He felt the runes on his tongue fizzle and unwind, a strange sensation that made him scrunch up his nose and repeatedly lick the top of his mouth like a dog. Ruin had to admit that he was surprised the human released his tongue. Either he was brave or just stupid. But he wasn't going to destroy such a chance to have his voice when their enemies made their move. No, Ichabod wouldn’t suffer under his magicks today. The demon male was so focused on his freed tongues and revenge that he was caught completely by surprise. Ruin about jumped out of his skin when Ichabod’s cool hand touched him. It was gentle and curious yet all the muscles in Ruin's body went taut in what he would never admit was fear. Sick images of his previous encounters with the Duke fluttered around in his mind like hellish butterflies.<br/><br/>“You’re warm.”<br/><br/>Ichabod said in a wistfully low voice filled with captivation but Ruin had had enough. He grabbed his new Master’s wrist pulling it away from his bared chest and stepped out of arm’s reach. A deep, slightly raspy from disuse, voice that held a regal air protruded from Ruin’s chapped lips. “Ahem, yes well, I’d probably be dead by now if my body heat wasn’t a higher temperature than your frail races’. After all I’m wearing nothing but dirty rags as trousers!” He squeezed Ichabod’s wrist tightly as he spoke until the runes on his throat started to light up in warning, making it hard to breathe with their constriction. When it became slightly painful he released Ichabod with a satisfied feeling. His warning had been given physically, now verbally. “….And don’t touch me so casually, human.” A savage grin then played on his blindfolded face. “Unless of course you’re going to order me to let me be your bitch for freeing my tongue? If so, feel free to silence it again." He ran a hand over his chest in an unconscious nervous gesture. "Now how about we get your feeble body warm? I don’t really enjoy having this tingling sensation in my neck every time you’re uncomfortable.”<br/><br/>The black haired male turned away and began using his sacrificial tree staff to feel about the ground whilst his left hand felt the air for any obstacles. They needed to build a fire.  He found a large fallen trunk and long fingers brushed over the rough surface to learn how green the wood was. When it cracked and shed bark easily under touch he knew it would work splendidly. A dynamic fist punched into the old, termite infested wood to shatter it into smaller chunks which he then tossed Ichabod’s way. “There<span style="font-style: italic"> Master</span>wood. You know how to use it hopefully?” He said with a bit of venom while settling onto the ground near the destroyed trunk. He hadn’t gotten to sleep in days and didn’t mind sleeping on the frost layered dirt.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"> Meanwhile…. </span><br/><br/>She walked in moonlight. Body flushed and beautiful in the nude. Her hair like the sun’s rays in golden waves that shrouded her snow colored breasts. Long and pointed ears accented her high cheekbones and pouty lips which bore no makeup. She stepped into a warm spring and slowly submerged herself while singing a song in an archaic yet melodious language. Her elegance was eventually interrupted by two fellow demons emerging from the folds of the mountain forest. She did not hide herself while looking at the two men, a question in her eyes.<br/><br/>“Did you find them?”<br/><br/>She said softly. Her voice filled with hope. They looked down, ears turning down in shame and sharp teeth biting at their lips. Hands curled into fists at their sides as they spoke.<br/><br/>"Yes Keeper but-"<br/><br/>“It was a massacre of the Lunar Clan's caravan. Looks like they were ambushed by humans a few months ago.”<br/><br/>“I see.” She whispered, suddenly sounding older than time itself. “So my child is dead.” The two demons, twins in fact, glanced at one another with uncomfortable expressions and her purple eyes lit up. “What is it?” They cleared their voices and one said with slight fear. “We did not find the Sovereign Tongue’s body amongst the corpses Keeper.” She released a wail that shook the whole pond, the two demons winced covering their ears and pressing close to one another. “So he may be suffering a fate worse than death?! My child! Our Sovereign!” Bloody tears fell from the female demon’s eyes and her beautiful façade faded into an old woman’s. She strode out of the pond with angry steps, stopping before the two twins.<br/><br/>“Send our swiftest runners to the other clans. In three months’ time we shall hold Council in the King Fells. It’s time we discuss what to do about these humans.”