Seized

The group listened closely as the sound of horse hooves pounding against the dirt path got louder as yet more guards joined in with the chase. The knight leading the party barked orders to the men following behind his white steed as he steered the magnificent stallion to by the Ring Master at the front of the cart being pulled by twelve brown horses with feathers adorning their heads and bridles. The knight unsheathed his sharpened, shiny sword and pointed it to the man's throat with an icy glare from under his heavy metal armour and helmet. He lifted his visor and scowled his jade green eyes.
"Mi amigo, I would advise that you pull the cart over si." The Ring Master only chuckled and pushed the point of the sharp blade away from his neck where it had pricked his skin making a small trickle of blood dribble down his neck.

The knight furrowed his eyebrow and waved his gauntlet covered hand to the guards following the cart closely. Many of them grabbed bows from their backs and grabbed arrows from pouches strapped there too. They lit the ends with torches and then aimed until the knight up front flicked his wrist forward signalling for the men to let the arrows fly. Many of the flaming arrows embedded themselves into the wooden cart making it set alight as the flames licked the wood and made it turn into a black colour as they ate the colour from the brown wood. Arthur hissed and recoiled from the metal sides as the smell of burning wood brought back haunting memories of his home and the burning of the woods as he and his mother tried to escape. Gilbert laid against the floor and sighed in comfort. Arthur guessed fire was something of the norm for where Gilbert was from, he had described the place as a fiery pit where mortal souls were tortured for their sins in their time on Earth. Gilbert snuggled against the metal yawning slightly as the heat warmed him through, well, he did until his brother hit him around the back of the head with his hand. He growled and Gilbert groaned before he stood up and looked at the rest of the group who frowned at him. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed out through his nose.

"So, do ve make a break for it vhile zhe knights keep zhem busy or do ve sit here like ducks and possibly get our heads zliced off in the process. To be honest I prefer the first idea ja." Ludwig groaned rubbing his temples before he jerked at the chains, as if he was testing them. His eyes widened as though he had some sort of revelation with the chains. He looked at Kiku who was seemingly quiet and was sat next to the dulling fire staring into its dimming flames with his eyes glazed over as though he was in deep thought.

Ludwig sighed and pulled on his chains roughly causing Kiku's concentration to falter resulting in the fire losing control. The flames turned icy blue and combusted out to the nearest thing they could catch which turned out to be the chains that were fastened to the walls that held them all in their places. Kiku fell onto the floor with his eyes glazed, over as though he was dead, like the bodies from soldiers that fell onto the ground with blood leaking from their insides much like the life that melted away from their eyes leaving them glazed over as death took its toll. Kiku ceased to control the blue flames as they burst and crackled as they ate away at the metal chains melting them with the intense heat of the flames. Arthur jolted as the flames danced along the chains towards him. Ludwig, Tim and Gilbert did the same as the four backed away pulling the chains tight making it easier for the fire to cover the metal. Arthur hissed as the flames danced onto his shackles and burned into the locks making them click from the heat melting the complicated locking system inside them. Arthur quickly pulled away making sure the fire didn't spread onto himself and rubbed at his sore wrists with his other hand gently.

Gilbert smirked as he pulled on the chains which snapped from being weakened by the fire previously and from the immense strain they were put under from Gilbert pulling on them. A groan came from the chains followed by a loud ping and a sharp crack as the chain link in the middle snapped and flew off into the room leaving Gilbert slouched a little before he ran his hand through his hair before he laughed a snake like laugh of 'Kesesesesese' and turned to face the others. Ludwig was stood perfectly still before he grabbed the chains around his wrists in the palms of his hands and pulled to the right snapping them clean in half making him free. Tim waited for the fire to melt the links before he just jerked the chains slightly making them fall from each other, making him also free. Kiku's chains were completely melted by the time the rest were free from the chains and he blinked a little before he gasped and recalled the flames to himself. The flames sank through his attire to his heart before the room became free from the blue flames and the mystic glow that lit the room. He slumped forward onto his knees and held the area over his heart before Arthur helped him up with his hand. Arthur let go and Kiku tumbled forward making Arthur's tail shoot out to catch him. Kiku groaned and passed out again making Ludwig rub his temples again in frustration. Gilbert just looked dumbstruck when Kiku passed out onto Arthur's tail and he slumped against the heating metal with a sigh. Tim remained impassive and Arthur sighed before curling his tail around Kiku's limp body before hoisting him up onto his back. Kiku remained silent meaning he wasn't going to wake up any time soon. Arthur grunted slightly but regained his composer as he shifted Kiku's weight on his back before decided that he was safely on.

