Shackled Saige....

Knightmaster Selena leads Saige into town from the direction of the forest. Her hands bound in thick shackles behind her back and her weapons attached to Selena's belt. Storm follows behind them with the rest of Saige's things.

As they pass through the town, the draconians salute as Selena passes and she jerks her head for 3 of them that they pass to follow her.

When they make it to the jail, and Selena moves to put Saige in a cell, a small purple cat spider hybrid pops out of Saige's hood and hisses at Selena. She tilts her eyebrow at the creature, then looks to Saige who whispers to the creature, sending it scurrying down her side, between Selena's feet and up Storm's leg to nestle into one of Saige's pouches.

Once Saige is secure in the cell and the shackles removed she steps out to speak with the soldiers she commanded to follow.

Storm sighs as she watches Saige get put in a cell and walks up to the bars. "I'll be here waiting for you. And I'll be at the trial. You can count on it."

She reaches through the bars for Saige's hand to give it a quick squeeze before she turns away. If no one stops her, Storm leaves the jail and heads straight for the tavern. Ordering a bottle of Draconian whiskey.

She leans down to Saige's pouch and whispers. "She won't be gone long. We'll get her back."

Saige gives Storm a small smile and watches her leave. She then retreats to a corner of the cell and curls up, resting her head on the wall.

About an hour passes and as Storm sits at the new bar in the tavern, sipping from her bottle of whiskey, a missive appears in front of her face. She leans back, swaying slightly in her seat and snatches the paper out of the air. She reads it once, then again, and once more before she crumples it up in one hand. She sighs heavily, and snaps her fingers against the crumpled missive creating a small spark that ignites the paper. In seconds, it is engulfed in flame and she tosses it over her shoulder.

She leans forward once more, wrapping her hand around the bottle and running her other hand through her hair. Her eyes squeeze shut as she thinks and then she opens them once more. She slides off the barstool, swaying on her feet, and drags the bottle off the counter. Without a word, she turns and exits the tavern with the half finished bottle.

Storm makes her way back to the camp she shares with Saige in the Orc Village, and proceeds to drink the bottle of whiskey alone.

The next morning, Storm can be seen shuffling into town and making her way to the jail. She stops at the entrance and speaks to a guard to be let in. They chat for a moment and then let Storm pass with a guard leading the way.

She follows him up to Saige's cell and smiles when she comes into view of the cell. "Saige! Good morning!"

The guard stands back but stays close.

Saige still sits curled up in a corner, holding her knees and resting her head against them. Her ears twitch at the sound of footsteps but she doesn't move until Storm's voice is heard. At this, her head jerks up, and she quickly scrambles over to the bars.

"Storm!"

She reaches through to grab Storm's hands, her own feeling like ice. She is shaking slightly, and it's obvious that she hasn't slept, but her eyes glint with happiness as she smiles at Storm.