Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

Memory comes flooding back, and Cindy swallows hard. "The prison?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Lost," says Liz quietly. "Vig survived. Hunter's gone."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"You should have... I can still fight," whispers Cindy, in a  low, masculine voice. "You should have patched me up and sent me back in."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon leans in to look Cindy full in the face. "Stop being a fool. It it suits you. Being a hero is well and fine, splendid in fact. But being suicidal? I will not tolerate that, understood? The prison is a slaughter pit. Latest word is that the perimeter has been secured before more than a handful slipped out. The prison itself is condemned, labeled a no-soul's land until such time as a full Quest can be made of it. Probably going go to be dozens of adventurer parties going into there to clear it out."

[Vigile]

Hearing the voices in the room, Vigile slips inside but stays silent for the moment.

[Marian Hawke]

"There was a breach," whispers Liz, lowering her gaze. "The big guy, Belvuin, got through the southwestern camp. Last I heard on the way in they were trying to cover the gap with mage cover to hold the rest, but at least a few escaped. We couldn't have stopped him. We separated him from his flunkies, so maybe they didn't get out. And we kept back the guy with the artifacts, the one that... I pushed him further back, saving you. He probably didn't make it out. But we couldn't have held them ourselves."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"We could have tried," whispers Cindy, eyes pricking with tears. "We can go now. Find him, subdue him. We could--"

[Marian Hawke]

"I'm tapped out and so are you," says Liz, quietly. "I'm sorry. I brought you home. You can rest here. But we can't... I won't help you throw your life away."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"You clearly have good taste in women," Shannon says lighty, even though her expression is a bit sharp. "You did well. You did enough. Rest and let others fight for a bit."

[Coquette Blacquin]

Cindy sighs, then, the tension going out of her as she lays her head back against the pillow. "Where was the backup?"

[GamesMaster]

A new voice enters the conversation, from the black-and-white catfolk who has crept up to the open doorway on silent paws. "Cattown burns," he says, in an accented, subdued voice. "Guard go there, help save cat-cat."

[Vigile]

Vigile slinks out of the way, tail lashing a bit. He had heard the catfolk's approach of course. But something about catfolk made him... unsettled. A strange feeling really, not dislike or disgust but... something.

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"Quite so- things have gotten rather unsettled in lower Coalside." Shannon turns to frown at the newcomer. "And you are? Reports are to be given to Warbound Bull at the moment, around back."

[GamesMaster]

Miki puffs up his chest a little. "Miki cat-cat. Good hunter. Came find Tethras." He gestures toward Liz, tail twitching.

"We are at Crystalwing. Worried. Sent messages, no heard back."

[Marian Hawke]

Liz turns, then, frowning. "Oh, you're... one of Beth's friends? I think I've seen you around. Should I... should I hurry there then?"