Mosley: A Different Path
A/N: Hello everyone, Sonicfighter giving you another chapter of Mosley: A Different Path. As mentioned last time, Bemus hired a certain hunter to 'retrieve' Mosley and Bera. Meanwhile, our hero's journey into the cave and nearly find themselves in danger as well as making new allies. I don't own Mosley. It belongs to its rightful owner. I only own my OCs.
Chapter 4: Descend into Darkness
To say Bemus is fuming would be an understatement. After Dudley told to his face that Rue and the other Thoriphants are not for sale, he grumbles to himself of how much of a fool that boy is as he grips the reins. Ollie and Shank didn't say anything to their boss, since they don't want to makes him more upset. Just then, Bemus gets an idea as he chuckles and smiles.
"Boys, we're going to get Warfield." This made the two gasps in shock. They haven't heard that name in ages, but they do know of his reputation.
"Warfield?" Ollie said in horror. "Are you serious?"
"Oh yeah, as serious as a heart attack." Bemus said with a chuckle.
Turpin, who remain quiet the whole time, look in horror. He too heard of Warfield by reputation as well. Of how he once brought back 5 Thoriphant males, all dead by his hands and cutting off their horns to add to his collection.
Of course, Turpin didn't resist as he continues to pull Bemus's cart to a nearby town. (Not the same town Dudley and Mosley went to the day before). By this point, Bemus was singing a song, much to the old Thoriphant's annoyance.
"Come on, Turpin, giddyap." Bemus said to Turpin as the group enters the town. However, the reception the conman revive is frosty as a group of townsfolk saw him passing by.
"Is that Bemus?" A man wearing a turban ask.
"Yes, it is." A woman replies as she punches her fist in her hand, wanting payback.
Soon, a crowd gather around the cart, all booing and hissing at Bemus.
"Settle down, folks." Bemus said to the crowd as he got off the wagon.
"Benus! I got a bone to pick with you!" The woman said to Bemus, holding a bottle of Salve Ointment in her hand.
"I'd be ashamed, raising such a fuss over a bottle of beauty cream." Bemus said.
"It doesn't work, Bemus! It doesn't do nothing!" The woman angrily said as she shows Bemus the bottle of Salve Ointment.
"I'm a scientist, ma'am. Not a magician." Bemus said pointed out, before a man with a turban gets into his face.
"I use your Salve on a wart on my head, and now look at it!" The man said as he removes his turban, to show a wart, which has multiple bumps on it. The sight makes the crowd and Bemus disgusted as another bump pops out of the wart. One man vomits from the sight of the wart.
"Will you point that thing somewhere else, please?" Bemus said in disgust as he walks up to two men playing cards next to a tavern.
"Is he in?" The conman asks.
"He just finished a job, Bemus." The man said, as he pointed at a Thoriphant hitched up to a post. The Thoriphant has a look of terror in his eyes, with his horns cut out, courtesy of Warfield as he looks like he's in a kind of trance, much to Turpin's confusion.
"Well, I not another job for him." Bemus said as he chuckles and enters the tavern to talk to his old friend about a new job.
"No, no, no, no, no." The Thoriphant mutters to himself. "Don't go, don't go, don't go."
At the same time, Dudley, Mosley and Bera walks to the entrance of the cave as the three looks into the inky abyss.
"Well, this is it." Dudley said to Mosley and Bera as the two Thoriphants nodded.
Dudley walks to a nearby tree and rips out one of the low-hanging branches and wraps the one end with a piece of cloth he brings. After tying it and setting the torch on the ground, he then pulls out a flint and using his sword, he strikes the rock against his weapon, creating sparks. A few strikes later and the torch is lit as he puts his sword and flint rock away and pick out the torch.
The three carefully makes their way into the cave, with Mosley supporting Bera.
"I know I said I shouldn't worry, but if you feel something, even if it's nothing, we're turning back." Mosley said to Bera.
"Ok, Mr. Knight." Bera joked. Mosley then gets an idea.
"We need a code word, something that said 'the calf's coming'."
Bera playfully thought on something. "How about 'AHH! THE CALF'S COMING!' How's that?"
