Dungeons

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Better than sister thats for sure. I am just going to stay here for now till I get my balance back." Rowan said softly yet deeply.

"Brother you know that we get dizzy from the high pitched ringing in our ears. You shouldn't have moved from where you were in the first place." Aelin said with a frown.

"88 has already told me off for moving so you don't have to." He said looking at her before holding his head. "The room is spinning and I hate it."

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic couldn't hold back a giggle and an eye roll at the twins antics (Rowan looked funny when he was pouting). He smiled at Rowan then reached through the bars to poke him, gaining his attention. 'I heard that placing your head between your knees usually helps with dizziness.' He told the other boy shrugging, curious to see if that would actually work.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"The spinning is slowing down so don't worry. If you had a fix for ringing ears on the other hand sister would like it." Rowan sighed shaking hia head lightly and levi held up two fingers.

" Huntsman how many fingers am I holding up?" He asked leaving Aelin who looked confused but rested her head on her knees and took deep breaths.

"Uh two." Rowan answered looking slightly confused and held two fingers up on his hand and nodded. "Two. You know we are terrible at counting 88."

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic thought through what he knew, but sadly couldn't think of anything to help ringing ears. He watched as Rowan frowned and had to count the fingers on his own hand before he was certain that Levi was holding up two fingers. At least he knows how to count...Aelic thought to himself, remembering the math lessons he had when he was a child. An idea then popped into his head and he mentally nodded in determination. It beats sitting here with nothing to do! He thought to himself before turning to Rowan. 'Then lets fix that.' He said with a grin.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"I don't like that look on your face. It is the face of witchcraft." Rowan said and Levi looked confused.

"Witchcraft?" He asked and Aelin smirked slightly.

"21 is going to teach brother something. Brother does not always like it and thinks some of the things he teaches are witchcraft. Like live and live have the same spelling but they are different." She explained and Levi grabbed one of her hands and used one of her claws to dig dots into the ground.

"You can learn to." He said and Aelin groaned making Rowan chuckle at the sight.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic ginned evilly then burst out laughing. Once he had contained his laughter, he smiled again at Rowan and Levi. 'It is too hard to teach you reading and writing here, but we should be able to do math. If 88 helps me, Snow can learn to! Now, how much do you guys already know?' He asked, mind going into teaching mode.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Math?" Rowan asked and Aelin rubbed her forehead.

"21 I can't hear you." She said making Levi chuckle.

"He's going to teach you and your brother maths." He explained.

"What's maths?" She asked

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic also chuckled before explaining. 'Numbers and counting and stuff.' He said, knowing a more complex explanation would confuse the twins even more, Keep it simple Aelic! He thought to himself before turning back to Rowan. 'So, how much do you know? Like...umm....numbers. How far can you count?' He asked, trying to work out where would be the best place to start.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"To Ten because that is how many fingers we have." Rowan said looking at his hands and Aelin frowned.

"21 Speak in a lower tone I only heard half of that." She said looking at him.

"We also know other numbers too just not where they go." Rowan said.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

'Oh, sorry Snow.' Aelic said, trying to speak in a lower tone (and wasn't that weird!), nodding at the information Rowan gave him. Well, at least they weren't starting from scratch like with writing. 'Okay, that's a good place to start. Just making sure though, you do know what a number is right? I don't need to explain that do I?' He asked, hoping that they knew. This would be difficult to explain if they didn't.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"A number is whats on our cell doors." Rowan said with a frown.

"Like 21, 88, 22." Aelin said frowning. "That's not right." She said rubbing her chin with the side of her finger. "21, 22, 88. Thats the right order isn't it?" She asked.

"Yeah that's right Snow." Levi said patting her shoulder.

"When do numbers stop?" Rowan asked.

"They don't. They go on forever but we can start with the easy stuff like 1-100." Levi shrugged and the twins groaned.

