Leon groans and his eyes flutter open - somewhere outside he hears movement, but that's hardly uncommon. Since waking up in the cave a few days prior, he had been keeping track of how often Ranger came and went, how long he stayed and where he most frequented in the small cave. Escape was an impossibility, Leon figured, considering that, aside from being well-tied to a pair of sturdy iron rings, Ranger was never gone for long.

The light is sucked out of the room for an instant, as rangers large form comes marching into the cave. "been doing well?" he asks leon cruely. He has a large sack thrown over his back. "I hope you've been a good boy, because I have a present to show you" he snickers.

Timothy struggles inside the sack, but apparently the material is impervious to his claws... and he'd lost his knife earlier somewhare on the terrace while running about. The closed bag makes the air inside hot and close, and considering that it's Ranger's bag, less than pleasent smelling. The cloth tied around his head and cutting into his mouth doesn't taste very good either. But both of these are secondary in Tim's mind; his mind races, at once terrified, and also hoping against hope for the opportunity to escape.

Leon tries to look calm as Ranger presents him with the bulging, still moving bag. "A present? What'd you get me, a rabid squirrel? You're not the best gift-giver I've seen." Still, though, there's a creeping feeling in his gut about what could be inside the bag. It's too small to be a NIMH rat... maybe a young NIMH rat. Or one of the mice. (Eugene, maybe? Haha, he'd never let himself get stuffed into a BAG). "Alright, I give up," he says. "What'd you bring me?"

A looong scragly grin comes across rangers muzzle. "Why leon, I've brought you your own failure in a bag" he hisses, as he reaches into the bag, grabs around for a neck, and then pulls out when he thinks he's got it. "Say hello to your new Cell buddy!" ranger says with almost sickening glee.

Timothy lets out a muffled squeak as he suddenly finds himself grabbed by his neck, grabbing at Ranger's gauntlet with his paws to keep from choking. His ears perk little, realizing that Ranger had been talking to someone else... /Cell mate...?/ His eyes widen when he sees another rat... /Leon?/

Leon's eyes DO widen at the sight of Timothy being yanked from the bag. "Tim!" His gaze turns from the mouse to Ranger himself and the Captain narrows his eyes, trying to control his temper. "Let him go, Vic-" He stops, and realizes now probably isn't the time for psychological tampering. "RANGER, let him go. There's nothing we can't work out that requires him being here." He knows it's a long shot - if that - but knows that Tim probably wouldn't do as well as he has in Ranger's captivity.

Ranger smiles and sits down, moving to place timothy firmly in his lap to keep him from running off. "why leon, you see why I brought him! He's gonna help me get some much needed info from you" he taps tim on the shoulder with a claw idly. "see, I'm going to ask you some questions, and if I dont like your answer, little timothy here loses a body part" He almost chuckles at this. "I went through allot of trouble to get him, so try not to disapoint.. you dont want ole ranger to have to get ANOTHER one do you?"

Timothy's ears fold back as he is set down in his lap, flinching slightly at the claw on his shoulder. His eyes widen even more--if that's even possible-- and he tries to struggle out of Rangers grasp, shaking his head wildly.

Leon grits his teeth and takes a few deep breaths - he knows that Ranger might be lenient to Tim for the first few smart-alek comments he makes, but even then realizes that, barring a miracle escape, he needs to at least satisfy Ranger's curiosity for the time being and wait for Tim to either be set free or tied down somewhere - (This certainly makes escape that much more of an issue, eh?) He frowns and then finally sighs audibly. "Alright, Ranger, I understand. Just keep complex mathematics out of your questions and I might be able to be of some use."

Ranger smiles, "that's a good boy". Timothy begins to struggle, Ranger tightens his calwed grip. "hey now tim, might wanna think about this a second.. How far do you really think you would get, even if I LET you go?" he asks looking down at the mouse. It's short lasted, he soon returns to buisness, moving a claw to graze timothies neck fur. "So.. leon, first things first, I KNOW the colony has some back door, some back secret enterance.. where is it? dont dilly dally, times running out" he says, stroking the claw.

Timothy lets out a choking sound, and he ceases his struggles, his ears laying flat against his head. His eyes look glossy, as if he's trying to keep some tears inside. He shudders as Ranger's claw grazes his neckfur, a resigned look on his face. He watches Leon intently, knowing that his fate rests in his paws... and potentially the fate of the colony too.

