Over many sandbanks they had wandered, but at last they were advancing. in front of them, they could see the majestic gate carved into the side of the mountain.

Two statues of a pair of dwarves adorned the exterior of the gate. 10 meters high, they stood with big beautiful beards and facial features so sharp, but at the same time soft that they came to look completely natural. With two large golden axes, they stood guard over their people so that they could sleep safely at night.

"We're camping here tonight," cried Mr. Moonshine. tired sighs were heard all the way down through the columns as every man threw their packing on the ground.

"Okay all man we rest tonight, because tomorrow we start re-conquering the upper layers." shouted the captain.

Dave suddenly shouted "The stranger is approaching, dwarf no armor, only a big hammer and two knives" The captain stood for a while and studied the 3D model that had been created by a dwarf in front of Dave. "Let him in, think it's our contact." said the captain aloud.

"Puh ... puh I… .puh .."

"breathe man, we can not understand what you are saying" the captain interjected quickly.

"I would say I'm so glad to see you," the dwarf began when he had breathed again. "I hope you are ready for battle. The last runner who slipped through down to the deeper layers of the city has been able to report that they have run out of food, so if we do not get punched through the monsters to them very quickly, there will be people starting to lose their lives. We already have many who have had to be called back from the dead and just as many who have no more lives to give away. ” exclaimed the dwarf panicked.

“You heard the man, the dwarves can not live much longer underground. We'll take the city back tomorrow. So rest now and get ready to show the demons why they should not attack our friends. ” shouted the captain so everyone could hear him.

"Dave and Fenri came with me" said the captain a little lower and waved them towards him. "I never caught your name dwarf." commented the captain.

"My name is Kasper Ur'ga" the dwarf replied proudly. "Ur'ga as in master blacksmith Thomas Ur'ga?" sounded Dave's voice as he got a little closer. "I do not know about a master blacksmith, but my great-cousin's name is Thomas Ur'ga and now that I think about it, that branch of the family moved to red stone." Kasper replied as he settled on the sand.

"Yes, it's the same person we're talking about, we come from redstone ourselves." Dave concluded complacently. "Enough cozy talk, I have asked for you because I want your input on what is best we do tomorrow." interrupted Captain Fatan.

"First of all, Dave, how much can you see from here?" Asked the captain, and was answered with a model of the gate and a few meters in. “I can not see the big thing from here. But as soon as I'm at the gate I can probably see the first few layers, how far down is the report that the first infection has reached? ” asked Dave as he took the floor.

"The first 5 layers are infected, so about the first 80 meters down there are demons everywhere." the dwarf answered Dave's question. "Well, that means when you first reach the gate, you should be able to tell us where everything is?" Fenri asked a little uncertainly. "Yes, everything below the surface will be exposed in front of me." Dave replied as he sat studying the gates.

“Good Dave, you take command as soon as we're inside the gate. Fenri, in the narrow hallway there will not be much room for your big wolf form, so you stay out in the big primary hallways, but there you get to, along with the other sparks, being the primary damage front. We will hit them hard and brutally, so do not hesitate, I want you in fighting shape immediately. " commanded Fatan.

“Shall happen sir. They will not discover what affected them. " laughed Fenri greedily. "Well, go to sleep, we will start the attack at dawn." finished the captain before sending them on their way to bed.

At dawn they, all men, stood gathered in front of the gate to the city of the dwarves.

"Good folks, this is what we've been training for the last few months, we're come here to chase the demons out of the dwarves' city," Fatan shouted before turning slightly to Dave.

“The City of the Dwarves is a maze of tunnels and passages that I will not even try to claim I can find my way around. Many conquerors have tried to attack the city, and even if they have passed its first fortifications, they have disappeared into the many tunnels and passages, and have never been seen again. But then it's good we have our own path finder with us. ” Fatan laughed out loud as he slammed Dave.

When you enter the gate, Durue takes command, obeying his order as if it were mine. His words are what will keep you alive, so do as you are trained to and listen, see and react. ” he continued before stepping one step to the side and waving Dave up to the front.

Dave turned to face his fellow soldiers and slowly looked around between them. “Good boys, then it's time to make our captain proud. Let me show you the plan. ” shouted Dave as his magic began to do its job. “As the captain said, it's a jumble of tunnels in there. But I have a plan. ” Began Dave before beginning to describe his plan for how to handle this task.

