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[seaboards]

ABDUCTIONS FINALE

This mini log is for the Special Quest listed on the April 2025 MANTA Board. All threads are worth 12 points.

Somewhere far out in the ocean, many days away from where the leviathans currently drift and settle, rests an "island" that can only be described as a beautiful abomination. Completely manmade, at first it looks to be an island of crystal and mist, its colors shimmering in the moonlight to give it a mystical aura. But every so often, when the mist moves and the light happens to pass through the crystal, large shadows with large fins and tails can be seen trapped within. Moving in closer will reveal even more than just crystal—large curved bones protrude here and there, but they are still placed carefully, supporting the crystals that make the island. In the front the bones arch around to look like the skeletal form of a massive whale, the tail deep into the water and a magnificent palace made of crystal and bone on its back. More bones curve around the tail with floating crystal lights illuminating the path down towards the island, the waters stained red.

Several luxury yachts are docked along the pearl studded pier, the sound of music, laughter, and other party making sounds drifting through the wind and echoing throughout the island. Inside the mansion, a number of rich, elite members of society are reveling in the ambergris wine and staring up at the numerous crystal statues of people and animals lining the walls and even hanging from the ceiling. Their eyes sparkle through the clouded haze created by the sweet fragrance that permeates throughout the building.

A stark contrast to the groans and cries that drift from deep, deep down beneath the island, where the crystal and rock form numerous dungeons and caverns housing those who were taken in for one reason or another. Whether they were arrested or kidnapped, they had been rendered unconscious and found themselves in these dungeons for the past few days, even weeks and months. Their tattoos wiped clean and stripped of their powers, the trapped are contained in all different ways: locked in barred cells, sometimes chained to the wall; locked in small isolation rooms, crystal from the walls slowly creeping closer towards them as if to swallow them; hanging in cages over tanks of water where others struggle in their water confinement. Humans, animalfolk, animals, riftfarers, and locals alike—all scattered throughout a giant dungeon and all in some process of being crystalized to become the next grand centerpiece to be put on display. It all seems hopeless…

…Until an ominous song echoes throughout the island, a sound so deep and raw that it rattles both the giant bones and those of the living. A song of no words yet sings of death and doom as the waters around the island begin to recede, making the structure suddenly sink down and slam into the ground. The seafloor, now exposed, reveals piles of bones and barely decomposed bodies of untold numbers of whales of all ages and sizes along with other remains of the victims that were once held on the island over the past few months. As the waters continue to recede and reveal the ghastly graveyard, the waters begin to rise and rise and rise to form a giant ocean wall, a massive shadow slowly passing before disappearing.

And riding at the top of those waves is a fleet of ships, Corsair and Paladin flags whipping in the wind. It is a partnership formed by the renowned Stormbringer and Royal Fortune captains, Fiona "Redbeard" O'Malley and Miranda "Wavebreaker" Thorn, both of whom are ignoring orders from the higher ups to work together, with Miranda leading the fleet through the violent tides, living up to her reputation as the "Wavebreaker". Lines are dropped, row boats surf down the wall to land on the wet sand, and people rush out towards the doomed island.

⚔️ Insignias. Due to the distance, the effects of the insignias on everyone will be lessened a little to allow cross-Armada interaction for longer periods of time. Otherwise, the effects are still active and while there may be some remedies around the mansion, it's still so new there wouldn't be too much.

🏃‍♂️‍➡️ Escape. Due to the sudden drop of the island, some doors may have broken open or sealed even tighter. Chaos will have erupted so the guards may also be scattered and confused, making escape attempts much more viable. Just be wary of the crystal golems and mechanical sentries that will be roaming through the lower dungeon.

💎 Crystallization. The crash has activated the magic system that will seek and target anything that appears living and try to fire a blast of cold air that will crystallize the area hit, similar to ice freezing over. Some fire more concentrated "goop" of crystal that will quickly solidify and start growing to encase the target.

🤖 Defense systems. Defense systems outside the island are still active. The "underwater mines" are now settled on the ground and while easy enough to avoid, some may still detonate. There are also sharkfolk mercenaries that will rush out to fight anyone they see. For those who may try to sneak through, there are some hidden entrances now made available, many of the larger crystal structures cracked to reveal ways in and out. However beware of the leeches that might attach to those not careful. They're mostly harmless, but instead of blood they will drain one's energy if not removed quickly.