Leon grumbles something under his breath and ponders the options available to him. Not giving an answer was the wrong one, of course - Ranger would see right through that. Giving the real answer wasn't an option, either - he valued Tim's life and his own, but knew that giving the whole truth away would threaten the entire colony. Thinking quickly, he tries to look as disappointed as possible. Then - right then - the answer comes to him. "There are no 'backdoors', only alternate doors. If you'll remember the rosebush, our secret entrance wasn't very practical, and then the rose thorns started moving on their own... so to answer your question the best way I can, there's the main entrance, and the workmen's entrance, and the hydro entrance."

Ranger cackles, "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" and releases timothies throat, but quickly swipes a paw down to pick the little mouse up by the hind leg and hold him above leon's head. "Tsk tsk tsk.. you're doing well leon, but not well enough. I've gotten close and I've scoped out a bit, I just need the details.. HOW DO YOU GET IN THE COLONY" he says the end part word by word. "your choice leon, timothy, or the colony.. take your pick" he growls, looking down at leon and raising a claw up to timothy just hovering around him at the moment.

Timothy lets out a muffled squeak as he's suddenly picked up roughly by his hind leg, the rest of him dangling crazily as he's held over leon's head. Getting his bearings, he blinks, wincing and bringing up his paws defensively when he spots the claw hovering near him.

Leon winces a bit as spittle from Ranger's mouth flies all over the place as he laughs. "Eeegh... You want to get into the colony? How about you stop attacking us and you -ask politely? No?" He catches himself and curses inwardly at his outburst. "Alright, look - if you've scoped out Thorn Valley, then you know that the water intake in engineering is the easiest way to get in and out, BUT - you also should know by now that it's watched by ten Guards on average and is frequented by the workers who maintain the machinery. Arthur didn't design Thorn Valley to have secret entrances for killers to sneak in at their leisure, which you ALSO know." He lowers his head, offering Ranger a slightly menacing gaze. "You -were- there when he presented the blueprints."

Ranger leans in and in a very jenner like way, taps Leons nose. "hehe, yes, you're rist, but its been awhile I must admit" He snickers and sits back, placing the mouse back in his lap. "Dont go anywhere now" he says to timothy. Ranger seems to be thinking a bit. "You know, I think you're right.. and I surely dont want to go through the trouble of killing ten guards, though it would be fun, it would be waaaay to much work.. hmmmm" his eyes light up even more, "IIII know.." he says leaning foward again, "why not bring the guards.. TO /me/.. hehehehehe" he says giving leon a nasty grin and a raise of the brows. His paw comes down quickly to snatch timothy up and shake him infront of leon like a toy, "They want this do they not? they want yooooou do they not? hehehehhe" the gears can be seen turning in his mind, his grin seems to get no larger, his breath so close it basks leons face in putrid stink.

Timothy blinks as he's set back in Ranger's lap, unsure if he feels any safer now, though. He sort of curls up, bringing his hindpaws up to his chest and just looking at Leon, trying not to let on just how afraid he is... when he suddenly finds himself snatched up and shaken, his ears flattening against his head. /It's a nightmare... can't be real.../

Leon grits his teeth and pulls against his bonds as hard as he can in a rage. There is some give to one of the iron rings, but he still is held back from getting anywhere near Ranger and Tim. "If you hurt him, Ranger, you'd better hope that these things hold me back, because if I get free, I'm not going to rest until every Guard is combing this forest looking for you, every minute of every day!" Again he catches himself, drooping back against the wall. "What is it you want, huh? You want to kill as many rats as possible? You want the STONE, maybe?" He's surprised how quickly he came to that subject, but decides to venture his guess and see if it'll stick.

"heh" ranger looks at leon with slit like eyes. He leans in and moves to poke leon in the chest with a sharp claw, "I'm not telling you leon, that's not how things work round here. /I/ ask, and /you/ answer." he chuckles a bit, tossing tim out of one hand and moving to snatch him with the other, "so.. no more information? perhaps YOU might like to be generous.. just keep talking until I feel uninterested, and lil timmy might just have a longer life" He smiles and moves timothy to his mouth, a snake like toung flops out and sliiiiides up the mouses fur, "make it good, I'm getting hungry" he taunts. Meanwhile some clatter can be heard outside the cave, some of his deamon hunter gang squabbling about no doubt.

Timothy squeaks again as he's tossed into the air and lands in ranger's other paw. He cringes at Ranger's words, trying to shy away as much as he can as he is brought up to the rodent's mouth, feeling the rancid warm breath in his ears. His eyes pop open in surprise as Ranger slides his slimy tongue through his fur, a look of panic in his eyes and his heart thudding in his chest. He can't help himself this time; instinct tells him to struggle, and he does, with as much strength as he can muster. Without even thinking then, he rakes his claws against Ranger's face.