"There will be no end to these lessons if numbers don't end." Rowan sighed and Aelin scratched lines into the ground.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic laughed at that then shook his head with a grin. 'Don't worry, you only need to know the basics for now.' He said, imagining how the twins would be if he tried to teach them forever (not pretty, so lets steer clear). 'Now, you know that numbers are used to count things. Like your fingers. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.' Aelic said, counting off each of his fingers, watching as Rowan subconsciously did the same. 'But what if you had more than 10? That's why you need to know the rest of the numbers, so you know how much/how many you have. If you have 10 apples, and someone gives you one more, you have 11 apples. If you have two more, you have 12 and so on. You just need to memorise what number comes next. After 10, you have 11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 all the way to 100, but it is easier to learn them in sets. 1-10, then 10-20 and so on. For now, lets see if you can memorise 1-20.' He said, casually waving his hands around a bit as he talked, consciously trying to keep his voice low for Aelin. Looking over at Levi, he nodded, expressing that the man could take over any time he wanted should Aelic's explanations become confusing etc.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Just try 11 to 15 for now brats we can work on 16 to 20 later." Levi stated and Aelin frowned.

"11,14,13,15,12.” She said with a frown.

"I though it was 11,12,14,13,15.” Rowan said looking at Levi.

"Try again brats. Huntsman was closer than you Snow."

"11, 12, 13, 14, 15." She said with a smirk and Levi hit her over the back of the head and Rowan snickered. "Oh so you figured it out 88.”

"This is serious brat." He said trying to swat her again but she dodged it.

"Hey brother was joking too." She defended.

"But he can't reach me so I can do what I want." Rowan smirked.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

'But I can!' Aelic said with a giggle, darting forward and flicking Rowan on the forehead. He laughed at the shocked look on the boy's face before dancing out of his reach in case of retaliation. 'Since you are both oh so confident, how about we try the next set of numbers, mm?' Aelic said with a smirk.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Brother you count to Aelic I can show 88 what I know." Aelin sighed and grabbed Levi's hand turning it palm up and tracing the numbers up to 37 in the correct order whilst Rowan practiced counting to Aelic.

"Where did you learn to count like that brat?" Levi asked.

"There are 37 bars in each cell you are in my normal one fell each bar and count the straight cuts in them." She shrugged.

"You have been holding out on me dear sister." Rowan said glaring at her and she shrugged again.

"Spending all night for three years down here are the night guard since I don't have to sleep to rest. You tend to get bored so I taught myself to count though I haven't gotten past 37 without having something to hold and count it does make it easier." She stated. "I also heard the guards talking about numbers so I worked it out."

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic was suitably impressed by both of the twins. They did not know how smart they actually were. 'Impressive Snow. You too Huntsman.' Aelic said with a smile, before going on to teach the twins the numbers after 37, all the way up to 60. By that time it was getting late and everyone was lagging. 'How about we call it a night? 88 and I can teach you the rest of the numbers tomorrow?' He said, supressing a yawn.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Who wants night watch?" Aelin asked digging some of the grime out of the wall.

"I'll take it Sister. Maybe I can learn to count the bars like you did and I will take all the night shifts since you two." Rowan said pointing to Levi and Aelin. "Need to sleep better and longer than the snake and I."

"Sounds good to me brat hopefully your sister and I don't get bloodied up too much since the games start late tomorrow and we fight the day after." Levi said climbing up the wall and running a line across his cell and running another three lines creating an eight spoked base before hissing in pain. "Damn Snow come here and fix my spinnerets." He said sticking his arms through the bars.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic nodded at Rowan's comment (it was the truth after all). 'Wake me up in a few hours and I will take over for you Huntsman.' He said, before trying to make himself comfortable in the corner of his cell. As Aelin fixed Levi's spinnerets, Aelic thought of the spiders previous sentence. The Games start tomorrow and they fight the day after. He could only prey that they fought well and that fate wasn't against them (i.e. blocked spinnerets). Keep them safe! he prayed to whatever deity that could hear and then fell into an uneasy sleep, the cold of the cell floor invading his dreams.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

