Unlikely Alliances (The Pack)

Two - Well There Goes That Hope

'Ah, there you are Robert. Would you care to tell me where you've been?'

The young prince froze as he heard his father call to him, and he turned on the spot as he approached. 'Father, I wasn't expecting to see you in this wing of the castle. Whatever can I help you with?'

'You heard my question. Where have you been?'

I was gone for ten minutes, maximum. 'I...I went to Mother's garden.'

He'd gone to the cells before that, tough, but the King needn't know that. His face softened at the mention of Morgana Latsky's resting place, giving a slight nod and patting his son's shoulder awkwardly. 'Don't worry Robert, I'm not mad at you. Just make sure you're being careful around the Northern cells, alright? Another one of those... Things was found earlier today.'

'Were they hostile?'

'It might not seem so at first, but I have no doubt that it has a malicious plan for the throne if it ever gets free.'

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'The first thing I'm going to do if I get out of here is get fish. Like, it doesn't even matter what kind of fish, I just really want some.'
'You, my friend, are one weird man. Why fish of all things, when you can get cake?'

'Oh I'm sorry, do you see me happily skipping through the forest with a basket of cake after along day of caking by the river? I don't have a cake rod, I have a fish rod.' Lachlan scolded jokingly, with his new friend laughing so hard he couldn't breathe for a few moments.
Being in the cells... Preston actually found it fun. Sure, there was a growing area of water in one of the corners, and it was a cell, but he was in good company.
'You find me and my fish funny huh? Do ya? You might want to calm down your laughter there pal, or I might just have to diddly darn come over there and diddly darn slap you wish my fish.'
'Oh, my Lords, I can't breathe!' The shorter prodigy practically howled with laughter, having to lay down to try and calm himself while Lachlan continued. 'Y'know what else can't breathe on land? My fish, but you see my fish is a magical fig, so it will live forever.'
'FIG?!'

'Well it's good to see you two are having so much fun.' Lachlan suddenly flinched and tried to hide himself in the confines of his cell while Preston's laughter quickly died down, and the two looked to the hallway as a troupe of three guards (plus a new prisoner, by the look of things) walked by.
Said prisoner looked up, blond hair being revealed in the dim light, causing the fire keeper to gasp and move forwards 'What did you do to him?'
'He was harbouring a dangerous creature. He got off lightly, to be honest, so he'll be out within a few days.' Kenny's eyes flashed with recognition as he saw his friend, but made no attempt to struggle. It looked like he had, at one point, put up a fight, but it also looked like he'd lost.
Oh snap, Kenny, what have they done to you? He thought, glaring at the passing guards as they lead his close friend into a nearby cell. From what he heard, one of the guards - possibly the one that had been walking behind them - was shouting at them for being too rough with him.

Moments later, two of the three left. The third seemed to hesitate before they left, looking back at the boys as they shut the door - Almost as if they felt guilty.
'Kenny! Bro, are you okay?' Preston called down the hallway as he pressed against the bars, not noticing how the rusted metal sizzled faintly. His blond friend nodded, before realizing that the prodigy wouldn't be able to see him and calling out; I'm fine.
'Dude, what happened to you?'
'Tried to put up a fight when you were taken, so they had to restrain me. Fun, right? Anyway, how are you?'
For whatever reason, the Tauran didn't reply. Looking over to his cell with curiosity, the questioning look on Lachlan's face quickly grew to a grin - His new friend was still able to use his ability as a hybrid, if not his Keeper ability, and was melting a section of the bars that lined his cell.

'Getting out of here, that's what. Kenny, are you good to run?'
'I should be able to outrun any guards if they get close.'
'Good. What about you, Lachlan?' One bar fell to the floor, but the metal was so soft that it hardly made a sound.
'I'm good to go whenever you - PRESTON WATCH OUT!'
It had, apparently, been enough noise for one of the guards positioned at the end of the hall. Some kind of dart shot through the air, seeming to curve to go through the hole Preston had created and bedding itself into the back of his neck.

Alarmed, the prodigy moved back to try and get the needle-like projectile out of his skin before anything happened. Strangely, it didn't melt, but he soon found out that it could emit electricity.
And by that, I mean the dart electrocuted him to the point where he was on the ground, convulsing in pain.
Great.

'Preston?! Preston, buddy, say something!' Lachlan called out, temporarily forgetting his apparent fear of the guards and trying to use his own ability. Faint golden sparks appeared at his fingertips for a moment before they died out- Just before two of the guards came jogging down the hallway.
'What happened to him?' The other blond- Preston had called him Kenny- spoke up, clearly concerned for the lava mob. Lachlan guessed that they were close friends, they seemed to have one of those bonds.
'He tried to escape-'
'Watch it, Power, or you'll be in confinement again.' One of the guards growled, rapping on the bars of his cell with her sword while the younger prodigy narrowed his eyes warily. He remembered this one - Her name was Ashley.

Very, very rude. 0/10 attitude, if he was going to be honest, also unnaturally strong. He learned that the hard way.

So, the Astralan stayed quiet, his only comfort being that he could see his friend was still alive. Electrocuted, and in pain, but still alive.
The guards took him out. No regretful second glances from these two, they just dragged him down the freezing corridor and to the right. Execution Level, Lachlan thought sullenly.

'Lachlan? Please, what happened to Preston?' The Tauran's friend asked again, sounding even more worried this time. All the blond did was stare down then corridor where he'd been taking, hesitating for a few seconds before he finally spoke.
'They're... Because he tried to escape, they're taking Preston to- to be executed.'

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Why do you guys think Lachlan knows what's going to happen? Thoughts?

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Updates won't be everyday, but there will be 2 every week.

QOTC - Have you ever been hurt by a friend?

AOTC - Lmao yep, she tried to drown me when we went to the beach. We're not friends anymore :)