for disobeying the man that placed her on such a pedestal, to show the world his power and his glory. Without her, he was not as respected, did not hold the title that he was given by his ancestors and predecessors. It was almost sad, in a way, that taking a prisoner and glorifying her for his own gain would cause him so much pain here in her leaving. Not that she cared for him, but the fact that his reputation would plummet was sure to catch up to her someday. Atticus and everyone around them would be choking on the smoke of the downfall. But not today. Her nails dug into the flesh of her arms as she gazed at her stag, her saving grace in the time of destruction. The back of his head read all she needed to know, even though the floods of questioning and curiosity and truth would break through the wall that had been built between them. He did not see her the same way. Even with that glint in his eye as they met once again and the tender touch he gave her, things were sure to stay changed. A different path, now that Lythedh had crossed their boundary. Atticus was determined to break her shackles, but taking the bricks down one by one would surely take time. Holding her head up high in her feigning nobility, she strolled over behind him, crossing her hands in front of her once more as she hid the ring she so desperately wanted to throw into the molten lavas of her despair. Even as it shook, she put on her face, one that would get them out of this jail and out into the freedom they had been longing for for months.

A fire? Theodemar would never think of it. Fire was a cruel master, whipping those who crossed its barriers and consuming all it disapproved. It tortured and bludgeoned memories and love and hope remaining in any who saw it coming. He would not let it destroy any longer, not while he had the upper hand. The rodent did not understand the power the element held, the simple factor of a spark producing a wild discord to anything it touched. It was not something he would even bet his life on, that she or anyone else would survive the panic. His eyes were drawn to the building as he walked up to it, the horse's nickers and greetings catching his attention. Losing them would be a peg off the board, one less resource that the Lord could use against anyone. But utter chaos was something he would never approve. Not when he had experienced it before. "I refuse to have any part in your flames," he suddenly spat in a whisper, jerking his chin over to her. "I will take care of the horses, and you do your bidding. But I will not be the scapegoat for your side of this plan. Fire is not to be tempted on my ground."

The snow leopard followed her escort, her irises noting each guard and keeping her chin high to keep them in place. Being Lady of the manor had advantages, including having control of the guards. At least, it was assumed so, as they followed Lythedh, who demanded respect for her and their apparent future offspring. Her footsteps padded after Atticus, and once the front doors were swung open, the cold air from the snow and wind hit her and it almost brought a smile on her face. Just being in her natural element was enough to lift her spirits, even in the depths of their imprisonment. She stepped up beside her stag, noting his chill. "You don't have to stay as you are," she murmured, hoping the wind did not carry her words too far past him. Her eyes were trained ahead at the guards and was aware of the two behind her. "I will not let anyone harm you as your shift." Nodding once, the doors were shut, hopefully for the last time they were there. She wasn't sure what she would do about her belongings, but escaping with Atticus was her main priority. Everything else was materialistic and pointless. Besides, taking anything would reveal that she was going somewhere, and the staff would certainly pick up on such. Sighing out a long breath, the cloud swirled and was swept away in the breeze, one of many to be had. She did not see an elk, and any scents were drowned in the snow. His scent would be unfamiliar anyways, as she was not acquainted with hunting that species. The only thing she would ever be able to track was the red deer beside her. But at her observation, she noticed tracks that lead across the snow-covered stone pathway from the doors to the gate, crossing it and leading further beyond. She stepped forward, and saw footprints that were almost the same as the guards' own footprints at the Estate. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing just yet.

Theodemar huffed as the little glider flew away from his shoulder, heading back to the kitchen. Such a pest. Then again, she was practically made to be an annoyance. Turning his head, he walked down the stable paths, greeting any horse that would give him attention. He was aware of the stable hands and guards watching him, but perhaps he could get away with taking one or two of the horses. A story would be needed though, and that was practically impossible without proof of any kind. His thoughts swarmed as he wondered just where the tiger would be anyways. The horses would not know, but if he were a tiger, it was likely they would be startled and stay their distance. He could not tie them anywhere either, or it would seem like it was too placed. Damn, he was not qualified for this task. His adrenaline was running slim now, as the logic of all of this was rushing to him. But taking a step, he asked a stable hand for a mount to patrol the outer borders of the territory, and luckily, a guard nearby seemed to hear as he moved closer, his eyes trained to the other guard as he began to saddle the horse, seeming like a casual patrol setup.

Theodemar looked behind him, an unfamiliar shadow appearing paired with a yet familiar voice calling his name. He pondered on turning his horse, but he would lose valuable time because of it. His left hand wrapped around the reigns tighter, breathing out a bit of a sigh. "Mr. Cross," he replied, adjusting himself in the saddle. "Hop on one of these horses. We are going to throw the bait." Throwing his head to the horses now bridled and walked up next to him, he took the leather reigns and tightened them around his right wrist. The sooner they left, the better. But his thoughts still lingered on the sugar glider in the back of his mind. Had she been burnt alive yet? Did she escape? The thought that the smoke consumed her also consumed him, seeing the flashing armor rush to the Estate building as the fire blazed. He turned his eyes, avoiding the memories.

Aaliyah stepped out to be behind Atticus, letting herself be covered in the shadows as he was. So this was Theodemar. The valiant guard it seemed, ready to ride into the sunset. But his explanation was interesting. Bait for the tiger, huh? Interesting take on the whole thing. She wasn't sure if it would work, but their time was limited. They would not have time to find another solution, and sometimes spontaneity would be the more beneficial route here. Still staying in the background, she was silent, eyeing the studs and mares that were grouped up before her and her stag.

Tears stung the leopard's eyes as the mounts headed after Theodemar, and she bent herself nearer the horse's neck to hide herself from the world around her as her walls crashed, yet still holding her expression firm and focused. The smoke billowing out of the Estate, the horses' distressed calls, the guards rushing to save the staff and the wind blowing it all together in one chaotic mess. She didn't want it to be like this. They didn't have to have the dramatic leave, they could sneak away, haven got the legal papers and ripped them and tossed them in a furnace and never have the evidence. But now everything was instead becoming a blur. Even Atticus' calm mutter wasn't enough to ease her from it all, yet his voice diverting from his worried commands earlier were a welcomed change. Breathing in the biting air, she glanced over to him, valiantly escaping and keeping his cool. He was determined to leave, and nothing would block him. His courage overwhelmed her, and she lifted her head just a tad, peering between the ears of the steed as they rushed away from the Estate, away from the life she was sure she was going to live out.

"Miss glider, I'd suggest keeping your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times," Theodemar murmured down to the rodent, narrowly missing his nose from being shredded. His grip stayed the same, pressing her gently against his armor so she wouldn't fly away, intentionally or not. "We're getting out of here." The hooves hitting the ground pounded in his ears, focusing more on the path ahead than the scampering of the sugar glider. As long as he escaped with the two others,
the plan would be complete, whether they had executed it correctly or not.

Theodemar was surprised by the glider's screaming, his eyes widening slightly as he listened. She sure was a contrast to her species, but at least the wind carried away the piercing of her cries. The insults were nothing to him, as he was used to them, especially coming from her. "We are escaping, rodent," he told down to her, maneuvering through the running guards with his mount. "You want to be skinned alive by Lythedh when a witness tells him you lit the kitchen on fire?" Still holding her, he chuckled at her little shaking fury. He wouldn't expect such a loud voice from tiny lungs. "I'll let you go when we get far enough away. For now, stop squirming, or you'll hurt yourself." Everything was so loud around him that he could hardly hear himself think. Hopefully Atticus and Aaliyah knew what they were doing, or they would all be screwed by the seeming hundreds of guards that swarmed the Estate.