After Aelin cleared Levi's spinnerets they went to bed and settled down sleeping. Rowan sat down in the darkest corner of his cell watching and listening to everything around him. He knew that the guard change that passed through theses halls happened in the early morning well before the sun rose. After those guards had passed and snickered at the champions trapped in the cells and about how easy it would be to throw water on them again but watched as they moved on and did not return. He creeped to the edge of his cell and reached through the bars trying to reach the snake but could not reach him he sighed in defeat and took his jacket off and balled it up before throwing it at the snake.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic was only in a light sleep, and so woke with a gasp as the jacket hit him. He blinked a bit in confusion, the cold slowing down his thoughts, before it all came rushing back. He stretched with a sigh then picked up Rowan's jacket and uncurled, trying to ignore the bars and the fact that he was cold (at least it wasn't damp though). 'Sorry R..Huntsman. I thought I was closer.' Aelic said, walking up to their connecting bars and tossing Rowan's jacket back to him. He walked around his cell, trying to warm up for his watch, watching out of the corner of his eye as Rowan lay down to get some rest.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"It's ok snake." He said in a hushed tone before climbing into the hammock and falling asleep. The three fighters slept as peacefully as possible down here and as the sun rose so did Levi and Aelin.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic kept watch as the other three slept. One or two guards wandered down to check on them but left pretty quickly again. All in all, it was cold and boring. However, if it brought some measure of peace to his sleeping friends then he would do it gladly (not to mention the logical, practicality of it). As morning (he assumed) came and the other three woke up, he quietly said good morning, informing Rowan that the evening was quiet with a small smile and shake of his head. Once the others were fully awake and wondering around their cells, Aelic gave voice to the question that had been bugging him since the sun rose. 'What will happen today?' He asked quietly, feeling the somber mood of the champions around him.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Depends on what mood the guards are in. They can trigger us one by one. Dowse us in water and watch for a reaction. If we are at all lucky they will feed us and leave us alone till the first match begins." Levi said with a shrug before working on more of the web that he built in his cell.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic nodded, hoping for the others sake that it was the latter. Standing up and stretching, Aelic decided that he should probably do something to keep his mind off what was soon to come. That decided, he began his age old routine that the palace guards made him go through to keep kinda fit. His flexible spine allowed him to easily go through all of the yoga positions and then he walked in circles around his cell, the movements memorizing as Aelic retreated into his head.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Levi continued to work on the web and was now standing on the strands looking at the web before glancing at the snake and filling out the spaces so he would not fall through the gaps in the hammock. Rowan and Aelin did their basic exercises listening and watching the world around them. After Levi had finished the hammock the climbed up the wall using only his hands and feet before reaching the centre of the roof and dropping into the web below testing the strength of it.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic walked around the room, completely absorbed in his own musings. It wasn't until sudden movement from the corner of his eye retched his attention away. He gasped in instinctual fear and panic as he saw Levi fall from the ceiling, only to breathe a sigh of relief as the hammock held him. Stupid Spider! Making me panic like that! He huffed to himself, calming his slightly hitched breathing. However, that breathing picked up again once he consciously recognised the heat signatures moving towards them. 'Guards!' He stage whispered to the others, watching as they (like him) froze then stood up, readying themselves for whatever was to come. It was due to his advanced eye sight that he caught sight of the water the guards were carrying. His quiet groan got the attention of the others but he didn't say anything. They would see soon enough.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Rowan watched as the guards threw the buckets of water upon the four cursed as they cackled before leaving muttering something but he didn't hear because of the water in his ears. He sat there for a moment shaking the water out of his ears and tail whilst Aelin wrung out her tail and wiped down her ears looking paler than usual. "Brother, 88 don't breathe through your nose and become stone." She warned wringing out her hair whilst Levi took his jacket off and his boots hanging them from the roof to dry before looking at the girl from the corner of his eye and sighed. He quickly grabbed the damp hammock he had been working on and tossed it to the snake.