⛓️ Arrests. While some may be quite happy to just stab their captors and those operating this island, taking a few back for questioning would also be worthwhile, especially since clearly a number of powerful people are here. But there are also some well-known riftfarers in the mix…

🪦 Underwater graveyard. As the tide recedes, it will reveal an underwater graveyard. Anyone rushing in to help with the rescue efforts or escaping might recognize partial or whole remains and bones of not only countless whales, but of animals and people who had been taken as well. The Captains are asking people to find and take back what they can find, whether they are remains or mementos, so that they can have a proper burial.

The raid is thorough and brutal, more and more of the island rumbling as it is gradually destroyed from within and without, ships firing cannons to chip away at the structure. However, they cannot stay forever. Once more the seafloor and the waters start to tremble as a high pitched shrill call pulses through. It's enough to knock anyone off their feet, even stun them for several seconds before there is a whisper of hundreds of voices. Voices so low and eerie, filled with a hatred that claws directly into the minds of all who are there:

"Drown."

That is the final warning before a large red eye glows from behind the waves, so large and bright it could swallow the island itself. Then the once high walls of water start to tip forward, a slow drip before it all starts to cascade downward and rush in to flood and destroy the island completely, crystal and bone shattering into oblivion.

As everything is flooded over, whales and dolphins will rush in to rescue those they can while orcas will move in to hunt down any criminals who managed to escape the first time, biting into their limbs and throwing them high into the air like toys before breaking them with their weight. The fleet of ships that had remained behind will sail in close to pick up those still stuck in the water.

It will be a long voyage home, and those who are injured or have the crystalized effects will receive immediate treatment with Eltrut able to provide more full treatment.

If you have any questions, comment here.

Comments

[garudas]

[By some miracle, Benedikta still manages to hold on. Even when it kicks its tail and flaps its fins, splashing her around in the water, she holds fast, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth. It's a tough job, to be sure, but the claws make it easier, and her wings help them stay afloat for the most part, spread out across the tank. She whispers soothing words and continues to hum to it, and that seems to help somewhat, though there is not much that she can do about the pain that it feels or the screams that it emits when Cid pulls out one spear, and then another. She can feel the warmth of her magic, however, and watches as it works its wonder upon the wounds, the bleeding stopping as quickly as it had started.

Really, getting someone more well-versed in whale anatomy would have been better, but seeing the way that it had been getting stuck on the grates and didn't know how to swim with them in, the poor thing probably would have drowned before they could get it to someone.

This is the best alternative, she tells herself.

And as the whale stops its wriggling at long last once the magic has finished and dissipated, she aways her claws and replaces her arms around its body instead. They don't reach all the way or hold it, but she presses her hands to its sides, rubbing soothing circles over its skin.]

Let us get you out, alright? We don't have much time left.

[She motions to Cid, and it seems to understand where he's going and what he intends to do, because as the island trembles once more, it carries Benedikta over as it swims slowly after him, still struggling a bit with moving.]

A fighter, this one. [She glances up at him.] This one will open?

[ramuhs]

Aye, fortunately they didn't mess with hit.

[He turns the wheel, feeling it moving with only a little difficulty. Hearing the gears turning and clanking before it finally starts to move. Slowly the water starts to drain out and he'll call out to her as he grunts as it starts to stiffen a bit.]

Could use another hand here!

[He's working with one arm after all!!]

[garudas]

[She had wished to stay with the whale while they freed it, but seeing him have some difficulty...

Benedikta gives the whale a little pat on the head and it chirps at her as if in question when she swims away and climbs out of the water.]

Wait there.

[She points to the gate, and then stands on the other side of the wheel, gripping it tight with both hands. And, after a nod, she starts to turn it with him, the gate clanking and clanging as they move it.]

Shit, this is heavy.

[Another turn, another inch, until there is enough water and enough of a gap that the whale can swim through... but it doesn't leave just yet. It stares at them instead.]

[ramuhs]

[He's using his crystallized arm as a brace to help give some leverage, but it's only thanks to Benedikta's assistance that they are able to turn the wheel. It makes some sense for it to be difficult—wouldn't want the gate opening at the touch of a feather—but still. In their current situation, they don't need the added stress and difficulty.

So once it does open, there's a large exhale of relief before he... Sees the whale still there.

Perhaps he should have guessed this would happen.]

Go on now, there's more of you waiting through those channels. Just keep swimming and you'll get through.

