“Crazy as it sounds we might be able to pull this off,” said Vlux. “Ang meet your… step, sisters.”

Several of his sisters, gray spiders of varying sizes and shapes, each with a unique gold and silver design on their abdomen landed on him, ecstatic to meet them, he smiled with delight.

“So in case you haven’t figured it out. These are a few of Kiliyi’s many daughters. She’s been gathering them up with her exoskeletons ever since you all came ashore. She’s got daughters all over the world.”

“Oh my, you’re a busy girl,” said Aletha.

“Eh, Gross,” said Vlux.

“What’d she say?” asked Ang.

“She enjoys eating heads.” Kiliyi shrugged.

“That’s brutal Kiliyi, I like it,” remarked Rux.

“Wait, listen the footsteps have stopped,” said Gron.

“Exactly, Kiliyi’s daughters have infiltrated the entire facility. Using their venom and shed exoskeletons, they’ve either killed or incapacitated most every guard. We can make a run for the exit, or take our chances trying to save everyone and bolster our numbers. You guys really wanna do this?”

“To me there isn’t an option. We have to save these people. I don’t see any difference between them and us, other than they’re a bit longer. Dungii will help me, right,” said Ang.

“Murp!”

“And I have my sisters.” Kiliyi jumped onto his shoulder. “You guys go on if you want, but I’m taking everyone here with me.”

Paouni let out a roaring laugh. “Boy, you sound just like your father.” He wiped a tear from his cheek. “He’d be so proud of you. C’mon let’s get some rhinos!”

“Yes, this is a way to live! This is a way to die!” Declared Haxx, everyone cheered except Vlux, Thramuny, and Ang.

Vlux placed a hand on Ang’s shoulder. “See what you did.”

Thramuny placed a hand on his head. “You did the right thing.”

Ang smiled and led the way. They ran out of the facility to find the streets eerily quiet.

“Thramuny is Eio here,” asked Vlux.

“Yes, he has already told me about the layout. The Satke, and many other prisoners are being housed in the large building over there.”

“Dungii, can all the pixie’s ride with you?” asked Ang.

“Murp,” all the pixie’s climbed onto Dungii, Vlux climbed to the top of the mushroom.

“Uncle, watch this.” Ang started playing his ocarina and drawing runes with his toes, assuming his gray bear form.

“Ang! You’ve recreated my bear transformation. You see that, Ong, haha!” Ang knelt and motioned for his one legged uncle to hop on. Paouni possessing only one leg struggled to climb onto Ang’s bear form.

“Here I will assist,” said Thramuny. “Oh, my you are very dense.” She said struggling to get the bulky dwarf on the bear's back.

“It’s all muscle, and beard haha,” said Paouni.

Thramuny jumped on behind Paouni. They raced down the streets through the disturbing scene. All around Ang saw people suffering from spider bites. Most lay still, making it difficult to tell if they were alive or paralyzed. Approximately every tenth person writhed in agony, faces contorted into a scream, though no sound emanated. The few who could move had severely swollen limbs where the spider bit them, making it difficult to treat themselves and the others around.

Finally, they made it to a large sleek, menacing polygonal building, with a sharp look like touching it would slice you. It had only one entrance in or out, a large heavy metal door.

“Gron you’re up,” said Vlux.

He jumped off and brandished Phalanx. Opening it, he tensed his muscles as light pulsed through his markings. He drew the shield back, and with explosive force, bashed the entrance, sending the entire steel door flying several meters back.

“Here’s the plan, we're gonna rely heavily on Kiliyi’s daughters to make this work,” said Vlux. “Most of Kiliyi’s daughters can spin gold thread that burns red. We only need to apply a spark to burn the locks and cuffs off. Prisoners who are healthy enough to help should do so. The daughters are also working on spinning silk along the ceiling to guide everyone to this exit. Gron, Rux, Paouni, and Dungii. I need the four of you posted out here to receive them. Everyone else, with me.”

Thramuny assisted Paouni off Ang’s back, then reverted to his dwarf form, exhausted, he collapsed. Paouni hoisted Ang up in a bear hug.

“Boy, you amaze me. Let me give you a piece of advice. To sustain a transformation, you have to truly believe what you’re turning into. If you turn into a bear, you are a bear, got it.” Ang wearily nodded.

“Here let me help.” Aletha began spinning Binary above his head. He recognized this magic from when he awoke in the forest after the attack. Quickly he got up and recomposed himself remembering Brek’s example.

“Thanks Aletha, I’m good, let’s head in,” said Ang.

They made their way into the building. Above Kiliyi’s daughters spun blue bioluminescent directional silk. Several more security walls and gates blocked the way; however, the daughters had already wired these locks with gold thread. Ang could quickly draw his fire runes to burn through them. They ran the length of the building down the dark, crooked corridors. The brightest source of light, the gentle blue webbing above, which guided them to the first cage.

A young boy and girl sat in a corner clutching each other, entranced by the glowing spider webs. Ang burned off the lock. Aletha used her recovery spell on everyone.

“Those two look healthy maybe they can help.” Vlux straightened her hair, brightened her eyes, and put on the most ridiculous smile Ang had ever seen. He couldn’t help but chuckle at her silly face. “Shut up,” she said angrily, though her face remained unchanged, which only made everyone present giggle. Vlux shook her head and walked over to the young Satke. Still looking and pointing up at the webs, they didn't notice tiny Vlux approach. She tapped them on the ankles, and pleasantly surprised they knelt, and stared with wonder at the pixie. Vlux reached out her hands and they gingerly took them. After a brief exchange, the boy stood up and raised his right hand. He pressed his middle finger and thumb together and slid them past one another producing a pop sound and a small flame.

