The loud bleating of scared, fleeing goats drowned out the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Mason snapped the stringy goat's neck with practiced ease, tasting the warm coppery blood on his tongue. He looked around to make sure there wasn't any stone snake around, squinting his eyes against the glare. The scorching heat caused shimmers in the air, making it hard to see, but there wasn't any movement.

Knowing he had little time, he flipped over the heavy goat and sank his teeth in the soft belly. It was the only place he could easily rip the thick hide. The rest was like boiled leather. He wasn't all that hungry yet, but he tore into the carcass. After a few seconds, he raised his head to scan the surroundings again, chewing on the meat. In the back of his mind, he knew the chewing wasn't necessary; he could just as easily swallow the stuff whole.

He was standing on the slope of the last lonely mountain, bordering a seemingly unending desert. From its bleak grey top, he had seen nothing but sand, sand, and more sand.

Finally tired of chewing, Mason swallowed the large mouthful of slimy meat before finishing the rest of the goat without wasting any more time. He climbed back up the mountainside, using his nimble tongue to remove the slivers of meat from between his teeth. It didn't take long to climb the sharp-edged rocks until he hung on the side of the peak.

Damnit, Jake... He felt like weeping as he stared at the sea. Its black depths caused him to shake a bit at the prospect of going inside. He tried to push it down, but it didn't help, his heart racing. No matter how much he wanted to cross it to search for Jake, he knew the chances of finding his friend were infinitesimal.

"I can't postpone it anymore..." he whispered and climbed around the mountain. For a week now, he was camping out here, searching the night's sky to no avail. None of the stars matched what he had seen back on the jungle-covered island, and he was starting to wonder if this was even the same planet.

He squinted again, his double eyelids sliding down and protecting his eyes from the harsh glare. In front of him was the desert, its white gleaming sand stretching out, dangerous, foreboding, and seemingly without end. To the right, the dusty sand changed into beaches, glistening where sea wash across it. To the left, the now thin line of volcanic mountains looked like a wall separating dry from wet.

Mason felt the bloat in his stomach, courtesy of the dozens of goats he had hunted, and he squared his shoulders. Forcing the fear of the unknown away, he took a deep breath and roared to release some stress. The sound seemed to be sucked away by the vast nothingness around him, but he felt a little better.

"I don't know how, but I will find that stupid island again, Jake. But for now, try not to die!" Shoving the fear for his friend away, he jumped into the air and flew towards the depths of the desert.

--

Emma woke up, shivering violently. She was almost starting to get used to it. Trying not to move, she quietly looked around at the unmoving disheveled shapes on the ground around her. The soft roaring of the sea in the distance was a cruel reminder of the freedom she longed for.

The group around her was still asleep, and if she woke them, they wouldn't have the energy to work all day. Not that they would blame her... but she just couldn't stand watching the Orc beat another one to death for 'fainting on the job.'

A loud slam signaled the arrival of the guard. A few more seconds and the nasty with the whip would force them to the work yard. With a miserable feeling, she stretched. The slight noise was enough to cause half of the group to shoot up in fear, covering their heads with hands.

"Whipper is coming, " she whispered softly, causing moans and muffled curses. But within ten seconds, everyone was sitting, ready, and looking at the door.

One of the others, an old Kobold with dull blue scales and slight hunch, smiled at her. Besides Emma, she was the only one left with a sheen in her eyes.

"Emma, dear. I had another dream! I was soaring through the sea, through a forest of kelp, free as a bird." The old woman closed her eyes and cocked her head to the side with a smile.

A sad look disappeared quickly from Emma's face, replaced by a pained smile. Rita will leave too, and I'll be alone again! Why am I still here? What if I have an episode during the day? She shivered, feeling her eyes turn moist. The Goblins killed all Kobolds who showed signs of finishing their awakening. Rubbing her eyes, she saw Rita staring at her with a worried look.

"No, no, Emma. There is no need for that. You will go through the change soon, you will see! Your dreams are already during the day. You are so close." Rita raised her hand towards Emma's face when the thick wooden door slammed open. Like a cobra, Rita snatched her hand back and clamped her mouth shut.

All ten of the Kobolds of their slave-group silently stared at the grinning Goblin that stood in the doorway. Wearing the remainders of a leather jacket and jeans, both two sizes too large, he looked like a schoolyard bully.

"Are you awake again, little darlings? Good! We have a big day ahead of us! We need to finish another dock." The Goblin waited as the sound of startled shouts came from the Kobolds.