**************

Everyone sat with excitement and waited, all food depots were emptied and it would not be long before the first old and children would lose their lives. If nothing happened soon, it would look black to both dwarves and gnomes.

The only ones who still functioned were the few of the gnomes who had found themselves in their tinker trance. But it was not durable either, at some point they would come to themselves again, and then their body would demand what it had been cheated for so long. "Ta'gure, what do we do if we are not rescued soon?" Asked an elderly dwarf as Ta'gure went his way to check the fortifications. "I do not know, Madam, but we must hope that our cries for help have been heard by our allies and that they are on their way."

He did not even believe it. before their runners reached their allies and they then decided to send help, it could take several weeks From the decision was made, and before a delegation, then got work here to the dwarves' city and down through the infected layers, months. They had only had food for 3 weeks when they send a runner and it ran dry yesterday. Unless a miracle happened, they would die here.

Click…. Dong sounded it quiet as he checked another of their barricades. He was responsible for checking that all the defenses between the last infected layer and where the occupants were trapped, hold. As long as all the gates hold secure, the demons would not penetrate down from above. It was just a pity that it was only here at the gates between the 5th and 6th layers that it managed to stop the demons' advance.

Dong… ..Dong… ..Dong …… “Dam how many times are they going to break through” he mumbled quietly as he walked towards the next gate. "Then drop it, you will never get through these gates," he shouted angrily at the demons on the other side.

"Hi I do not know with you, but I think the other dwarves would like some food soon" Sounded an unknown voice from the other side of the gate. "Wait a minute" shouted the old dwarf in shock.

“When yes completely forgot to say the rescue team is here. So would like to hear if you want to open the gate so we can come in, could use a good bath. ” Sounded the voice again.

The old dwarf stood for a while glowing at the gate. "Come on, old man, let our guests in." It suddenly sounded behind the old dwarf. All the others standing at the gate froze at once. All old and young turn carefully towards the person who had said it. "Yeah yeah you can stare later just because I'm out of my cave, you do not have to stare, I'm just hungry, so let's let them in." Shouted the person. "Okay… .." mumbled the dwarf before opening the gate and sincerely hoping it really was the rescue.

**********

Slowly, the gate to the 6th layer opened. The first thing that became visible was a small woman not much more than a meter tall.

She looked like someone who had not once seen soap for several months. Her pink hair set up in two large pigtails to protect it. Her clothes looked like something that hadn’t seen a wash in months. On the blue overalls there were large oil stains, and the green sweater she was wearing seemed to have a few brand marks. Dave did not notice anything else to begin with, he was too busy to get an overview of all the people he now had in his field of vision and all the hungry faces he now had to organize food for.

“Hi Fenri, just switch back. Do not think there will be more fighting for today. " he said over his shoulder before noticing that the now blood-red wolf had already nestled back to his human form. What captured Dave was Fenris' facial expression.

His eyes were blank, but his gaze still rigidly locked against something in front of them. slowly Dave turned and followed Fenris' sight.

"What are you looking for?" Dave asked quietly as he tried to understand. There were no enemies left until much further down the layers. When Dave finally manages to figure out what Fenri was staring at, he was dying of laughter. Fenris' eyes were locked on the gnome's face. Only now did Dave notice that it was not only her hair that had a different color. Her eyes were like pink crystals. Something in them made it look like a storm was raging through them.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Then go and say hello," Dave laughed as he poked Fenri in the side. “... ooohhhh… ..What… .. Wait no I could not… .. I mean look at me ... I I…” Stammered Fenri “You are smeared in blood, so take a quick bath and so go and talk to her, ”laughed Dave. "Yes a bath will be good." Fenri muttered as he looked at the ground.

Dave could not be in himself at all the rest of the days, he had well heard of love at first sight, but he had never seen it happen. But he could well understand Fenri, the little gnome who swarmed around between the soldiers to get some food, was something for herself.

“Those eyes were just as different as his own. I wonder what it is that does it. ” mumbled Dave to himself. He had just not noticed that one of the locals was standing right behind him.

"She is crystal blind" exclaimed the dwarf who was standing and munching through the first good piece of bread he had received for several days. "Blind? She does not seem to be bothered by her movements, ”said Dave as he turned towards the dwarf. "She is not really blind, it is a disorder that a few gnomes suffer from." explained the dwarf. "Okay what does this disorder entail?" Dave asked now worried about the young gnome.

