The dirt roads of the Kazakh steppes run very long, and for very far. They're like streaks of weathering that run all the way across the land. They're not quite the Great Silk Road...but they're sure comparable.
In many places across these roads, jirds and hamsters forage. Clearly, they're not used to traffic.
Hence, they initially don't react to the growing quakes that approach. Around them, bits of gravel rattle against the ground. Some of them squeak and run. More of them do so, as huge clouds of dust approach.
From them, a treaded truck is on the move. Their front bumpers bear Kazakh plates.
A Kazakh convoy is in motion. Around the treaded truck, the four-wheeled demons have set up a convoy. They travel off-road, pointing most of their gunnery at the huge cage in the back of the treaded truck, and their smallest guns elsewhere. For a great power, the Kazakhs sure don't seem very prepared for a siege...
Behind the truck with the cage, a truck pulls a flatbed. The flatbed is shaped like a wolf totem; its fangs are bared, and there's a fire in its eyes. Atop it, the band HU is set up. Here, it performs its classic hit: "Wolf Totem." It's a terrifying song, to those who don't know what it means. Hell, it's a terrifying song to those who DO know what it means...
As they sing, they bark like wolves. This intimidates and frightens Cole...who's being held captive in the back of the truck with the cage.
Up ahead, a bonfire burns. It's been built into the shape of a teepee. Ravens fly around it, squawking as they do. It's an omen of sorts...
Luckily, they haven't chained Cole up before throwing him in here. Cole's half-surprised; there are plenty of balls and chain rolling around in here...
Not too far from the road, there's a dormouse hole. To its likely resident, though, the road is VERY far away. Being small seems to contain that disadvantage... But of course, dormice are born the way they are; they should be used to it.
It rattles, as the convoy passes it. Several times, the Four-Wheeled Demons' wheels nearly cause the hole to cave in.
From it, a black shadow-controlling cloud of night magic rises. It's been aroused. It senses a fire that needs putting out... Well, actually, it senses SEVERAL. Alas, there's only ONE bonfire that interests this cloud of night magic at this time...
Cole stares out the cage bars, and watches the Kazakh wild pass by. There's nothing out there; not even a saiga herd. But then, the Kazakh convoy's scaring them all away, isn't it?
Into the cage right behind Cole, the cloud of night magic creeps. It's gotten much bigger, since leaving the dormouse hole. It stays close to the ground, running along it like a drop of water...
It creeps around Cole, and surrounds him in an expanding cocoon of itself. Cole doesn't even fight it; the night magic is THAT good at putting out fires. It encases him in itself...and vanishes without a trace.
In his absence, the convoy journeys on. The poor Four-Wheeled Demons; they're too dim to realize that their cage is lighter than it should be...even with all of those chains inside.
Uphill near Nur-Sultan, there are estates. They're well-endowed. This one's got a lot of green domes and horseshoe arches. Its paradise gardens aren't too sparing, either...even if they are xeriscaped. Some of its plants must be from alternate realities...
Within the walls of this estate, the snake, scorpion, scarab, mongoose, and black cat are all revered. Kazakh nobility lives in this estate. Art hangs on the walls. Sculpture stands in the centers of some of the bigger chambers...
In here, the vaults are barreled. There are many columns. Floral motifs cover many of the walls. And across the floors, the Kazakh rug never goes out of style.
Below the floors, there are cellars. And there are dungeons. Some of these lead off into catacombs. Some of these catacombs lead deep into highlands.
The cellars have rugs, too. Sunsets have inspired their weaving. Either that, or the saturnine-lit nature of these underground rooms has.
Over such a rug, a tiny cloud of night magic appears. From it, Cole falls, now a thousandth his normal size...and now much less decent than before.
At least he has a soft landing, via the rug. From here, it takes him a while to absorb his new surroundings. It looks like a castle cellar, of course...only a thousand times bigger.
Cole figures it's of no use, but he whispers Melanie's name anyway. There's no reply.
Once again, Cole despairs. The saturnine interior décor seems to enhance this mood. He sits between the fibers of the rug, and shivers. As he does, he inadvertently sends his own scent generating throughout the estate.
His scent creeps upstairs. On a rug near a door, a black cat sleeps. It's a female. Cole's scent reaches her nose.
She opens her eyes. She lifts her head, and sniffs the air. She narrows her big green-yellow eyes...and licks her chops.