Dungeons

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Concede Boy and your death will be quick for you will longer be able to walk!" Aelin commanded gripping the boy by the throat and picking him up his legs dangling uselessly underneath him.

"Always a fair ruler our queen. Admit defeat and die quickly or continue to fight and take a while to die." The guard commented as Levi and Rowan watched from their cells.

"The boy won't concede." Rowan commented watching the fight.

"His legs are still moving aren't they?" Levi asked though it sounded more like a statement and Rowan nodded. "She never wants to leave the fights with the victim permanently disabled." He sighed

"Try again Snow White I can still fight!" The dingo Roared and weakly kicked Aelin. She only growled in response and threw him to the ground smashing his head and neck into the dirt ground.

"Can you not see how hopeless this is! You will die tonight. You can now only choose how you die!" She roared wrapping her arm around his neck and squeazzing tightly.

"Tear out my throat as you look into my eyes and watch the life leaves them." The boy choked out and Aelin let him tear away from her grip. Fortunatly the guards had not heard him as they would not hear the skilled champion.

"As you wish." She whispered as she sauntered up to his crawling form and gripped his throat. "I will ask this once more. Do you concede?" She yelled and the boy simply nodded.

"Oh the boy has given up now how will he die?" He guard shouted as the tension grew in the hall. Levi and Rowan watched looking at the fight.

"I think the boy finally realised that he was not leaving the arena alive." Levi sighed.

"I think your right as well but how has he chosen to die. That is the real question." Rowan responded both champions were emotionless figure. Simply analytical and strong nothing more nothing less. "Snake don't talk to sister when she gets back she will not thanks you for it." He sighed not even turning to Aelic.

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

Aelic watched as Aelin griped the boy by the throat and once again demanded his surrender. Just by looking in the boys eyes he could see he still had some fight, still had some naïve hope that he would come out of this alive. Aelic nodded his agreement at Rowan and Levi's observations, seeing no point in joining the conversation. The two challengers fought some more, before Aelin quickly had him once again pinned to the ground by his throat. Aelic's superior eyesight caught Tony's lips moving but it was to fast for him to read. As Aelin let the boy go he saw her lips move as well. She whispered 'As you wish.' What were they talking about? Then the boy conceded and he knew. Dingo boy had realised his fate was sealed, a little late but better than never. He must have told Aelin this, perhaps even told her how he wanted to die. His suspicions were confirmed as Levi and Rowan once again spoke. Perhaps he didn't have the experience the others had, but he could read people and was smart enough to eliminate the other possibilities until only the truth remained. 'Yes Huntsman.' Aelic replied softly, appreciating the advice (he has never seen this before so he didn't know what was to be avoided). He felt his emotions clamouring to be released, but he shut them back down quickly. Usually it was not this hard, but no matter what the twins were his friends and everything would be more difficult around them. It was simultaneously annoying and humbling.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Aelin sighed slightly as the guards started pounding the floor and bench infront of them. "Kill, kill, kill." They chanted.

"Forgive me." Aelin whispered as she drove her claws through the boys neck cutting both major arteries and crushing his windpipe. She them lowered the dying boy to the ground and looked at his face as he grasped for breathe. "Forgive me for I can not see you. Forgive me for taking your life." She whispered.

"I-I .... D......do." He stuttered as the life drained from him and she stood up from his lifeless body. Blood staining her arm, face and clothes.

"Ladies and gentleman our champion and Queen Snow White." The guard cheered and the others soon followed. Aelin walked away from the dead boy and towards the rising gate where the guards opened her cell and she simply walked inside.

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

Aelic felt a sick anger as the guards chanted for blood, wishing it was theirs staining the ground and not Tony's. One day they would pay, and Aelic would show no mercy. He watched as Aelin swiftly drove her claws through the boys neck, fulfilling her role as executioner and completing the prophecy. He knew that he should feel revulsion at this act, knew he should feel horrified, but the emotions didn't come. Instead all he felt was pity for the boy, sadness for Aelin and anger at the guards and circumstances. Aelic watched as Aelin whispered to the dying boy, 'Forgive me', over and over. He mentally pleaded with the boy, tell her she's forgiven, please, she didn't choose this, its not her fault. She needed to hear she was forgiven. The breath he hadn't known he was holding escaped him when he saw the boys last words. Thank him for me, Aelic whispered to the White Snake, feeling her quickly brush his mind in acknowledgement, before his attention was drawn back to the screaming guards. Aelin walked away from the blood soaked arena and into her cell, looking every bit a Red Queen. Aelic kept his eyes on her and slowly sat down as well, keeping tabs on Rowan and Levi to just in case.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Aelin waited for the door to close and the guards to leave standing their like a statute. Blood was dripping from her right hand splattering the ground beneath she could feel the tiny droplets hit the side of her foot. If you had not known she was alive you could have mistaken her for dead and standing. Levi watched before sighing and looking at the boys before pressing a finger to his lips and reaching through the bars and lightly touching her shoulder. Aelin simply turned her head to look at Levi and he saw the mindless being she had become in that moment. She turned her head back and walked further away from Levi and stood facing the hallway. Only now could the twins and Levi stand the smell of blood. Only now could you really see the impact these games had on the champions.

