[table][row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/efEFkxa.png[/img][/cell][/row] [row][cell][sub]Location: Forest [/sub][/cell][/row][/table]Flynn's jaw tightened as he listened to Ayel's hurried whispers, his patience thinning with every conspiratorial word. Though Ayel’s suspicions were laced with paranoia, Flynn couldn’t entirely dismiss them. The illusionist was certainly unusual, and his presence at the crime scene was undeniably convenient—and suspicious. But a cat? Killing with such precision and strength? It seemed unlikely. Ayel’s eagerness to spring into action without concrete evidence was reckless and Flynn didn’t have the luxury of indulging wild accusations, not with so much at stake. He glanced at Valthyr briefly, his gaze narrowing as the man stated he’d transform into a wolf and promptly disappeared behind a tree. Turning to Ayel, Flynn leaned in, lowering his voice. [color=337d71]"Keep an eye on him,"[/color] Flynn murmured, his words firm but quiet. Rarely would he trust Ayel with anything of importance, but if there was one thing Ayel could be relied upon for, it was his eagerness to tattle on others. [color=337d71]"But we need evidence. And Ayel…"[/color] He fixated on the noble with a hard stare. [color=337d71]"Do nothing without my say so. Understood?"[/color] [color=337d71]"Let’s focus on finding the Princess. That’s our priority."[/color] As a massive wolf emerged from behind the tree, Flynn instinctively tightened the grip on his sword, his muscles coiling with tension. The beast's sheer size alone was nothing short of imposing—large paws, a coat of thick grey fur, and sharp, glinting teeth visible for only a moment as it turned its gaze on Ayel. [i]This[/i]—this was something he could believe capable of delivering the brutal wounds they'd seen. For a fleeting moment, he expected the wolf to spring at him or Ayel, its transformation nothing more than a ploy to lure them into a trap. But then the creature's eyes met his own and shook its head, holding onto the human-like traits of the man who had transformed. Flynn exhaled slowly, his nerves settling though not entirely banished. Either this man truly sought to help, or he was playing an elaborate game to delay them. Either way, Flynn had to press forward. Without a word, Flynn adjusted his grip on the torch in his other hand and pushed forward into the snow-laden trees. His eyes quickly scanned their surroundings as they moved, every shadow that the torchlight cast drawing his attention. Behind him, he could feel the wolf’s steady presence, its soft footfalls barely audible despite its size. Flynn said nothing, letting the silence stretch as they trudged onward, hoping that Ayel would do the same. [hr][sub]Location: Forest > Northwest Residential Area[/sub] [hr] Kira’s gaze followed the direction the [i]Royal[/i] Guard indicated, her body moving before her mind caught up. If the Prince might be that way, then that was where she needed to be. She didn’t spare the guard another glance, though her senses remained sharp, picking up on every shift of his weight behind her. When he asked about tracks, she hesitated, glancing at him over her shoulder. For a fleeting moment, she debated sharing what she knew, but the thought quickly passed. Trusting him wasn’t an option. Royal guards were too often enforcers of the crown's whims rather than protectors, their loyalty tied only to Jericho’s orders. She had been the same once—which was precisely why she knew better than to trust him. She wouldn’t have trusted herself either. [color=DC561E]“No,”[/color] she said finally, her tone flat. It wasn’t a complete lie—she hadn’t followed tracks exactly, only the sharp metallic scent of blood lingering in the air. He didn’t need to know that. As she turned her attention back to the forest, her steps faltered only a few feet away. Something cut through the stillness—a distant noise, faint but steadily growing louder. She stopped, her entire body going still as she listened, trying to decipher between the noise of the guard behind her and this new unknown source. Her eyes darted to the perimeter, scanning the darkness for any sign of what approached. [color=DC561E]“Heads up.”[/color] She said, turning her head just enough to catch the guard’s attention and gesturing towards the woods, her voice hushed. While she didn’t trust him, she wasn’t about to let them both be caught off guard if this turned into a fight. She braced for the worst, expecting the blight-born the guard had mentioned to emerge from the shadows, her hand moving to the dagger strapped to her waist. But as the noise of footsteps grew closer, she realized she recognized the scent carried on the wind. [color=DC561E]“The Prince.”[/color] She alerted the guard matter-of-factly, though her hand still rested on her weapon. She could easily identify the Prince after so many months working with him in the Alchemy Chambers, though he moved with a group that she couldn’t recognize. After a few minutes of what would have been eerie silence to the human ear, the faintest flicker of orange light weaved through the trees. A torch. Flynn’s steps slowed as he caught sight of two figures in the distance, silhouetted against the moonlight. His heart quickened as he strained to see through the darkness, but as he moved closer, he recognized a familiar pair of glowing orange eyes that locked onto him—Kira Rykker. Relief mingled with suspicion raced in his mind. Had she somehow been the blight-born behind this chaos? Over the past two months she had been fairly composed in his presence, though it wasn’t hard to imagine her snapping. At times, the way she looked at the Sages was unnerving. Narrowing his eyes, he approached cautiously, Ayel and the wolf-man trailing close behind. [color=337d71]“Miss Rykker.”