"Branches…" Slip whispered my name as she grabbed my sleeve.

I rolled over a bit, glared at the stupid woman, and sighed as I realized something was wrong.

Rolling over fully, I sat up a bit and nodded. "What's wrong?" I asked as I rubbed my face. I was tired for some reason.

Slip leaned closer, close enough I felt the heat of her breath, as she whispered. "One of the prisoners is trying to escape," Slip warned.

Waking up fully, I took a small breath and stood. The blanket that had been covering me, and what I had thought also Slip, rolled off as I hurriedly stepped away from the tree we had been sleeping under. I walked past the other guards, who were all still sleeping, and towards the heavy iron wagon that had been made into a cage.

"Shoot!" one of the prisoners made noise as I approached, confirming Slip's words.

They all shuffled a bit, but went quiet as their chains rattled and they all hurriedly sat down as I approached.

Glancing around the wagon, I wondered where the guards that were supposed to be on duty were. Slip and I weren't on duty, and wouldn't be till the sun rose. It was still hours from then. Which meant either the guards on duty were slacking, sleeping, or were a part of this little escape attempt.

Walking up to the wagon, I kept enough distance to make sure I didn't get a spear in the eye or something as I studied the bars for any sign of tampering. I walked around the cage, ignoring the cold eyes staring at me from within it… until I found both the problem, and the one making it.

"Really?" I asked as I stared at the broken board. A piece of broken wood was sticking upward in the cage, at enough of an odd angle that it was clear it wasn't right. They had been trying to rip up the floor, as to escape through the bottom of the wagon and escape the cage.

"Listen, just look the other way…! Please!" the man who had been sitting next to the broken wood asked with a hush.

"I don't get paid if you all don't show up, still in chains," I said as I bent down, to look at the bottom of the wagon.

"What's going on…?" a new voice asked, but from outside the caged wagon. A man approached, carrying a torch. Thanks to the light he brought, I wasn't able to make out the extent of the damage yet. My eyes had been adjusted to the darkness, and I had been fine, but now I was nearly blinded.

I had to step back a bit, squinting at the man and his bright torch. Damn humans and their need for light…!

"They were breaking the floor of the wagon, to escape," I said with a point at them.

"Damn it…!" one of the men inside the cage cursed, and then suddenly they were noisy. Metal chains clanked as one of the men stood and started kicking another, by the looks of it the very man who had begged me to look the other way moments ago.

I scoffed at the humans as they wrestled and fought each other, while in chains.

"Where's Franko and Paulie?" the man with the torch asked.

"If they're the guards on duty, I don't know," I said simply.

The torchman cursed under his breath as he stepped closer to the wagon. He lifted his torch, illuminating the wagon and its contents better. My eyes were still adjusting, but I was able to make out the couple floorboards they had torn up. It looked like they had made a big enough hole that a leg and thigh could get through, but not much else.

"Bastards. Hey! Stop that! The rest of you, stop them, if I have to come in there I'll break every ankle not just theirs!" the man with the torch shouted, rather loudly. Loud enough to wake up the other guards and mercenaries that had been sleeping nearby.

I sighed as the dark night grew loud, even as the prisoners settled down. The man who had been getting his ass beat groaned as he slid along the bars, to the ground. He looked bloodied. A little too bloodied. He'll need medical attention.

"Branch, was it? Good job noticing. Coleman! Sam!" the torchman yelled names, and hurriedly a man rushed over. A large man, with a barrel of a chest.

"Find Franko and Paulie. I want their hides," the torchman ordered.

The large man didn't even nod. He turned and ran off, even though he looked half asleep as he did so… you could tell by the heavy footsteps and the way he tightened his shoulders he meant business. That had not been a joke, I don't think.

"What's going on…?"

"Looks like they tried to escape."

"Idiots."

People began to wake, and I stepped back a bit. Slip and I had been hired to help escort the prisoners, but the main group that this torchman and the rest belonged to were an actual unit. They belonged to this Silken Band that Slip had recognized. I'd let them deal with it, since he seemed to be taking charge.

This sucked though. I still felt a little tired. Now that this happened, and everyone was awake, we'd likely return to marching. Which meant no more sleep for me, since our duties were during the day.

Glancing at the wagon, at the man who had been trying to escape… who was now lying on his side and groaning in pain, I hoped he had many broken bones.

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Walking away, as the world got brighter with more torches and campfires being lit, I went over to our little corner of the encampment. Slip had stood, but hadn't gathered up our meager belongings just yet.

"Did you stop them?" she asked as she studied the wagon. I glanced at it, and wondered how she didn't already know the answer. Maybe she couldn't see well from here…? It was a good distance. Maybe a spear's throw, with my arm at least.

"They stopped themselves. How'd you know?" I asked.

"The guards who had been on duty walked past us, whispering about it. They woke me up," she said with a point behind her, past the tree we had been lying against.

Stepping around the tree, I stared off into the darkness… and sure enough saw two silhouettes in the distance. Two men were running.