"Snow White I have bought you some water to wash your face and hands." Petra almost sang trying to bring some joy down to the dark dungeon. The woman walked in and put her hands on Aelins shoulders getting the girl to sit down. Petra looked at Aelin and sighed before wiping away as much of the blood as possible before leaving a glass of clean water and some food near the door for the girl to eat later. "Captain tell her the next fight is in three days when she snaps out of this trance." Petra said as she walked away. Once Petra had left and everything became deadly silent.

"I killed him. He is dead." Aelin hoarsely whispered still not moving much. "I killed someone who had a lover."

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

Aelic easily caught Levi's motioned request for silence and inclined his head in acknowledgement before returning to watch Aelin. She had turned to face Rowan and Aelic's direction, and they could clearly see her blank unseeing eyes. A shiver raced through his spine at what lay behind them, now that the pure instinctual fighter was no longer needed. A darkness, ripping through her light, like long thorns puncturing soft skin. This was what these fights did to them, a torture like no other, leaving wounds unseen. The cells were silent, the only sound the steady drip of blood from Aelin's hand. Then Petra walked in carrying water, trying to bring some sembelence of normalacy back to this dismal place. Aelic could see it was forced though and did not miss the hitched breathing and occational shiver at the dark tention weaving through the room. It was nice of her to try, he mused to himself, but knew it would do no good. It seemed like this was something Aelin needed to fight through on her own, all they could do was wait at the end of the tunnel, ready to catch her should she stumble. Never the less, all of them appreciated the effort she made to get Aelin clean, it was nice and would probably make things a little easier for Aelin when she returned to them. They waited in silence once Petra was gone. Aelic was fine with that, he was a patient person. Looking up at the in take of breath he was surprised to see it had originated from Aelin. He had thought it would take a little longer than this, but he supposed she was well used to this sort of battle. A stab of bright sadness and pain went through him like a knife at her words. All he wanted to do was reassure her, ease her pain, soothe her suffering. However, he easn't sure if that would be welcome. Quickly looking to the side, he caught Rowan and Levi's gaze in a silent question, should they talk to her now?

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Why must we kill?" She asked into the void it was as if she didn't even know if any of the others were there at all.

"To survive." Levi answered quickly yet strongly.

"What is left after the fight?" She asked again turning her head to Levi.

"Humanity." He answered again holding his hand up to the boys telling them not to speak or make a sound.

"That is a weird feeling I don't like it take it away." She sighed.

"Tomorrow maybe after we have rested our body and mind." He answered in the same tone he has been using this whole time.

"Why wait?" She asked still plain faced still unmoving she was simply voicing her thoughts without realising it.

"Because we are tired. Can't you feel the weight in our joints? The pain in our face? Rest for now and we will take away the weird feelings tomorrow." Levi answered like he was the other side of her humanity. Aelin nodded slowly and clambered into her hammock and fell asleep quickly. Levi waited for a few minutes before sighing. "Ah what a splendid time where we are between selves." He sarcastically remarked softly.

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

The answer to his question was provided soon enough, so Aelic stayed silent. Watching and listening. The questions that fell from the traumatised girl were of a saddening nature and slightly disjointed, yet Levi handled it all effortlessly. Aelic was admittedly morbidly curious about the way Levi was able to respond to the complex questions with an answer that did not negatively effect Aelin's precarious state. The man was walking a thin line shrouded in mist, one that many people (Kings and scholars and peasants alike) have tried to walk and failed. Yet he seemed to do so with determination, like he has answered these questions before, knows the path like the back of his hand. Aelic briefly wonders how many times Levi and Rowan made a wrong turn to know the correct path so well, but banished the thought from his mind (it would drive him mad thinking on it for to long). As Aelin climbed dazedly into her hammock and fell asleep, the other Cursed stayed silent and still. It wasn't for a few minutes and until her soft breaths became even that they began to relax. Aelic smirked mirthlessly at Levi's sarcastic remark. Indeed, he thought to himself, stretching his tense muscles and sighing. 'When she wakes, will the thorns have retreated?' He asked quietly, needing to know now so as not to unintentionally hurt her with unnecessary words when she awoke.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"She should be fine I mean she did you He. If she had used She or They we should worry unless she has moved into the next stage of decay for lack of a better word. If she has moved to that stage being able to tell the victims apart is just part of the effect and it drives us deeper. I should be the first one to speak to her tomorrow because right now she thinks that I am in her head. It sounds weird but until you have killed like we have and we even try to force ourselves away from the memories and the senses this causes us to shut down. Example A." Levi shrugged in a hushed tone gesturing to Aelin at the end. "Before you ask I am in the next stage so we all know how it differs from the one before."

