"Ngggh... Egggh..."

Protect Hive, expand Hive.

"Ahh...! Ow..."

Supply Hive, fuel Hive.

"W-W-Where am I!?"

Capture for Hive, Build for Hive.

"Huh!?"

Contain supply, restrict supply.

"L-Let me... Go! Le-"

Secure supply, convert supply!

"HEY! DON'T TOUCH THERE! GET OFF ME! GET OFF!"

Expand Queen, stabilize position!

"NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! SOMEBODY H-HELP ME!"

Reproduce.

Impregnate supply for the Hive!

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I never thought it was possible to be scared by confusion, and yet apparently it was something that existed. And it accompanied the shaking of my groggy head while my eyes flickered between being open and closed. An incredible aching building up around the edges of my eyes not helping the issue. I was trying to get them to get used to the darkness I was stuck in.

But, as I started coming to my senses I also realized that my arms weren't hurting because of awkward positioning but because something was dragging me through the dark...

My feet and ankles were also becoming increasingly sore from this careless dragging I was undergoing. Ankle joints being stretched out as they were pulled through the dirt that was soft enough to let them in but firm enough that my boots became ploughs. It wasn't just going to the side of my feet, it was also being flicked up into my wide-open boots with every sudden tug or grip adjustment I felt. This abrasion caused by the dirt, however, that was being felt throughout the tops of my feet as it sieved deeper into my boots which did little to distract me from the growing panic inside of me.

All the while this was happening, I was trying to position my head in a manner that at least muffled the distant screams that were kept alive by the tunnels. These efforts did not bore the kind of fruit I wanted as it also made it much harder to ignore the chitters the tunnel walls sent back at me. However, unlike the screams and crying, it was evidently clear that this noise was close, far too close for my liking. And I was very willing to bet a large amount of money and even my chances at ascending the towers of Tobaballe that it was linked to the hard grip upon my numbing, tender arms.

I would just have to wait for the grip to be gone before I did anything, assuming I could do anything.

I wish I had the opportunity to do something... If I could pray for such an opportunity then I would!

But, this grip worried me to no end, this wasn't a firm, tense grip, it was a grip that was hard because the clawed hands holding me were hard! The occasional pinch caused by various plates colliding helped paint a mental image along with the shadows I saw. Some kind of insect or bug had me in its grip and if the occasional tidbits I learned in school and other talks meant anything then this won't end well... Insects are well-known for their strange behaviour and methods compared to normal, bigger animals like what normally ended up on your plate during a meal.

It would be dishonest to say me finally being let go of was lucky, my face was in the moist, filthy dirt that I had just been dragged through and some slobbering creature was standing above me. Unfortunately, I did not have the apathy of Apahthein, the God of Apathy, so all I had was my fearful, childish trembling. It frustrated me, I was grown man, I shouldn't have been acting like a child! Yet, I was also not man enough to fight out of this, so all I could do was freeze up my body and hope that what was about to happen was quick.

Grunting in pain when I was let down onto the ground harshly. Then grunting once more with dirt muffling it when whatever this creature was began to apply itself upon my tense body. Its large, brick-like foot only causing me pain as I desperately tried to fight back against the increasing force being put down on me. It was hopeless, the pressure only grew and grew as I fought back, I just had to deal with it and ignore what I was being pressed down on.

Yet, as I lay there pondering how I was going to die... Fate had other plans that it wanted to surprise me with. A shame it wasn't a surprise I was going to enjoy at all. I guess now that I was about to die, a few more seconds alive to come to terms with my imminent demise was a boon in and of itself. If one could call it that...

My mouth soon let out my built up groans as I was heaved up and over until. The groans all properly leaving once I was left resting on a spiky shoulder plate. Soon trying to at least lift myself off of these spikes as they were digging into my skin. The creature would have none of it, so I was just forced down and caused the thing I wanted to escape to happen even more.

My face soon dripping with my spilt blood as the spikes forced their way through my dirty clothes and into my skin. Not particularly deep, but deep enough to make my eyes shoot open while my mouth locked itself together in a futile effort. The pain I wanted to contain, I just could not do it, I wanted to stay quiet and not look more pathetic. I just could not help be very vocal about it all.

It hurt, it hurt so gods-damned much and I couldn't do anything about it!

Soon falling limp in defeat as we entered a much more spacious and thankfully lit chamber. Even if I had a growing feeling this increased light would soon be the bane to my sanity. My energy focusing in on my neck so I could reluctantly look around this new chamber from my shoulder-high position. It was an unsettling, amber light that dimly filled this chamber.

Almost like the lights that were on back in Tobaballe by the loading bays at night, only worse...

I wished and wanted to be back in the dark as now I was exposed to the horrors that were previously hidden by the cruel darkness that filled the tunnels before. All around me were images I wished I never had to see...!

Large, jagged frames that pulsated with an almost evil intent underneath the ebon carapace that covered it all. Jaws hungry for stolen freedom bound dozens upon dozens of people within their elongated mouths, their teeth sinking deep to prevent the caught from escaping their clutches. Some of the victims were as panicked as I, their eyes darting about while they tried to summon a non-existent strength to break free and escape...

All the while watched by what could only be compared to living corpses that knew that no such hope existed. Their eyes as hollow as the starved bodies they had that barely contained their skeletal insides.

Breathing in an increasingly frantic manner as this insect creature dragged me towards an open space on this demented human hanging rack. Fruitlessly trying to force myself out of this insect's grip as it brought me closer to this strange structure. I could not, though, and I was lifted off of the former problem of the creature's body spikes and introduced to a newer one. One that I could not understand the purpose of in my fearful state nor break away from.

Soon trying to get my head as far back as possible when this creature began to lick my face with its wiry tongue. Elaborate expressions spreading across my face as my nose reacting harshly to the strong smell it left all over my face. Staying tight-lipped throughout this as I also did not want to taste what it left over my face. Carefully watching as it backed off and locked its gaze towards a tunnel above that forked apart as quickly as it began.

I could barely see it, but it was clear this was not some one-off chamber. And, while I could, I began taking this brief period of peace from the creature to at least get a solid look at the thing.