Mosley chuckles at his wife's joke. "No, that's too long. We need something short like 'roses.'"
"Roses." Bera said, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes, I love roses. They're beautiful and they smell nice. Just like you." Mosley said.
"Not to mention thorny." Bera, pointed out.
"True." Mosley replies.
Dudley couldn't help just chuckles at the two's playful banter and they walk deeper into the cave until Dudley and Mosley spotted a familiar artwork.
"There's the mural!" Mosley explained.
Bera look at the massive painting for the very first time. It's like what Rue and the kids told her.
"Wow." The female Thoriphant said in amazement.
"Yeah, that was our first reaction when we saw it." Mosley said to his wife.
"They're better than what Rue and the kids describe them." Bera said in awe as she looks at the mural.
"Come on." Dudley said as he, Mosley and Bera venture deeper into the cave. Dudley and Mosley lead the way due to their prior knowledge of the area, with Bera looking at each of the murals. They walk past the pictures of the harvest and what appears to be a coronation.
After about 5 minutes of walking, they stopped at the archway with the picture of the tree sword.
Back at the town, the Thoriphant continue to mutter 'don't go', much to Turpin's confusion. What does he mean don't go? The old Thoriphant unhitched himself from Bemus wagon and walks to the Thoriphant.
"Are you okay?" Turpin asked the Thoriphant, but he didn't hear him as he keep muttering.
"Don't go!" The Thoriphant suddenly shouted.
"What are you talking about?" Turpin asked, not understanding his rambling.
"There are sinkholes north of town. I found caves." The Thoriphant said.
"What?" Turpin asked again.
"Caves with Upright drawings." The mad Thoriphant answered.
"Upright?" Turpin once again asked.
"Don't go, IT'S A TRAP!" The Thoriphant shouted, startling Turpin.
Dudley, Bera and Mosley begin to walk pass the archway. As the three walks, Dudley can't help but feel that something's wrong. Mosley suddenly falls into a hole that was covered in leaves and branches. Luckily, Dudley stops Bera from joining her husband.
"Mosley!" Bera shouted to Mosley as he stops a few feet into the hole.
"Are you alright?" Dudley called.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Mosley said as he gets back on his feet.
Dudley moves his torch around the hole Mosley has fallen into. The hole is about 4 feet deep and 5 feet wide. From the strokes of the dirt, he says it was dug recently by a shovel a few days ago. How is this possible? Only Rue and the kids knows about this place. Dudley's best estimate that the hole was dug before the kids found it. Maybe that's why the fireflies warmed them not to go past the archway, to stop them from falling into the trap.
"Stay there, Mosley, we'll get you out." Dudley said as he reaches into Bera's saddlebag to get ropes.
"Where am I suppose to go?" Mosley dryly said.
Bera notices a glint of metal shining from the torch light. "Uh, Dudley, I think I know who made this hole."
Dudley stops looking in the bag and look where Bera is looking at. Mosley also look as the three gasped in horror: on the far-left side of the hole mounted on the wall are saws, male Thoriphant horns on racks, and a drawing of a Thoriphant's head. They knew right away who's responsible.
"Warfield." Dudley, Bera and Mosley said at the same time.
Wasting no time, and not wanting to have Warfield get Mosley due to the hunter's brutal reputation, Dudley quickly finds the rope from the bag and lower it down into the hole.
"Mosley, run to the side of the hole and grab the end of the rope. Me and Bera will lift you up." Dudley said as he ties the other end of the rope around Bera.
Following his friend's instruction, Mosley runs up the side of the hole and bites on his end of the rope. "I got it." Mosley called.
"Okay, Bera, you ready?" Dudley ask the pregnant Thoriphant nodded in response.
"Alright, on three. 1, 2, 3, pull!" Dudley said as Bera pulled on the rope with Dudley helping. Mosley holds on to the rope in his mouth as he is quickly brought back on the surface and spits out the rope.
Dudley removes the rope from Bera and tosses in to the hole while Mosley and Bera nuzzled each-other.
"Thanks, guys." Mosley said while smiling at Bera and Dudley.
