Sorry it's a little late, but I went to Jersey City with my family on Saturday to see the Katyn Massacre memorial(that was one of the saddest and bloodiest days for Poland)and Sunday I was helping my mom out with chores and since I have spring break this week(early, I know), I will post a lot of things up, and that includes chapter 8 of RTB. Enjoy.
Nothing remained the same for Flora. Sam, her only friend so far was no longer coming down to visit her anymore which shattered Flora's heart. She didn't see anything else after Sam stood up for her because Lenny blocked her view, therefore, she didn't know the reason why he ceased his visits. And to make it even worse, she was being guarded now, as ordered by Soto. Each saber had their own shift in guarding her morning, noon and night.
Zeke got the morning shift. He was no actual threat to Flora, only a nuisance for continuously complaining about how he is not a morning person and blaming her for his crankiness, how Oscar had to bonk him in the head numerous times to wake him up and remind him about his shift. As annoying as that was, it wasn't so cruel and harsh.
Lenny guarding Flora in the afternoon wasn't so bad. He was silent during the whole time and she appreciated it. At one point, Lenny dragged a gazelle leg that he was eating earlier. He was about to finish it up, but after hearing Flora's stomach growl, he slide the half-eaten gazelle underneath the bark door for Flora to finish. The gesture surprised Flora, but nevertheless, she thanked Lenny for his act of kindness, even if he didn't reply. Flora didn't bring herself up to think that Lenny was being nice to her. If anything, he was the least excited to see her so depressed and miserable. Yes, he wanted to get back on his old enemy, but he didn't want to be so cruel to Diego's offspring either. Especially when she was no part of what happened so long ago.
The worse was the night shift which Oscar had. For each and everyone of them, he provoked Flora, insulted her, mocked her, and did anything else to make her stay in this prison miserable.
"What are you looking at?" Oscar spat spitefully at Flora.
"Nothing." Flora defended herself through a huff.
"Quiet you!"
"I didn't even say anything!"
"You did now, so quiet."
Big, macho idiot, setting me up. Grumbled Flora.
"I heard that!" roared Oscar. "Listen you arrogant adolescent, tonight and all the other nights to come. If you place one paw out of place, you'll answer to Soto. Chances are, he will never let you see your father again."
Flora tensed up at Oscar's words.
"Then again, he'll be doing you a favor. If you ask me, he's probably in no position to rescue his burden of a child."
"I didn't ask you." hissed Flora through her teeth, digging her claws in the ground.
Oscar continued.
"So unappreciative of his safety and concern over her, oblivious of his love for her, disobeying his rules."
Every word that Oscar spoke made Flora boil up 100 degrees of anger by the second.
"Not to mention, a wretch. A curse upon her family with something she lacks, if you know what I mean."
At that sentence, Flora was not able to take anymore insults thrown to her.
"You, take, that, back, right, NOW!" Flora charged to her captor without even thinking, hitting her face against the tough, bark, door.
Flora shook her head to get the stars that were spinning around her face, and rubbed her nose that was throbbing in pain.
"It's really cute how you think you can tell me what to do." taunted Oscar. "Stick to it. You are supposed to be miserable in here after all.
Flora's anger turned into emotion as she tried holding back tears that threatened to leak her eyes. She knew that she couldn't show that she was spineless in front of her captor.
"Aw, you're crying? Luckily for me, I couldn't care less so bawl all you want. It's not changing anything anyway."
Flora turned around, not standing the twisted look on Oscar's face, buried her face in her paws and started sobbing quietly.
She missed Sam! He was her only friend during this situation. Is it possible that he doesn't want to see her anymore? No! She saw him! He risked an even horrible treatment from his comrades just to brighten her days, brought her food even if she didn't need it,was willing to hurt himself just to see her smile, and most importantly, he risked his life just to defend her! Sam was Flora's source of happiness during her imprisonment and he was taken away, shattering her joy as well.
The change with guarding and no more visitors affected Sam as well. He missed visiting Flora. Nothing would make him more happier than to go down there and bring joy to her captivity, but now that Soto is threatening her life, visitations are now forbidden.
Sam was being treated even lower than he usually was after he went against his pack mates. In short, he was being treated the exact same way as Flora was. Getting curses and abuse spat in his face, and being provoked in more ways than one.
"Hey tomcat, where's your girlfriend?" mocked Zeke. "How come you're not visiting her anymore? Oh yeah, because you can't! HAHAHA!"
In outrage, Sam was about to take a blow to Zeke, but was stopped by Soto who pinned him to the ground.
"If you know what's safe for that girl, you'd keep that temper of yours in control. Understand?" Soto whispered harshly to the abused boy.
He knew that the pack leader was right. If he was going to protect Flora from Soto's wrath, he was going to have to do everything he was told, not question any orders and not even mention the prisoner's name now.
Soto was satisfied at Sam's obeying nod and climbed off of him.
"Just stay like that, and there will be no other changes to the original plan."
"What was the original plan?" muttered Sam. Zeke growled at the question, but Soto just calmly and relaxed answered "We'll just wait for her father to come back, get some unfinished business done with and if he copes, we'll give his daughter back safe and unharmed, and we won't bother any of them again."
Having his best convinced look on his face, Sam merely nodded, not saying a word to upset Soto. He wasn't exactly sure if that was their plan all along, but he had to go along with it for Flora's sake.
Well it's getting worse for Sam and Flora now. :'(. What will happen next? What do you think are Soto's true intentions? Will the herd rescue Flora and maybe even Sam from the clutches of Soto? Stay tuned!