"Sister is skilled at drawing the pair of us out so we in turn are skilled at drawing the other and her out of this trance as Petra said." Rowan whispered before stretching. "Do you want the first watch Snake?" He asked.

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

Aelic understood some parts of Levi's explanation but was a little bit confused by other parts, though that was expected, he didn't have the same experiences after all (he understood it logically, but had never experienced it etc). He nodded anyway, showing his understanding and his acceptance of Levi's explanation. Rowan's explanation was simple and succinct, and provided an almost definitive answer to a question that had been lurking in the back of his mind for a while (would the others react the same way etc and how should he proceed? the answer - let Aelin deal with it, keep silent). Aelic straightened out his legs in front of him and stretched down to touch his toes easily, become straightening again at Rowans question. He nodded and smiled gently at the boy. 'Sleep. I shall wake you if there is any trouble.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Rowan nodded before bidding good night to the others and going to bed. Levi went to bed after telling Arlic to wake him if he sees Aelin awake. The two male champions were asleep quickly even though it was a light sleep so they would wake when Aelin does or when the snake woke them which ever came first. Aelin slept on in a very deep sleep you could not stir her though that was to be understood she had just killed a man in cold blood and she had simply been the weapon of choice.

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

Aelic nodded to the others and got comfy, the bars at his back digging groves into his skin and helping keep him awake. The hours passed in stillness and quiet, nothing but the sound of the others breathing to keep him company. Aelic usually enjoyed silence, it helped him think, but in this cold cell it just brought back unpleasant memories he had been struggling to keep at bay. Instead of focusing on them, he planned lessons for the twins in math and writing/reading for Rowan to keep himself occupied. Strangely enough, no guards appeared or even came close that night. As the first rays of sun peaked over the horizon and the birds started singing, Aelic stretched and stood up from his position. He had kept watch all night, having not noticed the time passing by and wanting to let the others sleep (they were the ones fighting after all). However, the guards had started stirring again and Aelic knew Rowan and Levi would not appreciate being woke up by them. 'Huntsman, Captain!' He called quietly to them, hoping that was enough to wake them but not disturb Aelin.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

Rowan woke up and looked at Aelic before sighing at getting out of bed. Levi groaned before sitting up and rubbing his eyes yawning. They watched the guards come and go over the hour before Aelin fell out of bed and landed face first. "My nose. Ugh that really hurt ow." She groaned sitting up holding her nose before checking it. "88 can you check my nose I smashed it good." She asked whining in pain.

"Sure get over here." Levi sighed and he pinched her nose. "It's not broken but it is bruised." He said letting go of her face.

"You really have to stop falling out of bed Sister it isn't good for you." Rowan scowled lightly watching his sisters movements. She was stiff from the night before but that was understandable.

"I know Brother I know. Ugh that really hurt don't go landing on your nose it really hurts." She whined lightly before rubbing her nose as Levi grabbed her food from the night before and her water putting both in her hands.

"Eat you'll feel better." He instructed the girl infront of him. She nodded and sat down before eating her meal from the night before.

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

Aelic watched the guards come and go, cleaning up the blood from the night before. The other boys didn't say anything because Aelin was still sleeping, which was fine for all of them. When she did wake up however, Aelic couldn't suppress a quiet chuckle. Well, you try not laughing when someone falls face first out of their bed and just lies there on the floor saying ow for a bit. It was amusing! Aelic was really relieved though that she was acting completely normal now, interacting fine with both Levi and Rowan. She was obviously not fine, she had just killed someone last night, but she wasn't blank anymore. She would be fine, with time. 'You all good Snow?' He quietly called with a teasing tone, hoping to hear her talk for the sake of talking.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"I'll be fine." She huffed before finishing her meal. "I hate blood soaked clothing. It itches." She stated lightly scratching where there was dried blood.

"Petra should be down soon we may be able to convince her to let you bathe." Levi said putting a hand on top of Aelin's head and ruffling it slightly.

"Way ahead of you Captain." Petra sang walking in with Erwin who smiled at the sight.

"You could almost be related you two. Similar delicate features." He chuckled as Petra opened Aelins cell and let the girl out.

"You saying I look like a girl?" Levi insinuated and Erwin laughed again.

"No I am saying you look like you came from the east." Erwin chuckled before leaving with Aelin.

