It wasn't as though Polymare had much of a choice when it came to saving the damned. It was an unconscious instinct that came upon it's own will sometimes. Binding her and clouding her better judgment.

"Do you favor the mistreatment of beings different than you?" She questioned the man as he eyed her, his growing suspicion evident in his furrowing brows.

The power forced within her always surfaced whenever her emotions went astray. It was a dark feeling, one that seemed so overbearing she felt she could suffocate at any moment. A feeling that made her think she could possibly do anything she wished.

So morally wrong, but then, virtuous.

Her grip on the lock tightened, a clear, deep rust spreading across the steel beneath her palm, and evidently, beginning it's aggressive transfer along the rest of the cage. The stymphalian bird jolted, giving a sound of murmuring anguish as it's bondage began to darken with red tenebrosity.

Something hard suddenly pressed against the side of her head, "You're a damned-" the man spoke in a gruff tone, and without moving, Polymare cut her eyes to him in annoyance, "Aren't you?" he demanded.

She gave a soft chuckle before slowly standing, the musket held steady within the man's hands following her as she did. "Are you frightened?" she muttered in question, "I am no damned-"

"Blasphemy!" The man cried, aggressively nudging his gun against her head in anger, "Do not test me, you sin!"

It was in that moment, that bystander eyes began to wander towards the commotion with faces full of fret. A harsh wind blew, the breeze wafting through Polymare's hair and her gaze glowering at the man. There was a resounding snap as the bounded birds jerked, and slowly, more cracks and creaks sprang to life. The sound resonated, the noisy fair's people hushing into quiet alarm.

Four watchmen, drawn by the ruckus of nosed folk, appeared through the gathered crowd, each of their hands gripping the hilt to their sheathed swords, "Wherefore calls all this unrest?" the one in front demanded.

Polymare looked towards the birds once more, noticing only the cage she touched had been victim to her power, and her face fell as long as a fiddle, "One will do," she concluded lowly.

It happened without warning. Giving a shriek, the stymphalian bird tore from the tarnished cage with an aggressive lurch. Small bits of rusted steel shot outwards throughout the crowd, and as the bird flew in a hover to stretch it's wings, the huddle of people around broke out into disorderly panic. The other bird banged loudly against its bondage, but Polymare's eyes could not be torn from the one she had freed.

She was stuck in awe at the sight; having only ever seen the type of creature once during her childhood, and even then, the it was a beautiful eyeful. Her gaping was cut short though when the Watchmen made quick work at swiping their swords at it, the clinging of it's metallic feathers clicking defensively and throwing the crowd into more of a fit of distress.

"You blasted wench!"

There was a loud click, and immediately Polymare reached her hand up to grip the bottom of the man's musket. She swiped it up towards the sky as a shot rang from the barrel of his gun, sending burning pain shooting from her wrist and up her arm. A pitched ringing struck her ears, the sound hammering against her skull.

Screams erupted throughout the space.

She wrestled the gun with one hand from the man, throwing it to the side and glared to it in rage. Their gazes met, but before he could make another attempt to hurt her she sent her foot slamming against his chest. It was a strong kick, hard enough to send him flying into a booth and rendering him limp.

The ambience of the fair darkened and grey clouds took to the sky as thunder roared to life. Polymare reached a hand up to feel along her chest, and her heart beat wildly beneath her palm. This is grand, her conscience tried, but the reassurance only seemed to speed up the tick beating against her rib cage. The chaos around echoed in her ears, and falling victim to blurry vision she stumbled back as her gaze met the eyes of one of the Watchmen.

He stared angrily.

With a breath and no form of longer hesitation, Polymare turned and fell into a run. She ignored the demanding yell for her to halt, pushing through the frenzied folk until she was able to squeeze through an opening.

A fleet footed sprinter she was. Her and her brother had spent most of their childhood dashing around in trouble.

