Long days and long nights weren’t easy to ignore when there was nothing to do. The mud floor of his cage had taken time to dry, and then been wet again, until he no longer cared to even try wiping the mud away. He’d explored every inch he could reach once his headache dulled, annoyed that the chain kept him from reaching the bars. A circle was worn into the dirt every time the rain stopped and they’d wrestled him into the same coverings the old human had insisted he wear. He didn’t like them; they held the wet and weighed him down or tangled with the chain. But they’d also taken the time to pad his shackles. That, he could appreciate, abstractly, for the way it stopped them biting at his wrists.

Still, he was bored of waiting here. For all he understood patience, and could enjoy not having to hunt for his meals, he couldn’t do anything else either. Sleeping was well and good, but he wasn’t tired anymore. And there was no chance to relax with people watching him or making noise somewhere he couldn’t see. They rode horses past him, and he crouched if they came too close, watching, wary, wanting to pounce. But he had no interest in hunting, only staying safe from their heavy hooves, so when they moved on, he settled again. The food they gave him was enough, even if it wasn’t the meat he wanted. But the bread crust was good to chew on, gave him something to do while the door stayed closed. 

The more he accustomed himself to his surroundings, the more unsettled he grew. Matiir had known a city once, and small villages. He’d felt the difference. The air in the city was thin and sharp, stinking only of human things. He could not have ignored the scent markings, they were too strong and confused, or the shouting that made night time too quiet. The villages he had not liked either. Too much prey he wasn’t allowed to hunt, though it was penned in and couldn’t have escaped. But the air had been thicker. Safer to breathe. More alive when breathe stirred it or wind slipped past. Here though… It was like a city. All the strength being drained away and he wanted to go with it. Empty air made his skin prickle. Even in the rain.

So, he paced restlessly, the chink of metal links muffled by wet. His hair and clothing soaked through, hanging straight down, though from time to time he’d paused to shake and get it out of his eyes. From knees to feet as he turned to retrace his steps farthest from the guards, and back to knees when he slipped in the mud. He only paused to watch as another approached; eyes lidded against the rain, and gave a low, chuffing grumble in half-hearted defense of the little territory they’d given him. It was barely audible above the storm, and he resumed pacing as soon as the newcomer settled into place. He didn’t bother to wonder why they traded places to watch him, he just made sure they all knew he didn’t like them coming any closer and left it at that.

---

“A wish gone wrong’s my guess. No one’s asking me though.” Asuras moved from the shadows as soon as he realised he’d been caught out. Though he hadn’t really been meaning to sneak up on the woman, he hadn’t bothered to do more to announce his approach either. “Where’s your partner?” Two was his minimum requirement for almost everything. Only those on regular patrol were allowed a bit of solitude, though with the discovery of those deer, even that small privilege had been rescinded. No one left the fort without a partner, and while she wasn’t going anywhere, he didn’t care. She was still doing something potentially dangerous and should have had backup, distrusted stranger or no. Actually, that only made it doubly important, though he doubted anyone else thought so. 

“Ahh, nevermind.”Asuras sighed, hoping the storm would mask the sound, and rubbed at the stubble on his chin before resting his hand idly on his sword hilt. “Aunt Serryn said you’ve some heavy bad luck on you.” They both knew no one wanted to be around anyone like that, especially out here. “She’s not much liking for strangers, I hear you found out firsthand. Pity really, you were almost in.”

He couldn’t afford to be trusting either, with his younger brother to keep safe, and their parents away. With his brother Acting Second, there was more chance someone would take advantage of any weakness they showed. He suspected this strange business of deer hearts and crazy chicken thieves was going over his head, but he didn’t plan to wait until it was too late. Still, while he’d let Samaire join their guard and had watched her through the probation period, he couldn’t afford to let her stay much longer. She wasn’t the one doing anything with the deer, and if that hadn’t been a little skit put on for his benefit, she had nothing to do with their strange prisoner either. 

Ilaeyra had reported to Serryn that the woman had done nothing else worth suspicion this past week, but things were still getting worse. And even if she wasn’t to blame, she’d lost the trust of his guard, and that would never do. No use if her luck was feared enough to leave her out here alone, against his express orders. And if she was no use, then she was just another mouth to feed. So was the fellow crawling around at the end of his chain. He was reluctant to let her obvious experience go though. And his own youth showed through as he sucked at his teeth uncertainly.

“S’truth, I don’t quite know what I should be doing with you, Samaire.” Maybe she’d volunteer to leave of her own volition…