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

Aelic smiled at Petra's arrival. Speak of the devil, he chuckled to himself as the joyful woman almost skipped in, closely followed by Erwin. And he was smiling! What was with the happiness vibes today?! (Not that he was complaining). Aelic almost couldn't supress the urge to raise his eyebrows at the banter between Levi and Erwin. One, it was weirdly happy and two, the guard had unknowingly stumbled upon the truth and didn't even know it! As Aelin left with Petra and Erwin Aelic leaned against the bars and looked up to the ceiling in surprised amusement. Today was going to be a weird one, he could just tell. 'Is he always like that?' Aelic asked the other boys, still weirded out by Erwins random personality changes.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"You mean the personality changes. Yeah he just changes no fore warning just poof changed. Susan said he is bipolar so he feels opposite emotions at the same time." Levi shrugged making Rowan frown.

"Surely you would explode from feeling that many emotions at once how does he do that?" Rowan asked.

"Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean everyone else does. Don't use your sister or I as an example we are not good with emotions but Erwin makes up for us." Levi smirked watching as Rowan tried to think of a good come back fast.

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

Ohhh! Aelic thought to himself, not bothering to keep the surprise off his face. 'Well that explains a lot!' He said, nodding to himself as everything finally fitted together nicely. The man would still unsettle him, there was no denying that, but it was easier when you knew the reason behind it. Aelic was silent for a second then burst out laughing at Levi's comment and Rowan's subsequent confusion. Teaspoon! He thought to himself, giggling uncontrollably. He loved Levi's wit, it kept things entertaining.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Snow is taking what happened last night well. Normally we kinda just sit around and wallow in self pity but not the other one all day." Levi stated checking his nails and cleaning them.

"She is putting up an act. She doesn't want 21 to know the full effect of these games. At least not yet anyway." Rowan explained and Levi nodded.

"Makes sense." Levi nodded slowly.

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

Aelic felt his happy mood plummet at Rowan's words. Sure the thought had crossed his mind that she was acting, but he hadn't wanted it to be true. He had wanted her to be ok, but lying, hiding the truth, that wasn't ok. Aelic was a practical soul who thrived on knowledge and subsequently, truth. He did not like having false information. He sighed then spoke in a hard tone. 'She does not need to act. Actually I would prefer if she didn't.' He said, catching both of their eyes to display how serious he was.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"She knows you would prefer if she did not act but she also knows that you would worry about her." Rowan stated with a shrug.

"If you worry or act as if your not worried she will worry about you since she always knows even if she can't see your face. If she begins to worry she will not be able to focus. She even knows how your going to react to this information. She is very good at reading people." Levi explained staying silent as Aelin walked back in the Petrarunning her claws through her hair.

"Who has the brush?" She asked walking back into her fellas Petra closed the door to the cell with a smile.

"I will be bringing breakfast down shortly any requests?" Petra asked.

"Apple juice with whatever's warm." Aelin shrugged.

"Sounds good here. Porridge sound good to anyone?" Rowan asked and Levi nodded.

"It would be appreciated or scrambled eggs." Levi shrugged.

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

Aelic hissed at the information, annoyed. He could understand the reasons why (thanks to that insightful little monologue) but it didn't mean he had to like it. It was putting him off kilter and as Aelin walked in, he went to sit in his cages back corner to avoid worrying her (after all, she wouldn't be able to miss his annoyed vibes if he sat closer). Thinking of food to try and distract himself, he hummed thoughtfully...since they were taking orders.....'Salmon if you please.' He said, grinning at the thought of the hard to get yet delectable fish. It was a long shot but he missed the good food he got in the palace (only good thing about that place).

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"I will see what I can do for you guys." Petra giggled before walking off.

"21 whats wrong I can feel your annoyance from here. I bet these two told you something you didn't want to hear." Aelin asked pointing at Levi and Rowan.

"See what did we tell you very good at reading people." Levi smirked. "How do you do that Snow?"

"I can smell it. Your body releases different odors for different emtional states. How else would I do it. Also your heartbeat tells me certain things." She shrugged.

"Does that mean you can tell when Erwin changes emotional states?" Levi asked and Aelin nodded.

"Yep."

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

Aelic smiled at Petra and nodded his thanks as she walked away. As he turned back to the others, he almost couldn't contain his wince when Aelin hit the nail right on the head. Damn that girl was smart! He thought with a humourless grin, silently agreeing with Levi. Listening to her explain everything was fascinating, and his annoyance quickly vanished, to be replaced by his usual curiosity about unknown things. 'That's amazing Snow!' He exclaimed excitedly, thinking about all the possibilities for this ability. Unless one could control their scents and heartbeat, no one would be able to escape it. Wait! 'Hey Snow? What about my heartbeat?' Aelic asked curiously as he consciously began to slow his heart beat, making it very faint/shallow as well.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Your thinking too hard about it. Your heatbeat gets much slower when you sleep. Though if I were to take your heartbeat now without any knowledge from before I would guess you were calming down or dying. Your scent on the other hand screams stress, worry and curiosity. Brother I am surprised you can not hear his heartbeat." She shrugged waving her hand.