"No problem, Mosley, it's what families do, they look out for each-other." Dudley said with a smile, before looking back at Warfield's equipment and trophies on the wall. "We better keep moving before Warfield show up." He said while grabbing the still-lit torch.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Mosley said as he and Bera continue to follow Dudley as the three walks down into the cave.
Back at the Estate, work has ground to a stop when the workers, both human and Thoriphant has a look of fear when Warfield, accompanying by Bemus and his goons, walks into the property, with Ollie and Shank laughing and cheering.
"We got him!" Shank cheered.
In the hut Mosley, Bera and Rue live, the little Thoriphant wakes up from his nap.
"Papa? Mama?" Rue wondered as he runs into the door of the hut.
Bemus looked around the property and notices that Dudley, Mosley and Bera are not around, making this the perfect opportunity.
"Bemus? What are you doing back here?" One worker named Stanley said to the conman. Stanley is put in charge of the Estate when Dudley is away.
Bemus just ignored the man as he stops the cart and address the crowd.
"My friends, your missing animals are good as got."
"What? Missing?" Jenny said confused. That doesn't sound right.
"That makes no sense. We saw them leave with Dudley a little while ago." Joshua said, not believing a word Bemus said.
"What is he trying to pull?" Smith said, also not falling for the conman's trick.
"I smell a rat." Louis pointed out.
Bemus, of course, ignore these comments as he walks up to the hunter. "This here's Warfield."
Warfield stops in front of the crowd and silently growls as they back away in fear with the Thoriphant children being close to their mothers for protection.
"He's a tracker, a hunter, catches Thoriphants to matter how far they run." Bemus explains.
Warfield begin walking through Beggar's Field, which leads into the forest as he begins his hunt.
Just then, Rue comes running out of the hut and pass the crowd.
"Rue, what are you doing?!"
"Come back here!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"Are you out of your mind!?"
But Rue ignores them, even his friends try to stop the young Thoriphant as they block his way.
"Rue, are you crazy? That's Warfield." Abby said, trying to stop Rue from doing anything stupid.
"Guys, get out of my way!" Rue said. There's no way he'll let Warfield hurt his parents and Dudley.
"No!" Osker said.
"Please, Rue, be reasonable. Warfield is many times your size. How can you stop someone like him?" Becca asked.
However, Rue didn't hear them as he shove them aside and continue to chase after Warfield.
"Rue!" Jim called.
Before anyone can case Rue, Turbin steps in. "No, I'll get him." He said as he unhitches from the cart and begin to case Rue.
"I'll help." Joseph volunteered as he follows Turpin.
Turpin manage to catch up to the Rue as he bites his tail, stopping his chase.
"Let go!" Rue shouted, but Turpin keep biting on his tail and Joseph block his path. "No, Rue, you parents want you to be safe." He said to the young Thoriphant.
"I don't care, let me go!" Rue said to Joseph as he tries to get Turpin to let go of his tail. But stops as he sees Warfield looking directly at him with Turpin and Joseph looking back as well.
What bravery Rue have, vanishes as he looks into Warfield's eyes. They were cold, empty, and devoid of everything good in the world. The hunter turns and continue to walk into the forest, leaving the young Thoriphant gripped with fear as tears begin to fall.
Turpin and Joseph look at Rue with concern.
"Rue." Turpin said.
"Mr. Turpin, Mr. Joseph, what's he's going to do to my mama and papa?" Rue asked with tears in his eyes, worried about his parents, Dudley, as well as his soon-to-be-born brother or sister.
Joseph sighs "I wish I knew, Rue. But we need you to get you back. Ok?" Joseph said to Rue as the young Thoriphant nodded as the two Thoriphant adults escorted him back to the estate.
"Now, you listen to us, Rue. Your parents are brave, and they can take care of themselves. You need to be strong for them." Turpin said as Rue just nodded.
"He's safe." Jenny sigh in relief as the others either breath as sigh of relief or smiles. Bera would never forgive them if anything happens to her firstborn child.
Bemus, who was watching the show, whisper to his goons. "You know, they say he's not just catching runaways these days, they say he's laying traps for them too."
