We waited for minutes for our time to face with the council. I couldn't believe that my old captors are present. It was turning to a bad omen already over my second capture. Blackberry and Bluebell were anxious over the what would become of us. Liu Kang and Kung Lao couldn't believe that Kitana was held here as a prisoner. Captain Holly than reminds us why we're actually here... for does to be given a choice to join our warren.
It wouldn't be until another five minutes later, Captain Vervain returned with another Efrafan buck. "Listen here. Those does are to be separated and re-marked accordingly." The Efrafan buck obeyed the orders given to by Vervain. The captain turned back towards. "You six, are next."
We began to follow Vervain, but eventually I was pulled to aside by Farid. "As soon you're being marked, we'll have to catch a few things up together."
I tried to ignore him, as I caught up with Captain Holly and the rest of the group. We made a crossing across a plank. I managed to look down below there were other rabbits of all kinds being held here, especially does. We were than forced to keep moving across the plank. We than arrived at the council chamber. There were Efrafan bucks that maybe in the same ranks as Vervain and Orchis. However, there were shadow hooded individuals that maybe sorcerers. One of the Efrafan Captain bucks, studiedly stared at Captain Holly.
"These are the rabbits and humans Captain Orchis captured when he was assessing the wide patrol, sir." Captain Vervain spoke.
"They were down by Casear's Belt." Captain Orchis stated. "The little one... tells stories."
"I just thought of a joke." Bluebell whispered.
"Don't you dare! What did I say about inappropriate jokes?" Blackberry whispered back to him.
"You, at the front! Speak!" The Captain, who stared at Holly, demanded Holly to speak.
Captain Holly cleared his throat and stepped forward. "We're from a warren not too far away. We came to request that some of the does be asked... if they'd like to join us."
"Let me get this straight." Captain Vervain spoke. "You came to Efrafa to ask if you could take our does."The council members laughed.
"Silence, you fools!" we heard a voice nearby. The Efrafans and the sorcerers immediately went silent. It was Shang Tsung, who was standing with another rabbit, who appeared to be the biggest and largest rabbit of the warren. "I knew you mortals would be coming and I can assure you that the does is not of an option."
"Vervain and Shang Tsung are right. Gifting the does is out of the question." the largest rabbit spoke. He had numerous scar wounds, as well a moon eye.
"I take it! That's the biggest rabbit I've ever seen." Bluebell whispered and Blackberry shook his head.
"No, no! We can't leave here without putting our case forward-"
"Leave here?" The rabbit interrupted Captain Holly. Who on earth said you were ever going to leave here?"
"We really do feel it would be beneficial for both of our warrens. Uhh- Captain-"
"My name is Woundwart. General Woundwart." The rabbit introduced himself. Another large person emerged from the dark and it was Shao Kahn. Liu Kang and Kung Lao wasn't surprised to see him again. The rabbits, especially Holly feared of their invader's presence.
"You rabbits and mortals are really useful here." he spoke. "However, we could award you rabbits by sparing your souls and lives, as well giving you a few of their does..." It sparked gasps and disbelief from the Efrafans. Woundwart was about say something, but Shao Kahn assured him something that we couldn't hear. "... with the return of giving up your human friends and as well your warren, whose hiding them. And perhaps your warren might be spared from my wrath."
"I hope your captain of yours is not thinking about it!" Kung Lao whispered.
Captain Holly looked back at us, especially me. He took a few moments to think, until he looked back at them. "We can't do that, emperor."
It made Shao Kahn furious that he stormed away and whispered to Woundwart. He nodded and announced our sentence... "They're to be marked accordingly at once. We now have some new guests that'll be staying with us."
After having to encounter Woundwart and of course the invader, Shao Kahn himself with Shang Tsung by himself. We were than escorted by Kano, Farid, as well Captain Vervain deep underground, with the does and Kitana.
"I never thought I would see you again, Kitana." Liu Kang started chat with Kitana.
"Liu Kang, why are you here?" she asked.
"We were hoping to bring does to our warren, but we were caught." Kung Lao answered.
"You shouldn't come here. I fear the worst for you and for those that come here." she feared for us.
"What do you mean and where are they taking us?" Captain Holly asked.
"You're going to be marked. On which leg determines where you'll live in Efrafa, what time you can go out, to eat... pass hraka." the prominent doe spoke.
"This is... It's just a prison." Blackberry spoke.
"I'm afraid so. After Shao Kahn invaded Sandleford and destroyed everything. He continued to invade different warrens, until he stopped at Efrafa." Kitana spoke.
"Why did he stop there? It doesn't make any sense." Captain Holly couldn't believe why Woundwart's Warren was spared.
"Only to hunt for us. And any remaining warren." I was certain that now that The Earthrealm Warriors and I are here, they won't stop at nothing until we're destroyed.
"They tell us it's to keep us safe from humans and elil." a doe spoke. "They tell us it's better to give up a little liberty in exchange for safety, but it's a load of old lendri beard!"
"Nettle. Be careful." the first doe warned her.
"Move it!" an Efrafan buck shouted at us to keep moving.
Being in Efrafa reminded me being held captive in the Afghan caves. Where the Taliban held us captive. I remember I found myself in a cavern cell, along with my fellow brother-in-arms. We were than taken through tunnels to another part of the cavern to receive our new clothing. After we had to undress and changed, the Taliban captives set our uniforms into flames. And than we're whipped for minutes to see how long we could keep ourselves awake. I was able to hold on, for five minutes, before I passed out.
