Chapter 27- Ahsoka's futile and incredibly FOOLISH fight against Vecna
A little while later
Dooku and his group continued to transport the successfully captured Blu, Jewel and their chicks, Eva and the 25 toucan kids, Brisa, Celeste, Ahsoka, Samara and Poppy to a spot in an alley where a number of other caged birds and other jungle animals were gathered, kept and hidden from the view of any passers-by to prevent arousal of suspicion. This spot swarmed with many of the other poachers' pets, most of them cats and dogs. Among them were Lysandre, Brutus and the fierce Vecna and the three leaders paced back and forth as their underlings sorted the caged and distressed animals, many of them birds and bats, preparing them to be loaded into the vans Frank and Peter had managed to steal. As they continued to prepare the cages, Vecna took the opportunity to pick on and bully some of the prisoners, especially those of his most DETESTED type of bird, the parrot. He released a MASSIVE hiss at two green-winged macaws to frighten them and sniggered at their terror and then reached his snaky head into another cage containing a red-bellied macaw and bit its leg to cause it pain. Vecna relished the screeches of the parrot like a dog relishing the taste of its favourite treat. He then released a demonic laugh before continuing to intimidate and terrorise more of the prisoners. Among the captured animals were a few primates and one of the primates was Mauro, the infamous marmoset of mischief and chief of a band of pesky funky monkeys who loved to cause trouble and nick the knickknacks of tourists. As Mauro was carried in his cage by Embutido the Dachshund and a Red Setter to the other cages, he spewed a series of threats at the poachers' pets.
"I'm gonna GET YA FOR THIS, you VILE SMUGGLERS' FURBALLS!" he snarled, before he turned his glare at Vecna, "An' WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, WORM-NECK, I'm GONNA TIE YA LONG NECK into KNOTS!"
"An' IF YA DON'T SHUT YA MONKEY MOUTH, I will THROW MY HEAD INTO YA CAGE AND BITE YA FACE IN!" retorted Vecna. He then commanded Embutido and the Setter to put Mauro with the others. Mauro continued battering Vecna with fierce threats, some of them gruesome.
"If I CANNOT TEAR YA LIMB FROM LIMB, OVERGROWN WATER PIGEON," the lead primate bellowed, "I'M PRETTY SURE SOME BIRDS ARMED WITH BEAKS AND SHARP CLAWS WILL, ESPECIALLY PARROTS!"
Immediately, Vecna lashed at Mauro with a MASSIVE hiss and whacked the cage containing the lead marmoset out of the paws of the Setter and Embutido. Then the red dog and Dachshund scurried as the swan then darted his head through the bars of the cage and bit Mauro HARD on the left arm. A screech exploded from the monkey and his right hand flew to his left as Vecna withdrew his head, his bitten arm beginning to ooze a bit of blood. Vecna glared without a hint of remorse as the marmoset then screwed his face in agony, before hovering his head near the cage.
"Ya screech at me an' mention my most DETESTED bird again, primate rat, an' it'll be ya throat next time," the savage swan growled threateningly. Mauro looked up with a pained face and flinched at the threat as Vecna then moved on. Then a familiar voice shouted the swan's name. Vecna turned his snaking head in the direction of the caller, a chubby raven as he lead his band of ravens and crows to him and the pile of other caged animals. In their clutches were several cages containing some of the top targets plus one city bird.
"Vecna, we have managed to capture some of our targets," Dooku, the fat raven explained and with that, he and his underlings carried the cages containing Celeste, Brisa, Ahsoka, Samara, Poppy, Blu, Jewel and their chicks and Eva (her beak still taped shut such that she could not speak) and all 25 toucan kids, the large number of Rafael and Eva's offspring kept in four cages to the pile of other cages. As the ravens and crows did this, Blu and the others looked on angrily, especially at Vecna. Vecna counted the top targets but when he saw that only Blu and his family, Celeste, Brisa, Ahsoka and Samara were present, his temper exploded.
"You've caught only NINE of the FOURTEEN of our most-sought after targets, you feathered RATS," the swan screeched, "Frank wants all TWELVE blue macaws an' BOTH flying foxes!"
Dooku and the other ravens and crows immediately scattered as Vecna then threatened to vent. The cats and dogs including Brutus and Lysandre cowered with the caged animals as the swan's temper boiled dangerously. Blu got in front of Jewel who swept up a terrified Carla, Bia and Tiago into her wings while Eva, the toucan kids, Celeste, Ahsoka, Brisa, Samara and Poppy trembled violently, the Major Mitchell's cockatoo with her colourful crest flared from terror. However, the swan calmed himself before he could explode and lose complete control and resumed his job.