Emma felt her heart start pounding. If they were going to be allowed near the sea, she could escape! They could al-

An evil grin crept up Whipper's face, and he cackled loudly. "Got ya! Fools! Did you really think we would let you near the sea?" The end of the whip he was holding hit the ground. The smile on his lips dissipated, and he pursed them, staring at the shocked Kobolds.

"Out! You pack off mangy lizards!" He yelled, raising his hand and taking a step forward.

Before the Kobolds could run out, the whip lashed forward, striking one of them on the chest. The Kobold grunted but didn't stop, and within seconds the dirty wooden shack was empty. None of the Kobolds touched the Goblin, trying desperately not to touch him and risk raising his ire. It didn't matter; it never did. Whipper, true to his name, began striking at everything he saw.

Emma was one of the first out of the door, her small stature and quick movements getting her passed the Goblin untouched. Not all were so lucky. As she ran across the muddy ground towards the east gate, she heard cries and groans from behind. A quick look around the courtyard showed the other Kobolds also chased out of their shelters.

Less than a minute later, four groups of miserable looking Kobolds stood before four gates, a group of Goblins with each yelling at them what they would be doing that day.

Hiding behind Rita's larger bulk, Emma barely listened to Whipper's snarled orders. Most of the time, it was the same, either chop trees, carry trees or use them to build huts and barricades.

"Emma," Rita whispered, placing a hand on her shoulder to guide her along. Through the raised gate, they walked out into the Goblin village. Dozens of the vile green things were hanging around, doing nothing but laugh and curse. A chaotic mismatch of poorly constructed cabins created a sort of labyrinth which most people would get lost in within moments.

Whipper marched forward, the Kobolds behind him and a few spear-wielding Goblins behind them. From the direction, Emma knew right away it would be moving logs again. Her head dipped as she suppressed the desire to cry. She was tired of sleeping on an empty stomach, tired of muscle pain, and the whip. But most of all she missed Jake and Mason, and how protective they had been of her.

Where are you, Jake? She thought as she took a quick look in the sky. A few days ago, she had seen a shape circle around, and she had hoped it was him. It wasn't, or if it was, he hadn't come to get her. Deep down, she knew it was unfair to expect him to charge into a base filled with hundreds of Goblins, but she felt abandoned anyway.

Three streets from the east exit, they marched across a muddy area bordering a large building. With poles stuck straight up, slightly angled in it resembled a cross between a giant cabin and a tent. Emma had seen it before, when they arrived. It was where Peltmans, the leader of the Goblins lived. Like the other buildings it was made from logs bound together by vines.

With a loud bang, the poorly made door slammed open. A Fiend walked out of the house, grey skinned with long hair and a frown on her sharp lined face. Tess! Emma almost called out, and then stopped. What was she doing here? Should she say something? A second figure stomped out after the Fiend, a green quadruped Insectoid. It had thin limbs, and a pair of folded wings on its mantis body.

“Stop and think. Don’t let your emotions cloud your judgement, we need his help, or we-” It hissed, through a thin head that mostly resembled an ants. Its bulbous eyes noticed the Kobolds and it stopped talking. Staring at them for a moment he turned to the Fiend. “The hive demands your presence. You have until tomorrow.”

It stepped forward and jumped into the air, its wings buzzing loudly as it flew away.

Whipper had been staring at the Insectoid, and as it flew away he snorted. With a snap of his whip to get their attention he began walking again.

Emma took a quick look at Tess and saw the Fiend stared at the Goblins and Kobolds alike with a look of contempt before she stomped off in another direction. She felt the hope she had gotten from seeing her wither and die. Hanging her head she followed the others.

The rest of the trip through town and across the grass and mud covered stretch before town went by in a blur.

"Right you, Lizard brains! Grab those logs and haul them back to the town. Place them next to the gate as I told you!" A snap of the whip accompanied Whippers shout, and the Kobolds rushed to it.

Emma shook awake from her depressing thoughts and followed Rita across the grassy fields. They were outside of the town, close to the edge of the forest. Dozens of chopped down trees lay around, a group of Kobolds ripping off the leaves and using their teeth to remove small branches.

A grey, heavyset Insectoid was using his impressive mandibles to gnaw through the leafless trees. He removed the larger branches and separated them and the trunk into three-meter long logs.

Two others joined Emma and Rita, and they began dragging and pushing one of the logs back along the path. Feeling her stomach complain, Emma knew it would be a long day until supper and she forgot about Tess as she forced her body to comply.