"I might break it if it stays here." He explained in a monotones voice and stoic face wiping away the emotion before removing his cravat and harness hanging them along side his jacket and boots.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic just stood still as the guards threw cold water on them all. He repressed a shudder, watching blankly as the water dripped off his long hair and into the pool on the ground. As the guards left and the other began trying to dry themselves, Aelic did the same, ringing his hair and clothes. He frowned at Aelin's stone comment, unsure what she meant, but didn't comment. When Levi tossed him the newly made, damp hammock, Aelic nodded his thanks, confused and now worried. Aelin, Levi and Rowan weren't acting normal at all. Sure the water sucked but their pale faces showed more fear than what should be there. He froze suddenly as a thought appeared in his mind like a lighting bolt. Precursor. The water was a precursor to something worse. That's why they are afraid. Something worse is coming, and soon. Biting his lip, he moved over to the side of his cage he shared with Rowan. He couldn't help them but he could try to be there for them. 'You guys okay?' He couldn't help but ask.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Sister what did you hear?" Rowan asked ignoring the snake.

"Enough to know to stop smelling." She said before shaking her head and taking a deep breath making her face unreadable along with her eyes.

"Damn already? I just hope it's one not the rest." Levi groaned before resuming his signature expression and Rowan became blank faced motioning for the snake to move away from him and his cell. It seemed as if the gods were on the cursed side for once as the two guards had walked back in with a sealed bucket after Aelic had moved away.

"Enjoy the shower?" One snickered.

"It was quiet refreshing." Levi said wiping some dirt off his sleeve as the twins sat down in their hammocks.

"We have your favourite thing right here." The other said sarcastically with a false smile.

"Oh really you have books and food in that bucket oh so kind." Rowan scoffed with some sacasim of his own.

"Oh I do hope it's peaches I do love peaches." Aelin smirked clearly the three champions were teasing the guards and it didn't sit well with them. One of the guards kicked the bucket over knocking the lid off and thick red blood coated the floor around the cursed. The three champions sat there with stone like faces trying not to breathe in the metallic smell of fresh blood.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

The others words had Aelic tense, and he keenly sensed when the heat signatures returned not a few moments later. Luckily he had moved away from Rowan just a second before, so their ruse was still intact. He followed the others example and let his face drop any and all emotions, eyes cold and calculating, betraying none of the fear and anger he felt. Suppressing the viscous smirk at the others taunting words was slightly harder to do, but he managed. As the talking continued, Aelic focused his keen senses on the bucket they carried, moments before the guards lost their patience and kicked it over. He was right. Blood. Some sort of mammal, and fresh too, if his excellent sense of smell was anything to go by (if he had been exposed to more types of blood, he would have probably been able to narrow the blood down to species, but as it was, he had only smelt his own and the twins. Thus, he knew the difference between reptile and mammal, and that was it). Suppressing the enraged recoil, he wondered what poor soul they had drained for this useless torment. Aelic sent a quick prayer up to the gods to look after that soul, then focused back in to his surroundings. The guards had a strange glint in their eyes. Weird...

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Rowan sat in the corner of his cell furthest from the blood he had two triggers here as did Aelin but Aelin still had three more, even so she was struggling as she sat furthest away from the blood like her brother. Rowan moved his left hand to cover his nose to try and stop him smelling the blood and leather harnesses of the three champions trying to keep his fox at bay as he took slow breaths through his mouth. Levi tried to move away from the guards but they were too quick and grabbed him from behind and wrapped a hand around his mouth and held his hands behind him forcing him to smell the fresh blood from the young rabbit girl who had running down the halls not three days ago. Levi kicked at the guard holding him and struggled to get free whilst the other stood near the twins cages. Aelin moved forward to help Levi but had her hand smashed with a night stick as she poked her hands through the bars and she growled and hissed in pain. Seeing the champions in pain made the guards smile, basking in the glory of shattering the tough facadé the champions use to hide their pain was truly best thing they ever saw.

