Sorry for the wait people, there was some um...mixups. Thank you for your patience.
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Kith was waking up, and the first two things she knew were;
1. Her head hurt. Scratch that, her whole BODY hurt, from her ear tips to her brush. Ow.
2. She was tied up. A good reason for a big tantrum, if she didn't hurt so much.
Keeping still, she opened her eyes a slit (even that hurt) and flicked them around. Coyotes, their scent was all around. Brilliant. She was in an underground den of some sort, but there didn't seem to be anybeast in her line of vision. She listened carefully, but there wasn't any sounds of breathing in the confined space.
Alright, time to get free.
Her dirk and sling were gone, but she had expected that. They had missed her belt knife though, a small, slim dagger, good for cutting, and picking locks. She twisted her paws until it was at a good angle and sawed at the ropes holding her. They gave way quickly under her sharp blade and she wretched her paws away to start the circulation again.
She sawed at her bound footpaws and was up in a trice.
Now to see where…
Oh dear.
There was a coyote staring at her from the entrance, through a curtain of weeds and vines.
It…she?…kept staring at Kith, an unreadable expression on her muzzle.
Kith slowly sat down again, no sense in attacking after all. The coyote came through the curtain and sat down also, eyes never leaving Kith's face.
Kith could wait no longer, clearing her throat, she asked the first question that came to mind,
"Er, ehem, where am I?"
The coyote was quiet for a moment longer, then spoke very quietly,
"You, red squirrel girl, are in the Camp of the Pack. And your days are numbered for daring to attack the Pack Leader."
Kith blinked,
"Um, I don't suppose the fact that he was going to kill my captain will do me any good."
The coyote smiled grimly,
"No. You be right at that." She didn't seem willing to speak voluntarily, so Kith asked another question,
"Well, I'm Kithkin, what be your name?"
The coyote leaned back, her eyes flicking over Kith appraisingly,
"I am Missy Ami Coyo, Alpha Female of the Pack."
Kith nodded,
"Pleased to meet you, I'm sure. Why'd you come to chat with the condemned?"
Ami's face twisted at Kith's impudence,
"Have you no manners at all? Know you that a single word from me would save your life, or end it swifter?
Kith shook her head, keeping her face straight,
"I'm a stranger here, I don't know anything about your customs, rules, laws, whatever. And I'm not the type to grovel for my life, thank you very much."
Ami smiled a real smile,
"Ah, a beast of courage I see. Very good, you will need it in the time to come."
So saying, she got up and went out of the den. Pausing in the entrance, she looked back at Kith,
"Try not to wander off, there are sentries posted at both entrances to this den."
Only after she had gone, did Kith realize she hadn't said a word about the belt knife.
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Jove watched as Ami came out of the holding den, nodded to the sentry, and went into her own den. Quickly finishing her job, Jove grabbed hold of the bank-vole who was assigned to feed the prisoner.
"Let me do, please."
The vole shrugged and handed her they tray of food. Jove nodded her thanks and hurried to the den. The coyote guard glanced at her, then at the tray and nodded. Though he did grab a piece of the bread as Jove went past.
Brushing past the vines, Jove got her first real look at Latrans's prize captive.
A squirrel girl, reddish color, slightly taller, and older-looking then Jove herself. She eyed Jove suspiciously,
"Who are you?"
Jove placed the tray down, and mumbled,
"I'm Slave Jove, your meal, miss"
The squirrel's head snapped back as though she'd been hit, a look of disgust on her face,
"Slave?"
Jove nodded, and backed out quickly. She would be whipped if she talked anymore to the squirrel, the guard was listening and taking note.
The squirrel glanced at the food then ignored it, she tried to say something else to Jove, but the rabbit was already out and away.
Going back to the pens, she thought over what little she knew;
The squirrel had been brought into Camp unconscious, and Latrans was very beat up. The story was that the prisoner had done most of that, but Jove wasn't sure how much to believe.
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Kith sat, her knees pulled to her chest, thinking. Why was she still alive? She had attacked the Pack Leader, as Missy Coyo had pointed out. And such leaders usually didn't stand for such beasts as HER to live very long, not if they wanted to save face.
So why hadn't he killed her yet?
The answer came slowly, he obviously wanted to do it in a big, ceremonial way in front of his Pack. Not a nice thought, though it did provide her a way of escape. Somewhat. She was still alive, that was good, she knew Lyfo and the otters wouldn't leave her, but they wouldn't be able to travel fast.
She was on her own.
She grinned, this might be fun…
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Kith is disgusted because she hasn't had much dealings with any slavers in past life...but that's another story...