"Hurry up, please!", Aleu whispered insistently as Nivalis picked the lock on his shackles with the needle.
"Finally.", the weasel sighed as the lock clinked and one of his paws was freed from its restraints. He quickly switched to his other paw, releasing it in short order. He turned his attention to his chained ankles, quickly freeing them.
"Good.", Aleu whispered as Nivalis showed her his freed paws. "Now get down here and free me." Nivalis hopped down off his bunk and began picking the locks on Aleu's manacles. The wolf sighed in relief as her paws were released from their confines. "Now get the door."
"Okay.", the weasel said gulping audibly as he approached the door. He gently pushed the slot open, breathing in sharply as it clanged softly. Glancing through the opening nervously, he slide his arm through and felt about for the keyhole. Finding it, he inserted the needle and began jiggling the improvised lock pick about.
"You did it!", Aleu praised quietly as the lock clicked and the door opened slightly. Turning around, she snatched up the small coils of wire that Oro had handed them earlier and handed one of them to Nivalis. "Let's go.", she said, stepping out into the hallway.
"Here.", Oro said to his companions, holding out two stone knives. Baldur and Renart took the offered blades, clutching them tightly as they watched out of the barred door of their quarters.
"Do you think they'll pull it off?", Baldur asked, fiddling with his blade.
"Have a little hope, Baldur.", Renart said. "Think you'll be able to get back to your island?", he asked Oro.
"Even if I could, there'd be none there left I care about.", the large polecat replied, his paw clenching around the hilt of his knife.
Aleu crept silently up the stairs, followed closely by Nivalis. Their breath caught in their throats as two hares stepped into view, their backs thankfully turned to the two escapees. "Hand me some more of those spirits.", the black-furred one slurred, leaning on his spear for support.
"Here you go.", his brown-pelted companion replied, holding out a large bottle with some liquid sloshing around in it. The other hare took the bottle, draining the contents in a single gulp. The two hares leaned back against the bars, staring groggily ahead.
"Now?", Nivalis whispered nervously to Aleu, clutching the cord noose he had fashioned early that night.
"Now.", Aleu replied, silently stalking forwards. She swiftly threw the wire over the hare's head, pulling the makeshift garrote back hard. The brown-furred hare gagged silently, dropping his spear as his air was suddenly cut off.
"Huh?", his companion slurred, staring blankly at his fellow hare's predicament. He made no move as Nivalis threw his noose over his head. The bottle shattered across the ground as the hare's paws flew up to his neck as he began to choke. After a minute or so, the two escapees relaxed their grip on the garrotes and the two hares slide silently to the ground.
"I just killed somebeast.", Nivalis said, staring down at the still form of the hare he'd strangled.
"Let's go.", Aleu said as she removed a key from one of the hare's belts. She opened the door and grabbed one of the hares. "Nivalis help.", she said as she dragged the fat beast back behind the door. Nivalis quickly grabbed the other hare and followed Aleu. Once the hares' bodies had been hidden, Aleu looked up at the walls, seeing a couple of hares patrolling along the top of them. "Stay close to the walls.", she said as silently began moving along the wall.
"I think I see them.", Oro said, gesturing outside of the barred door.
"Oui, I believe that is them.", Renart said, a smile spreading across his face.
"Won't be long now my friends.", Baldur chuckled, his paw clenching around the hilt of his dagger in anticipation. The three beasts stared at the two escapees making their way towards the barracks as they kept themselves pressed along the wall.
Aleu pressed herself against the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible as she looked up at a hare walking along the wall top above her, a javelin clutched in his paw. She inhaled sharply as the chains she had slung over her shoulder clinked slightly as she crept closer to the rectangular structure ahead of them. She glanced over her shoulder to see Nivalis still nervously following her, both of their stolen spears grasped in his shaky paws. "Nearly there.", she whispered to the weasel as they approached the darkened barracks. Looking about furtively, the two silently stalked towards the door. "Get ready."
"Okay.", Nivalis answered nervously as he slide his chain off his shoulder. They both stood on either side of the double door of the barracks and cautiously opened the doors slightly. Aleu leaned her spear against the building and tore a strip of cloth from her smock.
"Hold this please.", she said to her companion. Nivalis complied, taking the cloth as Aleu picked up her spear. Taking the piece of flint that the wire had been wrapped around and stuck her spearhead with it. A few sparks flew but fail to catch. She tried again, this time catching the frayed end of the cloth alit. Nivalis then tossed the lighted strip through the doorway, into the barracks. The two quickly shut the doors and began wrapping the chains around the door handles.
"Think this will hold?", Nivalis asked.
"I hope so.", Aleu replied as shouts began to emanate from inside the barracks as the fire quickly spread.