For three days, the spying continued without Liraz getting caught. He kept trying to get beyond the gate, but every time he tried, they almost saw him.

“Stop worrying,” Kira told him as he came back from one of his missions in a hyperventilating mess. “You’ll figure it out eventually. We’re not judging you.”

“But what if I can’t figure it out and then we’re stuck here forever and it’s all my fault?” Liraz panicked.

“You will,” Kira insisted. “Stop doubting yourself. No good ever comes out of that for anybody.”

Liraz made a whimpering sound and gripped his head with his wings. “I can do this. I can do this. We will figure this out. I can do this.”

“There you go!” Kira cheered, smiling encouragingly.

Liraz took a deep breath, then flapped through the bars once again with a more determined tilt to his wings.

Kira looked after him, making sure he didn’t crash into any walls.

“Quite the little guy you got there,” commented a hoarse voice.

Kira turned sharply and saw Anala laying on the ground in her cell, staring at the fox with melancholy in her eyes.

“Anala?” she said, tilting her head.

The tigress inclined her head. “Yeah. I’ve managed to survive through these moon cycles, despite the odds.” She raised her left paw, which was a mauled mess of burn scars.

Kira winced guiltily at the damage she had done. “I’m sorry.”

Anala shrugged. “I’m tougher now. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Kira smiled sadly and touched the side of her face. “That was me with my eye scar.”

Anala chuckled. “Yeah, I saw that. You look more grown up with it. Less like a punk softie of a kit, more leader-like.”

Kira laughed, and the tension broke between them. “‘Punk softie of a kit’? Is that really what you thought?” She paused and made a face. “I kind of was though, wasn’t I?”

Anala grinned, flashing her long feline incisors. “You were. Though to be fair, I was a bit stubborn and prideful as well. You made me see that. And I’ve seen how much you’ve changed, and what you’re organizing.”

“You’re coming too,” Kira said. “We’re not leaving anyone behind.”

Anala tilted her head as if in doubt. “It will take quite a bit of work. You’ll need to take out all of the guards, and unlock every gate, as well as getting past the arena without being drugged or shot by the wall guards.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“We’re working on it,” Kira responded quietly. “We located every exit and are currently figuring out how to get past the guards by use of a spy. We’ll be out in no time!”

Anala looked wistfully at Kira’s window. “It would be nice to get out of here…but I guess we’ll see.”

----------------------------------------

Kira was out of ideas. It had been one day since Liraz had given her the news that he couldn’t get past the guards, but she didn’t know how to help him from inside her cell. She was getting desperate.

At mess, she sat there with her paws on the side of her head, just trying to think. Her friends were silent as well, and they all knew that the others were trying to come up with a plan.

Then, their savior arrived.

Anala slid onto the bench with her usual deer leg and leaned into their circle. Rogue looked wary, Maximon looked curious, and Laila acted as usual—like she didn’t care. Liraz didn’t say anything, as he was too busy staring off into the distance.

“I can see that you guys are stuck,” Anala declared in a whisper. “I might be able to help you.”

“Oh, really?” Rogue asked suspiciously. “What makes you suddenly want to help us?”

Anala looked down at her burned paw. “I’m sorry for everything I did to everyone here. I was dumb and proud, and too stupid to care about others.”

Rogue’s eyebrows disappeared above his eyes. “You—you are?”

Anala nodded, smiling. “I’m ready to fix what I caused. Helping these prisoners get their freedom will certainly do that.”

Kira straightened from her slouched posed and looked at the tigress. She then made a decision. “Anala, you can lead the prisoners out when it is time to go.”

“What?” Rogue whispered apprehensively. “Kira, I understand forgiving this tigress, but putting her in charge of the escape—”

“I know.” Kira folded her wings tightly against herself. “But I know it’s the right decision. I trust Anala to take her role seriously. After all, she knows the prisoners here much better than the rest of us.”

They all knew it was true, and there were no more arguments.

“So what was your idea, Anala?” Kira questioned, getting the conversation back on track. They had limited time in each mess, and while Kira could talk to Anala in the cellblock, it was better for everyone to hear.

“You need a much smaller version of your escape plan,” Anala said, still speaking in a hushed whisper. “Liraz will still be the one sneaking in, but we need something—or someone—else to distract the guards so he can get through.”

“Sounds solid,” Laila intoned, finally looking Anala, “but what do we use?”

“Something severe and yet small enough that only the guards on the first entrance go to investigate,” Maximon speculated, looking thoughtful. “Like a small explosion, or a prison fight.”

“I vote prison fight,” Anala said. “I can start one of those easy enough.”

“You sure?” Kira asked hesitantly. “I mean, with your burn and all—”

“I’ll be fine,” the tigress said confidently. “I told you: I’ve survived much worse.”

“If that’s what you think is best,” Kira relented.

“Liraz, did you get all of that?” Rogue asked, nudging the bat and making him jump.

“I think so,” he said. “I’ll have to fly really fast and pick the lock. How do I get back?”

“Try to find a place where you can get out and in,” Maximon suggested. “That way we don’t have to make a distraction every time we want to go through the gates.”

“Like what?” Liraz’s brow furrowed.

“Dig a hole,” Rogue offered. “It might take a while, but it will be worth it.”

“I think I can do that,” Liraz said doubtfully, staring at his back feet. “Maybe.”

“You will,” Maximon hissed with confidence. “Liraz, the only one here doubting you is yourself.”

Everyone enthusiastically agreed with him.

Liraz smiled. “Thanks, guys.”

The guards slammed their weapons down on the ground, and everyone began filing back to their cells. Kira smiled confidently, knowing that they were one step closer to escape.