Ludwig tapped his chin in thought and then his eyes opened staring at Arthur. Arthur rolled his eyes before he nodded to Tim. Tim nodded and began to change into his wolf form. His face grew into a snout and brown fur spouted all over his body before his hand and feet turned into paws and a bushy tail sprouted from his back end. His teeth sharpened and the clothes he was wearing were torn apart as his muscle grew and his spine bent over. He growled as the transformation finished and he walked over to Kiku before he tugged on the clothing he was wearing. Ludwig nodded.
"Ve vill need you to fight vith us, Tim vill carry Kiku as you vill need your tail to manuver und you can't be veighted down as it vill ruin your fighting capabilities." Arthur nodded placing Kiku on Tim's back before Ludwig nodded and transformed himself. The transformation was similar to Tim's but his fur was a lighter brown with blond flicks in it here and there and his eyes were icy blue where as Tim's were jade green. He growled and nodded to Gilbert who chuckled smirking. He brought his hand up in front of him before black shadows came to his call. They danced around him, some laughed, others cried and wailed until Gilbert's eyes shone and they all went hurtling towards the heavily bolted and locked door. Arthur hissed with impatience as the shadows pounded at the door again and again with only a large dent appearing in the door. Arthur sighed and rolled his eyes before he slithered over to the door and swatted the shadows away making Gilbert growl in frustration and shout at him. Arthur ignored the protests for him to move out of the way of the shadows and tensed the muscles in his tail before he swung it at the metal door making the dent in the metal rip apart creating a large hole.

Gilbert threw his hand to the side and the shadows howled as they disappeared into thin air leaving no trace that they were ever there. Gilbert clenched his fists and Arthur turned to face them smirking before he gestured to the large hole in the metal.
"After you gentlemen." Gilbert grudgingly stepped out of the metal and frowned at the daylight before he leant forward spreading his wings out which seemed to be fit enough to fly from their previous state. Arthur was confused and Ludwig grunted towards Kiku who was still passed out on Tim's back. Arthur then fit the pieces together, Kiku was the one creating the illusions for the people at the show, the beasts seemed to look different to them, they always seemed scared of them all, and a lot of them didn't believe meaning they wouldn't be able to see Gilbert like he was to other monsters, he would look a lot different in the eyes of superstitious humans. Kiku was also capable of healing people thanks to his gifts but it seemed that just wielding the flames for a while drained him greatly, the reason he was so swift to sleep the night Arthur met him.

Arthur sighed and looked to Gilbert who had jumped from the metal and was now flapping his bat like wings above their heads. He circled before landing on Ivan's huge cage up front, chuckling he smiled before flicking his wrist making the shadows dance around him again. The shadows this time appeared from all angles engulfing him in moving black. Ivan from the cage beneath his feet roared as the voices whispered in his ears and danced around the cage, inside and out. Ivan smashed around the cage before Gilbert smirked and flicked his wrist for the shadows to hit the cage, they did so from all angles causing the cage's door to burst open making Ivan roar in happiness and spread his wings. He poked his head out of the opening and Gilbert saluted before he took off again and flew into the air above. Ludwig waited for the horses of the guards to move apart before he signalled for Tim to follow. The two jumped over the heads of the guards before making it to the clearing. Ludwig looked back and Arthur swallowed before he smiled swinging his tail to the roof of the metal box before he pulled himself up. From here he tensed the whole of his tail back and then flung himself of the roof propelling through the air. The guards had caught on that they were escaping and the knight's eyes widened up next to the Ring Master as Ivan spread his wings out of the cage and flapped them multiple times before he took off into the air. The knight veered his horse away before he ran at the dragon with the sword catching Ivan's wing but not tearing it enough as he took off into the air with the collar glowing purple.