"Enjoying the gift freaks?" The first guard smirked as he let go of Levi who moved to the back of his cell panting trying to keep his spirit animal in line which was no easy task given the situation. He felt threatened and not smelling the blood did not remove the factor of the taste of it in the air.

"You killed the rabbit girl for us how kind." Aelin replied sarcastically still having the most control over herself.

"Oh but it's not over yet Snow White. What is it that your dear little Huntsman can't stand? Oh that's right. Fresh blood, worn leather and oh dear what was the third one?" The first guard questioned watching Rowan who tried to keep calm.

"I do believe it was whips. He does hate them especially watching his dear Princess getting whipped to a bloody mess." The other replied in an nasal tone trying to sound intelligent as he cracked his whip against the ground watching Rowan start losing control it was only a matter of time really. "Should it be the princess or the hunter who screams in pain today?"

"Why not both?" The first guard countered and whipped Aelin across the cheek causing the other guard grin like the Cheshire Cat and whip Rowan twice before Rowan lunged at one of the guards snarling and growling. He had lost control and now his fox was in charge and was trying to protect Rowan in all the wrong ways making the guards laugh like maniacs. This made the guards change tactics as they started whipping Aelin and Levi till the two collapsed curling into balls on their sides making Rowan think they were dead as he struggled to get through the the bars. The smell of sweat and fear. This was not any fear though it was pure fear his family dead something he could not stand. These new scents became thick and heavy in the air now all they needed was some old iron chains rattling and rubbing and they would have Aelin. After ten years the guards knew which strings to pull and how to pull them in all the right ways before they left cackling like witches avoiding Rowans arms or simply smashing them with night sticks as they walked past leaving him in pain. After the guards had left Aelin and Levi started panting heavily before Levi pulled himself up against the bars closest to the twins looking in pain with cuts on his face from the whip splitting his skin only adding to the smell of fresh blood. He knew that the smell of Aelin's or his own blood would only make it harder for Rowan to regain control the guards were always getting smarter.

"Huntsman calm down. Look we're fine see. Look at us." He breathed as he held himself up his legs weak at the knees as he tried desperately to get Rowan to calm down before sinking to the ground and rubbing small circles on Aelins back between the shoulder blades trying to help her stay in control. "Snow it's ok. It's ok." He whispered as they both panted heavily desperately trying to stay in control.

"21 stay away from Brother he isn't himself." Aelin said quietly before holding her own nose leaning her back against the bars back to Levi. Who sat in a familiar way without holding his nose but his head was back as he panted. Her eyes shifted back and forth from a foxes to a humans as she fought for control. "See brother we are fine. See alive and fighting please fight it brother. For me please fight." She whispered dropping her hand both beside her as she leaned her head back resting on the top of Levi's his hands in his lap.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic extended his fangs (half unconsciously) and hissed at the guards, enraged. How dare they hurt his friends!! His hissing stopped when the guards let go of Levi and began taunting the others, but his anger did not calm. The blood of a rabbit girl staining the floor and their words only flaming it. The guards provided an answer to Aelic's previous question about what was coming next, and it sent a chill down his spine like nothing had before. They were trying to trigger them! No! The change in Rowan was clear. His eyes glowed and became that of a fox, no sign of rational thought in their depths. He snarled and growled in a way he had never had before and even his body movements had changed. It was clear to everyone that Rowan was no longer in control. This was his Fennec fox god, trying his hardest to protect his chosen one from danger. Willing to do anything and everything. The had triggered Rowan, they should have stopped at that, but instead, like the sadistic bastards they were, turned their weapons on Aelin and Levi. Aelic grabbed the bars of his cell, screaming at them to stop. They had what they came for! He was of course ignored. The scent of Rowans pure fear mingled with the blood on the ground and almost made him gag (curse his sensitive nose!). Luckily however, in that moment of quiet, the guards finally decided to leave. Aelic could only watch on helplessly as Aelin and Levi, despite their injuries and exhaustion, tried to calm the triggered Rowan and themselves. He did not need Aelin to tell him to stay away from Rowan, that much was obvious, but the concern was appreciated none the less. Aelic felt his knees go weak as his adrenaline finally left him, but he refused to bend. The others were weak, yet still fighting, and he could not do any less. Still, he had no idea what he could do to help. Unconciously, he began to hum one of Aiden's ancient songs, the sound gently resonating through the cells.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Levi had recovered as much as possible given the blood on the floor and his injuries and he smirked at the tune Aelic hummed. He turned around and ran his fingers through Aelins hair calming her down and started humming a different tune when Aelics tune ended. Aelin calmed down and started to sing softly since it was an old tune she knew from her childhood.

