Lerod was slowly suffocating all alone on that cold, contaminated ground; temperatures continued to drop as he lay there for hours. Again, consciousness was lost within the first few minutes, so he didn't have any awareness for that entire time. It was now nearing eleven o'clock, and it was only a chilling twenty three degrees in the Outlands. In Chima though, it was forty six degrees, oddly twice the amount in the Outlands.
A few noises were heard in the bushes next to Lerod, a mysterious shadow occasionally darting from behind one tree to another. The silhouette of an apparent crocodile emerged from behind a boulder and walked up to him, carrying a large chain. He grabbed Lerod's arm, and started to drag him away, constantly looking around suspiciously, almost as if there were people or things watching them. His voice was very low and cheerful. "A new one! After all these years!"
Six hours passed, and daylight was nearing. The mysterious crocodile had dragged Lerod six miles further into the outlands, and there were no vicious plant attacks. It seems that this person had known the outlands very well: all of the shortcuts, caves, escape routes and safe havens there could possibly be.
"We're almost there, you see. I know you've been out here for a while and you're probably starving, too," he chuckled. "You probably won't like it where I'm taking you, but it's not like you can go back to Chima."
Lerod's eyes slowly opened. He saw grey scales and a bright, half lit orange horizon. His vision was very blurry, but he could definitely notice the black chains that were on his legs, and the odd color of the crocodile that was dragging him.
He spoke weakly. "Who… are you?" The crocodile jumped up in surprise. "You scared me there," he grunted, resting his hand on the side of a tree. He cleared his throat, turned to Lerod and gave a small smile. "I don't see why it'd be that important to tell you my name, mister lion, but if you must know, you can call me Cranium."
Lerod moved his legs around in circles trying to break through the chains. The crocodile looked very amused. "Where are you taking me? And why does the air here vary so much? Why are your scales grey?" He was met back with another hearty laugh.
"So many questions! So many questions! You'll get your answers once we arrive there."
"Arrive where?"
"You will see soon. But for now, let's go back to sleep."
The crocodile pulled out a dark syringe and threw it at Lerod's shoulder. He blacked out within seconds. He grabbed his legs again, and began dragging him further.