----Prologue----

Having been recaptured from Salamandastron's beaches by Princess Almira's scouts, Furnier and Ayanna sat in the oh-so-familiar dungeons of Fort Riftgard. Without Kail, who remains at the mountain, they awaited what they expected to get: Execution. To cheer each other up and to boost their courage, they spoke of how in Dark Forest they would be free from Riftgard and Almira, away from suffering to be together forever, and they spoke of what Kail might be like when he grows older. A healer, perhaps, or a noble warrior.

Feeling peaceful in each other's company, the two squirrels slept, until they were called to the Throne Room...


----




--Throne Room of Fort Riftgard--

A cavernous pillared room of great splendor. The walls are of sound boards stained dark with pitch, and the windows are mere openings in these walls flanked by shutters to bar out the elements. Hanging from the high ceiling, between exposed beams, is a line of three iron chandeliers; purple flags with the device of Riftgard's royal house hang from horizontal poles just below the beams; while on the northern wall is displayed an enormous tapestry of brilliant colors. Dazzling beasts and chain-like designs in the northern style have been carved everywhere possible, giving the otherwise primitive hall a regal air.
Wooden planks also cover the floor, exposed except for where a broad track of smooth purple carpet runs down the center of the room; the aisle starts at the huge double doors in the western wall and continues to the eastern end of the hall. Where the carpet stops, on a dais, rest two large thrones of wood covered in shells, strange designs, and gilded accents. Two smaller, slightly less ornate thrones flank the central two.
Exits: [L]eave the [B]uilding, [S]tairwell


-----------------------------


Almira sits upon her throne, staring at the stairwell as she waits for the guards to bring Furnier and Ayanna. She had spent the night pondering what the punishment should be, and finally has decided. She shifts impatiently, waiting.

And here's Furnier. He's nervous again, and it shows as he's in a cold sweat. He's preparing himself to die, but he must be strong. He disregards Almira, instead crossing his fingers on both paws - tied behind his back - and looks to Aya with a small reassuring smile.

Ayanna walks in straight'n tall, though her paws have been tied behind her back, as well. Guards march on either side of her, and her expression is surprisingly calm. She returns Furnier's smile with one of her own.

Almira frowns slightly at the smiling going on, then stands, "I haff decided to give each of you your own punishments for vot you haff done. Vhich of you would like to go first?" It may or may not be noticed that the blade of a dagger is heating in the fire, and that long pins rest nearby it.

Why would Furni look at the fire at a time like this? Intrigued by Almira's speech, for it doesn't seem to imply death, he steps forward falteringly. "Me." he says in a quiet voice. He's being a bit selfish in that he doesn't want to see Aya die...But it IS his worst nightmare.

Ayanna doesn't say anything at all, not even making the attempt to suggest that she be the first. She takes a deep breath, however, and straightens up taller than she was before.

Almira nods slightly, "Very well." She moves gracefully toward the fire slower than necessary, then picks up the pins. She turns, heading back toward Furnier, "Guards, hold dem." The guards on either side move to grab each of their arms.

Furnier looks confused as Almira goes to the fire and picks up the hot pins. She's going to kill the two squirrels with those? He had expected a swordblade to the back of the neck, or something similar. Still, he resists the strong urge to struggle against the guards as they hold his arms, and stands as tall as he can on trembling hindlegs, looking to Aya once more.

Ayanna looks faintly confused, as well. However, as Furnier looks toward her, she gives him another smile, though smaller than the last.

Almira steps next to Furnier, studying him a moment...a cold smile spreads across her muzzle, then she quite suddenly moves to shove a pin far into the squirrel's left ear.

Furnier looks away from the ferret's face as the first signs of a smile form on it...Then the pin flies at...his ear? In reflex, he dodges his head, and it scrapes against his scalp, coaxing a yelp from him. x.x

Almira looks annoyed, then glances toward a guard by the door, "Come hold his head..." The guard moves to obey.

Furnier can hardly struggle, and his head is easily held to one side, now with one extra scar in his scalp. His eyes are wide and he tries weakly to resist now. What's she going to do, shove that pin through his skull?!

