Drabble 311

Finished 6:53.

Anansi turned to Raven, his head tilted to one side slightly, and said, “Why did you leave?”

“That isn't an answer, Anansi,” snapped Raven.

“Perhaps you should ask a better question then,” said Anansi. He tried to wrap an arm around Raven's back but Raven stepped away out of his reach. “Why did you stay?” he asked again. “Why didn't you leave with me?”

“It's a good job with good pay,” Anansi shrugged.

“And it doesn't bother you? Being His Majesty's attack dog?” spat Raven, a little more sharply than he'd intended.

“Why would it?” asked Anansi, remaining frustratingly calm.

Drabble 310

Finished 7:01.

Anansi was outside with his soldiers, going over their plans for the morning when they would set out for General Mary-Tzu's camp. Raven was following him, silently trying to judge how long it would take him to scale the manor walls and whether or not he could outrun Anansi. With so many guards and soldiers about the place he didn't particularly like his odds, but by that point he was nearly desperate enough to try it. “Just one question, while I still have the chance to ask it,” Raven said, tapping Anansi to get his attention; “Why did you stay?”

Drabble 309

 Finished 6:47.

Raven was desperately trying to pull his hair back, and having no such luck. “You should keep it down,” said Anansi, “it suits you better that way.”

“I'll make sure to keep that in mind,” Raven snapped. He managed to get most of his hair back off of his face and knotted the string. “I get the impression you don't care for me any more,” said Anansi.

“I wonder why that might be,” bit Raven, sarcastically.

“Yes, so do I,” replied Anansi, entirely sincere; “you've changed so much since I saw you last, it's like I hardly know you now.”

Drabble 308

Finished 6:59.

Araziel was managing to stay far calmer than Blue was. She pushed Blue back into a sitting position and approached Aengus cautiously. “Would I be correct in assuming that you could let us out?” she asked.

“It would be inadvisable to assume anything,” replied Aengus.

“Are we going to get any straight answers from you?” Araziel snapped.

“You might, if you ask some straight questions.”

“Can You Let Us Out Of Here?” Araziel ground out, emphasising every word.

“I might be able to, so long as other factors don't interfere.” This time it was Blue's turn to hold Araziel back.

Drabble 307

Finished 7:04.

Blue tried to run away again almost immediately, and Araziel was barely able to catch him before he did. “No, no, no!” he snapped. “I am not dealing with this. Not now, not today. I just want to go home and drink myself into a stupor.”

“Well that might be a little difficult,” Aengus told him, cheerily. “Mortals can't come and go from here as they wish – you needed somebody to bring you here, and you'll need somebody to let you out.” Blue took a moment to consider what he'd said, and concluded that he really didn't like that place.

Drabble 306

Finished 6:11.

Aengus was stood hmm'ing, obviously looking for some way out of answering the question. Araziel was starting to get impatient, and snapped, “Just get on and answer already!”

“Alright; I'm not going to get out of this one, am I?” said Aengus, rubbing the back of his neck with an open palm. “No, you're not, so quit stalling,” Araziel hissed. For a moment Aengus looked like he might just run away instead, but after a moment he just sighed and said, “I am a barghest, a member of the Unseelie court, and you are in the domain of the fae.”

Drabble 305

Finished 6:59. I really shouldn't be trying to do this at the same time as NaNoWriMo.

When Araziel had finally gotten Blue to calm down enough to actually have most of a conversation, they sat down beneath the largest tree that was nearby while Aengus remained standing a few paces away. “You still haven't told me what you are, or what this place is and what we're all doing here,” Araziel pointed out.

“No, I don't suppose I have,” replied Aengus.

“Then stop beating around the bush and just tell us already!” snapped Araziel.

“Tell you what?” asked Aengus.

“For the love of of all that is good, just tell us already exactly what you are!”