"Traps? Where?" Shank asked in amazement.
"I don't know, but I want a cut of that action." Bemus answers as he places an elbow on Shank's shoulder.
After Joseph and Turpin escorted Rue home, the young Thoriphant get scolded by the adults, saying what he did was foolish and reckless. Joseph looks into the forest with worry.
"Mosley, Bera, Dudley. Please be careful." Joseph thought to himself.
A few minutes later, Warfield continue to walk deeper into the forest, unaware that Ollie and Shank are tailing the hunter, ordered by Bemus as the two looks from a hill.
"Would you look at that." Shank said to Ollie, with a smile on his face. "Come on." He said to Ollie, but Ollie is unsure with this idea.
"I don't know about this, Shank." Ollie said in fear.
"Ollie, stop being a baby and come on!" Shank said as Ollie reluctantly follows.
Back in the cave, the trio continue to venture deeper into the cave. At this point, Dudley pulls out the map and check to see if their going the right way. So far, they are.
During this time, Bera can't help but think of the pit Mosley fallen into earlier.
"Mosley, if that trap was planted by Warfield, then he somehow got more up ahead." Bera said to her mate.
"I guess so." Mosley said to Bera as the two nuzzled each-other for comfort.
"We can't be sure about that." Dudley says to the two Thoriphants. "But we need to be on our toes for any more surprises Warfield left."
That name sends shivers down Bera's spine as she asks Mosley in a worried tone.
"Mosley, if Warfield caught up with us, what's he's going to do to the calf?"
"I rather not think about that. But I promise you, Bera, if he lays so much as one finger on you, I'll headbutt him so hard, he won't know up from down." Mosley said in determination.
Bera smiles at her husband's bravery. "Thanks dear, but you know, I'm not as helpless as I look."
"I never said you were helpless; I'm just concern for your and the calf's safety." Mosley said.
"I appreciate that." Bera replied.
Dudley smiles as he notices light at the far end of the tunnel. "Look, there's the exit!"
"Come on!" Mosley said as he rushes pass Dudley and Bera.
"Hey no fair, Mosley! I'm with calf!" Bera playfully called as she run after her husband, despite her pregnant belly and Dudley follows.
The three runs for about a minute until they reached the end of the tunnel, to reveal two waterfalls on either side of the tunnel they just came out of.
"Wow." Bera said in awe. "Look at this."
Mosley look at the waterfalls with equal wonder. He has never seen a waterfall before, let alone two. Dudley threw away his torch as it fell into the water below. He checks the map again and sees that they're on the right trail.
"Ok, so, we have to go down these falls to find an old settlement." He spoke.
Bera look to see a path, broken up by a series of ledges by the waterfalls.
"I think we need to jump across the falls." She spoke.
Dudley looks at the ledges between the falls. On the second ledge is a tree sitting close to the fall. "We can make the first jump, but for the second one, we'll need to take that tree down in order to cross."
"That's a brilliant idea." Mosley said before his stomach growls.
"Let's get us lunch first." Dudley said as he put the map away and opens Mosley's saddlebag and pulls out 3 loafs of bread, 3 apples and 3 pears and sets them on the floor as Mosley and Bera sats down next to him.
Dudley handed Bera her food first since she's pregnant, before handed Mosley his food and his own.
The three begin eating their lunch, as just a few miles behind the group, danger is ganging up on them.
Back at the cave, Warfield looks down into the hole, and is disappointed that his quarry wasn't in the trap he laid down, but instead a discarded rope. Before the Thoriphant hunter can go further, he heard a couple of familiar voices.
"Wow, look at that one!" Shank said in amazement as he and Ollie look at the murals. "Who knew this was down here. The Thorphants, walking around like people. Just like a little nursery rhyme or something."
"Shank, let's get out of here." Ollie said nervously to his partner. "I don't like this place."
Shark scoffed at Ollie being a coward. "Oh, what are you scared of, Ollie? You think one of them is going to jump out and grab you?" He said while grabbing Ollie, scaring him even more.
