A Minute to Midnight

[Rhindeer]

All she wanted was to hijack some jewels and spend the rest of her day rolling in riches. Was that really so much to ask?

Apparently.

She had time enough to let out a bird-like scream before they went crashing through the roof, glass shattering. Her thick fur and feathers protected her from the worst of it but not all; it still cut her bare front legs and left angry red stains against her silver fur. It looked worse than it was, but it still freakin' stung!

She landed in a heap with the others and for a moment, she just stayed curled where she was, not quite sure if she was dead or alive. Then she heard someone curse beside her and she cracked her eyes open.

And immediately wished she hadn't.

Oh dear gods.

With a startled hiss, she scrambled away from the other two, glass shards falling from her fur and feathers as she moved. She was too startled to realize that her gryphon form probably wasn't the best shape to be in right now. "Ahaha, wow, hi. So, uh, yeah. They're together! I'm not with them!" she announced before spreading her wings and--pain shot through her limbs and she toppled back down before she could take off.

[Lion]

It didn't take long before the guards had their weapons on them, the kind that were sharp and made people scream in pain.  Dram wouldn't scream, but nor did he like having eight or nine swords in his face threateningly.  He turned and saw one guard push at Sachi, back toward him and Love and he scoffed smugly.  Escape wasn't as easy as she though.

A part of the crowd parted and a woman stalked forward.  Her regalia was too fancy to be taken in with rest of the guards.  She wore a sword at her hip and she grinned as she eyed the three of them.  "I don't believe it.  It seems we have a trio of party crashers here, don't we men?"  The guards around her laughed in unison and seemed to step in closer.

"And just who might you be?" She asked, looking at Dram.

"A stupid son-of-a-bitch," Dram replied bitterly, glaring at her.

"Ah, a joker."  In a flash her boot came up and landed right in his jaw, sending him to the ground again.

"Does anyone else want to be a smart ass today?  Didn't think so.  Now you, with the horns.  Who are you?" the female captain said and didn't have a look on her face like she was in any mood to play games.

[Anonymous]

"What? Me? I'm a poor innocent traveler. I was just on my way when this crazy man came out of nowhere! Attacked that gryphon he did, and then I was just watchin' out of my window and they crashed into me and I ended up here."

Love wasn't much of an actress, but really, it never hurt to try! She hated fighting and those swords looked sharp and even if she got her wings out, she didn't think her chances of getting airborn before they stabbed her were very good.

[Rhindeer]

Sachi's stomach lurched when she looked about and was greeted by a sea of swords, all pointed at them. She let out a startled grunt when one of the guards pushed her back over to the group and right then, she was too sore and tired (and too aware of all the swords) to resist. The glass cut her feet, crunching beneath her weight, and she winced and hissed, though the adrenaline pumping through her veins masked the brunt of the pain.

She would feel it later, for sure, and have a fun time picking glass out of her wounds.

Right now, however, she was more concerned about potential future wounds from things far worse than glass. And these people didn't look like they were fooling around. She was looking around wildly for an escape route when the other woman spoke up.

Now that was a bandwagon she could hop right on!

"Oh! Yeah! That's right! Came right out of nowhere!" she quickly agreed, realizing the woman had mentioned her. She turned around to face the captain and moved closer to the woman, pulling her wings in close to her body. "He, uh...I was scared! He scared me! Oh! Um, I don't usually look like this. Shifted. To protect myself, y'see. Er...see...?"

It was a good thing Sachi was shameless, and she had even less shame when she was cornered. Brushing some of the glass out of her way with her claws, she let herself change back, feathers and fur shrinking away to be replaced by pale skin and--

Well, a perfectly naked human woman. If banged up and bleeding.

Curling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms and lion-like tail around her legs, Sachi let a practiced blush color her cheeks and ducked her head, silver hair falling around her shoulders. Really, as a creature that spent a good deal of her time totally naked, she didn't see the big deal, but she'd come to learn how to at least fake human modesty and shame. "I was indecent and he attacked me!" she said, pressing a hand to her mouth and hoping she looked timid and vulnerable and innocent. "I had to do something, lest he steal my virtue!"

[Lion]

Well, he was a scary looking fellow.  Red eyes like a crazy man with wild red hair chopped up ragged-like, a massive scar on his face and with sharpened teeth that could kill.  Not to mention a voice like lead, heavy and raspy, deep and guttural.  He didn't blame them, but he wasn't really expecting when they suddenly turned the blame on him.  Damn dirty, no good, rotten rookies, he thought savagely and spat out bitter blood from his cut lip onto the floor beside him.  Well, it didn't matter that they were trying to save their asses.  Nowadays, city-guards seemed to be getting too smart even for their own good.

