Jeb's Home.

Jeb stood in the backyard and saw the tribe of kobolds as they finished getting ready to relocate. Hopefully for the last time, him and Ruby both thought. Sacks made of furniture leather mixed among the crates and boxes made of floorboards and cupboards filled with everything not nailed down and then some. Doors and table tops were turned into sleds and wooden shields for cover. Curtains and blankets were turned into extra clothing, as covers for some of the small animals the kobolds had managed to capture and keep from the salamanders, or turned into sacks to hold things they had collected or salvaged. Some held food, others held ammo, most held bits and bobs and other knick-knacks that only the kobolds really fancied, like polished pebbles and rocks, assorted bird feathers, or what was left of his silverware.

Even his own truck wasn't exempt from the salvaging. The F-150 was stripped of the metal siding, glass, the tires, and even much of the innards was taken and repurposed into armor, covering, or just collected because they wanted it. Jeb spotted a couple of kobolds in the group fiddling with the radio and antenna trying to get it to work with the car battery they also swiped.

It hurt, Jeb thought. His truck, his home, his family, he was leaving it all behind. But he promised the kobolds safety and sanctuary and the sad truth of it was that his home was increasingly becoming anything but either of those. In the middle of the convoy of kobolds were the dwarves, they didn't look too well and cast terror filled glances at Jeb, muttering prayers to their stone-bound god the whole time they were in their company.

He doubt some will survive long. A couple of them looked like they were on death's door already and if he wanted to use them as their golden ticket out of here they were going to have to hurry before they expired.

He looked back at his home for many years now. Hours. It took a matter of hours for it to be stripped of anything of worth and then some by the little lizardfolk. Roofing boards and side paneling were taken along with some piping and glass from the windows. He even saw one crate that held the old wood stove from the basement being pulled by a team of salamanders! So many memories were here.

But he can make new ones, Jeb thought as he picked up Ruby and glanced at the Trap Master and Chief.

"Let's go."

The Chief and Trap Master called out and the kobolds followed after Jeb as they made their way down the road towards the trainyard, and hopefully their salvation. Jeb took glances back at his home until they were past a bend in the road and was lost from sight at last.

They wandered down the road on high alert. Ready for anything that they might meet. His Ma taking the chance to attack while they were vulnerable. The townsfolk or dwarves. Feral goblins. Their nerves stayed high as they made their way further down the hill. The skirmishers kept their guns ready and even the rest of the tribe wielded a mix of picks, shovels, and other things they had turned into weapons. Some of the kobolds held Jeb's collection of weapons awkwardly. Most of the bigger and bulkier pieces were thrown into a crate and dragged by a couple of salamanders. Jeb hoped they wouldn't have to use them.

-----

Back at the cabin though. Dr. Obermann and several agents emerged from the woods. He cast a glance down the road they had seen Jeb and the kobolds leaving from. They would follow them when they could. But for now they had other matters to attend to.

Dr. Obermann gestured towards the cabin.

"Begin."

A total of a dozen agents rushed the cabin with rifles drawn. They walked through the open doorway and into the stripped inside of the cabin. They called "Clear" as they went room by room while some other agents and Dr. Obermann collected samples of the eldritch-touched landscape.

Rich dark earth was collected along with the eerie blue grass. The dark bark was also collected, as was the ashen wood that was underneath it. The ghostly leaves were gingerly gathered, leaving echoes of where they were even as they were clipped and bagged.

One of the cabin agents returned to Dr. Obermann.

"The cabin is clear."

"Good. Bag and sample everything that is left. Then send a team to follow the spawn and its lizards. I want to know where they are going." Herr Doctor commanded and gazed at the cabin and the mountain that loomed behind it.

-----

Jeb and the kobolds didn't have to wait long before the dwarves arrived unfortunately. As they reached the bottom of the road they were met by the armed and armored forms of the dwarves that now owned the trainyard, and their best chance of leaving in one piece.

These weren't the lightly armed and armored dwarves that they still held prisoner, but were heavily plated and wielded a mix of blunderbusses and bulkier modern rifles and shotguns. All of which were pointed in their direction at the moment. The only reason they didn't fire on them then and there was because of the very wounded and scared dwarves in their possession.

