Here's the next chapter! I was going to post it yesterday but I got busy. XD I'll probably still post 5 on Thursday? Unless that's too soon for you guys?

Anyway, I hope you like it!

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The climb up the stairs was a little difficult, them finally managing it by having Percy slide along the wall on his good shoulder while Weezie pulled him up each step. The door at the top of the stairs needed unlocked, but thankfully there seemed to be no one around in the main guard room.

"Keep going, it's the door on the far side." Percy said, nodding his head forward. Weezie dragged him across the stone floor and up to the next door which had been left slightly ajar. Weezie peered through to make sure the coast was clear.

White stone walls reached up to the ceiling, the hall gently lit by multiple lamps set against the wall on engraved holders. On the other side of the room she could see two doors, both open, one with a flight of stairs leading up to it. Weezie frowned as she watched a few housemaids and a manservant rush back and forth carrying various things through the doors.

"We're never going to catch a break in the traffic," Percy said, leaning his head in beside hers to peek through the door as well, "But as long as there's no one in uniform we should be fine."

"Alright then," Weezie said dubiously, pushing the door open with her shoulder. One doe saw them coming, pressing herself and her empty tray against the wall with a gasp.

"Mind your business," Percy growled to her. The maid blanched and nodded, running back through the door she had come through and ushering the other servants out of the room with quick whispers.

"Do you- would you like some help, sir?" A pale buck at the top of the stairs asked, eyes wide with concern.

"No," Percy coughed. "You'd better stay out of this." The buck's frown deepened and he took a few steps backwards to clear enough room for them to come through the door.

"I- I understand, sir." He said, watching them struggle up the stairs.

"Actually, Gyve," Percy said when they reached the top.

"Yes, sir?" Gyve said earnestly, meeting Percy's intent gaze.

"If you could find Whit," he paused and the buck gave a determined nod. "We'll be in the library," Percy finished. Gyve nodded again and was off in a flash, speeding up the flight of stairs around the corner and startling a housemaid who was coming down.

"Which way to the library?" Weezie asked nervously, looking around the vast room they now stood on the edge of. Percy groaned, drooping his head back to her shoulder.

"It's just, across the hall from here by that window." He said, gesturing vaguely with his sword tip. Weezie squinted across the room, not sure exactly where he meant but guessing it was probably the opening on the opposite end of the hall. She readjusted her grip on the practically limp Percy and stepped out of the cover of the doorway.

There were multiple windows lining the walls, light streaming in through the clear glass panes edged in alternating green and red squares that cast their colorful patterns on the smooth marble floor. Weezie shuffled as quickly as she could manage across the wide open space in front of two arched openings, showing beyond them a carpeted hall she thought might lead to the front doors. A wide staircase swept off to the side, spiraling up and up to a second floor balcony and then disappearing into the far away ceiling. She had never seen the inside of King Jupiter's palace before, and she had also never felt so small.

There were a few armed guards meandering around the front hall, but they took no notice of the two escapees to Weezie's infinite relief. They made it across the room at last and slipped into a white marble hallway. The window to the side was made mostly of yellow glass, casting the wall with its cozy light. Weezie leaned up against it to catch her breath. While she knew they were far from safe, there was something about how the dust particles danced in the golden light that calmed her nerves, almost as if reminding her the whole world hadn't been consumed by this terror she was experiencing. Somewhere out there the light still shone and the grass was still green.

Percy sank further down Weezie's side, now hardly standing on his own feet at all.

"Hang on," Weezie said, bouncing him higher to her shoulder and grabbing his belt for extra support. Down the hallway they went, passing a flight of stairs going down on their right and a few more tall golden windows before stepping into the castle library.

It wasn't quite as large a room as the Great Hall she had marveled at moments ago, but it still boasted a tremendous size. Massive shelves full of books soared up over her head, graceful balconies interrupting their climb for easier rabbit access. A thick, richly colored rug covered the dark wood floor, tall clear windows filling every space on the wall that wasn't holding books. Armchairs sat here and there in cozy nooks and a few potted plants of various sizes and kinds were scattered about.

Weezie peered around the room for a safe place to set Percy down, trying to not get distracted by her surroundings. Turning a corner around a shelf full of old books, she found what she was looking for. An oversized chair was nestled into a corner of the library beside a marble fireplace, bookshelves forming walls on all sides. She eased him down into the chair, where he laid the side of his head against the back with a weary moan. Weezie patted his shoulder, stretched her tired arms, then looked out at the rest of the library nervously.

"So, um, Percy," she said, turning back to their little corner. He grunted in response, looking at her through eyes half open.

"Do you have a plan for what we're gonna do next, or? Also who's Whit?"

Percy sighed and rolled his head over the back of the chair to face her with a wince.