Almira grins wickedly, watching the squirrel silently for a moment...then reaches again to shove the pin far into his ear.

Furnier cries out like he's never done so before. His ear is in so much pain that he feels as though he might pass out, what with the sensitive flesh of his ear canal being torn, scorched, and even melted to an extent. He writhes around in the guards' grasp, tears springing to his eyes as the pain feels as though it might envelop his whole head...and after a few seconds, that ear goes silent. Not even a ringing.

Ayanna's jaw drops and her eyes widen as she sees this, not having expected such a thing. She simply stands there, however, and her eyes lower. She knows protesting only seems to encourage the princess.

Almira smiles, leaving the hot pin there for now as she watches Furnier. She leans just slightly closer to him in order to whisper in what is now his only good ear, "My voice vill be derr last ting you ever hear, Furnier...Perhaps dis vill be enough to teach you not to run avay, yarr? Derr punishments vill only get vorse..." Then she swiftly moves to repeat the process with the hot pin on his only hearing ear.

All traces of courage and dignity have left the squirrel, and he bucks and struggles feebly against the ropes and guards which hold him still. His face is tearstained and he whimpers, not looking at the princess. He vainly tries to turn his head, to hide his remaining ear against his shoulder, but the guard holding his head still ensures that he can do no such thing, and the second heated pin is pushed into his other ear, heralding another cry as the pain is doubled, and finally...Everything is silent.

Tiesto has arrived.

Tears soon fill Aya's eyes as she listens to Furnier's cries of pain. She no longer stands straight, slumping slightly and hanging her head.

Almira turns and walks back toward the fire, picking up the dagger with the heated blade. She looks back toward the guard holding Furnier's head, "That's enough. Now hold derr oder vone." The guard nods, then releases Furnier in order to go hold Aya's head still, instead.

Tiesto walks down from the stairwell after screams interrupted his conversation with a nearby guard.

Furnier simply slumps to his knees as the guards let go, doubling over as the hot metal pins remain lodged in his destroyed ear canals. Not having a clue what Almira just said, he remains sobbing, though now he's unable to hear and regulate his sobs, they're more like hoarse inhalations, similar to Gollum's cough, only backwards. Or maybe even a seal's bark if one uses their imagination. He looks up to see Almira and the guards...

Ayanna is grabbed and held. Her eyes first fall on Furnier...then on Almira and the dagger. She starts trembling and attempts to step backward...but the guards easily manage to hold her. Tiesto isn't seen.

Tiesto notices what is going on and yells. "Hey!"

Almira approaches Ayanna, smiling as the trembling is noticed...then a frown of annoyance crosses over her face as Tiesto speaks. A glance is given toward him, "Vot is it?"

Furnier can't see Tiesto. The squirrel was about to look away, but as Almira suddenly takes ill-tempered interest in something, he's keeps watching. He turns on his knees, following the princess's line of vision until he sees Tiesto. He hasn't a clue who's saying what, but knowing Tiesto, he's probably trying to help the couple.

Tiesto runs over to Almira and looks at the two squirrels, "What's going on here? What'd they do now?"

Almira says, "I'm punishing dem for escaping /tvice/. Don't interrupt me."

Tiesto glares at Almira, "I know I can't do anything. But please reconsider."

Almira says, "I haff considered it long enough, and dis is vot I decided."

The doors creak open. Nervously, a guard with a somewhat bruised jaw enters, fiddling with his helmet. He stops in the middle of the room, takes a deep breath, then moves towards Almira. "Yer... yer... 'Ighn-ness?"

Tiesto stands up straight and bows, "You know best, your highness. Make the pain quick please though."

Almira glances toward the guard, considerably annoyed by now, "It better vait, because if you say vone more word, you vill find yourself wid vone less tongue."

The guard's mouth snaps shut. He turns away from Almira, heading quickly towards Tiesto and saluting. "Er, er, Cap'n Tiesto..." he glances nervously at Almira, then says in hushed tones, "Y'know the slave y' sent me to guard? The one with the 'airpin? Well, i' turns out ... That, uh. Uh. She had another one, and she unlocked the cell door---I noticed, I'm sharp eyed, I am---and I took a step toward the cell and she ... uh ... opened the door. Smacked me a good one with it too..." he trails off, looking miserable.