It was a bulky creature, covered in natural armour that did a disturbing job of emphasising the twitching flesh beneath it. Almost as if a person used clay to cover up the tensest part of their muscles while leaving the flexible portions open. I had no idea what to think of the legs, though, they started off like one would expect until it got to the knee, or, its first set of knees. The leg then shoots back into a second knee that was set up the opposite way before it finally descended into a pair of large, bulky feet. Ones I had only so recently escaped being crushed by.

It also had a pair of sickly yellow eyes outlined by well-shaped but small hexagons that went across its eyes. This, oddly enough, did a lot to draw your attention to its head. Yet, obviously, as it was not a handsome or beautiful face, I found myself looking over the rest of its sloped, forward-leaning head. Only to feel quite queasy when I got a look within its set of mandibles that seemed to hide something.

And praise and beg whatever god would hear me, but I swear I saw what seemed to be the mouth of a human hidden in the shadow of its throat...!

My eyes soon changing their direction upwards when a noise caught my attention, another fear that made it hard for me to focus. The smaller tunnels that were positioned almost too perfectly above each trapped individual began to hum with whatever strange creatures crawled within them. The shadow of one being barely visible in the corner of my eye if I stretched my head over my shoulder.

My mind soon began to fill with ideas, was this some kind of feeding station? Some kind of storage location? Some strange... facility... that my mind couldn't even comprehend due to how foreign it was?

My heart was racing faster and faster as these details settled in. Similar but hollower insect creatures were soon crawling out of these holes that were lined up behind everyone. The jaws of these new creatures snapping eagerly as they waited behind us in an otherwise still manner.

Gulping audibly as I shut my eyes as tightly as possible, one of these things was behind me. Not so close as to feel its breath coming down my back, yet, even then my body hairs were more than happy to stick up in twisted excitement. Tears were beginning to build up at this point, I was at the complete mercy of these creatures and I could do nothing...

NOTHING!

"Undwote damn you... Undwote damn you! You better not..." I weakly mutter at the creature in front of me as it backed off for some reason, its emotionless eyes entirely focused on what was behind me. A cold sensation soon flooded over me once a new sound filled my ears, a wet one, one of parting flesh and moving parts. A sick mockery of what machines back home could be. My fear soon was drowned out as this noise became a chorus of this sick noise that filled the chamber I was trapped in.

Pain exploding across my body as what felt like hundreds of needles began to insert themselves deep into me. Twitching in immense pain as it seemed that my very bones were being grated upon by these needles. Any scream of pain or protest being blocked by this creature as its very body seemed to lock me inside of it with only my eyes being unaffected beyond hexagonal pattern being applied to all I looked upon. My movements soon became violent as utter terror drove me to try and escape from this nightmare, tug after tug, jerk after jerk... All useless actions as the shelled form that now covered my body refused to disappear.

The pain of whatever was being done to me made everything beyond me not matter. I could not expend the effort to care as I thrashed about in pain. Even the sudden bright gale that forced its way through the chamber did not register in my mind before it was too late. The frame I was on was quick to shake violently and fall apart as this explosive force sought its way out of the tunnels. If only it would take me with it rather than throw me about...

Slamming into the closest corner near me and getting partially buried under the broken contraption I had been freed from. My skin began to seemingly burn all the way to the nerves under this strange pressure before it finally died down. Soon falling down a hair-thin distance as my body couldn't take any more of this excruciating pain. Collapsing unconscious after my dazed head went cold after only lifting it up a little.

But... This wasn't a quick pass to Undwote's calming grip or the safety of his pack of seven. It was no more than a short-lived rest that ended with a sudden fright, like if you have a dream where you are falling. Shooting up from where I was, flying through the chamber before then slamming into an opposing wall. The noise of my crash returning noise to the ruined chamber before I finished it off by thudding once more into the floor.

My panicked reaction repeating this as I once again flew and bounced down to the floor from the roof of the chamber. And after many repeats of this reaction, I finally understood that I needed to not be so sudden in my movements. Yet I was shaking so much that it felt like I was balancing on a tight cable high above the ground floor of Tobaballe's towers!

"W-What's happening to me!?" I whine in confusion as I slowly rose to my feet with great uncertainty at what would happen if I suddenly flinched in my movements. Breathing to myself slowly as I looked at my hands, it was gone, the bug on me was gone and the injuries it dealt to me as well. Was the other creature slobbering over my face some kind of hallucinogenic...? No... It couldn't have been, the explosion that tossed me about and its evidence was strewn about the now strangely brighter room. Something tried to do... Something!

I did not know!

Settling down after a short burst of fear. Attempting to rub my eyes on the collar of my collar. Only, I casually tore it off it with what I thought was just a simple gesture instead. It was only a slight tug!

"I've seen this not tear when its legs get caught on loose spikes and poles... So how in Cro's' name did I just tear it so easily!?" I call out to no one as I began pulling apart the torn off fabric as if I was ripping apart a piece of paper. There was no resistance, no real effort needed, none... Nothing was making sense and I was scared to move yet only a fool would stay here, but my slow turn to leave was halted by something terrible.

The sound of someone crying...

Something bad had happened and now all they could do was cry... While I didn't know why this individual was crying, all I could know was that this sorrow was the source of the sudden blast that inadvertently freed me. So, realistically, one should've avoided this direction as I could easily meet the fate of the splattered bugs before me. Or, you could've been me and decide that this direction is a good place to be safe. At least, that is what I hoped for, there was little to suggest that I wouldn't be minced down the moment I began heading down this tunnel.

These rather erratic wisps of emerald light were frightening to me. It frightened me so much that my intentionally sluggish movements froze if I ever got near one. Eyes carefully watching them as they flew about before I began to move again. And, when I could, I would edge closer to the walls and dig into the walls as I moved ever so slowly.