One dwarf barked out a command.

"Release our kin beasts! And yer death will be swift!"

The kobolds and salamanders hissed and tensed up as the skirmishers leveled their own rifles back. Jeb glared at the dwarves as he moved Ruby to a piggyback position.

"I have a deal to offer."

"We'll not accept any deals from monsters and beasts!" The dwarf in charge barked back.

Jeb growled and backed up to retrieve two dwarves. One was fairly in one piece. The other was the one with barely an arm left. The former was muttering and praying and the latter was hardly conscious.

"You will if you don't want your kin to die!"

The dwarves snarled and kept their guns on Jeb and the kobolds.

"Last chance manlin'! Release our kin! NOW!"

Jeb snarled as rage threatened to overtake him again. He jammed a now thorned claw into the mouth of the praying dwarf and began to pull. He cried out in pain and agony as the claw began to tear flesh. The praying dwarf switched from muffled prayers to cries of mercy and begging for release. Jeb barked at the dwarf in charge.

"YOUR MOVE DWARF!!!"

The dwarves looked fearfully at the "manling" before them as his eyes began to glow as his arm began to slowly change to resemble branch and thorn. The leader stared defiantly at Jeb.

"Go ahead and kill 'em then! They look half dead already!"

Jeb growled and the kobolds hissed as the dwarves made ready to fire into the group, their kin included! Jeb pulled more and more on the dwarf, he ceased to spew anything coherent as his cheek began to tear. The air was tense and looked like a firefight was about to breakout between the dwarves and kobolds.

"HOLD!" A voice rumbled out.

The two groups looked to the voice and saw the golden bearded form of Ulrin making his way over, two of his three sons following along, and Clive not far behind. Clive stared at Jeb, and his warped features with shock.

"Oh my God! Jeb?!"

Jeb winced and averted his gaze away from his friend.

"Hey Clive."

"What the hell is going on?!" Clive asked.

"That is what I would like to know." Ulrin rumbled as he neared the dwarven line.

"These things hold our kin hostage!" The dwarf in charge bellowed as he gestured towards Jeb and the kobolds.

"And you'll get them back! If you wanna make a deal?!" Jeb bellowed back.

Ulrin rumbled as he glanced at Jeb and the state of the dwarves he held hostage.

"What is yer terms?"

"Safe passage on one of the trains. Just a few miles north is all." Jeb stated as Clive stood dumbstruck at the edge of the standoff staring at his friend and the shape he was in.

"Reasonable terms. Yet I see our kin among you are in bad shape." Ulrin noted.

"The longer this goes on the worse they'll get." Jeb countered.

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Ulrin rumbled and glanced at the kobolds, and the rounded Ruby hiding on Jeb's back, as well as the hatchlings among the rather small group of kobolds Ulrin noted.

"Yer desperate."

"And willin' to do what's necessary to protect those I care about." Jeb growled.

Ulrin rumbled and spoke to his two sons in Dwarvish for a moment as he stroked his beard. The air tense as they deliberated. The whole time Clive just stared at his friend, fear and worry marred his face. The dwarf in charge of the firing line spoke in Dwarvish to Ulrin in a tone that suggested he didn't like what they were talking about. But after a moment he grumbled and Ulrin turned towards Jeb.

"We accept yer terms on two conditions."

"What are they?" Jeb asked a little worried.

"Yer land is ours as payment fer tha blood you spilled. That is non-negotiable."

"Fair. And the other?" Jeb asked. If the dwarves wanted his old cabin and land they can have it. Not like he needed it anymore.

"For the dwarves that die because o' you. A boon is to be promised." Ulrin declared. Most of the dwarves would survive if they were quick. But it was all but certain that at least one will die.

Jeb chewed his lip in thought, giving the dwarf a bit of release as he let up on fishhooking him for a moment.

"What is the favor?"

"Fer me to decide at mah leisure." Ulrin declared.

Jeb grumbled and the kobolds hissed in disagreement. But this was their best way out.

