Small Escape from the Disaster at the Palace

[;;Sparrow`]

"I don't know about rebels, but I guess you could call them that. They are the dogs who are still loyal to Apollo, and the rightful heir, Aspen. They are brave enough, or mad enough, to oppose Agro. And are constantly being killed for their beliefs."

"Oh, I see. I have heard stories of rebels hiding somewhere, and I wasnt sure what they were called. But when you put it that way, I am definitely with the Resistence." She let out a long growl, and hatred tumbled around inside her. No way, after what Agro had done to her parents, was she going to think about being loyal to him. "My parents were with the Resistence too."

Caillou paused, and then blushed. "I guess I dont know much about what is going on, all I know is that I despise Agro."

She couldn't help but smile at what she had thought of doing to that flea-ridden dictator.

[Memo]

"I see." Said Cylon calmly."I can't blame you for that I guess." He felt rather sorry for Caillou, from the sound of things she was angry with Agro because of something he had done to her parents. Probably killed them. Cylon was good at reading people through what they said, and this female had not made it hard to do.

"I'm sorry for your loss." he said sympathetically, going far out on a limb with his guess that her parents had been killed. Perhaps she and her sister could help with Avalon's problem. He turned to look and see if Avalon was still on the cliffs. She was.

"That dog over there is called Avalon, she is friendly to the Resistance as well. Maybe she could help you find your way to their hide out in the Forest. "She has lost her parents, but they may not be yet dead." he said, giving away some of Avalon's secrets. He hoped she wouldn't mind. "They are missing, and we have deduced that they have either been captured by Agro and are in the dungeon, or they are on the run. I was going to help her look for them, but for me to be seen with someone from the Resistance will put my life in jeopardy." He said rather worriedly. "I am of neutral allegiance, so Agro does not suspect me for treason."

[;;Sparrow`]

"I'm sorry for your loss." Caillou nodded. "Thank you." She said, trying to hide the waver in her voice.

Caillou became very interested when Cylon mentioned that Avalon could possibly help her find the rebels. Though she had never thought of it before, Caillou thought that joining the rebels sounded like a good idea. What better way to fight against Agro?

Caillou glanced over at Avalon as Cylon told of her problem. She didnt say it, but she highly doubted that her parents were still alive is Agro was involved in their disappearence.

"Maybe we could help her. First, I think I would like to find these rebels." Caillou said.

"I am of neutral allegiance, so Agro does not suspect me for treason." Caillou though over what Cylon had just said.

She then asked, "So, are you only neutral because you are worried about your safety?"

[Aspen]

_{Avalon waited anxiously as Cylon approached a large boulder. He spoke, and she heard a muffled reply from behind the boulder. It must block the entrance of a cave. After a moment, Cylon pushed the barrel and a female dog emerged from within the cave. Avalon watched as Cylon spoke with the newcomer from a safe distance. She appeared to be friendly enough. Cylon did not seem worried. He glanced toward her a couple of times and continued talking. Talking about me, obviously, she thought to herself. She waited and watched a while longer before deciding it was safe to approach them. As she drew closer, she could hear more of their conversation. "So, are you only neutral because you are worried about your safety?" The female was saying. Avalon padded up next to Cylon and nodded a greeting to each of them.}

[Memo]

Cylon acknowledged Avalon's greeting with a quick return nod. He turned back to look at Caillou, feeling slightly insulted, as though she were implying he cared for no one but himself. It was true, and he knew it was true, he just didn't like other dogs to know it until it proved necessary to tell them. He shook his head and wiped the frown off his face, pushing himself back into his usual calm and collected manner.

"That is partly true, yet is not fully."He said in a tight voice, obviously not going to say more on the subject. He felt his teeth clamp, and reluctantly pried them back apart. Now was not the time for a fight. He shouldn't have angered so easily at the female's harmless question. 'calm down!' He told himself forcefully.

Then he turned to Avalon, hoping to draw people off the tender subject."Hello Avalon, this is Caillou.He said, indicating to Caillou with his paw, then tossing his nose to the back of the cave."And that is her sister, Lune."

[Memo]

ooc: sorry, last post has too small of text!