"You can't go home Weezie, I'm sorry. That will be the first place Daggler will look for you once he discovers you're missing."

Weezie swallowed hard, leaning against the bookshelf as a sickening twist formed in her belly. She knew he was right, she just didn't want to accept it.

"He will be far more merciful to your family if he goes to look for you and doesn't find you there."

Weezie nodded, biting down on her trembling lip. She was alive, basically free even, but she would never be able to see her mother and sister again. For their own safety. She began to wonder if her escape might end up costing them their lives.

"So- what am I going to do?" Weezie asked, blinking back tears. "Where can we go where he won't find us?"

"There isn't anywhere here in First Warren, not that I know of anyway," Percy said, closing his eyes with a wave of pain. "But I have an idea that Whit should be able to help us with."

"Yes?"

"There are only two ways anyone leaves First Warren. Either you die- which is probably how I'll be getting out," he interjected with a grimace. "Or you get relocated by government mandate. Getting you reassigned to a position of authority elsewhere is out of the question, but, there is a slave shipment due to head out this evening to the mining camps past Red Lake."

"Red Lake?" Weezie asked, walking from the doorway to the chair Percy was sprawled in. "Where's that?"

"Hh, it's up north- maybe a two or three day trip from here?" Percy said, gesturing limply with his off hand, the other still clutching tightly his stolen sword.

"We might be able to get you on that cart though, that'll take you somewhere out of Daggler's reach. You'll still be a slave of course…"

Percy trailed off, hand pressed to his brow as though it might help him think better through the pain. Weezie sniffed into the silence, using her sleeve to wipe the tears out of her eyes.

"Percy," a buck's voice said from behind Weezie. Percy peeled open one eye as Weezie whirled around in alarm. A tall white buck with black splashes across his fur stood in the doorway, clutching the doorframe with one hand and a look of pure horror written across his face.

"What are you- how did this happen?" He said, stumbling towards them. Percy blinked his one open eye sleepily around his hand.

"Are you Whit?" Weezie demanded, placing herself between him and Percy. If he said no, she was prepared to take a fist to his handsome face.

"Yes," Whit's eyes flashed momentarily from the orange buck and then to Weezie, obviously considering sidestepping her. Weezie pursed her lips and stepped aside for him, watching him closely as he slid up beside Percy’s chair.

"I need your help, Whit," Percy said without shifting his position at all.

"Yes?" Whit said, eyebrows arched high, looking him over with clear alarm. "What happened, are you alright?"

"Ugh, I don't have a lot of time, I need you to do something for me." Percy said, struggling to sit himself upright.

"No, Percy no. You're wounded. I'm going to take you to the hospital." Whit reached out to lift him from the chair, but Percy's free hand darted out to grab his wrist.

"It's too late, Whit. I'm a dead buck now, but I want to make sure this doe will be safe from Daggler." Whit looked from Percy's clenched hand to his face, concern edging every line of it. “Percy-” he began. Percy gingerly shook his head. “I need you to make up some paperwork for me. Sign her on to the slave cart that’s leaving later today. If she stays here he'll eventually find her, and-” he stopped mid sentence, pausing to breathe and take a heavy swallow, dropping his head to the chair back again. After a pause his head rolled over and he looked the white buck in the eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, Weezie wondering what unspoken words were being passed between the two of them.

“You’re not going to die,” Whit eventually whispered, squeezing the other buck’s hand. "You can't stay here anymore either, I'm going to sign you both onto the slave cart." He stood, looking down at Weezie then up into the space above her head, brown eyes flitting back and forth obviously lost in thought. Percy looked up at him mournfully with a deep sigh. He squinted out the window where green leaves waved against the clear glass, then widened his eyes in realization.

“Oh no, you’re right! That’s perfect.” he said, looking back to the two of them. Whit frowned and Weezie crossed her arms.

"I don't really see how sending both of us miles away to one of Morbin's slave mines can be considered perfect," she said, wrinkling her nose.

Whit, looking down to the doe as she spoke suddenly seemed to actually notice her.

"Are you alright? Your dress is covered in blood," he said, taking a slight step backwards.

"Oh no..." Weezie said, looking down at her lovely blue dress. "Yes, I'm fine it's, not actually mine."

"Sorry." Percy muttered with an attempt at a smile.

Whit looked between the two of them.

"Anyway, Whit if you can get that paperwork," Percy said, interrupting before Whit could ask any more questions.

"No, wait. What is the plan," Weezie caught Whit on his way past her out the door.

"When we get outside the walls, far enough from the Black Gap the sentinels won't see us, if I can take out the guards, every rabbit on that cart will be free." Percy replied. Whit frowned.

"They can head into the Great Wood and find whatever resistance is left out there. Weezie, you could be free," he said. Weezie took a deep breath and let it out.

"It's worth a try I guess."