Birth of a Shadow
Chapter XIV: Prisoners
I don't know how long I was out, but I know why I have awoken: A hard slap against my cheek.
"Uhhh…." I moaned, while slowly opening my eyes.
I was in a tent with a fireplace, a table and several chairs out of wood. In front of me the ugliest face, which I have ever seen greeted me: Skull's.
"Finally you are awakening." Skull said before slapping my other cheek. Now I was awoken completely. Behind him was standing this Stork Chief Marek.
"He is awake now, Skull. You can stop." he said, but Skull's face changed to an angered one, before he looked to him.
"I am only ordered by the Royal Family, Marek." he said. Seems that their hatred to each other increased since I saw them the last time.
Chief Marek glared at him now. "I am the Chief of this Mine. I am the only one ordering here. And when you can't listen to my orders, fly back to your precious Eagle's Hall, scumbag."
Skull grabbed the hilt of his sword, but stopped, when the soldiers behind Chief Marek stepped closer. They were equipped heavier than Skull. He let his hilt go and stepped backwards.
Chief Marek stepped forward. "So, who are you?"
I was a little surprised. "Didn't Skull tell you?"
He looked back to Skull once again. "He is the guy responsible for me being here." Skull admitted.
Marek looked back at me and his face showed interest. "Ah so it is. So you are the criminals, who attacked a royal carriage."
"We are no criminals. My name is Cien and I am belonging to Black Claw. A group, which will overthrow the evil King and liberate this country.", finally I could say this.
Marek looked obviously confused. "Evil King? King Piast is protecting us against the Plague."
"Which Plague? I have never seen the Plague. Have you seen it at least once?"
"No…but because of the protection of King Piast. Do you want to suggest that the Plague doesn't exist? Then you are a fool. The proof is everywhere."
I grinned. I could tell for the first time my theory, which I have invented back then. "The proof for destruction is everywhere. But what is the Plague anyway? No one can tell, because no one has seen it. So it can be obviously also Soldiers of King Piast himself."
"Ridiculous.", he growled.
"Really? So how are you explaining the fact, that the Western Lands are the only nation, which wasn't attacked by the Plague, except Island Nations?"
"By good border protection."
I chuckled. "Yeah, when it would be possible. Even King Piast admitted that it isn't. Till now no one could stop the Plague."
He kept silent till: "Skull, you can beat him again." Skull, who had leaned against the table, stood up and slapped me once again. Harder than last time. My cheeks burned, but I still grinned. "With force you can't deny the truth."
He had turned his back to me, while I was slapped once again. "So this is your reason for fighting against us?"
"Maybe as well. But the main reason is the thing, which you have done to the felines. We will prevent another massacre."
He hasn't said something to this accusation, but his half turned face showed the truth: He knew it. But there was something else….
"Where are your friends?" he asked finally.
"I will never betray Black Claw."
Another slap of the wing.
"That is enough. He will not talk in this way." Marek turned to the guards, "Bring him to Commander Pisik. He should be treated like the other criminals here."
The guards saluted and they went to me. By the way: a rope forced me to sit on this chair. Now they rearranged the rope, so it would hold my hands secured. They left the tent with me and led me to the mine further below. The sun was setting already, before we reached the tower in front of the mine, where a fat pig was sitting and observing the many workers here. He turned around to us, when he saw us. He wore a greasy green top and some old pants and his belly was seen rather well between both clothes. He grinned and in his mouth was missing some teeth.
"A new worker?" he asked amused. The guards saluted and nodded, while other guards appeared behind this pig.
"Bring him to the farthest region. He should work alone." the pig ordered and I had to follow these new guards, while the others marched back from where they had come. We marched passed the other prisoners here. They seemed to be a mix from every race: Canines, birds, bears, deer and even some felines, like we had seen from above already. Most of these guys looked like real criminals – when it is possible to judge a person by his outlook – but some of them were obviously only some farmers or something in this direction.
The mine was obviously a tunnel. The guess from back then proved itself after we marched through this mine for a while. It became darker and the first torches were seen. The mine became narrower, the number of routes through it decreased till only one remained and the number of prisoners became less and less. We reached finally a dead end, where no one was besides a pickaxe and it was rather dark here despite the torches. The guards pushed me forwards to the pickaxe and remained in their position.
"Work or you will be whipped." one of the guards said. I took the pickaxe reluctantly and began to work. I don't think I worked long, but I felt that this type of work was hard. Even my good trained endurance proved to be too weak. After this realization, I grinned. This work was a good replacement for further endurance training.
Finally they ordered me to stop. I was not even tired…okay I had to pant…Satisfied?