I wasn't sure how long it took me, but I got through the tunnel regardless. Even if I was constantly fighting the instinctual need to run whenever echoes of bug chitter made it through the sounds of crying and wind. Yet, the crying noise had died down by the time I got to the end of the tunnel. Most likely because I was being so slow with my movement. Soon finding myself standing still with a confused frown once I reached a completely demolished chamber painted with varying shades of blood and shredded bone or carapace.

Shivering in disgust at the sight before me, I had seen blood and injury before, but nothing even comparable to this. My stomach felt more like a wet paper bag right now it was that gruesome. And it almost felt like I was about to go flying again as I couldn't help but shiver at what I saw.

I wasn't able to stew in such a sight though due to me suddenly getting thrust into the wall behind me by an extremely strong individual. While it didn't hurt, somehow, I was sure it must've been a bug laying in ambush... That was until I finally saw what tackled me... It was a woman, a battered, injured, partially naked woman.

The main detail that stood out to me was that she was a very, very angry one. Slowly raising my hands as a sign of submission when she looked up at my face. Only to look away from her as this woman's anger turned into hysterical crying as their body collapsed against mine. Clearly seeking some kind of closure they thought I might have been able to provide.

"Uh... There, there..." I say to the woman with uncertainty as this was a very new experience for me. I had no idea how to respond to a stranger trying to use me for emotional support. So, I was going to see if stroking her rather short hair would've helped the situation. Only for her to then just get away from me and collapse to her knees while crying into her dirty hands. Looking away from her once it became clear to me that all she wore was an incomplete suit of armour and whatever was left of the clothes formerly under the now wrecked suit of metal.

Rubbing my thumbs along the closest knuckle bone while I tried to occupy myself during this situation. I needed to think of something. Staying here was not an option, that was clear without a doubt. Yet I couldn't just leave her here!

Soon checking under my overalls to see if my other clothes were intact enough that I could spare my overalls for her. Or, at the very least, the top section being torn off. But the damage to her clothing around her crotch made it clear she would need the entire thing. So I just sighed as I unbuttoned my overalls and navigated it around my boots as I didn't really want more dirt in them.

A few tears in the legs later, however, and I was able to give my overalls to her, or, to be more accurate, left it in front of her. How she felt about it wasn't clear. I hoped it was some form of thanks but I couldn't understand her. The language she spoke wasn't one I knew.

So I just turned to face the sound of wind I could hear and listened carefully to what I could.

It was a weird sensation, I thought it might've been because we were near the or an exit but the fact it seemed to be so concentrated around this bloodied room made me doubt such claims. The sudden upsurge of bug chitter, however, was not hard to get a direction on, it was very clearly coming from where I came from. Worriedly looking at the still distraught woman who had not done anything with my overalls. Rapidly switching my gaze between her and the tunnel I came up as the chittering became steadily louder and louder.

"Waionr forget this about me..." I quietly curse to the god she was likely craft-bound to as I pick up my overalls again in haste and then the woman as best as I could after wrapping her up. Much to her surprise and lamentation before then just barging through towards what looked like a thin and damaged wall. Luckily, it was both of those things, what wasn't so lucky... Well, everything that followed as I ended up landing on my back after a brief freefall with the woman leaving my grip as quick as she entered it.

Watching as she began backing off with a scowl on her face. She wanted to scream and shout something. Yet she did not. So it was clear that she was aware that such an action would only jeopardize us and put us at greater risk.

Assuming none of those creatures found the hole I made...

I merely sighed in great stress as I rubbed my palms against my cheeks. My mind was a quagmire of questions and confusion, pondering of what went wrong and how in all of Cro's' name I ended up here. I had no idea how to act, no idea what to do and no idea on how this would go. So I did all I could in this situation, be pathetic, break down in silent tears as I rolled up into an oddly shaped ball.

I couldn't help but beat myself up for this as if I simply stayed back and kept working until my shift ended then none of this would be happening to me. If I just ignored the optimism given to me by Iishar...

Lifting my head out of my arms when a tender hand rubbed my shoulder. My eyes soon meeting those of the woman who had now finally changed clothes. She gave me an awkward but still soft smile before speaking whatever language she spoke. I was able to understand one word of it, 'Waionr,' the name of the God of War.

Not that it mattered, I wasn't a soldier, nor was I the gleaming example of pride and I certainly wasn't going to lead us to any victory. But, this woman seemed to think differently, even if she was clearly struggling with keeping herself together.

"What...?" I asked her pointlessly while she patiently waited with her hand stretched out for mine. It wasn't a greeting, that much was clear as we weren't of the same cultural yoke. A short pause existed between us before I then finally sent a hand up towards her to see what would happen. And it turned out she just wanted to pull me to my feet.

My surprise at such an action, however, left me a little dizzy and I bumped into her when I was brought up, raising a hand in apology as I found my footing and waited for her to do something. Turns out that something was just walking behind her. So I did, I walked behind her. I followed her and occasionally glanced behind us out of paranoia when the sounds of bugs entered my ears.

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Silently standing behind this woman as she sharply glanced through any new tunnels we came across. A soft light handily provided to us by her by manipulating the emerald wisps I saw earlier. How she did it, I had no clue, all I did know was that these wisps at the very least weren't a threat to me, I was still hesitant to touch them though. Fear of the unknown was a very obnoxious creature in these past few hours.

I assume that several hours had passed, anyway... We had been at this for a while so it seemed sensible to assume at least three, maybe four. Gods only know how much of it was because of my slow movements.

Soon putting a stop to my walking when a bruised hand forced its way through the dirt beside me. Not in a sudden manner, a steady build-up as it were, like watching a worm wiggle its way out of the ground. Frowning as the woman I was following froze up when the formerly muffled noises we occasionally heard broke through in full force when that hand got through the dirt. I couldn't blame her, what was beyond this newly made hole was not something either of us wanted to see or hear.

Pain filled cries and a chorus of crying people, some women like the one I was following was some of what I saw. My expression warping once I caught a glimpse at something that looked like children. This only made me feel worse about myself because I broke down in a place where children had been brought into a darkness they should've never been in. Yet, I saw no men in this crowd, not one.

