[15:56:52] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "So, just... well, where to  start?" He huffs. "It was two whole months, if not a little longer."
[15:57:31] <Hex> "Five years ago?"
[15:58:54] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "Yeah. I mean, I just turned ten," he says, focusing a bit on some obscure feature on the table.
[15:59:44] * Hex frowns but lets him continue
[16:01:16] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "I... was out for a run. Cyclothemia keeps me up at night sometimes. It's the easiest way for me to keep track of when I've had an episode, I just don't always think about it." He chuckles. "I think I got three hours of sleep that night? I remember agonizing the sun being down..."
[16:02:01] <Hex> "... Running? Is this in Canterlot? Or... Your family lives i nponyville right?"
[16:03:42] <Twi|Tome> * He nods. "Ponyville. I went out on one of the paths that go into the woods a bit..." His eyes focus rather hard on whatever scratch on the table has his attention. "... I was ten, twenty minutes out of town."
[16:03:59] <Hex> "No guards?"
[16:05:08] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... I..." He takes a deep breath. "They were there..."
[16:09:41] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "It was just... fast. I heard some scuffling, and when I went back to see what was going on... one of the guards had been stabbed in the neck."
[16:12:59] * Hex blanches suddenly unsure of wether she wants to hear this, but otherwise stays silent
[16:14:43] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... I really don't remember too much about being taken after that. Must have hit me over the head or... chloroform or something. It's a haze."
[16:18:16] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... I don't even remember much of being gone, really... just gaps when sedatives would wear off and being pitted against other kids for food."
[16:19:48] <Hex> "But.... Why?"
[16:19:55] <Hex> "That just seems so... Senseles..."
[16:20:50] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... I don't know. I remember a griffon... She... had a particular liking for me..."
[16:21:12] * Hex winces "In... IN what way?"
[16:21:25] <Twi|Tome> * He's very quiet.
[16:21:51] <Hex> "okay.... So..." she frowns "THis is why you have a hard time sometimes? Dreams or something?"
[16:22:09] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "Flashbacks," he corrects.
[16:22:41] <Hex> "So nothing Princess Luna might be able to help with?"
[16:22:59] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "She's been trying."
[16:25:16] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... I don't think they've found the guards that went with me, either..." he says quietly, looking guilty as he sets his head on the edge of the table.
[16:25:42] * Hex nods in thought, but after a moment gives him a little hug "Well, Im sorry you went through that... And kinda for poking and prodding" she mutters
[16:26:06] <Twi|Tome> * He winces at the contact.
[16:26:14] <Twi|Tome> * ... Then leans in a litt.
[16:26:17] <Twi|Tome> little*
[16:33:28] <Twi|Tome> * He takes a deep breath to try to steady himself, sitting back up. "Sorry..."
[16:34:15] <Hex> "Its fine, " she mutters "It all turned out well in the end right? They aren't around anymore right?"
[16:34:31] <Twi|Tome> * ... Another uncomfortable silence.
[16:35:27] <Hex> "... Oh..."
[16:37:08] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... The reports of small families going missing hasn't lessened either... I'm not sure if it's still them, or if it's just... the other, natural dangers of Equestria."
[16:38:42] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "Realizing they'd taken a prince by accident startled them, I think. Going theory is they thought the guards were my parents."
[16:39:25] <Hex> "I would have thought, being a prince... It would have been a priority." she mutters "HOw did you escape?"
[16:44:29] <Twi|Tome> * He chuckles. "... Their dogs got out chasing something... Squirrel maybe. I don't know, I was drugged at the time." He takes a deep breath. "A few loose details stick out... Cage wasn't locked properly... Uh..." He rubs his forehead. "... They definitely noticed I'd gotten out. We somewhere on a mountain. Must have been miles out from anywhere though. I only remember trees."
[16:46:57] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "I was doing my best to leave illusions I'd gone some other way, but I don't remember if any of them stuck. I just remember waking up on a river bank, wandering lost in the woods for a few days before stumbling into Tall Tale."
[17:01:30] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "... Only other thing that sticks out about the escape is sticking to the trees because of the griffon and pegasai. Trying to keep out of sight of the fliers to get as much of a lead as I could."
[17:03:01] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "Other than that, I just remember falling and sliding down rocks and hills. Don't even remember when I hit the river, just waking up soaked to the sound of running water."
[17:08:06] <Twi|Tome> <Night> "And... an herbalist, I think. He's the one that tipped the others off after he tried to grab me..." He himself blanches. "I... I think I jabbed out his eye."