Exodus- Rise of the Sillian Empire

Third Person POV
Everfree Quarry

Thomas, Iron, and Jorihl continued trekking down the narrow ravine like path. As they marched onward's the path began to widen more and more. Until the group stumbled into a open circular like quarry. This round depression had three ravine like passage ways to enter into it. one of these paths was where our small group just traveled down the central like path, while the other two were along the high cliff walls. if one drew three lines following the pathways it would form a T.

Thomas slowed down to survey the area impressed by the natural shape of the depression. As well as the Tactical and strategic positions it offered. He noticed Iron and Jorihl moving forward slowly allowing him to catch up after he finished his sight seeing.

Needing no invitation Thomas jogged over to them and followed along. As the group picked up pace again Thomas noticed a large cavern like opening. Looking like a massive opening maw, the cavern stood around 5-6 stories high with small jutting fang like rocks. Giving it a fearsome maw appearance. As the got closer to the maw Thomas saw a wall like structure begin to come into view. This wall was little more than scrap wood palisades, that seemed ready to collapse on their own accord. 6 tower like buildings lined up behind the wall. But just like the wall appeared to be hastily made and of poor or rotten wood quality.

As the group drew closer and closer to the wall their was one part of it that. Appeared to resemble a gate but in a crude and desperate construct of one. Two towers sat directly behind it and were manned by what looked like humans in crude iron armor with longbows.

They waved at the incoming group and turned into the walled camp shouting something. As the group neared the gate, the doors slowly swung open allowing the group to enter. The area was a tent like shanty town that stretched far into the large cave. Doorway like holes also doted some parts of the cavern wall.

As the group walked inside humans and diamond dogs began to group around the three, most wanting to see the newcomer. many looked at him in suspicion and fear. Thomas looked at the frightened people and dogs and couldn't blame them, but as he looked past them he say possibilities to help them. No, not just help them advance them and allow them to prosper. But first he needs to earn their trust, a snow white female diamond dog rushed forward from the crowd and tackled Iron. Sending him to the ground laughing and smiling warmly. While the other two of his small group stopped short.

Thomas POV

"Father!" The white dog shouted happily. "I was so worried for you."

Iron laughed and brushed his head against the other dog. "I'm sorry Snow, I didn't mean to make you worry." She looked down out the older dog and pouted then looked up toward me. She looked surprised and abit wary.

"Father, who is this?" She squinted her eyes trying to measure me.

"This my daughter is Thomas and he has offered to show us how to make steel." Her eyes widen and turned to face Iron before looking back at me.

"Him? How can he show us ho...."

"Excuse me, my good lady." I bowed abit causing her snow white cheeks to turn a tint of pink.

"But I know of a method that can help produce steel and a form of farming that can be used in tight spaces or areas." She scowled lightly at me but I could see her eyebrow raise abit and behind her. Iron smiled and rubbed his furred chin.

"Then please my new friend, show us how to make it." I smiled and pulled out my phone.

Iron, his daughter and a few other tensed up when I pulled it out. I gestured that it wasn't a weapon or a threat and they all seemed to calm down abit. Scrolling threw my phone I found a "How to make a primitive blast furnace" smiling. I looked at Iron.

"Okay do you have any bellows and anyone with metalworking knowledge?" He smiled and looked at Jorihl. I heard him quickly move away to look for what I asked and Iron turned back to face me.

"Anything else?"

"Yes, if you have anyone good with building with clay and stone." He raised an eyebrow. I turned my phone to show him a primitive blast furnace. "Tell them to make something like this."

"Okay and what about this farming technique?" I smiled and looked back to my phone.

"So for the farm if you have an area that has clay that we can make rows of garden trough, under dripping stalactites." He grew more interested as I spoke and his daughter seemed surprised. Her mouth hung open showing her canine fangs. "The water that drips from the ceiling will land in the soil underneath in the garden trough and supply water and minerals to the plant thus growing them. Oh and it also has to have sunlight peaking in so somewhere like?"

I looked past Iron and pointed to the center of the tent village.

"Like there, with that you can grow food in here." My answered seemed to not only please Iron but cause him to break out in a huge grin.

"Well consider me impressed son." I smiled and rubbed my head embarrassed, then behind me I heard Jorihl come up with 6 human men and 4 dogs.

"Iron! I got the men we have that used to make iron weapons for the ponies." I looked at the men and saw each one carried a large hand pushed bellow.

"Good Jorihl." Iron faced the group. "Alright you lot this man here is going to show us how to make steel. So you better listen well." The men stood straight at attention.

"Okay guys, so take me to a nice area with alot of coal and a open hole in the cavern roof to allow smoke to exit." They all turned and began walking deeper into the cave with me trailing behind smiling.

Unbeknownst to me I was being watched by a certain white furred dog.