"No matter," he said, "The other five will show up. Just you see. Padlock the cages of the Spix macaw family, the Lear's macaw, the Amazon flying fox, the Spix macaw, the glaucous macaw an' the pink cockatoo."
Blu and the other caught members opened their beaks and mouth to protest but then some of the cats, among them Guzma the black cat, came in with some lumps of metal with a keyhole on their front and U-shaped rings. Blu and his family looked on in despair and OUTRIGHT anger as five padlocks were clicked onto their cage door as good measure of preventing their escape. Poppy glared at the wicked swan as her cage was padlocked as well.
"You VILE turkey FIEND," she snarled. Vecna glared at the Major Mitchell's cockatoo.
"Sorry, crested parrot slug," the swan flatly said, "You shouldn't have gotten yourself involved with our most sought-after targets. Looks like ya gonna have to travel with 'em as though ya from the jungle."
Poppy hissed and bashed the cage bars in frustration and sat down. She had hoped that Alabaster and the others with him would find her and the other prisoners before they are taken to the airport and rescued by the time the storm arrived.
As Vecna went to inspect the nine of the fourteen targets, Blu began to vent.
"Just WAIT till we get OUTA here, duck-meat," the former owned parrot of Linda snarled, his mate holding their chicks and also scowling, "You're SURE to face some DIRE consequences."
"Especially since macaws and other parrots are your most DESPISED type of bird on the planet," put in Jewel furiously, "We'll be ya WORST NIGHTMARE!"
"ESPECIALLY if you DARE threaten THEIR chicks, snake-neck," added Samara, "An' believe me, when Blu and Jewel are enraged, ALL BETS ARE OFF!"
"WE'LL join in THEIR frenzy of ATTACKIN' YA if you EVER lay as much as a SINGLE FEATHER on ANY OF BLU AN' JEWEL'S CHICKS!" screeched Celeste. Brisa screeched in agreement while Eva looked on angrily but said nothing. Ahsoka, however, remained silent as well. Vecna turned to the captured macaws.
"AIN'T gonna happen, my precious gems-yet-blue macaw slugs," the swan nastily replied, "You were caged so YOUR cages is where you will STAY for the REST of your upcomin' journey."
Celeste released a fierce hiss as a padlock was placed on her cage by Otis the King Charles spaniel. Celeste, in a fit of PURE anger, lashed at the spaniel and raked her claws over his front left paw. A pained yelp exploded from Otis and he immediately withdrew his clawed and bleeding paw and licked it. Celeste glared remorselessly at the injured spaniel as he limped away and then turned her fierce glare at Vecna as he glared at her with his one-eyed leer.
"THAT will be for YA OTHER EYE when we escape, swan," the Lear's macaw spoke in a low voice as deadly as snake venom.
"Heh, you sure are good at makin' lame threats, ain't ya, blue rat," Vecna mockingly replied. Close by, among a pile of rubbish, three birds were watching. Alabaster, Nico and Pedro had followed Dooku and his group and captured prizes and had managed to locate their group's hiding place. They were horrified at the number of captured animals and Nico winced when he recognised a familiar marmoset among the caged animals.
"The funky monkey," the canary whispered. Alabaster then picked out a familiar pink and white form.
"Poppy," he whispered but before he could leave the hiding spot and fly to Poppy in the pile of caged animals, Pedro stopped him.
"Don't expose yaself, cockatoo," whispered the cardinal, "You'll be captured as well."
Alabaster immediately abandoned the idea and resumed watching the sight. He winced at the massive swan as he continued to taunt Celeste and also Samara.
"Look at the size of that swan," whispered the sulphur-crested cockatoo in awe, "Is he of the trumpeter species? Even the swans I have met weren't as big as him."
"Must be," Nico replied. His eyes then found a certain family on a certain cage and also a toucan and many smaller toucans in several cages.
"Eva and her chicks, Rafy's ENTIRE family an' also Blu an' his fam," he said. Alabaster followed the canary's gaze and found said birds.
