Rescue Case
(First of all, shout out to @heros-bane for letting me borrow her character Alice and CoraKia! Second of all, enjoy!)
Alice often didn’t wander far from her home, but the situation called for it. With Storms off hunting Sileas, Alice had to make sure she had everything she needed for any potions they might need. Specially after their close call. That, unfortunately, meant travelling to find some of the ingredients she’d need. She’d been on the road a few days and as night fell, her journey took her to a town. Her stomach did the rest of the work, leading her to an inn. It seemed rather upscale, but she was willing to splurge for some good food and good rest.
She sat down and ordered then after a bit the room dimmed leaving only lights on the stage. Out from behind a curtain and into the open stepped a short girl, or at least that’s what Alice thought she was until she fanned out her brilliant blue wings. Everyone murmured to each other and Alice surmised her fanning her wings like that was to get attention. It was then Alice noticed her eyes; a pupil ringed by two irises. The girl was a Songbird Ziz! The Songbird opened her mouth and began to sing, a sweet and upbeat tune, while Alice puzzled over her. Alice had always read that Ziz didn’t travel very far from their native homes unless…
A glint of light caught her sharp eyes and drew them to the chain around the girl’s ankle. It was made of silver and meant to look like an ornate anklet, but Alice knew better and followed the chain back to a hook in the wall. Her expression tightened; of course, only captive Ziz traveled this far from their homes. Her hands balled into fists, her appetite suddenly spoiled by the anger and disgust that boiled in the bottom of her stomach. She paid for her food and ordered nothing else, not wanting to get in trouble, but also unwilling to further patronize a business that would keep any creature captive. In fact, she would have left then and there but she needed to see where they were taking the poor girl as, in a flash decision, she vowed to rescue the poor girl.
Once Songbird’s performance ended, someone escorted her back behind a curtain. Alice noticed the chain wasn’t actually hooked to the wall, but went under the curtain which meant either that the girl was kept right behind it, or somewhere beyond that. For now, she felt it was good enough the area would be acceptable from there. For now, Alice decided to do some last minute shopping before she came back.
Once everything was ready and it was sufficiently dark, Alice stole into the inn. Her magic unlocked the door... or at least she would have if the lock wasn’t made of secura metal which resisted all magic. Instead, Alice slipped in through alternate means-following a worker though the back door and seeming nonchalant, as if she worked there, as she strode into the main room and slipped behind the curtains. There was no light to see by and so Alice opened her palm and used her magic to create a small light for her to see by.
The girl was sleep on a small bed, a wing covering most of her body as she slept. At Alice’s approach the Ziz awoke, startled and fearful at the presence of a human, let alone an unfamiliar one. Alice quickly shushed her, “I’m not here to hurt you, can you understand me? What’s your name?”
Songbird stared at her for a little, frightened of the stranger but also frightened of what happened to her when she usually disobeyed humans. The latter fear won out and she answered in a small, stuttering voice. “I a-am S-S-Son-ngbir-rd…”
Alice smile at her, a disarming smile meant to soothe. “Well, Songbird, I’m going to get you out of here.
Songbird tilted her head, unable to completely believe the human, having been kept captive most of her life. True to her word, the witch opened the lock with the spell she tried on the door. Much to her relief it opened without a problem, though her relief was short lived as she realized the shackle and chain around the Ziz's ankle was made of secura metal like the lock on the door. There wasn't a way to take the bird without breaking the chain which would make a loud noise if she could even do it. Alice paused for a moment then smiled there was always the ace up her sleeve.
Alice followed the chain to where it was attached to the cage which was definitely NOT secura and her smile widend. Alice summoned the little demon she had a pact with and fed it more energy to make it grow. The little fireball grew from the size of a large hamster to that of a cat with Alice’s energy. “CoraKia, I need you to eat the metal of the cage. Oh, and be careful not to touch the secura metal!” Alice was fairly sure he didn’t need to be told the last part, but demons could be tricky and it was always best to make your orders complete.
The fire demon gave a sort of nod of understanding then jumped at the cage. Songbird jumped as the fire demon launched itself, smashing face first into the cage with its ‘mouth’ wide open before chewing on the bar and melting it at a good pace. Once the bar was melted through, Alice sent him back where he came from and slid the chain off the bar where CoraKia had chomped through, freeing Songbird. Songbird stepped out of the cage, eyeing Alice warily even as the witch handed her the chain. "I can't take that off right now, but I will, I promise! Now follow me quickly." Songbird didn't see any choice but to do what Alice said and follow her. She didn't want to miss a chance at freedom and if she stayed, she would surely be punished by the humans in charge of the inn.
Alice led her out of the inn and into a wagon she had waiting, covering Songbird under a wooden crate with no bottom. “Hold still and be quiet until I lift this up again, ok?”
Songbird clearly looked fearful of the small space, her brows coming together in concern; but it was either do as the human said and possibly be sold again or escape now with the heavy chain still on her and likely be caught and sold again anyway. She only nodded in affirmation them climbed onto the cart and under the box which Alice lowered over her.
Alice sighed in relief and jumped in the cart, desperate to get as far away as she could as quick as she could. It was a long ride back to her village, but once they arrived, Alice was true to her word and found someone capable of taking off the chain. “Alright! You’re free now! You can fly away if you like.” Alice said, smiling at the girl. In response, Songbird unfurled her wings. She didn’t flap them to take off but instead held them still in order to show the clipped feathers she sported. Something Alice hadn’t noticed in the dim evening light of the inn she ate at. “Oh…” was all Alice could manage and reached out to very gently touch the feathers.
“Well, come on then, you’ll stay with me until you can fly!” Songbird chirped in confusion, but Alice practically steered her through the rainy village into her house. “My house is your house, at least for now. It’s not much, but it’s home! And you’re fee to come and go as you like, Songbird.”