"Stop it, Shank! That's not funny!" Ollie said, getting Shank off of him, clearly not in any mood for games.
Shank laughs at his little joke before looking back at the murals. "Man, Warfield must have painted all of this, to lure them Thoriphants in here."
"I just didn't think he was the artistic type." Ollie said. Unknown to the duo, Warfield sneaks up behind them, ready to strike.
"Well, his secret's out. He's gonna have to split the take now." Shank said, just as Warfield made his move, causing the two men to scream in terror.
The screams can be heard on the mouth of the cave, Mosley, Bera and Dudley rest.
"Did you hear that?" Mosley said after hearing the screams.
"Yes, it sounds like Shank and Ollie. Look like they have a run it with Warfield." Dudley said as he throws apple and pear cores down into the water.
"We better get moving." Bera was as she struggles to get back up, as Mosley helped her up.
Without further delay, the three runs up one of the slopes, with Dudley in front, Bera in the middle and Mosley in the rear.
Dudley runs as he jumps off the slope and grabs the edge and lift himself up. He nearly falls off due to the rocks being slippery from the walls. Bera follows as she runs and jumps off the slope. But she nearly falls off before Dudley grabs her and moves her to safety.
"Okay, Mosley, you're next!" Dudley called as Mosley does the same as Dudley and his mate, as he grunts and Dudley help his friend up.
"Thanks." Mosley said.
Dudley nods. "Anytime."
However, before they can go any further, an arrow shot pass and sticks to a rock close to Mosley's face. They look to where the arrow came from and sees Warfield glaring at them from the cave they've just came out of as he notches another arrow and take aim.
Mosley rips out the arrow as the trio rans to the next slope. As they prepare to make the jump, Warfield aims at Bera. But before he can take the shot, a firefly flies next to the hunter, distracting him as he loses the arrow and missing his target. Annoyed at the insect, he tries to swat it away, only for the firefly to swiftly dodge.
Warfield watches as Mosley and Dudley jumps to the other side of the fall. Bera jumps as she barely made it, with Dudley holding her left front hoof and Mosley pulling on his shirt, with the latter trying to grip a tree as the two tries to pull Bera up. Warfield, follows them as he jumps the two ledges.
"Boys, I'm slipping!" Bera cries as she tries to get a grip using her hind legs, but the ledge is too slippery. Soon, Bera, Mosley and Dudley all lost their grip as they scream and fell into the mist below, much to Warfield's annoyance. The hunter glares down on where the three has fallen and work his way down to try and find out if they survive, or even find their bodies, if he's lucky.
Back at the Estate, Rue gasped in shock as he woke up from his nap.
"Papa! Mama!" Rue said in horror as he pants heavily. He somehow sense that something is wrong.
"Rue? What's the matter?" Joseph ask the young Thoriphant.
"I dream of Papa being killed by that Hunter! Same with Mama!" Rue said with fear in his voice.
"Hey, don't worry, Rue. I may not your parents long, but I know that both them are not easily beaten. Same with Dudley." Joseph said to Rue with a smile, reassuring the young Thoriphant that his parents are in safe hands.
"You sure?" Rue asked.
"Absolutely." Joseph answered. This lifted Rue's spirit, knowing that his parents, Dudley, and his unborn brother or sister are fine. But deep down in his soul, he can't help but think that something bad had happened to them.
Meanwhile, Warfield roped down to the bottom of the falls to see if he can find the three Thoriphants and their human. He looks around, only to find the waterfall and a few rocks. The hunter grunts as he climbs back to see if he can find them elsewhere.
"Mosley! Mosley, wake up!"
Mosley groans as he opens his eyes to find himself face to face with his wife.
"Bera?" Mosley said as Bera nuzzled her husband.
"Mosley, you're alright." Bera said as she sights in relief.
"What happen?" Mosley asked.
"We fell off the league and landed in the water. I've managed to get us to this hidden cave behind the waterfalls." Dudley said to Mosley, who is standing next to a table.
"How long was I out?" Mosley asked as he get himself up.
"About 2 hours at least." Dudley said, helping Mosley back on his feet.
