A Whole New World

“Creature!” the Alpha prodded the human with the iron bar, “Creature, wake up.”

After several seconds with no response, the Alpha grunted in annoyance, “He’s unconscious again.” He turned to the beta standing next to him, "Keep guard outside. When he wakes up, come get me, and we’ll begin again.”

The beta nodded, “Yes Alpha.”

The Alpha walked out, rubbing his temples. Two days. For two days he’d been inflicting pain on the soldier, and for two days, it’d remained silent. At first, he had enjoyed torturing him, waiting for him to break, but now he was getting impatient. What drove this creature to be as stubborn as it was? Honour? Duty?

With a yell, he struck out at the wall, his strong claws leaving three long gashes in the rock. This creature was going to tell him something, or he would eventually stop being so merciful. He paw idly found the handle of his ruby dagger. He unsheathed it and inspected the blade, still stained with the creature's blood. If he still hadn't talked by day’s end, he might decide he just wasn't worth the trouble.

I had lost track of time since I had been carried off to the ‘torture room’. It could have been days, weeks even. I’m not sure if even Kamots’ theory of time would have made a difference here, especially if one’s in as much pain as I was.

I thought I could have made it as long as possible without screaming. I would simply close my eyes and accept the punches and kicks. They were dull and spread out, and eventually lessened to a soft ache. The lashes were worse; the sharp crack and sting on already split skin brought tears to my eyes. But again, I would bite my tongue and wait until it ended. I thought that would be as bad as it would get.

That was when they brought out the red-hot metal, and I screamed like I never had before.

They say people will do anything when they’re desperate. Until now, I hadn't truly understood that. But when I smelled charred skin and heard the hissing as the flesh on my ribs melted, I would've committed murder just to make it stop.

But even that wasn't the worst thing they did. Thinking back on the pain brought up a memory of what had happened at some point in the past; I had no idea when.

“We’re going to keep this up until you tell me what I want to know!” the Alpha said, emphasising his words with another cross to the face, “What was your mission? What were you doing all the way out here?”

I spat out some blood, before deciding to taunt him, “Have your fun while you can, dog. The rest of the Guard’s on their way here right now.” I didn't know if that was true or not, but it was better than nothing.

“Those ponies can’t save you,” the Alpha replied, thinking exactly what I was thinking, “If they were looking for you they would have found you by now. Besides, the Princesses forgot what courage was a long time ago. They wouldn't dare come out here unless they had a good reason."

"Fuck... you," I retorted, "This part of the world would have been peaceful if not for you and your mutts."

"Here I am, just trying to do business, and you go and insult me?"

I scoffed with disbelief, "You're a slaver!"

"But I'm honest with my business."

"Yeah, I can tell." He hit me again, but I egged him on, "Gotten into arms dealing now, huh? Did you really think Equestria would just let it slide? That we wouldn't intervene?"

"On the contrary, I was hoping you would. The more ponies fight, the more I get to sell weapons," he said with another punch. He use of 'I' confused me, "True Korral like myself don't start what they can't finish."

"Well now's the time to prove it, mongrel. Because I'm not telling you anything."

The Alpha growled, and drew his fist back for another punch, but he paused. After a few seconds, he lowered his arm and took a step back, before drawing the ruby knife from his belt.

“There’s a very little-known fact about the Korral,” he said casually, scraping his thumb along the blade as he paced, “We’re naturally perfectionists. Did you ever know that?”

He paused, as if expecting a reply from me before continuing, “It developed when our ancestors began mining the gems here. It was important to make sure the gems didn't have any flaws in them, otherwise it would've made them less valuable. Today, an experienced Korral can find even the tiniest of scratches on a stone."

"And you're telling me this because...?" I asked.

"Because if I see something out of place, it will bother me until I do something about it." he replied. He stopped examining his blade and looked me straight in the eye, "And there's something about you that's bothering me right now. I've always disliked odd numbers."

Before I could reply, he raised the knife up to my hands. A part of me hoped that he was cutting my restraints, but that thought was mercilessly crushed when a searing pain traveled through my right hand. There was a dry snap of bone, and I cried out as the Alpha lowered one of my severed fingers into my view.

