The young Minotaur entered the camp, whistling a tune he'd made up on his own.

The song was soft and sad. Minorés had conjured it up while walking, his emotions filling up the notes. After a good fight and killing, the softness of the Minotaur's emotions would come to play. He was scared for his brothers and sisters and friends, their families, their friends – scared they were all making the wrong choice. What did these young innocents they stole away from families every night do to deserve their fate? They never did anything to hurt their cause, damage their souls; they probably never even sworn allegiance to either side.

But was this still a war? Was it a continuous battle for life and death? Or was it for power and will alone?

And when did younglings start fighting the affairs of grownups? Aren't they the ones that needed the most protection? Minorés believed this, and he didn't like watching little boys and girls crawl into their campsite every nightfall, their antlers skewered, paws scratched, eyes full of tears.

Was that how it felt to be pulled from one's parents?

Minorés didn't want to be pulled away from his parents. He loved them. Didn't the littlefauns and dwarves and animals love theirs too?

For their sake, he hoped not.

But the wails and cries of the children in the Prisoners' tent crushed his hopes, sending them far up and off in a puff of desperately cold mist. Maybe, maybe just once… He thought longingly, staring at the dark canvas walls of the large tent.

But the Hags?

Oh, the Hags! He'd be in much trouble if they saw him interacting with those beasts.

Usurper Worshippers. Little deceivers. Maniacal children of the Lion.

Another cry! Another shout! Another whimper in one's sleep!

I must go now.

The curious young Minotaur slipped under the flap of the Maniacal Children the Lion's Tent.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXHELLO. THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO

"I…I came from the Woods." Josiah stated shakily, tussling with her unruly hair. "I came with m-y-y family, Judos and Guith. Guith is the oldest; I am in the middle, with Judos the smallest of our clan. We came right after the Thaw, thinking a more suitable life for us could be found here."

"Oh, poor dear!" Lucy muttered to herself. Louder, she asked. "But what about your trees? Aren't they the bindings to your soul?"

"We go back if we need too. But there's more people here, more civilization. Guith thought that would be best for us."

The girl nodded, still feeling heartbroken as the Dryad's story continued.

"After a few months, things started happening. Some things came in the night, but I don't…I don't remember what they were. They stole things from us. Things that were important to everyone. But then they arrived."

"Who are they?" Edmund cut in, his curiosity overruling his sensibility.

"The Monsters, Judos called them. They were night monsters that came by day." Josiah lowered her voice. "When they started to threaten us, we tried to send for help, but no one got out of here alive."

A shiver ran down all of their spines (or trunk, because Trees don't have bone structure).

"And why did I see you crying today, Josiah?" Lucy whispered soflty.

The Dryad sniffled, scrambling up into a pile of sticks and leaves and replied through a fountain of tears.

"T-they came a-a-again last night, I think. I don't…don't r-remember what happened, only that Judos is gone."

Lucy crawled up and tangled herself into the pile of wood and greenery. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "We'll try to help you find him."

"But-but!"

"We're only children, I know." Edmund snapped. "Does that make any difference?"

The Dryad opened her mouth to explain, but was interrupted by a pair of shocked faces staring back at her.

"What?" she whispered.

"Josiah," Edmund said sternly. "Do. Not. Move."

And so he stood, eyes wide and unmoving as he unsheathed the sword that swung by his side. Half a blink later, Lucy stood beside him, almost copying his movements.

"Drop your knife, faun."

Griz grinded his teeth. He hated being tied up and kicked at. He despised watching his childhood friends be swept away and never returned. He just wanted to go home, to his family. Why didn't they sweep in and save him yet? They were Grizzlies, ferocious in battle and heart, even if they were slow in mind. His parents would never take this!

But what about squirrels?

He looked at his new little friend – Nelson, he was called – and evaluated his persona. He didn't look scared, or tired, or hopelessly lost; he just looked frustrated. From his knowledge of Squirrels, he knew they couldn't stay still for too long.

"Griz?" Nelson breathed, shaking the Grizzly out of his thoughts. "Do you reckon it's time again?"

Both Animals turned to watch as a large, hulking figure entered the tent. The could make out the features of a Human man, in the dark.

"Maybe it's King Edmund!" Griz whispered, thinking back to a time not to long ago when Nelson spoke of his encounter with the king.

With this remark, the squirrel almost cracked a smile. "Too big. King Edmund is…shorter."

The Grizzly grumped, thinking of other possibilities. But their hearts sunk and their hypothesis was corrected as the outline of a bull's head came into view.

"Minotaur," Nelson grumped, thumping his head back on the ground. "Funny, I didn't hear the rancorous drumming this time. What d'you think he's doing?"

Before Griz could answer, the Minorés the Minotaur spotted them talking and waddled over, causing both animals to shut up.

"'Ey!" Minorés mumbled into the Grizzly's ear. "I can try and get you outta here."

It's. Been. Almost. Two. Months. SAAAAY WHAAAT? I'm sorry people I had my exams at the end of January, and then I immediately started second semester, which has a lot of intensive courses, (even drama has a lot of work to be done). Then, I had a two week break in February (which never happens, but we had a special thing going on in my city, and if you're Canadian, that might've totally just given away where I live…) But for the first week I was in…hold it…ITALIA! Yes, (Europe for the first time. You don't know how exciting that was!) The second week I was kinda blah, and totally forgot about my work. Then I got back to school and had to finish a lot of stuff. AND THEN I had career planning, so I HAVE been busy.

But I dutifully apologize, and I pinky promise I'll do better in timing for anyone who is ACTUALLY reading this. You're awesome (:

Ciao!