There were no crying men, only hysteria and incomprehensible curse words. These curses coming from the women I could see with it being shouted at the bugs at the far end of the room. Their chitters ever so occasionally making it past the crying and into my ears. With my reaction being to hide when I saw the bugs.

Only to lean back towards the hole to get this curiosity out of my head.

And then I jumped back in surprise when the eye I was using to look through this hole met another. A single, bright and lively in colour yellow eye stained in tears but soon filled with a slight hope when they saw me. I couldn't understand her language, but she was extremely insistent on forcing this large, brown, seed-like object into my hands once she got the hole big enough. No response left my lips, none was needed. I just couldn't say no to the pressure being put upon me by those tearful eyes.

Those desperate, pleading eyes that begged me to keep this... Thing safe...

I didn't wish to stay here, the distant sound of approaching bugs made me want to run and never look back. But, I was too concerned for this object to simply bolt it down the tunnel. I was barely able to keep my walking pace stable from whatever happened to me. To say nothing of how I had no faith in my ability to not damage this object.

So I tried to give it to the woman I was walking with and hoped she would accept this burden without complaint. She was rightfully confused at this. Yet she soon got an understanding of the situation far greater than I, almost as if she knew what it was. So maybe giving it to her was the best option?

Why this sudden willingness to hold on to the object appeared would have to stay a mystery, for now, all that mattered was us getting out of here. Once again, the woman I was with had a better understanding than I, her pace quickening when she caught wind of something. In this case quite literally as following her cautious trek quickly exposed me to the sound of wind entering a tunnel, our tunnel. A distinct sound it was, one I wasn't fond of chasing because of how scared I was...

How could we know that this wasn't a trap by the bugs, how could I know that this wasn't another burst like what lead me to the woman I was currently stuck with...?

"This can't end well..." I utter in disdain as I cautiously caught up with the woman as she became increasingly careless in her haste. In fact, she got so careless with the intoxicating scent of freedom that she missed the bug sentry that spotted her happily running into the forest. In fear of causing further ones to appear, I charged the bug. Launching at it as I forgot the restraints I put upon myself.

Why I did what I did I did not know. I did not know a lot at the moment, but I did know that I could do something to help. Unlike every time I saw one of my fellow citizens get abused because they jabbed at the pride of those of the higher floors of Tobaballe. I could help this time, this new strength I had given me the means too!

If I were to dream such a feat, I probably would've had a weapon and dressed in obsolete plate, like the stories we got told when we were younger. Stories about how a brave warrior saved someone they cared for from a terrible monster. The reality wasn't like that. I got a good charge in on the unaware creature that then sent us rolling after I collided with it.

And such positives died off about as quickly as the charge itself. With the bug turning it all around on to me. Its unnatural skill in beating me black and blue being more than enough to deal with the results of my charge. Grunting in what felt like mock pain every time its curled up claws struck me with enough force to lift me off my feet. Its blows did not cause much if any harm.

Something that would not matter as in my disoriented daze it grabbed me and smashed me through a small tree. A tree that broke before I did... And while I was trying to comprehend how I wasn't torn apart by that. My throat was then caught in a vice-like grip with the creature roaring at me while it tried to choke me.

My eyes desperately looking at the woman while I panicked. My mind full of questions as I watched her uselessly stand there with an open hand in the air. Her other hand still holding the object we were given on the way out.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" I struggle to shout out as the unrelenting force upon my neck made it hard to get words out. And in my panic to do something, I carved away at the ground until I got a firm grip on something which then sent us flying into the air haphazardly. Whilst in the air, my ears began to flood with the sounds of rushing winds and then an unexpected boom. A boom I saw the outlines of as we began to fall.

This left me confused and panicking as now I could clearly see what looked like a sword heading straight towards me. A situation not helped as the bug that was still clambering about me trying to hurt me. Only the sword went past us and straight down... The sight of the sword being in the woman's grip appearing before me before I hit the ground again with the bug.

I was thankful for this, as it meant she wasn't standing about uselessly. She actually got a weapon to kill this thing with! This surprise, however, turned to shock and fear when she suddenly appeared on the other side of me with a blade soaked in yellowy blood from the insect. A sudden wave of force washing over me as the bisected insect flew away along with a cloud of its spilling blood.

Taking a few stumbling steps back from the woman as she breathed in a very aggressive manner. Her anger having been made manifest in the erratic glow of the sword that somehow entered her grip. Falling down in fear when her gaze turned to face me. Her anger would not be vented on me to my luck, she just fell to her knees and stabbed her blade deep into the earth beneath her with a quiet thud.

The smell and sight of the ground burning under this strange energy did little to calm me. And as such, I stayed as I was until I heard the sound of a branch snapping behind us. A curse from a familiar and much-despised accent soon entering my ears. Angrily staring down the small mammalian creature holding a rifle at me, the same creature that got me here to begin with.

The one that I met before the Anvil-Peak...

"You!" I growled out as I began to approach the strange individual. A mighty crack signalling a shot had been fired along with a sudden light pain accompanying it. A hand of mine soon rubbed the shoulder I had been shot at, it felt like the kind of injury you got from carpet burns. It stung, the injury was covered in torn skin, but that was it.

A bullet just caused an injury of such insignificant proportions... A GODS-DAMNED BULLET!?

Letting out a maddened chuckle as I broke down from not understanding what had happened to me. A bullet barely hurt me, I was leaping many metres in single, unhelped attempts and was able to withstand trunk snapping force without any immediate effects. Along with sending myself into the air with awkward slamming of the arms! Collapsing into the dirt before screaming incomprehensibly into the earth as I slammed my fist into it over and over again.

A crater growing around my fist with every strike I made. This was all so frustrating! Nothing was making sense and I had no means of explaining it... I hated being so ignorant of my reality and I despised how pathetic I was being!

My life was certainly no cakewalk but I am angry at the fact I couldn't live up to my expectations of how stoic I should've been at this. But, I suppose life was cruel like that... It made you think you were ready for more but then it snaps you so cleanly that you have no choice but to fall down and cry. And cry I most certainly did.