"There, problem solved." he muttered to himself, a hint of amusement in his voice. I screamed at him through gritted teeth, shaking like a madman from where I hung, as if the movement would snap the ropes. Without another thought, the Alpha tossed the finger into the fire they used to heat the poker, before making his way to the door.

As the smell of burnt meat filled the room, he said, "Next time you speak, it will be something useful."

They had kept me alive with the bare essentials, small pieces of food and water had become rare luxuries, and the only moments I got any time to myself was when I had passed out from the pain, and I was left to my dreams.

But even they didn't offer much respite.

I was in a dark void. Featureless, cold, and unnerving. This was new; usually I would be back in the desert, slowly freezing to death, before waking up again. Wandering through this new environment filled me with both curiosity and uneasiness.

I didn't know how long I walked, but I was brought to a standstill as multiple voices reached my ears. They seemed to flow past me, like a strong wind, and came from all directions.

“Rumble, Shadow, get out of here, n--”

“Thunderlane, NO!

“I’m... sorry, Shadow.”

“Dutch... help me.”

I suddenly saw something out of the corner of my eye, and turned to see a pegasus slowly walking towards me. I couldn't make out who it was, but as they got closer, their coat colour came into view.

“Shadow?”

“Hey Douglas.” he said. It took me a moment to register the use of my real name, “You look like you're in a pretty sorry state right now, wouldn’t you agree?”

“...You could say that,” I replied tentatively.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

I raised an eyebrow, becoming more confused by the second, “If it’s all the same to you, I think I’m fine.”

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am."

“Suit yourself,” Shadow said with a shrug. He started pacing back and forth in front of me, “I was in a bad way once. Two of my friends died a while ago. It was a... terrible accident, one that I felt responsible for. I didn't know who to turn to.”

I became on edge at his words. I knew who he was talking about; Thunderlane and Rumble. Why exactly he was bringing up such a subject I didn't know.

“My other friend, somepony I trusted, told me not to tell anyone what happened. That didn't agree with me. Sure, I tried to keep the secret to myself, but he made it very difficult for me.”

“Shadow...”

“But I realised something. It so much of a relief to just... get something off your chest, you know?”

My mind started fitting the pieces together, “Shadow... did you tell someone?”

Shadow stopped pacing, and let out a heavy sigh, “Yes, but I can’t tell you Douglas. I've already broken the trust of one friend. I don’t want to break another’s.”

He began to walk away, and I walked after him. But somehow, he was always faster than me, “Shadow, wait!” A sudden jab of pain went through my back, and I winced.

“We all have our secrets Douglas,” Shadow said, his voice now distant, “The question is, who are you willing to trust them with?”

A sudden sound woke me from my attempted slumber. It wasn't the door; I’d heard that enough to know what it sounded like. No, this sounded like a rumble. Distant, yet I could feel the vibrations travelling through the walls.

It almost sounded like... an explosion.

The sound of combat forced some adrenaline into my body, if only a little, and I tried to spin myself around to face the door. I quickly gave up though, as the movement sent bolts of pain all over my body. With no way to release myself, my only option was to wait, listening to the battle.

The explosion I had heard was the only one, but it was accompanied by shouting. The voices were muffled through the cave walls, but they sounded intelligent, much more so than the average Diamond Dog. I began to breathe faster at the thought of a rescue team. Maybe they had found me. Did that mean they had found Shadow too?

I could hear shouting from the other side of the door, but the thick walls, coupled with my damaged body meant I couldn't make out the words. After a few minutes, the voices died down, but the occasional explosion was heard, indicating the battle was still happening. No Diamond Dogs or other slaves came into the room, and I began to wonder if I had been forgotten, until the door opened with a bang and I heard a familiar voice.

“Dutch. Are you here?”

“Shadow...”

The owner of the voice walked round into my view, but, much to my sorrow, it was Kamots, “My friend, can you hear me?”

I was too shocked to reply, so I simply did my best to nod. Kamots reached up above me, and I began to feel the rope on my wrists slacken, before coming loose completely. The sudden drop caught me by surprise, and my legs, malnourished and underused, couldn't hold my weight as I began to crumple. Kamots saw this, and instantly slipped an arm around my back to take my weight, taking care not to touch the wounds the whip had inflicted.

