climbing the ladder - willow
Willow was atop the wall when all hell broke loose, and she watched the chaos below. A loud buzz had cut through her mind, giving her a horrible migraine and nearly causing her to fall from the flagpole she was currently perched upon. She had been minutes away from sneaking into the guard captains office, hoping to pilfer some ziskas or perhaps their lunch, but was rudely interrupted by rhecka and their shenanigans.
Watching the city below, she managed to fight off the headache, and the buzz began to dim, overrun by her burning curiosity. She looked up at the screens that now played laughter and red light, and the visage of the cities tormentor.
"better and brighter future my ass" she muttered, before dropping off the flagpole into a dive.
She let herself freefall for several seconds, before snapping her arms and legs out, allowing her feathers and patagium to catch the air. Gliding at high speeds, she navigated over the heads of rioting phuzo, rapid twitches of her tail helping her make quick changes, dodging around swinging fists and swerving bodies. She didn't like how screams and snarls filled the air around her, creating a horrifying din.
She made her way back toward home, to check on her dads. Were they alright? were they caught in the violence?? She had to know. She landed upon the front step and pushed her way inside, calling out for both of them in their quiet apartment.
"Da? Papa? Things are a little crazy outside, I think.... I think we should...go somewhere." she began, walking briskly around the home to seek out her parents. She heard rustling in their bedroom and made her way inside, calling out again for them, anxiety rising in her throat at their lack of answers.
"Da?....Papa?"
Finally, she heard one of them call from inside their closet, clearing focused on packing bags and hadn't heard her calling out.
"Will? Oh, there ye are! we packed a bag for you, get ready, we're going to leave the city"
"Leave??? and go WHERE? do we even have a way out?"
"Aye, yer da got a pass off one of the guards, we'll be able to use the nearby exit in our sector to flee this madness." her papa explained, his long curly red fur tied back in a bun as he hastily packed his luxurious silk robes into suitcases.
An itch gripped willow though, and she felt the desire to check on her friends, she stayed with her parents until they were in line to exit the city with others fleeing, before giving each of them a kiss on the cheek. She bid them farewell for now and leapt off her da's head,easing into a glide as she made her way across the city, searching in particular for one large jerk she often pestered.
Catching sight of his blue fur, she B-lined toward the hulking figure that was currently engaged in battle with a huge white furred phuzo with large antlers.
Darting into his mane, she clung for dear life, marveling at his strength.
"Ivan! Are you alright? Shits kinda....hitting the fan, huh?"