Let's Get Out of Here!

"What are you doing?" Alaron whispered as he watched the blood drip from the brunette's hand. To his shock Dania had intentionally injured herself right in front of him. He pulled a white cloth from his cloak and handed it to the maiden.

Throwing the glass piece back to the ground, the female scientist took the bandage, dabbed it with the blood and wrapped it around her hand so that the red was visible.

"Thinking as I go..." she answered briefly.

Closing the gap between herself and the exit, the young woman lightly opened the door and poked out her head, shielding the Guardian and the fallen abominations from view.

Her face full of contrition, the woman ignored the furry arm blocking the way and lowered her chin towards Yumeto. "There was an accident."

'Polite but vague. Smart.' Alaron nodded approvingly, fascinated by how easily the woman carried herself. 'And the word accident automatically triggers a response in those around you...'

Sure enough, Yumeto's cracking voice was filled with alarm. "An accident! Allow me to help!"

Alaron could hear a shuffling, and his body tensed. The Guardian began to pull a sword from the depths of his cloak, ready to fight the nosey scientist if he should breach the room.

Sensing his movement, Dania waved him off. Her uninjured hand grasped at the air in a circular motion: she had it under control. Reluctantly, Alaron stayed his hand.

Shifting back, Dania twisted and held out her bloodied palm to stop the other scientist from entering. "No need," she told the man lightly, "Things are well in hand. Anyway, it is just a scratch. No need to be concerned."

Alaron listened to her words, watching her other hand move more and more erratically behind her back at the Guardian. The white-haired man rolled his eyes.

'I'm not going to attack, woman, don't worry!' He furrowed his brow.

Clearly he was missing something. Her fingers clenched into a fist and released, beckoning action from him.

That is when he remembered that Yumeto had come to the door in search of…

'The message ball! Of course!'

Feeling foolish, Alaron hurriedly scanned the room for the contraption which Yumeto sought. Thankfully, it had not been a victim of the lizards fall, and sat shining on a different table next to a large cushion. The indent in the seat just as the chatty scientist had left it.

Scooping up the trinket, the Guardian quickly ushered it into Dania's waiting palm. Her hand shut around the message ball and her shoulders raised as she took in a sharp breath.

Her injured hand came back into the room. In its place she forced the metal sphere through the crack, offering it to Yumeto with a flick of her wrist.

"Here is your ball. I had half a mind to use it to contact my sister before realizing it was broken." Dania's voice had an edge, obviously upset that Alaron had cut the timing so close.

Although Alaron cringed at his mistake, Yumeto, who had not seen the exchange, only chuckled. He seemed unbothered by the woman's ire.

The man outside the door happily took the ball and winked. "You'll see your siblings at your wedding. When's the blessed date again? I must put it on my calendar."

Dania needed no more encouragement. She eagerly slammed the door in his face and leaned up against the wooden frame. Her face contorted into undisguised anger.

"I wish I never met that man," she spat. "Nor Sir Taran. What started off as a dream has become a nightmare!"

Alaron wanted to reach out an hug the woman, whose shoulders suddenly slumped from the burden, but he did not think it was appropriate. Instead he offered words of comfort to ease her pain.

"The worst is over. We will get you out of here," he promised.

Dania laughed dryly. "If only it were that simple. Taran will never let me go. Now leave before that monster finds you here. I bought you as much time as I could…"

Alaron could see the hopelessness in her eyes. No wonder she had not seemed relieved or even happy to see him.

Dania had not intended to go with him. More than that, she saw him as someone who she would have to save herself. To her, the Guardian was yet another burden she did not wish to bear.

Alaron's eyes flashed. "I'm not leaving without you. Mairwen would have my head if I returned empty-handed. Might even storm up here herself to break you out of this prison…"

This caught the scientist's attention. "Did you say Mairwen? She made it here? Alive?"

"Yeah, though her mind has gone just a little bit…" the Guardian chuckled, only half-joking.

"I assumed you were just another of the overly heroic types. There have been two other attempts to break me out by foolish individuals. Taran strung up the bodies as a reminder not to cross him." The woman's eyes pricked with tears.

Taran had said he did it to protect her. Perhaps in his eyes, he had.

"Well, I am not like those other fools. Handsome as it is, my head does not look good on a pike…" Alaron rubbed his neck gently. He was not fond of the thought.

"The princess really is here somewhere?" The woman's eyes shifted colors thrice in the span of her words, a testament to her erratic feelings.

"Come see for yourself," Alaron held out his hand gently. His warm smile showed his sincerity.

He could see the internal debate going on. The woman wanted to stay but there was something holding her back.

Before she could reach her decision, the door handle rattled. Dania scooted away from the entrance as Alaron stepped protectively in front of her.

"Ugh," Renat grunted as he forced the door back with his shoulder. "This guy is is like carrying a limp noodle."

In his arms, Yumeto's still form was hanging like a sleeping child. If not for the gnarly red knot on his forehead, the man could have fallen asleep peacefully and been being carried to a bed by his large, furry parent.

Alaron sighed. "I will tie him up." Taking the unconscious scientist away, the Guardian moved to secure him as well as the abominations so they would not immediately sound the alarm when they awoke. "I guess you couldn't get rid of him, after all…"

Offended, Renat quickly defended himself. "It's not my fault Yumeto recognized me! It was your bad idea that I stay at the door, remember? If anything, this is your fault! And I only knocked out one. You took out three!"

The two males glared at one another, only pulled back from the brewing argument by a single word.

"Renat?" Dania looked, slack jawed at the brown wolf. "How...how did this happen?"

Both men turned to her, impressed.

"Did Taran force you to drink an elixir?" the woman's voice was very thin and laden with guilt. Her eyes swirled a cloudy grey. Renat shook his head.

"Taran had nothing to do with it. I was scratched by a wolf..." he answered, allowing her to fill in the blanks. Her eyes went wide. Obviously Taran had not apprised her of that development.

"Wait, you recognize him?" Alaron was surprised. Even he had trouble believing the abomination was in fact his brother-in-law at first. Yet this woman who had not seen Renat in months seemed to know him instantly.

"Not his face as much as his voice and movement. The low growl cannot cover up his speech patterns nor can his larger frame cover up his mannerisms." Dania spread her hands, mimicking how Renat had acted when he was accused of slacking.

"Hm, she's not wrong." Alaron shrugged. "That is probably how Yumeto recognized you as well."

"No, that wasn't how..." Renat did not want to explain further. The thought of having been so easily tricked rankled him to no end. "Anyway, we need to go. Mairwen is going to be worried."

"I knew she'd come." Dania's smile was faint but there.

"Have you made your decision?" Alaron held his breath. He did not want to force the woman to come, but he could not in good conscience leave her here to keep making monsters. If she did not agree to leave, things would get very complicated, very quickly.

"Decision?" Renat was very confused. "What is there to decide?"

"Dania is not sure she wants to go..." the Guardian spoke carefully, hoping he would not sway the woman in the wrong direction.

"Oh I want to leave," the woman went to the corner by the farther fireplace. She picked up something and walked back towards the men. "And I shall leave. I only hope you can get me to Mairwen so we can talk."

While the wolf was checking the door once more, Dania passed the bag in her arms to Alaron, who stuffed it in his cloak without comment. He was too relieved to note anything else.

He gave a firm nod. "Let's get out of here!"