“Kamots... you’re here.” I said, still not able to comprehend what was happening.

“Yes Lakota. I would not leave you behind.”

“Leave me behind? What’s going on?”

“Fate has given us an opportunity to escape. Can you walk?”

“I... I don’t know.”

I tried to put weight on my legs, but they would always buckle before I could support myself. Kamots noticed this, and clenched one of his paws, closing his eyes. After a few seconds, he began to mutter to himself in a language I couldn’t understand. As he did, the pads on his paw started glowing a dim, pale blue. He continued to speak until the light was seeping through his fingers, before saying one single word and placing his paw on my chest.

I don’t know what he did, but describing the feeling as adrenaline would have been an understatement. A massive surge of energy spread from my chest, and the pain across my body all but disappeared. I could feel my heart beating a mile a minute, and I took a huge breath to compensate.

My legs finally found some strength, and I managed to balance myself as Kamots slowly took away his support, "What the hell's going on?"

"Griffins are raiding the caves," Kamots explained, "The Korral are in disarray. We will not get another chance like this to escape."

I heard movement from behind the door. Someone was coming. In an instant, Kamots had darted forward and pressed himself against the wall next to the entrance. A few seconds later, the door swung open, and a ginger Diamond Dog walked in, who I recognised as Togin, the one who lashed me. His eyes lay on me, and a snarl crossed his face as he strode across the room towards me.

He didn't even make a quarter of the distance.

As soon as he had fully entered to room, Kamots stepped out of his hiding place and pulled him into a tight headlock. The Tymari twisted his shoulders, and a sickening pop was heard. Togin's body spasmed as the nerves from his brain were severed, before he went limp. Kamots held him a few seconds longer, before letting the corpse collapse on the earth.

Following him out the door, I found the room I had been kept in was connected to a cavern with several tunnels running through it. There was only one which went uphill, and I assumed that path would lead to the surface. However, Kamots went down another path.

"The room where our supplies are kept is down this way." he said, and I followed, looking forward to getting my armour and equipment back. We passed a number of other slaves on our way through the tunnels, each with similar looks of confusion on their faces. I ignored them as I followed Kamots.

The unusual magic Kamots had used on me felt like nothing I'd experienced before. The pain from my wounds was almost nonexistent, and all of my senses felt heightened. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this alive, and despite the life-threatening conditions, I was enjoying every moment of it.

I rounded a corner, and saw griffin in front of me. He was wearing a shemagh around his head, and the packs hanging under his wings looked like they had been built from pieces of other equipment. I raised my hand to wave at him, but as he saw me, he raised a crossbow at aimed it in our direction. I barely had enough time to duck as he pulled the trigger and sent a bolt sailing over our heads. Before he had time to reload, Kamots had leapt over and smashed his fist into the griffin's beak. With that single punch, the griffin was out, and we moved past his unconscious form.

"Why the hell are they trying to kill us?" I wondered aloud.

"They're Wastelanders. Nothing more than common bandits. If you thought this would be a rescue, you are wrong." Kamots turned another corner, and pointed at a door, "The supplies are in there. I will stand guard. You retrieve your supplies first. I will go once you have returned."

With a nod, I stepped inside. It was a large, featureless cavern, filled with random items of clothing, backpacks, and a few weapons. The dogs must have been holding onto all of this to sell for the odd gem or two. Without wasting time, I started searching for my equipment. It didn't take long; since I was a new arrival, my gear hadn't been buried under everyone else's.

I took my canteen out of its pouch and took a large gulp of water. After sitting in the bottle for several days, it was warm and tasted of metal, but I didn't care. In the desert, everything was either useful, or dead weight.

With my thirst quenched for now, I set about covering my wounds as much as possible. I pulled a long bandage out of another pouch and wrapped it around my head. It was only just long enough to cover the lacerations on my face, but it would hold. Next was a smaller piece of cloth for my finger, but before I put it on, I studied the new stump. I could almost feel what had once been there as I flexed my hand. I knew I had already experienced this, but that didn't make it any easier.

