A Nightmare's Honor

Small Spaces

Author's ([Sky]'s) Note: I'm not sure if this needs a warning, but some parts of this chapter are focused on claustrophobia and may be intimidating to read. Have a good day/night!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

{M} Gold POV:

I was chatting with Bee about how empty the Yellow Castle felt while the Elites were away on special duties, when, quite suddenly, there was lightning in the courtyard. It was already past dusk, and the moon was small, barely providing any light outside. Who would be teleporting here at a time like this?

I silently gestured at Bee to stay at our post while I checked to see who our visitor could be. "Is someone there?" I asked, calling out into the lush garden of the courtyard. I couldn't see anyone standing where the lightning had been, so I progressed out into the dark night. The courtyard wasn't particularly large, but there were many places someone could hide from view, especially on a night as dark as this.

Pulling out my lantern, I began to search the courtyard. I froze in shock the moment I saw the Red Apprentice, unconscious and with minor injuries, lying on the grass with a small wolf in his arms. What in the... I reached out to try and wake him, but the wolf suddenly wriggled out of his arms and growled at me. The pup looked to be trying to defend the Red Apprentice, though he was too small to pose any serious threat. This night just keeps getting weirder...

I knelt down, put out my hand, and let the wolf sniff me. After a few seconds, it seemed to decide it could trust me and sat down. It kept a wary eye on me, but its hackles weren't raised, so I considered that a win. Slowly and carefully, I shook the Red Apprentice's uninjured shoulder, but he didn't wake. He's out cold.

Sighing, I carefully changed his position and lifted him, carrying the Red Apprentice on my shoulder. Let's get you to the Yellow Apprentice. He'll know what to do.

After carrying him through the mostly empty castle, avoiding guard patrols in case they would cause a panic, I made it to the Yellow Apprentice's room. I knocked twice and waited for him to answer.

"Come in," I heard him say from behind the door, his voice muffled slightly.

I entered his room and shut the door behind me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{M} Quill/Yellow Apprentice POV:

I was filling out some late-night paperwork in my own room when someone knocked on the door. I didn't think much of it and told them to enter. After reading through a few paragraphs, I completely forgot that someone else was in the room until they cleared their throat.

"Can I help you?" I asked them, not bothering to look up from my work.

"Uhm... I- uh-" the person stammered.

I sighed, then looked up only to tense in shock. There, by the door to my room, was one of the higher ranking Yellow Guards, and with him was a very much unconscious M.

"What the- where-" I struggled for a moment to find the right words. "What happened?! Put- put him on my bed!"

Obliging, the Yellow Guard laid M on my bed. It was that moment that I realized there was also a small wolf in the room. How did it get in? The wolf sat down on the floor beside the bed, observing us vigilantly.

"He came a minute or so ago. I saw lightning in the courtyard, and when I went to check it out, I found him lying there, unconscious. He looks okay, maybe with very minor wounds, but he's out cold. Also, that wolf was with him. Not sure why, but it's trying to protect him."