And without further ado, Almira stabs the hot dagger toward one of Aya's eyes.

Furnier would, of course, try to stop Almira...but he doesn't know it's happening! Tiesto and the guard act as a slight distraction as he wonders if Tiesto is arguing or not...

Tiesto hauls off and punches the guard in the face, "Incompetent guards." As he does this he sees Ayanna's eye get skewered and winces slightly. "Find the slave... Now!"

The guard smacks into the floor after being punched. "Ow! I can't! I searched high'n'low, I honestly did, but the bloody black squirrel's GONE! I swear! Uh ..." he pauses, then throws up his paws defensively. "Not my fault!"

Tiesto draws his sword and puts it at the guards neck, seeming to ignore the two squirrels, "Put together a small party and find them, or it'll be -your- eyes and ears."

And Aya screams. Loudly. She attempts to struggle as hard as she possible can, but to no avail. The guards hold her more or less still as her is stabbed, immediately losing sight in it. She tries to reach a paw to it...but they're tied behind her back. x_x

The guard glances at Aya, not wincing, then looks back at Tiesto and gulps as he finds a sword to his throat. "Only one squirrel. Not 'them'. Just 'her'. Just one slave! But I'll do it! I swear! Honest! I'll ..."

Tiesto nods, "Just go." He re-sheathes the sword and steps back.

The guard is nearly sobbing. "Yessir! Course sir!" he turns and trips, landing with a crash of armor.

Furnier looks back at Aya and Almira...and let's out a hoarse choke as he see's what's happening. Now restrained only by the ropes, he springs to trembling footpaws and barrels forward at the princess...But the damage to his ears has - with all such creatures in such a situation - affected his balance somehow, and he topples, falling on his face between Aya and Almira, narrowly avoiding landing on one of the pins. He tries to get back up, mouth moving, but only barks and broken syllables emerging, all very loud.

Tiesto sighs and looks at the floor for a moment before turning around to face the others and sighs, it wasn't his fault the squirrels tried to escape.

Almira swiftly stabs for Aya's other eye, then steps back as Furnier comes crashing. She promptly turns and walks back toward the stairwell, speaking to the guards, "You can return to your posts now." The guards nod and move to do just that.

Except for one. The unlucky one lying on the floor trying to get up. He landed quite wrong, twisting just the wrong way and spraining his ankle; and not a little sprain, for he -is- wearing full armor.

Ayanna shouts again as her other eye is stabbed, effectively blinding her. As she's released, he falls to the ground, curling up tightly into a little trembling and whimpering ball.

Tiesto stands and stares at the two slaves briefly before sighing and walking toward the entrance.

Furnier gets back up onto his knees, unable to really do anything thanks to his bound paws. His face is panic personified, as he can do nothing but stare at the streaming remains of his love's beautiful eyes. The pain enveloping his head from the cooling pins is forgotten, replaced instead by the pain as he tries to tear his paws from the ropes, that loud, hoarse barking continuing as he tries to somehow aid Ayanna.

Ayanna is now breathing quite heavily. Her paws twist as she tries to get them free, and she writhes just a little as she lays on the ground. She speaks in a small, frightened, and pain filled voice, "...Furnier?..."

Furnier isn't going to let any rope keep him from trying to help somehow. Paws tearing, he manages to get one free, and then the other, oblivious to Aya's voice. He tries to prop her into a sitting position with one of his bloody paws, and can't help but stare...He can still make out her irises clearly, though both eyes have taken on a punctured, crumpled look, and stream fluid. Opening his mouth, he tries to communicate, the pins in his ears forgotten as he chokes loudly, "...'Yanna..."

Ayanna takes a deep breath and noticeably calms now that she's certain Furnier's nearby. She stops squirming, and only her paws still move a little against the ropes. She takes a few more deep breaths, trying to calm down a little more...though it doesn't much work.

Furnier is quick to reach and fumble with the ropes with one paw, managing to get them loose quickly enough. Oblivious to all but who he can see, and he only has eyes for his beloved right now, he tries to speak again, needing some kind of reaction. "'Y'nna? Aya?"