After a few moments of grim examination, I refocused on the task at hand. I had another bandage for the lashes on my back, but I'd need Kamots' help for that. For now, I began examining the rifle. There were a few scratches from the rough treatment, but after testing it, the mechanism still seemed to work. I'd have to use it sparingly; eight rounds wouldn't get me far in a firefight.

Unbeknownst to the human, another presence in the supply room was observing him. Coris, the Omega who had originally found the creature, was now watching him as he searched for his belongings. When the attack had started, the Alpha had ordered him to guard the room for anyone trying to break in. The noise of a door opening had caused him to hide in the shadows.

Seeing the creature caused something to ignite in Coris' heart. For too long he had been an Omega. Too long had he been at the bottom of the food chain. If a member of the pack was angry, he would always be the scapegoat for that anger. If there was a shortage in food, he would be the one who would miss a meal. If he got into trouble, he would be the one sent to work in the mines like the rest of the slaves. He wanted more than this. He deserved it.

He thought about killing the creature, proving his strength to the rest of the pack. He quickly deviated from that train of thought; the Alpha wanted the creature alive for information. Killing him would be a death sentence. Capturing him would be better. If he could show the pack that he was better than an Omega, his life would make a turn for the better.

Slowly, he stepped out of his hiding place and crept towards the creature. It now seemed to be looking over the strange black object Coris had taken from him. When he decided he was close enough to strike, he pounced.

I was brought out of my inspection when I heard movement behind me, accompanied by a growl. I spun round, but was knocked off my feet as a blue Diamond Dog tackled me to the floor. The rifle was knocked from my hands, and the dog took the opportunity to try and pin me. I grabbed one of his wrists out of the air, but the other wrapped itself around my neck.

"Get the hell off me!" I shouted. My free arm went for his face, and my hand covered what felt like eyelashes. Without even thinking, I plunged my thumb deep into his eye. The dog immediately recoiled with a howl of pain, and the weight of his body left my torso. Now free, I rolled over and grabbed my rifle. I had no idea if the weapon still worked, but there was only one way to find out.

The dog had recovered from its temporary blinding, and quickly tried to pin me again. As he came down, his chin landed on the gun's muzzle. Grabbing his muzzle and pushing the rifle forward to hold it in place, I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger.

I only heard a fraction of the gunshot, as the thick stone walls of the small room reverberated the sound, which viciously assaulted my ears and left them ringing painfully. The dog's corpse went limp, and the wind was knocked out of me as the dead weight landed on my chest.

I lay there for a few moments while I calmed down and my hearing returned. I put my finger inside my ear and checked for blood, making sure I hadn't ruptured my eardrums from the gunshot, before shifting the body off myself. Trying to avoid looking at the mess that had been the dog's head, I rolled out from under him and wasted no time in collecting the rest of my supplies.

Knowing that my lashes would now be covered in grime and require cleaning out, I left my shirt off and picked up the remainder of my equipment before walking back out of the storage room.

As Kamots saw me, his eyes widened, "Lakota, what happened?"

"There was a dog in the storage room. He got the jump on me." Looking down at my body, I realised that my skin was now spattered with the dead dog's blood and brain matter. Seeing the dark red liquid running down my body brought only one word to mind.

"Yuck."

"We need to get you cleaned up before the blood infects your wounds." Kamots said, "Come with me."

He led me down another tunnel, deeper into the caves. As the tunnel went deeper, the air became clearer, and the stagnant taste started to fade. I followed Kamots round one final corner and entered a massive cavern, with stalagmites sprouting out of the ground, and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. In the centre of the cavern was a large pool of water. It reflected the small light of the torches on the walls and cast smooth patterns across the stone.

Well at least I know how they get their water, I thought as I walked down to the spring with Kamots. Grabbing my canteen, I wasted no time in filling it up before using my shirt to wipe the blood off my skin. Kamots did the same with the dirt and dust clinging to my back. There was no pain as he did so, only the odd tingle whenever he ran over an open wound. His magic must have still been working.

"What happened to the rest of the pack?" I asked as I wiped my forearm clean.

"They must have fled into the desert, including the Alpha." Kamots replied with a growl, "They will have supplies, and knowledge of the land. They will most likely find a new cave system and continue their slavery somewhere else."

