"Are you certain?" Jake asked Bolyr, unsure of what the other even meant.

Sitting on the rock, tending to his wound, the Kobold nodded vigorously. "Yes, Jake. When we were down there it was impossible to miss. This island has a mana-well. It should be underneath the tree, which explains its size. I am sure of it!"

"No, I believe that. But are you sure it's a good idea to relocate here?"

Bolyr froze and looked at him in confusion. Then he shook himself and smiled wearily. "I keep forgetting there are so many things you don't know yet." He resumed cleaning the gash on his leg while watching the other Kobolds, who were tending the wounded. "A mana-well is rare and almost impossible to find. If we were on the main continent, those who would find it would relocate their capital on top of it to keep it safe. Wars would be waged for it!"

A stunned silence followed his words as Jake gawked at him. It took him a moment to find his bearings.

"So, what use are mana-wells?" he finaly asked.

Finished with his cleaning, Bolyr wrapped a few leaves around his leg before getting up and moving to Jake, who was looking at him in expectation.

"Mana-wells are many things to many races. Goblins born near them have a chance to be born as Orcs or worse. Legends say, Insectoids lay dozens of eggs instead of a few, but for us? Those of us who match the type of mana will have a bigger chance to awaken!" As he spoke the last words, he stared at the ground below the tree with a burning desire on his face.

Jake thought about what he had just heard and got a bad feeling. "But doesn't that mean the Insectoids will come back to fight for it? And what if they tell the Goblins?"

The other Kobolds were moving closer, listening to their conversation. Purplish leaves like the one Bolyr had were wrapped around many an arm or leg.

Bolyr looked at Jake in astonishment. "Even if they do, do you realize what would happen if the Goblins got this mana-well? Of all the races out there, they are amongst the most dangerous if they have one!"

Getting up from the ground, Jake stared into the Kobold's eyes and finally noticed the barely concealed panic. "What would happen if the Goblins got the mana-well?" he asked, keeping his tone as calm as he could.

A deathly quiet spread across the area, and Bolyr audibly licked his lips with his purplish tongue. It was something Jake had never seen him do.

"They will breed beside it, giving birth to Orcs, and other abominations. But worst- there might be a Diadr born!" His soft voice contained fear and loathing, unlike any Jake had heard from the other, and he shook his head. "A Diadr?"

"The most powerful of the Goblin kinds, and if one is born here, we will need to flee!" Seeing Jake's confused draconic visage, Bolyr ground his teeth. "We only have legends and stories about them! But even the Dragons were weary when dealing with them..."

Jake sighed. Great, just great. "Fine, we will stay here, for now. I will go get the others, and while I am gone, you start thinking of ways to keep the Goblins and Insectoids out."

The Kobolds began talking amongst themselves but stopped when Bolyr sprang forward, blocking Jake's path. "No, wait! If you are here, you can use the water to beat them if they come back! Let me go. You can't carry the others anyway."

It took Bolyr a while longer to convince Jake, but eventually, Bolyr took three of the least wounded and headed out to bring the others.

Jake sat on the edge near the water, keeping his eyes and ears open for anything that might swim towards them. He could hear the other Kobolds rummaging around the island. They were building some temporary shelters as nobody had been willing to sleep in the Insectoid caves.

As he listened to the wind rustling through the trees while staring at the softly lapping waves of the crystal clear water, Jake thought of Mason, Sandra and Willson. Would they be alright? He hoped they could find their way back, but at the same time, he knew it was unlikely. As he stared out across the water, into the purple and green jungle, his mind drifted off.

He had no idea how long he sat there, but he started when something burst from the jungle. Staying as still as possible, he quickly saw that it was Bolyr. Behind him came one of the other Kobolds, a green-blue one with a tattered and dirty white tank top on. Where are the others?

Bolyr stumbled, and Jake heard his groan even from across the water. "Shit!" With a curse, he dove into the water. As soon as he submerged into the water, the dreariness he felt washed away, and a surge of energy shot through his body. He shot through the water like a dragon-shaped torpedo crossing the distance in seconds.

Bolyr was swimming through the water, leaving a trail of pink in his wake.

"What happened? Where are the others?" Jake asked, coming to a surging stop. The water movement caused Bolyr and the other to struggle forward.

"We were tricked! The fucking insect monsters attacked the camp. There was nobody left, except for an ambush. They killed George and Sally." The white-tank top wearing Kobold shouted.

Jake's heart skipped a beat, and he moved closer to them, holding out his tail for them to latch on. As soon as they held it, he began swimming back to the island. "Bolyr, where are Emma and the little ones?"

The yellow armed Kobold just shook his head, a grimace on his face as he used a single arm to hold onto Jake's tail.

