Escape Artist (Closed)

[carcinoGeneticist]

Asha couldn't help but giggle and squeal with delight as Gaston tossed her upwards, joy radiating from every inch of her tiny little body. So strong, so very strong! She would love to meet this man, her muscular angel, again someday. Her grin spoke that in volumes, and she was still giggling as he set her down on Ataxia's back.

She had no idea what he had seen.

Even if she did, she would never be able to comprehend it. It was just a number, after all... And her parents had told her again and again, rank wasn't important, it was what she did with that rank.

She nuzzled at Ataxia softly, clutching her tightly. "Mr. Gaston sure is a nice man, huh?" she babbled, almost seeming to speak over the yawn that worked its way out of her short little muzzle. It had been a long day, and she was getting tired... And she had no way of knowing how far away from home she was now. All she knew was that those terrifying men were gone, and wouldn't dare to chase them again. No one would dare chase them, not with the mix around to protect them.

[danishweasel]

"Really, I never would've expected someone like you to be down this way..."

And wasn't that the truth. She tried her best to keep her eyes solely on Gaston, though she found her gaze trailing to Asha on occasion. It looked innocent enough, him throwing her up in the air, her giggling without a care in the world. Though was it just that? She couldn't tell.

The invite to the palace really threw her for a loop. Was he really a King of Hearts? Offering a Club that wasn't even a prospective Jack a visit there? It had to be a joke...For him to be a King to the Queen, he was probably walked the line when it came to the rules and regulations of the society. Best to play along, at least.

"Oh, thank you...But really, that would be far too bold, wouldn't it? I'm not exactly high-class, after all...The offer's appreciated all the same."

She heaved a silent sigh of relief as she felt Asha's weight back on her back. Safe and sound, not a scratch on her, and full of smiles. This was turning out a heck of a lot better than she expected. Xia smiled at Gaston, still trying to analyze that face that looked back at her just to make sure...Nothing she could tell right away.

"Thanks again for the help, Your Highness. Take care!"

She stretched her front legs ahead of her and bent her head low in a kind of bow before lifting up and padding off at a quick pace. The last thing she wanted to do was linger too long and either have Gaston change his mind or have some other creeps try and make off with Asha.

With all the stress and risk involved in the impromptu rescue mission, Asha warmth and nuzzling was plenty of a reminder as to why she did it. If anything, at least that little episode with the King of Hearts calmed the child's nerves...

"Mr. Gaston is a nice man, huh?"

...Was he? Her first reaction was one similar to how she reacted upon learning his rank and suit. But really, was that enough to judge someone? What if he had seen the mark on Asha's chest, but decided to let them escape? What if he had other plans? Looks like the jury was still out on that one.

"Geez, listen to you yawn. We'd better take you back home so you can get some rest, hon."

She lowered her voice so that it was barely loud enough for the skunk to hear.

"I think we're going to take a bit of a trip. Ever been outside of the city before?"

[Nathalia]

((OOC: Just keep rolling for a bit you two 83 Assume Mr. Ironballs is following you, he'll jump back in when and/or if he sees what he wants or gets bored <3))

~Nathalia

[carcinoGeneticist]

((OOC: Ahahaha, Mr. Ironballs XD *love*))

"I am a little sleepy," the skunk replied, snuggling into Ataxia's fur and closing her eyes before she got some of that hair in them. She didn't need them open to "see" the world around her, and it was always a pain when something poked them. In a way, she wished that she didn't even have them. They just seemed so pointless! "It's been a really long day." And it had indeed. For a skunk who had never been anywhere beyond her home and occasional walks with her family, this was almost too much to take.

She had made a new friend, though, and that meant everything was okay.

Asha leaned in close, ears perked slightly to pick up Ataxia's words. This reminded her of a game she used to play with her brothers whenever they wanted to bother Ceren... She knew she had to be as quiet as possible, and she assumed it was in case any more bad men were around. "Will you stay with me? I've never left the city before..." there was just a hint of nerves in her voice, but she tried to push them aside. Xia would be with her, and that meant it would be okay.

[danishweasel]

"Yeah...It's been a long day for both of us, trust me. Been a long while since I've dart like that. Probably good for me, though. Being stuck in the lab most of the time, I don't get much time to run around much."

She was definitely feeling it, now that the adrenaline was starting to wear off. Even a light jog made her legs burn and tingle like someone taking a match to her ligaments. Thankfully, there was still enough tension to keep her going. There wasn't going to be any rest until they reached their final destination and even then, she would have to keep a close eye on things in case there were any more Corvie stooges that decided to follow them that far.

"Of course I'll stay with you. I told you everything was going to be okay, and I meant every word of it. Now, you said you knew a Corvie, but have your parentals ever taken you to Corvistowne? It'll be sort of a long trip, but I've got some food with me, always stock up before I leave. That and I think it'll be safer to have them pick you up at my place than trying to wander around finding them here."

Xia kept her voice low as she continued to meander through the city, trying to find the appropriate exit.

[Kari Muffin]

((OOC: I have been told by the powers that be to step in. <3 so I am.))

Theofilus didn't like when his visions spoke of danger and he couldn't quite figure out what was wrong. His ability didn't like being specific, but he knew that Asha was involved. Obviously something horrible had gone wrong and he needed to be a hero. However, everything wasn't what he expected when he reached home.

