The morning came, as we walked all night, without a single rest, except a few stops. We're about to be leaving the woods to the open. The scenery surrounding us was more of a ruin, but there were rabbits at guard.
"Holly, I don't have a good feeling about this." Blackberry feared.
"Stay calm. Everything will be fine." Captain Holly everyone.
"Yeah and you being captured again." Kung Lao offended.
"Kung Lao!" I stood up.
"What, I'm telling the truth."
"He's not the only one being captured twice!" I exclaimed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I sighed and took some breaths. "I was captured before, while serving."
"As a prisoner?" Liu Kang asked.
"Yes." I answered and nodded my head. "I have a bad feeling Afghanistan is coming back to haunt me all over." I feared.
"Don't say that, Thomas. We'll make it through, I promise." Captain Holly assured me.
"Silence!" Reptile shouted at us to be silent.
We all looked at other Tarkatan soldiers, as well strong rabbits that I recognized. This must be Efrafa. I said to myself. Bluebell couldn't help, but glance at each of the strongest rabbits that were on guard.
"That is the biggest rabbit I have ever seen." Bluebell whispered.
"I'm sure there are other rabbits bigger than his size." Liu Kang whispered.
"Oh yes. There are or someone." I added.
We than had a overlook view of the warren. It looked more of ruin of a factory, because it has two chimney separate stacks. However, it may appeared that way before the invasion. The rabbits didn't know what to say of this warren, but I could easily say it for them that this is Hell.
"What in the Elder Gods is this place?" Liu Kang wondered.
"I wonder to know too." Blackberry added.
"My esteemed guests, welcome to Efrafa." Captain Orchis introduced the warren, as he gave us a little jump scare. He than hopped down and started to lead us to the warren, as he chuckles.
"I swear I hope I don't have hear that kind of chuckle whenever I come across with him. It'll just make me beat the hell out of him." I made a bad joke.
Captain Holly and even Bluebell chuckled a bit from a inappropriate joke. "You're coming it up good." Bluebell complimented.
"A inappropriate joke though." Blackberry whispered.
"Move it!" an Efrafan guard shoved us to keep going. We looked around to see does are mostly the main prisoners, as well there are a few hutch rabbits. I still wonder if there are any signs of human prisoners as a possibility.
"Get back to the warren does!" we watched an Efrafan struck down on a doe that made Captain Holly very furious over the doe's treatment. However, his intention to intervene was cut short from Orchis blocking his path. "Are you the fool who's supposed to be supervising this mark?" The Efrafan questioned another.
"Well, I don't-" The buck was struck and held down.
"Concentrate, Sergeant. Give these does an inch and they'll be gone." He than let the buck go. "Now, get them down to the holding."
"Thank you, sir." the sergeant thanked the Efrafan rabbit, whose probably higher ranking than the sergeant.
"Uh, Captain Vervain." Captain Orchis spoke to the rabbit.
"Brother, what is it?" The Efrafan rabbit questioned the captain.
"I'll speak." Captain Holly whispered to us, before he cleared his throat and attempt to communicate to the other captain. "We have come to ask-"
"Silence!" Captain Vervain burst out. "You'll speak when you're spoken to directly and not before."
"I picked these up on the wide patrol." Captain Orchis informed to his brother. "As well these humans are also wanted by The Emperor."
Captain Vervain gazed at me, Liu Kang and Kung Lao. "Bring them forward." The three of us being shoved forward by an Efrafan and Erron Black. Vervain than glared at us, very villainy. "Hmm... one for the Council. I'll take them down with me."
From there, Captain Vervain led us inside the warren. Blackberry and Bluebell feared over the ambient sounds we heard: anguish cries, evil laughs, and other strange dark presences. For short minutes of going through dark tunnels, we approached what it appeared to be a dead end, but really there's a pit below that Captain Holly made a sudden stop. Captain Vervain than pushed Holly down below. Anger boiled over me, I struck Vervain across his face. I wanted to strike him again, but I was than stuck by Erron Black with one of his revolver gun-butts on the nose. I was than pushed down below and landed next to Captain Holly.
My nose began to bleed, but it didn't stop me to pick up Captain Holly. He stumbled a bit, as I picked him up. "Are you okay?" I asked him.
"I'm fine." he calmly boldly answered. "You're bleeding."
I leaned up-straight and pinched my nose. "I know."
"Take lead and I'll help you navigate." he was going to help me walk forward, as my head was up-straight. Captain Holly started help me, as Captain Vervain continued to lead us, before my head was re-positioned forward.
Eyes front! Someone shouted at me. In front of me was... someone's face I never thought I would see again. He was my former captor. I never knew his full name, except I heard his first name was Farid. "Well... I never thought I would see an American soldier's face again. Especially you."
I was speechless. I couldn't say a word, except hear flashbacks of my POW days. It wasn't going away. It's all coming back.
"A friend is also eager to see you again." Farid stated. "Kano!"
I looked over to see the man with the laser eye. Liu Kang and Kung Lao recognized him. "Kano?" Liu Kang spoke.
