Torture and Storm bundled into the crowded cement den, both toms' sides heaving with he effort of obviously running a lot. The smell of blood was strong on them, but the scent of fresh grass seemed like the sweetest scent in the world compared with this hellhole. Twilight glanced up from her nap, lying close to Rogue, his tail slung lazily over her shoulders in a bad-boy fashion, as if he didn't care. She was curled close to him, their cheeks brushing. Realizing the others were entering, she shoved her friend away, ears heated at their intimate position. She convinced herself she was just waking up, and she wasn't interested in him. He sprung up, looking around, as if frightened something had attacked. A moment later, the tom relaxed and realized nothing had attacked him upon seeing his friends.
"Alright" Breathed Storm "We found a way out." Twilights ears perked, Rogue settling by her side, also looking interested.
"How?" He demanded, the strategic tom ready to plan. Twilight tipped her ears to permit the two non-identical brothers to speak.
"Well, okay, you know all those dead bodies around the line?" Torture questioned. Twilight nodded, shuddering slightly at the thought of all those hollow-eyed cats staring straight ahead at nothing, their fur crawling with pests. Some seemed weeks old, while others could have been killed last night. "Well, they have to get right of them; right? So, we 'volunteered' to go and take out the dead bodies tomorrow. They had us go check it out where we were taking them. Turns out, it opens up to that field we were living in before. There aren't even guards there! We could get all of you guys out like that!" He exclaimed. Rogue nodded slightly, but then looked repulsed
"The field? That WE were living in?" Storm nodded, then realized how that sounded
"Not where we were living, of course," he said hurriedly "it's on the other side of the lake, in a swampy area. There's tons of dead bodies there. So, anyways…" he trailed off.
"Twilight and Leaf out first" Rogue murmured decidedly. Twilight was touched the tom cared for her. However, she was the leader. They needed her! She shook her head
"Crystal and Leaf first" She muttered back "Then Aspen and You. Then me last" She licked his ear kindly. He shook his head, and then looked at Storm,
"You think you two could get us all at once? And how are we getting out?" Torture shrugged "They're all in a big dumpster on wheels kind of thing. It's pretty gross, but its our only way out. They load up like 20 bodies a day. So..Yea. Want me to go get the others?" Twilight nodded
"Uh huh. There all probably back. Act official. Take me with you." Torture smiled, flicking her shoulder roughly with his tail. She stumbled slightly
"Come along, she-cat." Rogue bristled
"Remember, she said act" He hissed to Torture, obviously thinking Twilight couldn't hear. She rolled her eyes, letting Torture push her up to the hole that they had entered through. The two cats skillfully leapt up there, traveling down the dark tunnel. Twilight could see the guard boredly sitting by the cage entrance, the same one as before, obviously back after finding the plant that would cure Crystals 'fainting spell'.
Twilight licked Tortures ear, and he affectionately rubbed her muzzle, setting off towards the light to the guard, giving her no time to think about his affectionate gesture. Torture came up to the guard, ignoring Twilight, whose head was spinning.
He began speaking to the big burly tom, though Twilight couldn't catch many of their hushed words, hearing such as. 'Poison test'...'extras'. 'Die faster' Easily enough, he came out with Aspen, Leaf, and Crystal. The four cats padded into the tunnel, smashing together with Twilight. She smiled at them, flicked her tail for them to follow. Torture pinned her down quietly
"I lead" He purred playfully in her ear. Twilight had to frown. This was too much! He wasn't her, like, mate! But she said nothing, letting the skinny brown tom take the lead. The five cats pounced down to the gross poisoning area. Twilight ignored the gasps of horror from the others, even Aspen, who probably smelled all the stench of death. Torture sighed sadly, but led all the other cats to the small cavern where Rogue, Frost, and Flame were. Twilight watched them sit down, one by one.
"Alright, here's the plan" She said calmly, beginning to speak about their repulsive plan to escape. Leaf drew back as though someone had struck her, but Aspen clumsily put his tail on her shoulder
"You'll be okay, I'll protect you." He said softly. Rogue nodded to Twilight, as if thinking she was thinking the same thing. Twilight flicked her head to the tom, then noticed Torture staring at her with an intensity that unnerved her. All she wondered was;
Do we have the time to fight over petty things like this, or will it ruin our chances of every living truly free?
