[IC] The Two Sides

[xiaomiau]

Misha moaned in her state of partial consciousness. She clawed at the bed as she felt the restraints being unstrapped, but she felt too weak to lift her body. Her thoughts felt fuzzy and dull. She hoped someone would help her, but it didn't seem likely. She weakly cursed the state she was in before lapsing back into unconsciousness.

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss sighed. "Boy, I have talked to more shifters than I doubt you'll ever meet in your life. I have heard enough stories from their lips to fill all the books in the world. I will never tire of their majesty." He tightened one hand into a fist. "But all of that did no good. There was no shifter who could tell me the words I needed to know." He turned to a page of gruesome images, bodies of humans and animals alike cut open for dissection. "Only their bodies could speak to me."

[xiaomiau]

Liwei raced through the building, footwork fast and steady with practiced ease from years of marathon running and casual jogs through parks. He crossed the sterile floor to the primary office. The room was dark, but he was familiar with the layout. With a bit of grunting, he managed to feel around for a set of keys to one of the vans. He locked the cabinet back up and then made his way outside, shutting the heavy metal door behind him. He padded across the lot to the van indicated by a number in red permanent marker on the key. He lurched open the door and shoved the key into the van, allowing it to spark to life in the dry desert air. So far, so good. The gate was still open, so he heaved a sigh of relief and allowed himself to slide down into the seat and wait.

[Fionraella]

Misha moaned in her state of partial consciousness. She clawed at the bed as she felt the restraints being unstrapped, but she felt too weak to lift her body. Her thoughts felt fuzzy and dull. She hoped someone would help her, but it didn't seem likely. She weakly cursed the state she was in before lapsing back into unconsciousness.

@xiaomiau

Mona sighs and gently pulls the tiny Misha off the bed. She holds her in her arms before hurrying out of the room. "It's okay, she's not going to hurt you anymore." She whispers, heading to the vans.

[Fionraella]

The Boss sighed. "Boy, I have talked to more shifters than I doubt you'll ever meet in your life. I have heard enough stories from their lips to fill all the books in the world. I will never tire of their majesty." He tightened one hand into a fist. "But all of that did no good. There was no shifter who could tell me the words I needed to know." He turned to a page of gruesome images, bodies of humans and animals alike cut open for dissection. "Only their bodies could speak to me."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose pales and steps back a bit, still in bat form. "Oh okay, well now that's just creepy." He flies back over to the bed, unable to look at the book anymore, his stomach churning with disgust and fear. He shivers and hopes Misha was safe. He gulps, wishing the scientists would come soon so he could run.

[xiaomiau]

<Snipped quote by xiaomiau>

"Amby?" Sacha raises an eyebrow. "No, those are Broms...Aya doesn't seem hurt so they might be alright." She keeps walking.

@Fionraella

Dione took a step closer to Sacha, trying to keep close to her as they advanced on the group. "What are they doing, though?" she asked softly. She eyed the unfamiliar figures with narrowed eyes, but she wasn't ready to jump towards violent reactions if it wasn't necessary. There was already enough bloodshed in the forest.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione took a step closer to Sacha, trying to keep close to her as they advanced on the group. "What are they doing, though?" she asked softly. She eyed the unfamiliar figures with narrowed eyes, but she wasn't ready to jump towards violent reactions if it wasn't necessary. There was already enough bloodshed in the forest.

@xiaomiau

"Not sure." Sacha raises her voice. "Destin, Aya." She says firmly, and loudly, before giving the Broms a short glare. "I'm curious why the four of you are meeting on our side of the river." She crosses her arms. "And where are Ambrose and Misha?" She demands, getting straight to the point.

[Hawksnest565]

As if in answer to Ambrose's wish, Brianna knocked on The Boss's door. "Sir? Mona called for me to be here."

The Boss stood up and clapped his hands together happily, recognising the voice. "Brianna, please come in here at once. The door is open." He glanced over at Ambrose. "Brianna is one of the top scientists of this project. You might find her a little harsh, but her intelligence more than makes up for any misdemeanour. Do as we both say, and I promise you won't end up like..." He taps the book with a finger. While he couldn't guarantee the outright safety of the boy, he at least wanted to be around for a little longer. This was not a subject he wanted so willingly thrown away.