"A SINGLE favor promised if it is within my power to do so! Only mine! Not the kobolds, and not my family! MINE!"

Ulrin nodded and rumbled as he stroked his beard. Then he marched with purpose towards Jeb, and extended his thick and meaty hand.

"We have an accord."

Jeb stared at the offered hand and then at the line of dwarves. He bit back a curse and released the partially fishhooked dwarf and shook the hand with his own thorned claw. Jeb felt a stinging sensation as he shook the hand. But it faded as they released their handshake.

He shook his hand as it began to return to normal. He glanced up as the line of dwarves, begrudgingly, broke and turned their guns away from the kobolds. Ulrin waved Jeb after him.

"Come along. Tha sooner yer gone tha better."

"Can't argue with that." Jeb muttered as him and the kobolds followed after the dwarves. The dwarf with the mangled arm was handed over and quickly brought to the rune priests for care and healing. The rest continued to be under guard by the kobolds. The dwarven guards kept a close eye on the kobolds who would return their glares with hisses, or salamanders snapping at them if they got too close.

Clive followed along numbly as Jeb refused to meet his gaze. He did much the same when they passed by his father's house. He cast a glance at his father's home and was tempted to at least say goodbye, or even sorry for everything. But he didn't have the strength or courage to see his face again after what had happened. Jeb decided it was best if he just left, leave his father and his sister in peace. He hoped so anyway.

Jeb and the kobolds entered through the familiar chain link fence that Jeb had passed through over the years. Above, the sign that read JAMESON RAILYARD was being taken down and a sign that read in what looked like English and some sort of runic script read ULRIN MERCANTILE HUB.

"The times, they are a changein'." Jeb muttered sadly and bitterly.

Jeb and the kobolds noted the state of the railyard. The hills at the far end of the yard was undergoing heavy excavation as what looked like an entirely new town or even city was being built from the stone. The railyard wasn't exempt. Several new buildings were built or in the process of being so. New bunkhouses where laborers came and went between shifts were lined along the west end of the lot along with several new apartments being built.

Back along the hill. The mangled dwarf was rushed to a new stone building that was partially completed as three of four towers capped the four corners of the building. Gleaming polished stone was marked with intricate runic formations made of what looked like titanium.

Ulrin lead Jeb and the kobolds towards the trains. There, Jeb saw the old Shays he had worked on for years. Among them was a single train that looked like it belonged on the frontlines of WWII. The engine wasn't close to being finished but what was there he could figure out how it was supposed to look. Just like the dwarves did, squat and sturdy. But that wasn't where they were headed and was instead brought to a Shay that still had a couple of old cargo cars attached.

Ulrin turned to Jeb as he gestured to the train.

"You will enter, and you will leave our kin."

"You'll get them AFTER we are safely away from danger." Jeb countered.

Ulrin's beard stiffened.

"You suggest we would break our word?!"

Before Jeb could retort, Clive rushed forwards.

"You can trust them Jeb! They'll honor their word if you do!"

Jeb glanced for barely a second towards Clive then back at Ulrin. He snorted, and gestured for the kobolds to release the hostages. They hissed disapprovingly, but did so. The dwarves rushed to the arms and safety of their more armed and armored kin with cries of relief and thanks.

Jeb glared at Ulrin, who gestured to the train in silent response. Jeb and the kobolds entered the two cars begrudgingly. Their eyes darted around, ready for signs the dwarves might renege on their deal. Jeb saw Clive talking with Ulrin hurriedly for a moment. Ulrin glanced at Jeb as he stroked his beard before nodding to Clive.

Clive sighed gratefully and made his way over to Jeb's car that held him, Ruby, and half the tribe.

"I'll man the engine and get you to where you need to go."

Jeb merely nodded while Clive walked towards the engine and began the almost ritualistic process of rousing the old engine awake. While he was doing that, Jeb turned and looked towards the second car as the last of the tribe entered. The Chief and Trap Master would stay in that one to see to their safety and calm fears.