A surge of fright and anger flooded Jake as he thought of the small girl and his little siblings. What had happened to them? Ignoring the complaints from behind, he sped up, intent on bringing the others to the island and heading out to find her.

--

"Stop crying, or I will rip out your tongue!" The harsh, emotionless voice caused the small Kobold boy to continue his crying in a more subdued voice. A kick in his back caused him to cry out. After another hissed warning, he managed to stay quiet.

Emma looked at the small boy, big tears rolling down his face, eyes wide with fear, and a hand clutched in front of his mouth to subdue the sobbing. Angry, she looked at the Insectoid that had kicked the boy. When Jake gets here, he will punish you! She thought as she suppressed the concern she was feeling. They had been walking for days now, and he still hadn't come. She hoped Tir and Ter had gotten away safely, and could tell him what had happened. If they could find him. The last she had seen of her new friends was how they rushed off, chased by silent and scary insects. She shivered, and focused on the here and now.

She was walking at the back of the line of Kobolds. Three times their number in Insectoids were keeping a close eye on them, pushing them for more speed. She shivered as she looked at one who had four legs, a face covered in shiny black eyes and pale green chitting armor that covered his body.

Ugly monsters. Vile, creepy! I hope you all get eaten by snakes! The thought of snakes caused her to shiver even worse.

A few hours later, they were still walking. Emma jumped every time something screamed or roared in the night, but she had managed to stay quiet. The young boy's bruised scales showed he had not, and was harshly reprimanded for it.

Jake, where are you? Please come and save us. She chanted the words non-stop in her mind, but as the moon rose, barely noticeable through the thick canopy of leaves, she was losing hope. A soft roaring sound came from the direction they were moving in, increasing in volume with every step.

Emma smelled the salty air and almost cried. They were bringing her to the sea! She could escape if she could reach the water, she knew it! Hope and anticipation made her want to rush forward, but she knew better. She was proud of herself for keeping her enthusiasm in check. If only she had learned how to do this before. She might not have been sent away from all the foster homes. Although it hardly mattered in the end.

Ten minutes later, tree stumps began appearing, mangled bushes and broken branches all around showing where they had fallen. The trail of stamped earth they were walking on showed drag traces, and as they continued, the jungle began thinning.

Emma saw something glisten and shimmer in the distance, only partially blocked by vegetation now. Following the others, her anticipation grew with each step. Then they stepped from between the last of the trees into an immense muddy clearing. Tree stumps dotted the ground, but everyone's attention was on the fires at the other side.

Torches burned on top of a five-meter high wooden palisade that ran the breadth of the open area and seemed to curve around backward. The torchlight illuminated dozens of spear-wielding goblins, painting them in an orange glow. Two large bonfires flanked the path leading up to the palisade, and behind them was a large open gate. A host of small fires, torches, and others burned beyond the gate.

Emma saw a chaotic jumble of wooden shacks and buildings, and debris and waste lying around. One of the Insectoids began ushering them on, and as they got closer, she could smell the stink of rot.

No, if I am brought in there, I can't get to the sea! Slowly, panic began to set, and Emma looked to the left. The sea sparkled there, perhaps a few hundred meters away. The dark water's smell and the glowing energy particles seemed to beckon her, promising freedom and energy.

With a dry mouth, she looked around at the Insectoids. There were two in the front, four on each side, and three behind her. She gauged the distance. She needed to make it to the sea! Warn Jake and tell them where the others were! With a look at the Kobolds in front of her, she noticed many stalling, looking around in fright. One of the Insectoids on the side of the sea moved towards one of the older Kobold's, an older man she knew.

With a last look at the city, the older Kobold turned, and she saw him look at the sea. Don't, Henry! She thought. The Kobold was yellow and green, and couldn't breathe underwater.

Without a noise, the man rushed forward, heading towards the sea.

Two of the insectoids moved without a word, and when they did, Emma ran. She didn't plan it, didn't know why she just did it, but without a second thought, she sprinted across the muddy black earth, jumping over and dodging around tree stumps. From behind came more footsteps, but she didn't look. Henry ran to the side in front of her, and she saw the two Insectoids quickly gaining on him.

Halfway to the sea, they caught him, jumping on his back and dragging his struggling and shouting form to the ground. Emma felt her heartbeat increase, fear making her legs move faster and faster. She could almost feel the energy from the sea, but the running from behind got closer and closer. Jumping across the last stump, she felt her taloned feet sink a bit in the soft sand of the beach, and she whooped! She was going to make it!

A heavy object collided with her, knocking her off balance. She skidded across the sand, and something jumped on her back.

"NO! Let me go. Let me go!" She screamed and struggled, flinging her hands around. She knocked against something with her elbow and hurt a muffled grunt. Then something hit her in the back of the head, and she felt sand in her mouth. Seeing bright spots, she tried to struggle up when another blow hit her head, and everything turned black.