Alice stared blankly at the gate and licked her chapped lips, the remaining bananas were eaten and the peels sat in a corner. She rested her head against the rough wall and her wings hung limply from her back, resting against the cool rock wall. It had possibly been days since the blademaster left her, his threat leaving her shaken and scared. She had no way to tell how much time had passed; the guards rotated irregularly and there were no windows, leaving her to believe she was underground.
Her chest tightened when she heard the main gate open and she blinked, focusing on the nearing torch light. She squinted and looked away, hearing the familiar feet stop in front of her cell. The torch's light bathed over her and she relaxed slightly when it was set beside the cell gate.
The sound of a key sliding into the gate had her breath catching in her throat, her eyes watering. She stiffly tucked her knees up as he moved into the cell and stared at the ceiling, attempting to ignore the heavy breathing from the blademaster kneeling in front of her. He was completely still as he watched her, his head tilted to the side.
Several moments of silence passed and she stiffened when she heard the faint noise of water sloshing around in a canteen. She glanced down and watched, her throat dry, as he twisted the cap off. Her eyes followed the canteen and he nudged his mask up, revealing his lips. He tipped the canteen back and she stared as water dribbled down his chin and into his collar.
She softly whimpered and closed her eyes. "Please," she softly whimpered.
He slid his mask into place and tilted his head, holding the canteen in his hand.
She glanced at the canteen and bit her lip, slowly reaching up to take it from his hand. She whined when he moved it out of reach and dropped her arm, a small cloud of sand dusting up. It had to have been several days since her last drink.
He moved closer and she closed her eyes, feeling the heat fr om his body near her. She whimpered softly when he looped his arm around her waist and guided his hand to the back of her head, guiding her to sit up properly. She slumped into his arm and rested her head in his palm, blinking up at the soulless mask.
He lifted the canteen in his right hand and guided it to her lips, tilting it back to let it slowly dribble into her mouth. She moaned softly and visibly relaxed, slowly drinking the cool water. She kept her eyes close as she drank and licked her lips when he pulled the empty canteen away.
She breathed slowly and let her wings droop on either side of his arm, the tears and rips visible. Slowly blinking her eyes open, she glanced at him. She faintly felt his eyes bearing into her and shifted slightly, pressing her hands into the sand to help her move.
She squeaked when he suddenly moved and pushed her forward, propping her up against his other arm. She stared at the ground and gripped his arm, feeling the thick muscles easily hold her up. She took a deep breath and shifted slightly, feeling his hand trace over the bright red streak across her back.
She stiffened and he looked over her wings, lifting one with a surprising gentleness. She tightened her grip and bit her lip, clenching her eyes shut. He examined the wing and softly hummed, gently setting it down.
She glanced up and loosened her grip. "I was going to a great fairy fountain to bathe in and heal."
He tilted his head and his chest rumbled as he lowly mumbled, "How does your magic return?"
She bit her lip and took a deep breath. "It takes time naturally, but it's slow even with consistent food and water. Drinking the fairy fountain water quickens the process."
He nodded and gently guided her to lay on her side, laying her wings back onto the sand behind her. He set a fresh bundle of bananas on the ground and gathered up the peels before stepping out. She watched as he locked her cell back and watched the torch light fade away as he left the small, empty prison.
'Well,' she scowled as she thought, 'empty for all but one. One stupid, fairy who got kidnapped by the strangest Yiga Blademaster.'