Vecna continued taunting Celeste and Samara, the latter threatening to tie his neck into knots if he EVER even TOUCHED Blu and Jewel's chicks. As he continued to speak, Ahsoka, just as Bryony was about to place a padlock onto her cage's door to bolt her in immediately lashed at the collie and jabbed the collie in the nose with her wing thumbs' claws. Bryony released a yelp, jumped back, dropped the padlock and seized her jabbed nose, pulling Vecna's attention her way along with a few other comrades. Blu and the others also looked Ahsoka's way as the ginger bat then immediately seized the cage's slide bolt lock, undid it, swung the door open and then tried to flee. Alabaster, Nico and Pedro flinched.
"That flying fox is skilled with cages!?" the sulphur-crested cockatoo whispered in surprise.
"She familiar wi' cages we were told," said Nico.
"Yea, her human friend Joanna kept her in a cage," said Pedro. Ahsoka continued running but soon found herself face to face with a wall of several cats, dogs, crows and ravens including Lysandre, Brutus, Sombra and Celosia the beagle.
"Where do ya think YOU'RE goin', bat?" Brutus crooned mockingly. Ahsoka shot gazes this way and that and immediately whirled round to face the MASSIVE Vecna as he sauntered towards him with Dooku and a few other ravens flanking him. Among the caged animals, Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia, Tiago, Celeste, Brisa, Samara, Poppy, Eva and the toucan kids looked on as Vecna began to taunt the female flying fox as she was intimidated by the massive waterbird and his hideous appearance and scarred face.
"If ya think ya gonna escape, precious furry gem," Vecna taunted, "Ya got another thing comin'."
"Especially since ya cannot FLY," put in Lysandre. Ahsoka shot the lead ginger tom a glare and turned it at Vecna.
"Well, I AIN'T gonna allow myself to be caught and re-caged REGARDLESS, poachers' pet pests," the ginger bat retorted.
"Really, flightless winged rat?" Vecna flatly replied, "Then maybe you'll DIE tryin'!?"
"We need ya alive for our owners' dealer as you're the last female flying fox of you're species," said Brutus. Then Ahsoka, rage boiling within her dangerously, glared at the swan.
"I might as WELL, especially regarding what you almost did to ORION back at the smugglers' den," she retorted.
"Bring it on then, winged FOX FACE!" Vecna snarled back and then to the horror of Blu and company including Eva and also Alabaster, Nico and Pedro who were in hiding behind a pile of rubbish, the ginger Amazon flying fox and the swan began to circle each other; their wings spread wide and their eyes glaring daggers.
"Wha's that bat doin!?" Nico asked in a horrified whisper.
"She'll be outmatched really easily," Pedro added, "Look at the size difference b'tween th' two."
Alabaster took in this between Ahsoka and Vecna and saw that Pedro was right. Though Ahsoka was the size of Jewel, she was still FAR smaller than Vecna who was much bigger than a hyacinth macaw.
"Ahsoka, what are you doing!?" Blu cried out from his cage, "You'll get yourself..." he released a screech when one of the dogs, Aliana the poodle, bashed his cage.
"Shut up, Spix macaw," the poodle barked. Jewel released a threatening hiss at her in retort but Aliana ignored her. From their cages, Celeste, Samara, Poppy (who had her crest flared with horror) and Brisa watched on as Vecna and Ahsoka continued to circle one another, the latter with her teeth bared and rancorous glares clearly present in their eyes. Hisses filtered through their mouth and beak.
"What is that idiotic bat doing!?" Samara whispered to the other two, "She's gonna get herself badly hurt."
"That hulking monster almost did just that with me, Celeste, Zephyr and Orion back at the smugglers' den," Brisa commented, remembering when Vecna crushed her and those other three under his massive body.
"Celeste opened her beak to speak when Ahsoka's voice pulled her and the other two back to the imminent battle.
"You are a VILE, FILTHY, PSYCHOTIC snake-necked vulture, Vecna," the ginger bat growled in a low voice, the tone of it as deadly as snake venom.
"Hah, looks like one of our prized targets FINALLY understands just how BAD I TRULY am despite not bein' a dung-heap parrot," Vecna mockingly scoffed, "But I bet ya didn't know that I am BADDER than that crested dung chicken Nigel, bat."
Ahsoka then lunged in a split second at the swan, jumped up and tried to jab the swan's face with her wing thumbs but Vecna immediately shielded his face with his massive wings. Ahsoka then tried more wing jabs and swipes but Vecna blocked them as well. Ahsoka backed away, stun at the swan's unexpected combat defence skills while Blu and the others and also Alabaster, Nico and Pedro in their hiding place watched on. Even Mauro was in awe at the flying fox's courage to confront the massive white-feathered beast.