They chained me once again and then led me outside the mine. There were no prisoners anymore. We entered the night and reached the camp for the prisoners. It was surrounded by a small palisade wall and guards were standing there awaiting me. It seemed that I was the last to end my work, because the camp was full with the other prisoners.
I was unchained once again and before they pushed me inside they gave me a bowl full with….something. I don't know till today, what it was, but it tasted awful. Once inside they closed the gate to the camp. I looked at the closing, when a voice said something to me:
"Welcome in the Prisoners Camp, Newbie."
I turned around and saw a group of four prisoners. Two canines, one Reptile and the obvious boss was a hawk – I think he was a black Kite with a broken bill. They surrounded me and I prepared for a battle despite the smiling face of the boss.
"Oh you don't need to fear something. My name is Zlod. And I am the boss in here. So would you give me the bowl in your hand?"
I looked down on it and I bet my confusion to such an introduction was seen on my face. "You see, it is rule in here to give up your bowl to the more important ones, when you are new. So give me the bowl."
"No.", I replied simply. This Zlod's face turned angry. "A stubborn one, what?" he came closer to me, "You see, it would be wise to give it to me…" I got into battle position and he stopped immediately, "….Hey, hey, calm down. You….Grab him!"
The others ran at me, but these guys were no serious threat for me…..And yes this time it is right! I dodged their attacks and countered precisely, which forced them to step away from me. And I haven't even let the bowl go thereby!
"Stop this at once!" a voice from behind me ordered. The gate was opened once again and Marek stepped in with guards following him. The guys from Zlod stepped backwards surrendering. I stood still.
"Who started this?" Marek asked and Zlod replied immediately, "This new guy, Chief."
"That is not true!" I objected, but Marek waved with one of his hands an order to his guards. They grabbed my arms. "For this you lose your dinner bowl for three days and Zlod can whip you once." Marek ordered. I understood that this was a way to force me to talk. They chained me on an empty bole, which was standing upright inside the camp. They ruined my jacket back then, but the whip of Zlod hurt much more. "Can I whip another time to teach him discipline?" Zlod asked and I haven't heard a denying answer, before another whip slash burned itself into my flesh. I think I have still a mark from back then on my back.
I haven't given these guys the satisfaction of giving up or moaning even. They unchained me and that in a manner to hit my whip marks. After this Marek left the camp with his guards, the gate was closed once again and this time I think no guard was watching. At least I guess it, because Zlod and his men were coming closer once again. I got into a battle posture once again.
"This is enough!" a new voice told, before they could attack me. A big deer with big horns emerged from the shadows. He had a blinded eye cause of a slash in the face and his clothes looked really degraded. In the moment he showed himself, I felt fear by the other guys. They growled still, but then went away without doing anything.
Then the deer looked at me. "Tough guy, what?" he asked me with a smirk. I think he expected fear as a reaction. At least this was my guess so I replied: "Heroes need to be tough guys."
He grinned and then chuckled. "Heroes? Yeah, of course. My name is Zab."
"Cien."
"I see…come with me. I have a place, where you can sleep."
I followed him through this camp despite the fact that the burning whip slashes were still hurting. I realized that in this camp there were also some buildings built of wood, but everything looked in a bad shape. We have met no one till we reached his tent.
It was Spartan furnished: A blanket as a place to sleep and a fireplace. He sat down on his blanket and pointed out to sit down on the other side of the fireplace.
"So why are you here?" he asked.
"I was caught by the guards, while infiltrating this mine." I replied honestly. Somehow I felt I should be honest.
"I see…so you were one of these guys, who caused a ruckus this forenoon."
I nodded. "So why do you wanted to infiltrate a mine?"
"To know more about it. You see we are heroes." he chuckled once again, "And we try to overthrow the King."
Then his still intact eye became odd. In a way, when eyes showed anger or hatred. I realized it, because his eye showed till now only coldness.
"Overthrow the king, what? We are talking about Piast here, isn't it so?" I nodded and knew already back then, that it sounded like he had a personal grudge against him, "I understand. Then we have a common enemy, Cien."
After this we talked still a while, but about nothing really important. And then like on a command, he asked: "Will you try to escape?"
I didn't need to think about it for long. "Of course. I have still something to do."
"I see…good….very good.", and after he had said this, he lied down on the blanket simply and began to sleep. I admit, that I was surprised, but what different I could do? I shrugged simply and lied down as well. It was not easy for me to sleep on a hard ground for the first time, but after I have found a stone as a pillow it became easier. Because I couldn't sleep on my back, I still needed some time to fall asleep.
