Luna and her gang trudged through the snow with their plundered prize in tow. Despite the losses they suffered, spirits were soaring. The knowledge that their days of dangerous missions would soon be behind them filled the gang with a sense of optimism for the future. Optimism was a feeling citizens of the Undercity weren’t well acquainted with, and it warmed their bellies on the icy mountain.

If they could have stayed on the main road into Cloudreach the trip back home would have been much quicker. That, however, would have been incredibly dangerous given their not-so-legally acquired cargo. The lantern festival was the busiest time of year for the capital city and the well-traveled roads reflected that. But it wasn’t just the influx of traffic that made Luna nervous.

During the lantern festival security around Cloudreach became much tighter. She knew that the king and his advisors recognized the increased likelihood of lawlessness and ramped up his security considerably during the celebration. Getting through the front gates would be quite nearly impossible. Fortunately, the leader of the Blind Alchemists had no intention of entering the city through the main gates.

After marching straight through the night, the gang stopped for a much-needed rest high up on the side of a mountain overlooking the capital city. The sun was just beginning to rise. It awakened from its slumber to illuminate the icy landscape with a cascading gradient of purple and orange light. The sun's rays reflected off the snow, and reactively Luna brought her hand up like a visor over her eyes as she tried to look down at her home. From atop the mountain the Undercity was barely visible, only the hazy smoke that billowed from it. It’s run-down slums were hidden—by design—behind the towering modern architecture of the well-off districts that denizens of the Undercity referred to as “Topside”.

As the gang refilled their waterskins from a nearly frozen stream and ate what was left of their stale bread, Luna removed her blood-soaked bandages. Her wounded arm throbbed with pain that made it hard for her to focus. Examining the wound, she grappled with the possibility that she may need surgery when they finally made it back home.

“Let me help you clean that wound up.” Offered Mariska, noticing the severity of the wound for the first time. The pink haired woman pulled a bottle of alcohol from her rucksack and a roll of clean linen bandages. Luna breathed in deeply and nodded, holding her arm out. Maybe I should just let the arm fall off. Luna wished that she could deal with her injury the way she responsibly dealt with the sins of her past—by ignoring them and hoping they would let her be.

Mariska grimaced as she got a closer inspection of the nasty wound. “You’re not going to enjoy this next part. I need to clean the wound thoroughly. We definitely don’t want infection to take root.”

Luna closed her eyes and nodded at her friend, taking the bottle of alcohol, and gulping down a swig, followed up by a second for good measure. “I suppose I can’t just ignore it forever, eh?”

Mariska decided it was best to let her actions answer the question. Without warning she poured the alcohol on the deep wound, evoking a string of unpleasant words from Luna as she pulled away. Luna jumped up and down howling and cursing like a sailor for a minute. Attempting some breathing exercises helped her regain her composure and she walked back over to her long-time friend with a mask of poise. I hate showing my pain or weakness in front of the gang. I don’t need anyone worrying about me. Especially this close to the finish line.

“Are you going to compete in the races if we can get back into town in time?” Luna asked while Mariska applied a tincture to the wound.

“I asked Tuch to hold a spot for me. If things go smoothly in the tunnels I hope to enter. Daisy is faster than any horse in Enthamere. It’d be easy money for us.” Mariska grinned while she wrapped the wound expertly, this was far from the first time she had patched up her best friend.

“We’ll get you back in time. I’d love nothing more than to watch you embarrass those stuck-up nobles. After your victory, the Undercity might just party into next week. And after all, they could use a cause for celebration.” Luna's eyes glittered like emeralds as she imagined Mariska winning the big race.

“I’ve got to say, I’d rather enjoy seeing that trophy adorn the walls at the hideout.” Mariska laughed, causing her pink hair to bounce like tulips blowing in the breeze.

“Aye, get the gang ready and let’s get back home.”

After the gang packed away the food and drink, they set off for the final leg of the trip. Luna and the Blind Alchemists trekked carefully down a narrow and winding trail on the edge of the mountain. Most intelligent travelers would avoid the perilous path, but Luna and her gang had been using it since they were kids. Luna’s foot slipped and a portion of the ledge broke away sending stone tumbling hundreds of feet down into a river. Mouse grabbed her cloak and pulled her back close to the mountain side. They shared wide eyed looks before laughing. When you grow up doing all manner of illegal jobs, you learn to take the routes less traveled. Those paths unfortunately almost always tend to be less comfortable. My old man used to say it’s best to laugh at the absurdity of life rather than get disheartened by it.

Before long they came to an old mine entrance. Spiderwebs hung from the ceiling and the inky blackness of the underground passage stared out at them. The gang lit their torches and set off into the ancient tunnels. Despite the gang being all too familiar with the tunnels, they pretty much unanimously hated them. Everyone except a boy in the gang named Chef, he ludicrously enjoyed the stifling darkness. All the Blind Alchemist’s accepted that Chef was likely clinically insane—he was also the best cook any of them had ever known. For obvious reasons everyone was generally happy to tolerate his madness.

Chef’s high-pitched voice echoed through the narrow passageways, “The walls…they’re especially chatty this time guys! I love the stories they have to tell.”