Mosley look around seeing what Dudley said is true, they are behind the waterfalls. But what stood out are the carvings in the walls next to the falls.
"What is this place?" Mosley ask as he look to see a hallway.
"It's look like a settlement." Dudley said, getting up from the chair he's on. "Outright, if I'm not mistaken." He takes out the map from the bag, which is thankfully not wet as he opens it.
"Ok, we're definitely on the right path." He said to Mosley and Bera as they walk down the hallway.
Looking around, they found old broken pottery as well as discarded furniture along with several rooms.
Mosley look into one room and found what looks to be a chair an Uptright would sit on.
The three continue to explore the ruins, all the while a shadowy figure watches them from affair.
The trio then hears what appears to be a voice. A fainted one.
"What was that?" Bera asked.
"Probably just the wind." Mosley brushes off as they keep exploring. Dudley places his hand on the grip of his sword, just to be safe.
They heard the voice again, just this time, a bit louder. Mosley look out the window, seeing nothing but mist from the waterfall.
"Ok, we're not alone here." Dudley said as he slowly drew his sword from the scabbard, ready to fight whatever was shaking in the shadows.
The three enters another room, which has a mural of what appears to be a family, with an Upright mother, an Upright father and an Uptight child, with a crib at the end of the room.
"Mosley, I think this is a baby's room." Bera said, putting the pieces together. They look into the crib and seeing a wooden doll, which is missing a left arm.
"A family used to live here." Dudey said grimly.
"What happened to them?" Mosley asked.
"I don't know. Something terrible must've happened here."
They then heard the noise again as they run out of the room, as the figure who was watching them, takes the doll from the crib.
As they continue to run down the hall, they can hear the voice more clearly as it called 'Gailan!'
"Who's Gailan?" Bera asked Mosley.
"I don't know." Mosley answered.
"Well, whoever this 'Gailan' is, it sounded important." Dudley suggested.
They stopped in front of a mural, showing pictures of Uprights in.
Dudley walks towards the mural to get a closer look, only to see that one of the 'pictures' moved as it turned around. Feeling scared, Mosley and Bera hide behind a table with chairs on top of it with Dudley joining them.
Dudley places a finger to his lips, telling the Thoriphants to be quiet as he grips tightly on his sword, ready to strike.
However, the figure who walks out of the shadows is something the three are not prepared for: an Upright! A real flesh and blood Upright wearing a red rode over his body, holding a walking stick and have beads on his horns.
"By the Gods." Dudley whisper in amazement. He cannot believe his eyes, an Upright in the flesh. Mosley and Bera are just as awestruck as Dudley.
"Gailan?" A second voice called, getting the Upright Thoriphant's attention.
"This is-this is your fault!" The Upright said to his comrade.
"Oh, he's got to be around here somewhere. How far could he go?" The voice said as the Upright turned around and walk away.
"You shouldn't have left him!" He said to a smaller Upright, who's chubbier, but is wearing the same robe as the taller Upright, but he has a beard with a cooper ring, his hair tied in a braid on either side on his head and is wearing a round flat hat with holes for his horns to stick out and he too has a walking stick.
"I didn't leave him, Warnie, I was just resting my eyes." He said as he rubs his eyes to prove his point.
"Resting your eyes means you were sleeping on the job." The taller Upright, now named Warnie said.
"I wasn't!" The fat Upright shouted back in protest as the two continues their search for 'Gailan'.
"They're real!" Mosley said, snapping out of his shock.
"They're really real." Bera said as she chuckled, knowing that the Uprights are not a fairy tale after all.
"Amazing, huh?" Dudley said as they watch the two Uprights leave.
Mosley when felt a touch on his back, as he turned around to see an old Upright Thoriphant. He has a hunchback, but like the other two Uprights, he wears a red robe and hat, along with a walking stick.
"Look at the baby". He said to Mosley as he shows him the doll and cooing at him like a baby.
"I think this must be Gailan." Dudley said to Bera.
"I guess." Bera replied.
Mosley can't contain his surprise as he walks towards Gailan and begin to fire him with questions.
