As they stretched, Sho'ta wished that the kit spoke more Common, so he could reassure her that help was on the way. From the way she scrambled up and pressed into the very back of the cell, she had clearly picked up that something was happening. He just hoped that she didn't panic because there was nothing harder to predict than a panicking civilian.

They would still defend her, no matter what, but if she was panicking it would make it hard to predict her movements. For a brief moment, he wished that she had remained in her stupor, as alarming as that had been. He didn't want her to get hurt because she didn't understand what was going on. Z'shi gave him a tense look, clearly wishing the same. Nothing about this situation was good, but they had faced worse odds and come out on top.

After a long moment where she stared at them as if waiting for them to attack, the kit started to stretch as well. What a clever kit. Even with the lack of language, she clearly knew that something was up but instead of cowering, she was preparing to face it head-on. What a brave kit.

Sho'ta gave an approving chuff as she made sure to loosen up all of her limbs. They wouldn't let danger get near her if at all possible, but he'd been in enough fights to know that nothing ever went according to plan. Not that there was much of a plan left anyway, not since they'd been thrown into a cell with a lost Terran kit. But one of the reasons that he and Z'shi had been chosen was because of their adaptability.

Flicking a few brief signed observations to Z'shi, Sho'ta kept his attention on the hallway. It was only a matter of time until their reinforcements arrived and when that happened, it was even odds as to whether they tried to fight off the peacekeepers or if they decided to silence the prisoners. If they headed for the prisoners, then it would be a matter of fending them off long enough for their friends to arrive.

As if his thoughts had summoned them, he felt the jerk of a ship latching on right as the raid siren went off, the red emergency lights flaring to life and bathing the entire cell area in the ominous shade. Sho'ta gave Z'shi a wicked grin, even as a hint of worry threaded along his spine.

He was tired of being confined and at the mercy of idiots. He also hated seeing anyone in cages and not immediately rectifying the situation. Even with a kit to protect, she had proven to be able to protect herself in a pinch, and the waiting was finally over. Every time he did an infiltration mission, he'd remember how boring the waiting periods were and would swear never again. But then he would hear about someone in trouble and he'd accept the next mission without a second thought. After all, one of his greatest assets was stealth, he could get into places that his colleagues simply couldn't.

Z'shi gave a short whistle to catch his attention, inclining his head toward the kit as he murmured, "Do you think we should wrap some cloth around the nestling's ears?"

Sho'ta turned his attention away from the hall for a brief moment to study the kit. He had noticed that she seemed to have keen hearing but he hadn't factored that in for emergency sirens. Thankfully, she seemed to be intent on scanning her surroundings for the threat rather than overly bothered by the sound, although she was frowning slightly. He inhaled deeply but other than concern, there was no pain in her scent, something he had become familiar with every time she ate or they tended her wounds.

Turning his attention back to the corridor, Sho'ta mumbled back. "I think she's fine. Hopefully, there won't be any serious injuries from the raid so that the healers can look her over. I'll feel better once I know that she isn't actively dying on us."

Stolen novel; please report.

Z'shi gave an alarmed whistle, his wings puffing up until they were twice their normal size. "You think she's dying?"

And this was why he shouldn't say what he was thinking, he always managed to put his big, fat foot straight in his mouth. He soothed, "No, I don't think so. But I am concerned about her bruising and everything. I will feel better once we have her on a safe ship and she's been looked over by healers. Just to be on the safe side."

Z'shi grumbled but subsided, glancing over at the kit repeatedly before refocusing on the hallway.

The siren finally cut off and Sho'ta let out a sigh of relief as his ears moved upright from where they had been flattened to block out the noise. The lack of the siren was a relief, although Sho'ta wished he knew which side had cut the siren. Were the peacekeepers in charge or had the slavers managed to repel the takeover?

The occupants of the other cells were showing two reactions to the whole thing. Half of them huddled in the back of their cells, trying to make themselves as small and non-threatening as possible. The other half was split equally, one part looming and trying to make themselves look as physically intimidating as possible in order to prevent someone from trying their luck. The other half were practically glued to the cell bars, straining to see if they could make out what was happening. The only constant between all of them was a heavy unease as they tried to figure out what was happening.

The one who had tried to warn Sho'ta about the kit was one of the ones pressed to the cells, despair shining brightly in their eyes along with a hint of desperation. How long had they been here, what had they been through, to make them look like that?

Sho'ta considered telling them that it was a rescue operation. After all, they had tried to keep him and his mate from harm. However, he decided against it at the last moment. If the rescue operations should end up failing and there was always a slim chance that it would, then it would be better for them to have no knowledge of the attempt. It was the only pitiful kindness that he could offer in a bleak place like this.

Z'shi grumbled after several minutes passed and no one appeared, "Should I use my talons to pick the lock? I hate waiting for something to happen."

Sho'ta permitted his tail to lash twice before stilling. "We can't risk the kit where we don't know what's happening out there. If they're forced to retreat, I don't want them to realize that we had anything to do with it. We can't risk being separated from the kit or for the kit to be used as leverage against us. We have to be patient, the kit is the top priority. Especially with how dazed she was the past cycle."

Z'shi gave a mournful croon as he nodded regretfully. "You're right. I just wish someone would appear so we'd know what's going on."

The kit chose that moment to give a quiet hiss, causing them both to whirl and face her where they were so high-strung. However, instead of acting aggressively or cowering away from their sudden movement, she stared unblinking at the hallway behind them. When Z'shi made an inquiring croon, she stretched out an arm and pointed the same way she was staring.

They turned to look but there was nothing there. Did Terrans have the ability to perceive camouflaged beings? However, a couple of heartbeats later, they heard a loud ruckus coming from just out of sight. Both he and Z'shi tensed, moving forward into defensive positions. Z'shi even spread his wings so that the kit was mostly hidden from sight at first glance. It wouldn't hold up under close scrutiny but it would do until they assessed the threat.

Right at that moment, a guard went flying across the corridor and crashed into the cell bars across from them before slumping bonelessly onto the ground, unconscious at the very least. Well, that answered the question if the peacekeepers were still there.

A hulking shape rounded the corner, a huge battle hammer resting lightly in their grip as they scanned for threats. Once they were certain that the area was free of guards, they gave a quiet grunt to someone behind them.

A smaller shape slipped into the hallway, coming only up to the first sentient's shoulders, a pair of daggers gripped tightly as she muttered in annoyance. "Where are you two? Did they stuff you in the cargo area?"

Relief filled him at the familiar voice and he gave a low, three-note whistle to catch her attention.

The rescue had finally arrived.