Ayanna nods slightly to Furnier, murmuring something quietly...so quietly that even with hearing it couldn't be understood. Once her paws are freed, she reaches up to touch her eyes, but pauses before she does. She reaches instead hesitantly toward Furnier's ears...or at least in their general direction, "Furnier?"

Furnier doesn't flinch or anything as he let's Aya's paws find their way around his head. He does know that she's said his name...he's seen and heard her say it so many times, though the latter no more. "I'mmm 'ere." he says, still quite loud, prolonging a syllable here and there as he tries to somehow say it correctly from memory. He wants to say 'don't worry'...but how can he? So instead, he uses his free paw to tear an entire arm from his tunic, with the intention of binding Aya's eyes.

Ayanna very lightly touches one of he pins still in his ears, then draws her paw back. She looks more upset than she already was, though she doesn't resist when he attempts to bind her eyes.

Furnier binds Aya's eyes lightly, more of a covering than anything else, though tight enough to soak up any optic fluids. He winces as Aya makes even the slightest touch to the pins in his ears, the flesh of his ear canals having melded around them from when the metal was still red hot. He sits Aya up a little better in his arm, his free paw moving to take one of hers as he notices her become even more distressed as she finds an earpin. "D-don' warry 'bout mmme. Y'go' y'own t'oubles..." he tries to say, loudly as ever.

Ayanna lightly squeezes his paw, sighing softly and speaking with no expectation of an answer, "....What do we do now, Furni?...."

Furnier will need to start lipreading soon. But right now, he can only guess what Aya is saying. He's unsuccessful, but his loud reply isn't entirely out of context. "Wwe'll be a'righ'...We g-got each uvver..." he squeezes her paw back, and clenches his jaw as the full-on seriousness hits him like a freight train. Unfortunately, the jaw-clenching causes the bad aching in his head to be disrupted by a bolt of pain in each ear, enough to coax a tiny yelp from him, trying to keep it silent but having no way of knowing if he's successful.

Ayanna looks alarmed by the sudden yelp, "Furni?"

Once again, Furni's name is easy enough to understand with sight alone. "Yeah?" he asks, wondering if she had heard the yelp.

Ayanna's concerned expression remains, "...Are you alright...?" Admittably a silly question.

With a little concentration, small sentences such as that are understandable. Furni is thankful that Aya has asked that...not only does it mean that the rest of her seems unharmed, but it makes him feel less of a fool. "...'Course I-I ammm." he manages. Ludicris, of course, though from his point of view as he compares his injuries to hers, he's never spoken a truer word.

Ayanna looks a little confused, "Can you hear?"

And this is where he makes his first real mistake. "...Yeah, I'm 'ere. T-try n-not t'worry..." how can she not? he thinks to himself. Still, he must be encouraging.

Ayanna nods a little, that being an answer to her question in its own way. After a moment's pause, she reaches up gingerly to touch her blindfolded eyes.

Furnier doesn't try to stop Aya investigating her injuries. Why should he? Although, not finding anything good to say - understandable - he does take this time to explore one of his ears with his free paw. Aching badly anyway, the scorched flesh is painful to the touch, and for some reason, the pin doesn't move a great deal. It's probably going to be an ordeal getting them out.

Sarengo has arrived.

Sarengo enters the Throne Room with a regal air, before proceeding to stand in the corner at the moment, paying no heed to the squirrels, probably because he's not yet seen them. He chats with a Ratguard officer, or as close to 'chatting' as can be, when he's threatening to kill the poor beast for drinking while on duty. He berates the officer in a calm way for him, a moderately loud voice, but not loud enough to really disturb anyone else.

Ayanna draws her paw away from the blindfold almost as soon as she touches it. She bites her lip for a second, but then as voices are heard, she cocks her head to one side. Her ears perk up as she listens. Her head moves from side to side as she tries to figure out where the sounds are coming from. She begins getting slightly agitated, and she speaks quietly, "...Furni? Who's there?"

