Fog of War

Chrysanthos. 

 Equinox Celebration Day.

0000 hours.  Prisoner's quarter.

 

Aviks barrelled into the dark, damp dungeon. He closed the door behind him urgently, and prayed. Footsteps and clinks of metal and swords passed by the door.

None stopped.

He let his chest loose, and slumped against the door. 

The pirate raised up a velvet bag triumphantly. He chuckled to himself as he reached in and procured a truffle. Stealing from the banquet high above them was worth it. Even if it almost put him behind bars. The vespire ate the truffle greedily, and savored its every molecule. 

Truly, the landwalkers were masters at delicacies! 

His enjoyment was interrupted with a voice down the corridor, which caused him to jump.

"Who's there?" 

It was a rather enthusiastic voice.

Aviks hid away his delicious treasure and coughed fakely. He brushed the dust off of a golden nobleman's frock he wore-- a souvenir he snatched earlier in the night from a happily passed out merchant. He mustered a tone of high importance and knightliness. 

"It is I, Sir Coralhyde!"

An orange pouflon with a red cape emerged from the dim lit hall. "OH Thank god. Are you the next shift?"

"Yes….?"

"Finally!" The pouf yelled up with relief. She noticed the frock coat. "You came straight from the party! How's the food?!"

"Delectable." Aviks forced a smile. The dim light of the lanterns thankfully hid his piratey teeth. 

"I can't wait. Now that you're here, I can meet up with Seren. She better saved some entrees for me…" She licked her lips, and imagined the food. 

"Well, the prisoner is back there. Remember not to talk to them. Or so I'm told." She pointed into the dark, where Aviks barely made out a large cell door and a tiny guard's station. A small chair and a table with some books accompanied by a big mug were wedged against the wall.

"There's a book if you wanna pass the time. It's "Sir Kingly's Knight Code for Dummies"." The pouf slipped additionally, "And uh. It's kinda boring." She caught herself and gave a nervous retort. "But don't let that stop ya! I'm sure it's interesting if yer into that kinda stuff."

Aviks wasn't, so he returned another uncomfortable, ugly smile. 

"Thanks." He forced, eye twitched. 

"No, thank YOU! I'm gonna go eat like its the end of the world!!!" 

 

With that, the pouf exited the premise. Her clambering pooves echoed up the stairs until Aviks heard silence. When the last poove was gone, Aviks sighed and let his demeanor slip back into pirate mode.

Now to get the hell out of here. 

He made his way to the end of the hall and felt his claws along the wall. He searched for any holes to exploit, but there was nothing. Aviks inspected the walls. No windows, no other doors… Oh boy.

That meant only one way out. 

He double backed to the entrance and  peeked out. The hallway that he came from was blocked on either side.  Heavily armed guards stood watch with their backs turned to the door. He retreated and closed the door delicately. Yeesh. Those guards were definitely not there when he slipped in. 

He counted his options and cursed. His eyes glanced up to the guard's little table and he meandered over to sit. Aviks fidgeted with his velvet bag as he tried to think of a way out. 

Behind the cell, the prisoner took notice.

 

"Hello… You're not supposed to be here."

Aviks froze. He glanced at the cell. Two glinted eyes watched him. He could make out their mouth, which lined an uncomfortable dark liquid.

Was he… bleeding?

Aviks remembered what the pouf had said earlier. 

Don't talk to the prisoner.

The one inside the cell coughed and hacked violently. Their chains rattled and their breath was short.

They said don't talk, But was the prisoner okay?

Aviks leaned over to get a better look of them. They seemed ragged and starved. 

"I can… tell you don't...belong here." The prisoner shifted again, and their white teeth gleamed with specks of red when they spoke. "I'm not supposed… to be here either…"

The teeth wrapped into a small smile.

"Why… don't we help eachother out?"

"Who are you?..." Aviks heard himself ask. His stomach felt uneasy. But with the promise of escape, his ears perked up.

"Nobody... important"

"How can I help you?... You're er… not in the best condition." Aviks gestured at the skeleton like body of the prisoner. "I ain't got any healing magics."

"I just… need some water. That's all."

"Arr I see, you're one of them water mages?"

….

The prisoner didn't respond. 

 "Arr right then, keep yer secrets.", Aviks shrugged.

 

The pirate slithered over to the guard's table.

He pushed aside the Knights Code book with distaste. Then he grabbed the mug. A brown liquid sloshed in it. He didn't recognize it so he sniffed it. An extremely bitter smell attacked his nose and he gacked.

"Er.. I dunno what this is, but would this work?" He asked. The pirate extended the mug to the prisoner.

A spark lit in their eyes. The flecked teeth opened in glee, and their wings stretched. In this moment, they looked alive.

"Perfect… Just perfect."