I peeked inside. I didn't see anyone in the main room, so I crept in. I could hear them rummaging through my office. The idea of someone messing up all hard work made me furious. I am not a warrior, however, and it would surely not end well for me if I stormed in there.
I pricked my ears up and didn't hear Dania. I could smell her scent in the kitchen. The intruders definitely used a scent masking elixir on themselves, but not on Dania. I stayed low to the ground, using my partial transformative leopard attributes to stay low and not make a sound.
My hut was made for ease of access, there is an entrance into the kitchen from the main room and from the bedroom. The bedroom was never used, I just kept it for storage. I usually crashed on the couch or in my study - for convenience. There was a wall on the side of the kitchen near the bedroom, partitioning off some of the kitchen from the main room.
I entered the kitchen from the main room and saw no sign of her. One of the kitchen chairs was missing. I moved on towards the bedroom door. I listened at the door and heard muffled breathing and a quick heartbeat. Dania must be in there.
I was just about to push the door open when I heard someone enter the bedroom from the other door (which was connected to the main room). I stilled myself and listened to what was happening.
There was a loud smack followed by a muffled cry of pain. The breathing and heart rate increased even further. Sounds like they struck Dania. I felt scared and angry; I calmed myself again, reminding myself that I am no match for them.
"Still going to stay quiet, b***h? We might have to kill you if the leopard doesn't show… wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't have a little fun with you first?" A sinister female voice asked as her claws extended.
I smelled blood and heard the muffled screams of Dania. I was trying to remain calm but I was still panicking. Sounds like they have her bound and gagged in there and are hurting her. What do I do??
I hid there, listening to my friend being tortured, frozen in place. The possibilities raced through my mind. I need to find a way to get them out of that room so I can save her. Research be damned.
Even if I get in there and get her free… the odds of us escaping will be slim. I could slip out the window and climb.. but I don't know what kind of shape Dania is in. If my time line is correct, Dania must have come here after dinner to drop off leftovers. If they have her, that means they have had her here since then…. Which means that they have had her captive for at least 3 hours… possibly up to 5 hours now.
I heard the screams intensify followed by some muffled sobs. I couldn't delay anymore. I carefully grabbed a spiky fruit from the cupboard that I use when cleaning equipment. I aimed carefully for the pile of books I had stacked just outside the office. If I knock them over it should draw attention without raising suspicion.
I threw the spike fruit and it knocked over the books, as I'd hoped! I heard the sounds from the woman in the bedroom and the people in the study all pause. I could barely make out the sounds of their footsteps as they went to check it out. I could hear the women in the office whispering.
I quietly and quickly made my way into the bedroom. Dania looked awful!!! She was bound and gagged in the chair from the kitchen. She was covered in dark bruises, her lip was swollen and broke, her eyes were bloodshot and puffy… it looked like her one shoulder was dislocated as it hung at an odd angle, and she had deep cuts across her body that were bleeding heavily.
I stifled a gasp as indicated that she should stay quiet. She nodded when saw me. I crept over and used my claws to break the ropes around her ankles first; taking mental note of the rope burns on her ankles. I felt pure hatred in my gut; how could someone do this?
I was just about to cut her arms free when I sensed someone else in the room. I quickly jumped back from the chair to avoid their attack, however it was too late, she had pounced on me.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Come home to us, finally, have you?" The woman who was torturing Dania purred in a very sinister voice.
She was so strong that she knocked me over and held me down. She had a look on her face that told me she enjoys hurting people. I have never met her before, but she seemed to know me. She had pinned my arms and legs down and due to her size and strength, there was no way I was getting free.
I heard 2 more sets of footsteps rushing towards us from the study.
Damnit!!!
I struggled fiercely and roared at her, using my teeth and claws to try to break free. She just laughed as she kept me pinned one.
"We got a live one, girls. Hurry up and knock them out so we can get out of here."
One of them approached with a cloth that was stained pink. It has a familiar scent and I identified it immediately. I tried hard to hold my breath when they covered my face with a cloth; they were using my own formulae against me! I created it to knock out wounded warriors before operating. The effects last for 6 hours!
"Come on, don't make it difficult." The one holding the cloth said as she punched me in the stomach, forcing the air out of me which resulted in me having to take a deep breath. I smelled that sickly sweet fragrance… the room started spinning and I felt lightheaded and confused. Then sleep overtook me as my vision dimmed. The last things I could make out were them grabbing Dania from the chair and carrying her on their shoulder out the door of the room. I remember feeling myself being lifted up as well, before I faded completely.
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MIRA POV:
I woke before the sun rose, as was my habit. I got up and dressed as quietly as I could, trying not to wake anyone. I needed to wash my face, but the wash basin was on Dania's side of the screen. I tip toed my way over there.
As I approached the basin, I realized that her hammock was empty. Maybe she heard me and Marshall last night and decided to stay with Isola. I reddened at the thought. Marshall was still in bed, snoring, as I quietly headed for the door.
I was moving slowly, telling myself that I needed to be quiet. However I felt a little nervous to see Ishi again after last night. Something was off last night. I was almost to the door when it suddenly flew open.
Marshall jumped up from his resting place on the bed, ready to fight.
Ishi stood in the doorway, looking furious and panicked at the same time. Her eyes darted around the room, then found me. I quickly realized that something was wrong.
Before I could ask, Ishi yelled, "Have you seen Isola?!"
"No. Why, what happened to Isola?" I asked, feeling nervous.
Ishi is always composed, if a little irritable. This is the first time I have seen her so worried.
"That's what I would like to know." she said in a growl.
In a flash, Marshall was next to me. He was in wolf form, poised for battle and growling.
'Back off' he growled.
Ishi immediately hissed back at him, taking an offensive stance.
I was a little surprised that I could understand him, but we had more pressing matters to attend to.
"Marshall, calm down. This is Ishi, she is Isola's sister." I said as I stood in between them.
They both backed off. Marshall transformed back and got dressed as Ishi explained to me what happened.
"I went to check on her this morning and she was gone. Her place is trashed, there was blood in the bedroom, and I can't trace her scent."
"Blood?! Oh my gods, I hope she's okay-" I said before getting cut off by Ishi.
"It wasn't her blood." She looked from me, over to Dania's side of the room, meaningfully.
I felt my blood go cold. "Neither of them were there?" I asked.
"No." Ishi took a deep breath, looking like she was suppressing her rage.
She looked over at Marshall and called out, "You! Wolf! You might be able to help. Your noses are more sensitive, come see if you can help track them before the trail disappears completely."
Marshall quickly followed her and I followed Marshall. We ran all the way to Isola's house.