Not even bothering to look up this time when the woman put her hand on me to try and reaffirm me. I just kept forcing my face deeper into the dirt until I slipped through it. My hands having run out of dirt to slam into after a brief while.

And soon...? I was just exhausted. Most of my frustration had gone and I came to a ragged stop as a result of it. Sniffling to myself while laying there with a still gentle hand stroking my side to comfort me as much as it could, even if it wasn't able to do much.

A few moments passed before another word was spoken, not that it mattered as I couldn't speak the tongue they conversed with.

"Tobaaabaaaliaaan, we need to move from here." the little creature that shot me told me in a familiar and known language. Looking up and watching as they holstered their weapon and picked up the object we were given earlier. The woman must have put it down while I was acting like a child...

Slowly getting up with a depressed sigh and trailing after them. With some initial help before I was left to try and clean my face of dirt that had stuck to it due to my tears. Never before have I wanted a means to wash as I did now. Such thoughts were pushed out though, as now we were walking amongst the corpse of a machine and had entered the smokey musk its firey blood produced.

Waving a hand in front of my nose so I could try and ignore the smell of the smoke that permeated the area. Thankfully, the woman I was formerly alone with was doing something to at least blow some of the smoke away from us. Even if the small, furry thing seemed to chastise her for it, I assume the smoke was thick for a reason. It better have been a good reason because I was not enjoying the feeling it left in my nostrils and throat.

They were getting very dry... And I was already irritable.

Once again confusion would fill me as we seemed to enter a bubble of sorts that held the smoke back. It wasn't a particularly big bubble, it also did not seem to have much presence to it beyond letting me look at patterns in the smoke. Venting out a sigh and shake of my head before I turned to look at what was dotted around the camp I had entered. A lot of it I was unfamiliar with.

Strange sacks that glistened, clearly covered in something. Big containers that were smashed and cracked open. Large pieces of warped and torn apart metal that reminded me of brass. Much of it arrayed around the edges of this camp, barricades was all I could guess from what I saw.

"Too many, too few..." I commented quietly once I saw how there was only two... People... In the camp. The floof as it were that Iishar took with us was here along with a much older version of what shot me just recently. And much earlier if I was to make any guesses from the unfamiliar wrecks around me. I also assume that it must've been a male one as well as its body was proportionally more blocky and less curvy when compared to the smaller one with the rifle.

Idly standing about before I sat down on the exposed innards of a tree that had been knocked down by a piece of the crashed vehicle that surrounded us. Staring into the small campfire that the floof was attending to. With the corner of my eye alive with activity as the small-thing tended to the other small-thing. The idleness of the male one becoming clear when I got a small glimpse at their injuries that were hidden by debris and cloth.

Shuffling about as I began to look at all the debris in the area. Barricades and more barricades is what I saw. And it filled me with uncertainty, these lot were seemingly armed with guns, yet the best they could do was hide... So what did that imply for my future?

Was escaping to here pointless? Was death an inevitability? Ideally, I did not want to think on such topics. But with nothing to preoccupy myself with, I could not refocus my thoughts on something else.

Snapping back to reality when the little thing that shot me scurried off and gave me a flask. Soon opening it and seeing that it was a drink of water that I had been given. And, given the smoke all around, it would probably be needed. Otherwise, I'd just die of dehydration, and that would probably be far worse a situation.

However, while I thought on such details, I didn't pay attention to the floof as it moved closer to me. Having tuned myself out to everyone's speaking as I couldn't understand it and probably never wo-

"Eugh! Dammit!" I yelp out as I snap up in disgust. Glaring at the floof that had just stuck saliva-covered fingers into my ears. Quickly shivering about as I tried to clean my ears, much to the slight joy of all watching my reaction. I wasn't having fun with it in comparison, it was disgusting and completely unnecessary.

"Thaaank you, Vaaadei." the small creature said as the floof skulked off with a glare of her own and returned to where it was prior to when we first arrived. Twitching out a half-hearted and tired glare as I turned to the small-creature, was this some kind of mockery? Some kind of piss-take? Were they really trying to cause issues?

"Calm down, friend, she didn't do it out of spite." said someone with a familiar accent but unfamiliar all the same. Turning around to face the woman I left the tunnels with and tilting my head in confusion, a small, but withheld laugh leaving her as I did so, "No, I am not speaking your language, but you are somewhat speaking and you're understanding mine and by extension, ours." she explained with a small hand gesture being added on when she said 'ours.'

"How...?" the floof doing what it did had to have had something to do with this.

"The oxfuine," she began to say, pointing at the... floof... "are known for their useful ability to make one's ears understand their mother tongue, it just so happens that hers happens to be a language we all knew. Also, your drink." she explained. My eyes turning to look at the flask with uncertainty after I heard that.

"I am not sure I understand..." but... Did that mean I was drinking her spit if that was the case for me apparently speaking her tongue?

"Then don't think too much on it, just know that we can now speak without issue." she says as she stood up once more and placed a hand on my shoulder to reaffirm me, "My name is Vapooliar, and I am very thankful for what you have done for me since we met."

"Right... Same... My name is Nin..." I tell this Vapooliar with uncertainty as I leave her grip and sit back down, not sure how to really feel.

"I aaam Heiya!" the small creature chirped out while they fiddled with their rifle, "Aaand thaaat's Vaaadei, she doesn't seem to like you!" ignoring the last part as I tried to recreate the sound her voice made.

"Vaaadei?"

"It's just, Vadei, Ho." this Vadei corrects with a scowl, tilting my head once more as I think on why she said the surname of Iishar. Soon dismissing and heading away to the very edge of the camp. Laying down in a patch of relatively clean grass and letting out a long sigh. Maybe I could sort of sleep it all off. Maybe this would just turn out to be a weird dream that felt far too real...

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"Vadei, I'm sure you understand our situation." Vapooliar told me with disapproval as she rested her chin on the pommel of her sword. A hand going through her embarrassingly short hair so she could try and get some dirt out of it.

"No, I've not a single clue!" I sarcastically retort with sharp teeth bared and ears heightened. Not really in the particular mood for a lecture from some 'sibs toy.