"It's not dangerous in itself, it's more of a warning to everyone around her." started the dwarf while taking another bite of bread. “In order for a gnome to become crystal blind, they must lose themselves to their inventions. It is a sign that the gnome has found his true calling, but along with finding their true calling, they are losing some of their sanity. ” laughed the dwarf. "It somehow makes sense," muttered Dave, before turning around and leaving, he had tasks to solve now. More precisely he had a friend he should have thrown into the arms of a crystal blinded gnome.

************

Slowly, the beautiful pink light slid across the walls of the small workshop. The sound of balls being tense and a faint hum was all that could be heard from inside the workshop. Everyone knew that even though the light shining from under the door was beautiful, it was life-threatening to go in there. It could take weeks between the workshop owner wanting to leave it. Many would wonder how that person survived, there was not a refrigerator or water built into the workshop. nor was a bed set up and not a toilet to be found. Only tools and machines were to be found in the small cave.

Outside this mysterious workshop, a wolfkin stood nervously, looking at the door. Many days he had now come here and stood and looked, and tried to gather courage to go over there and knock on the door. After his shift was over and the training for their next stage down through the city was over, he listed here for each day.

“Hi Fenri” shouted a voice behind him suddenly. Fenri jumped up with a scream and turned around himself in the air. What met him was probably the most flirtatious smile on earth.

“Hi Dave, do you need to sneak up on me like that. you almost gave me a cardiac arrest. ” hissed Fenri. "Firstly, I did not sneak, your focus was just somewhere else, and secondly, get together and go over and knock." laughed Dave as he pointed to the door.

“I can not, what if I disturb her, I have been told not to disturb a gnome when it is in a thinking trance. By the way, how did you know I was here? ” Fenri asked quickly.

“Yes yes have also heard how that a gnome will gladly make you dust if you disturb him or her, but if you the big strong Fenri, do not dare go and knock on the door of a little sweet gnome. So how do you ever get the date you want. ” Dave asked as a model of the street formed under his hand. "Do you remember I'm tracking?" he laughed as he magnified the 3D model of Fenri.

"You can see I am also the ultimate wing man." exclaimed Dave, as he shifted his focus from Fenri to the workshop, where a small model of the gnome inside could be seen putting on shoes.

"If I'm not mistaken, she's going down to the market to buy food and see if anyone has found any of the pink crystals she uses in her experiments. So if you're quick, you might be able to stop her so you can go with her, ”laughed Dave, as he pushed Fenri toward the door.

Slang! Plung! ...... “Heejjj….” the voice of the gnome sounded confused. It was no wonder she was confused. She was just about to open the door when a wolfkin fell flat on the ground in front of the door to her workshop.

"Ooohhhh… I'm sorry ... I" wolfkin tried to say quickly, but it did not work so well. At least he got up quickly, worked his way back on his feet. When their eyes met she immediately recognized him, those eyes were too unique to be other than him who had been smeared in blood as the human army broke through the infected layers.

“Hi what my friend here is trying to say was just that he has been standing out here and been too embarrassed to go and knock ever since he found out where you lived and he really wanted to hear both what your name is, and if you would mind spending the day with him ”sounded a voice a little to her right. The voice came from a young man she immediately recognized as Durue, due to his distinctive armor.

"Hi, I can speak for myself" snarled the wolfkin before turning to her again and rubbing himself in the hair. “Forget him, I'm Fenri Moonshine. may I ask what such a beautiful woman's name is. ” Fenri asked cautiously. "Hi Fenri, it's something of a friend you have there. But it's okay, it does not matter, my name is Sia. Is your friend right that you would like to spend the day with me? ” Sia asked calmly. “Ohh… yes I would like that, wait hi Sia good to meet you, yes my friend here is right, I would like to try to get to know you, have not met someone as exciting as you before, so would like to hear more about you ”Fenri replied in a voice that grew louder and louder as he spoke.

Sia stood for a while and studied Fenri, inside she stepped very close to him. Slowly she began to walk around him and studied him closely. “Let's look good with muscles and you seem to be built for speed, not those big stupid muscles that can't help but look buf. How strong are you? ” she asked in a tone as if she were studying wooden beams for a building.

“I am strong enough to lift almost 300 kg, in this form, and in my full wolf form, I can carry almost 800 kg. on my back ”Fenri replied confused. Okay you can go with me today, I need a lot of things for my next experiment, and it would be good with someone who could tow for me. ” She laughed before pulling off Fenri.

