Staring at the blank wall, Tatsuki studied the unchanging cell wall. Three weeks. I've been in here for three, oops! Fixing the marks she had made on the stone wall, Four weeks... Sounds better then a month... Perking up when she heard the old, wooden door shut, Tatsuki tried to imagine what the food she smelled would look like.
"Bread and water." Tatsuki stayed in the back corner of her sell. The 'good' food always ran out before the man got to her, but she thanked him silently anyways. Ooh! They used butter! Having heard the noise the prisoner made, the guard left, smiling. She never ceases to amaze me... Settling down, Tatsuki savoured her bread, saving the water in her pouch.
"Ike, are you sure it's safe to go in there? I mean- "
"Soren?" The boy fixed his hair and nodded his head. "Are you feeling alright? I know helping people isn't your passion, but you never question my decisions... Are you ill?" Soren shook his head. His black hair was now resting on his shoulders. Eyes bright, he fixed his many layers of clothing before looking over at his commander, and best friend.
"I'm fine Ike, if you should be worried about anyone, it should be you." Ike just smiled, turning his blue eyes to the prison. Fixing his headband to keep his dark blue hair spiked up, Ike gave the order to go inside the rotting building.
Upon entering, the musty smell of rotting flesh clogged the mercenary's noses, making many recoil in disgust. Spreading out, Soren made his way over to the healer, and priest. "Rhys?" Turning his pale face to meet the mage's, he answered.
"Yes Soren?" His orange hair accented by the paleness of his skin and robes. The mage pointed over to the far cell and Rhys gasped. A trail led from where the two were standing right to the cell, a trail of blood. Following the trail, the two boys heard crying coming from inside the cell, the door was open slightly. Opening the door fully, Rhys was the first to enter, while Soren called for Ike. He approached the two figures, both cloaked in darkness. One was crying, while the other lay beside it. Softly kneeling, the healer tried to get closer to the figures as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. Slowly, the figures became clearer. The one lying down was the one bleeding. He looked no older than thirty, and wore clothes of the Daein army. The guard! But what about the other?! Rhys crept closer, revealing the figure as a girl, no older than fifteen. Her eyes were rimmed with red and tears. Encased in her hand was the hand of the man. Instantly, Rhys pulled out his staff and began to heal the man. Managing to stop his bleeding, Rhys looked back to see Soren and Ike behind him. Focusing back to the man, he noticed the girl had moved into the light and was looking down at the man. Ike moved into a crouching position beside Rhys, and opposite of the girl. She jumped, falling back out of her crouching position, and into Soren, who was looking at the half-eaten piece of bread. She yelped, quickly getting off of Soren, who promptly wiped the butter off of his face. Smiling slightly, Ike helped them both up, leading the girl away from the man.
"Did that man hurt you miss?" The girl shook her head violently, causing her short, dirty hair to cover her face. Her black eyes, accented by the red rims, began to tear up as she looked over at the man. She began to explain how he always brought her food, even though he got punished of doing so. Looking back at Ike, she asked who he was, and what his group was doing in the prison. "We are the Greil mercenaries. My name is Ike, this is Soren." He began, pointing at the boy who was now eating the piece of bread. "And Rhys." Ike finished, pointing to the boy healing the guard.
"Ike, we've almost finished helping the prisoners escape, is there- oh! Need any help?" Continuing, Ike pointed to the green-haired boy as he dismounted from his horse.
"And this is Oscar, and yes, we would like help. Get Titania, she'll know what to do." The girl stared at Ike, then Soren, Rhys, and back to Ike. Slowly, she began to back away, overwhelmed by all the people. Tripping, she was caught by Rhys, who had finished healing the guard. As she scrambled to get up, Rhys wrapped his arms around the quivering girl, in hopes to comfort her. Her sobs gradually began to quiet as Rhys ran his fingers through her hair, taking off the mud to reveal her white hair. Removing her face from his now soaked shoulder, the girl introduced herself as Tatsuki. She looked up at Ike, hoping he would reply, when a red-haired knight entered.
"Ike, Oscar told me you wanted to see me. What do you want help with?" Her white horse was clearly showing its impatience. Smiling, Ike nodded to Rhys, who helped Tatsuki up. Leading her over to Titania, she was then placed behind her on the horse. Rhys then walked back to Ike and Soren, who were helping the guard up. Waving her goodbye, Titania set off, followed closely be Oscar and Rhys on Oscar's horse. Only Ike was left, and he had the job of making sure everyone had escaped.