"Vadei..." Vapooliar says in a tone that was trying to come off as non-threatening as possible, "We need to be able to work as a team if we are to spend the next few nights together, that means we cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour when our lives are at stake."

"My life wouldn't be at stake if some slave traders," I snap back while glaring at the apathetic hwardgon as they tended to their father's injuries, "And I wouldn't have cause to hate that Ho-serving idiot if it weren't for the fact that I was sold to his master! He never once helped my people and was very clearly content with aiding those that would beat my kin down!" digging my sharp nails into the dirt as I angrily explained my position to Vapooliar.

"None of thi-"

"Don't you dare say such a thing! Of course, it matters! Why would I help three individuals who would treat a thinking being as no more than a tool!? Exactly, you have no response because you couldn't care less! YOU COULDN'T CARE ABOUT HAVING ONE'S SELF BEING VIOLATED BY SOME VILE CREATURE LIKE HO!" my rage getting increasing control of me as I approached her with a rising tone until I was yelling directly in her face. Aggressive breathing soon being all that came from me as Vapooliar hid her face behind her sword hilt. Tears soon streaming down her face after she fully came to terms with the last part of my stated anger.

"I-I... Understand t-hat feeling-ing more than you could possibly know..." she pathetically cries out as her formerly open posture began to curl up in a protective manner. As if to hide part of herself from someone or something else. Simply sitting down again as silence befell the camp with only the sound of the retrofitted airship engine and the fire in front of me making any noise of note while Heiya's father groaned themselves awake.

"Too loud. Quieter." Heiya's father said as they scooted themselves up as much as they could before Heiya intervened when it became clear that this was causing him pain. Even if he did try and fight through it... He was either incredibly stubborn as he was very willing to fight through the pain or just arrogant about his capabilities. It didn't concern me regardless and I just left for quieter plateaus, wrapping a cloth around my face and leaving through the barrier that was maintained by the damaged airship part.

Prowling through the smoke-filled greenery and carefully listening out for any 'sibs, just in case. Doing it more so as I began to exit the blanket of smoke we had masking us from the bugs. It was notably getting weaker however with each passing night, and we would need to do something soon. So, Vapooliar was at least honest with us about the reality of our situation, we needed to get out of here and away from the 'sib hive. But, frankly, I was very much of the mind in just risking the climb down as it would've been far, far safer than just trying to get through the tunnels of the hive.

At least climbing down meant I would only likely encounter at worst a patrolling 'sib I could run away from, going through the hive did not offer that chance...

Yet, I couldn't help but find a cruel irony in this little area we found ourselves in, normally pups got told that such places were perfect homes as they were hidden yet open, they had room to play happily yet hide if they needed to. It was far away from the troubles of the wind-peoples and other creatures out there, both intelligent and dumb. Yet in this case, no, it was none of those things, just a private hunting ground for one of the most dangerous predators to have ever graced the world with their presence. Nature was cruel indeed, the gods more so as they built the foundation.

And while some might've said that the acidic cabboth of the deep tunnels was more terrifying. Or that the dragons and wyverns that roosted wherever they pleased were stronger. Neither could match the eternal pestilence that was the osibindah. Deep enough from harm but just close enough to sally out and wrack terror across the region in which their damnable hive was located.

Some say we should just dedicate ourselves to purging the lands of their filth. But they rarely if never knew the actual truth of the situation. Many have tried to get rid of them for good and many continue to do so. From the lowliest oxfuine warrior to the most decorated of the generals that lead the armies of the wind-peoples.

The 'sibs outlived all attempts and would continue to do so. The only way to survive them was to either leave where they built their foundations or to be of such imposing might that they cut their losses and sought lands that were far safer for them. Growling as soon as my thoughts began to focus on the wind-people. It was clear Vapooliar was one of them and if it wasn't for their pointless wars amongst each other for whatever invented reason they came up with then the 'sibs would've been a shadow of their current state!

The problems they caused would've been myth to so many and withheld only to the nightmares of a few soldiers staring lifelessly into their drink...

Snorting away such thoughts as I went through the hole in which Heiya hid with her father before they found me and sitting on the ledge after brushing it clear of small stones. Once again pondering the idea about which path I could take to get down this cursed mountain. I couldn't be sure if my nails would hold together if I used them as a means to slow my descent and places to rest were few and far between. There was no way of telling if I could even make such a trip and as such, I just sat where I was.

Rooted by cowardice and a lack of conviction to do what I kept thinking about. My eyes turning upwards in hopes that the nightly beauty above would distract me, at least a little.

"Bold of you to come out after all you've done." I whispered to the moon that somehow inspired an empire, Mighty Yhrardra, as they called it, Jhrarda for people like me not in their silly faith. One of the fourteen moons that orbited this through gravity rather than the strange mechanisms of the orbital-halo that gave us our daylight. Each moon was supposedly a grave for a god, or a prison, it wasn't clear which, especially given what has happened with the wind-peoples...

Yet it made me angry thinking about it. No skeleton or dusty, divine cell could ever draw such vigorous faith! The tale of how the first 'Lunar King' journeyed to said moon must've been untrue heavily or it just neglected to be honest with what that monarch did upon the moon they focused their religion around. It just didn't make sense so how a faith around it came about was...

The fact a more primitive wind-people were able to reach said moon but now can't is either a testament to the stupidity of wind-people or just how special this king was. But, I didn't want to think on such issues anymore as I was now exhausting my mind. So I turned my head downwards and towards the little tunnel I came through only to end up catching a glimpse of a small crate. It was damaged but it glistened with the most valuable of treasures to me and us now...

Weapons... Weapons that could be used to cut down the bugs within their very own tunnels.

And the sweetest thing about it was that the 'sibs did not travel near the smokey areas! At least, not at the moment so we could very easily bring them or a few up carefully and set up some form of storage for them. Either we went out trying to escape down this treacherous path of stone I was currently crouching before... Or I swallowed my pride and helped the others in one final effort to get through the caves of the 'sibs...