I woke up to find myself back to reality. We arrived a certain area or what it seems to be a well or a drain perhaps. I wasn't sure. I saw a pit where the giant rabbit, who has the largest nail on his paw, was sharping his nail. From what I heard from Hyzenthlay, we were going to receive our mark.
"Who's first?" I turned over to see it was The Captain, who studied and demanded Holly to speak, questioned us.
I pretended to have my feet stick to the ground, like they were stuck on wet cement. I than remember back in Afghanistan, we're marked on our arm, cheek, or on our hand.
"I'll go first. I'm not scared." Nettle spoke up and she headed towards the pit.
"Why don't the rabbits here try to escape? Hyzenthlay!" Captain Holly whispered to Hyzenthlay. "Your name is Hyzenthlay, isn't it?"
"Keep your voice down." she whispered back. "In Efrafa, even the soil has ears. If by some miracle we did manage to get out, they destroy everyone you left behind."
The giant rabbit held Nettle down, before he began marking on Nettle's hind leg. She whimpers in pain from the mark. A flashback came back to me, as We were given marks on our arms in Afghanistan. I remember seeing the younger brother whimpered and cried for his brother, while our captors mocked him and spat on him.
Don't avert your eyes, Captain. You're party to this. I than heard Captain Holly that I came back to the present. He noticed the Efrafan captain looked away from seeing the atrocity being committed.
"I'm following orders. That's what soldiers do." The Captain replied back.
"Take it from me. What makes a good soldier is not always what makes a good rabbit."
That saying eventually sticks with me. I knew from our military history, at times we show our glory in combat, at the same time there were a few acts of atrocities that a few committed in different wars, such as My Lai during The Vietnam War, Abu Ghraib during The Iraq War, and others for sure. Some would say that they were following orders while committing atrocities, others think it's out of malevolent to do harm out of vengeance. It shows that a good soldier would not always be a good human, when committing acts of horrors to the enemy like my captors did upon me and my unit.
Nettle climbed back up towards us, while limping. An Efrafan guard ordered another rabbit to go. Next was Blackberry, as he went to receive his mark. I looked over to see Bluebell was very anxious and frightened from what he's seeing.
"What's your name?" Hyzenthlay looked at him and asked him.
"Bluebell.".
"Bluebell, I want you to close your eyes and think of something you really like." she advised him.
"Spring morning, eating sweet sow thistle. Sun on my back-" Bluebell begin to think of happy thoughts.
"You there, you're next." The Captain interrupted.
Bluebell began to shiver and frightfully moaned. I managed to stop him briefly. "Look at them in the eye. They'll remember you for showing no fear." I gave him a final advice. He nodded, before he turned back and made his way down to the pit.
"Hyzenthlay, I can see you're a good rabbit, a strong rabbit." Captain Holly whispered to Hyzenthlay. "Let's make a break for it tonight. We'll take as many with us as we can."
"You know nothing of me, Holly, and I nothing of you." Hyzenthlay spoke. "How do I know you're not one of them?"
I was wanting to say something to her, until The Captain told me it was my turn. I looked to see Bluebell was climbing back up from the pit. I braced myself and was ready to be marked again. Before The Marker made his approach to me, I felt a prick of a knife on my back. I turned to see it was Farid.
"Do you really think you'll be receiving your mark from that rabbit?" he questioned. "I'll be receiving your mark." I raised my left arm where he'll be marking my arm. "Your other arm." Speechless, I raised my right arm it showed my five digit number nearly healed from my POW days. "I'll mark this American soldier the same number I had marked him during our time together."
Enraging Captain Holly, he was about charge at him, but he was held down by Vervain and Orchis. Kano took out his knife, as Holly was still resisting.
"If you know what's best of your friend, you wouldn't endanger him, like you have done in the caves." Farid smirked.
Kano was about ready to execute Holly and I didn't want to see harm upon him. "Holly... it's alright."
"Thomas." he was shocked.
"It's alright." I said with a tear. Farid than started to mark my right arm once again. It was painful, but I managed to not show my pain in front of everyone. When he got to the fourth number, I felt like I was falling out from the bleeding.
"Stay awake!" Farid smack me across the face to keep myself awake. "Stay awake!" I was in a brick of passing out, as my legs were getting too tired. "You fall asleep, your friends will die here!" I try my best to keep myself awake, as much as I can, but I was too weak. My legs begin to give way as my eyes were about to be shut. I was than picked back up, as my left arm was around with someone. I looked over to see it was Captain Holly.
"Stay with me, brother. You'll be alright." he spoke kindly to me, as if I was his fellow soldier. By the time it was over, he straightened me back up on my feet. "You were very brave." We both exchanged a smile. Angering Farid, he than grabbed me and shoved me to ground. Holly tackled Farid, however Farid wasn't too afraid to face a rabbit. He slashed Holly across his face.
My heart went out to him, as he did for me. I was about to attack Farid, but I was held down by Vervain. "Don't do anything stupid, now!"
Farid continued to beat Holly, until he went unconscious. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" The Captain ordered Farid to stop. "Your job is not to attack on the rabbits! Hopefully, Woundwart reminded you of that." Farid composure himself, as he walked towards me.
"You bastard!" I cursed at his face, before I spat on him. He removed the spit from his face and slapped me once more and this time, I blacked out.