Gaius returned a couple minutes later with a quiver of bolts and two hand crossbows, one of which he handed to Emery. "Ready?" he asked. "I've spoken to one of the men; he's having the guards removed from the south wall."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik returned about the same time. “I got you some medicine and bandages to wrap his hooves up with.” He offered them to Ky.
“Thank you,” she murmured, taking them from him.
She was excited. But also starting to get anxious. And she wasn’t sure why. She knew Ruh wouldn’t hurt her. But would she look like a fool if he didn’t come to meet with her? Would Zander be offended if Ruh snubbed him and refused to meet? There felt like an awful lot of pressure on her just then.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Let's go, then." Gaius headed for the southern wall. There was a very small, narrow door on each of the four walls where someone could exit or enter, but they were heavily guarded night and day. Once the guards were gone he would be the only one with a key.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky followed close behind, her eagerness starting to drown out her anxiety now that she was focusing on Ruh rather than the men around her. This would be so good if he showed up. She hoped he would.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Gaius came to the door and inserted the key, unlocking it. "Go on through once we're up on the wall," he told Ky and Zander. "We'll be watching."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky nodded. “Shouldn’t he stay inside, though, until Ruh says it’s okay? Like standing right here?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Gaius hesitated. "Very well. Zander, wait here until she gives the go-ahead." He started limping up the stairs. "Good luck," Emery said to Ky, giving her a nervous smile before following.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik hung around with Ky and Zander. It was a long shot either of them getting to meet Marrow Man tonight, and certainly not both of them, but it was a nice thought. Besides. If Ky was in danger, it was going to take more than Zander to take down a cryptid. The crossbows would help no doubt. But there needed to be at least two people physically on the ground to be able to distract the monster and also heft Ky to safety.
Zander was silent, heart beating in his ears. He was as afraid now as he had the first moment Jae jumped out of the tree and started after Ky. He turned towards her and suddenly pulled her into a hug.
She tensed at first, still unaccustomed to and uncomfortable with sudden movement, but she relaxed into him quickly once her brain caught up.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Gaius reached the top of the wall and stared out into the darkened forest. It was still for the moment and there was no sign of the Marrow Man--not that he expected there to be. The spot where the stag had been thrown over was bare and scuffed, though.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky returned the hug, emboldened by it, but also very much getting the impression that it was more for him than it was for her.
“Be safe, baby girl,” Zander murmured.
“I will.” Ky pulled slightly away.
Zander held her at arms reach for a moment, then pulled her in for another tight hug.
She returned this one, too, glad to be back with Zander. Everything in the world was wrong and bad. But Zander made things better.
“Love you,” she murmured, stepping towards the door once she was sure Gaius was in place.
He sighed, looking at her with conflict written on his face, but he nodded. “Love you.”
She smiled and then slipped outside.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
The wind was beginning to pick up; another blizzard was coming. Snow was already beginning to cover the place where the stag had landed, as well as the drag marks and hoofprints. Gaius, with Emery's help, loaded his crossbow but didn't cock it yet.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Ky shivered slightly as she was out on her own. She wasn’t lying. She didn’t think Ruh would hurt her. But he could if he wanted to. And worse yet, he could hurt Zander. Or a spider could take her.
She wanted this. She wanted it desperately. But she was still a coward at her core and it was cold and dark.
Still.
She steeled her will and walked a bit away from the wall, before softly shouting. “Ruh! Are you here? It’s me— Ky!” She hesitated. Did he realize that was her name, or did he think, “Ky Ruiarc! I got you more medicine for your hooves!”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Silence from the forest. The wind moaned and rocked the trees, but the Marrow Man did not show himself.
Up on the wall, Gaius held his breath.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Ruh!” Ky shouted, louder this time. “It’s Ky Ruiarc! Will you please come talk? I’ve got medicine!”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
There was another long silence, then heavy footfalls from the woods off to the right. The Marrow Man's towering form lumbered into view. "Not safe out here," he reprimanded her once he came within ten feet of her. He stopped there. "Why you here, I have foot wraps."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