Furnier hasn't noticed, what with being too busy tending to Aya and himself, andhe's hardly going to hear anyone enter. It takes him a fair bit of time, but once he decypher's Aya's lip movements to "Furni, oo-air", it's pretty easy. He looks up, correcting his tilting head and balance as he does so. It's DA KING. Surely he didn't know about Almira's intentions? He's not sure, but is willing to find out. Speaking hoarsely, and overly loud, he manages, "S'rengo," dismissing any formality.

Sarengo turns his head to see Furnier, calling his name. Odd, there's no 'Your Majesty' or anything. Then he jumps. It's FURNIER. And Ayanna. How'd they get here?! And why is Ayanna blindfolded? He finishes his lecture with the Ratguard and walks over to the pair. "Ayanna, Furnier, gutt to see you. You vant somet'ink? And Ayanna," he asks curiously, "Vye you got dat blindfold over your eyes?"

Ayanna turns her head in Sarengo's general direction, not quite where he actually is. She speaks quietly and her face shows more than just physical pain, "...I can't see, anymore, I can't, Your Majesty....and Furnier can't hear....It was Almira's punishment for us..."

Furnier's gaze flickers from Aya to Sarengo, oblivious to what is being said. His face is pale beneath the fur, and now that Sarengo is close enough, maybe he can see the ends of the long pins protruding from the squirrel's ears...

Sarengo blinks. It takes a moment for this to register. Then his eyes narrow, and his face begins to visibly clench in anger. "Almira did /vot/?!" He glances to Ayanna, and her blindfold, shaing his head. Then he looks at Furnier's ears. Deafened? Oh. He sees the pins. "Oh, mine...Furnier, Ayanna, get up to der Infirmary immediately. Get Glinteye to look at your vounds, ve need dose pins out. And please, tell me, do eidder of you know vere mine dearest daughter is?" The way he says 'dearest daughter' indicates that there might be some serious slaying going on here.

Ayanna says, "....I'm not sure, I'm not, Your Majesty...maybe in her room?.."

Furnier just sits there, cradling Aya gently in a paw. His tearful gaze gradually turns to the floorstones, and he closes them completely as he thinks to himself, uninterupted by the voices.

Sarengo glares about. "You two, get up to der Infirmary, NOW." He beckons a ratguard over. "Take dem to der Infirmary. Be gentle, and quick, oddevise you'll be vorse off dan dey are." He sweeps off in a rage, determined to find Almira.

Sarengo heads for the stairwell.
Sarengo has left.

This is gonna be quite a challenge. Watching Sarengo leave and Aya trying to stand, Furni judges that he'd better do the same. Luckily, there's a handy rat guard nearly, and he uses him for support, quite literally deaf to any protests the rat might have. This way, his tilting head won't make him lose balance as easily. He reaches to take Aya's paws and guide her to her footpaws.

Ayanna lets Furnier help her up, then doesn't release one of his paws once she's standing. Her head turns slowly one way and then another, not sure which way to head now.

The guard seems hesitant to move, for some reason. Furni is confused. Where are they supposed to go? He'd ask Aya, but it's quicker to ask the rat. :p After telling the rat to repeat three times - damn accent! - he sets off for the infirmary, dewclaw/thumb constantly rubbing Aya's palm like how people do when they're trying to comfort someone.

Ayanna walks with him quietly, though she chews anxiously on her lip. She doesn't much like trying to move with no idea where she's going.

Furnier goes slowly, silently, letting Aya walk at her own pace and glaring at the rat whenever he tries to speed up. Finally, they reach the entrance to the stairwell.

*******

Infirmary
Everything about this room is simple and functional. Its south wall is curiously sloped, making a triangle with the opposite wall. Besides this, its glass windows are its main feature: five along the angled southern wall. They are very small, however, with wooden shutters on the inside of the walls. In a matching rows against the north and south walls are simple pinewood beds piled high with thick, rough sheets. The walls and floor are all rough wood, and a large fireplace gapes in the eastern wall. Crisscross patterns of wooden rafters are visible below its high, triangular ceiling. In various places along the walls are cabinets and chests of wood, the largest of these (the size of a closet) being in the northeast corner. The north and east walls each contain a door.
Exits: [B]arracks
With:
[IC] Glinteye


Furnier is doing his best to not lose his balance, leaning on a guard just to make sure. He also holds paws with Aya, leading the blinded squirrel in slowly. He scans around for signs of healers.