[Aspen]

_{Avalon realized had obviously entered at just the right moment. Caillou's harmless question seemed to have brought tension between the two. Cylon's reply was tight and he did not effectivly answered the question. She assumed he had struggled with this question before with himself. "And that is her sister, Lune," he finsihed. Avalon smiled as she peered into the cave and spotted another dog sprawled across the ground. She turned back to face Caillou. "Nice to meet you, Caillou,"Avalon greeted her, "I suppose you're out here hiding from Agro's destruction as well?" Avalon wondered how long the pair had been living in that cave. She shook herself, unable to imagine living in the dark for any length of time. She prefered to stay in the village, sneaking out when the guards came by way of an alley behind her home. It was quite convinient really. If she didn't have such easy access, she'd be forced to lie to the guards and claim allegience to Agro. She wasn't a very good liar.}

[;;Sparrow`]

"That is partly true, yet is not fully." Caillou took a step back at his snarled response, and narrowed her eyes. She had forgotten that she barely knew this dog, and that he was undoubtedly capable of much harm. She knew she had to be more wary of him. After all, she knew nothing about fighting, and wouldnt be capable of defending herself, although she is nearly his size.

Caillou turned to Avalon, hoping to give Cylon a moment to calm down. "It is nice to meet you, Avalon, though the circumstances are unpleasant." She said, referring to the whole Agro situation.

"I suppose you're out here hiding from Agro's destruction as well?" Avalon asked.

Caillou nodded her head. "Sadly, yes. My parents happened to be very...fond of Apollo. And they werent going to deny him and Aspen of their support. We just recently left the village, and are hiding out here." Caillou realized that she had given a lot of information to these strangers, and decided to keep quiet.

Caillou glanced back at Cylon. She hoped that he wasnt one to keep a grudge. She hadnt meant to insult him with her question, but now that she reflected on the situation, what she had said could have been taken the wrong way.

x x x x x x x x

Lune opened one eye groggily to the sound of voices. She heard Caillou speaking...and other dogs?!?! She sat up quickly, and slowly made her way to the cave entrance. She saw a very pretty Australian shepherd and a handsome dog that looked like a Mexican wolf conversing with Caillou. She smiled when she saw the male.

"Caillou! Hello. Who are your 'friends'?" She asked.

Caillou rolled her eyes slightly, and said "This is Avalon," pointing with her paw towards the pretty shepherd. "And this is Cylon."

Lune'e eyes lingered on Cylon. He didnt look too much older than Caillou, maybe a two or three years old. At least that is what she thought. She smiled, and talking to both dogs but looking at Cylon, said "Hello. It is very nice to meet you."

[Memo]

Cylon shook his head to clear the last of his unnecessary anger over the female's comment. "Caillou! Hello. Who are your 'friends'?" Came a nearby voice. Cylon turned to see another dog who looked a lot like Caillou. It must be her sister, Lune. Shem ust have woken and heard the sound of unfamiliar voices. He stayed silent as Caillou introduced them to Lune, noticing with slight discomfort that he gaze rested fully on him."Hello. It is very nice to meet you." Lune said when Caillou finished.

Cylon shifted his paws and looked at the ground, trying to avoid Lune's gaze. He glanced up and saw her eyes were still on him. He knew he should still be polite, and not show that this female's interest was making him nervous. So he sat up straight and met her gaze calmly.

"Hello, it is nice to meet you as well. You must be Lune, Caillou told us about you. He said, making sure he sounded very calm, but disinterested in Lune. He blinked quickly and looked back at Caillou as soon as he had finished directing his comment at Lune.

[;;Sparrow`]

Lune noticed that Cylon appeared nervous. She held back a giggle, amused at the thought that she was making him uncomfortable. He then calmed himself, and said, "Hello, it is nice to meet you as well. You must be Lune, Caillou told us about you."

Lune nodded at his greeting, and was unhappy that he sounded uninterested. But that wasnt stopping Lune.

Lune asked, "So, are we all out here hiding from Agro?" She managed to stand between Cylon and Avalon, her fur slightly brushing Cylon's.