The captain glared at all three of them, but particularly at Dram.   "Is that true, Stupid Son-of-a-bitch!?" she demanded with fire.  Her foot came up, ready to kick him in the chin again.

He sighed, with some anger and gave a death glare to both of them before saying very candidly.  "It's all true, I'm afraid."

"What!?"  Her face was livid and her boot was ready to collide with his face again, when his hand came up, stopping it before collision.

"I wasn't finished.  Of course, it was true in the fact that I attacked them.  But they left out one very important detail, Captain What-the-Fuck.  They were very keen on taking some jewels that belonged to an Emissary from a nearby province, Count von Drago, I think.  They're just mad because I got them first and would have made a very prompt, very good escape if it weren't for these two meddlers.  So you see, Captain, the reason we are here is because of their bad decision to try to interrupt a professional thief at work.  They're thieves too, trying to lie to you in order to get me and keep themselves safe."

She stared at him very intently, standing like she didn't know who to believe.  "Why should I believe you?"  She clearly wasn't playing any games.  Thankfully, neither was Dram.

He looked at her plainly.  "Why would I admit to being a thief, trying to steal from a very important man?  And suddenly appear with these two in my midst if it wasn't?"

"A very good liar perhaps—"

"Or a stupid son-of-a-bitch."  His eyes locked with hers.

She stood back and looked at all three again.  "Escort these...these thieves into custody.  Now!" she ordered immediately.

Dram was promptly yanked up and shackled by guards who so conveniently seemed to have them at hand.  He smirked at both the girls.  Hell if he was going to go to prison, he might as well not go alone!

[Anonymous]

When the guards grabbed Love, she started struggling, twisting in a an attempt to get away, "Stop! No! I don't know what he's even talking about! What jewels? Hey! Get your hands off me!"

Without any magic, Love's small frame wasn't a match for the guards and they kept a tight hold on her. Love continued shrieking and struggling all the way to the cell, where she was tossed unceremoniously onto the floor.

"Yeah, well your mother likes it in the ass!" Love glared at the guards, rubbing her arms where they had grabbed her, "Damn pig fuckers. And you!" She turned her angry expression to Dram, "You son of a poxed whore! Way to get us all fucked!"

[Rhindeer]

Whaaaat?

The act didn't work? No shock? No pity? No reaction at all? She was naked, here! Weren't humans supposed to react to that? Sachi's mouth dropped open in horror as that bastard sold them out, but before she could try to defend herself, the thief had sealed the deal.

The guards swarmed, and Sachi shrieked and struggled, trying in vain to fight them off. "What? Wait! No! No, ya scoundrels, get off me! Let go! You'd touch a lady like this? How dare you, ya bastards! Let go at once!"

She yelled and kicked and even bit the entire way there, struggling as wildly as a pissed-off cat--well, okay, not quite the entire way there, though that would have sounded far more impressive. Truthfully, she exhausted herself halfway to the cells. The remaining half of the journey had her much more subdued, hanging limply between her captors and panting from exertion.

They dumped her into the cell with Love and Dram and she clamored quickly to her aching feet and made a rude gesture with her hand. "Ya won't hear the last of this!" she shouted as the guards turned and left, and then she heaved an agitated sigh and whirled on Dram just as Love did.

"Well, gee, thanks a lot for nothin'! Some gentleman you are," she snapped, tail lashing angrily behind her and arms crossed under her breasts.

[Lion]

Dram scoffed and laughed at both of them, even though he'd sunk himself in this shit hole too.  But he had one thing he doubted the did, he'd been to prison before, he knew what he was up against.  They would more than likely have no idea.  But even then, it didn't matter.  They were both locked in the cell for now and would be for a while until the guards could figure out what was what.

They had to hold on to them.  Sure there was a chance that Dram had been lying, and the Guard Captain couldn't be sure of that.  And there was the chance that she could be letting two potential criminals get away if she only locked Dram up.  Maybe they would all be released, maybe they wouldn't, but until then, Dram would enjoy the shock and misery they both went through at finding out their little story had not been so convincing after all.

They'd confiscated his weapons and his gear as he knew they would and when they tossed him in there, he went with a roll and didn't resist, taking a seat by the small, dim cell window.  He sighed and tapped his foot to the tune of their whining.  This was going to be a long night indeed.

He shrugged and gave a sarcastic grin.  "What can I say?  Dishonesty has never been my strong suit," he said, laughing a little.  "And you, Ms. Gryphon, you ought to consider putting on those rags the guards left you than letting Pride and Glory hang out like that.  Unless you want to get sick and die, which is all well and good for me, but the apothecaries here won't give two shakes of their dicks to make sure you get well.  So you might as well get dressed."  He pointed to the ragged cloth shirt and shorts that one guard had tossed at her through the door.