[garudas]

What are you doing!?

[Benedikta takes a harsher approach, especially when the whale still does not move. Is it... waiting for them? If only she could understand what it's crying about.]

Hurry along. Now.

[Bubbles erupt from the water and there's a small blast of air that pushes the whale closer to the gate, and then nudges it even further to the other side. It seems to protest, but after one more screech, it turns around and swims down the channel with one last push.

Not that she can blame it. It was only a baby so it must have been terrified.

But as another rumble shakes through, this one stronger than all the others that they have felt so far, Benedikta's expression shifts, and she turns a hardened gaze to the man on the floor.]

What shall we do with him?

["Please! Please spare me...! They made me do it!"]

[ramuhs]

[If there's anything that convinces him to either try and find something to help speak with the whales or get another bloody tattoo for it, it's now. Even if they might not see them much after this, he has a feeling it won't be the last and it may prove useful in the future.]

It'll be all right, just listen for your cousins.

[For now, he helps Benedikta coax the poor thing, and once it's finally swum through the gate he lets out a low sigh...

...And turns back to the man. The crystal has spread further, both along the ground and up his shoulder. It's quite a fast progression, one that's different from his own. He can only guess it's a different type or perhaps from one of the defense systems that are said to be more fast acting. So he just stares at him, the clothes a dead give away of the truth, and after a moment he just smiles a bit.]

All right. We'll spare you.

[And with that, he climbs up to the top of the ladder before jumping down.]

[garudas]

[Benedikta takes the air, flying down so that she can land on her feet in front of the man. She stares down at him as he trembles, his lip quivering like he's trying not to cry. Pathetic, really.]

How long does the crystal take to spread, do you suppose?

[He looks up at her with pleading eyes, as if she is here to help him, but she simply fixes him with a bored look before she glances at Cid.]

[ramuhs]

At the rate it's going, might be a few more hours.

[A shrug.]

But it likely won't matter.

[And he'll just walk right on past.]

[garudas]

[Benedikta lingers, watching as he tries to reach for Cid when he walks by, only to be caught in the crystal.

"Wait! No, you can't just leave me—"

Benedikta interrupts his begging with a swift kick to his face, and he half topples over with a bleeding lip.]

Too bad. I would have liked to see how it works.

[ramuhs]

[There's just a dry smile at that since... Well.]

Unfortunate, but we have better places to be.

[As he speaks, they'll be able to hear the crystal spreading again, down the man's side onto the floor, trapping him in that strange lopsided position, and creeping further up his face.]

[garudas]

[She watches as the crystal spreads, intrigue and anger both masking the horror of it. She feels a tingle along her shoulders, that annoying reminder yet again. He tries to cry out to them, but part of his lips are sealed beneath the crystal now, and all that comes out is a garbled noise that sounds a lot like "please help". With one last lingering look, Benedikta turns on her heel and follows Cid to the door.]

Do say hello to the whales when you see them.

[Her gaze sits on the back of Cid's head as they exit the room, but she draws her focus elsewhere—on the corridor that they step into. Already, there is a wind.]

Which way?

[ramuhs]

That should have been the last one, so we just need to make our way down to where the main holding area is. Better to check and make sure the whales made it before we head out.

[Whoo he could use a smoke right now, but alas he doesn't have his cigars.]

If I recall, we should be able to take this path.

[garudas]

[Rumbles and shouts can be heard, and the walls and the floor tremble more violently this time as debris is shaken off the ceilings and into their hair. Everything seems closer, or they are getting closer to an exit. Either way, time is ticking and there is not much of it left, and that horrible feeling in the pit of Benedikta's stomach only grows. She recalls the shadow that loomed in the water and how it felt to watch those ships get scooped up by that giant wave...

Her feet carry her with more urgency as they rush through the tunnels and around corners, the wind at their backs to help them move. They pass more cells, Benedikta swallowing back the bile that rises in her throat and the bitter anger that comes with it at the sight of crystals. Shards of it scattered across the floor, chunks of it stuck to the walls, and there are a few with people still inside them, completely encased who can no longer be helped...

But she narrows her eyes at the trail of crystals, small as they are, that glimmer in the dim light.]

Cidolfus, look—

[Some of it crunches under her boot as they follow it... and keep following it until—]

Shit...