"Yeah. Yeah come here brat." Levi said holding the brush. "Sit down so I can brush your fur."

"Thank you Captain." She bowed gracefully before sitting down properly infront of Levi with her back to him.

"I can only hear a persons Heartbeat if I am close enough and my eyes are closed. I can kinda smell the difference in emotion but not as well as you Sister." Rowan shrugged.

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

Aelic ginned and nodded, amazed that she could tell all that. It truly was a very cool ability, he thought to himself as he stored away all the new information. 'What can you smell and hear now Huntsman?' Aelic asked, wanting to know just how superior Aelin's senses were to her brothers. His eyes flicked briefly to Aelin and Levi as they sat down together and then back to Rowan, green eyes burning with curiosity.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Well to start with. To me your heartbeat reads dying almost dead. In fact your now dead I can' their it. Sister." He explained and Aelin raised a hand.

"Not right now." She stated bluntly enjoying the feeling of the brush through her hair.

Sighing Rowan contained. "Your scent hmm that's hard." Rowan said sniffing the air in Aelics direction. "I get the curiosity but that's it and it's very vague to me. Like trying to smell a flower on a windy day."

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

Aelic giggled at that. That would be fun to play with! And the scent thing was interesting...'Hmm...do you know of any way to cover this scent or change it?' He asked, curious. If any others had this ability or this knowledge it would be good to know.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Other than hiding your true scent which is the one dogs use to track you not really. You really have to smell the emotions to understand the scent enough to change it." Rowan explained sitting down with his arm resting on his knee. "Sister has taught me how to alter it slightly but thats the best I can do."

"It is really hard to change your emotional scent because when you do it can either completely change your core scent or make the emotiknal scent worse. Which is why it is so easy for me to tell when you are all worried." Aelin said as Levi brushed her hair.

"I guess being clean would also make it easier to smell emotions wouldn't it?" Levi asked and Aelin hummed in agreement.

"Yep which is why I like things clean. It makes smelling things much easier." She said smirking lightly.

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

Aelic just hummed and nodded, storing the information. 'Is it possible to teach me Snow? And how do you hide your...true scent?, Huntsman.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"In ummm not doing it but thinking about it yes." Aelin started as Levi braided her hair.

"The word your looking for is theory." He sighed needing to move back to finishing braiding the mad of hair the girls had.

"In theory it is possible to train you but it all comes down to how well you can smell." Rowan explained.

"I taught Brother some things about the emtional scents which is why he can pick them up but because his sense of smell isn't as strong as mine its kinda hard for him to completely understand them." Aelin shrugged tapping her chin. "Your true scent on the other hand is easy."

"Yeah you can hide it with anothers scent. If you wore Huntsmans clothes, Snow would think you were him untill she heard your heart." Levi said finishing Aelins hair and moving onto her matted tail.

"Breakfast!" Petra called walking down with two large plates of food. Erwin following with two more plates of smaller amounts. "Can you get the door please Erwin the plates won't fit we found out last year." She giggled and Erwin shook his head before passing her one of his plates amd opening Aelic's door and putting the food just beside it before closing it quickly. He repeated the action with Rowan and Levi when he opened Aelins door Petra smiled and walked in handing the girl her plate of food. "Feel better?" She asked and Aelin frowned before nodding.

"Yeah I guess. Tony didnt deserve to die but i did what I had to do." She said in a monotoned voice wiping her face of emotion.

"Good you keep thinking that Snow whilst I talk to Susan abiut finding a good name for you and huntsman." Petra smiled before walking out.

"What about Captain?" Erwin asked closing Aelins cell door.

"Not down here Erwin the others aren't like us." Petra said before walking off leaving the others to eat peacfully.

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

Aelic giggled a little when Levi corrected Aelin's wording, fondness evident in his eyes. He nodded at the information given to him, eyes vibrant. He knew that it may be hard or even impossible in practise, but he was still excited at the possibility. His sense of smell was one of his heightened senses and he could already instinctively tell if a scent belonged to someone warm-blooded or cold-blooded, mammal or otherwise, prey or predator. The possibility was there and Aelic hoped that once they were out of here, the twins would be able to teach him. 'I see..' He said, mind whirling, but otherwise saying nothing else. That could come later. His head whipped up at the approaching heat signature and a minute later Petra walked in carrying breakfast. Salmon! Aelic gleefully thought as his cell was unlocked and his plate was pushed in. He grabbed the meal and dug in, savouring each bite whilst grinning like a child. Muted conversation from Aelin's cell caught his attention and he looked up to hear the last bit. Something about a good name? What? Aelic allowed himself to frown once Petra and Erwin had left, going through what he heard but still coming up blank. 'Umm...what did they mean?' He asked, confused.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"They want to name Huntsman and I since we don't have names. Petra and Susan don't like calling us by our game names so they want to give us nice names." Aelin explained with a shrug smelling eggs and meat. "That woman is good to us." She sighed before eating slowly with the spoon Petra bought down.

