Michael just finished planning the rest of his day and was now approaching the tuskir who was appointed with keeping watch over the Hay-yen hostages, who this time was Spek, the older Tuskir man. He was of a shorter stature, even slightly shorter than Rok, his fur's coat having a lot of peppered white hairs all over, his tusks large and clearly showing an age through growth. One of his ears, the right one, was heavily chipped and clearly slightly shorter than the other and his head, neck and exposed hands were covered in patches of missing fur where scarred skin could be seen, clearly an individual that has seen a decent amount of action.
"Aaah... hello? Greetings?" Michael said to the Tuskir old man who was seated on a stool, a distance away from the Hay-yen holding cell, which was made of wood logs that were impaled into the dirt with a wooden roof, the whole thing weighted down with rocks on top and a door built ine side of the bars, the locking mechanism although rudimentary using a wooden pin and ropes, unable to be reached due to a wooden sheath being built around it and the bars themselves being thick with rather small spacing inbetween.
Spek snorted and gave a slight surprised oink as he seemed to have been nodding off with his eyes open. "Agh! Oh. Hmpfh- Greetin's M-... Michael? Right. Michael." The older boar man said with a light nod as he seemingly decided he said it right.
"Yeah. Nice to properly talk with you too and sorry for having to guard my shack a week or so ago. Things were... hectic." The young man said a bit awkwardly.
"I'll be honest, I didn't min' too much, sir. Ye were a wee bit... different compared to others I had tha keep an eye on, but honestly, I have seen an' heard weirder in my younger days." Spek said with a slight snort as he scratches some thicker whitening fur on his chin.
"Please, don't. There's no need for the sir thing. I might look like an adult, but trust me, I feel like I am not there yet. I thought to keep the 'sirs' for when I am older." Michael said awkwardly bashful at first as he then chuckled slightly when joking about age, which made Spek oink a giggle for a moment.
"Y'ung man, I been raised tha show the same respect tha others that I wish to get meself. I won't call ya that if you want, but for all I am concerned, ye been a good help about." Spek then looked around and then slightly half leaned towards Michael. "Although, I might be a wee biased. I really like fish meself, so when I saw yer little thing ya gave us... what they been calling it? Fishing stick? Rod? I was quite excited tha know we'll be eatin' more than usual around here." Spek said with a cheeky tone in his voice.
Michael grinned as he listened and chucked lightly as he listened. "Well, I am glad I was of use to you, sir... Speak? Spek? R-right?"
"Aye. Anyways. Ahem... leavin' pleasant conversation aside. What can I do ye for, y'ung one?" Spek said as he seemed to realize he was technically busy with watching over the Hay-yen, throwing a glance over to the Hay-yen before looking back at Michael.
"Ah. Just wanted to ask if you knew exactly which one of these buildings was the food store house? I usually eat what I am given or when someone is cookin' over the fire. So, I... do not know exactly what I am looking for. I wanted to bring the Hay-yen their breakfast." The young man said as simply as he could, slightly embarrased that he hasn't taken the time to know everything about his new home, yet.
Spek's head slightly recoiled as he said that. "Agh-... it's no trouble, but... wait a wee bit. It is cause of ya that we been givin' food to those furred bastards?" Spek said with some clear upset in his tone, out of nowhere.
"Yeah. I asked if that was possible and I wasn't told no, but... based on glances at me, I gather that... is not usual... I feel some... underlying tension from something I am not aware of... that... might have happened?" The young man said awkwardly, a bit surprised at the slight change in attitude with Spek.
"Aye. Of course we aren't exactly pleased with that. Bloody Hay-yens used to be larger in numbers longer ago, before they split into clans, like us. The Tuskir used tha be one people, for security reasons. They used tha hunt anything in these parts that they saw movin'. Me mother's sister, me only auntie, was hunted like cattle by these dung eaters. So yeah, I ain't exactly pleased with this." Spek said with a slight huff, clearly upset, but trying to keep a sort of self restraint as he whispered back to Michael.
"I understand that and I am sorry you had to go through that, my condolences. I know that this won't bring back who you lost, or saying that these can't be the same ones, especially since they seem to be doin' the same thing as their... predecessors? But... where I am from, most of my people's countries... uhm... clans? When they are at war and they get their hands on hostages of the conflict they try to treat them with a level of decency... sadly not all of them do, some do horrible things to them, but if its found out, usually they don't get away with it." Michael said as he trying to keep the discussion under control.