“He can create fire that easily. I thought humans weren’t that good with magic,” said Ang.

“There are always exceptions to the norm, and the Satke particularly excel at fire magic,” said Aletha.

The boy and girl began helping their kin up and guiding them out of the cell. Pointing to the miraculous webs and the little people at the gate. They hurried the group down the hall to freedom.

“We keep up this pace we can have the place cleared out within the hour,” said Vlux.

They worked as fast as possible running through the corridors freeing captive, humans, dwarfs, and pixies. Some of whom still had strength and useful magic abilities. Soon they had a small army working to free all the captives. Within less than an hour, the group reached the end of the long maze of cells and made it to the final cell. A large round vault door, with a smooth red and black swirled gem in the center. Faintly Ang could feel something similar, but more dangerous than the aura the black knights, like a knife being held to his throat.

“Fascinating, what could be housed in here?” said Aletha.

“No, we're done, whatever is behind this door should stay there,” said Vlux. Everyone nodded in agreement, Vlux grabbed Aletha and they ran back to the exit where everyone was waiting.

“You’re back, that was fast,” said Gron. “Everyone has been working together, we got all the carts and steeds. We’ve already loaded up most of the sick, wounded, and elderly. We're about ready to roll out.”

“Great, now comes the fun part. We have to find the new entrance to Brexcen before these people drop dead on us,” said Vlux.

“Actually, that might not be as difficult as you think,” said Gron. “While you were in there, that appeared.” They looked up and across the horizon, not too far in the distance; they saw the ocean in the sky.

“Unbelievable,” said Aletha. “Whale clouds don’t appear this far inland.”

“They do tonight,” said Gron.

“Kiliyi did you have something to do with this?” asked Vlux. Kiliyi shrugged. “I guess we’re just lucky. Let’s have everyone make a break for the whale cloud.”

“How are we going to round up all these people and lead them out of here,” said Haxx

“I got em, ” said Paouni. He hobbled forward, and began drawing runes in the air while singing, taking on his storm bird form he flew into the sky and circled the fortress. With sparks of lightning and claps of thunder, he demanded everyone’s attention and flew in the direction of the whale cloud. Dungii dug his roots deep into the ground and started sprouting fern leaves that lay across his body like feathers.

“Dungii what are you doing?” asked Ang. Dungii grew as large as an elephant.

“Morp!”

“Wow, now all of us and a few others can fit on Dungii,” said Ang.

Everyone climbed the ferns onto Dungii’s back. From behind his flower petal mane Vlux and Ang spotted the young boy and girl Satke they helped in the first cell. The two seemed to be natural leaders, so Vlux beckoned for them to climb up and lead the charge. Dungii used his tail and gently picked up a few other frail and elderly passengers and placed them behind his veil. The pixie’s climbed to the top of the mushroom. Vlux, Ang, Thramuny, and the young boy and girl were position just behind Dungii’s mane. With a loud, deep morp, Dungii lead them out of the prison. The massive stampede of steeds and wagons kicked up dirt as they raced across the rocky open field toward the whale cloud. The cloud just a kilometer out, when a dispel wave washed over them. The horde stumbled as the wave passed over. Looking back, Ang saw the dark silhouette of the horrid creatures in the distance. Oddly shaped masses with long uneven tentacles dangling below. Steadily they advanced.

“Crap those things again,” said Vlux.

By the cloud, Ang saw his uncle crumpled on the ground. “NO!” Screamed Ang, as he ran to his uncle’s side. Paouni, used his peg leg to break the fall, shattering it, but wasn’t enough; he had sustained grievous injuries. The rest of the team ran to assist. “Aletha use your healing spell,” cried Ang.

“I’m sorry Ang, that spell really only tricks the mind into believing they’re better. In any case, no amount of healing magic can save him from those injuries,” said Aletha.

“Uncle you weren’t supposed to leave me again. I have too many things I need to ask, so many things to tell. I want to try drinking booze with you. I want things to be how they were. I want to go home.”

“I’m real sorry Ang, but this is it for me. At least I can fulfill my duty and keep you safe.” Paouni used all is remaining strength to bring himself upright. “Your mother is in Kyxichen. I was supposed to take you there, but you’ll have to find your own way. You made some real good friends. I’m sure they’ll help you find Lysyntri.”

“If you’re about to do what I think you’re about to do, I’ll help you,” said Haxx.

“How do you know what I’m about to do, you old pixie?”

“Because I helped develop that magic. It works best with two. Besides, I owe Lysyntri for my life more times than I care to count. Least I can do is give up what little life I have left for her son. Thramuny, here you earned it, take care of Boa, and she’ll take care of you.”

“C’mon Ang, we must hurry,” said Aletha, struggling to hold back tears.

“Wait no, what are they going to do. Please let me help.” Begged Ang as Vlux and Aletha dragged him away. He watched as Haxx and Paouni joined hands and began singing. Dungii picked them up and put them on his back.

“Go, Dungii!” Vlux yelled, choking down tears.

“Vlux what are they about to do?”

“Save us all.”

“MORP!”

The horde continued the charge, leaving Haxx and Paouni behind. Ang looked back to see enormous beings, made of dirt and clay, rise from the ground. They moved on the wailing beasts, hurling massive stones and quaking the land. As they rose, a glowing aura encompassed Paouni and Haxx. To Ang’s horror, he watched his uncle’s body dissolve into the land, as Dungii plunged them into the whale cloud.