The next days were not much different. Changes were that I was working with the others now. Also Chief Marek was not seen anymore, but Zlod and his men still tried to make my life difficult like they were doing it for the other prisoners.
"Who are these guys anyway?" I asked Zab rather fast during working. When I was with him I had some peace always. The working was rather difficult to make for one whole day, because of this whip slashes at my back despite the fact that they were treated by Zab the second day.
"Small fries, who think that they are the big boys. They are helping the Warden and get privileges for this. And I bet they believe they become free because of this as well. At least Zlod believes it. But they are idiots: No one leaves this place alive, if he doesn't try to escape at least."
"So they don't set you free here after some time?"
"No….or yes. There is a thing, but I don't think you will like to know it."
"What do you mean?"
"You will see it in two days. Then it will happen once again."
We kept silent, when a question crossed my mind: "For what reason are you in here?"
He stopped working and then grinned evilly at me. I got it. This was the reason, why this small fries called Zlod and his men haven't touched him: A murderer. A warrior. At least something, which was worth being afraid. Somehow I was not afraid cause of this.
Two days passed with working, scheming a plan and avoiding further trouble. Marek didn't come visiting me once again. I think, he wanted to wait till I was ready to give up. I admit that the hunger and the hard work were problematic, but where a will is there is a way like the saying says. I was not ready to give up. For nothing. Although I haven't seen a clue, if the others tried to set me free or a way to escape on myself.
The other prisoners avoided me. Probably cause of me being with Zab. But I realized that these prisoners had it….good. At least for being in a prison mine for the rest of their life and not counting the harassing of Zlod. Except the felines. The guards treated them badly although never too hard and somehow the other prisoners were doing it as well. Not so hard and I bet not everyone, but still like….outsiders. Although all of them were in the same boat.
Finally the second day came and I saw what Zab meant: A new group arrived in the mine. Knights that was seen on the first sight. And some old acquaintances.
"Welcome in the Iron Mine, Prince Piast.", Chief Marek greeted him not far from our working place. This guy looked more arrogant than the last time, although he didn't change in any other way. Behind him were once again his three friends and this crane. And also this second eagle. He looked more like a mice than an eagle. I still haven't heard about this guy. No one knew him.
"So Chief Marek, how is it looking?" the Prince asked, while stepping closer to the mine. We were ordered to stop the work earlier already and standing side by side in front of this guy.
"Good like always, Prince. How many will you take this time?"
I had no clue about what he was talking about, while following the Prince. Skull was not far away as well.
"First I want to talk about something different: I heard the rumor you have caught someone new in the last days?"
Interesting…Marek hadn't told about me. He glared back at Skull. "Yes, my Prince. A feline, who had tried to sabotage my mine. His friends got away, but I ordered my men to patrol more eager in this region so they could not do something problematic."
"A feline?!" the grimace of hatred showed on the face of the Prince, but he hid it immediately.
"When have you planned to tell me?" he asked hiding his emotions. It was obvious that Marek had seen the face and was a little unsure. He gulped.
"When I could give all of them to you and your father." he replied and enhanced the last part of the sentence. I don't think the Prince liked this. I can't say that I was sad that's why.
"Show him." he ordered. When Marek wanted to object, he repeated: "I said show him!"
Marek sighed and ordered some of his guards to bring me to him. I didn't try to prevent this. When I was standing in front of him, I glared directly into his eyes. He recognized me or at least my fur.
"A Black Panther? What a funny coincidence. And I thought already that you were extinct already."
Back then I still grieved. And although I could hide my wrath and hatred at most of the times, this time it was as obvious. If the guards wouldn't have stopped me, I would have jumped on him and had ripped off his head. He was so close….
He examined me and smiled. "He is one of them."
"My Prince?" Marek asked unsure.
Piast turned his head to Marek. "He will come with us as well."
Marek turned around shocked immediately. "My Prince, this man knows something about a potential rebel group in the kingdom. We can't kill him. We need him."
The Prince glared at him. "I said something. He is one of them. And all the felines, you have still in this mine. When they are not enough, you can choose the still missing."
And with this he stepped backwards and began to talk with his friends and Skull. Only the other Eagle looked still at me, while Marek went to his guards to order them shaking his head thereby.
The other eagle stepped to me. "I am sorry for what happened back then." he said and somehow I could hide my hatred once again.
"You recognize me?" I asked unsure.
"Yes, of course. And he as well." he pointed out at Piast. I became curious.
"You apologized back then as well." I said and he nodded, "Who are you?"
He looked at me with sad eyes. "The brother of the murderer of your mother."
The next chapter already done :) Enjoy it.
Kung Fu Panda belongs to DreamWorks.
This part of the world, the idea and these characters belong to me.