I heard the growl that escaped his lips, "Do you and the Alpha have a history?"

There were a few silent seconds before Kamots answered, "Yes."

Not wanting to pry, I left it at that. Kamots finished washing my back shortly afterwards, and I stood up, stretching my spine and hearing several satisfying pops.

"Keep your back bare," Kamots instructed, "Your lashes still need to be treated."

Nodding, I picked up all of my equipment and left the cavern, heading back up the tunnel. This time, Kamots led me into the uphill tunnel, and as we progressed, I could see the light increasing. My heart soared at the thought of seeing the sun again.

"Where did all the griffins go?" I asked, noticing the sudden lack of combat.

"Gone." Kamots said simply, "That is the tactic of Wastelanders. Attack quickly, then leave before they risk suffering casualties and return later for the supplies. We seem to have missed most of the assault."

I could hear commotion as the entrance to the cave came into view. It eventually became audible, and I dumped my gear in a disorganised pile next to me. The other slaves were having an argument of sorts, and Kamots and I sat against the wall to listen and avoid getting involved.

By the sounds of things, one of the other slaves was being accused of coming into contact with one of the ghosts in the mines, and had been 'tainted' by its magic. Everyone in the cave knew what that meant; if the accusations were true, the slave was already dead on his feet. It would only be a matter of time before he simply crumbled into ash, just as the rodent flesh had on my first day of captivity. Another slave - the Diamond Dog who had tried to fight me - had declared himself the leader, and was trying to get rid of the tainted slave in case there was a chance of him infecting others.

"What in Spirit's name are you talking about?" the slave - a griffin - was starting to panic at the thought of being killed or abandoned, "I'm not tainted! I never touched that thing."

"I'm not taking any chances!" the dog shouted back, raising a crossbow he had scavenged and pointing it at the griffin, "Either you leave, or I shoot you right here!" The dog was the only one within ten feet of the griffin. Everyone else had retreated to a safe distance, as if the ghost's magic could travel through the air. From the looks on their faces, they held a mixture of fear and respect for the dog, and that his proximity to the griffin was a sign of courage. That he was willing to do what no one else would.

"I'm telling you, I'm not tainted," the griffin flared his wings and turned side-on to the dog, "Look! No ash, and I'm not turning black. I swear, that thing never touched me!"

The dog's eye narrowed, "I don't believe you."

Now desperate beyond all measures, and threatened with death, the griffin began to tear out his feathers and fur, trying to expose as much skin as possible. I winced as he did; the pain must have been almost unbearable. Between his whimpers of fear, he managed a few words, "S-See? I'm... I'm fine. I'm not tainted! Y-You don't have to do this...

"...P-Please."

That last word struck a chord. The pleading look in the griffin's eyes sent a chill down my spine. The dog holding the crossbow faltered for a second, as if considering mercy. It was short-lived, however, and the weapon was quickly raised back up to the griffin's face, now even closer than before. The dog's face had an expression of someone willing to do anything to survive.

"No."

One simple word. That was all it had taken. One word that was thrown around in every day life with little to no care, had now determined someone's life, regardless of whether they were guilty or innocent of their crimes. The griffin, realising his attempts to dissuade the dog were fruitless, took a step back in fear. The dog replied by taking one forward, closing the distance.

The apparently tainted slave immediately turned and sprinted towards the entrance to the cave. He tried to flap his wings to take off, but his weak body meant he couldn't hold his altitude for more than a few seconds. Nevertheless, he never stopped running, and his silhouette was eventually washed over by the glare of the sun.

I sighed as I watched the dog returned to the group of slaves. Some reacted to his actions by congratulating him, while others simply stood staring, whether in fear, disbelief, or contempt I didn't know.

"It is done." I heard Kamots say from my side, "I will go to retrieve my supplies. When I return, we will treat your wounds properly before my magic wears off."

He disappeared into the darkness, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sat down on the earth, keeping my back straight to prevent any additional pain from the lashes. It was quiet for several minutes, occasionally broken up by murmurs coming from the other group of slaves. A few of them glanced at me, and I grew concerned that they would try to do to me what they had done to the griffin. No attempts to approach me were made, however, and I felt more secure when Valiant appeared next to me.