Glinteye stands before the fireplace, trying to set some herbs smoldering for the positive aromatic effects. There is a ratguard laying in one of the beds here, a smelly poultice on his forehead. Glinteye himself seems at ease, moving with his customary slowness.

Ayanna stays close by Furnier, holding his paw fairly tightly as she nervously turns her head in various directions.

Glinteye turns to see the two entering. His sharp vision immediately sees both Ayanna's obvious lack of sight, and the pins in Furnier's ears. "By the King...what happened to you two? Come here, come here, quickly. What happened?" He asks again. Phew, this is an odd one for him, and he speeds up quite quickly.

Furnier didn't make out anything in that speech. He turn to Aya...but she won't see his questioning look. :( So instead he lets the convienient NPC guard lead him over, and he Aya.

Ayanna turns her head in Glinteye's general direction as she's lead over, "...Princess Almira shoved hot pins in Furni's ears, she did, and a hot dagger in my eyes..."

Glinteye frowns. "Good Gracious, what in the King's name did you do to make her angry enough to do that to you? THat's horrible..." He beckons to Furnier, intent on getting those pins out and treating the wounds before infection sets in, or so he hopes.

Furnier walks over, a paw on an ear. He manages to say "The' stuck..." pointing to his ears and the deeply imbedded, almost immovable pins.

Glinteye shakes his head. "Nasty, that is." He examines the ear closely. Hmm. He walks over to a table and returns with a small crystal jar of a pale green cream, which he begins opening. He dips a paw in and begins spreading the mixture very gently in the ear closest to him. "This is a painkiller, ought to deaden the hurt for at least a moment..." The hurt of what, he doesn't say.

Not that Furni heard. :p He winces from the pain as the burned, ruined flesh is touched, but stays largely silent as the healer does his work.

Ayanna stays silent beside Furnier, simply holding his paw.

Glinteye allows a moment for the cream to take effect. Lets hope this works. He motions for the ratguard to cover Ayanna's ears, then takes firm hold of one of the pins, braces Furnier's head with the other, and pulls. Hard.

Unfortunately, the cream can't get into his ears entirely...so as the pin is ripped from the flesh, he can't help but cry out loudly, and shake his head in an attempt to shake off the pain. After a few seconds, a thin stream of blood starts to run down the side of his face from the ear.

Ayanna knows something bad is going to happen the moment her ears are covered, and the muffled sound of Furnier's shout confirms it. She immediately becomes very alarmed and agitated, "Furni?"

Glinteye is ready with a thin strip of cloth, tightly wound into a pad, which he compresses against the wound and bring Furnier's paw up to, to try and clot the bleeding. He moves around to the opposite ear and treats it with the cream, preparing to get rid of that pin, as well.

Furnier gives no answer to Aya, holding the cloth to his destroyed ear, head tilting again and thus forcing him to sit on a bed, allowing Glinteye to tend to his other ear.

Glinteye once more gives time for the salve to set in, makes sure the ratguard has Ayanna's ears securely covered, and gives a sharp tug on this pin as well.

Furnier acts exactly the same as with the first pin. Even his cry of pain sounds the same as, with a sickening but quiet sound, the pin is wrenched from the surrouding tissue, allowing both now-useless ears to bleed freely.

Glinteye applies a pad to this ear as well, then uses various items to bind the compresses tightly to Furn's ears. He can't hear anyway, but it ought to stop the bleeding, at least.

Furnier's already loud (but only slightly laboured) breathing becomes a bit heavier as the pain envelops his head, luckily some of it numbed by the paste. He looks to the healer, and then to Aya. Giving no words of thanks or otherwise, he motions to Aya and his own eyes, saying loudly, "T-try t'saaave 'em...keepam in..." he loved looking into those eyes, and he's being both naive AND selfish in this request. >.>

Glinteye nods silently to Furnier, then gets the Ratguard to move away from Ayanna. He walks up and crouches in front of the squirrel. "You'd be Ayanna, right? Could I get you to take off your blindfold for me, m'dear? I may be able to help you a bit, if you'd let me...?"