"Sigh... I still don't like it. I won't insist on it, but I still don't care for bloody cold murderers." Spek said as his flat snout wiggled with a huff.
"Trust me, I don't either, but I feel like... we don't know enough to fully judge them. I... have been on the side of being judged without being given a chance to prove my innocence. I have been accused as being an agressor when defending myself. It is a horrible feeling and... I am not saying they are innocent, but what if they are? I don't want to make someone suffer, if they didn't deserve it. There's people that are bad and people that make mistakes. " Michael said with a sort of certainess in his tone, awkward, but not yielding.
Spek took a moment to inhale deeply, closing his eyes as well. "Right. That would be a most damning situation to be in and I could see how someone would become desperate when dealin' with such a bloody mess o' a accusation. Fine. The second hut on the left is the food store. Ye do your thing and I'll be here to observe on it. Still, don' like it, but I'll stand it, for now."
Michael nodded lightly. "Thank you for your patience."
The young man then excused himself from Spek's company and he began making his way to the food storage.
\++++
It has been a few days ever since Nushii, Vodra and Letra have gotten captured. Ever since then, they have only known the interior of this holding space, the exterior they could just barely peek all through the thick wooden bars, being visible just enough to where it felt like it was taunting them. With only the company of each other in this rather small space, as well as some sleeping bangs that were tossed along with them and a metal pot, they woke from early morning, as soon as the sun was up.
"Looks like we are alive for another day of this miserable existence." Nushii, the one who originally had her leg broken groaned as she got up, groaning as she stretched to get a creak out of her back.
"I would say we are lucky to live. I don't want to become the Devourer's food sooner than I have to." Vodra added as she was still seated, but she leaned against the wooden bars. "I don't even want to know what became of Kehla or the captain." She would peek out inbetween the wooden bars as she touched the furless ring like scar around her throat.
"The bitch left us, that is what happened! I was barely awake after that dirty swine slammed into me, but I saw her climb the trees, tail between her legs. I had to watch Kehla bleed out, after that furless bastard stabbed her, until I passed out." Letra growled as she clawed annoyed at the thick wooden ceiling. She has been dulling her claws while trying to loosen some of the bars from where they were meeting the thick wood that made the top of the cell.
"You should really stop with that stupid plan. It will only bring us closer to the feeding bowl of the Great One, if you are caught. Lets be thankful they have not been taking an interest in torturing us." Nushii said as she also leaned against some of the wooden bars.
"Thankful for them takin' their time with it?! You saw that furless monster, how it fought us, how it stalked us the first few nights since we were here, I could see his face in the darkness. I bet he couldn't wait to take a bite out of us for attacking him and his big cattle of a sow." Letra cackled angrily as she leaned towards Nushii.
"What is it even? He can't be an apillian, he had no tail and no fur, even if by the face he looked roughly like one." Vodra said with a confused growl in her tone.
"Who knows and whocares? The tuskies must have made some sort of a deal with a daeman for protection or some spirit." Letra said as she continued with her carving, as she went through three claws already.
Nushii's eyes widened as she peeked through the bars and she quickly went to nudge Letra. "Oi! Stop yer shit. The daeman is here."
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The three then peeked through the bars to notice the furless one approach Spek and seemingly whisper to him, talking, laughing a bit and then slightly arguing, before he seemed to take off. "What is that mutt doing?! He must be preparing something for us?! We gotta get ready to fight back." Letra whispered as she seemed to get agitated.
"Calm down, it might have been nothing. It doesn't have to do something with us. We saw him move about and speak with the tuskies before as well." Vodra said, but her anxiousness quickly showed by the way she scratched nervously at her throat scar.
"Y-yeah. We have been left alone for so long. Why now, of all times." Nushii added as she seemed to still stare outwards inbetween the bars.
The trio argued in whispered growls and cackles, as they waited the longest time of their lives, or at least what felt like that until they saw the daeman return with a wooden platter of what surprisingly looked like... cooked meats and bread as well as waterskin hanging from his shoulders.
"Holy divinity... what is that for?!" Vodra said as he nose began greedily sniffing at the air, drool dripping slightly from her maw.
"Well they have been feeding us and giving us water since they captured us." Nushii said as she herself was sniffling at the air.
"Yeah, water, slop and scraps. He will most likely use it to try and make us talk. Fucking daemans, with their cunning and tricks. Thinks we will fall for such a cheap bait." Letra growled, despite her own snout sniffing at the air.
