As Char'li lay incarcerated and the king's sickness spread a figure, cloaked in shadow had entered the Burrows. Moving
silently and unseen the figure observed the deterioration of the tribe and the transformation of their once simple but
proud home. What had once been crude but stable tunnels had been molded into smooth, shapely passageways the quality of
which any master stonemason would be proud to call his own. In contrast to their work many of the Med'ja were now shadows
of their former selves; endless work reducing their once lithe and muscular bodies to gaunt, sickly figures with sunken
eyes and gnarled, scarred paws. The figure had also noted that in rare cases when the workers had injured themselves and
the wounds had been too great to heal flesh had been replaced by a new stone like skin, tooth and claw replaced with points
of dull, dark metal. In the dim light of the tunnel those that had changed could be distinguished by the rhythmic "Clack,
Clack, Clack" of their feet as the strange flesh tapped upon the ground.
Approaching the tunnels nearest to the King's throne room the figure could feel the waves of dark energy radiating from
the hall beyond. "Poor Ma'Ten" The figure lamented "crushed by the weight I and the world have placed upon your shoulders"
As he prepared to confront the King he felt a tugging upon his mind, the prickling presence of a person he had long
thought dead. "So" the figure thought "He has survived"
Char'li thrashed about the floor of his cell, his body dripping with sweat as he fought against the sickness. Once again
strange dreams had sought purchase in his mind and though his spirit was weakened he was resisting. Within his dreams a
creature held him in its grasp, a towering monstrosity of stone and shadow struggling to maintain its grip as Char'li
fought, violently thrashing and kicking until at last he broke free falling ever downward into darkness.
Char'li's mind floated in the darkness for what felt like an eternity, thoughts drifting to the friends and family he'd
lost so long ago. At times he could feel the presence of his kin brush past him catching glimpses of sight and sound
unknown to him; a forge burning with unnatural fire, a group of Med'jan diggers, their bodies twisted and deformed and a
familiar robed figure lurking just beyond the Chieftain's throne room. With his thoughts drifting to Sha'ne and the bloody
footprints she had left, Char'li began to recede into unconsciousness, drifting back into the realm of sleep.
The figure found Char'li sleeping peacefully upon the floor of a an empty den with its door barred. The room had been
guarded by two gaunt looking soldiers, they had been dispatched with little effort, the figure having felled them with a
light touch as he emerged from the shadows. Taking a spear from one of the felled soldiers the figure roused Char'li with
a stiff poke to the ribs, a groan of pain signalling his success.
turning over to face his saviour Char'li jumped up with a start as he realised the guards were nowhere to be found.
"What's going on?" he asked "Who are you?" "There will be time enough for that later boy" The figure replied harshly "We
must leave immediately, my intrusion won't go unnoticed for long." As they exited the cell the figure noted an unusual
scraping sound as they walked "What's that sound?" "it's my tail" Char'li replied lifting his tail to show that a length
of six inches from the tip of his tail had turned to stone. "It happened one night after the dreams came, the creature
caught me by surprise and bit my tail, it was like this when I woke up" "Then it would appear I've arrived just in time,
now, carry your tail so it doesn't give us away" "What's happening to us?" Char'li asked as they walked, his voice a
whisper" "In his madness the Chieftain has uncovered and been consumed by a terrible power" The figure replied "Though he
does not yet know his own strength. We must use this advantage and escape before his full power awakens."
For a time they walked in silence, stopping at the faintest hint of footsteps, eventually Char'li spoke again "How did you
find me?" "I didn't" the figure replied "Somehow you called out to me from your dreams, I had thought you lost in the
collapse alongside your kin" "But how?" Char'li wondered "I do not know" the figure replied "Perhaps you possess a spark
of a power not unlike the Kings, the of which secret lies in your birth, perhaps it is merely the fancy of a God. Nevertheless, you called and I answered"
Eventually the pair reached a fork in the tunnel, the way before them leading ahead while to the right a tunnel sloped
upwards into the Burrows upper reaches. Char'li stopped as the figure began to take the tunnel in front of them "Should we
not head into the upper passages? there is no exit down here" "none that you know of boy" The figure chuckled beckoning
the boy with a wave of his paw "There is a passage, known only to the Shamans of Umbralocht that has stood untouched since
the time of exile and it is that passage that shall be our salvation" "How could they keep such a passage a secret"
Char'li exclaimed "Had my kin and I known of it all of this could have been avoided" "Had you known of it" the figure
replied "The King would have destroyed it immediately, it is fortunate that the Shamans were not so trusting"
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps, the soft pitter patter coming from the
direction of the tunnel ahead. Slipping into the tunnel on their right Char'li and the figure waited with baited breath as
the footsteps drew ever closer until at last the source was revealed and Char'li let out a cry of joy. Standing before
them, fur turned white by the King's magic, feet covered in stained and tattered ribbons was Sha'ne, once again under the
influence of the Dark King's sickness.
The figure cursed the Char'li for his outburst as he ran to embrace his friend thinking that perhaps the boy was more
trouble than he was worth. He cursed again when Char'li returned and demanded Sha'ne escape with them "Don't be ridiculous
boy, she's a slave to the Chieftain now, she can only do as he orders "No Char'li argued" "The spell can be broken by
pain, we've broken it once before. I cannot leave without her" "Hom have mercy" The figure cursed as he struck the slender
Med'ja in the stomach with the butt of the spear.
The Trio slowly made their way through the Burrows to the secret passageway, The Figure leading followed by Char'li who
was assisting Sha'ne to walk as she scowled at their guide. As they rounded a corner a low growl rumbled through the
tunnel and the ground beneath their feet began to shake "What's happening?!" Sha'ne cried, her voice tinged with panic "It
would appear I've been discovered" The figure remarked "Quickly now, not much further"
Entering a large cavern the trio moved swiftly as the shaking began to intensify, the air thickening as they moved deeper
into the cave, moving in a zigzag pattern as the floor was peppered by debris from above. Approaching the opposite wall
of the cavern they found their path blocked by a single Med'ja, tall and powerful with eyes like burning coal "RUN!" The
figure cried before they were struck down by an incredible weight from above. "GAHAHAHAHAHA" Laughing the King towered
over them as the weight bore down upon them, squeezing the air from their lungs, Char'li tried to move, but his limbs
acted as though they were made of lead and refused to obey.
"Surely you did not think you could enter my realm unnoticed" The King gloated, striding over to stand before the now
prone figure. With one swift movement the King kicked the figure across the muzzle pulling back his hood and revealing a
gnarled, milk-eyed visage glaring back at him. "Welcome home.....Brother"
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[–] Cutsprocket [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago (edited ago)