Stolen story; please report.

Mouse’s uncomfortable voice chimed in from the front of the pack, “Please…not right now Chef. You know this place naturally unsettles me. I fear your invisible friends' stories will be the end of me. If you keep it to yourself for now, I’ll let you tell me all about it when we get home?” The rest of the gang muttered appreciatively that Mouse addressed the elephant in the room.

“Aye, I’m sorry everyone. You know sometimes it’s hard for me to control the voices. Especially in ancient places like this.” Chef said.

Luna’s voice chimed in softly, “It’s okay buddy. You’re doing a good job.” Luna had always hated the claustrophobic mines. The stagnant air smelled of sulfur and time seemed to pass painfully slowly when traversing the ancient mining passageways. Scary stories told in pubs spoke of timeless horrors that slumbered in the depths of the mountains. I’ve always written those stories off as garbage sung by bards to scare the simple minded. Though every time I’m deep in the tunnels my mind can’t help but consider the validity of them.

They complained to each other quietly for what felt like hours before the tunnel opened into the cavernous smog filled Undercity. The enormous cavern opened overhead revealing pieces of the cloudy sky and spires of Cloudreach far above. It was an urban area nestled in the mountain that was only partially subterranean.

The Undercity was essentially the ugly underbelly of the capital. In this case, the word city was likely an overstatement, as everything in the Undercity was coated in grime and appeared to be in some advanced state of disrepair. It was more like a collection of ramshackle buildings overgrown with a maze of tangled walkways and tunnels. And yet, it was a home to the less fortunate and working-class citizens of Cloudreach.

Sighs of relief washed over the gang as they stepped out of the tunnels and into the slums. They had finally made it home. As they descended into the Undercity, ragtag children ran up to them excitedly hoping to hear about their adventures. The gang tossed the children little bits of leftover bread and copper coins evoking smiles and dances of sheer joy. The Undercity was technically a district of Cloudreach, but the two districts of the capital were as opposite as fire and ice. The Topside housed the palace and was a showcase of modern architecture, top-notch city planning, and cleanliness. Naturally, anyone affluent or even semi-affluent took up residence in the upper territory where the sun kissed the rooftops.

The Undercity was home to the less fortunate citizens and the denizens were rarely permitted to enter the upper territory. Towering stone walls and guard stations were positioned along the border of the two halves of Cloudreach. For dwellers of the Undercity to pass through the gate they would need the proper paperwork and permits stating their business. Every night the gates would close to keep unwanted crime and the homeless out of the upper territory.

As they passed under a large, rusted bridge Luna noticed shapes shifting overhead and in the alleyways, flanking them. She drew her rapier, and the Blind Alchemists followed the example of their leader. All around them stepped out warriors with spiked boards and faces painted with blue tribal patterns. Luna knew them as a rival gang from the Undercity called the Silent Sharks. Great, a run in with the Sharks, just what we needed. A massive man with a trident in one hand and a braided hemp net in the other stepped out from an alleyway. Luna recognized him immediately as Tahno, the leader of the Silent Sharks.

“Rumor has it the Alchemists went out treasure hunting again. Well, here you are passing through my turf, it seems only fair that I take a cut of the plunder. What say you boys?” Said Tahno, lifting his trident into the air, cries of agreement from the Silent Sharks made their thoughts on the matter obvious.

A palpable tension filled the hazy air of the Undercity as Luna considered how to respond. “The gateway has always been neutral ground. Since when did the Sharks take ownership of it?”

Tahno lifted his heavily tattooed arms and looked left then right. “The Silent Sharks have the second most members out of any gang in the Undercity. It’s only fair that we control more territory.”

“You seek to upset the balance then? Maybe it’s high time for another meeting of the original four to discuss your claim?” At Luna’s mention of a meeting of the original four the Silent Sharks in the shadows looked around uneasily. Don’t be an idiot Tahno. Just walk away.

The remark about the meeting seemed to momentarily paralyze Tahno. He knew just as well as Luna that if the other three original gangs all aligned against him, that the Silent Sharks could be eliminated from the Undercity in a matter of weeks. For a long minute the gangs waited to see what their leaders would do next. Just when the collective unease seemed like it would reach its peak, the standoff was interrupted by what sounded like children crying for help.

A group of kids ran up from an alleyway interrupting the potential clash of gangs. “Help! Help! They took them!”

Tahno and Luna looked at each other than at the frantic young girl. “Quickly young one, tell me what happened.” Luna asked.

“We were playing tag and a group of hooded men in robes grabbed Meg, Nicholas, and Tara. Before we knew what was going on they took off with them.”

Tahno got down on his knee so that he was looking the girl in the eyes. “Where did they take them?”

The little girl struggled to catch her breath, but another young boy stepped up and answered. “I followed them as quietly as I could. I saw them take them to the red warehouse on the east side.”

“That’s our turf. We’ll get to the bottom of this.” Said Luna.

Tahno stood up, throwing his net back over his shoulder. “Since the abduction took place in Sharks territory, we’d like to join you. I’ve had enough of these disappearances.”

Luna looked the leader of the Silent Sharks in the eyes and nodded.