"Then they're sent away, good luck, you need it with her here" Dave laughed to himself before entering the city again.

*********

Slowly, the artificial lights were turned on again. As deep underground as they were here, there was no natural light, so the whole city was lit up by an artificial light. With a elongated gap, Dave stretched as long as he was. A quick glance at where his room chambermaid should have slept told him that Fenri, the end had gone astray, or else he had been invited to sleep in another bed last night.

Dave had made it his goal the day before to play match maker for Fenri. Dave had used all the tricks in the book, from bribing some kids, to running around and wanting to play with Fenri so Sia could see how he wanted to be with kids. It had looked so cute when a little girl had asked if she could come up and Fenri had without a word switched over to his full wolf form. What followed was a mountain of children climbing around on a giant wolf.

To bribe an inn owner to give them the best table he had and make sure they were not disturbed when he could see that Sia’s body was starting to realize that it had been running on the thinker’s trance for almost 3 days. Even though Fenri was not rich, he had suddenly had large sums of money in his purse when he considered buying a piece of jewelery Sia had been looking at for a long time before she had shaken her head and mumbled something that her experiment was more important than a stupid piece of jewelry.

When Fenri had looked for a long time wondering at the very full purse, a stone had fallen from the ceiling and hit him right in the head. When he looked up it was clearly written in the ceiling "you can pay me back later, the necklace will fit her eyes beautifully"

Fenri had not hesitated then to buy the necklace and given it to her when they ate. Dave had then also made a number out of manipulating the crowd so that there was not much space in the streets they walked in. This resulted in Sia ending up doing as the little kids and jumping up on Fenri's back and had ridden him around the rest of the day.

When they had been home at her workshop, and had gone out for what Dave would call an actual date, he had left them alone. But Dave had to say that Fenri would have been really lucky if he had lured her to let him spend the night, after only one date, but of course it also took almost the whole day.

"Well, if we have to avoid Fenri being slaughtered by the captain so as not to show up for training today, I must see to it that he is picked up," Dave muttered quietly before he began to sneak through the city, as if it were red stone he was moving in and not a wildly foreign city, many miles from his home.

When Dave reached the door of the same workshop he had found Fenri by so many days now, he wondered at the sight that met him. The door to the workshop was open and the normal pink light did not slip out from there. With cautious steps, Dave walked slowly to the door and glanced in there. Everywhere on the walls and floor were tools and in the middle of it all on the floor lay Fenri and Sia together.

It looked so cute, Fenri was lying on her back and was being used as a bed by Sia, who was lying and sleeping safely on him. The difference in size made Sia look like a small child lying and hiding with a big brother or something like that.

Slowly, Fenri began to move. "Good morning sleeping head, we have 10 minutes before we have to go to training, so if I were you I would get my fingers out from under her sweater and start getting up" Dave whispered quietly. Fenris' ear turned towards him as he opened his mouth, but only knowing that he had his fingers under her sweater did he open his eyes wide open. Slowly, Fenri gently pulled his fingers to himself and looked pleadingly at Dave.

"Oh no, you have completely managed to fall asleep yourself so she could use you as a mattress." laughed Dave as he winked at Fenri. "You know that your friend is a bit noisy" it suddenly sounded from Sia.

"Good morning Sia, even though it looks nice to lie and cuddle, I have to use my giant wolf for training" When it registered with Sia what Dave had just said, she sat up quickly, completely bright red in the head.

"I…. I…" she stammered "Don't worry you don't have to explain anything to me, have seen his perseverance, but personally I would think you had taken the clothes off first, but each in his own style. If you do not want to leave your new sleeping animal, then you can just come along and watch him train ”laughed Dave, before he appeared for a wrench that came flying.

"Dave, don't ruin this for me now. has finally found a cute girl who has a little bone in her nose. ” whined Fenri. “Yes yes should probably behave me properly. But come on Fenri, we're coming too late ”laughed Dave before running out the door again. Fenri quickly got to his feet and was on his way out the door. Right at the door he hesitated and turned towards Sia.

"Hi, even though it sounded like he was making fun, feel free to come and see us train and maybe you can get a chance to try the experiment from last night in real life" Fenri said while looking very eloquently at a small block iron.

"Do you think I can?" She asked quietly. "Yes, our captain is cool and if you can show you can do well in a match, then it may be you can join when we work our way down through the remaining layers." the answer Fenri.

With a few quick movements, Sia had picked up her little block and jumped to and up on Fenri’s back.