Cathryn opened her eyes and found Byrd across the hall, staring at his feet, "Sorry about this."
He almost hadn't heard her, but turned to give her a pained smile, "It was my fault for looking for you, some guy noticed my coat looked wrong and...why are you apologizing, you saved me?"
"I didn't...if I'd saved you, we wouldn't be here right now...I guess what I mean to say is that I'm sorry I couldn't find a way out of this." she sat up and let out a deep breath, "We both knew this was it, huh? That one day...one day-"
He turned to her and chuckled, "'Something will happen', you must be some kind of psychic."
"If I was psychic-"
"I know, we wouldn't be here." Byrd nodded, "Well, it could be worse...I could be here alone."
"Glad I could keep you company...I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now."
"We'll face the end together."
"Yes...just as we always said we would."
"Just as you predicted."
"Pretty sad that I keep predicting the vague events...like right now, I can promise you they're not keeping us locked up here, we're not done...tonight something will happen."
"What will happen?"
She laughed and leaned against the wall, "Let's not spoil the fun?"
"Getting tortured is fun?"
"Well...they could send us to the Forbidden Woods."
"True...they won't send us together, you know that, right?"
Cathryn started to say "You never know", but footsteps interrupted her, and she turned away from Byrd, to the wall ahead of here, "You realize I'm sticking with him? I'm as much an Animen as he is, a monster, just like him."
"Oh, I think you'll be happy to know that I have no intentions of leaving you here," Cathryn turned to find the cell doors opening, "good to know our hatchling here has someone to look out for him. Rise...Animen Cathryn."
"A-are you an angel?" Cathryn stuttered.
"I can explain myself a bit better later, for now, know that I am here to free you." the white winged woman started down a hall, and turned to find the two young adults running behind here. Three spearmen stood in her path and she gestured her scepter at them, sending them tumbling backwards, "I don't wish to harm you." she stated, gesturing for Cathryn and Byrd to pass the toppled soldiers.
"How did you do that?" Byrd inquired.
"Just a little wind magic, I can't use much, though, it's draining away already as it is." the woman explained as she led them to a large building, "Byrd, fly up there, Cathryn, there's a ladder by the window, I'll hold off any visitors."
Cathryn ran to the window and found the ladder, she heard yells of rage followed by cries of pain, and as she pulled herself up onto the roof she heard the Animen who had freed them landing next to her, "Run fast and far, there are boards I set up for you to run across, there's a ladder at the end, Byrd, run with her, don't tire out your wings if you don't have to."
The pair did as they were told, and at the end they found the ladder, below they found the young man who left them to be imprisoned. He joined their group and they fled together.
Their rescuer was Mother Goose, and the would be rescuer who found them that night they escaped was Kokoso.
She and Byrd both agreed that it was a good idea to bring Kokoso with them, as he could find the potential Animen without risk, while they often had to fly away in case they were recognized, occasionally Mother Goose would join them, but she could never persuade them to leave her alone.
Mother Goose had told Cathryn that her cloaking spell hadn't worn off yet, and on a day when they weren't busy hunting more Animen, Cathryn had Mother Goose remove the spell, unwilling to wait for the day when it naturally wore off. As it turned out, she wasn't especially adept at magic, but with training she knew she could be stronger, just as soon as she was accustomed to the magic of the Wilds.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXndUeuO98
It wouldn't take long, she was sure.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ260ND5i1jY
Eternia opened her eyes slowly, her memory was hazy, but she seemed to recall a promise for freedom, but now she woke up to large robot arms attaching a white frame on her, the last thing to go on was a helmet, the visor was pulled down and locked into place, and a familiar voice called out to her.
"You ready to fly?" she looked up to find the king and the scientist watching her, "Majesty, do you have a question for her?"
"What is your name?" the king inquired.
"Subject End, Eternia, of Project E.N.D., the White Valkyrie, to be summoned by Your Majesty at anytime!" her eyes widened as she thought about her words, "They made me say more this time?"
"Very good, she's cleared to fly." the king opened a microphone and spoke into it, "Subject End is clear to engage aerial combat training, begin the session Anthony."
"As you wish, Majesty." Anthony smiled and Eternia started falling, she realized this was what Anthony meant, she could escape now, and so she did, ignoring the floating rings she was order to fly through.
She felt an impact and started spiraling out of control, she crashed into the ocean below, connecting with the bottom of the ocean in a slow, clumsy fall.
She loosened her helmet and floated up to the surface, when outside energies attacked her. She spun around trying to find the source, but emptydarkness found her and she fell, her memories slipping from her like a tide receding from the shore.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdgMzYwPbO
When she awoke, she found she had no memories of anything. She turned her head to her left to find a strange girl with beastly ears watching her, it was strange, she felt like she awoke from a dream, only to find herself in another dream, she was confused and needed to figure out where she came from, but she would figure it out soon, she could feel it. She just needed time, something she felt she was short on.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDCuf45JpN