He let a sigh which only I could hear, "I had forgotten how bad it could get beyond Equestria's borders."

"We should have done something," I mumbled, "I should have done something. That griffin didn't have any supplies on him, and he was already weak enough as it is. He won't last a day out there."

"There was nothing we could have done. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Valiant stated, and I rounded on him.

"How can you say that?" I hissed, trying my best to keep my voice low, "You're an Element of Harmony. How can you simply stand by and watch what happened. How do his needs..." I gestured at the dog with the crossbow, "...outweigh an innocent person's?"

"You not getting what I'm saying," Valiant replied, "I wasn't talking about them. What they did was vile, no doubt. I was talking about everyone back home. You're friends, and the other elements.

"If you had tried to help that griffin, you'd have only made the situation worse. You are already on bad terms with the Diamond Dog who condemned him, and the rest of the slaves would have supported him. They would turn on you just as they had the griffin. You would have been killed, possibly Kamots too, and I would have been left to wander through the land without a host."

I contemplated Valiant's words. It hurt me to say it, but he was right. I realised now that if I had intervened, events would have taken a turn for the worse. Thinking over his final statement, I replied, "Is that what happens if a Bearer dies?"

"Yes. An Element without a host could be compared Princess Luna when she was sealed in the moon. I would still survive, but I would not be able to contact the world, or even my brothers and sisters. I would just... wander. And without seven Bearers to hold our power, the Elements would be nothing more then fancy jewellery."

When he finished, Kamots returned, carrying a knapsack in one paw and an unusual looking crossbow in the other. It had a normal frame, and was already loaded and ready to fire, but I could see more bolts underneath, with a lever along the side. At a glace, it looked like the crossbow could be fired multiple times before needing to be reloaded.

Unaware of my conversation with Valiant, Kamots sat down and said, "Turn around. I have a solution to treat your lashes."

He reached into his knapsack and pulled out a small tin. Opening the lid, I saw it contained a mixture that looked like it had been made from mashed plants and water. I obeyed, and took off my shirt, exposing the ugly wounds to the air. I had expected the solution to sting like antiseptic, so I was pleasantly surprised when instead, it was cool and soothing.

"There was nothing we could have done." Kamots suddenly said, and I realised he was referring to the griffin, now long gone into the desert.

"Yeah. I figured as much," I replied, remembering Valiant's words, "But why didn't anyone attempt to stand up for him? I had expected one or two to at least try, but nobody?"

"Such is the mentality of the Korral." Kamots explained, "In times like this, they will look for someone to give guidance, leadership."

"Someone like you?" I interjected.

"No." he answered, "I could try, but they do not trust me. They have looked to the Korral with the crossbow, and as a result, have started to think like him. He recognised the griffin as a sick member of the pack, and in turn, so did they. A pack knows that the sick one will be a burden, dead weight, a threat to their survival. So they kill them."

"You're talking about them as if they're common animals." I said, "But they're people, just like us."

"...We will see." the bipedal wolf simply said, before focusing on treating my wounds. The effects of his magic were starting to fade now, and the pain was returning. It was not nearly as bad as it had been, and I had Kamots' medicine to thank for that.

There was silence for a few more minutes between us, before I asked, "How did you escape from the cell?"

"Luck had shown me favour today." Kamots said.

"So what happened?"

"I could sense a disturbance from above us, and a Korral came to our cell shortly afterwards. Seeing an opportunity to escape, I killed him with an axe and left to find you. I could sense your energy, and, though weak, I followed it to where you were being held captive."

The conversation was left at that, before Kamots started a new one, "What do you intend to do once we leave here."

I shrugged, "Dunno. I'm not even sure where 'here' is. I'm hoping to move south and back into Equestria. Maybe then I'll come across some ponies and contact the princess."

"Show me your map."

Without moving too much, I reached into my webbing and pulled out the map that I'd been given before the mission. I made sure there was no damage to it before passing it over my shoulder to Kamots.

