The Hole

Six years ago...

Hidden by the forest brush Maeve watched from her vantage point. Armed with a bow and arrow, that and her wits, she was here to hunt. So far the day had been uneventful, but down by the creek stood a deer. It was carefully grazing, itself watching for any predators. And of course she couldn't pass such a good opportunity.

She lifted the bow, notched an arrow and pulled the string back.

Steady.

Deep breath.

Go-

Snap!

The sound of bramble breaking to her right stopped her in her tracks. What in the world?

Through the brush she spotted a red cap, upon recognizing it she inwardly sighed.

River.

Unfortunately the deer had heard the bramble snapping as well, and with a huff it sprinted off. Maeve ran after it, too stubborn to let it go. She prepared her weapon once again, saw it move into the bushes and then released the arrow. There was a thump and she followed the sound.

She had hit it alright, but the arrow had lodged itself through the liver. The deer was still alive but in incredible pain. Her hand moved to her pelt to retrieve her dagger.

"Did you get it?" River quickly said behind her.

"I told you not to come."

"But this is so much more exciting than fishing!"

She ignored him, and then proceeded to cut the deer's throat. It died instantly.

"Maeve?"

After cleaning the dagger with a cloth from her pelt, she turned around to him. "If you hadn't come, this deer would have been ethically killed." She pointed to the dead carcass. "Because of your heavy foot, I shot it in the liver. We are supposed to hit it in the lungs or heart. River, this is why we are supposed to be careful as to not prolong the suffering of any animal we are hunting for food. I cannot stress that enough."

"I'm...sorry." He genuinely looked it too.

"Just..." She swallowed her words and changed them. "Next time warn me ahead of time, stay close and don't make a sound."

"Okay."

She sighed. "Come on, you might as well help me cut this up and transport it back to the caravan."

He nodded and bent down with her. The next part would be bloody.

As the midday sun shone above them, Maeve and River made their way down to the caravan with tonight's meal on their backs. Cara, one of the leaders, was there to greet them.

"Is that what I think it is?"

Maeve nodded. "Just a sow, but enough to feed us all for at least a couple days."

"Excellent. River, you take the meat to the campfire. We are settling here tonight." River glumly walked off. Cara looked concerned.

"What happened? He was supposed to be with the others by the river."

Maeve smiled slightly. "Let's just say he wanted to learn how to hunt."

"Well, who could blame him? Anyway, Maeve could I have a word?"

"Sure."

"Let's go by the cliff side."

Maeve followed Cara behind the caravan; they kept on walking until they were about twenty meters away from the camp and under a burgeoning cliff.

"Maeve. Flint isn't back."

She frowned at the news. "He was only going to Millfields."

"And be back by last night. Maeve, I fear something bad has happened to him. He was traversing the area near the Hole."

There was a note of fear in Cara's eyes. Which she could understand, considering how Flint was Cara's mate.

"You want me to find him?"

"Yes, please. Just make sure he is safe."

Maeve nodded. "I'll do what I can." Then she hugged Cara. "For luck."

After that she left Cara to find her horse, Pinto. He was munching on some hay by the campfire. River was there, cutting some onions, his eyes full of tears. He looked up as she climbed up onto Pinto's back.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Just to do some business." And then in a sterner tone. "And no, you are not coming this time."

He quickly looked away, and then grumbled.

She took Pinto's bridle and urged him forward. It was about a thirty minutes ride to Millfields from here, and she intended to find Flint and bring him back by nightfall. For the night was a terrible time to be alone, and so far from home.

Millfields was a pretty district despite belonging to so many vapid, rich people. Up on Pinto's back she asked around for a man of average height, bald and wearing gypsy clothes. Some recognised him and pointed towards the east. That worried her, for to the east there was a dangerous place, it was called the Hole and home to the Hobbes.

It was also home to some construction work. Apparently the King had allocated money towards a project to build a Monorail from Mistpeak to Millfields. It was an ambitious project, which she respected, for it would make the journey far safer and easier for everyone.

Perhaps Flint had gone there. It was worth a try, she had exhausted all other routes.

Another thirty minutes had passed by and Maeve found herself in front of the soon to be monorail station. A few men, in dirt ridden clothes were lounging by the entrance.

"Eh, who goes there?" A gruff voice called from the group. It was a man with the scruffiest beard she had ever seen.

"A friend." She called back as she edged further with Pinto.

"Eh? A friend? Come, share our ale and talk."

She laughed at that, but didn't climb down from Pinto. "I'm sorry, but I'm looking for someone." And then proceeded to describe Flint.

"Eh." He replied. "I've seen him, went down the passage he did."

She stared down at the entrance way and frowned. "Do you know why?"

"Eh, I think he 'erd some noises."

"And no one went down with him?" The men shook their heads.

"When did he go down there?"

"About mid-aftee-noon yestee-day." Another man replied. He hiccuped.

"Are there any other entrances?"

"Eh, nope." Scruffy beard said. "He must 'ave liked the view down there."

She was sick of the laughter in their voices and gave them a glare. "Look, he is my friend and I'm worried about him." She then took out her purse. "I will happily pay any one of you to take me down there to find him. I need someone who knows the layout."

"Eh, we can't." Scruffy beard protested.

"Why?"

"Eh, the King is down there surveying. We were instructed to not let anyone through."

"And I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I went down there to help someone in need. Now do you want the money or not?"

Scruffy beard watched the purse closely. "How much?"

"Seven gold coins." She figured it was more than what these men were paid a week.

"Ok. But if there is any trouble down there I'm leaving."

"And without your payment, no doubt." She pointed out.