Dram stood and looked out the window and watched the city skyline with a tired breath before looking back at the two.

"Now that we're stuck here, we might as well get to know each other.  So start with your names and why the hell you two were hanging around my mark."

[Anonymous]

Love glanced over at the poor naked girl and the nasty rags left for her and took a small amount of pity. She wiggled out of her pants, leaving herself in her underwear and handed them over, "Here, these are at least better than those rags. Probably have lice."

Turning to Dram, she gave him withering glare, "You shut it. Ass. You could have let us get out of there at least. Though, names seem a good idea. I'm Love. Yes, that's my real name. And I've heard the jokes, so don't bother making them."

[Rhindeer]

"What? Ya got a problem with my girls?" Sachi snapped, though he did have a point. It was dank and chilly in there and as the excitement began to fade, she started to feel it. But him having a point just made her not want to do it because she was pissed at him so he couldn't be right! It was a matter of pride, so she'd show him!

...By, uh, suffering through the cold?

Yes.

With a huff, she sat down, tail curling into her lap and shoulders hunched. Luckily, she didn't have to make a statement for too long because the other woman offered her her pants, and that was far more acceptable. "Heeey, thanks! You're a doll," she said, perking up and accepting the pair.

Thank goodness they were similar sizes! She had to wear the breeches low to accommodate her tail, but it was still a relief to have something between the cold, gross floor and her bare bottom. The ragged shirt, however, she left untouched. Yeeeah, like hell she was wearing that stuff; it probably did have lice and who knew what it had touched before.

That done, she turned her attention back to Dram, frowning at him. "Name's Sachi, and I was hangin' around my mark, thankyouverymuch. I'd been watching that place for like a week before you had to ruin it and get us all jailed." Her tail twitched. "I hope you're happy."

[Lion]

"No, no problem," Dram said absently.  "Just thought I'd do you a favor."  He watched her reject the prison clothing with a curious brow.  Well, he couldn't argue with that.  The clothes couldn't always be kept in good condition.  And while he was not a generous soul, he figured it was the least he could do, even after what they put him through.  He took off his own tunic and tossed it at her, since there was no real reason for him to hold onto.

He kept his eyes outside, knowing that if he looked at them he'd probably kill them.  Sure it was he that got him thrown in here in the first place, but if they hadn't barged in on what was supposed to be a clean sweep, they all wouldn't be here.  So he was passively pissed and tamed for now.

"Okay I'll admit it,  I'm a little happy, Sachi.  But that's beside the point.  I'm Dram.  Just Dram.  That's all you really need to know.  Now if you don't mind....I think I'll go ahead and take his as my point of leave."  If they didn't know what that meant, his idle hand slipped into his shoe and produced a single pick, something the guards somehow overlooked to search.  He grinned wickedly and headed for the cell door as quickly as possible.  It wouldn't do at all if they got their hands on it.  It was the only pick he managed to stash on him.

[Anonymous]

Love stood quickly, thrilled the man had stashed a lockpick. She hated being stuck, hated feeling the walls closing in on her. Jail did bad things to her and she was all for getting out. Moving behind him, she peered over his shoulder, "Well, hurry up then! I want to get the fuck out of here!"

She rubbed her arms, wanting to be out already. And Dram better not think he was getting away with trying to steal her necklace, then had the nerve to get her locked up as well.

[Rhindeer]

Sachi considered the tunic for a moment, then sighed and pulled it over her head. It was pretty chilly down here, goosebumps raising on her skin, and at least she knew where that shirt had been. And, alright, so she felt a little good knowing it left him without one and she sure as hell didn't plan on giving it back! It was childish, sure, but least she'd get something out of this ordeal.

She'd just popped her head through the shirt when Dram mentioned leaving. "What? Ya mean--ah, thank gods! Hurry up!" She crowded next to Love, hovering behind him and watching that pick. He better not even think about trying to give them the slip and locking them in there!

[Lion]

Get them out of here!?  HA!  Like THAT was gonna happen any time soon.  Dram actually had to stop and let out a huge heap of laughter that made him pause for the door.  "You're kidding right?  I hope you had some kind of lockpick stashed because, I've got a necklace to cash in."

Dram was already starting to work on the lock as quickly as possible before they got wise, or any guards showed up.

"It was a pleasure meeting such wonderfully bitchy ladies such as yourselves, but I've got better places to spend my time."  One tumbler, two, three...four.  The was almost done with the last one when he felt something collide with his back.  Hard!

[Anonymous]

Love yelped when something flew past her and collided with Dram. She had been standing close, ready to dart out as soon as he got it open. He wasn't going to be able to keep them in. At this point, he could keep the fucking necklace. There was no way she was getting locked up.

