Elemental Kingdom

"I'll set out lamps," Blaze muttered. "When it gets to times like this the other things get very edgy and impudent."

She nodded. "I'll take him inside." She nodded to a sleeping Ethan.

"Try not to go outside in the night, if you can avoid it." Blaze tilted his head at something in the distance and squinted suspiciously.

"I won't this is only a last resort to get him to sleep." She followed his eyes just as a messenger from the palace appeared.

Blaze tensed as the messenger appeared and there was a pop and crackle as a flame curled around his fingers as an automatic response.

"The prince is needed at the palace." The messenger told them.

"He will be there in the morning the hour is too late."

"If you will not bring him here then I will take him myself."

"If you think you can take him forcefully," Blaze said in a cold, quiet voice, "Then you won't be going back at all in anything less than an urn."

"Blaze be careful."

"I'm not letting anything touch me or my own. We have permission from the queen herself to be by ourselves for some time. Take it up with Delilah."

"The council have over ruled the queen, he is needed back at the castle for the announcement that will decide upon his future." The servant told him.

"Alright, we will go, but he does not leave my side or Blazes." Snow told her and this seemed to pacify the servant who waited for them to move.

It had been months since Nathan had gone missing and Garnet had died, her coffin was still in the room where Nathan preserved her, and Snow had been having it bad. She was often seen tied to a wall by a chain and collar forced to shift by the new king who had userped Nathan's sister. She had no idea where Ethan was, but the last she remembered was that she gave him to Blaze and told him to run. She had not seen him either.

"Hey," Delilah whispered as she slipped into the room where Snow was kept. "I brought some water. King Asshole is still in bed. Do you think you can drink today?"

Snow looked over from.wbere she was chained, she remained as a tiger for her own comfort, but she was grubby, sore and wounded. Despite this she nodded.

Delilah set a bowl down by her gently and briefly went back to the door. From there she brought a jug of water, pouring it slowly into the bowl as to not let it splash. Her hands were shaking slightly, and she looked as if she wanted to say something but was too uncertain.

Snow had stopped speaking weeks ago, it was one of the reasons she commonly got hurt. When the water had been poured she lapped it out.

"When we were children, our parents gave us scrying stones, Nathan and I," Delilah whispered. "He wore his on his bracelets. Mine was on a necklace." Delilah set the jug down. "He activated it last night. I might have to leave."

She nodded, she didn't want to be on her own but she understood the need for her to go.

"I'll bring everyone back," Delilah promised quietly. "Okay?"

She nodded. "Blaze...Where...He...is." she tried to ask if she knew where Blaze was, but she couldn't form the words properly.

"I don't know," Delilah said morosely. "I've no connection to him. Whispers in the court say he's been spotted to the south - his kind are rare, after all. Makes him easier to spot."

She gave a soft whimper and she nodded, before she froze at hearing someone coming.

Delilah rushed in gathering up the bowl and jug. "I'll be back before I leave," she promised, and slipped silently out of the room.

Snow nodded, moving to curl back up where she had been.

It was a few days later until Delilah visited again, and this time she had food along with the water.

"I'm leaving tonight," she said quietly, as she set the water and food within Snow's reach. "How have you been?"

By the time she came back, Snow was still as a tiger, but no ability to talk, and her body was covered in infected wounds. Someone had found out about Delilah's visits and the King was not happy.