She doesn't, until that evening.

Despite Felicia's threats, Irena never appeared to punish them. Instead, Father and Son were left inside the locked cage, trundling down the road for hour after hour. Marcus lay against the King's shoulder, tense and anxious, watching the world go by as they were taken further and further from the only home he'd ever known. They hadn't talked much since Felicia had interrupted them. His Father seemed to be deep in thought, no doubt coming up with a way for them to escape. The young prince knew there was nothing a scared and weak boy like him could add, so he kept quiet.

At long last, as evening fell, the convoy of wagons were directed off the road, pulled by horses into an open field. Huntresses moved about like sleek panthers, shouting orders and grabbing supplies. From what Marcus heard, it sounded like they were going to set up camp here for the night. He perked up, sitting straighter on the itchy straw below his naked body. Maybe this was a chance to escape?

"Father..." He whispered, staring up at the wounded King. "They'll have to let us out this cage soon, right? Do you think we can get away then?"

"No Marcus, I'm afraid not." The King shook his head, sounding quite frustrated. "I'm going nowhere fast for a while, and I'm sorry son, but there's not much chance of you outrunning a huntress on foot." Marcus glanced down, biting his lip. Of course his Father was right, and now he felt silly for even suggesting it. "Even if I were well enough to escape, Irena and her women live to hunt." The King continued with a sigh. "She's tracked and killed nearly every animal alive from what she's boasted to me over the years. Were I able to get away, she'd probably run me down with her dogs and find it good sport." He paused for a moment, raising his head to stare out the bars of the cage with narrowed eyes.

"So what do we do?" The young prince asked anxiously. "Maybe I can reach one of the other prisoners? Get them to help us?"

"You'll do nothing." The King snapped, making Marcus freeze. "This isn't one of your stupid books, son. We're in real danger here and you're just not strong enough to handle that. Believe me, I know." The young prince nodded quickly. He knew his Father was right. He was weak and girly and a coward, but like always, hearing it from the man he looked up to so much still hurt him a little. "Our only chance is to wait for Gaius and his army." The King added. "So just keep your mouth shut and do as they say. Don't give these crazy bitches an excuse to hurt you. I can only protect you so much now."

They were both quiet for a while longer after that. Marcus was too ashamed to say anything else stupid and upset his Father again. He thought about apologizing for being so silly, but even that felt like he'd just end up annoying and distracting the King even more. He was so....useless. Why couldn't he have ended up smart and strong, so he could help his Father now? Instead he'd been a stupid idiot and wasted all his life getting coddled by his Mother and reading silly books instead of training how to fight. No wonder his Father was mad at him and didn't trust him now to do anything to help them escape. They both knew he'd just mess it up somehow.

Then the King's head suddenly snapped up, his lips curling into an angry snarl. Marcus turned to follow his Father's furious gaze, and promptly froze as he saw Irena striding up to the back of their cart, a satisfied smirk on her face. The young prince shrank back, cowering behind the King's injured body. He watched anxiously as the huntress queen slipped open the door to the cage, her dark eyes flickering over their naked bodies.

"My daughter tells me you were chattering to each other, pets." She purred. "Naughty, naughty. You both know that's not allowed anymore. I'll forgive you this time, since you two haven't been trained." Marcus shivered behind his Father, staring anxiously at the woman who'd abused him so much. His heart was in his mouth, and when her hungry gaze flickered to him he let out a scared little whimper. "Come here, little bunny." She beckoned with a finger. "My stallion's a little too injured to have any fun with, so I want you instead."

Marcus trembled in terror. The last thing he wanted was to end up back in Irena's hands, but she'd already made it clear enough what the consequences were for disobeying her. Part of him thought he should try anyway, show his Father that he was brave for once, but the thought of the vicious beating she'd give him then was just too scary.

He awkwardly shuffled forward, slipping away from the comfort of his Father's body. As he started moving again, that awful thing stuck in his butt became much harder to ignore, making him clench his teeth as he felt it pressing against his guts. The fur of the tail tickled at his skin, another awful reminder of the utterly embarrassing fluffy white thing sticking out behind him. As he reached Irena, his stomach twisting in panic, she reached out a hand and held it out in front of his face.

"You remember, don't you little bunny?" The huntress smirked. "What you're supposed to do to show your Mistress how sorry you are for being a bad little pet." Marcus winced, his lip trembling. He knew what she wanted, and he was just too afraid to do otherwise.

Sticking out his tongue, he tenderly licked at her outstretched fingers. This was better than that riding crop on his butt, he told himself, even as hot tears of shame dribbled down his cheeks. His Father didn't say anything, but he was sure the King must be so disappointed in him for giving in to her so easily. He just couldn't do anything else. How much more of a disappointment could he be to his brave, strong Father?

At last, Irena seemed satisfied, because she suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled his slender body out through the cage door. Marcus yelped in panic, wriggling in her grip, but she set him down gently at her feet. He knelt there in the grass, sniffling softly. He didn't even dare look back into the cage at his Father for fear of the awful look of anger and disappointment he knew he'd see staring back at him.

"Sorry Castor, I know you just can't wait for the chance to satisfy me as well, but we've got to wait for that fragile male body of yours to heal." Irena cooed, as she slammed the cage door shut and locked it firmly shut. "I'll send someone later with some nice horse chow for you. Eat it all up like a good boy and get some rest." She glanced down at Marcus, who shrank back, shivering like a leaf. "As for you, my pretty little bunny." She grinned down at him, her gaze tracing hungrily over his naked flesh. "Follow me, on all fours."

As she turned and strode away, Marcus crawled after her, wincing each time his poor butt clenched around that awful tail. Hot little tears dribbled down his cheeks onto the grass below his face. Why couldn't he be strong for once in his pathetic little life?