"Oh, beware of the flying birds' main flight instruments, flightless rat," Vecna crooned mockingly and in a demonic voice, "'Specially if they are MASSIVE!" he then beckoned with a wing flight feather to goad Ahsoka into continuing.
"Ahsoka!" Poppy cried, "Ahsoka, DON'T!"
A Great Dane then bashed his paw onto her cage and barked at her to shut up to the female glaucous macaw's bitter glare. Ahsoka, the determination to give Vecna a piece of her mind flaring within her, then lunged at Vecna with a grunt, jumped up and tried to rake her foot claws over the swan's face but Vecna deflected the claw swipe with his massive wings. Ahsoka then jumped up and tried multiple times to give Vecna a NASTY cat-scratch to the face but Vecna blocked each and every one. Ahsoka then landed and tried to bite Vecna's wing but the swan backed away and spread his wings to dodge this attack, sending Ahsoka crashing onto her front. Ahsoka then heaved herself back onto her feet as Vecna then did a parkour-type back roll and rose to his feet in another spot.
"Yoo-hoo," the swan crooned as he entered fighting pose. Ahsoka released a screech and lunged to try and bite Vecna's face but the swan arched his head and long neck, making Ahsoka kiss again. Then the ginger bat landed, rolled and tried to kick the swan in the chest but Vecna lashed his head at her and seized the bat by the throat with his beak to the HORROR of the onlookers but the laughter of Vecna's underlings including Brutus, Dooku and Lysandre. They found the flightless flying fox's attempts at attacking Vecna ABSOLUTELY hilarious. One of the toucan kids also burst out laughing but Diantha stomped on his foot to shut him up as this was NOT at all funny. In their hiding place, Alabaster, Nico and Pedro watched on in horror as Vecna then picked up Ahsoka and flung her HARD at Brutus and Lysandre who struck her with their paws to stop her from hitting him. As Ahsoka collapsed to the floor, Vecna looked on scornfully.
"HAH, you sure fight like a USELESS, FLIGHTLESS BIRD, FLYIN' FOX!" the swan scoffed loudly, his underlings giggling at the flying fox's humilating situation.
"Ya willin' to continue, bat?" Dooku crooned, "Are ya willin' to give up, or are ya thirsty for more?"
Laughter rolled throughout the poachers' pets again while the caged animals looked on. Ahsoka then scrambled to her feet, her acidic glare as corrosive as battery acid fixed on the swan.
"Ahsoka," Blu cried, "Ahsoka, STOP RIGHT NOW!"
"You'll get yourself BADLY HURT!" Jewel added.
"Not until I LAND A BRUTAL INJURY ON THIS VILE WORM-NECKED BEAST!" the flying fox retorted and with that, she charged at Vecna who got ready for more action.
"YOU'LL be the one that will be landed with a brutal injury Ahsoka, if you keep GOING like THAT!" Samara yelled, "Now STOOOP!"
"SHUT UP, GLAUCOUS MACAW," a crow screeched at her and banged her cage. Samara, her anger at the poachers' pets growing by the minute, released a hiss. Then the crow goaded Ahsoka on with the other poachers' pets while Samara watched in horror as Ahsoka tried her VERY best to try and land as much as a scratch, poke or bite on Vecna. But not matter how HARD she tried; she was no match for the MASSIVE swan. Vecna blocked each and every one of the bat's attempts to claw or bite him with his massive wings and even his foot at one point. Then Vecna spun with his wings outstretched, one of his wings smacking Ahsoka in the face and knocking her away. Then with Ahsoka stunned and confounded, Vecna did another parkour back roll and lofted into flight, his massive wings generating a gust then ruffled the fur of some of his cat and dog underlings and blew a few pieces of rubbish about. Then once he was in trhe air, Vecna lashed at Ahsoka and swiped her HARD with a massive wing. Blu and the others winced while Carla, Bia, Tiago and the toucan kids released screams as the ginger bat flew like a comet toward a wall where she slammed into it HARD. Poppy also released a shriek, her crest fully flared while in their hiding place, Alabaster, Nico and Pedro drew in SHARP gasps. The poachers' pets released titters as Ahsoka then flopped onto the floor like a stuffed animal and began to burst into tears both from the pain and the humiliation she had received from the defeat.
"Yeah, cry like the orphaned baby pup ya are, rat," Vecna growled scornfully and triumphantly, "After all, nobody... NOBODY... not even ya lil' brown-furred BOYFRIEND likes ya 'cos ya can't fly!"
