C.u.t. away the p.i.e.c.e.s.

[Sivoncé™]

Yes, Euphrates is is, then...the brother who turned his back on his family. The name seemed to have been embedded in far away yet still-vivd memories of Assyria and her kin cursing and swearing vengeance, even in the deepest pits of hell. What kind of wolf does this to his own family, he remembered her screeching. But, deep down, Assyria was only angry that he'd left her behind and only taken Sumer with him. Yes, he remembered the story now.
Something must've slipped during the battle. They must've crossed each other...and this is the result.
He watched as trembled shook throughout BurnNote's entire body. She was rigored with a ferocious fear -- he could see it in her eyes. "Deep breaths," he murmured, "Nothing hasty, now. That won't get us anywhere." His mind suddenly felt like it would explode.
Us? What're you doing, Regulus? You've got to be crazy, you can't promise her anything! What, are you going to turn your back on your family, too?
I was born a Sheeran, remember? I already have turned my back on my family. I had a daughter, a long time ago, too. I turned my back on her. And then there was New Moon...
And he knew, by standing in front of BurnNote here and now, he could be just inches away from turning his back on New Moon, too.
I have no family, so how can anyone accuse me of turning away from them?

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

Her head snapped up suddenly when he said us and confusion riddled her features. With a confused, and dazed look, she slowly stood up, pacing back and forth. "Oh no. Hasty would get me killed, wouldn't it? If I just ran out the door, it would be the death of me. But you? You have nothing to worry about."[/i] Back and forth, her mind wrapping it's self around facts that she knew. Her Alphess would be killed if she didn't have this vital information. But what was she to do? Try and get Regulus to help her out? He would never!
She gave a sigh of defeat, and looked down, biting her lip. She hadn't heard the wind speak to her in a long time. So perhaps she had done something wrong. Perhaps it was warning her that if she got involved with Phobia she would wind up here. The bearer of bad news...and perhaps a traitor.
A traitor.

She was not her brother!
She looked to Regulus, and repeated the same words he was wondering:
"What do you mean; us?"[/i]

[Sivoncé™]

All too quickly and eloquently, he answered, "It's a figure of speech, BurnNote," as if he'd been prepared for her to question him. Even in those few words, his intonation was so strong and abrupt that it reflected premeditation or rehearsal. Even the way he held himself, refusing to meet her eyes, suggested guilt in the mere act of denying he'd said anything out of line. But of course, he had.
"And yes, I suspect darting out there right now would get you killed," he barked in a matter-of-fact tone.
Suddenly, his head snapped up and he looked at her through narrowed, cynical eyes. "And what makes you say that I've got nothing to worry about? I reincarnated when I've been dead for over a decade. I'd say there's something a bit unusual in that, don't you?"

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

With his sudden denial she pushed herself backwards, eyes narrowing on his form. She bit her tongue to avoid saying something way out of line, and crazy, yet that didn't seem to stop her. "A figure...of speech?" She questioned in something that was a little less than a whisper; yet it's dark tone reached his audits as if she had been screaming at him. "Only one with...problems?"[/i] Her voice seemed to radiate with hate again. Damnit! Why do you always have to go and trust someone again. What the hell were you thinking, you dumbshit! She thought, but all the same she was glaring daggers at Regulus.
"I never said I was the only one with problems...last time I checked, all you did was die! And then came back to life! We can't do that! You came back, while I'm rotting away in this hell hole, knowing that my pack is in danger! That my own--"[/i] She bit her tongue, not wanting to tell him anything else about her personal life. She was the captive, after all.
The damned captive.

[Sivoncé™]

Strangely, there was no rage in his features when he looked at her. He simply took it all in with a solemn, far-away sort of expression. He let her rant and berate him, and for a few moments after she'd had her fill of fury, he was simply silent, lost in the past.
Quietly, he murmured, "I didn't want to come back. I don't know how to do anything but lie there and burn. After a while, your nerves die, too, and you don't feel anymore. I didn't feel a thing these past few years." He inhaled sharply, gazing with hazy eyes at the walls of the cavern.
"I didn't want to feel again. I still don't. The only feeling I remember is how bad it hurt when I first started to burn. I didn't want to come back here. I don't understand this place."
Reluctantly, he looked back at her. "I don't understand how they still have the power to hate -- Assyria and her family. I don't have the energy for anything but indifference. I can't help you."