"Yeah she also bought apples for you and Huntsman and peaches for me." Levi smirked sitting in his hammock chewing on the soft foods.

"Hey Captain toss me an apple." Rowan said catching the apple tossed to him effortlessly.

"Oh I almost forgot guys here is your juice Snow and I bought orange juice for Captain and banana for Huntsman. 21 I just bought you some orange juice since I don't know what you like." Petra said passing everyone their cups with a smile.

"Why so kind today?" Rowan asked drinking his juice slowly.

"The other guards are sponsoring this today since the match last night and right now the trigger squad are trying to keep them out of here because they know how much you guys hate loud noises." Petra explained holding the drinks tray close to her chest.

"Why are they helping? What makes last night different to any match?" Levi asked.

"It's the twins tenth year. I put this system in place just after I arrived when you were in your eleventh year." Petra explained. "Your next special year as they put it is your 20th then the 25th."

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

'Oh..' Aelic said surprised, yet happy that the women cared enough to do that. Aelin was right, they were very good to the twins. It is a blessing, Aelic thought, watching as they tossed the fruit to one another with a smile. That thought was reinforced as Petra came in and gave everyone some juice (and a banana for Rowan). She had even given Aelic something even though she hardly knew him! Smiling softly at the woman, he nodded his thanks, surprised that a human would ever be that nice to someone they didn't know, even a Cursed. His smile slipped and turned into a frown as the conversation continued on. Why were the guards, specifically the sadistic trigger squad, helping?!...Oh! Well, that explains it. Aelic thought darkly as Petra answered Levi's question. The guards were just following orders (and were probably not to happy about it), but it was still a reprieve to be grateful for. And this woman had given it to them. 'Why?' Aelic asked softly, yet keeping eye contact with the human.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Because I couldn't see monsters in my sister and niece. I can't see monsters in any of you. You didn't ask to be here or the way you are. I put this little plan in place when I got here so I could try to help the champions keep their humanity. I mean look at the twins after ten years of fighting they have almost no emotion left and they fight to keep things the way they are so that they are safe." Petra said with a sad smile.

"We like our room where it is I don't want to change it now." Rowan shrugged and Aelin looked away.

"You should be 23 by now and up in the fourth floor." Petra sighed and the twins shrugged.

"Ah ha now I know your ages. I told you I would find out one day." Levi smirked and Aelin shook her head.

"Yeah it only took you a year." Aelin joked finishing her meal and eating her Apple.

"Oh was your age a secret? Sorry I didn't mean to tell anyone." Petra apologised and Rowan shrugged.

"Not a secret we just didn't tell anyone. Nor did we correct them when they were wrong." Aelin sighed leaning against the brick wall with her ankles hooked over each other and one arm crossed over her chest as she ate her Apple with the other.

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

Aelic couldn't help but gasp silently as Petra spoke, eyes wide. He knew that the woman didn't think of them as the other guards did, but hearing her say it like that was still a shock. It finally demolished any lingering distrustfulness and invoked a flurry of confused, sad and happy feelings that he couldn't focus on right now. He frowned a bit at the mention of the twins room changing (seriously Aelic, pay attention!), but his confusion was soon cleared up and turned into amusement. He had known that the twins were his own age and that others believed them to be older, but he hadn't known exactly the age perceived by others. The gap between 23 and their true age was funny and Aelic had to suppress a smirk, especially as Levi teased. It seemed so silly to him. Levi would definitely know the twins age, he was there for their birth after all! Aelic finally let out a quiet giggle when Aelic casually spoke and ate her apple in the face of Petra's cute apology. They were having way to much fun with this! 'So that's why you guys are so tall! Now my small stature is justified!' He said, playing along.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"No snake you are tiny." He twins said in sync as Erwin walked in chuckling at the statement.

"Huntsman come to your door." He ordered and Rowan frowned before complying and getting closer to his cell door. Erwin unlocked Rowans door and glared at the boy as if telling him to stay where he was with his magnificent eyebrows. "Snow White stay where you are." He commanded again and Aelin raised a brow as her door opened. "You two get to spend the day together." Erwin carified and Rowan ran into Aelins cell hugging her tightly.

"You act as if you haven't seen her in weeks Huntsman. She has been across the hall from you for the past week." Petra giggled as Erwin closed the door to the twins cell chuckling.

"There is a huge difference for us Petra. We do everything together to be separated even though we can see each other is practically the same as throwing one of us into solitary." Rowan explained sitting down with Aelin next to him as the mirrored positions.

"You two should understand since you two sleep in the same bed." Aelin said casually making both Erwin and Petra gasp in shock.

"Of something interesting." Levi smirked standing next to the twins in his cell.