Jeb and the kobolds fidgeted as they watched the dwarves as they continued to stand nearby and watch the kobolds in turn. Eventually, the engine roared to life. Jeb leaned out the carriage and saw Clive wave at them before he returned to the inside of the engine and the train hissed before lurching forward. The kobolds understandably panicked at the sudden sounds and movement. But with Jeb calm, and the help of Ruby and the other two kobold leaders they all settled down as they slowly lurched down the tracks, and away from their home.

But things couldn't go that well for Jeb and the kobolds, however. As they left the building and entered the open air, he could see at the gate a mob of people. Some were dwarves, some human, some elves. Jeb didn't know who they were, but the kobolds had encountered the one in front shouting and yelling at the dwarves that were keeping them back.

"They're getting away! Move aside or better yet help us get rid of them!" The fearful man in front of the group shouted and pointed at the kobolds as the train lurched along the track.

"Stand back manlin'! This is property o' tha Ulrin Mercantile Clan and any trespassers will be FORCED away!" The dwarven guard at the gate shouted back at the crowd as the dwarves were growing wary.

"They're monsters! We should be exterminating them! Not giving them sanctuary!"

Ulrin and his sons walked towards the crowd as he watched the train lumber down towards the edge of the trainyard. He rumbled as he neared the crowd.

"We have an accord with tha lizardfolk and their protector. No harm will come to 'em while they are here."

"To the devils with your accord! Kill them!" The man shouted in a fearful panic.

The dwarves growled and rumbled as Ulrin glared fiercely at the human. Even the dwarves among the mob glared at the human.

"You would have us break our word?"

"YES!"

The dwarves leveled their guns on the crowd, who grew fearfully silent. Ulrin rumbled loudly.

"You humans may be so quick to throw away yer word! But we dwarves would rather die than dishonor ours!"

The mob glared and hurled insults at the dwarves standing between them and their supposed justice. The leader gestured to the train as it left the trainyard.

"Fine! We'll do it ourselves! After them!"

The crowd left the gates and made to pursue after the train, and the kobolds. But a little prodding was enough to get the train moving at a speed that they'll be long gone by the time the mob gets to the other side of town.

Jeb and the kobolds watched the town begin to shrink and vanish as they got farther away and was lost from sight as they rounded the hill. Jeb let out a breath he didn't know he was holding was he finally took a moment to relax. The kobolds weren't so ready to relax yet, but not being under the glares of the dwarves and the mob wanting their extermination helped.

The door towards the engine opened and Clive shuffled in, careful to avoid stepping on any of the kobolds as he gingerly stepped by and over them and over to Jeb. He sat next to his friend as they both stared out at the landscape passing them by.

"Where exactly are you wanting to go?"

"You remember Trout's Landin'?"

"Yeah, why?"

"That's where we're goin'."

"Is it still around?"

"Physically it is and that's what matters right now." Jeb stated.

"Well, we'll be near there in about 30 minutes at our current speed." Clive said, but refused to leave just yet.

"What happened Jeb?"

Jeb snorted.

"I'll tell you when I know that myself."

Clive sighed.

"Well, what can you tell me?"

Jeb gazed numbly at the landscape as Ruby hugged his side.

"Where to start? Stuff was startin' to happen between the kobolds and the new arrivals. As you could see from that mob back there, they don't exactly want them here."

"Then some... issues with my kin on the mountain popped up recently. Then some girl showed up and scared us half to death! Then goblins, the Feds, dwarves-"

"Wait, what girl?" Clive asked. More curious how the random girl could compare to the rest.

Ruby spoke up.

"A halfling girl dressed in black cloth and wielded daggers."

Ruby sifted through a pack nearby and produced said items for Clive to see. He got a fearful look on his face.

"Jeb?! What happened?!"

"Nothin'! Apparently she showed up, dropped her shit off and left!" Jeb said a little defensively.

"She was very sad though." Ruby stated as she returned the items to the pack.

"So she's alright?" Clive asked more concerned than he thought he should be.

"Yes, Clive! She is! God, your actin' like I'm Morty!" Jeb snapped a little hurt.

"Alright, alright! I'm sorry! But given how you looked a bit ago can you blame me?"

"No. No I can't." Jeb almost whispered as he continued to watch the landscape.