Those scathing words tore at the claw marks already carved into Ahsoka's wounded heart by Orion during their argument earlier and she winced violently. Then Vecna commanded some of his underlings to re-cage Ahsoka and padlock her cage shut. This time, Ahsoka went along without resistance. Brutus seized her and tossed her into her cage held by Celosia and another cat, a Sphinx cat. This done, Bryony slammed the door shut and padlocked it and Ahsoka was placed next to Blu and his family who looked on with scowls on their faces.
"You BRAINLESS winged FURBALL," Blu reprimanded, "You could have been BADLY hurt or WORSE!"
"Now you know how FOOLISH it is to take on such a MASSIVE beast like Vecna ALONE," added Jewel.
"Yes, taking down an opponent like that vicious swan will require a TEAM EFFORT!" put in Brisa. Samara, Celeste and Poppy were about to speak when suddenly, Vecna called together his underlings and they immediately broke off the conversation. They all turned to Vecna as he was congratulated by his underlings on winning the fight with Ahsoka and as they began to scoff about her, Ahsoka continued to weep and sob. In their hiding place, Alabaster, Nico and Pedro had finally seen enough, immediately, they abandoned their hiding place and left as fast as comets to find Zephyr, Aurora and the others and report to them.
As soon as things had settled down, Vecna stood before Blu and the others, his massive size towering over them. Carla, Bia and Tiago cowered in their mother's wings while the toucan kids shivered. Poppy also quivered with her crest flared while Celeste, Samara, Brisa, Blu and Jewel looked on with caustic glares. Ahsoka tearfully looked up as the swan began to taunt them once again.
"Once we catch the remaining four blue macaws an' other Amazon flyin' fox," the swan crooned, "We are outa here before that storm arrives an' those coppers find us. Hopefully our owners should be here any moment with those vans..."
"Don't bother, mud-pet swan," Samara retorted, "We have had a VERY NASTY falling out with Sirius, Milo, Aurora and Orion before we were captured and they have left us completely with Zephyr. Zephyr and Orion have gone back to the jungle and Milo and Aurora back to their human friends. You'll NEVER find 'em."
As she said this, Brisa, Blu, Jewel, Celeste and Poppy shot the glaucous macaw a glare but she winked at them. What she was saying wasn't really true but she was trying to convince Vecna that the others weren't worth his and his group's troubles in the hopes of stalling them. After all, Samara knew that they wouldn't REALLY leave them behind and allow them to face the poachers to take them out of Brazil. However, to Samara's frustration, the swan didn't buy it though some of his underlings did, among them Guzma, Alonso and Xerosic but Vecna rebuked them.
"Oh, you'll be surprised, glaucous gem worm parasite," the swan crooned. He then left while Alonso rubbed in Samara's disappointment with a titter before following.
"Nice try, glaucous macaw," added Guzma before he, too, followed Alonso with Xerosic. Samara slammed a wing onto the cage bars and sat down sourly.
"That wasn't a very nice thing you did, glaucous macaw girl," Blu hissed.
"We NEVER had anything of the sort before we were captured!" Jewel added.
"The only argument that occurred between us was between Orion and Ahsoka," added Celeste. A tearful Ahsoka, Poppy and Brisa also looked on in agreement.
"It was supposed to have been a ruse to put that vile swan and his minions off hunting Sirius and the others who will be coming to rescue us," Samara replied, "I was hoping to reduce their awareness that they will be on their way but it hasn't worked."
Suddenly, the sounds of whimpering occurred nearby accompanied by Vecna's demonic giggles. The macaws and Ahsoka turned and to their disgust and horror, they saw Vecna tormenting the toucan kids and also Eva who could not speak due to her beak being taped shut.
"Wassup, big beaked mice?" the swan crooned; the toucan kids trembling violently at the massive monster and scarred appearance, especially his face, "A bird from your worst nightmares pickin' on ya?"
The toucan kids continued to cower, huddle together and tremble at the swan as he then shoved his head close to the bars of the cage holding Diantha and some of her siblings, making them tremble all the more and whimper, the hideous swan's face frightening them. Blu was about to yell at Vecna to leave the toucan kids alone but then a hulking Doberman and a ginger tom came in.
"Oh, don't dare yell at our lead swan, blue macaw gemstone," Brutus said, "Vecna can be VERY nasty if you upset him."
