(WARNING: The chapter contains, although indirect and allusive, but adult scenes nevertheless, towards the end.)

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Since my brawl with Derek back in the dining hall, I've been locked up in a solitary cell for a week, to "reflect on my actions". They've at least patched up my shoulder, so it wouldn't hurt as much. I do miss Knut's soft fingers running on my wounds applying the balms, though. His medicine was always superb.

The door of the cell opens with a clang. Rufus has come, with some raven guards. These latter ones free me from the chains and take me out.

"Your time is up, Theo." Rufus smiles. "I hope you've reflected upon your behaviour?"

"Yes."

"What have you learned?"

"That I've done nothing wrong. How's the plan going?"

Rufus shakes his head with a chuckle. It seems I've disappointed the papa bird yet again - I'm an untamable little chick who's always jumping off the nest when her wings haven't even developed yet.

"It's going very well. Everyone seems to learn of their duties as time passes."

"That's good. We'll need to operate perfectly for the break-out to succeed. Everyone's part is crucial."

"Yes. So far, everything seems fine."

"Who's been appointed as the new headman for merpeople?"

During the one-week solitary confinement, I've been in a complete informational vacuum. Nobody's been either bringing me news or asking me how I felt. It is a good time to catch up, now that I've been released.

"Gregory Whaleford."

"Wait, you don't mean that cute big whale who's agreed to come with us on the very first day?!"

I can't believe what I'm hearing - Gregory is the sweetest inborn merman in this prison. A well-built giant man in his sixties, he's one of the few blue whales left in the world, and the only one in our prison. He's so kind that he's never hurt anyone in his life, and has always been preaching about peace. Bob has appointed such a guy as a headman?

"Well, initially, Bob offered Colleen Karcharias' candidacy, but the warden rejected it and gave the position to Gregory instead."

Yeah, that makes more sense - Colleen is a shark of the Karcharias Clan. She's just as annoying as Derek was. Bob would certainly like her. But if the warden hated Derek so much as to burn him alive for hurting a mere prisoner like me, then it is obvious that he doesn't really fancy sharks. I still can't understand why a monster like him has chosen a cinnamon roll like Gregory for a headman position, though.

But it's better for all of us - Gregory's agreed to come with us right on the first day when Annabelle spread the word about our escape plan in the merpeople district. He's even offered to carry sixty of us on his back. He's really sweet.

"Oh, by the way, you have a visitor waiting for you outside," Rufus says.

"Huh? Who?"

Just as we emerge from the dungeon, I see Knut stand before us. I gather Rufus's been talking about him. I am happy to see him again. I should've expected it - a week has passed since my being shoved into the solitary cell on Sunday, so that means Knut must've returned even yesterday.

He looks a bit different from the last time I saw him - the thin black coat he's wearing along with his black t-shirt and soldierly trousers renders him more respectable, like a true high administrator. He reminds me of the warden in that outfit (the warden too carried such a coat when I saw him a week ago). His snow leopard fur and eyes resemble the warden's ones too, as well as the hairstyle. He must really admire his brother to follow his fashion so much. To me, however, it looks rather scary, now that I know it's the warden's style.

"Hey, Knut."

I hug him. No matter what he looks like, he's still Knut - the man who's saved me many times and shown me his devotion. The man I've fallen for.

"I've missed you, Theo."

His arms embrace me and press me to his chest. Somehow, Dagur's hug comes to my mind - it was the same type. I discard the thought and lean my head back to smile into his face. He returns a loving beam and touches my lips with his own. We exchange another sweet kiss, after this long month.

"Come, let's go to my room."

Knut only tilts his head to Rufus to show his respect and leads me out of the vampire district, to the feline one. We cross many corridors and districts, through all of which they let us pass with ease since Knut has full rights to roam anywhere he pleases. If only I had this much freedom...

I haven't forgotten my deal with Dagur. It is the time to tell Knut everything. But it's easier said than done.

"So, how was your trip?" I start from afar.

"Hardly called a trip," he mutters. "We had to rally the nearby deviant kingdoms for additional supplies, and most of their kings would turn us down with a scoff. They think infected humans' dying out for good is a better idea, when they've been the cause of their getting infected, in the first place."