Leon ponders Ranger's words - there's something off about them. (He asked the obvious questions,) he thinks, (but when I brought up the stone he started deviating into games). "Well then, Ranger," he says with contempt, "let's see... I was having a strange dream a little while ago, before waking up and realizing that I'm the captive of a freakish goliath. It was back in the old days, when Justin and I were training you. Of course, that's not the dream itself, it was about this horrible slop that they were serving for lunch... TIM, NO!" He breaks his cadence and lunges forward as much as he can when he sees Tim attack Ranger, but he cannot stop the mouse from doing what's already been done

Ranger blinks and pulls the mouse away, his left ear perks to leon. Ranger smiles again and leans foward, his grip tightening on timothy. "now now, that's a bad mouse.. we shouldnt be scratching ole uncle rangers face now should we?" he asks out loud, moving to almost present timothy to Leon. "And leon, why what's all this mind game stuff, didnt I tell you not to do that?.." he asks, "here.." he says moving timothy closer to leon and moving to hold one of the small mouses arms out, his fist closing around it. "listen to this.." he snickers, as his grip moves to tighten, Tighten, TIGHTEN! around the small rodents arms. "This is the sound of what happens to small little cell mates who dont do what big ole ranger says" he spouts in an almost babytalkish, but gruesome tone. )

Timothy stops struggling as soon as he is pulled away, his heart pounding and his breathing heavy. He blinks as he is moved closer to Leon, his ears folding back as his arm is held out. He winces at first, then cries out--muffled, due to the gag--his face contorted in pain and tears streaming from his eyes... a slow, sickening sound can be heard, like a crackle, as if the bones in his arm are being rearranged, just on the verge of breaking. Tim shakes his head wildly, tears streaming from his eyes, a pleading look on his face.

Leon screams out sharply - lunging out against his restraints and nearly knocking into Ranger and Tim. "Dammit, Ranger! STOP! He's just a KID, Ranger! A KID! Have you seriously lost it that much, where you're threatening to break limbs of innocent bystanders?" He snarls at the massive rat and struggles to pull his arms off of the iron ring. The one that gave a bit before gets yanked out of the wall just a little bit by the constant struggling. "If you were a true warrior, you and I would each get one sword and enough time for one of us to kill the other!" He stares at Ranger - his gaze piercing and unyielding. "Let. Tim. Go."

Ranger lets tim's arm go and grins at Leon. "you see leon, /THAT/ is why /you/ are in shackles, and I am not. Why /you/ lose, and /I/ win" he begins to chuckle, standing up. Their's a mad gaze in his eyes, "hehe, that is why, the entire colony will crumble beneith me.. you see leon, You've already failed, You've let not just an innocent bystandard.. but the son.. the VERY son of mrs. Brisby, fall into MY hands.. what use are you now? shackled to a wall, waiting for someone to rescue you? hahaaha.. my time is now.. and yours is up." He turns to look at the door, tim firm in his grasp. "I will bring it down.. everything.. the colony.. the forest.. all of it.. and from it... I shall rebuild" He turns to Leon, "For I am Ranger, and I am the bane of this Valley! I am its shadow, but I will bring light, MY light! and all will bow before me and perish as I rebuild this world into... MY WORLD! goodbye leon, I'll let my hunters have their way with you. With that he turns and begins walking out of the cave, a mad cackle about him, carrying timothy to go confront the colony, and get his precious stone. "Come along timothy, you are still of use to me yet.. hehe.. HAHAHAHAHA!" The echoes lingure in the distance, as the clatter of ferals rises.

Timothy gasps with relief as his arm--now rather bruised and painful--is released. Gently he cradles it against him, his ears still folded back. Even though the bones aren't broken, it feels like they might not be in the right place, either. He limply allows himself to be dragged around and carried, beginning to see the futility of it all.

Leon tries to keep his calm = under normal circumstances, he might have felt more helpless, but the situation here isn't all that different from what happened on Moving Day with him. There - right there - was where Leon decided that he would not fail again in protecting those he loved and had a responsibility to protect. On the heels of that thought: (Wow, first week as Captain and I'm already chained to a psycho's wall). But for how long? As Ranger ducks out the cavern entrance, Leon shouts after him. "Tim! You've gotta be brave for us, you understand!? You've gotta use your head, alright? Promise me you'll be brave!" As he shouts, he looks over at the iron ring he's been working on - it's almost completely out of the wall now, though still well hidden by Leon himself. (I might stand a chance against his lackeys if I can get this thing out of the wall and grab one of his swords...)