[Hawksnest565]

"Sacha!" Aya calls out in relief. Even though she was still at risk from Elauna's bow and arrow she couldn't resist the urge to shift and fly back to her leader.

[Fionraella]

As if in answer to Ambrose's wish, Brianna knocked on The Boss's door. "Sir? Mona called for me to be here."

The Boss stood up and clapped his hands together happily, recognising the voice. "Brianna, please come in here at once. The door is open." He glanced over at Ambrose. "Brianna is one of the top scientists of this project. You might find her a little harsh, but her intelligence more than makes up for any misdemeanour. Do as we both say, and I promise you won't end up like..." He taps the book with a finger. While he couldn't guarantee the outright safety of the boy, he at least wanted to be around for a little longer. This was not a subject he wanted so willingly thrown away.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose gulps, getting a bad feeling about escaping. He looks around for a clock, wondering if Mona and Liwei had had enough time to get Misha and get out. Not seeing one, he shifts and meanders around the room, trying to see if there was any easy way out. The only thing he could see was the door, and a small barred window, neither of which seemed like great ways of escape. He sighs. "Promises don't mean much these days, old man. Your capturers promised one thing, and now you're just promising another."

[Fionraella]

"Sacha!" Aya calls out in relief. Even though she was still at risk from Elauna's bow and arrow she couldn't resist the urge to shift and fly back to her leader.

@Hawksnest565

Elauna scowls. "Calling in reinforcments? I thoguht this was a calm, peaceful meeting between us." She glares at Sacha and Dione. She picks up her bow warily, knowing Sacha was an archer as well. "Jayden, grab Destin and let's go. This isn't happening." She whispers to her groupmate.

[Fionraella]

Mona reaches the van dock and hurries over to the only one on. She sighs in relief, seeing Liwei. Things were going well so far. Now the boy only needed to come find them and then they could leave. She looks down at the girl in her arms, wishing she would wake up and be okay. She looks up again and goes to the back of the van to get the girl inside.

[Hawksnest565]

Brianna entered the room and was surprised to see the subject up and walking. To be honest, it made her feel terribly unsafe. For a single awful moment she thought that The Boss was going to ask her to restrain the subject. She calmly reminded herself that there were guards whose job it was to do that. Instead she spoke calmly, in a slightly higher tone than usual. "Ah, sir, how might I help you?"

"Call me Boss, Brianna," The Boss insisted and beckoned her in. He pointed to Ambrose, thinking that the boy was simply exploring the area. "I'd like you to meet our new subject. His name his... Umm..." He waited for Ambrose to answer.

[Fionraella]

Brianna entered the room and was surprised to see the subject up and walking. To be honest, it made her feel terribly unsafe. For a single awful moment she thought that The Boss was going to ask her to restrain the subject. She calmly reminded herself that there were guards whose job it was to do that. Instead she spoke calmly, in a slightly higher tone than usual. "Ah, sir, how might I help you?"

"Call me Boss, Brianna," The Boss insisted and beckoned her in. He pointed to Ambrose, thinking that the boy was simply exploring the area. "I'd like you to meet our new subject. His name his... Umm..." He waited for Ambrose to answer.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose glances at her. He notices her unease and makes note of that. He grins warmly and walks over, sticking a hand out. "Name's Ambrose miss Brianna! I've heard so much about you, it's sure a pleasure to meet you." He tilts his head curiously. "You're alone? I thought you guys would have more scientists come test on me, after all I am so interesting!" He winks at Brianna, testing the waters.

[xiaomiau]

Misha lets out a yelp of pain as Mona sets her in the back of the van. She feels herself coming to with a raging headache and a vague sense of disorientation. She opens her eyes and stares blankly at Mona, blinking back pain behind her eyes.

Liwei revs up the engine. "C'mon, ladies. We have to be ready when Ambrose heads out." His hands form a tight grip around the wheel of the van, foot an inch away from the gas pedal. He rolls down both windows and cranks up the air conditioning in preparation for the ride. "Mona, you'll have to give me directions."

Dione prepared herself to shift if the violence escalated, but for now she stood still behind Sacha. She tried to make herself as non threatening as possible, though she knew her leader's very presence signaled an air of violence to the unfamiliar shifters. She cursed the tense atmosphere between the two groups. I just want Amby back, she thought solemnly.

