Chapter Text
Pearl had seen Cleo leave the tavern earlier and head to the cage. Cleo was brash but wouldn't outright scorn their captive so Pearl trusted her to be there alone. What she, Drift and Shelby needed to do however, is go reconvene with the vampires and apologise, as well as get them up to date on what's going on in town.
The other two seemed to be having similar thoughts and so Pearl got up, gestured for them to follow and stepped out into the chilly Oakhurst air.
She regretted having not brought a scarf or jumper to keep her warm, Drift looked unbothered by the cold in her trench coat and Shelby had her green wooled jumper but unfortunately she wore a shorter skirt as well which didn't help with the bite of the wind. The girl obviously shivered as they went along the small dirt path.
They had only been walking for a couple of minutes when Pearl’s ears caught on whispers and she stopped, straining her ears for more of the conversation.
The others noticed and quickly followed suit.
“Owen why cant we get closer!?” a hushed female voice whisper shouted at the other person there.
“Because Apo, you never know who’s skulking around where they aren't meant to be. Isn't that right, girls?”
They came closer towards the voices, coming out sheepishly at Owen and Apo[?] oh that was NotApo.
“Uhm Hi! I’m Apo Kuna.” the NotApo said warily but still cheery enough for Pearl to let her guard down. Only for it to be right back up again when Owen spoke. No matter if he saved her or not, vampires were inherently dangerous and might attack at any moment.
Even if it was Owen.
“Your heartbeat is speeding up, I can tell you are afraid. Of what though, me or Apo.”
“Dude, shut up you're making them uncomfortable! Uh anyways we were just heading back to the castle to reconvene with the others, Cleo looked to be doing well in battle from what I could see so I wanna congratulate her!” Apo said nicely.
The 3 humans shared a glance. They didn't know what happened to Cleo. and they all needed to get to the castle now.
“Best we all go to the castle so we can explain.” Shelby said.
⋆♱⌛︎♱⋆
Scott was not expecting the remainder of his day to be either holding Pearl back from marching into town and laying waste to the residents for daring to touch one of her friends or comforting her as she sobbed into his arms.
He was definitely not prepared for a sobby, shaky mess of a Pearl today! And these clothes were designer! Her mood swings were certainly on show today
It was fine either way, but emotions truly were not the elder’s thing and any sadness or guilt he felt was quickly replaced by the ever burning hatred possessed by all of vampire kind. The primal urge to rip all that stood in his way to shreds.
He did not like to indulge in his violent nature too often. Especially now, when Pearl had finished another round of tears and the human girls were at the other end of the bridge, with Apo and Owen in tow.
Pearl went right back to being stoic when Apo flew across the bridge and straight into her arms.
“I’m so glad you're ok!” the harpy said, “But where is Cleo? I don't see her round here and she wasn't near where we were in the forest either. And why are you tear-stained?”
…
“Apo, there were some problems with the fight earlier. Cleo…” the cyanette trailed off while a horrified expression befell Apo.
“Don't tell she’s dead.” Apo said firmly.
“No, but we watched Elle, she is the main force against us, kidnap them and when we tried to stop her she just threatened Cleo with a knife to the throat. She just took them. And we couldn't stop her.” Scott said grimly and somberly.
“Owen come with me.” Apo ordered and she spun on her heel, dress flowing behind her.
“What are we doing exactly?”
“We are going to rescue a member of the flock.”
⋆♱⌛︎♱⋆
Owen voiced his concerns the entire way to the town and was shut down every time by her feathery companion. Apo was not going to be swayed from saving a friend by simple worries.
Yes, they heavily disliked each other back in the arena but here? Here they were family. Cleo was now flock whether they liked it or not. And when they got her out of that cell that the girls had spoken about they were trapped in, they would be officially flock.
No time like the present, as Owen says, to go in.