Dana yelled, "Wait!"
But it was too late. His momentum couldn't be stopped, even if he was inclined to listen. He slammed his full body into the silver coated bars. He hissed as his skin sizzled upon contact with the metal and retreated a few inches. His expression was almost a pout, Lyra had a hard time suppressing a chuckle at the endearing gap-moe. Who wouldn't when seeing the puppy-like actions from such an imposing man.
By then another two men entered in wolf forms. The sounds from the stairwell were fading, indicating that the battle was coming to a close. This was it. They were mere moments from freedom. The hope that they didn't know they were still harboring was in full swing encapsulating their broken bodies in adrenaline and euphoria.
"That guard usually has a ring of keys in his pocket." Ruben said calmly, jutting his chin in Thomas' direction.
In two strides the giant man crossed the room and hovered over the dead hunter sprawled near the wall. He paused his movements for a moment as if he was engaged in an intense conversation through a mind-link. He looked back to his mate, then frowned before continuing to fumble through Thomas' pockets.
Dana understood his trouble and spoke bashfully, "They've been injecting us with wolfsbane, my wolf is very weak. I can't link you right now, baby."
{She had one injection two days ago! Are most wolves that weak? Loba mocked, within Lyra's mind.
{If I remember right, You couldn't speak for a week after our first injection. Fortunately for her, she hasn't had the time to build up a tolerance to that nasty stuff like we have.} Lyra responded to her wolf. They shuddered in unison at the remembrance of their many harrowing injections.
"Your father is upstairs." He said.
Dana's mate walked toward her with a sigh and his head down. He began to delicately place the key in the lock, trying to avoid the silver as much as possible. He continued, "Before you get mad, believe me, he was the one to discover your location and make a plan to break you free."
Dana's face scrunched up in an unreadable expression, but when the lock fell she shoved the door open and leaped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. The size difference was no joke, she really looked like a little koala hugging a giant tree trunk. Meanwhile, one of the new wolves had shifted into his human form. He looked small next to Dana's mate, but he was a normal size for a werewolf which was large for a human. Lean and muscular, he had a composed and experienced affect to his middle aged face. He swiftly walked forward to pick up the keys, then growled at the burning sensation of the silver lock against his fingers.
He walked up to Ruben's cell first and stated flatly, "We are from Gibbous Peak pack. Our Alpha has ordered us to help all survivors. Tsss!"
Smoke swirled above his fingers and he gingerly turned the key and tapped it to the floor. He stood still for a moment, looking down at the cursed lock then stepped aside for Ruben to exit.
"Thanks." Ruben responded in the same, stale tone.
Then Ruben nonchalantly scooped up the lock on his way out of the cell and lazily removed the key, ignoring the odious sizzling as the silver burned his hands. He nimbly and quietly released the remaining three locks. The werewolf who released him looked shocked at Ruben's blatant disregard for pain. Soon, his eyebrows knit as it morphed into pity. Rather than an act of machismo, Ruben's indifference was a testament to the treatment he'd endured. How much exposure to silver did this guy have in order to result in shrugging off such a wretched sensation? The answer? Far more than anyone ever should experience.
It had been weeks since Lyra's last trip above ground, her eyes were having a hard time adjusting to the bright flashing lights. She stumbled over the rubble and a firm grip around her arm prevented her fall. No matter the intentions, any touch was invasive because of her history. She was instantly on the defence, without the opportunity to process what was happening.
"It's just me." Ruben quietly responded to her stiffened reaction.
She sighed, her body relaxing. She casually leaned back into his tall frame. It had been a long time since they were able to make physical contact. The hunters assumed correctly that these two were close and had not allowed them in adjacent cells for over a year. Wolves are affectionate creatures by nature, so they found each other's proximity comforting. Ruben gave her shoulders a squeeze then grabbed her hand before following the others. No matter how sickly underweight he was, his hand was still huge compared to Lyra's. It completely enveloped her bony fingers, warm and snug.
[I smell snow.] Ruben mind-linked Laura.
Lyra lifted her nose and answered, [Not snow, frost. Get your nose checked.]
Ruben chuckled. They emerged from the damaged building into the cold night air. All of the prisoners leaned their heads back as if it was rehearsed. Deeply inhaling the fresh air with a content expression on each of their faces.
[Damn, you're right.] Ruben pouted, [Maybe it was wishful thinking. I miss the snow.]
Lyra didn't answer. She missed it too. Along with the rain and sunshine, sleet, fog. Everything which signified being outdoors.