[Fionraella]

Misha lets out a yelp of pain as Mona sets her in the back of the van. She feels herself coming to with a raging headache and a vague sense of disorientation. She opens her eyes and stares blankly at Mona, blinking back pain behind her eyes.

Liwei revs up the engine. "C'mon, ladies. We have to be ready when Ambrose heads out." His hands form a tight grip around the wheel of the van, foot an inch away from the gas pedal. He rolls down both windows and cranks up the air conditioning in preparation for the ride. "Mona, you'll have to give me directions."

Dione prepared herself to shift if the violence escalated, but for now she stood still behind Sacha. She tried to make herself as non threatening as possible, though she knew her leader's very presence signaled an air of violence to the unfamiliar shifters. She cursed the tense atmosphere between the two groups. I just want Amby back, she thought solemnly.

@xiaomiau

"Just hold on a bit longer." Mona says to Misha gently, before shutting the door and getting into the passenger seat. "She's in bad shape Liwei, give it a rest." She says calmly, before buckling up. "Gotcha, I can give directions, I know exactly where to go!" She glances back at Misha. "If and when you feel up to it, please buckle up, okay?"

[Fionraella]

Misha lets out a yelp of pain as Mona sets her in the back of the van. She feels herself coming to with a raging headache and a vague sense of disorientation. She opens her eyes and stares blankly at Mona, blinking back pain behind her eyes.

Liwei revs up the engine. "C'mon, ladies. We have to be ready when Ambrose heads out." His hands form a tight grip around the wheel of the van, foot an inch away from the gas pedal. He rolls down both windows and cranks up the air conditioning in preparation for the ride. "Mona, you'll have to give me directions."

Dione prepared herself to shift if the violence escalated, but for now she stood still behind Sacha. She tried to make herself as non threatening as possible, though she knew her leader's very presence signaled an air of violence to the unfamiliar shifters. She cursed the tense atmosphere between the two groups. I just want Amby back, she thought solemnly.

@xiaomiau

Destin notices Dione in the back behind Sacha. He tilts his head, deciding to let the other argue, before going over. "Hi there, you're a Rabin right? I'm Destin." He smiles warmly at her and holds his hand out. "Are you okay? You look pretty upset about something...anything I can help you with?" He asks.

[wallaberry]

<Snipped quote by wallaberry>

Elauna turns to face them, scoffing a bit. "Gee Jayden, you think I'm going hurt the kid or something?" She demands, rollng her eyes as she looks down at Destin. "Well Destin?" She asks.

Destin gulps. "I...I'm leaving the Brom group Elaune and I want you to be the Brom healer to replace me, because you're a fast learner, and you're very smart and you know stuff..." He kicks at the ground. "This is my idea, no one else's so don't punish Jayden or Aya because they happened to know before you."

@Fionraella

Jayden stood still and watched Elauna in order to gauge her reaction. She wasn't always... predictable, and this sort of news could send her over the edge. "No, this is good. Given Destin's demeanor and all." He openly defies Elauna and stands his ground, glancing between the group that just grew larger.

[xiaomiau]

Misha grunts. "Motherfuckers... hurts......" She let out a shrill cry and covered her eyes with her scarred upper arm. Despite this "minor inconvenience," she pulled herself into a sitting position and grasped weakly at the buckle. However, instead of strapping it around her, she clung to the fabric and moaned pitifully.

Dione peered at Destin. She was wary, but he was small and had wide, inviting eyes. She softened her stance. "Nothing serious, I don't think. Thank you," she said with a slight smile. "I was just.. expecting to deal with a different crisis." She let out an uneasy laugh, eyes flitting back to Jayden and Elauna.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Jayden stood still and watched Elauna in order to gauge her reaction. She wasn't always... predictable, and this sort of news could send her over the edge. "No, this is good. Given Destin's demeanor and all." He openly defies Elauna and stands his ground, glancing between the group that just grew larger.

@wallaberry

Elauna scoffs at him. "Coward. He's not leaving us." She lifts her bow, aiming at Sacha. She smirks. "Goodbye Rabin leader." She closes one eye, preparing to shoot, her heart pounding and all noises slowly fading away. She exhales and lets go of the arrow, smirking as it flies towards Sacha. She then steps back to wait.