"88 is brother calming down?" She asked when the song ended.

"Very slowly. He is skulking around his cell on all fours." He replied resting a hand on her head behind her ears just like he used to when she was very young making him smirk at the memory.

"I remember you telling me once that we look odd when we skulk like that since our feet are flat on the floor and your knees are around our ribs." She said leaning into Levi's touch.

"You do look odd but when your foxes are in control it makes sense I bet I look odd when my spider takes control." He murmured. Rubbing her head with his thumb running it back and forth over the top of her head whilst his hand rested behind her head. Aelin purred slightly before starting the same old song she knew and Levi joined her singing along side her like he did for her father.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic hummed the ancient song, pleased when Levi smiled and the others started to relax. He hadn't thought it would work, but he was pleased it did. He was even happier when Levi started a new song once his was finished. It had a beautiful melody and the words Aelin sang just completed the piece (not to mention she had a angelic voice). He watched as Rowan started to calm down and walk around his cell on all fours, still not in control but getting closer. Aelic had to supress a giggle at Aelin and Levi's conversation, knowing it probably wasn't the time for it, though silently agreeing with them. As the both started singing again, evidently some country hymn from her childhood, he closed his eyes and finally sat down, just listening. It was a nice song, both musically and because of its personal meaning to the others. As they finished for the second time, Aelic had to ask. 'What is the name of that song? It is beautiful.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Stuffed if I know it learnt it from my father when I was young." Aelin sighed listening to Rowan who had fallen asleep on his side still on the floor. Since they had started singing Towan had calmed down and the stench of fear and sweat fading making it easier for Aelin to breath and relax.

"It's an old lullaby from my childhood as well though I never learned the name of it. I once hoped to sing it to my children one day but I gave up on that dream when I was their age." Levi sighed pulling himself with the bars and stumbling to his hammock before pulling himself into it. "Snow stay where you are for awhile longer our pressure points are still weak."

"Do you remember any others 88? I only remember that one from my father." She smirked.

"No not any others in full though there is one where I remember the first couple of verses. Why do you never speak of your mother Snow?" He asked putting his hands behind his head closing his eyes helping him to relax.

"Because I simply don't remember her. I don't even know if she was there for any part of our lives at all and I don't even remember how my brother and I ended up alone." She sighed before shaking her head lightly. "What is that other tune you know 88?"

"Hush little baby don't say a word
Momma's gonna buy you a mocking bird.
And if that mocking bird don't sing.

Momma's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring don't shine.
Momma's gonna buy you a ... I don't know the rest my mother only sang it to me a few times when I was young." Levi sang softly till he ran out of lyrics

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

The singing had calmed Rowan down and now that he was finally asleep, the others could relax. Aelic was disappointed that Aelin couldn't tell him the name of the song, but Levi may be able to at a later time (when he was not still putting up the ruse for the twins). His attention wandered at the thought of the others childhoods, wondering/imagining what it was like, but focused again when Levi asked about Aelin's mother. He felt a familiar sadness at her reply. At least she remembered her father, but he had hoped she would remember her mother too. Family was so important, and he ached that the twins, like him, were deprived of it. The song Levi sang seemed to echo his feelings, background music to his melancholy thoughts. 'Hey...I know that tune!' Aelic exclaimed suddenly, 'I think I heard a maid sing it once...' He said out loud to himself, sifting through his memories to find when he had heard it before, unaware of the others gaze'.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Maid? What's a maid?" Aelin asked looking confused.

