Alverost took stock of the battlefield, his view pivoting across their domain as the Hollow went dark. At the front, dozens of Kobolds died to the few Changed that managed to cross the river basin before the swell tide came. And it came in force, tearing apart the earth and flooding the tunnels. Their Silver carts were torn, flooding away, as the river flooded far above the established river basin.

Even now the water ripped through the channels in the earth like water from a ruptured dam, casually swiping away dozens of Clan Below Kobolds, as well as a few more Changed Longtails. They were forced away at blistering speed, and it was unlikely any survived the rapid water throwing them into the dirt and holding them below the water.

Splotch charged through the battlefield atop the Boar Dragon, Zeek pointing out the shapes of Changed twinkling in the dark as he assisted in the Clan Below’s retreat. Longtail changed dragged Kobolds down with the Keratin spears that extended out of their arms, pulling them back and away from the fleeing masses. Long fangs lined the inside of their deformed mouths, dripping black liquid that fizzled on contact with the scales of Clan Below Kobolds, and at the edges of the battle where the fighting turned to slaughtering they tore flesh with their teeth and swallowed it.

The Swell-tide had changed the battle in an instant.

Distantly, Alverost was aware of Mark highlighting the moving figures in the dark, and of their Kobold archers turning and firing in their direction. Some of these arrows struck true, but more slid around Changed scales or sailed over their heads. Mark came to him then, right as the majority of their Kobolds neared the walls.

“The fire defenses!” Mark was panicked, his voice sounding like a shout over their metaphysical communication. “How do we activate them— we have to—“

“They’re gone Mark.” Alverost whispered, looking over the scene of devastation.

“Gone? What do you mean—“ Mark realized, his perspective pivoting.

“They were swept away with the carts. Clan Longtail reacted too fast— they were ready. They were sitting behind the wall where we broke in. There was no way they were so prepared directly after attacking clan Blighteye— no, it had to have been faked the entire time… Its likely than Clan Longtail already owned Blighteye.”

“You mean… it was a trap?”

“It had to have been. It had to.” Alverost stared down at the devastation below them. Then he shook himself free of his stupor. “Rally the Kobolds! To the walls!”

Silver had led the charge into the enemy lines, and now, he was in the retreat of the rear guard, dragging his spear as he sprinted. Arrows sailed over his head, many landing much too close to his comfort as he made for the wall that defined the edge of the Clan Below.

Silver had escaped the worst of the slaughter by a hair, and personally witnessed dozens of Kobolds dying around him. His claws beat against the dirt, tearing it apart as he ran for the portcullis that Kobolds were flooding into. Looking up, he saw the Kobolds on the wall pointing and shouting, arrows flying around him.

Silver turned. He was helpless to the Kobolds that fell in the counter attack, but he could help them now. Other Kobolds around him aided in a fighting retreat, spears poking at Changed that danced in and out of their lines, throwing Keratin arms like scythes and spears. Silver looked for where he could best help. To his right, a Kobold was being dragged away— alive. Being Changed was a fate worse than death.

Without pausing, Silver charged back into the enemy, his spear stabbing forward and finding purchase in Longtail flesh. A high pitch scream began to escape its mouth, before Silver pulled back, stabbing again— into its throat. It gurgled as it fell, and the Clan Below Kobold broke free, sprinting for the wall. Silver looked to see if there was anyone else to help.

There was no one left to save. Around them, Changed Kobolds moved in the dark, and between the din of the Swell-tide filling the cavern with rushing air and water and the screams of Kobolds around them, there was nothing he could do.

Silver joined the diminishing ranks of Kobolds flowing towards the wall, making his way through the open portcullis. He heard it slam behind him, and then there was a moment of serene and horrible silence. Kobolds shuffled and stepped, dragging themselves around without speaking, and beyond the wall could be heard the shuffling of the Changed Kobolds.

Silver pushed his way up the wall, ascending the staircase by elbowing and shouldering his way up. Slowly, he was recognized by the Kobolds, which consisted largely of the former forces of clan Tinyfingers. Still though, there weren't many Kobolds of alabaster white among them, and eventually, they parted. Silver ascended the wall, looking over. Changed Kobolds shifted in the darkness.

The silence was eerie, and— “Something is wrong.” Zeek spoke from where he appeared beside him, the impact of Splotch’s mount shaking the earth. Splotch gripped the reins of it, leaning over its head to assess the battlefield thoughtfully. “This isn’t clan Longtails way.”

“They’re changed.” Splotch said. His face turned, scanning the field with a hawk eye.

Then they charged, dozens of forms slithering out through the darkness, keratin blades extended.

“What are they doing?” Silver hissed. “They can’t climb the wall—“

The first of their number, though isolated, proved him wrong at that moment. It had sped ahead of the main force, and it swung one of the sharpened protrusion coming out of its arm into the wall— stabbing it. Then it dragged itself upward, hissing. Silvers eyes and nostrils flared.

“Open fire! Archers!” Silver hissed, looking around himself. The brief state of shock on the wall wore off quickly as Kobolds worked to stab downwards in defense of the wall. Splotch slammed the reins of his Kobold, and it lumbered over the wall. Zeek swung a sword from atop it, slicing a changed clean in two, while splotch simply guided the Pig Kobold to consume them with its endless appetite.

Silver looked down off the wall. Even if they could climb it, it was odd they would attack it like this… unless they had another means of breaking through? Otherwise, they would just be easy to cut down.

Cut down, Silver thought to himself, and then out of a minor moment of curiosity and reflection on the nature of the Clan Longtail hive-dungeon, looked up.

It saved his life.