Turning my nose up at such a thought before lowering my head in shame once more... I'd be no better than the Ho or Slaver if I condemned them to such a fate, yet I would be justified in such an action! How couldn't I be!? They were both scourges upon the world!

But, my father's words echoed in my head at such thoughts... Justification did not mean it was the right thing to do, it did not mean it was the smart thing to do, it did not mean it was the satisfying thing to do...

So I curled up into a ball with an annoyed expression that I soothed away by hugging my tail, its still soft reddish-brown hairs doing much to calm me as if I were a babe teetering on the edge of sleep.

"I'll bring it up with them tomorrow, maybe then I'll be more willing to not be a burden." I depressingly moan as I tried to get to sleep while hugging my tail tightly. It would feel a bit numb in the morning, but I needed all the comfort I could get at the moment, we all did.

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"Why couldn't you be like Apahthein..." I groggily let out an annoyed curse leaving me that was directed at the orbital-halo that shone brightly like usual. Uncurling from my position and covering my eyes to block out the orbital-halo's currently obnoxious light.

Soon taking one final peek at the weapon crate that I spotted last night before heading back to the camp. Steadily making my way through the gap and listening out for any potential threats as I did so, just like how I got out here to begin with. Doing an inverse repeat of the path I took to get out here and blocking my mouth and nose once again as I traversed the smokey woodland. Face curling up in disgust as I was forced to endure the pungent smell of the dense smoke.

Taking a deep breath of the magic-bloated air once I got back into the perimeter of the camp, happy I could now breath properly again. Only to end up frowning once I saw how little food was currently being cooked, "I thought you said we had at least a weeks worth left..." I comment at the younger Slaver as she tried her best to cook up something with makeshift cooking tools. It certainly wasn't anything appealing but it didn't need to be, it just needed to be edible. But it being tasty would have been nice...

"Well, naw thaaat we haaave twa mare caaampmaaates... We haaave needed to reaaaraaange aur stack. Three arbits of faad left if we aaare ta staaay praperly fed." she explained as she recoiled at the smell of her gruel that was made of rations not really intended for a stove or fire. Slowly nodding at that information while Vapooliar joined us, her expression sullen and voice quieter than one of Undwote's rocking chair filled transition homes. And I just did not bother to look at her once I acknowledged her and looking for the Ho as they were the only one not present and if they were somehow still asleep I would be surprised, this wasn't exactly an area where one could sleep in.

But, try as I may, my mind was more focused on our food situation, "So that means we will need to either scavenge what we can or... Jaad'agon's illusions help us... Sneak or fight our way through the hive itself..." I grimly comment, only being met with an equally grim nod from the Slaver as she looked at her father's gun and her personal one. The sound of Vapooliar's sword also being heard as she presumably fiddled with it to occupy herself.

"Aaaye... Fight ar die will be aur anly chaice, but we dan't have enaugh weaaapans." the Slaver correctly pointed out as she began dishing up the food and handing it over to everyone. Watching her going to Vapooliar first and me last once she had sorted out her father's portion and the non-present Ho. The reasons why being well-known to me.

"I'll give Nin his lot." Vapooliar said in a meek tone as she picked up the untouched bowl and moved off to hand it to him. Blowing into my bowl to cool it down and turning my nose up at it in response to the awful smell it gave off and walking off to sit behind a tree. And the smell was legitimately awful, would rather choke on the smoke...

Soon moving my ears about so I could listen in on whatever Vapooliar was doing with the Ho once I settled in. I trusted neither of them but I would need to keep an eye out for them if we were to survive our push into the hive and hopefully through. The Slavers could be left to their own devices for the most part as they were too occupied with the injuries of the eldest amongst the pair, but the Ho and Vapooliar were unknown to me.

What was their relationship? Were they familiar with each other or strangers? And I suppose the most important question of note... Where did they get an aelenvari seed? Did they find it in the hive or did one of them somehow snatch it from an aelenvari caravan...?

"Nin, I brought you some food." Vapooliar said to the Ho in a barely audible tone, at least from my perspective. So I just snuck a bit closer so that it would be easier to hear, but not so close that I gave away my position. My food being left behind as I had the impression its smell would reveal what would have likely been an otherwise stealthy presence.

"Not hungry." he quickly said as he moved about in a manner that suggested he wasn't comfortable.

"Is something wrong? You need to eat..." she asked back in concern as she sat down either near him or next to him.

"I couldn't sleep..." he admitted with a sigh as his head thudded against something in frustration.

"I'm sure we all had trouble sleeping, Nin." Vapooliar told him, presumably in an effort to ease his irritation. Why she was putting in such effort was beyond me. She could've just gave him his food and left it at that, but no, she wanted to buddy up with an individual she would probably be saying goodbye to if we got out of here.

"No, I literally couldn't sleep! I tried changing the position in which I slept in, I tried trying to tire myself out but nothing worked... And now I find out I'm not even hungry..." his frustration evident as he kicked away some piece of airship scrap he was probably near, or, it might've been the bowl in which his food was in. Slowly turning my gaze towards my own, not wanting to waste it like he might have done with his.

"I see, well, I'll just leave your food here and see if you can get it into your system... Okay...?" Vapooliar told him with a worried tone as she began to walk off with a sigh. Waiting for her to walk off to wherever and closing the gap between me and the Ho so I could physically watch what they were up to from the cover of a bush or something. Glancing at him from my new position and staying quiet while he paced about and incoherently mumbled out a rant before he just punched a tree in frustration.

"Why... Why aren't you breaking!?" he angrily told the hand he used to shatter the bark of the tree. Slow nodding coming from me as I acknowledged that behaviour before heading back towards the main part of our camp after picking up my food. Eating it on the way and placing my now emptied bowl onto the pile of food-stained items and leaving the pile alone once that was done. Sitting back down in my usual spot and staring at Vapooliar, much to her discomfort as she hid behind her sword, as if it would actually protect her from my barbed taunts if I so chose.

"Why is the Ho confused by his strength?" I asked no one in particular with my glare hiding a knowing gaze as I looked at the two girls before me.