[Rhindeer]

Sachi yelped when Love did, taken by surprise, but crowded in close again as soon as she could. She wasn't taking any chances here! "The hell was that? Never mind! Hurry up and don't stop! Also I am not a bitch, thank you kindly! I'm a gryphon. Gryyy-phon. Not an ounce of dog in me, now wouldja hurry!"

Or at least hand the keys over to someone more competent!

[Lion]

The slam knocked the breath out of him and Dram yelped when his face hit the cell door.  His head hurt and worse of all he felt his hand open...And what had been clutched in his hand dropped to the stone floor with a disappointing clang and the stupid bastard looked through the bars.  "What!?  NO!" Dram said furiously, his anger always ready to react.  It had been but one tumbler left that stood between him and precious freedom.  And now he would never get out.

"You fucking idiots!" He shouted at them.  "What the hell were you thinking!?"  Dram looked at Love with a fury burning in his eyes and his hands went for her, easily grabbing her by the shoulder with iron hands and shaking her like mad.  "I could kill you!  Both of you!  Now I'm never getting out of here!"

[Anonymous]

"Me?! I didn't touch you!" Love yelped and struggled in his grasp, trying to break his grip, "Let go you son of a bitch!"

[Rhindeer]

"What're ya doing?" Sachi yelped, and smacked at Dram's arms to try and get him to release Love. She didn't particularly care for Love at all, but there was some sort of solidarity there now in that Dram was apparently out of his mind and blaming them for his fumble.

"Ya crazy? We didn't do nothin'! We want out of here as bad as you, now let 'er go! Stop that! Both of ya! We just...we just gotta calm down and figure this out, and actin' like a madman ain't gonna do neither!"

[Lion]

Damn the gods, damn them to the hottest or coldest pit in...a place where gods went to die!  Dram wasn't religious but he was pissed beyond thought and he felt like he was starting to see red.  How and the hell was he going to get out now?  Oh damn what did it matter!  It wasn't like he carried another lockpick on him!  And perhaps this was what he got for even thinking about leaving behind these two dead weights.

Dram instead sent his fist smashing into the wall next to her head and though he felt a painful shock go through his hand, he took a chunk of stone off.  His knuckles, callused though they were, were torn open and he let go of her after an angry shove.  "Ugh!  Damn!  Could this night get any worse!?  Oh, right, yes it can!"  Dram went to the window and grabbed onto the bars and yanked futilely on them before sinking down to sit on the stone bench that was built into the wall.  "You know, even if I did open that door, I would have left you two here to rot!  But now I'm stuck with you..."

Dram laid back and put his arms over his face.  He have a heaving sigh and gestured to both.  "So much for best laid plans...  Funny thing...we'll probably be hanged tomorrow...  Haha, so much for trying to make the best of things."  Another sigh.

There were steps coming down the corridor, they echoed off the prison walls.  While they were there for only a short while, every second seemed like an eternity and Dram, should he be hanged by dawn's light, slowly began to resign to that fate.  It really wasn't that difficult to determine what was going to happen to them.  The ropes were no doubt being lengthened as they occupied themselves with bitching in a cell.  He honestly didn't think it would all end because of some useless meddlers.  But if that was how it would go, he wouldn't bother complaining.  Maybe he was wrong and there was going to be a trial first, but the evidence was irrefutable.  Only a complete idiot would believe them innocent of being thieves.

The steps were drawn closer and it soon appeared to be the boots of the guard captain that had ordered their arrest in the first place.  In her wake followed three armed guardsmen.  As soon as she approached the cell door, she had a peculiar looking grin on her face.  "Alright you three," she said.  "Up and at 'em.  I think you're going to like what I have to say."

Dram just stayed lying down and peeked from underneath his arm.  "You're going to let us go?"

"No," and she scowled at them, though her .

"Then go away."

"How about you just shut up and listen, maggot," she said.  At that Dram sat up and slouched as he poised with his elbows on his thighs in his listening mode.  "Good news and bad news.  Bad news is, you're not getting out any time soon.  But the good news is we won't be dealing with you much longer."

"I knew it.  You're going to hang us."

"Would you shut up!?"

"Sorry!"

"Don't be sorry, just shut up!"  The captain looked about ready to walk away until Dram put his hands up defensively.  "Good dog," she snapped.  "Now, I've given this a lot of thought.  You three were obviously found in a very compromising predicament.  It doesn't look good.  But there's a special place we can send people like you.  It's mostly an experimentation, so not many know about where you're going to go.  To keep things short, I think you three should think about getting some sleep.  Come morning, you all are going to get a once in a lifetime visit to Caitiff Island.  Good night, dogs."  She grinned before spinning on her heel and stalking off back down the hall.

Dram just sat there jaw open and looking very confused.  "I was...not expecting that."