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

Aelic pouted but then laughed as well, knowing it to be true. He tensed a little and frowned when Erwin walked in and unlocked Rowans door, but soon smiled strongly as the man opened Aelin's door and clarified his actions. It was nice that the twins got to spend the day together, and seeing the smile on Erwin's face, it wasn't hard to see he felt that way to. Aelic smile softened as Rowan explained his connection to his sister to the woman, knowing it to be true. They were such tactile creatures and the connection between them was so strong. They were probably dangerously co-dependant but, meh, they were allowed to be! Aelic was happy the twins could be together again, he hadn't realised how strange it was seeing them apart until they were together again. Aelic couldn't help but grin wickedly with wide eyes at Aelin's comment. Oh that clever devious girl! 'Hmm...really now?' Aelic drawled wickedly, smirking at the panicked glare he received from the human pair. 'How interesting!'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"How did?" Petra stuttered.


"You smell like Eyebrows." Rowan jumped in explaining.

"Of course you could just be wearing his clothes and he yours but it would be like the snake wearing brothers shirt." Aelin shrugged.

"Is your sense of smell that strong?" Erwin asked a blush lightly dusting his cheeks whilst Petra was full on red.

"Uh duh how do you think we know when you drug our food?" Rowan asked and Levi nodded in agreement.

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

Aelic grinned again, laughing softly. This was fun! He loved the twins sense of smell! Both for this sort of thing and because they apparently drugged their food. Aelic's thoughts darkened at that and the smiled slipped a little, before he tried to shake it away. What did he expect here, and Petra wouldn't anyway. 'Talented aren't they?' Aelic said simply to Petra, eyes twinkling with mirth.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Mmm yes very. You lot had better not go telling anyone about Erwin and I." She threatened.

"Oh ok I will go do that now." Levi said sarcastically walking to the other side of his cell before clicking his fingers. "Damn I forgot that I am in a cell in the dungeon. What ever shall I do?!" He said ending on a high note sounding like a girl.

"We aren't going anywhere soon Petra." Aelin smirked at Levi's behaviour. "Are you feeling ok 88? You seem off somehow."

"He might be drunk sister remember he said he would show us what it is to be drunk one day though it does not sound like fun." Rowan frowned making Erwin chuckle.

"No Captain is not drunk he acts very differently when he's drunk." Erwin said smiling.

"You seem stable today. What happened?" Aelin asked nose twitching slightly as she sniffed the air.

"I guess I got up on the right side of the bed." He shrugged

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

Aelic chuckled at Levi's sarcasm, grinning. The spider had a wicked sense of humour that Aelic enjoyed. He laughed even harder when Rowan mused that the older man may be drunk. Oh, the twins were so young and naïve at times! He slowly frowned then raised his eyebrows when Erwin commented about Levi's actions whilst drunk. How the heck did Erwin know? It wasn't like the got alcohol here! He promised to look into that further at another time, but for now, left it alone. 'Stable?' Aelic questioned before realising he said it out loud (oops!). Forcing himself to go along with it instead of musing internally like he originally wanted to, he looked at the others unflinchingly. 'What do you mean?'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"His emotions are stable. Normally he would have changed at least twice by now." Aelin shrugged.

"And thus the penny drops. So this day shall fade a long with the next till the frightful day of the curse-ed fights where blood shall be spilt and the crowds will roar." Erwin mused casually making everyone frown.

"So much for being stable Eyebrows." Levi shrugged as he finished his meal and stacked his plates with Aelins and put their cups together dust outside their cells.

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

Even Aelic frowned when Erwin spoke, his poetic words so casually given. It wasn't until he went over the words again in his head more carefully did the meaning sink in and his expression changed to one of badly concealed shock. Aelic would have laughed at Levi's sentence had his higher brain functions been working, but right now he was almost frozen. Does Erwin mean what I think he means?!? Aelic asked himself, shaking himself out of his physically frozen state to numbly finish off his meal and place it outside his cell. With that done he retreated to the back of his cell and, siting in lotus position, retreated into his mind to contact the White Snake and converse with her, unheeding of the world around him.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"So I have two days yes?" Aelin asked leaning her back against Rowan.

"Rightly so young one." Erwin said with a frown. "Dorm mother force thy tounge to stop this nonsense."

"Deep breath Erwin and don't talk for five minutes." Petra order and Eriwn took deep steady breaths before sitting quietly. "What's 21 doing?"

"It looks like he is talking to the guardian of his animal side." Rowan mused.

"Wait you can do that?!" Petra shrieked and the twins winced.

"Don't be so loud and yes some of us can. The long we are forced to be that side does make it easier but some can just talk to the guardian." Aelin scowled and Petra gave a sheepish giggle.