"He's nat from aaa maaagic-heaaavy enviranment." the Slaver answered, much to Vapooliar's partial shock, she must've had a slight idea of such a possibility but it was clear she wanted yet was willing to wait for further elaboration.

"Why would you bring someone from a magic barren region...? It should be basic knowledge that such beings can't survive properly in a magic-heavy place." Vapooliar's voice was filled with shock as she stated the well-known fact. Her head turning towards where the Ho currently was before she calmed down slightly. My own thoughts filling up with what happened when one of my fellow clansmen exerted their own insignificant reserves in the fields we were forced to work.

It wasn't pretty.

"Na, they caaan't survive if they're expased ta aaa lat suddenly. We maaade sure aur shipment was pratected from such issues." the Slaver informed us while pointing at the damaged pods and their pillaged insides.

"Osibindah took survivors. He lucky." the Elder Slaver added in after they finished drinking the water his daughter was feeding into him. A few lip smacks finishing his sentence as he spread the moisture about his dried mouth.

"So you're saying we have someone suffering from Sudden Induction...?" I ask them just to make sure I was understanding this all properly. My answer being a simple nod from the younger slaver and some disappointed grumbling from the father about how the 'goods' were spoilt and worthless now. Scoffing at such concerns as I looked in the same direction that Vapooliar was now facing.

"So our best hope is attacking as quickly as possible..." she uttered while she levelled her sword at the closest entrance to the hive. While I understood the logic, it was clear from the way the Ho carried themselves and their build that they weren't a warrior of the slightest degree. Trained formerly with the brave and valourous or through dark alleys with scum and criminals.

"We can't place such faith into him! We don't have enough weapons to fall back on should he prove incapable... Luckily for us, I know where we can get a few guns to use." I say with a sprinkling of pride at the fact our plan hinged on my discovery and potentially my line of questioning.

"What good would guns do us in tight tunnels...? We would barely be able to use them." Vapooliar says in confusion as she lowered her blade. Rolling my eyes at the fact she was clearly acquainted with the term through different means.

"She meaaans anes like this, nat aaartillery." the Slaver corrected as she held up her rifle. Vapooliar nodded, but she was still slightly baffled as she must've been used to the term only being applied to bigger, louder guns. Which probably meant she was from the Theocracy based out of Thurn's Forge, the closest wind-people settlement to the lands of my clan that I knew of. Such information was interesting, as that sword and her magic power, even if it was somewhat weak at the moment due to the clearly fresh injury in her gut led me to believe that she might've been Valkinvar.

Or not, what kind of Valkinvar just gets captured by the 'sibs of all things!?

"Now, about those guns I found." I tell them so we could get back on track.

"Type?" the elder Slaver asked as he picked up his own.

"I don't know I am not a soldier or such! I just know I found a somewhat intact crate of them." I tell him as I got ready to take them to it.

"Where aaare they?"

"Follow me and find out." I grumble as I lead the two girls out of the camp and towards where I slept last night. Going through the gap with the Slaver and pointing out where the guns were while Vapooliar just waited on the other side as she was not flexible enough to get through the gap. Yet she still tried to look through the gap, if pointlessly.

"Interesting..." the Slaver commented as she went back out to Vapooliar and began speaking to her regarding its position. Ignoring the pair as I went out to join them and began staring up at the height of the rocks and how it compared to the smoke thickness. It wasn't thick enough to cover us if we tried to get the guns over the mountain top.

"We need to either climb up there and set up a pulley system to get the crate up here or we need to widen the gap so we can try and climb to the guns." I tell the pair as talked about whatever.

"I can just fly to them and pick them up..." Vapooliar tells us as she hovers briefly to prove it. Shaking my head in response as I point towards the smoke that kept us safe and allowed us to be out here to begin with.

"You would be exposed to the 'sibs if you did such a thing. We'd be better off trying to get them through the gap."

"I can't fit through it."

"Then we make it bigger, we use your sword to cut up the gap and extend its width while not attracting the 'sibs closer than we need to." pointing at her sword as I explained it to her, its magic-wreathed edge would make it very capable in cutting the stone.

"If we are to be slow about it then it'll take at least a few hours, maybe a day if you wanted to get the whole crate through without issue." she correctly pointed out with a small demonstration of how long it took to get the blade through the stone when so little pressure was applied to it. Likely emphasizing how it would be in our hands.

"Then we use that time correctly, I'll work on the hole while Heiya patrols like she usually does and you... You can keep an eye on the Ho and make sure he is up to this." I explain to the pair. Reaching for Vapooliar's sword and making sure I could hold it properly only for her to take a step back.

"He helped me escape the hive, he is very much up to this." she firmly stated, as if offended by my lack of faith in his ability to act.

"And what can you tell me about how he acted, hm? Was he some great warrior? Was he slaughtering 'sibs left and right? No. He stuck near you because you're Valkinvar, aren't you?" I aggressively point out towards her as I pointed out her sword and jabbed at her chest, her immediate and extremely protective response to such a jab making it clear she bore the sigil of Waionr.

"Yes... That would be correct, but how much it is now I don't know..." she said in quiet shame as she left me and the Slaver on our own. Watching her as she stabbed her sword into the ground and disappeared into the smoke.

"How good are you with guns?" I asked the slaver as I backhand the barrel of her holstered rifle, the leverage such a blow gave me shaking her for a bit before she stabilised herself and glared daggers at me, clearly not fond of me doing that.

"I aaam praficient in them, yaaah." she answered as she unholstered her gun and showed that despite her small size she could handle her gun rather well.

"In which case then... I will need you to teach the Ho how to use one of these guns if we have enough time. I doubt Vapooliar will be the best at doing what is necessary in the orbits to come." the Slaver nodded at me and then she went off to do whatever she did away from camp. Going over to the sword and groaning at how hard it was to get it out of the ground. At first I thought it was the depth of ground it was in, but it soon became apparent that it was because the sword was rather heavy compared to the ease of use Vapooliar hauled it about with.

"I swear... If you fail us, Valkinvar..." I growled to myself as I began the process of carving out a bigger gap into the stone. A slow and sluggish process of jabbing the blade into and out of the stone.