-----

Back at the trainyard, the dwarves watched the mob leave with spits of disgust. While they kept watch on them, the rune priests were quickly working with the hostages. Most would survive. But a couple were in bad shape. The one with the mangled arm was quickly amputated of the limb. It was lost given the shape it was in and the runery still being uncompleted meant they had to save their supplies for better odds.

Another was a dwarf that quickly began to bleed out as the dirt was removed from the many wounds. A couple arteries were cut and it wasn't long before his life expired. The amputee wasn't far behind as his strength left him at last. The rest would make recoveries, physically at least. They were all shaken and glassy eyed as they barely spoke of the feeling of dread and fear they felt during the attack. What little they got out of them were tales of haunting voices of children that wailed and cried at them as beasts of wicker and balefire stalked along the edges of the gloom and darkness that shadowed their vision. Some even jumped and cried out as if they were lurking at the edges of their vision or within the shadows of the runery. Some slept fitfully as they spoke of a haunter in the woods dragging them down to a dark abyss as they sweat and tossed in their sleep. Those still awake whispered of the creature that looked like a man but whos eyes burned with a cold flame. Ready to steal your soul as well as your mind!

The rune priests waved aside these delusions. Chalking it up to hysteria, pain, or loss of blood. They spoke prayers to those worse afflicted with this madness. But it did little to alleviate their delirium. They gave them medicine to help them sleep as best they could and left to attend their other patients.

The rune priests closed the eyes of the two that had died and placed a cloth over their bodies. They would preform their sacred burial rights when they had a moment and see their souls to the Stone Father's hold. Unaware that their souls weren't heading for the Stone Father's domain, but that the ghostly orbs invisible to their sight slowly headed north. To join the others trapped by the power of the one that killed them.

-----

Clive left Jeb and the kobolds as they neared the area of road that the tracks ran parallel to for a couple miles. He slowed the train down as it lurched to a stop on a bare stretch of ground that was mostly clear of forest. The kobolds collected their things and began to leave the train cars. The skirmishers and the Trap Master looked around for any signs of threat or danger while the Chief stared up at the dark clouds that smelled of rain hovering near their position.

Jeb walked towards the engine where he found Clive standing at the door to the compartment.

"Thanks Clive."

"What are friends for if they don't help you run away on a train?" Clive joked, but it was halfhearted.

The two friends stood in awkward silence for a long moment, unsure what to say. Eventually Clive jumped down and hugged Jeb tightly.

"Goodbye Jeb."

"Goodbye Clive." Jeb said as he hugged his friend back.

They separated with tears in their eyes. Clive climbed back into the engine as the last of the kobolds, salamanders, and their hoard left the cars. From there, he got the train to begin to go in reverse.

The train slowly crawled backwards as Clive watched the form of his friend get smaller and smaller. Until he was gone from his sight.

-----

Hillfolk Camp.

"There he goes." The Crone stated as her and Casius watched the train that held Jeb leave the trainyard.

"Do you really want him to leave? What about the ritual?" Casius asked.

"Don't worry about that, his little lizardgirl will bring him back when the time comes."

"Shouldn't we have taught him more before he left?"

"Does the Mama bird nurse her chicks into adulthood? No. She kicks them out when she believes they are ready to fly. Jeb knows the basics, either he will plummet to his death, or he will soar and revel in his newfound freedom!" The Crone declared.

The two stood there and watched the train leave for a moment longer before Casius cleared his throat.

"Speaking of newfound freedom, I do believe we need to settle up."

The Crone scrunched up her face like she bit into a lemon.

"You cheated somehow!"

"I did no such thing. Now quit being a sore loser." Casius said as he held out his hand.

The Crone spit to the side and conjured a large sack before placing it in Casius' hand.

"Don't you and your boys spend it all at once now. The next time you might not be so lucky!"

Casius smiled as he secured the heavy, and moving, sack and looked back down as the train vanished from his sight before leaving to attend to cult business. The Crone remained for a time to watch Jeb vanish from even her sight.

"Let's see how you fly now little bird. Will you soar, or will you fall?"