Jail Birds
starter for @drreginaldbushroot
The smell of the ocean was the worst part of this so far. The cool salt of the air had always met freedom before. It met running along the beach and diving through the water with complete abandon, alive and unfettered. Now It was a reminder of just how trapped she- they were. The ocean around the prison was not the welcoming blue of the one she had played in. It was as grey as the walls and just as confining, cutting all the prisoners here off from St. Canard by several dozen miles.
âKeep moving!â one of the guards barked at her and Stella ducked her head and shuffled forward, trying to move as little as possible to stop the metallic rustling of her jumpsuit, like someone crumpling tinfoil. Even with the heat resistant fabric covering her from toe to throat, the guard winced as he unfastened the chain yoking her handcuffs to waist level and yanked his hand away as soon as he could. âSorry.â she whispered and he scowled at her. She could see a faint singe mark on his thumb where it had brushed her uncovered wrist. âShut up and move it. Youâre doing garden work today.â
Keeping her head down, she headed in the direction he had pointed. She could see other prisoner working the yard as well. There was giant made of cement ripping rocks in half as if they were Styrofoam. A laughing clown slammed a hammer down on the halves and giggled even louder as the rubber hammer squeaked. In a near by tank, a whirlpool spun, polishing the other fragments smooth, occasionally a pair of eyes blinked from the churning water. She looked away, towards the neatly planted rows of the small garden.Â
The only other person there had his back to her. He was an average sized duck, with bright green feathers that had a strange gloss to them, His hair was a bright purple and also had an odd look to it, as if it were more petals than hair. Swallowing, she straightened up Whoever he was, she was going to be working with him. She might as well make friends.
 With a thought, her flaming mass of curls twisted like obedient snakes into a crackling, burning bun, as she approached him. âHello! I hope Iâm not disturbing you but they told me to come work over here, and since you look like you know what youâre doing. I thought Iâd introduce myself!â The words came in a light, fluttering rush and she gave him her best audition ready smile âIâm Stella Flare.â