"Are you an Upright?" He asked. "Are there more like you? Is there a city like they always said? A real city with really real Uprights just like you?"
The old Thoriphant, rather than answering his questions, squeezes his cheeks. "He's a chubby little baby."
Bera and Dudley chuckles at Mosley's misfortune.
Meanwhile, the two other Uprights continue to search for their missing friend.
"Where's he gone?" The fat Upright complained before Warnie shushes him.
"Do you hear that?" Warnie said as the they heard laughing from the hall they've walked from.
"Off in the uh." Mosley try to explain to Gailn before the three hears a roar as they see one of the Uprights charging at them with their staffs at the ready
Thinking fast, Dudley draws his sword as Mosley and Bera back away.
"Get away from him!" The Upright said as he accidentally smacks the other Upright with his staff as the other one rubs his head where he was smacked.
"Get off him!" He shouted.
"Who are you two?" Dudley asked the two Upright Thoriphants.
"We'll be asking the questions here!" Warnie shouted back.
"Sorry." Mosley apologizes to the Upright
"What are you two?" Warnie asked.
"I-I'm Mosley." He answered.
"I'm Bera." Bera answered as well.
The other Upright gasped, knowing what they are. "They're Thoriphants!"
"They're not Thoriphants!" Warnie said, not believing it as he points his staff at the two. "Get back!"
"You get back!" Dudley said to Warnie while pointing his sword at the Upright in case things go from bad to worse.
"Look, we don't want any trouble." Mosley protest.
"Yeah, we're just looking for help." Bera also said.
"What are you doing here, and what are your names?" Warnie asked again.
"I'm Mosley. I just said that." Mosley said in confusion.
"I'm Bera." She said, equally confused as Mosley. Didn't they just said their names a few second ago or they didn't hear them properly?
The two Uprights continue to circle the three.
"Get back!" Warnie continues to say.
"Are you Uprights? Just like in the stories. You got to help us, our people is-Oh!" Mosley said before he yelped as the Upright uses his staff to touch Mosley's 'unmentionables'.
"This one's a male." The Upright said in amazement.
"Hey! You don't touch my husbands-Eep!" Bera said before she too yelped as she blushed. Like with her husband, the Upright uses his staff to touch Bera's 'unmentionables.'
"This one's a female." The Upright also said in amazement.
"Can you not touch me down there? They're sensitive!" Bera said with gritted teeth.
"Why are you two naked?" Warnie asked.
"Naked?" Mosley said puzzled.
"We don't wear any clothes." Bera said as she tries to explain.
"Stand up!" Warnie ordered. Clearly not buying into anything he hears thus far.
"We are!" Molsey said.
"Stand up!" Warnie said again, before the other Upright notices something off about them. "Warnie!" He said while shaking his shoulders.
"Stand up!"
"Warnie, they are standing up." The Upright said in horror as Warnie stopped and look in horror as well, seeing that the two Thoripahants are 'standing up', but not in the way they mean.
Seeing the tensions dying down, Dudley sheathes this sword and clears his throat.
"Ok, now about we start from the top?"
A few minutes later, the two Uprights and Thoriphants sat together, with a sense of awkwardness in the air after what happens, with Dudley looking on.
"Um…" The Upright said, trying to start a conversation before sniffing. "Right, well, uh..."
"Introductions are probably necessary at this point." Warnie said.
"Yep." Dudley said in agreement.
"My name is Warnie, and this is Deaver, my brother." Warnie said, introducing himself along with the other Upright, now called Deaver.
"Hello!" Deaver greets as he waves his hand.
"We are elders in our community." Warnie said to the three.
"And who's he?" Mosley ask, while looking at Galin, who for some reason is looking at the pictures of Uprights on the mural, as if they're alive and giving them berries he found.
"Oh, that's Galin." Warnie answered. "You have to forgive him. His mind isn't what it used to be."
"Yes, one sandwich short of a picnic." Deaver said.
"So, he's not right in the head?" Bera pointed out.
"In a way." Warnie said.
"And, what is he doing?" Mosley asked, puzzled by what the old Upright is doing as he continue to talk to the paintings.
