something better than in the middle

She couldn’t see the blush that flushed over his features, but the way he held himself and how his words filtered from dark lips clued her in. Had her jaws not been around the bars already Deathbelle would have grinned. She wondered if she could have figured out an easier way, but the proximity was amusing. The Empress likely would not gain much from her efforts here, but she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed the encounter.

Ignis positioned himself close beside her, and the difference in their sizes was even more apparent with their proximity. She knew that he couldn’t see her quick wink when he asked her if she was ready. The young man counted down and then the two of them were both working on the hinged trap. Deathbelle put all of her effort in lifting the gate as she assumed Ignis was doing on the lever.

For a long moment she wasn’t sure if it was going to work, and the bird would be stuck for the rest of its life. Right before she gave up there was a sudden snap and Deathbelle’s exertion suddenly had the gate open. The bird didn’t hesitate and right before Belle lost her grip the avian took its freedom. Deathbelle let out a victorious sigh as she retreated from the rusted cage.

”And he’s out!” For a few moments she wasn’t an Empress, she was just another wolf helping a stranger.