"The Shaolin Monks and his friends." Kano insulted, before he turned towards me. "And look do we have here... the Army boy."
"Thomas?" Liu Kang turned towards me. "You knew him?"
"He was the one who gave away my unit's position that lead to an ambush and my capture." I told him.
Kano pulled out his butterfly knife and started to poke around my throat. "We have lots of catch up to do. Perhaps you'll be able to see your family soon in a bag."
I haven't seen my family for awhile and hearing that makes me think... are they dead? Did he murder my family? My fist started to clinch and I was ready to throw the first punch. However, Captain Holly's paw touched my fist and it calmed me down. "Don't listen to him, he's just getting you!"
"Shut you wanker!" Kano exclaimed. "You know better because I've dealt with your family. They screamed like rabbits in a snare and ready to be roasted for a rabbit stew."
Fueling Holly, he was about ready to charge at him, but Blackberry and Bluebell managed to hold him down. "That's right, little bunny. Try it! I know you wanted to do. You did once, but I took you down in one move." Kano teased.
"That's enough!" Captain Vervain stopped the brawl. He than ordered Kano and Farid to guard the prisoners that they're about to face the council. Vervain than glared back at us. "Wait here until the Council is ready to see you." He than went off.
My nose stopped the bleeding, as Blackberry and Bluebell released Captain Holly. He than took some deep breaths to relieve from his anger. I placed my hand on his back and gave him a pet. "I'm sorry."
He looked over at me. "I just hope your family doesn't suffer the same fate, as mine."
I shook my head. "I don't know... I'm not sure I'll see them again."
"You will." he said firmly. I was still doubtful, but still have a glimmer of hope as a possibility. We than heard whispering nearby to see three does and a human beside them.
"What if they separate us?" one of them asked.
"They won't." another spoke. "Leave the talking to me. So long as we stay together."
"We just have to be careful and I'll speak as well if Shao Kahn says anything." the human was the same blue ninja that saved us in the woods, when we escaped from Sandleford.
The second doe turned towards us, as we caught her attention. "Can I help you with something?"
Captain Holly nervously looked away, as I suspect that he felt a possible love at first sight.
"Liu Kang? Kung Lao?" the blue ninja recognized them.
"Kitana!" Liu Kang went over towards her, but blocked his path by the sergeant.
"Step back!" he shouted at him. Liu Kang wanted to combat with the rabbit, but he remained calm and stepped back towards us.
"It is her!" I than remembered.
"Who?" Captain Holly questioned.
"She helped me, Blackberry and Bluebell escape with Hazel and the others in the woods." I explained to him that Kitana and another warrior by the name of Smoke saved us and stalled time for us to escape from Sandleford.
We than heard grunts and groans from a buck, who is being escorted by an Efrafan buck. The buck appeared to be severely cuffed and his ears were nearly torn.
"So... they got you in the end, then?" he spoke to Captain Holly.
"I'm sorry?" Captain Holly questioned.
"Three days ago, a little way from here, I'll admit, but it was definitely you. I told you to run for your life." the rabbit spoke to him.
"Who did this to you?"
"Sainfoin, the Council want Blackavar paraded around each of the marks at silflay as an example." Captain Vervain returned. "Take him down to the deep burrows." Sainfoin obeyed the order he was given.
"Vervain, I recommend that the rabbits and the humans are to face the council at once." Farid spoke.
"All in good time, however, we still have to dealt with the does and the human, whom they attempted to escape. I shouldn't have to remind you that you're under our orders."
Farid nodded his head and stepped back, before Captain Vervain faced at the does and Kitana. "Right, vermin, you're in first."
"You lack animality!" Captain Holly spoke up.
Vervain stopped after he heard what Captain Holly said. "What did you say to me?"
"You have no integrity. Animals don't behave as like most men. If they have to fight, they fight. If they have to kill, they kill, but they don't devise ways of hurting other creatures." Captain Holly stood up to Vervain. It even got one of the doe's attention. Kano and Farid were ready to intervene, as Vervain bubbles in anger and gave him The Devil's Eyes.
"If you speak out of turn to me again, I will have your tongue, before I took your human friend's tongue. Next time you see me, you'd better wish the both of you invisible." Vervain laid down a threat.
"Try taking him down than!" I stood up as well, as Liu Kang and Kung Lao were ready to face combat. However, it wouldn't be easy, due to Kano and Farid next to us, as well as Efrafan guards nearby. Captain Holly warned me against it and not wanting to spark tension to myself.
Captain Vervain than turned towards me. "You couldn't strike me down, if you tried. Embleer Black Human."
Blackberry and Bluebell gasped. I immediately realized that Vervain insulted me. I was about ready, but Captain Holly blocked my path, as the two glared at each other. It lasted for minutes, until Vervain dismissed and brought the does and Kitana with him to the council. The doe, who may have got admired from Holly's words, she looked back him, before she was gone.
Captain Holly sighed in relief that nothing escalated further.
"What's happening here, Holly? What have we got ourselves involved in?" Blackberry asked, as we waited for our time to appear in front of the Efrafan Council.