Arthur landed in the clearing and Gilbert landed on a branch next to them as they all began to take off further into the woods. The guards began to run into the woods on their horses with the knight still barking orders about cutting them off. Arthur hissed and rolled his eyes before he shouted to Gilbert.
"You might want to get into the air! They're going to try and cut us off!" Gilbert rolled his eyes before he ran ahead and took off into the sky. Just as he took off an arrow went hurtling past his head making him wobble slightly but he sighed in relief But he soon regretted it as more arrows were fired into the air, one hitting his shoulder. He hissed and fell from the air with his black blood dribbling down his back. Ludwig's eyes sharpened as he ran forward catching Gilbert on his furry back. Gilbert grunted and pulled the arrow out of his shoulder with as much care as he could, it still didn't change much but he would be in less pain. Ludwig looked back at Arthur who had taken to pushing from tree to tree with his tail. Ludwig growled a little and Arthur hissed still keeping the pace up.
"It's easier then slowing you down by me slithering!" His eyes gained their slices down the middle as he was getting agitated. He groaned as a huge cliff appeared before them. Tim growled and turned around to see the guards surrounding them from all angles. Ludwig scratched at the rocks and jumped back as they crumbled beneath his claws. Arthur hissed spiting poison at the guards making some of the horses rear up onto two legs. Ludwig bent down letting Gilbert get off his back and Tim shook Kiku who stirred slightly opening his eyes looking shocked at where they were. Kiku stumbled as he climbed off Tim's back and he looked determined not to let himself and his friends get caught by the men around them. The knight came into the clearing laughing a strange 'Fusosososo' laugh and he looked truly amused by them. He drew his sword and pointed it at them.
"You are now property of the King si." Arthur snorted.
"We are not to be owned, we are animals of the Kingdom!" The knight lifted his visor and smiled.
"But you are not any animals, you are most fabled, rare, and precious, which is why the King wishes to see you...alive." Arthur hissed and shook his head before the knight shook his head putting his visor back down before one of his fellow men handed him a large axe which had 'Maria' carved into the side crisply and cleanly, as though a craftsmen had been called to do so. Arthur hissed before he swung his tail knocking three guards from their horses. The horses fell onto their backs before they ran with fear in their eyes. Ludwig followed Arthur's example before he sunk his teeth into a horse's neck making it whine and kick before it bucked, sending the guard into a tree head first, knocking him out. The horse fell to the floor with blood pouring from its neck.

Kiku looked at a few of the horses and made them think they could see the woods ablaze. The horses neighed in fear and bucked their riders off before running from the scene. Tim snapped at the horse's legs making them step back and some run, others reared up sending more of their riders flying. Gilbert smirked sending the shadows towards the guards and horses making the horses spooked and fearful resulting them in running from the scene. The knight laughed before he ran his horse at Gilbert making Gilbert stumble to the side before the knight got a net thrown over him. Gilbert grunted and tried to get free from the net, but couldn't as it seemed the net was blessed. He called the shadows to help him but none could help as they faded from touching the blessed rope. Gilbert screamed as the rope touched his skin making it burn from the holy ritual performed on it. The knight only moved onto the next target which was Kiku.

Kiku was concentrating on some guards before his ears picked up the horse running at him. He jumped to the side with significant speed and then stared at the horse making it also see the burning forest. The horse's brown eyes filled with fear as it bucked the knight off. The knight grunted but quickly got back to his feet before he ran around the back of Kiku and hit him on the back of the head making his mind playing stop and him fall to the floor passed out. The two wolves were being restrained by ten guards each and had chain nets thrown over them to keep them down.

Arthur threw down another guard before he wiped the blood and poison from around his mouth with the back of his hand. He flinched as a large axe came down next to his tail and whipped his head around to see the knight smirking. He hissed, and before he could comprehend what had happened the axe came down on his tail slicing deep into the scales and flesh. Blood oozed from the huge wound and Arthur hissed trying to pull his tail along near him. He spat at Antonio's armour and the corrosive poison burned a hole in his armour before a small drop hit his skin underneath making him flinch but not waver as he waved his hand. And as quickly as Arthur could see daylight, it was gone as a dart in his neck made him fall to the floor. His vision swam with figures before he fell to the clutches to the open palm of sleep.

Wow this is long... O.O I hope you enjoyed anyway and I tried to split the paragraphs up, did it help and look better? You tell me. Once again comments/follows/favourites are much appreciated. See you next chapter~

'The snake shall continue slithering forward'...

Bye~