jagged vacance, thick with ice

when she wakes, it's with a pounding headache that is quickly overwhelmed by the burning hot ball of pain that has attached itself to her forelimb. eyes flick open to find herself tucked near the wall of a gloom-filled cavern, the soft padding of moss beneath her and stone at her back. nostrils flare, gaze flitting over the stone as memories begin to spark. a groan (that is meant to be soft but ends up filling the space she's in) as she recalls those lantern-lit eyes, finally regarding the disturbing mess that used to be a perfectly functioning ankle. 

dont'panicdon'tpanicdon'tpanic but too late, her chest feels tight and another whimpering groan slips past her maw. her throat feels like sandpaper and she's pretty certain the giant is going to eat her, but she can't bring herself to move a muscle as her gaze slips to a point of light that must be the grotto's entrance.

+1 Discovery Points

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She had been informed of the prisoner that laid within the grotto. It was an old sunken hole, something like a pit within the earth that was found within the forest. However that wasn't a recent hole that came to form, as moss gave a blanket to the area, a humid little den for those who follow Célnes, even if she currently does not sleep within. It was like a perfect haven away from the heavy storms, an ideal sleeping arrangement.. That was used as a dungeon.

She disliked such an area being used like that, but did not vocally express her negativity over the notion. In a way, while the two had different ideals, Célnes trusted Vengeance. The Boogeyman of the King Elk Forest, a rather perfect guard to draw any away, especially those of the white-kin. Though the reasoning may be loss, curiosity peaked within, and so the Queen stood at the entrance, looking down at the prisoner.

A thought came to be, that perhaps there should be a true dungeon to be built somewhere, or even found if possible.

She looked down with her cold fire-lit eyes, a short smile while looking upon the gray wolf.

+1 Discovery Points

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In lieu of painkillers, fear-stoked adrenaline seems to work pretty well. When the behemoth returns, she can only sink her head down back onto the ground, inadvertently curling around her injured limb in the same moment. Cobalt eyes flick up toward him as nostrils flare nervously, realizing then two things; this wolf is female and not the wraith from last night, and in the struggle to discern her features against the light backdrop, another face comes briefly to the forefront of her thoughts. A brief flicker of something like joy, and a budding  "'Ette! " almost slips through her jaws before her teeth clench, suppressing it back down. 

This woman is a stranger, and not too concerned with helping her, judging by the smile she makes out now. " Where am I? " comes out instead, hoarse and rasping, though this time due more to thirst than disuse. This one lacks the Boogeyman's stench, but she assumes that makes her no less capable of violence.
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"What was to be a communal den, it's nice is it not?" Only closer did she step towards, like a blocking of light to the other. An eclipse to the sun as her paws gently touched to the soft moss onto the ground. She wouldn't dare let the other flee, even if the reason for her imprisonment seems to be absent. The Boogeyman was truly causing a name for her forest, but for the seclusion that she was so used to, perhaps in the end it would be well.

+1 Discovery Points

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She swallows back the fear lodged in her throat, keeping her gaze on the woman's chest. "it's lovely," she offers; it isn't a lie, really, had she not been dragged here, it might be the sort of place she'd seek out. The woman drifts ever-nearer, the light of the entrance diming to a soft glow around her. She shifts, uneasily, and queries next, "is — is he your leader?" Bramble has no name for the Bogeyman, but she doubts she needs one for whatever he is, certain the woman knows exactly who she's talking about.

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"No."  This place was unsuitable for such a man. His barbaric tendencies compared to the beauty that was this forest was unwanted, especially by the elk - and while the alliance was liked and wanted, she could never see the man staying for too long. Especially as Vengeance had his own agenda to go to, being the Elkshire guard was a pleasantry at the moment, and something she will miss as a power-stance, but he would never remain forever. A positive, and a negative, for the beauty of this forest would become full once more, but their defense weakened.

"You are in my forest, as a guest of his. You'll be moved eventually to his domain."

The grotto was like its own system, for the moss was cold to the touch compared to the more warm density of the day outside. A humidity inside, like a soft blanket touching their fur, and the light barely shinning within. She could feel the rays upon her back, but as Célnes stepped further into the grotto, her orange-eyes coldly watching the other, the sun seemed to slip away, as she welcomed into the darkness itself.

"Pray tell, what sins have you committed?"

+1 Discovery Points

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The woman makes it clear she is a leader in her own right, though evidently not one who would offer her any help — the haughtiness of her step, the way the light seemed to dim the closer she came, was a testament to that. Still, part of Bramble wants to try, to plead; perhaps she could elicit some note of sympathy, make it apparent that she was no guest of his, but instead a captive. 

Before she can muster up the words and courage to do so, however, the woman asks her next question. "sins?" she echoes, ears splayed back. It's becoming apparent that this woman contains some of that otherness that Vengeance emitted, though in an entirely different vein. She can not put her finger on it, though her heart beats a little faster in her chest. "I haven't done anything wrong, I swear. I just — I was just trying to get over the mountains." She's no idea of geography, only the vague notion that what she seeks lies over jagged peaks, to the north. She sinks into herself gaze flickering once to the woman's face before finding the moss-covered ground once more.

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She did not know Vengeance's agenda or his general business besides his group the Night Walkers. She admits to her own greed in life, and the pride that is to bare the crown of royalty, to have wolves ally to you in loyalty - the Deorwine had no intention to bow her head to others, she held too much pride to even consider. It was far easier to play in a fallen kingdom then worship another ruler. Though her new ally, was a rather unknown entity in her plantery rotation, but a welcomed new moon regardless, "I see."

"Then may we meet again when you have the answer." 

With no satisfactory answer, Célnes looked down upon the other a final glance. A knowing smile to follow, for the prisoner would not remain long within these chambers, but soon would be whisked away to her new cell further so. Maybe then, would she know what kind of sins permitted her imprisonment from Vengeance..

And Célnes was no saint, she was not to save the other, especially if the union would be broken. Thus did the Queen turn away.

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