Alexi's POV

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" I barked in rage. Tillow was all around me, blocking my way everywhere I turned. "ALRIGHT FINE!!! I'll tell you about our meeting if you calm down," I snarled. Finally he sat, eagerly facing me. "Old water rat," I mumbled crossly under my breath. "First, how do you know Mia?"

"Ah, I was a good friend of her parents when she was a young cub," he began, giving a small and wistful smile. "She was always smart; you could never keep her doing anything for long! I knew she'd get into trouble with that curiosity of hers, so I started teaching her how to get out of it."

"Wait," Scout squeaked. "You're THAT Tillow? The one who made her mess with the other fox cubs and steal scraps to share?!"

Tillow nodded. "The very same. Though that was part of her training; I couldn't have it be boring or she'd never listen! It's good to hear that she's given me a reputation," he laughed, slightly rasping. "Anyway, once she started traveling around we lost touch, and soon the royal guards were stationed in the villages to 'stop crime'. All they did was collect food taxes from us! So eventually I came here to confront the king about it, and here I am now. I've been here since last fall, and no meeting or even mention of the king! The guards sometimes like to poke at me with sticks when they're bored and the food is terrible! So it's about time I got out of this prison, and you three should leave with me before you get as desperate as I am."

Doug and Scout, who were politely listening before, stared at him in confusion and disbelief. "They're really like that..?" Scout questioned as she shifted back and forth. I turned to Tillow with a nod. "I'd believe it. So what exactly do we have to do?"

"First I need you to tell me as much as you can about your meeting," he replied. "Who was there, how long it was, what was said, etc." I tried to remember all of the details of the conversation.

"Well, we gave them a rundown of Mia's capture by that cursed wolf and polar bear first," I paused to glare at Scout and Doug. "In a bit too much detail, might I add. Then the raccoon whispered to herself about Mia possibly being some 'one who will bring ruin to the kingdom' or something. I think she also mentioned something about powers?? It didn't make sense to me."

Tillow was starring at me in alarm. "Are you certain?! Try to think back; exactly what did she say!?"

"Now hold on one moment!" Doug intervened. "Surely you aren't being serious right now. Firstly, I believe we should get a medic in here to give Tillow mental help; the guards may be cold but there's no way they'd do things like that. Secondly, you must have misheard Thistle Alexi. She was nice and helpful, and all this talk of powers and crumbling kingdoms is nonsense! I won't allow this to go on and risk our chances of meeting the king or getting Mia help," he barked stubbornly.

"Don't you get it Doug!!" I snarled, enraged at his lack of understanding and unwillingness to believe Tillow and I. "They aren't going to help us!! They're keeping us prisoner and that deceitful raccoon told us she'd send a messenger to the wolf leader about the border incident, not that she'd get Mia back!! If they did actually rescue her it'd only be to imprison her again or even kill her!! They don't care about us or her, they just want to keep things as they are! Tillow told us that guards here are cruel and we've already seen their lack of care and emotion ourselves! If you want to be stuck here waiting for something that will never happen, be my guest. But I'll be free with Tillow actually doing something to help my friend!"

I spun, tail whipping, to face Tillow again after glaring at Doug, ignoring Scout as I focused in on him again. "If it's alright with you, is like to go to your cell for further discussion. Someone here will apparently be no help."

Tillow nodded awkwardly and turned to the water again, preparing to dive under. Before he could leave however, we heard a full clang as the cell door swung open. I jumped in alarm and bared my fangs until I saw Scout standing in the entrance with the ring of keys grasped loosely in her mouth, almost larger than she was. She let them drop as she scanned us over, noting the tension. "While I'm still not sure how much of what i just heard I believe, anything is better than being stuck here. Doug, you're free to stay and wait, which may be the best hope for getting help after all, but I can't sit here when I could be doing more. Mia risked her life for me, so I have no reason not to do the same."

Doug looked away, glaring into the corner holding the stinking log. He said nothing, so after a last sidelong glance I crouched to allow Scout access to my shoulders. Tillow quickly padded over to the door, almost shaking in excitement. "Do you know the way out?" I asked flicking my ears forward eagerly. At that he slumped in defeat.

"I thought you'd know since you just got here," he replied, trailing off.

"I think I remember the way," Scout squeaked from my shoulders. "Tillow should walk in front to make sure there are no guards, and I can direct us. There was an exit a little before the room we talked to Thistle in." Tillow and I nodded in agreement, and he shot a last look back at Doug. "He won't run off and tell the guards we've escaped, will he?" he chirped.

Glaring back at Doug's slumped form, I slammed the barred door behind us with my tail. "He won't now. And he wouldn't dare risk calling the guards and telling them he let us go," I growled, narrowing my eyes at my coward of a brother. Scout shifted while Tillow averted his gaze to the cobbled floor. He cleared his throat and looked to Scout. "Lets go then," he chirped.

Hopefully this longer chapter is okay ^^
-Cavy
(12/7/17)