Caillou again rolled her eyes at Lune. She had thought about stopping her sister, but decided not to. She was still a little annoyed by Cylon's outburst earlier, and thought that he deserved to be annoyed by Lune. She smirked at him as she noticed how uncomfortable he was, and that Lune had managed to wriggle herself by his side.

[Aspen]

Avalon sidestepped as Lune wiggled between her and Cylon. She has to smile because Lune's flirting was obviously making him uncomfertable. "So, are we all out here hiding from Agro?" Lune questioned. Avalon shuddered as the memory of what she had seen in the village flashed through her mind. She looked at her three new companions and tried to imagine the horror that they must have seen as well. "Yes," she sighed, "I'm hiding as well. The guards are in the village. I am lucky to live in a place easy to escape." Avalon recalled Caillou having said something of finding the rebels. Though Avalon herself wasn't brave enough to join their cause, she admired those who were. She had stumbled upon their hideout once, shortly after learning of her parents' disappearence. The rebels had been fiercly defensive, capturing her and making completley positive that she would not turn them in to the guards before they released her. They had said she was welcome if she ever wished to be one of them. But she couldn't imagine killing-whether the dog was good or evil.

[Memo]

Cylon felt a growl rising in his throat as Lune pushed against him, but he forced it down. He had met dogs like this before, he knew how to play this game. He knew exactly how to play this game.....

"Why miss, I'm afraid I am crowding you. Here, allow me to give you more room. He said, perfectly calm and uninterested. He got to his feet and moved a pace away from Lune. His tone of voice and body language had lost all traces that he had ever been uncomfortable. He sat gently back down and focused back on Avalon and Caillou, ignoring Lune fully.

[;;Sparrow`]

Lune giggled to herself, and decided to give it a rest for a while. She didnt want Cylon blowing up at her, but he was an interesting fellow. Lune nodded at what Avalon had said.

"Well, me and Caillou recently made a run for it." She said, speaking seriously. "Things back home...well, things didnt turn out so good for our...parents." She said quietly, and her usually happy mood took a nose-dive. She looked down at her feet, and said, "I am going to go explore a little." She then sighed, and clambered up the cliff and peeked inside little caves.

Lune silently held her own pity party, and wished that she could be anywhere but here.

Caillou frowned at Lune. Both girls where traumatized at the loss of their parents and the fact that they were murdered in their own home. She watched Lune sadly exit the conversation. She also raised her eyebrows at Cylon, and smiled slightly.

Mostly speaking to herself, but loud enough for Cylon to hear, she said, "Smooth."

[Memo]

"Smooth." What did she mean smooth? Probably another thing he didn't want to understand. He almost sighed in relief as Lune left, but he did not, thinking it might offend someone. His posture didn't change with his relief either, so it was unnoticeable. 'Ahhhhh..' He said to himself 'Now we can concentrate on what is going to happen here.

"So, Caillou. Are you going to go with Avalon to join the rebels? I'm sure more supporters would be a big help to them. I only it were truly safe to be helping them.... He trailed off, not ever sure why he had spoken. He scolded himself silently.

"Well, in the meantime, I believe Avalon and I were going to set out hunting. Care to join us?" He asked Caillou, head cocked thoughtfully to one side.

[;;Sparrow`]

Caillou pondered the idea. She wanted to be a part of the rebels very much...but Lune would then be endangered. Lune is her first priority. Lune is all she has left.

Caillou said, "I am still unsure about that. Like you said, it isnt truly safe, and I cant let Lune be at risk. She can be a pain in the behind sometimes," She smiled at Cylon, and then continued. "But she is still my sister, and well...she is the only dog I have left and truly trust."

Caillou glanced up at Lune, and felt bad for herself and her sister. Why did all of this have to happen to them? But then again, they could be in a much worse situation. What if, Caillou could barely stand to think of this, but what if they had been captured by the guards that had ruined their lives? Who knows what would have happened then. Caillou was so wrapped up in her own thoughs that she barely made out what Cylon had asked her.

"Of course. I must warn you though, I dont know much about hunting. I have done it before, but never had to rely on my skills. And Lune would have to come. I cant leave her by herself. If you dont want us both along though, we dont have to come." Her stomach then growed loudly. She smiled, embarrassed.