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She never did it long enough to show physical signs, it would be unbecoming of the first talon to have her prized possessions running around looking like skeletons. Good, obedient, little attack dogs, yes, but not a pair of waify strays that could barely move for their bodies failing.
It was difficult to remember what he had done this time. The only thing he didremember was Lucanis; big brown eyes filled with worry begging him to stop… Or was it to get up and keep going?
What had actually happened two days ago?
Was it just two days?
He shook his head trying to order his thoughts. His vision swam, his stomach clenched, luckily there were no contents to empty this time.
Illario sat down. Or had he already been sat down? Regardless, he was on the floor now, and two seconds later he was somehow laying on the floor - on his back, then on his front, cheek smooshed into the stone.
He wasn't sure if he was thankful or not that she hadn't locked him in his bedroom this time. On the one hand it was cooler down here, and he didn't have the added upset of looking out of his window into the city knowing he couldn't get there; On the other… It was dirty, damp, downright cold overnight. Trouble was, he didn't know where the line was anymore. Sometimes he could accidentally slurp his soup at the table and he'd end up not eating again until the following night. Other times he would hit the floor after training for hours on end, nothing left in his system and it would earn him the same punishment.
He flipped onto his back again, his stomach growled, twisted, and he forced his eyes closed. A deep breath in through his nose, out through his mouth. Once. Twice. Three times. When he opened his eyes the room was steady. He sat up slowly, sliding his arms back until they bent at the elbow and he was pushing himself up on his forearms. He rested in that position for a moment, before levering his weight to his palms and pushing up further, still going slow. When he reached his full seated height he paused again, before shuffling back to rest against the wall. It took a horrendous amount of effort, and he slumped against the brick, focussing on his breathing once more.
In. Out.
In. Out.
In. Out.
In.
Out.
His stomach lurched, and he curled forward with it, groaning.
"Illario."
Even the quiet whisper had him jerking to attention, eyes wide, chest tight.
Ridiculous. Caterina wouldn't be whispering. She'd be walking confidently, step, step, thump, step, thump. Not the almost imperceptible footfalls that had him thinking it was all another hallucination, just like the cat this morning.
It had been a big, white, fluffy thing, licking its paws and paying him no mind, just outside the bars of the door.
"'Rio."
Quiet still, but harsher this time. Closer, too.
His eyes slid to the bars once more, just in time to see Lucanis appear from the darkness, his own eyes wide, panicked.
Illario considered him for a moment, before turning his head away.
"Why don't you go play with the cat?"
"What?" He saw him press closer out of the corner of his eye, grab a bar with one hand.
"The cat." He pointed to where the cat had been sat earlier, an empty space now only occupied by joining lines of cement and brick. "You might have to find it first though. Couldn't miss her though, ginormous, puffy thing… Colour of - -"
"Illario." Lucanis snapped, voice still quiet.
He looked at him without turning his head, eyes sliding to the edges of his vision. A white wrapped parcel being pushed through the bars caught his eye, he turned sharply, standing too quickly. He pitched forward, fell, right down onto his knees, hands slamming hard to the floor.
Over the ringing in his own ears he faintly heard Lucanis grunt in sympathy.
"Illario. Get up. Please." Lucanis implored. "Before Caterina realises I'm gone,"
And that would be a tragedy. They'd both end up down here then. And he'd have to stay until she decided that both of their punishments were over.
So he pushed himself up on his hands and knees and crawled over to the bars.
"What is it?"
"Whatever I could grab,"
Illario frowned. "You wrapped it up,"
"No…" Lucanis dropped his gaze. "I got caught." He pushed the package further through the bars and Illario noticed the bright red welt on the back of his hand.
"Lucanis!"
"Anna thought I was fishing for sweets before dinner, then she realised I was just grabbing anything,"
"Lucanis. "
"She asked me where you were. I told her."
“She's going to tell on you."
He shook his head, pressing the parcel into his chest.
"She won't,"
"How do you know?" He pushed it back.
"I bargained." Lucanis hissed. "I have to help her chop vegetables every night this week."
"Lucanis…"
"Shut up."
The parcel was given back, taken with relief, and Lucanis disappeared with one last set of words.
"Don't eat too quickly, you'll throw up."