"Yes," said Lysandre in agreement, "In fact, 'nasty' would be an understatement," he and Brutus then gazed over Blu, Jewel and the three little blue chicks held in their mother's wings, their smiles widening until they stretched from ear to ear.
"Boy won't you five rake in such a HUGE number of Brazilian Reals once we sell ya through the pet trade," Lysandre crooned, "After all, you're the ONLY family of Spix macaws alive, complete with a brood of cutesy lickle chicks," he mockingly cooed over Carla, Bia and Tiago's timid facial looks.
"I bet they'll look good..." Brutus added, "After they've been converted into trophies... along with YOU two."
"Yeah, it would sure make a great family photo," Lysandre said to Brutus who smiled in agreement. Nearby, Celeste, Poppy, Brisa, Samara and a still-tearful Ahsoka winced and drew in sharp gasps at such an INCREDIBLY insulting remark the ginger tom and the Doberman had just made to the Spix macaw family. Samara was ESPECIALLY flabbergasted, and also enraged.
"Even if I were still Jewel's worst enemy, I would never, repeat: NEVER wish THAT kind of fate upon her and her family," she whispered to the others. Jewel turned her back on the mocking pair to hide the terrified chicks from them while Blu trembled violently, his anger at the cat and dog's statement on him and his family being turned into some taxidermy trophies boiling dangerously within him until finally, he exploded like a volcano and lashed at the cat and dog in a fireball of wrath, making Lysandre and Brutus flinch.
"GET AWAY FROM US RIGHT NOW, you VILE WORM-INFESTED MUD-PET RATS," Blu screeched at the top of his voice, his eyes blazing brown lava fountains, "Before I GIVE YA a NASTY AN' INCREDIBLY GRUESOME AN' PERMANENTLY DISFIGURIN' FACIAL INJURY!" he then flared his talons to enforce his severe threat. Blu was rarely ever this angry but now that he was a family bird and father, he had developed his parental instinct to protect his chicks and mate. Jewel also explosively released a hiss as loud as a spitting cobra to nonverbally tell the lead cat and dog that she, too, will go berserk against them. Brutus and Lysandre, after recovering from the shock of Blu's outburst and Jewel's hiss, then lowered their guards and sniggered in mockery at Blu's threat.
"Oh, my, my, volcanic ain't we?" the Doberman scoffed, "For such a dumb former pet of an American woman."
"Seriously, you two, you are playing with fire," Ahsoka said, her emotions over the humiliating loss against Vecna put aside for now, "Blu and Jewel there are EXTREMELY..."
"Oh, shut up, flightless rat," Brutus retorted at the bat, "Or do we have to have Vecna throw you around like a dog's toy again?"
"I'm gonna join the perch Blu and Jewel are on, if you continue to taunt them over this taxi-dummy what's-it thing being their fate," Samara rammed in, "And believe me, you will NOT like it when I'm angry, mud-pets."
"Same with us THREE," Brisa added, Celeste and Poppy nodding in agreement and the macaws and Major Mitchell's cockatoo also flared their talons to enforce their threat. Brutus and Lysandre, however, just gazed mockingly at the group and sniggered.
"With those padlocks boltin' ya cage doors shut, gems an' pesky pink bundle of cotton candy feathers," the latter, the ginger tom, said, "Ya gonna find that rather difficult."
"Too true," Brutus added, sniggering as the volcanic Blu glared at the number of padlocks on his and his family's cage in frustration, "We purposely padlocked your cages for good measure as we had suspected that YOU may be familiar with cages and how their locks work."
"Which possibly explains why you managed to escape your cages back at our den," Lysandre said, "So we wanted to ensure that you would NEVER be able to escape, an' when your other halves and her brother (he nodded to Brisa) and his other half turn up, we will be doin' the same to THEIR cages."
"We are NOT couples," retorted Celeste.
"We're just friends," added Samara. However, Brutus and Lysandre just smiled mockingly, turned and left to see to the other prisoners with their underlings and the crows and ravens while Vecna (after growing bored of intimidating Eva and the toucan kids), kept an eye out for Frank, his human underlings and the vans.
"If those other five top targets of ours show up, it'll be based on an ENTIRELY different reason than that assumption of yours," Brutus said flatly, "And it excludes the fact that the solo Spix macaw (he nodded to Brisa) is the sister of the other male Spix."
Celeste, Ahsoka and Samara flinched at this statement but before they could protest any further, the lead cat and dog left to see to their task. Poppy then turned to Ahsoka and the macaws.
"I sure hope the others manage to find and rescue us," she told them.