I sighed. They were too far to be found in time by the Silken Band members.

Which meant I'd either have to point them out, or go get them myself.

"Don't go get them. if you do you'll be suspected," Slip said softly.

"Hm…? How so?" I asked.

"We humans can't see well in the dark. They'll all think you only knew of them because you had been a part of it and only got caught in the act," she explained.

Oh. That made sense.

"So what should I do?" I asked.

"Either let them go, or go tell the captain… that man barking orders there," Slip pointed at the main torchman. The one who had walked up to the wagon first. "Tell him that I told you what happened. That they stepped on our blanket as they left, and I woke you up because of it." She said.

"Why would that change the outcome…? Aren't we still alerting them to something we shouldn't know?" I asked.

"Well… I'm a woman. Plus you look young, Branch. Just trust me. I suggest you tell him, if we want to get into the Silken Band getting noticed like this is a good opportunity. Go on," she pushed me a little, as if to usher me to do her bidding.

I groaned as I stepped away. "Should have never told you who we are…" I mumbled. Ever since introducing her to the Society, and those at the Sleepy Artist, she's become oddly commanding. She seemed to take a lot of joy in teaching me how humans worked, and whatnot.

I was thankful for it, of course, but… well…

If it was going to be like this… what was the point in leaving the nest…?

Had I not left as to spread my own wings…? If I just started following Slip's orders, even if correct ones, was that not failing at my objective…?

Tossing the thoughts aside I picked up the pace, as to act like I was hurrying. I got the captain's attention, told him of what Slip had told me and pointed in the direction towards our tree. Slip waved a little at my doing so, telling me she could see us from here. Though maybe only thanks to the torches everywhere now, which illuminated the area.

The captain quickly got some men gathered up, they all got onto horses and off they went. I was glad that I hadn't been ordered or asked to join them. I hated horses.

It didn't take long at all for the horsemen to return, though only with one man. One being dragged by robe behind the horse.

I flinched at the sight of him, since he looked a meaty mess… but alive.

"The other's dead, sir." The captain was told.

The group cheered a little, as if glad to hear it, and I realized I kind of agreed with them.

After all if their little plan had worked, and the prisoners had escaped, we'd all have lost our pay. And it was to be rather good pay, too.

While the man was interrogated, the rest of the camp prepared to leave. Although sunrise was still hours away, it was time to march.

"Did you get enough sleep Slip?" I asked my companion as I helped her bundle up what little we had. Crane and Lughes had been kind enough to give us a few traveling supplies, though most of it was for her. Even the bedding had been for her; she just opted and wanted to share it with me.

"No. But I'll be fine. I'll just sleep like a baby tomorrow night," she said honestly.

I nodded. I expected as much. Especially since I felt the tug of sleep too.

"You're a light sleeper, aren't you?" I asked as we finished preparing for the journey.

"Have to be, Branches. The world is harsh for women like me," she said softly.

She wasn't wrong, even if she never acted so with me.

"Time to move!" a man shouted loudly, telling everyone it was time to go.

"He's small for a captain," I said as I studied the man who stood near the one who had just shouted orders. He was shorter than me, and didn't look very strong. Usually captains and leaders of mercenaries were those who looked the part. Some bands even had people that acted like the leader to the public, even though they were ran and ruled by someone else. Perception was a lot for these people, after all. You had to look strong, just being strong wasn't enough.

I wonder if that was why Vim was challenged so often. He was strong beyond belief, but he didn't look it at all.

"We might end up joining them, Branches. So you better start remembering their names," Slip reminded me.

I flinched and nodded. "Right. I'll try," I promised.

Human names were so hard to remember. Their faces blurred, and it was so rare I saw the same one often enough to even take notice of.

Even Slip I had trouble with. Not with her name, but her face. A few times while in Ruvindale, before we joined this job, we had gone out into the town. Just to talk and walk around. A few times we had gotten separated in crowds, and when I had went to find her I had failed to do so. Even though she had been right in front of me.

It seemed I struggled to recognize human faces a little. An odd trait. One I'd need to ask my parents about, since I'd not thought it a thing.

After we finished gathering up our stuff, we went to join the rest of the group as the march began to resume. The wagon was already in motion, the large horses pulling it huffing loudly in strain as they did.

Slip yawned as we took position near the rear of the group.

Watching her yawn, I noted the way her face scrunched up in the process. As she did some of the nearby men glanced her way, and out of the corner of my eyes I noticed the way some of them smirked and smiled at the sight.

Was that considered cute…? Or adorable, or whatever? It was hard to tell. But why else would they have all looked at her like that…?

"What…?" Slip asked as she squinted and rubbed her face.

"Let me know if you get too tired," I said gently, deciding to just let it be.

I'll figure it out eventually. All of it.

That was why I was out here, after all. Alone. Away from family and Society.

To figure out everything I could, and spread my wings.

Figuratively, of course… since I had not been born with any real ones.

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