"I completely agree with you."

It seems Knut's been turned to my ideology little by little - that the inborn deviants are a nuisance. He's always been rather hostile towards them, though. Even towards Bob, his own uncle. I guess that is one of the reasons why we found a common language so easily.

"It's fine, we've managed to gather sufficient food, in the end." He shrugs. "How about you? I've heard from my brother that you caused quite some ruckus a week ago. Your confinement was the proof of it."

A teasing smile runs through his lips. I guess he finds my calamities amusing. I punch him softly on his arm:

"Oh, shush! But yeah, I met your brother."

"So, how was it?"

"He was... intimidating."

I'm still terrified at the remembrance of the warden and his cold-blooded codes of conduct back in the dining hall, of how he disposed of Derek without any emotions.

"Yeah, towards the prisoners and the subordinates, he usually is." Knut shrugs. "That's one of my favourite things about him, however. Growing up, he would give me lessons on how to stand my ground properly."

"You? You are pretty much intimidating all on your own!" I laugh. "How come you needed lessons?"

"Oh, believe me, I did." A shy smile covers his face. "I loved bragging a lot but was in fact so insecure that I'd flee from every minor danger. The way I am now is all due to my brother's teachings."

"Wow, that sounds so... different from you."

I could never picture Knut's running away in fright after he'd boasted he was going to beat everyone's ass. The Knut I've gotten to know always lives up to his words - if he says he's going to beat someone up, he's up for it. What he's saying now is unbelievable. Yet, I do believe him - in the course of life, we may transform so much that we don't really resemble our children selves anymore. Only a few core features will remain.

"Dagur's also told me about some new movements among the prisoners," he suddenly remarks in a solemn tone, "He didn't go into details, but said that you'd tell me everything since you're their leader."

He opens the door to his room. I am petrified - Dagur's told him everything already?! No, from the looks of it, he's only told him about my stirring the crowds up. I guess he's made sure that I'd tell Knut everything, even before I'd come to my senses. I begin to hate him all the more now.

I enter Knut's chamber. He walks in after me and closes the door behind him. Surprisingly for me, my night-dress is placed on his bed.

"Wait, what's my night-dress doing here?"

"You've been in solitary confinement for a long time. I thought you'd enjoy sleeping in my bed rather than the torn mattress in your cell, for a change."

His lustful smile explains it all to me. I guess Dagur was right - Knut had fallen for me long before we'd move our relationship further. I nod without a word, for, I too, long for his muscled physique. Yet, I am still hesitant - I've never slept with a guy before.

"Knut, I... I've never done this before. I don't have much knowledge about how exactly it works. I mean, of course, I know the gist, but_"

"It's easy. I'll help."

He winks at me. His sparkling feline eyes turn yellow. His fur takes the yellow colour of a spotted leopard, too. I guess he's chosen to hit me with the fire mode. Not that I don't like it - it turns me on more.

I begin to undress. He does too, on his part. I put my night-dress away on a bedside table - it'd be better to do it without clothes. Knut's room is warm enough. When we're done preparing, I lie on the bed, and he leans over me.

"Now then, since this is your first time, it'll be painful. But I'll try to be gentle."

Yeah, hooking up with a twenty-six-year-old, I should've seen this coming. It is the proper time for me to experience it, though. Some of my classmates had already started these affairs at only sixteen years of age, while I shied away from boys back then. Now, I am finally able to give in to the pleasure.

The pleasure they call it, yet it hurts like hell! I want to scream. But no, actually, they're right - this is... bliss, like nothing I've ever known.

"Come at me with all you've got," I whisper in his ear, "Plunge on me, tiger..."

"Your wish is my command."

Another wave of delight. Knut truly is fire when it comes to this. And he's all mine.

I undergo sensations I've never felt before. I feel like on a magic carpet high up in heaven, or like a little bird in a cat's clutches... Yeah, more like the latter one.

When we're done and get off each other, we put on our underwear and night robes. I snuggle up in the bed beside him. It truly is so warm, with all these fluffy blankets and puffy pillows...

"Now," - a smile runs on Knut's lips, - "tell me all about this escape plan of yours."

Shudders run down my spine - he knows?!