Ayanna is still agitated by Furnier's shouts, but as she's told to, she slowly reaches up to remove the blindfold and reveal the mess of what's left of her eyes. >.>

Glinteye's mouth drops open. "What in Hellgates was the Princess thinking?!" He peers at the mess with a disgusted expression on his face. "My dear...I hate to say it, but it looks as if they've been seared. I can't do anything in the way of healing them...You've two options: leave the mess in there, wear your blindfold, and risk infection; or let me clean it out, which shouldn't hurt, as they've been seared, then let you wear your blindfold. Your choice."

Furnier pointedly isn't looking, keeping his gaze on the ground, not wanting to risk seeing any kind of mess caused over the short while and the light pressure of the blindfold. He instead begins to tap the back of his head, away from the burnt ears, as he tries to hear the tapping. Nope.

Ayanna sighs softly, "...cleaning would be best, it would..."


Glinteye nods. He guides the blind slave over to a bed, where he gently sits her down. He procures a short, thin dagger with a keen edge from the inside of his robe. "Well, m'dear, this might hurt a bit. Are you ready?"

Furnier peeks over as the two move, and looks away as the knife is drawn. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what is going to happen, so he looks away again, hiding his face in revulsion and guilt. tailbrush swishing to show his unhappy mood.

Ayanna gives a slight nod, "....aye, I am...."

Glinteye nods, not that Ayanna can see it. He dips the point of theknife in the pain-dulling ointment, and inserts it carefully into her left eye socket. A careful scraping begins, with Glinteye squinting, going for as much recision as possible. A bead of sweat trickles down the side of his face. Tricky business, this, eh?

Furnier keeps on looking away. Not even a hint of curiosity affects him. This is something he simply does not want to ever see...

Ayanna sits as still as she possibly can, though she bites down on her lip a little. It's not exactly a pleasant experience.

Glinteye scoops the remains of the squirrel's eyes into a white cloth at his side. He shudders in revulsion; he surely hadn't expected to treat anything quite like this. He finishes with the left eye, goes for a clean cloth, wipes hte knife and dips it once more into the ointment, and begins in the right side.

Ayanna continues to sit still and silent, though she's starting to look just slightly pale.

Glinteye scrapes the remainder out, delivering a particularly nauseating jerk at the last tendon. He pulls out a flat, flexible piece of wood, spreads more salve on that, and spreads it in both sockets, wrapping her head with the blindfold. He sighs in relief. "Done."

Furnier, too scared to look up - Poor Aya, not having him to support her! :( - and unable to hear, remains turned away, not knowing that the less-than-pleasant task is completed.

Ayanna says, "...Where's Furni?..."

Glinteye murmurs, "I'll bring him." He walks over to Furnier and taps him gently on the shoulder, then points over to Ayanna, showing that the operation is done.

Furnier jumps a little at the tap on the shoulder. He reluctantly follows Glinteye's paw with sad eyes, until he sees Aya. Wordlessly, he walks over to join her, but murmurs - at regular volume - "Aya..." as he reaches to hug her as comfortingly as one can in such a bad situation.

Ayanna reaches to hug him back and rest her head against him, making a soft sigh. She looks upset now.

Glinteye shakes his head slowly. Ah, the tragedies of love. He packs up his implements in the small cloth bag he carries and shuts it. He nods to his replacement, a small rat, and walks out for the day, muttering to himself.

Furnier doesn't break the hug. He just feels so much guilt in his heart, and starts shuddering a little as he sobs again, managing to keep it near-silent...

Ayanna doesn't notice the near-silent sob, but does notice the shuddering. She moves carefully in an attempt to give his cheek a light kiss, "It will all be alright, it will, Furni..."

Has Furnier seen Aya speak, or not? It isn't clear, but after she kisses him and finishes speaking, he says a little hoarsely, "...I-I'm sssorry...I d-di'n't mean f'r'it t'be l-like lis..."

Ayanna shakes her head, "It isn't your fault, is isn't."

Furnier obviously hasn't seen this. He sighs as he sobs, before something seems to take hold. He breaks the hug and takes Aya's paws in this own, speaking in a loudish voice which sounds partly determined, partly rather blank. "W-we will gat through lis...Bofe of us..."