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

Remorse for her harsh words began to wash over her, and she slowly looked down. How could she of been such an idiot? What the hell was wrong with her? With a sigh, she looked to him, square in the eye, and said "Then my harsh judgement wasn't fair...nor was it right. I suppose you understand where my fusteration is coming from...yet there is nothing you can do to help me. There is one thing."[/i] She looked away for a moment, considering what would happen to her if she did say what she had in mind. She seemed to only just notice how hot it was getting in here, and perhaps it was because the temperture outside was rising. it was getting hotter, thus effecting the cool stone beneath their feet. Taking a deep breath, she looked at him, and slowly said "You could give me a head start? Ten seconds tops?" It almost sounded like a funny comment, but she was all but being a comedian right now. She meant it.

[Sivoncé™]

His sad eyes met her determined ones as she finally asked what he'd anticipated from the start. For a moment, he just looked at her miserably, but then his wry smirk began to form once again on his mouth. He chuckled softly without humor. He grew thoughftul for a moment, a small bout of amusement in his eyes. "Tell you what, BurnNote." He turned again to looked her in the eyes. His humor was fading, and suddenly, he posture and intonation grew serious. "Give me a reason why, and I'll consider it." It wasn't a game; he was being utterly sincere.
Suddenly, his thoughts flickered to Annelise, the other resident captive that was being put to no real use besides vengeance.
I'll have to do something about her, too, I suppose.
He had a purpose now.

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

Wait...he was honestly considering this? She watched him with puzzled eyes, but figured he was being sincere enough. She nodded her head, and said "Because. I have a purpose...and that's not to rot away in this cave. You know what it was like to be held captive in a place you really didn't belong, numbing away to almost just a emotionless blob of flesh? Look,"[/i] She looked him square in the eye, no games, nothing but the seriousness of their tones. This had to work. "If I do manage to escape, there will be another battle, another chance to capture me, but do what you should have done, and that was kill me. Sure, it might raise some controversy about how I did escape, but then again, you could always say I said I had to take a piss, and just ran for it."[/i] And she sucked in a sharp breath, concluding her little 'speech' if that is what you wish to call it.
"Furthermore...you have a purpose. What that is...I'm not entirely sure. I sure as hell know that it's not to babysit me."[/i] And with that, she fell silent, watching him before looking away for a few moments.
She prayed.

[Sivoncé™]

What had he been imagining she would say? These were all plausible answers, and yet, he felt extremely disappointed as he heard them. He nodded gently as she spoke. "I suppose you're right, then," he barked tightly. He shrugged his shoulders and looked out into the forest that surrounded Blood Mist territory. Nighttime had fallen heavily over the lands; the skies above glinted with spiteful starts that shone against the darkness. "Go north, and you'll hit the border with the Destinians. Don't stop, even if you get tired, and even if you don't get out of here before sunrise, you can't stop, BurnNote. They'll catch you if you do. And stay north."
He knew why he was disappointed; with BurnNote here, however much of a nusiance she could be, he felt like he was something other than a mindless Blood Mist drone, or at least he had the potential to be. The fire would go out when she left. He would get his wish; he wouldn't feel anything anymore. He wasn't so sure if that was a good thing.
"Goodbye, BurnNote."

[H.ell . Fi.re.|†A.lba]

BurnNote couldn't believe it. She was free? Really? She watched him for a few moments, and did something that she would consider rather daring on her part. She walked slowly up to him, and pushed her head against his shoulder. Of course, they were further in the cave, so she was okay in doing so. She nuzzled him once; only once, and whispered "Thank you, Regulus..." Before she left, she licked his cheek, and slipped soundlessly into the night.
For some reason, she felt a pang in her heart. She felt as if she almost wanted to be captured again, just to see him again. It was a strange thought, though, because of who she was, and who he was. She burst forward suddenly with a remarkable amount of speed, and sprinted off due north. Her pillars were already aching when she got a mile away from the pack, and already she could hear the warning howls. All she could hope?
That Regulus didn't die...

[Sivoncé™]

Sharply, he exhaled at the sudden touch. It was something completely alien to him; something he hadn't felt since he'd been truly alive, but that was a life he only had foggy memories of. But just as quickly as the wave of tenderness came, it was cut loose and gone as she took off into the night like a rouge slash of lightning. For a moment, he watched her, grinning stupidly from ear to ear.
Why are you smiling you idiot? She's not out, yet! If she dies, she doesn't come back, you know it.
What do I do now?
There were howls already sounded; wolves would be streaming into the forest, taking off after her. He knew, an instant later, what to do. They wouldn't be looking for him yet. They were too preoccuppied with what just happened.
He tore from the den, sprinting through the shadows across the camp where a heavily pregnant femme laid on the floor of the cavern, breathing heavily and uneven.
"Listen," he breathed, "We don't have much time, we're getting the hell out of here!" He helped her up, supporting her as best as they could. She didn't ask questions, just followed him blindly. He was her only hope, anyhow, and she needed her energy to focus on their escape. The pair disappeared into the woods, in the only direction left for them to flee: South, to the mountains.