[/color] he called out, his voice steady but clearly on edge. As he stepped closer, his eyes shifted past her to the armored figure—the Royal Guard who had arrived a week prior. [color=337d71]“Lord Coswain.”[/color] he acknowledged, confusion flickered across his face as he looked between them. [color=337d71]“What are you doing out here?”[/color] As the torchlight flickered, it illuminated a face Kira recognized instantly—the pompous nobleman from the hot spring. Her lip twitched, annoyance bubbling to the surface. Was this man truly part of the Prince’s inner circle? The mere thought was irritating, changing her perception of the Prince. Typical royalty. [color=DC561E]"I was looking for you,"[/color] she said, choosing to ignore the man for now. [color=DC561E]"I have a message for you, but it must be read in private."[/color] Flynn eyed Kira carefully, his gaze flicking to Coswain, noting the man’s lack of hostility toward Kira. If anything, the older guard seemed focused on their surroundings, scanning for potential threats rather than preparing to detain her. For a moment, Flynn considered her words, but just as he opened his mouth to ask a question, a voice—not his own—slithered into his mind. [color=DC561E][i]‘I found your Princess.’[/i][/color] His head tilted slightly, his eyes closing as a sharp, invasive pang shot through his skull. Kira was prying into his thoughts, uninvited. When he opened his eyes again, they locked onto Kira, who stood with a neutral expression, her fiery orange gaze meeting his, entirely unfazed, as if nothing had happened. He furrowed his brow, irritation rising. How dare she enter his mind without permission. And damn him for not better protecting himself against it. Before he could voice his protest, the voice returned, cold and direct. [color=DC561E][i]‘She’s with her handmaiden. But I was only meant to give you the message.’[/i][/color] His jaw tightened, resisting the urge to wince at the intrusion this time. His focus stayed on Kira, whose expression showed no hint of guilt or apology for her invasive telepathy. His eyes bore into hers, trying to gauge her intentions, though she betrayed little. Flynn took a steadying breath. There was too much going on—too much to explain—but he couldn’t dismiss her now, not after that message. Exhaling, he glanced at Coswain once more, searching for any sign of hostility. The man, however, seemed uninterested in their exchange, his attention still on the forest and its shadows. [color=337d71]"Lord Coswain, I’m aware of the situation at the temple and the missing Princess."[/color] Flynn broke the silence, addressing the guard. [color=337d71]"This wolf is no ordinary animal—he’s an illusionist, offering his help. Perhaps he can assist in tracking the feral blight-born."[/color] He said, gesturing to the creature beside him. He turned to Ayel, his gaze hardening. [color=337d71]"Ayel, I think it’s best you get to safety. The blight-born is still out here, and it’s dangerous."[/color] Hopefully, Ayel would listen. Though Flynn didn’t particularly enjoy the man, he didn’t really want to see him headless in the snow either. Then, without waiting for more questions, Flynn nodded toward Kira. [color=337d71]"Let’s talk,"[/color] he said curtly, stepping toward her. She fell into step beside him, her eyes meeting his with an unreadable expression. He led the way, veering northwest, away from the group. Once they were far enough from the group and the sounds of the forest had swallowed up the noise of the others, Flynn stopped and turned to Kira. [color=337d71]"Explain yourself."[/color] he demanded, his voice laced with irritation. Kira smiled slightly at the Prince’s ruffled feathers, something she had yet to see from him. She continued walking, her steps steady despite the situation’s urgency. [color=DC561E]“Patience, patience, Your Highness.”[/color] she said, her voice almost teasing as she glanced back at him. The Prince glared, but fell in step beside her once more. [color=DC561E]"I tracked a blood scent, and it led me here."[/color] She gestured toward the road that led towards a neighborhood. [color=DC561E]"It belongs to the Princess. She’s with Elara, in her home."[/color] Flynn’s heart dropped at her words, the shock sinking in that the blood Kira had tracked belonged to Amaya. A surge of panic shot through him, and his mind spiraled with the worst possibilities. [color=337d71]“Fuck.”[/color] He quietly cursed under his breath, fear quickly replacing the irritation he’d felt moments before. His thoughts raced—what had happened to her? How badly was she hurt? Was Elara also hurt? He didn’t have time to stand here and wonder. [color=337d71]“Thank you, Kira,”[/color] he said quickly, his voice tight with urgency. Without another word, he sheathed his sword and took off, running toward Elara's home, the cold air biting at his lungs as he pushed himself faster. Every step felt like it could be too late. [hr] Nearly ten minutes later, Flynn reached Elara's door, breathing slightly heavier than normal from the run. The cold air stung his face, and his heart raced against his chest, but he barely noticed it. He didn’t bother to knock gently, pounding on the door a few times. [color=337d71]“Elara!”[/color] he called out, his voice carrying through the stillness of the night. [color=337d71]"Open the door. It’s Flynn."[/color] [hr] [Sub][b]Interactions:[/b] Ayel [@Dezuel], Valthyr [@Fetzen], Coswain [@PrinceAlexus], Elara [@Qia][/sub]