[Having gone in front of him, she now comes to a sudden stop when she sees what's in front of them:

Three people, most of their bodies now encased in crystal, on the ground. Standing over them are five guards and one of those large sentries that Benedikta had managed to avoid on her way down. One guard has one man pinned with his foot, another holds a woman by her hair and her throat against the wall as the crystal seals her to it, and the third victim tries desperately to slash at them with his crystallized arm but instead, he swings at the air and stumbles forward and to the ground and into a pool of his own blood.

And what's worse: there is a door at the other end of the corridor...]

[ramuhs]

[Staying right on her heels, he sees it all the same time she does and is momentarily left stunned. It's a horrific sight, and for a moment time seems to slow as his eyes take it all in. He's seen worse, both here in this world and back in Valisthea. Especially when he sees the face of one he recognizes who could have fled but instead had also worked to help others. He didn't know them personally, only became familiar in passing while he was down here.

But it's probably because of how similar this is to the fate of so many unfortunate Bearers that this all strikes a stronger chord in, how he is reminded of others who had sacrificed themselves or lost their lives in futility that makes something snap.

And in the next moment, Cid has rushed past Benedikta and slammed his crystalized fist into the face of one guard and stabbing them through with his sword.]

[garudas]

Cidolfus—!

[She shouts after him when he rushes past her, a pang of fear desperately tugging at her. But Benedikta doesn't wait. She goes after the one that is holding the woman by her hair, wings and claws already out by the time that she reaches him. She lands a kick to his face and takes him down to the ground, and she plunges the end of the talons into his torso, ripping him apart from the inside while the woman sobs, pressed to the wall as the crystal consumes her quicker than Benedikta can do anything about it. How is it...?

For a moment, she is too distracted to notice anyone else moving, but there's a blur beside her as a guard lunges at Cid with a bludgeon made of the same crystal.]

Shit. Behind!

[And he swings—]

[ramuhs]

[After the guard fell from his sword, Cid had hurried to check on the man... But it was too late. He had already succumbed to the wound and Cid can see the other fallen prisoner, tears still wet on the young woman's cheeks. Immediately his mind flashes back to that charred wasteland, of those bloody tears...

Because he is distracted, he doesn't notice or hear Benedikta until it's too late. He's hit squarely in the back and sent toppling forward, tripping over the fallen bodies. He can hear the laugh over him, the words shouting that he will join them soon—their fate.

And in the next moment there's the sound of the guard's scream as Cid reaches back and grabs the front of the shirt to slam their head against the wall, right where crystal was slowly spreading. It doesn't take long for it to take and Cid just leaves them there as they struggle to free themselves.

It's around now that Benedikta, or perhaps Garuda, may feel it. That despite not having the tattoo and having his aether repressed, they will feel that particular force, that storm now more present than it ever has before.]

[garudas]

Cidolfus—!

[She screams his name when he's knocked over his back, and she's about to rush in, to take the guard down just like his comrade, when something else happens. She watches as it all plays out, but what he does to the man is not the most shocking thing of all.

It is that little pinprick in the back of her mind that grows and grows. She recognizes it, but more importantly, Garuda recognizes it as the Eikon stirs again, as if drawn out by the invisible storm that is brewing around them.

She stares at Cid for a moment, her brow furrowed in confusion.]

...Cidolfus? What is...?

[And she doesn't notice the guard that comes swinging at her from behind. He nicks her wing with his sword, slicing the feathers clean from the limbs, and she feels it like a slash against her back. She staggers forward with a cry of pain, turns around, picks up the guard...

... And throws him into the sentry with a CLANG.]

[ramuhs]

Benedikta!

[It's her cry of pain that snaps him out of whatever daze he had been in, and seeing her feathers fall there's another notable snap in the air, one that could have been more tangible and devastating were his aether not sealed. As the guard is thrown into the sentry, they fall with a groan, but the sentry takes the impact as an attack, making it move. Quickly the guard tries to move, the direction putting it in Benedikta's path.

Seeing this, Cid rushes forward and just before the sentry releases the blast he grabs the guard and lifts him up to take it completely in full instead. The guard screams as the crystal immediately encases their front, some of it splashing onto Cid's shoulder and back, but he remains in position until the attack is finished. By then although the guard twitches, only their back is clear and he throws them down with a rough breath.

Feeling the new splotches of crystal taking hold onto his skin, Cid hisses from the sharp pain that follows, clutching his already encased arm as he staggers. This of course leaves him vulnerable as the sentry readies another attack...]

