#because f;lakjdf this is long enough to go into that tag

[direwombat]

💭

af;ljkasfdl;k thank you so much this wholly ran away from me so it got so much longer than i thought it'd be whoops

What the recently imprisoned "recruits" don't realize, is that although the dinner bell stands in the courtyard where they're being caged, it's ringing isn't for them. Caged animals are fed once a day at dawn. If they're lucky. Sybille knows this, and hangs back as frail and starving bodies rush towards the bars, pleading to the Chosen to give them some food.

She remains huddled in the corner of her private cage -- a "treat" from both Kit and Jacob that's both a blessing and a curse. Just how they wanted it. It's smaller than the others, an actual crate meant for a large dog. She doesn't have much room to move, but she doesn't need to share it. The only real problem with it is that she has no one to huddle for warmth with now that the weather is turning.

The Chosen all file orderly into the Veterans Center, but among the sea of red and black moving towards the intimidating brick edifice, a lone figure moves against the tide. Striding towards her cage with an air of authority and lunch-tray in hand is Kit.

The poor bastards in the larger cages nearly trample each other to get closer when they realize food is entering the yard. Their faces press against the bars and arms claw as they cry out for mercy. But Kit ignores them, her confident stride unbroken as if she doesn't even hear them. She stands before the door to Sybille's cage and crouches down, letting the tray rest on the ground.

A hearty venison stew steams enticingly in a bowl with a piece of bread and small salad on either side. Sybille's stomach cramps and growls loudly, but all she does is scowl at the other woman, fully expecting to be taunted by having her eat in front of her. Show her what she's missing.

But instead, she says, "It's going to snow tonight, Bunny." She stirs the stew with a plastic spoon, letting the aroma carry on the wind and making Sybille's mouth water. "Now, you can stay out here if you think that coat of yours will be enough," -- she scoops up some meat and carrots, showing off the meal before tipping the spoon and letting it fall back into the bowl -- "Or, if you promise to behave, not only will you get a hot meal, but you'll also get to sleep in a nice warm bed."

On cue, a particularly harsh wind comes cutting through the courtyard, causing her to shiver and huddle deeper in her leather jacket. It bites harshly at her cheeks and fingers and she can't hold back the full body shudder that violently rips through her. Damn her, Sybille thinks. Damn her and damn Jacob. She knows exactly what she's doing.

She flashes Sybille a toothy smile. "So, what'll it be?"

Her pride is perhaps the hardest thing she's ever had to swallow, and the two of them have had her eagerly choking on it time and time again. "I'll be good," she breathes desperately through chattering teeth. Please, I'll be so good, just don't leave me here.

Kit's smile widens. Fishing a key from her pockets, she unlocks the padlock securing the door of the cage shut. Sybille crawls towards her, right into her open arms, gratefully melting into the heat of her body as she allows Kit to half-carry her inside the Veterans Center. Her terrible and beautiful guardian angel bringing her to safety.

She doesn't feel a hint of remorse as she leaves behind the horde of prisoners begging to come inside too.