Ayanna nods a little, giving Furni's paw a light squeeze as she murmurs quietly, "..Aye.."

Furnier stays still for a moment longer, before putting an arm around Aya's shoulders. "...Ennyplace y'wanna gota?"

Ayanna says, "...Can we go back to our cell, Furni? Please?"

Furnier deciphers this fairly well, and nods uselessly. "...'Course." he stands, taking Aya's paws to help guide her.

Ayanna stands up, as well, holding fairly tightly to Furnier.

Furnier moves to Aya's side, taking her arm as though they're embarking on a carefree stroll. This, however, is far from carefree. Furni takes the pace as slowly as Aya wishes to go, guiding her over to the doorway, silent save for his now-regular loud breathing.

Ayanna walks along with him, though not as slowly as she had been earlier.

And here is where they must support each other. As well as Furnier being Ayanna's eyes, and her his ears, Furni sometimes has to slightly lean on Aya to correct his balance, though nothing enough to knock her over as in return he acts as her guide as the two of them leave for the dungeon.

*********

Cell 2(#96450RL)
Three walls of hard, gray stone, windowless. The only way out is by a door of stout iron bars. Chains and broken links are everywhere; they come out from the wall, hang from the low ceiling, and trail along the floor to end in cuffs, fetters, and balls of metal. The only furniture the cell boasts is a rickety wooden stool. Straw covers the floor, but the layer is so thin that separate stones beneath can easily be felt.
Exits: [D]ungeon [H]all



Furnier arrives, stepping down the stairs at a rate of one every two steps with Aya, whereas before they used to bound up and down staircases. He ignores the guard as their cell is opened, and leads Aya into it.

Ayanna walks along quietly with Furnier, ears flicking around as she listens intently to her surroundings.

The two enter the cell, which is locked upon their arrival. The guard, figuring them unable to escape, leaves for the kitchens, and Furni guides Aya to sit.

Ayanna sits, "....What do you think will happen now, Furni..?"

Furnier, after almost two minutes of decyphering, thinks about this...and wishes he hadn't. A look akin to dread sweeps over his face as he replies, "...I ain' got no anssers f'sure...Bu'I ain' leav'n'y'on y'own..."

Ayanna nods a little, "...Do you think we can still get away?"

That one isn't so hard to read. "...W-we c'n try..." this sounds pathetic, even to the deaf squirrel. But a thought strikes him. "...If th'Patrol finds o'r t-tracks...Th'ell resc'u' us..."

Ayanna says, "...Maybe....They lost a lot of beasts in their last war, they did...."

Furnier performs the now-redundant habit of shaking his head, though everything except the 'maybe' isn't understood. "...Maybe? I c-can't imagin' 'em leevin' us 'ere..." a slight lie, as he can already picture Zoe sentencing him to rot. :p But not Aya, surely?

Ayanna says, "Why would they risk themselves just for us, Furni..?"

Furnier concentrates, but unfortunately has to ask for a repeat. Upon recieving one, he gets the gist of the message. "...'Cos we're the' fren's. An' Kail needs us..." So far he hasn't given his deafness much thought other than "Ugh, I wish I could hear what they were saying", but deep down, he's starting to get a but frustrated...

Ayanna nods a little, leaning slowly back against the wall, "...I hope they will, I do..."

Furnier reaches to hug Aya again, something which is rather awkward now as he also has to be able to see her mouth move at the same time. "...They will." is all he says.

Ayanna nods a little, quietly hugging him back.

Furnier sighs, loud as ever, and from weariness, he finds himself falling asleep. He opens his eyes wide, though. Can't have Aya alone, for should he fall asleep and being unwakeable from noise, that's what she will be. Staying in the hug, he also tries not to think of either of their injuries now...

Ayanna, however, is falling asleep, as well...Though that can only really be determined as her breathing falls into a more rhythmic pattern.

Furnier realises that Aya is falling asleep, and does his best to stay awake and guard her. Whenever he finds himself falling asleep, he thinks of things that fill him with dread in order to cause a rush that jerks him into wakefulness. However, weariness overtakes him, and within an hour, he too is sleeping in Aya's embrace.