[garudas]

[Benedikta clutches her shoulder with her hand, and while there is no blood there, it certainly feels that way, a stinging sensation searing its way through that shoulder. Her magic pulses, trying to heal it over, but it stumbles a little when Cid rushes in again, the pit of her stomach dropping in dread like an anvil.]

Wait—!

[Crystal shards scatter as the sentry's blast comes bearing down on the guard and it encases his body, some hitting Benedikta's cheeks as she tries to shield herself from the blow. But then it wastes no time in rearing up for another...]

Don't you fucking dare!

[A heavy wind blows everything and everyone aside, including Cid, and in a flurry of feathers and dust and crystal pieces, Benedikta flies across the corridor and tackles the sentry before it can get that second blast off. It staggers back, its arm rearing upwards and hitting the ceiling instead, covering everything that it touches in crystal. Several loud clangs echo up and down the tunnels as it stumbles over its own feet, but Benedikta holds on, gripping its head between her claws.

She pulls and pulls and twists and pulls, and she can hear the steel groaning under her grip. It hits the wall, another blast firing off into the ceiling, and in an explosion of oil and magic, she tears the head of the sentry from its shoulders. It winds down immediately, sparks of magic flying every which way from where the head once was, and she shoves the rest of its body down to the ground.

And just for good measure...

There's a loud screeching noise beneath her screams as she tears open its front at the neck, gripping its insides with her giant claws that only feel like they have grown larger since the last time she used them, and rips out the gears. Steel rains around her, and she turns around, almost out of breath, her entire front now covered in black oil.

Her glowing eyes pulse yellow as she stares at Cid, and then at the carnage around them...]

[ramuhs]

[Still reeling from the pain, Cid is unable to brace himself from Benedikta's winds and tumbles to the ground. But he wouldn't have been able to do much except to watch as Benedikta completely destroys the sentry. It's enough to make the storm in his head clear for a moment, and when it all finally dies down...

He just stares up at Benedikta, the pulse of her eyes pulling him more back from whatever mindset he had been from either. Grimacing, he tries to stand.]

Benedikta—I'm all right.

[He tries to call out to her, to make sure she doesn't lose herself completely.]

[garudas]

[She sees that grimace, and sees the way he tries to stand, and her frown only deepens.

There's a loud CRACK beside her as the crystal spreads further, covering those that had been remaining, but she barely hears that, or the cries of help that are suddenly drowned out. All she can hear is the sound of Garuda's voice, Cid's ragged breaths as if they are right there in her ear, and the roar of the winds as they pass through the tunnels. Her eyes flick to the crystal on his arm, spreading up to his shoulder.]

... No, you're not.

[She crosses over to him, each step like a roll of thunder, and just as she is about to grab hold of him, a strained voice cries out from the ground.

"Help..."

In all of the chaos with the sentry, those that had tried to escape had been caught in the crossfires, the parts of their bodies that were not crystal now slowly being encased. Benedikta looks around, her fury rising, until her eyes land on the man who had been staggering about on the ground, with only half of his face remaining.]

[ramuhs]

[His eyes narrow as he sees Benedikta approaching, but the tension is momentarily broken by the voice. Dread fills him as he sees the man's condition, but he staggers over and crouches down to them.]

Easy now...

[Too familiar. It's all too familiar, seeing a curse taking over one's body, helpless to stop it. If they had one of the cures, perhaps they could have helped, but...

He can see there's more to it than just the crystal. Perhaps they can't feel it, but one of their legs is bent terribly and crushed by some of the debris. And arm might even be completely shattered. Even if they were to take the man and manage to bring them to a healer...there was no hope. No hope at all.

Perhaps seeing that despair in Cid's face, they smile faintly.

"Please...kill me."]

What—

[His eyes shake for a moment as words echo through his mind. Of another time, another place, another person, another fate.

"While I...can still breathe...as a human... Please...

Inch by torturous inch the crystal creeps down. Without looking at Benedikta, Cid grits his teeth and takes his sword before slicing their neck. It's a clean slice and quick. And before the metal reached the skin, he swears he heard a whisper of thanks before it all grow silent, distant booms and tremors of cannon fire filling the void.]

[garudas]

[Benedikta's jaw visibly tightens as those final words seem to reverberate through every bone in her body. She stares down at the man, meets his gaze, but she wonders if he can see it in her eyes when he looks at her. If he can see that little girl who had been so scared of dying as anything but human...