The apartment was completely empty. The sparrow had found the note on the inside of the door. Mori had left the tear stained note with the simple signature and shaky handwriting. "Asha's lost! We all went out to find her!" The sparrow's heart skipped a beat or two as he slammed and locked the door behind him. It hadn't been long since they left, he knew that. All he could think of doing was going back to the shipping firm, that was the only place he could go. Maybe Kelasia had returned?

Rogers blinked at the sudden entrance of the sparrow. He looked entirely too disheveled and terrified to be in his right mind, hadn't he only left for lunch? Before the German Shepard could ask what was wrong, Theofilus blurted out his problem in a complete and utter panic.

"THEY LOST ASHA!"

"And you need my help to find her?" Rogers offered.

"You can find her?" Theofilus asked, wide eyed. He seemed rather calm about all of this. Asha was in trouble according to Theofilus' vision, he had remained calm as long as he could without panicking.

"I never told you about my gift then?"

"Gift?" The sparrow was at a complete and utter loss.

"You're lucky I have an amazing sense of smell." Rogers said shaking a finger. "I have to say it's not always a blessing."

"Blessing or not, if it can find Asha, let's go." Theofilus said gesturing to the door. They would start at the house and then go from there. Theofilus would worry about how Asha got out and what happened exactly later.

"And it's downright mean when I smell somebody who's been freshly sexed." The German Shepard as he shifted to his animal form and trotted out the door. The sparrow just gave a cough. "Let's just find Asha then. Back to the house!"

Theofilus nodded before shifting to his animal form. It would be faster this way.

[carcinoGeneticist]

Asha was completely enthralled with the smells and sounds that seemed to fill and almost overwhelm her senses. She found the bravery (audacity?) to lift her head high once more, her round ears perked and nose pointed skyward to better understand her surroundings. She could smell food and people and hear talking and laughing from all around, and she began to squirm with excitment. The canine wouldn't be able to see it due to her position, but the little skunk was once again displaying her happy smile to the world.

Why wouldn't she be happy? She was on an adventure with her new friend!

"I trust you, Xia." Asha replied, leaning close so as to listen better and talk quietly (after all, she didn't want to upset their game!), but still beaming to herself. "No.. I've never been outside of the city, but I want to go! I'm sure mommy, daddy and papa will understand as long as I'm with you."

Completely oblivious to the turmoil that she had created at her home, Asha snuggled close, giggling to herself. Adventures were always good for taking her mind off of worry - especially since she had never been on one before!

[danishweasel]

At this point, she was out of the alleys again, into one of the cleaner, safer sections of town, though a good distance away from where she had fist seen Asha. As long as the child laid her chest against her back to stay on, hiding the mark, she should be safe in the crowds. Walking at a swift pace, just fast enough for people not to get a good view of them, but slow enough not to bring attention onto them. She kept an eye out for the Corvistownians as well as any people that might have been following behind them, heading towards them by panning her head slowing back and forth as she walked, watching from her peripheral.

She had been so focused on her watchdog routine that she barely heard Asha's hushed whispers. Ataxia was so thankful that she had found Asha first. If one of those other Corvies had found her, they would have surely taken advantage of her trusting nature and taken her to Corvistowne for completely different intentions. They wouldn't want to protect her, that's for sure.

"We'll be off just as soon as I can find the right exit in this place. ...Mommy, Daddy, and Papa, huh? Three parentals? You're pretty lucky to have three people who really care for you. Well, four at least, but I'm really more on the acquaintance status. Only known you less than a day. But I'm glad you trust me, Asha, and I promise I'll earn that trust too."

Asha's snuggling only melted her concentration for a moment before she returned to watchdog mode, making sure no one would dare try to hurt Asha.

[carcinoGeneticist]

It was almost funny, how unaware of the potential danger the little skunk really was. She listened closely to Ataxia, beaming to herself as she thought of her family. It was a wonderful family, big and loving, and ever so generous. She wondered if they would take Ataxia in, too! She giggled. That would be fun.

"Mommy and Daddy are my parents, but Papa also takes care of me because he loves Mommy and Daddy." she nodded knowingly. That was how she saw the situation, anyway. "Papa's also a Queen!" she announced, sounding rather proud. This was something that she really didn't understand, but she figured it was something that sounded good, and she should be proud of it. It usually impressed others, too.

"I want you to be my friend, Xia." she said a little softly. The canine had a calming effect on Asha, and she hoped more than anything that she would come to her house to play with the Banders when this was all over. "You saved me from those bad people, didn't you? That's enough for my trust." she smiled, though Ataxia wouldn't be able to see it.

[danishweasel]

The tidbit about Asha's papa being a Queen raised an eyebrow. She hadn't thought that someone so high on the totem pole would risk helping to care for an Ace. This Papa of hers...she would have to ask more about. But not now. Once they got out of the city, then they could cover that topic. Keep off it for now.

"I want you to be my friend, Xia."

Xia slowed to a stop at those words. That voice there, she had heard it before except it came from a different form years and years ago from a black and orange Corvie cat whose smiles were tainted with sadness. Rebirth wasn't a scientific theory or even close to one, but it made her smile to think that there was a chance that her old friend's painful memories had been removed and she had been given a slightly brighter future in a new body.

"Then I'll be your friend. And those bad people, you don't have to worry about them anymore. Nothing's gonna harm you. Not while I'm around. Hey, I think I see our way out of here."

She trotted towards the gates and passed on by, down the road that Ataxia hoped would lead them to safety.