The three then watched the furless daeman approach their cage before stopping all of a sudden and his head flinching as he seemed to sniff at the air, a weird expression on his face. He then turned back and began talking with the Tuskir that has been guarding them. The two were whispering, but clearly there seemed to be an unpleasant tone about the discussion, the daeman shaking his head lightly. He would then leave the food and water on a stool with the trio's guard and then walk off.
"What was that about?" Nushii asked nobody in particular, but clearly confused, more likely voicing an inner confusion.
"What do you think? We're three people in one tiny holding place with a single pot to shit in and no way to clean up. We stink. Must've decided to not feed us for the day because of it. Sigh... maybe it is better... who knows, if we die of hunger maybe the Devourer won't have us." Vodra said as she sighed tired, laying back down.
"Hah! Like I was saying. Mind tricks. Only thing daemans do well." Letra said with a growl as she then turned away and sat herself down as well. 'Can't work during the day safely. If we aren't eating, might as well conserve my strength for night time.' She thought to herself.
As the three killed time about the inside of their holding cell, they began seeing the daeman return once more, this time carrying buckets out of which they could see steam arise. One by one, he seems to bring a total of three, before talking with the Hay-yen's guard, who shaking his head seems to leave momentarily.
"Oh, by the Devourer! He is gonna make us into soup!" Nushii was the first to react as she yelped and cackled histerical.
"He can bloody try." Letra growled as she stood up to peek inbetween the bars to see what Nushii could see.
'What's it matter? We are food in the beyond anyways.' Vodra thought to herself as she rolled over to look away. She stopped trying to care a long time ago. 'Why did I have to be locked up with these two idiots? I just want some peace before I get to be spiritual chow.' She groaned mentally.
The Tuskir guard then returned holding two sets of thick shackles, one of them having an additional chain attached to them. The daeman took them from him and after the two whispered, they began approaching the wooden cell, the boar guard holding his spear at the ready, while the daeman himself seemed to head ahead and start preparing to open the door.
Nushii scrambled towards the back of the small holding area, while Letra held her ground in the middle of the space, cacking and growling angry. The noise would make Vodra turn annoyed. "Would you stop? I genuinely would like some quiet before I am killed." She said tired and annoyed in a dead tone.
When the door opened, Letra was about to leap, but the spear's point made a quick deterent from advancing outwards. The three stared at the daeman that now faced them through the door, who seemed to look over them.
His brown eyes then stopped on Vodra after a bit and made contact with them, which made her freeze in place. He pointed at her, then the bowl of filth and then stepped aside.
Vodra a bit confused, stood up and she grabbed the pot and began stepping slightly towards the open door, the spear being slightly moved to make space. At that point the daeman grabbed the pot and took it from her, putting it aside. The young Hay-yen then began backing up slowly.
"Ahp!" The daeman loudly and sternly said, which made the group slightly freeze as he then gestured to Vodra to come forward while holding up the first set of the two of shackles, with a smaller lenght chain inbetween the metal clasps.
The Hay-yen woman looked at him a bit stunned before taking in a deep breath and huffing. "I guess I am first." She said in her dead tone as she held forward her hands, the large clawled digits balled up in a fist, the daeman grasping a wrist and clasping it. He would then tugg her out and while grabbing her other wrist, he would pull her hands behind her back and clasp the second one.
Once Vodra's hands were secured behind her back she could see the daeman use the second hand around her ankles. Afterwards, the Tuskir would slowly retract the spear as the furless one closed and locked the door.
Nushii and Letra then watched as the daeman lightly pushed on Votra's back to indicate she should move. They would pass by the set of steaming pots and he would grab one, before the two walked out of view.
"Devourer damn that spear wielding tuskie. Their gonna have us killed one by one." Letra growled as she paced about the inside, looking at her scratch marks and then back to see if the Tuskir guard could spot her, but wierdly he seemed to be gone. Once sure she was out of view, she would try clawing away at the wood, despite its thickness, thinking her plan has to work.
Nushii was balled up in a corner yelping and crying to herself. "I- I don't wanna be food twice. I just wanted to live my life." She groaned and cried tearing up.
"Get your wits about you, you bitch! Help me here and we can get out of here, even if it is too late for Vodra. We can make a run for it!" Letra growled at her, but it was fruitless, her stalk mate was simply whimpering away.