I heard a grunt of disapproval as he unfolded it, "You have been ill-equipped, and your leaders require new maps of this area. I can see a river marked here that has been dry for as long as I can remember. This map is no more useful than firewood. If you had relied on it, you would not have survived."

Hearing that sent a chill down my spine. Why would the generals at Canterlot give us outdated equipment? If they thought nothing would happen in a desert, they needed to get out more. Sand dunes could rise and fall at the drop of a hat. I felt a tap on my shoulder as Kamots passed the map back, and I put it back into its pocket with a sigh. Maybe it could help start a fire later.

"Well that's my plan scrapped."

"The closest town is a few days from here," Kamots said, "I can take you there. Most populated areas of the Griffin Kingdom will have soldiers. There will be someone who can help you contact Princess Celestia."

"Alright. I'll go with you." I replied, relieved that Kamots was potentially saving my life. Again.

We remained quiet as Kamots finished applying the solution, and he helped me tie on the bandage I had been holding onto. With all of my injuries covered up, I was glad to put my clothes and armour back on. Getting my uniform back let a great weight fall off my shoulders. Looking over at the other group of slaves, I noticed they had begun talking among themselves, sharing looks of concern and worry.

"They're starting to get nervous." I observed.

"The topic has moved to the tainted griffin," Kamots stated, picking up on their conversations, "Doubt has infected their minds. Some of them will begin to fear that they have just condemned an innocent soul. Such thoughts interfere with rational thinking, and that does not bode well for their survival."

"We need to intervene." I said, "I already missed one opportunity, and it's cost a life. I'm not making the same mistake again."

"I am inclined to agree." Kamots said, to my relief, "If they do not come to a consensus, they may decide not to leave these tunnels. Weeks will pass by in an instant, and even if the Wastelanders do not return, the supplies still here will not last forever. Fortunately, we are no longer dealing with a collection of minds, but with a pack.

"A pack respects authority. Strength. If we can gain that strength, we can help them. The Korral managed to manipulate them to agree with him, and we can do the same. With their current psyches, the opportunity is too beneficial to ignore."

Within a few long strides, he was within the group, and pushed them aside to get into the centre of the crowd.

"We cannot stay here." His voice was louder than normal, and echoed around the cave, demanding everyone around to listen. There was total silence as he continued, "These caves are not safe. The dark magic that flows through these tunnels will kill us all if we stay here.

"The tainted griffin might have caused the magic to spread. It might only be a matter of time before we are tainted too. We cannot hope that someone else will find us; there is no hope! Our only chance is to leave this place and find a nearby town to take shelter in. They will protect us until we find a way back to our homes."

"And what about getting there?" came a voice from the group, "There's all sorts of animals past the desert. Timberwolves, manticores. We'll be slaughtered if we go out there."

"How many of you are there?" Kamots asked. There was a moment of silence as they counted, before finding that there were fourteen of them.

"That makes sixteen of us then." Kamots said, "No timberwolves would attack our numbers, and any larger predators will not find us worth the trouble. We will be safe if we travel as one. Now gather whatever supplies you can, and we will leave as soon as we can."

No one knew how to argue against Kamots' plan. They all moved to the other side of the cave, and Kamots returned to me.

"They'll discuss what you said now," I said as he approached, "They might reconsider."

"Alas, it is a natural reaction." Kamots answered, "Korral, griffins, they are all social beings. They will gravitate toward each other and talk. Trying to persuade them further will only result in them turning against us. All we can do now is wait, and hope they see the logic in what I said."

It was another twenty minutes before anything happened, during which I sat silently, watching the light coming from the cave entrance. I could almost taste the light, but I didn't want to leave Kamots' side. The sounds of footsteps broke me from my gaze, and I saw the dog who had sentenced the griffin to die approaching us. I didn't like the look on his face at all.

"Tymari," he called, getting Kamots' attention. Instantly, I could sense the air around Kamots start to buzz. Kamots didn't seem the type to become truly angry, but I didn't know many people like that. Steel Sword was the only other one, but his military personality gave off the impression that he would show the same emotion when fighting as he would making a sandwich. Considering it now, I couldn't imagine Steel in a full-blown rage.