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

At that moment Aelic was deep in his mind, reaching for the ever present coil of the White Snake goddess. He had always been able to feel her, coiling around his mind, phantom shifts over his shoulders. He could feel it as her emerald eyes, so much brighter than his, finally focused on him, a questioning smile echoing in his head. He smiled back at his guardian, and questioned her about Erwin. 'He spoke of what is to come. How does he know?' He asked her, his true feelings of worry and fear, yet slight amazement clear to her. Aelic had never hid from her and never would, they were one. The goddess laughed, the sound of rustling leaves and a clear stream on a summers day, before soothing him. She nudged his mind gently, projecting calm. He felt her answer, more than heard her. Everything is alright. This man will be an asset in what is to come. All will be clear in time. She nudged him one more time before retreating, Aelic also slowly becoming aware of his surroundings again. The calm he felt left over from connecting with the goddess lasted for a moment, and then was promptly shattered by Petra's shriek. Sighing, he slowly opened his eyes and heard Aelin respond. Rolling his eyes, he spoke up, easing out of his lotus position as everyone's attention swung back to him. 'I am one of those that can easily converse with their guardian spirit. The White Snake goddess has been my constant companion in life and has helped me through many a trial and tribulation.' He said succinctly, yet with a fond undertone.

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Can any of you three talk to your guardians like that?" Petra asked looking at the champions.

"Uh duh how do you think Sister and I survived so long?" Rowan asked as the three champions shifted their eyes staring at Petra before taking them back just to prove their point.

"Viola and I have always been close it just seems that the more dangerous you are the more in contact you are with your guardian. Also the more like the animal you are the strong the connection." Levi explained with a shrug and sigh.

"Who is Viola?" Petra asked softly.

"His spider guardian. Viola is female." Aelin explained quickly and Petra nodded.

"What about your guardians what are they?" She asked.

"Mine is male and Sisters is female as far as we can tell. Most of the spider guardians are female as well as the snakes but foxes can go either way." Rowan explained.

"How do you know that?" Petra asked again this information had been lost years ago and thus no one knew it and the champions knew that this information could not be used against them.

"They talk to each other. Depending on the cursed, how they are connected to each other they can reach each other from great distances." Levi explained and Petra nodded.

"Do you know if the guardians ever watch over humans?" She asked and Levi smirked.

"They worry about the children of this earth so they make some human children like them so that they are closer but those children are locked up and treated like scum." Levi sighed.

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

Aelic smirked and rolled his eyes at Petra's question. Of course the others could talk to their guardians! You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to see that. He enjoyed listening to the others talk about their guardians. Viola eh? He would have to remember that and ask the White Snake to send his thanks to the other guardian. And he would have to question the twins more thoroughly later as well. But for now, he listened and absorbed the information the others presented, unconsciously cocking his head to the side. He knew some of it but other parts (e.g. that the gender of the guardians depended on the animal) was unknown to him and so he was enjoying it. However, his countenance darkened at Levi's last sentence. 'Cursed.' He spat, his disgust at that term and all it encompassed clear. The flash of anger quickly simmered down at Petra's flinch though was not completely forgotten. Aelic sighed and continued on in a softer tone. 'We were once called Blessed you know. Though over the years history has been warped and all have forgotten the term that was once applied.'

[Pandabaking, Lieutenant Panda (Second in command)]

"Yeah blessed I think you hit your head snake." Rowan said rolling his eyes as Aelin shook her head slowly.

"It's true." Petra said with a smile. "That's why we have noble families. You used to be paid if you had a blessed child."

"So you could waste the money on pointless things." Aelin spat. "We would have been used either way."

"Snow go talk to Ariel now." Levi commanded and Aelin sighed looking annoyed before turing to face the corner closest to him which faced her away from Petra and Erwin and she slowly meditated.

"Ariel is a girls name." Petra stated but Rowan frowned.

"Ariel sounds male when they speak but dresses much like a fighter or a hunter in the woods. Their chest is covered as are their feet and faces mostly it makes it hard to tell." He explained standing up a walking around the cell.

"Interesting that they have taken a human like form for you two. Many cursed only see the guardians as animals." Levi stated with a shrug.

"Our guardians say they have taken that form for us because we needed to know about human things to survive." Rowan shrugged.

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

Aelic nodded in agreement at Petra's words, for they were the truth. As Levi ordered Aelin to go talk to her guardian (apparently called Ariel, another name to remember), he hoped that the animal spirit would educate her charge on this matter. Aelic was interested that Rowan knew Ariel and could 'see' her even though she wasn't his guardian. It made sense, but was still interesting, as was the actual description of her. He hadn't known the guardians could appear human if their chosen one needed it. The White Snake had only ever shown him her animal form. Aelic nodded again at Levi's words, seeing that he too had only seen the animal form of Viola. It seemed both of them would have things to ask their guardians later. 'That is very interesting...' Aelic mused, looking at Rowan inquisitively, 'Have you seen your guardians animal form or just the human form? And how do you see Snow's guardian?' He asked, wanting, no, needing, more information.