This went for a few more minutes, but Letra stopped herself once she heard a set of steps approaching, which seemed to be the guard carrying more shackles and some additional wooden platters. As she sat down anxious Letra kept impulsively looking at her work on the wood and outwards from the cell.
Then, all of a sudden, to both of their surprises, they could see Vodra and the daeman walking back, the latter looking like she was drenched, but she was cackling loudly, no, she was laughing.
Nushii confused barked out. "What in the name of the Devourer happened?! Vodra?! What did he do to you?" She cried out still trembling.
"He gave me warm water with herbs to wash myself and he then washed my bloody back! Ha ha ha! Ye were pissing yourselves about getting a warm wash." Vodra yelled out with a sudden new life to her tone. "If this is a daeman, then hell can't be worse than the Devourer's maw." She snickered loudly towards the cell.
The furless daeman then guided her to a a stool, wrapping her chain around it. Taking one of the additional platters of wood, he divided part of the meat and bread onto it and handed them to Vodra.
"He what?!" Nushii yelled out, maw open in disbelief, as Letra, while also surprised, kept silent and still seemed quite tense."I don't know what the hell is going on anymore, but I was just given a wash and food, so I can't be asked to care! I will just imagine I am dreaming, hungry in my sleep, 'cause this is too good." Vodra said as she then began digging into her plate.
The daeman and the Tuskir guard approached the cell again and the process repeated, this time the furless one signaling Nushii to approach and chaining her up. Letra during the whole procedure snarled and growled, attempting to move towards the opening, but the spear's time nearly stabbing her twice, while Nushii was being extracted and chained. She was then taken away much in the same manner, the pink creature taking a bucket of water with them.
Vodra continued to eat while Letra, kept staring in the direction Nushii was taken and then back at Vodra who was eating, in a sort of disbelief.
Votra looked towards the cell whie chewing away. "What?" She asked Letra loudly.
"Are you joking with me?! Help me escape?! Let's try to leave, you are out!" Letra cackled and growled loudly.
Vodra finished chewing and she then took a big gulp of water from the one waterskin she was also handed. "You see, I would, but one, I am eating actual food and I smell the best I have smelled in years. Two, that grey tuskir has a spear and if you didn't notice..." Vodra said jangling her wrist and leg chains. "I am still clasped. So... will I try to oppose the guard with a spear while chained or eat me food I was given without asking? I am sorry Letra, but I could piss on your escape plan, right now." Vodra said followed by a laughed cackled, before returning to her food.
Letra looked at her stalk mate with disbelief, but before she could say anything she began hearing loud cackled laughing from the distance. Shortly after the noise rung out, she could see Nushii drenched and her tongue hanging out panting happily. "WE ARE NOT SOUP! HA HA HA!" The daeman that was slightly pushing her to move, also getting her to a stool, a small distance away from Vodra, tying her chain to it and handing her a platter with part of the food, which she happily chowed down on with tears in her eyes.
"Oh Devourer, please tell me I am having a nightmare..." Letra said as she watched wide eyed and in disbelief, her voice dying in her throat.
\++++
Michael took a moment to breath as he stepped aside next to Spek and he stretched a bit. "Alright. That is two of em, down. One left. She seems a bit... tense?" The young man whispered casually.
"Did ya really have to give 'em a wash?" Spek groaned back to him, while keeping an eye on the two Hay-yen outside of the cage.
"You try to be next to someone that smells worse than shit and give them food. No way I was doing that, I will wash them myself if I have to, which partially I did, because they couldn't reach their backs, but you get it. I can't believe ya'll just left them in there like that. I would stink if I was in those conditions, it smelled even worse with fur involved." Michael said back to the old Tuskir.
"We have really differenct concepts of prisoners, boy... Also what is with all the whisperin' and shushin?! I thought ye wanted to talk with them?" Spek shushed back with a huff.
"I do, but they don't know I can understand them and I don't want them to know, yet. People say things more freely when they think who's around them doesn't understand them. They been calling me a daeman, so I will let them believe whatever they want and let em talk and see what we can learn." Michael said giving Spek a look of 'see what my plan is?'
The older boar looked slightly surprised at him before chuckling under his breath. "Y'ung one, ye might as well be one with such ideas."
Michael smiled lightly back as then took in a deep breath and then looked towards the cage with the last Hay-yen in it. 'Things are going well, come on. One more and we're done.' He told himself mentally with a sigh.