#thread: anima

[maeculosus]

❇ █ ▌A N I M A

{It's been stewing in his mind for almost two weeks. If you were to ask why, he couldn't answer. Winter had bid adieu and Spring had replaced it, and it only amplified his want, no, his need, to be outside again. Spring was his favorite season, guilty of being a strong reason he needed to escape. Maybe he can state some reasons. Springtime and... Gavin. That's all he could say. Just Gavin. When they were first incarcerated, they both desired freedom. The lyrebird had gotten more of a taste of it during his time in the facility, but a few hours wasn't enough to tame him. That desire was contagious, soon spread to Ray. And Ray's daring, mischievous mind began turning the gears. But he was impatient. Anyone with common sense realized that escaping a place like this would be better at nightfall, but he couldn't wait. Thoughts of his family, his best friend, the blossoming saplings and seedlings arose and the stag sucked in a breath.}

{It was time to finally leave Burns' grip.}

{Maybe the first step was getting the sleep out of his system. He wasn't one to sleep late, he was one to wake early but be hostage to fatigue for a few more hours. After being fed, and unnecessarily touched, he awoke a little more. Maybe it was the rage that bubbled whenever he was stroked when it wasn't needed. But now, with eyes wide, the stag hybrid sucked in a breath and straightened his shoulders.} 

{When the guards took a lunch break, Ray leaned forward. He had his face practically smashed against the front of the cage, but he needed to whisper for this. Extending a skinny hand in between the bars of the cage, he gripped the front of Gavin's cage. Fingers wrapped around a few bars, he rattled it, to get his attention without speaking. Once golden eyes shot up to meet him, his fingers left the bar. Index finger pointed towards the lyrebird, he mouthed. "You." The index finger turned back around, pointed towards himself. "Me." The hand turned towards the guards station, where they watched the hybrids. A foolish guard had left his ring of keys there. No doubt there was the key to the gate guarding the outside. Ray mouthed again. "Keys there." His finger pointed towards the exit hallway. "We leave."}

{After mouthing the last words, his lips curled into a smirk. He had pure mischief hidden behind innocent eyes, and it was about time he let it out. A somewhat shaky hand, stricken with fear, rubs at the back of his neck. There, he feels the chain of the necklace his father had given him. That puts the drive back into the deer hybrid, and he grabs the two antlers he shed weeks before. Maneuvering between the bars of the cage once again, though this time with the antler in hand, he reached towards Gavin's cage. The two cages couldn't be any closer, as that creates more noise. More noise means more attention, and the entire situation didn't need any attention. Ray's free hand raises back in the cage, and one finger begins a countdown. His voice is a small whisper, easily lost in the hot air of the room.} 

"One...

"Two...

"Three." 

{On the final number, the hand outside of the cage raises. The antler goes along with, and slams down against the lock keeping the cage closed. It makes noise, but not as much as he actually expected it to. The lock fumbles open, and Ray's movements are quick. He puts the antler back in his lap, and his fingers move to take the lock out, so Gavin can swing the cage door open. His breaths are quick and his heartbeat is steadily getting faster. His voice didn't raise, it was still a low whisper as he handed the antler over to the lyrebird.} 

"I want you to do the same to my lock."