"The group and I have been discussing your proposal," he said, "And we think you are chasing sandstorms. It's too inconvenient for all of us to leave. We have shelter here, supplies, and a source of fresh water. There is nothing for us out there, only sand and death. The rest of the group agree with me, right Talonfire?"

I looked over at the group, and saw a griffin nod his head, albeit rather hesitantly, "And your attempts to persuade us with the tainted griffin will not phase us. His possessions will be destroyed and taken far from here. And there is no way it could spread through the air; this is magic, not a disease. Even if it could, we would either all be tainted, or dead already. We have no interest in listening to your death sentence."

He started walking closer, and I shouldered my rifle, ready should he try to attack. Kamots recognised my combat pose, and raised a paw at me, silently telling me to stand down. I didn't like the idea of potentially being caught off-guard, but nonetheless, I complied, and lowered the weapon, letting my sling take its weight.

Then Kamots took a step forward, bringing him and the dog within a foot of each other's snouts, "You think these slaves believe they are safe with you, just like the griffin? What if he had been innocent? Why did you place such a sentence on him?"

For a split second, I noticed the expression on the dog change. It was almost unnoticeable, but I saw a brief flash of fear. It was quickly replaced by his stubborn face, and Kamots spoke again before he could reply.

"Why did you condemn him if you did not even know if he had been tainted?" he asked the dog. The aggression in his tone was clear, but his voice remained soft and calm, "If he wasn't tainted, he had no need to die."

"We were doing it to protect ourselves." the dog argued, "If he stayed, he would have killed us all."

"No, this was murder. His death was not necessary." Kamots replied, anger rising in his tone, "Even if he was tainted, what gave you the right to kill him?"

"What right?" the dog replied, equally enraged, "The right to survive! 'Survival of the Fittest'! The Tymari are supposed to be wise; you should know this already.

"And what about you? You spent months down in the cursed tunnels." he continued, "How do we know you have not been tainted too? We could just get rid of you and your monkey friend too. We would only be defending ourselves, and you would be forgotten. You're not the one in charge here! I am, got it?"

As if to try and prove his point, the dog reached behind his back. Everyone in the room could tell he was reaching for the crossbow hanging there. This time, even if Kamots hadn't wanted me to, I would have ignored him.

He didn't have time to stop me as I raised the rifle and lined the sights onto the dog's head. Instantly the dog froze. I found myself breathing heavily, and my heart was beating rapidly, causing my temples to thump with every pulse. At that moment, I only knew one thing: this dog was threatening to kill someone I trusted with my life, and that if even one of his claws touched the crossbow, he would be the one being forgotten.

It was then that I realised that the dog hadn't frozen because of my threat on his life. It was because of something different entirely. Kamots was staring straight into the dog's eyes, a fire burning there that I hadn't seen before. The tension in the cave was so thick it would be cut by a knife. Then something incomprehensible happened. Kamots took a single step forward, and came within inches of the dog's muzzle.

"Stop this needless act of false courage," he said quietly, "You will listen to me, or you will die."

The dog's furrowed brow relaxed, and his paw moved away from the crossbow, hanging limply by his side. The events seemed so unnatural, that I was certain it was Kamots' words and not my gun that dissuaded the dog.

When Kamots was satisfied the situation had been defused, he said, "Never decide who should live and who should die. You are too weak for that. You can not understand the courage needed to determine another's fate."

Then, without even taking the crossbow from the dog, he stepped back and looked over the group of slaves. They were still, and completely silent, waiting for what he had to say next. It was remarkable; with just a few words, Kamots had gained control over the entire group.

"An agreement has been reached. You all have 15 minutes to gather supplies. After that, we will leave."

He waited until the group had dispersed into the tunnels, before turning to me, the fire I had seen slowly fading, "Like you and I, you say? No, they are like a pack of Korral. They were preparing to kill us, and they would have too. But they had forgotten one fact. They are Korral, but I am Tymari. They hold no power over me, and they never will."

Without waiting for a reply from me, he picked up his knapsack and crossbow and walked towards the mouth of the cave. When he was only a few feet from the entrance, he stopped, and looked over his shoulder.

"But you are a Tymari cub, Lakota."

And with that, he stepped outside, into the glorious sunshine.

Into freedom.