Snow Claw POV

I watched the strange man walk away with some of our groups ex-slave blacksmiths. I was to busy watching the man walk away that I didn't notice when my father walked up beside me and moved his muzzle to my ear.

"If he interests you. You can marry him and become his mate."

"WHAT!!!!" My father howled in laughter and gave me his biggest toothy grin.

"What? You can't blame me, I want to see grand pups already." Blushing I growled at my father.

"I only just met the man and he seems strange."

"True, but sometimes good things come from strange things." I looked at him surprised and my face softened.

"Trust me Snow, I have a feeling that he will lead us to great things." I grew confused as my father turned and walked away from me. He always seemed to be hiding something. But after standing there for a few second I decided to follow the newcomer and see if what he claims and showed us is true.

Iron Claw POV

I turned to watch my daughter hurry off. No doubt wanting to keep an eye on our young guest. I couldn't help but smile at her. She was always so easy to read, especially when she liked something and refused to acknowledge it.

I gave a small chuckle and continued on my way to my home. When a thought began nagging itself in my mind. It formed last night when I and Jorihl prepared our small raid, this dream felt strange yet powerful. I remember it so clearly that I closed my eyes and saw the memory taking fold.

Swirling steam surrounded me and seemed to hung upon on the wind. The walls around me were made of white marble with gold laced in-between each brinks line. The floor was made of obsidian with the same gold lined among the cracks. The windows on the wall were clear and slightly shaded red with iron designs and frame running across every window. I saw men lined up all along the corridors pathway, They appeared to be Dressed in a strange uniforms. Black theme cloth pants with red and gold trimming lining, Gold plate armor on chest and golden shoulder guards. Finally they have a clear silver face mask with on hose attached to the left side of the mask and where the eyes would be a long slit stretched from one side of the mask to the other.

The carried a strange stick that I assumed to be a weapon. It had metal bits in certain parts of it, a large metal thin box attached in the middle of the stick with a metal like pipe and shield like cover on the point where it stuck out of the wood.

I was stirred from my studies when a human with dog ears and a tail walked up to me.

"Father there you are, the emperor and sister are expecting us!" I smiled at the young man and soon word came out of my mouth.

"I'm sorry Ravik, this old dog was just lost in memory." The boy scowled lightly at my old comment and sighed.

"Father your not old."

"Says you young pup, now lets go see what my Son-in-law need from this old dog." He pouted when I reminded him that the emperor married his older sister and didn't use his official title. He sighed and turned to walk straight to the large imposing doors at the end of the hall. I laughed and thought that he got his seriousness from his mother.

After a short trek do the hall, we stood in front of the massive double doors to what was the imperial council chamber. on both sides of the door was half a phoenix with two heads pointing away from the center. The guards saluted us by forming their right fist and slamming it against where their heart is. I nodded to them and both opened the door where I could hear the sounds of conversations coming from inside.

"Thank you soldiers, Hail Silla." The soldiers stood at attention

"Hail Silla!" Both soldier said firmly.

Walking inside I was greeted by a large throne room with large marble tables on both sides of the room each hold twelve seats for each high lord of the empire. Ahead of us was two obsidian tables that held six chairs each and appeared like a shield to protect the imperial throne and its three sister thrones. I smiled as my son hurried forward toward the chair closest to the throne and pulled it out for me. Nodding to him he walked over to another strange looking human in formal white clothes and a celestial steel sword, He had a unicorns horn and a cutie mark attached to his gloves but I couldn't make it out.

The doors to the room threw open and all the men and me stood and saluted to a.......Familiar young man. I saw snow walking beside him with two other females, a Griffon and a changeling. As he drew closer to the throne his face became clearer and clearer until I gasped internally.

I slammed into the stone wall outside of my cave hovel. Shaking my head I walked inside and saw my wife humming quietly to herself, Her snow white hair flowed down her back. Matching the same color as her milky white skin and she was rubbing and humming a small bundle wrapped up in her arms.

Smiling I walked up behind her and draped my arms around her. This earned me a gasp then a blissful sigh as she sank into the embrace.

"Hello my love." My heart fluttered when she spoke.

"Hello my beautiful angel, Hows our little pup?" I looked down to be greeted by the slightly tanned white skin. He slept quietly and stirred to move closer to his mothers warmth. Two little brown dog ears flopped down and a little black spot on his nose.

"He's been very good today just like he papa." I smiled and kissed my wife and son. I walked into our bedchambers and sat down upon our stone bed covered in fur. Trying to understand what I saw in my dream.

"Thomas.....Why was he there?" I turned to face the wall and continued to ponder the question.

"He.....he must be here to lead us to something but what?" I sighed and looked up at the room of my bedchamber and stretched my hand up trying to reach for or grasp the meaning of one place or thing.

"What is Silla?" I closed my eyes and let my weariness take me to blissful slumber.