As the double doors cracked open, with it came a billowing torrent of smoke and nasty, fetid gases that rushed into the room and made the occupants back away, suddenly blinded, as they gagged and coughed for breath. In all the chaos, a white bird fluttered wearily through the crack to land heavily on the stone floor, and rush behind one of the many crates scattered around the huge storeroom. 

Down below, whatever explosion that had been building in the depths of the machinery, was finally unleashed. The blast rippled through the shaft, scalding hot steam erupting through the thin crack that has been left by Liaena’s goo-bomb. Up above, the bronze doors that Serphia was inspecting rattled violently under the strain, as the entire fort trembled slightly. 

“AAAARGH! MY EYES! MY EYES!”

“MY SYSTEM! …THE PIPEWORK! IT WAS [b]SO BEAUTIFUL[/b]!”

“I think you’ve poisoned me” Bella whimpered quietly, mostly hidden where she had tried to slink under Hesters wing. Liaena shifted aside fluff to give her a hard poke. The tired owl grumbled audibly, ruffling her feathers before she sank down in a classic ‘I am going nowhere’ pose on her butt. 

“Come on. We need to go, while they’re still distracted”

“Go [i]where[/i]!?”

“The dungeons”

“…Oh, goodie. [b]That[/b] shouldn’t be a problem then” Bella griped as she followed Liaena. The little girl ran across the floor, using crates as shelters and pit stops as she finally reached the wall. “Why don’t we just stay here? We’ll be given an escort. And you’d [i]deserve[/i] it, you maniac – mmgh!”

The girl was cut off as Liaena clamped a hand over her mouth, both girls shrinking against the stone wall as one of the doors cut into it slammed open and several more of the labourers, plus one guard, charged into the room. “Arolf! The hell just happened!?”

“Some maniac….just ruined my pride and joy” Arolf sniffed, using his sleeve to wipe away a flood of tears. Given his low vantage point, the gnome had completely missed the blast that had left his companions screaming and cursing in pain. Nor did he seem overly troubled by their plight, as he ran his hands tenderly over the steel door. “My child…I am so sorry”

“How in the light are we ever going to find the dungeons? This place is like a maze!” Bella hissed into Liaena’s ear. Liaena resisted the urge to swat her, before rubbing her nose thoughtfully and glancing around the room. There were at least four exits, and an arch that led to another part of the vast storeroom. “Hrm.”

“…..”

-cluck-

Looking up, the two girls stared across the room to where Hester had alighted next to one of the exits, a firmly shut door. The owl gave them a very obvious ‘wtf are you doing’ stare across the room, before starting to stab her beak at the door viciously. 

“That chicken is a genius sometimes….come on. Lets go” Liaena breathed as she started to make her way determinedly towards that door, sticking close to the wall and staying in the shadow as the shouting continued behind them. Bella followed, throwing many nervous glances behind them. “…So we’re just following that bird? That’s the plan?”

“Have you got a better one?”

“Leave?”

“Nope.”