"You had a maid snake. We're your family rich or something?" Levi asked through he knew that Aelic was Royal and having maids around would have been normal for him.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic's eyes widened when he realised what he had said and he winced. Oops! Thinking quickly, he decided that to deny it would be pointless and suspicious. Not to mention he wasn't exactly hiding his heritage...okay, maybe he was, and they would find out soon enough...but for now, partial truth would be the best. Yeah, partial truth. '....Yeah, they had a bit of money. Enough for a few maids and stuff.' He said, knowing it would ring true since it technically was but also hoping he got the underlying emotions correct since that is harder to manipulate. At Aelin's confused look, he jumped on the chance to explain (something he could focus on). 'A maid is someone who is hired by a person to help around the house Snow. They do things like the cleaning and cooking and even sometimes take care of the children, but you have to have a bit of money to afford a full time maid.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"I cleaned for someone once and they fed brother and I does that make me a maid?" She asked making Levi chuckle lightly.

"You should sleep Snow you nearly lost your internal battle just now so relax and breathe." He said softly his eyes closed.

"But I want to know if I am one of these maid people 21 was talking about." She stated before pulling herself up wit the bars and getting to her hammock before sitting down in it.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic also chuckled at Aelin's comment, watching as they both crawled into their hammocks, exhausted. 'Maids are usually employed in that profession for most of their lives, but I guess, in that moment, you could have been called a maid.' He said to Aelin lightly, smirking at the image of her in a maid dress (so not her!). 'Now sleep Snow.' He said gently, watching as her eyes struggled to stay open (Levi was already asleep).

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Aelin hummed the old nursery rhyme to herself softly till she fell asleep leaving the tune unfinished as she slept softly. The internal battle that Aelin and Levi had and Rowan was still fighting even though he was asleep had worn them out and they needed to rest to recover their full selves. Petra walked down to the cells with a bucket of water and four wooden cups for the cursed to drink from. She got close to them and greeted them all before she saw the blood on the ground. She turned her head slightly to see Rowan on the floor growling in his sleep softly. Turning her head to the other side she saw that 88 and Snow were hurt blood had soaked through parts of their outfits they both had cuts on their faces.

"21 what happened? Did they trigger Huntsman and torture Captain and Snow White?" She asked even though she knew the answer.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic smiled as Aelin hummed herself to sleep, finally taking the chance to look over the injuries of his friends. They were exhausted, but not as hurt as they looked, which was a blessing. He contented himself to keeping watch and so, clearly sensed it when Petra's heat signature walked in. He had memorised her scent and so knew not to wake the others (if they would wake that is), though kept a sharp eye on her, still not entirely trusting her no matter her seemingly kind nature. He only raised an eyebrow at her question, indicating that the answer was clear around her. She obviously knew as well (and hadn't tried to stop it, he thought viciously to himself), so questioning him was just stupidity.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"I know stupid question right. Here have some water." She said filling a glass and placing it in his cell through the bars and giving the other three water even though they were asleep. She then gently tipped the rest of the water over the blood washing most of it away. "I'm just going to get some more water I will be right back." She said before walking off quickly as Aelin rolled over and Levi squirrmed slightly.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic watched as she gave them all water then washed away the blood, for which he was grateful (though didn't show it). He nodded as she walked off to get more water and then, after a moments hesitation, grabbed the cup she had placed in his cell. Giving it a sniff and finding no strange odours, he took a tentative sip, confirming it was clean. Taking a larger gulp, he looked towards Aelin and Levi, who were beginning to stir. He would have liked to let them sleep longer, but it would probably be worse if they woke and a guard was outside their cell. Better to wake them up now whilst they are stirring. 'Snow, Captain.' He quietly said, knowing that Aelin would hear him 'Petra is coming.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Aelib groaned and sat up as Petra returned with another bucket of water. "It's ok Snow it's only me just go back to sleep ok. I was just bringing you guys some water I will get you guys some food in a minute." She said and Aelin sighed before laying back down and turning her back to Petra.