"I want to die as a human..."

Old memories flicker through her mind. The feel of hard stone beneath her fingers, white in the moonlight that filters through his window. The burn of tears in her eyes. The anger that she felt at the world for trying to hurt something she cared for. Sobbing with rage into his lap as he held her.

The winds rip through the tunnels, whistling and bellowing around the corners, and Benedikta had been prepared to do it herself, her claws spreading open like she means to slit his throat with her own hands, but Cid shifting beside her pulls her focus away for just a moment. Just long enough that he can do the deed himself, dragging his sword across their neck and ending it in a single clean motion.

She stands steady as a rock wall even as the world shakes around them, the cannon fire so loud that it's almost right next to them. But her blood roars in her ears, her heartbeat like thunder growing louder and closer, Garuda laughing as if to mock those that were lost to the crystal.

Without a word, Benedikta turns on her heel and continues on, storming in the same direction that they had been heading in, kicking aside the sentry pieces that are shattered all over the floor. The crystals crunch under her boots as she moves swiftly, trusting that Cid will follow, and those bloodied claws begin to flex.]

[ramuhs]

[Cid remains where he is for a moment more, eyes closed as if to give a brief prayer not only for the one before him but for the others whose lives were unfairly taken. The only ones he doesn't care for are the guards, including the one still trapped to the wall, mouth now sealed with the crystal.

When he finally looks up, it's when he hears Benedikta turning, and for a moment his expression hardens and eyes narrow at her. He knows she heard him, heard those words that would undoubtedly resonate through her. Seeing her barely holding it in, whatever his own thoughts and feelings on the matter are stifled as he stands. He winces, feeling that sharp prick against the top of his back and his shoulder, but he steps forward.

Those claws...

How long has she stayed in this psuedo-primed form?

With his long strides the gap between them closes, and he reaches to try and take one of those claws, to try and bring her back.]

[garudas]

[She only barely hears his footsteps behind her, but she doesn't stop. Doesn't slow. His voice echoes in her head over and over, as does her own as she answers...

No, you are not okay.

No, you are not okay.

It echoes with every step, every crunch of crystal, and it reminds her of what she saw in that room. Those diagrams, the needles, the tools, and then the state of his arm, as understanding had washed over her. And then when he reaches out to touch her, his fingers just barely grazing against her claws, what should have been a comforting gesture from him is anything but. His touch is colder than usual, and for a split second, it feels smooth like crystal. And then rough like stone.

How many times now has she almost lost him? How many more times must they go through this song and dance with the universe before they can finally know peace? How many times have their lives been put at risk, and for what? Was it all worth it in the end? Was losing him tonight to the crystals and the wrath of the ocean worth everything else? How long? How long until they can just live their lives the way they want to live them? How long before they can rest?

The cannon fire is now so close that Benedikta feels the blast at her side, as the walls start to crumble and crack when more come. There are shouts from somewhere, and they approach, screams and cries for help. It doesn't matter who they are or what they are doing here.

With screams that rival that of the fires, she catches the bodies in her claws as they round the corners, tossing them aside. The guards that she spots trying to make for the exits do not get far at all. Instead, she pins them to the walls, capturing them beneath the talons, watching as the light leaves their eyes before she lets them fall and moves on to the next.

And the next.

Die.

And the next.

Die.

There is another sentry that comes for them, and she destroys that with ease, too, so much of her body moving on rage that she makes it look almost effortless the way that she tears it apart from the inside out with her wind and her claws combined, the pressure upon the steel too much before it shatters completely, the metal pieces that break from it used against the guards that had come rushing down the tunnels with it as they are impaled.

She leaves a mess of bodies in her wake without prejudice, each scream growing louder and louder as she plunges her sword through throats and rips torsos apart until finally. She doesn't even know what she is yelling anymore... Or if she is coherent at all, but her voice breaks, her throat burns, and yet she still cries out for him.

...For them...

Because have they not already been put through enough!?

When will the universe finally be satisfied?

When will they be left alone!?

All things that she screams as they make their way blindly through the tunnels...

...

Until finally, she has to stop.

She doesn't know when she had started huffing for air, completely drained and out of breath, nor does she know how long she has been crying, tears staining her bloodied cheeks. The claws disappear, her wings droop, and she grips her shoulders as more of her feathers start to fall, some of them having been sliced away again by more guards.

And all she can do, as she tries to breathe, is turn to look back at Cid.]