"Fine." He grumbled.

"Then lead the way." She sweetly smiled.

"The horse isn't coming with us."

"I know." She climbed off Pinto and tied his bridle to one of the boulders the men were leaning on. "Please mind him. I will pay you each a gold coin for that." Their answer was a nod and without further adieu she followed Mr Scruffy down to the beginnings of the monorail.

It was a deep descent into the tunnel and after the tracks for the monorail had stopped thirty meters in, they were now walking on dirt. Mr Scruffy led the way, occasionally grumbling. He had brought a bottle of rum with him, much to her distaste.

"By the way, we 'aven't exchanged names. I'm Bruce."

That knocked her out of her reverie. "Bruce?"

He grumbled again. A pause then she conceded. "I'm Maeve."

"Hmm. Gypsy name."

She shrugged off the obvious taunt. For some reason or another, in the towns, to be named something "Gypsy-like" meant you were destined to be someone who slept around. It was also part of reason why gypsies weren't exactly welcome in towns. Especially after Reaver's propaganda in recent years. Apparently the gypsies were coming to steal your wives and impregnate them. The nonsense.

"Just lead on." She said.

They walked a couple more minutes with no sign of Flint. Bruce had said that the King was here. And yet no sign of him either.

"How far does this tunnel lead?" She asked.

"'Bout half way to Mistpeak."

"You also said the King was here. What time did he come?"

"Eh, yesterday morning, I think."

Of course.

"And did my friend offer you payment to go in as well?"

"Huh?"

"You heard me." She was irritated enough as it is. "You told me my friend came in mid afternoon yesterday, after the King. So what, you are toll collectors now? I suppose the King isn't even here."

"He is!" Bruce squeaked. "It's just...We heard noises and your man went to check it out. The King hadn't even returned."

"Noises?"

"Yes." He said. "It sounded like Hobbes."

She stopped, grabbed him and turned him around. "You never said anything about Hobbes."

"We thought it might be a hallucination, we were drunk after all."

She thought for a moment. "So if both my friend and the King haven't returned, why didn't you send word?"

"I...don't know." He shuddered, and then briefly looked up, and next his face was shrouded in fear.

"What?" She asked quietly. Somewhat now aware of little shrieks in the distance.

He pointed towards her left.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed little grey ears poking up from a rock overheard. She signaled him to be quiet, and then made her way up a dirt path to the next level. Whilst she did this she grabbed her bow and notched an arrow, just to be careful.

Bruce watched in horror from below. But she knew the Hobbes hadn't spotted them, otherwise by now everything would be in an uproar.

As she came closer, she glanced over the rock to see two normal Hobbes. Nothing else was in the vicinity but there was a small tunnel in front of them.

Shit. They've dug a tunnel from the Hole.

When one of the Hobbes turned away from the other, she loosened an arrow. There was a sharp cry and before the other could act, she shot it. Both lay cold at her feet. Bruce came up behind her.

"Is that all of them?"

She shook her head. "No. But as you can see they've dug a tunnel, most likely from the Hole. I fear my friend is in there."

"I-" Bruce's voice was shaky. "I can't go in there."

"No." Maeve agreed. "You'd get yourself killed. No, I need you to go back and fetch help. The King is probably in there as well, and I'm pretty sure no one would take too kindly to him being killed."

"What about you?"

She pulled the two arrows she had just loosed from the bodies. "I'm going after them."

"But-"

"Don't worry," She grinned. "I can handle myself."

"Okay..." He said. "But be safe."

"Thanks, I will."

She left him there and made her way to the tunnel. It was dark but she could manage. As she made her way through, she found it windy and somewhat too small. She had to lean down as to not beat her head on the ceiling. And eventually and what seemed eons she made her way to the other side.

She peeked out, only to realize there were Hobbes everywhere. She figured it would be difficult to pass them but noted some places she could hide and dispatch them quickly without too much noise. Unfortunately for her there was mix of all sorts of Hobbes here: the standard ones, summoners, hollows, warriors and even the big commanders. She grimaced. There was no way she could defeat them all with only fifteen arrows. Perhaps she should wait for back up.

No. Flint and the King could be dead by then, she couldn't take that chance. She had to find a way to get to them quietly without invoking the wrath of all the Hobbes.

It was then when she noticed them. It was hard to see at first, but with a second look she noticed that Flint was trapped in a cage. And with him several men, one wearing regal colors. The King.

There was another man strung up above a fire. He was now screaming, he was the reason why she took a second look at them despite thinking the screams were the sound of Hobbes at first.

She then heard the shuffling of feet. A Hobbe is coming this way. She hid in the tunnel and took out her dagger, ready to pounce. As it came too close, still not knowing she was there due to the darkness of the tunnel, she lunged for its throat. It gurgled and then fell down.

"Maeve." Oh Avo no. River.

"It's too dangerous." She hissed quietly. "You cannot be here. Go back."

"I brought supplies." He pointed to a bag which held two daggers, more arrows. He also held a sword in his right hand. "I can help."

"No, you will get yourself killed."

"I know how to fight. Bryn taught me. Let me help, you need someone to back you up. There are far too many Hobbes to fight on your own."

She sighed. "I cannot get rid of you, can I?"

"Nope!" He grinned.

She looked at him closely, with the light coming in from the Hole. "You sure Bryn taught you how to fight properly?"

"Yep."

"Ok. Then let's form a plan before we start storming in there."

"Sure. What should we do, boss?"

She looked up and mapped a way across to the cage. She sure hoped the plan would be good enough. Otherwise someone was sure to get killed.