The yellowing trees scattered through the wooded area surrounding Gampson shot past in a blur. She ran down the path that led to the fair, taking quick note of the sound of footsteps sprinting behind her and upon reaching the split off road between Caelum and Fina, she took a sharp left. Straight towards Fina's swampy outskirts and fetid odor.

It was likely they had noticed who she was. Being a wanted person, unless you were blessed a shifter, meant there was no place to truly hide. She didn't want to put her town at risk, everyone knew when it came down to watchmen and their pursuits, they'd tear a town apart inside out if needed. Caelum had already been through enough.

Her feet mushed deep into muck as the path disappeared under soggy leaves and moss. The humid air mixed with incessant wind, bringing sweat above Polymare's brows, and the murky clouds that had enfolded the sky resulted in the quick pour of rain.

"Halt!" The continuous shouts of the watchmen jumbled with the heavy downpour, but now trudging knee deep in guck, she carried on.

Splendid, Polymare inwardly cursed, swiping at her wet hair. She cut to the right towards a body of water, and glanced back just as a bang sounded.

Quickly jerking her body to the side, she watched the median sized spearhead whizz past her face, just barely slicing her cheek. She took hold of the chain attached to the tip , twisting to send a glare at the watchman that had shot at her; and instantly, the resilient metal darkened within her palm before breaking. The split chain shot back towards the man, aggressively snaking into his harpoon rifle and sending him onto his butt in muck.

She hadn't expected them to be so close, and the fact two of the men had harpoon rifles put her at a disadvantage. She needed to make it to the slough before they got any closer, from there she'd be good as gone from their pursuit.

The spearhead had fallen and sunk deep into the swamp's gucky flooring, and hurriedly, Polymare rushed to get to the body of water. Sludge hugged her legs with each suctioning step, and with a sharp breath, she bent down slightly to dive into the water when a second shot pierced the air.

She let out a cry as another spearhead stabbed through her right shoulder from behind, securing against her breast with clamps; and falling to her knees, she let her hands and legs set her in place. The chain began to retract, going rigid.

Her heart slammed wildly within her chest, and with gritted teeth, she resisted against the retraction only to be yanked back by the sudden pull from the chain. She tried to set herself again, grabbing at the mud below, but the harder they pulled, the more muck slipped through her fingers.

"Under the king's orders!" she heard one of the men announce as they snatched her closer, "You, Polymare Wright, are under arrest for treason in the name of Flem!"

"Stop!" She pleaded loudly, and within her voice held dark intent.

If they tried to touch her, there was no telling what she'd do to them. Avoiding killing was always her number one priority, but blackout's had become frequent, forcing her to hide more from not only herself, but people who wouldn't stand a chance against her.

The situation was bad. Too bad.

They continued to pull her, approaching sloshed steps filling her ears, but as a hand lowered into her peripheral view, a scream resonated. She whipped her head to the side, taking in the sight of the stymphalian bird stabbing one of the watchmen against a cypress tree with it's bronze beak. Blood spluttered from his mouth, his eyes rolling to the back of his head, and after a few scratches from its talons, the bird dropped the limp man into the muck below. It let out a shriek, it's wings fanning the pouring rain outwards, before it landed, taking a threatening stance in front of Polymare towards the men.

She didn't hesitate to break the chain of the harpoon rifle attached to he. Her chest heaved as she stood on wobbly legs, her vision struggling to focus. "Thank you," she muttered to the bird, her hand stroking its back, and as if sensing her words, it looked back at her with the tilt of its head.

Polymare clutched her bleeding shoulder, oozing blood so dark it could be mistaken for black goop. With heavy steps, she began to slowly back away. The beating rain worked to ease her aching muscles, the stymphalian bird's second shriek ringing as lightening flashed across the sky.

Leisurely, her body lowered into the water. The bird flared its wings, it's metallic feathers clicking loudly, before it flew forward, attacking the watchmen who'd now drawn their swords.

And without another look, she dipped below the slough.