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The white ears lowered at Mark's question. "H-he hasn't yet. And I only did it so you would live, Mark. this world isn't yours, you're not used to the cruelties he's put upon us. I haven't eaten in two days because he's rationed food so tightly, and the only wild animals are his dogs." Gold eyes looked away, listening to the other before giving a small smile, shaking his head. "Where would I live in your world, Mark? There is no one on your planet that looks like me... it's best for me to put myself on the line to save you. It's not like you can just go walk up to him and demand to trade places." Faun shrugged, pouring him a new glass of water, "Here."

"No." Faunt said sternly. "You'll die." he knew that for fact and it excited him, sure half of his own pleasure would be taken away, but Mark thinking he could handle it and then dying, well that was his own stupidity. Even a small fraction of the king's torture would kill someone or at least leave them an empty husk of who they used to be. He'd seen slaves previous make similar deals, and watching them scream til they coughed blood, sweat until they seizured, it was glorious. The human body was so weak how had it lived for so long? Bones could be broken, and never twice in the same spot, so you would break elsewhere. Faun had seen it happen, had done it, the human body's adaptions were cruelties and tortures if used properly.

"I am going to take you out of here, all right? I know where the gate is so once we walk out of this room I need you to stay behind me. Tell me you'll stay behind me." but not promise, because Mark seemed set on his decision. Give the man a loophole and watch him take it.

Faun's ears lowered at the man's trembling. He wished there was another time to do this, maybe when the man was stronger and less injured, but there was no time to wait. The King had little patience and even smaller patience when giving mercy. Peeking outside the window he listened, flinching as his antlers hit the doorway. He had no idea why they'd grown so large and fanned out, useless things, at least they looked nice when decorated in ribbon.

Never had he been so thankful for rug, his hooves muffled by the plush red fabric. "Um," he looked around and went down a new hall quickly, pausing as he saw wood floor. "No, back." and turned around, walking quickly down a new hallway. "This should lead us out, we're almost there stay strong." And as soon as he finished that sentence he turned, knee bumping into the back of someone's head. The ears went limp as he backed away quickly from the King.

Faun backed away with fright in his eyes, standing in front of the human defensively, ready to fight if needbe. "Mark, back away quickly," he looked back at him, "back away and go down the hallway we just--" he felt cold fingertips run up his exposed back, voice a strangled growl, not wanting to anger his new master. He had to grit his teeth to prevent from speaking any curses. he looked down, shame and anger written on his face at the order, jaw still clenched tight as he was shoved. "Yes sir.' he whispered. One final glance at Mark told him to run, just run and not see this.

And he walked to the ledge, bending down to place his hands on it, staring at it with hatred and disgust. Anything but this.

The first crack of the whip, the first blooming pain on his back. He grunted, eyes wide and glossing over with tears as he felt something roll down his back. He had to be strong for Mark, to show he could do this, that he could survive trading places with the human. But the next crack was harder to take, the grunt fading off to a whimper, knuckles white as he gripped the ledge. The third made him cry out, and from there it just got worse. The blood started dripping down his back into his fur, down his leg. But he stayed glaring at the ledge despite the pain. He had to be strong, he had to prove he could do this.

Then for some reason, whether the pain intensified or a new form of torture was implemented, but his brain blotted out the pain, blotted out feeling, even sight to avoid looking at the blood that was beginning to pool at his hooves. All Faun did was tell himself to keep glaring. Just keep glaring at the ledge. And that's what he did.

His mind noted something weird. The lashes weren't as hard. Coming back from his fog he gave a sudden cry, the whip hitting an already deep gash, making the pain scream worse. Mark was missing too, gold eyes looking around, ears perking before hearing his breath behind him. It was unintentional, but it was in a panic, letting go of the ledge and turning around to look at Mark, hissing as the tip of the whip snapped across his chest. "You said you would leave him alone!" he cried to the king.