"We aren't feeling the best right now Petra." Levi said without opening his eyes.

"I know but on a positive note your books are in your room for you when you get back." She smiled and Levi smirked with a nod. "I will bring some fruits and dried meats down along with a third bucket of water but the blood is gone now so it should be better for you four down here."

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic watched, slightly surprised as Aelin heeded Petra's advice and went back to sleep. She even turned her back on the woman! For someone who is as wary as she is, that was definitely a sign of trust. It was the fact that Petra had 'seemingly' held up her end of the deal with Levi and that she wanted to help clean away the blood that made Aelic decide perhaps she wasn't that bad. As she began to leave, he called out softly, 'Thank you Petra', allowing his voice to show his gratitude for once.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Oh your welcome 21." She said stopping for a moment before starting off again to get more water and some food for the trapped cursed. She returned with the water and set it beside Aelic's cell since he was the only one awake and walked off again to get some food for the cursed. About an hour passed before she returned by which stage the twins and Levi had woken up and where moving around slowly.

"Back with us Huntsman?" Levi asked and Rowan nodded.

"Yeah I just have a head ache is all." He sighed drinking his cup of water as Levi passed Aelin hers and they sat close to each other drinking slowly. Petra got herself a chair and sat near the cursed with a soft smile refilling their glasses for them and passing them food. She made sure to give Levi and Aelin extra since they needed to heal and would be fighting very soon. She also made sure Rowan ate his vegetables even though they were raw.

"Come on Huntsman, raw vegetables in particular carrots are good for your teeth and stops them rotting away." She said tossing him a carrot as Levi gave Aelin his and he ate the softer fruits that Petra brought down. "88 here have some peaches and plums I know hard foods hurt your fangs." She said passing him the fruits.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic thought it was strange that Petra took almost an hour to get food, but didn't comment on it, to busy keeping an eye on his newly awoken friends in case their injuries were worse than expected (didn't seem like it though). He was extremely pleased that Rowan was himself again and sent the other boy a smile when no one was looking. He sat close to their shared bars, sipping his water and nibbling on his food, content to watch the others eat their fill. He almost laughed as Rowan scowled at his carrots like they had offended his mother and when Petra wasn't looking, slipped the boy some of his ham with a mischievous grin. Aelic was surprised though at Petra's statement about Levi's fangs and couldn't help but comment. 'Why?' He asked with a frown.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Your try chewing with something pressing against the roof of your mouth. My fangs fold up snake and unlike the rest of you I was meant to feed on the fluids of creatures so I bite and suck out your blood. Carrots and hard vegetables don't comply with my fangs and force them upward and it hurts so I don't eat raw hard fruits and vegetables. I can only just manage dried meats but them I have to pick out the pieces that get caught behind my fangs." Levi explained. "You have no idea how lucky you are with your retractable fangs." He hissed before Petra passed him a piece of meat.

"This is a softer dried meat it should be easier to chew." She smiled sweetly before passing Aelin a thick piece of hard dry jerky laughing softly as the girl chewed on it like a dog would. Rowan was doing the same behind her next to Aelic both growling softly completely unaware they were doing it.

[DuskFox, God of all Cursed (Creator and Head Mod)]

Aelic raised an eyebrow, slightly taken aback by the venom in Levi's words. He wasn't sure if it was just for the sake of the ruse or if he actually meant it. Aelic didn't mean to offend him! It was an honest question! 'I see...' He stuttered quietly, staring at Levi for a little bit longer before returning to his own food, now strangely conscious of his own fangs, nestled in their sheath in his gums. How interesting. He looked up again at Petra's soft laugh then followed her gaze, seeing the way Aelin and Rowan were eating, soft growls clearly distinguishable. He too couldn't help but crack a soft smile, but quickly hid it again in case Petra saw. 'No one is going to take it from you.' He said to the twins, smirking.