Allies

Tracey had nothing to do all afternoon, so she spent some of that time practicing her movements; as it gave her a little exercise, that loosened the muscles, cleared the mind and brought some moves into a near reflex, excellent for becoming ready for any form of combat, but it helped to keep her from getting restless.

An infrequent check, a hearty little meal and occasional refills of drinks were all the interaction she got after she'd returned from her 'meeting', but all that was kind of expected in a prison.

Actually it was probably the best and finest small detention cell Tracey had ever seen, by far, not that she'd seen many.

After an easy and quiet night, Tracey felt well rested then, but with absolutely nowhere to go, she lay about on the thin padding that doubled as seat and bed, until there was some activity, just after a little provided late lunch.

A few little keys rustled outside her solid door, before a clank sounded its opening.

The mostly brown bunny-man appeared, along with two very sheepish horned Beastman guards, who stayed well away from her door.

"I hope you don't mind my intrusion?"

He asked, timidly stepping into the small room to join Tracey, who sat up on her 'bed'.

"No, you're welcome..."

Tracey hadn't found the lingering silence, all that troublesome.

"Firstly I would like to apologise for the others. Sorry about them, but we are all rather frightened by this rapid and unexpected invasion."

Tracey was a little surprised by this statement, as it had long been and openly talked about by many in the Imperial lands, for a little while too, so although she'd hoped it wouldn't come, she had expected the Beastfolk would have been expecting something to happen.

"Sorry, I always thought there was a chance there would be open conflict..."

The brownish bunny nodded, flopping his ears by his sides.

"I do mean... well we always knew of the potential, but we never expected your nation to become organised enough to so rapidly encroach so far onto our lands..."

He glanced back out the still open door, obviously nervously.

"But perhaps we should leave... discussions for later... You need to leave this place quickly."

Tracey slid to her feet, when he offered or her to leave, with an open hand gesture.

"But I thought the counsel was considering..."

A slightly betrayed but saddened look from him gave her pause.

"The 'Counsel' hasn't made a fair decision for a while, or needed to sometimes... as I fear some members have already determined on certain... underhanded actions... so please we must go."

"And the rest of my people?"

Tracey only needed to hesitate for a single moment.

"As their leader, I assumed you would control them, so we shall release then next..."

Tracey found the long passageway outside her holding door was remarkably empty, as the two other Sheep-men set about opening the other nearby doors, letting free her companions.

"I've arranged for your passage back out of Kibble, and for your weapons to be returned to you then too."

"Can I ask why?"

Tracey asked, and received a slightly hope filled smile from the old guy.

"I believe in the stories, not only the fabled one, but the recent ones that have circulated... so I believe you will be very helpful for our residents, who could be in very serious danger, at any moment now..."

Amanda, who had drawn near, already gave a small count of their released people, and the assisting Horse-girl, and listened carefully too.

"So I assume a group of Imperial men are near?"

Tracey asked, figuring the still un-named counsellor wanted them confronted, before calamity was brought to their doorsteps.

"Yes. We're aware of them, and they are rather near as you suspected... Most are currently held up in a tiny village just a day's trek away."

Receiving a nod from his own people, the Rabbit-man carefully led them down the well lit corridor, as he talked back to them, while not being loud enough to echo his words in the open hard surroundings.

As they neared the next set of barred doors, the ahead guard opened each up quietly, so Tracey and all her company didn't make a sound either, as the authoritive Rabbit led on, rounding a couple of turns, before coming to stop amid a brick walled corridor.

Without words, he found one brick, slightly lighter than the others around it, and pressed it in, then hearing a soft click, he pressed some more, and a narrow doorway was revealed beside them.

Leaving the escort behind, it was just wide enough for him to slip down, and as Tracey followed on down a much darker and stepped corridor, that wiggled occasionally, to a dead-end, where he again paused.

"This is a secret way out, obviously, but just outside this house will be a carriage waiting to speed you out of town. The driver will fill you in on the other details, on the way."

Another secret door gently opened before him, and he stepped out cautiously, but stepped aside to let the others out.

"Thank-you for helping us."

Amanda gave gently, as the rest came out into the small houses lounge-room, while Tracey spied a waiting covered wagon outside the window.

"I hope you all succeed, with whatever plan you have to stop... whatever is to come."

"Will everything here be okay?"

Tracey turned back to ask him, wondering if he'd be in trouble.

"Me, I'll be fine, no-one will know of my involvement, but the others reactions may help determine who I can trust going forward..."

He let slip a little smile.

"I'll leave you here, but you have my luck."

He ducked back into the secret way, and the door slid shut, becoming another brick wall to any other viewer.

With no pedestrians about in the small street, Tracey took the opportunity to jump first into the back of the wagon, and slipped by a small wooden box in the middle to be nearer the driver, on the other side of the tarp.

The front of the wagon's cover opened up before she got there, revealing the driver, who peered in at Tracey with light-blue eyes.

"We meet again, Human trash."

Tracey froze for a split second, wondering if they'd been set up or something, but the dark furred Beastman smiled at her and said more.

"Please sit, and while your weapons are in that crate there in the centre, I'd ask you not to get them out, until we're clear out of the town please."

"Sure..."

Tracey sat, nearest the flap, which gently closed again.

Amanda sat opposite her, and as the last members got in and flicked the rear tarp closed, she gave a tap on the wood edge, and the carriage began to move.

Directed to go to the abandoned barn, where someone from the larger group would still be watching, Tracey and the others bundled out of the wagon, and with their swords and other confiscated items in hand, to simply linger about in the vacant area.

The driver; Lee - the Guardsman, stuck around for a little longer too, after being true to the counselors word, and relayed what information he had to them, once they'd passed over the final bridge defence.

"Where'd that other... little one get to?"

Not unexpectedly; Shizuka was still nowhere to be seen.

"I'm sure she'll be fine..."

Amanda replied with certainty.

"If I or any of my pack see her, we'll let her know you've been freed."

Tracey nodded her appreciation.

"I expect I'll be seeing you about - if the rumours of your group are true..."

The dark Dog-man checked the wagons rear, making sure nothing was left inside.

"You think so?"

"I do."

He then pointed toward the nearby rolling green hills as he went back for the front.

"That's the direction you want to go, so just follow the roads and you'll find those who bring destruction with them..."

He climbed back onto the ride and said no more, leaving them all behind and returned toward Kibble.

"So what are we going to do now?"

Tracey asked Amanda, who was obviously pondering something.

"I think... we should find this other group, so soon as possible, and find out their situation, leadership and then what's holding them up at least."

"Someone or two should stay here, and let the others know what's going on..."

Tracey proposed, since there hadn't been a waiting person like they'd figured there would be, before turning to Nina.

"And perhaps you should let your aunt and uncle know you're alright."

Since her other family members had been let go, maybe someone was keeping at least an eye on them.

"I'll do that."

Nina nodded emphatically.

"We'll stay here."

Todd and his good friend Chad indicated to the others, volunteering to stay near the barn.

"Sounds good then."

Amanda seemed fairly pleased.

The group then promptly divided and went their selected ways, as Tracey led the majority toward the lightly wooded hills, looking for the next collection of Imperial invaders.