"Well, actually, I think he's talking to that drawing. He probably thinks it's one of his relatives." Warnie said as Galin feeds his 'relative' a berry, only for it to fell down.
"Galin is the only one left. He's the only one who remember living in a place like this. Long ago before the migration" Warnie said to the group.
Dudley picked up when Warnie said 'Migration'. "What a minute, you said, Migration. When did this happened?"
Warnie thought for a bit. "About 700 years ago, give or take." Warnie answered.
Dudley is amazed by this. Galin has got to be the oldest living being on Earth if he was born in that long time.
"But we didn't think there were any Thoriphants left in this part of the world." Deaver said. "Are they…" He said, pointing at the two Thoriphants. "All like you?"
"Like us?" Bera asked.
"Four feet, no hands." Deaver clarified. "It can't be very convenient."
"Well, it is convenient for some people." Mosley said.
"Yes, you see, they're masters." Dudley started before Deaver gasped in shock.
"A man?"
"It was because of men, that our ancestors fled this part of the world centuries ago." Warnie said. Although, Warnie can tell that Dudley isn't like the humans from the old stories, meaning he can trust him.
"If that's true, then why did you come all the way back here?" Bera asked.
"Old Galin." Warnie said as he looks at the old Upright.
"You see, Deaver and I are giving up in years, but Galin is older than the two of us put together, and his mind is fading." Warnie whispers the last part to Mosley and Bera.
"I think he can hear us." Deaver whispers to his brother, as Galin just continue to 'feed' his 'relatives'.
"But senility has somehow endowed him with an unusual power." Warnie said.
"What kind of power?" Dudley said, growing interested.
"He sees visions." Warnie answered.
"Visions?" Mosley said.
"Unusually nothing of consequence, but they are amazing nonetheless." Warnie said. "This time, he dreams of fireflies."
It was that last word is where Mosley and Bera are finally intrigued.
"Wait, fireflies?" Mosley asked.
"Yes, leading him back to this part of the world. Although we don't know why at first- "
"We'll tell you why, this is no accident, the fireflies led us here too!" Mosley said in excitement.
"What?" Deaver said in confusion.
"Fireflies?" Warnie said, just as confused as his brother.
"The Thoriphants were once a single race. That's what I was told when I was young." Mosley said. "One escaped the tyranny of man- "
"The other perished!" Deaver said, telling from his side of the story.
"No! When your ancestors left, ours stayed behind and we've changed." Mosley said.
"Yes, our back become bent for work and we loss our hands." Bera said as well.
"Unbelievable." Deaver said in awe. Look like their side of the story was wrong the whole time.
"Yeah, although, not all humans treated the Thoriphants as slaves." Dudley said, telling his story. "Some of us grew delusional at the brutal mistreatments of the Thoripahants and try to change how they are treated, with equally and respect. I am one on them."
"Amazing." Deaver said.
"Do you see what's happening here?" Mosley asked, barley containing his excitement. "Our meeting is the fulfillment of a prophecy. The Uprights coming to rescue."
"Now, wait a minute- "Deaver try to say, but Mosley didn't listen.
"We'll go back to your city. We'll get your army." Mosley said.
"Our army." Warnie said, looking down.
"Mosley, it's not that simple. You see, in Kinesareth- "Deaver is about to say.
"No!" Warnie said as he grabs his brother by the shoulder. "No, Deaver. Maybe we can help them."
"We can?" Deaver asked puzzled, while Mosley and Bera smiles as they nod.
"We can" Warnie said with a smile.
However, Dudley notice from Warnie's posture that he and Deaver are hiding something from them when Mosley mentioned an army. Dudley needs to keep an eye on them and see what else they're hiding. Bu for now, he'll go along with them on their journey to Kinesareth.
(A/N: Phew. Well, this is a fun chapter. Not only Warfield is on the hunt for our heroes, but our said heroes meet a few Uprights, Warnie and Deaver, the elders of Kinesareth, along with Galin, the oldest of the Uprights. However, Dudley notice that the two Uprights are hiding something. But for now, he'll keep this to himself. As always, don't forget to read and review. Until the next chapter, take care.)