As time wore on Artemis and the others from the team started to wake and began helping where they could. Lyna, Quade and Xix took to preparing meals for everyone from the meat. Quade was excited by this; he always believed a good meal could do no wrong. He also wanted to smoke as much of the meat as he could to preserve it. Suntiana was standing over the hole at the back of the cave checking the lines used for bringing up the dirt. She checked the pulleys and scaffolding for signs of wear. Pleased to see everything was in working order, she too went to help prepare the meal. Rothar was rousing the Badgerites to get them ready for the meal and to get back to work. Artemis took to making the picks and shovels from the bones and teeth. In one movement working a rock in one hand he made grooves for the strapping to hold the shovel heads in place to the bone. In the next movement strapping the shovel head to the bone and tossing it aside. As Artemis got more into his work he went faster and faster. He was unaware that at this point everyone else had stopped working and were instead staring at him. Artemis reached over to where the pile of ready bones and teeth were supposed to be only to find none.

Artemis looked around now noticing that he was the centre of attention and sheepishly said, “What did I do?”

Everyone broke out into laughter.

“Nothing,” said Suntiana between laughs. “We just hadn’t counted on getting all the shovels made in one morning. However, did you learn to move so fast?”

“When you’re on your own in the wilderness and constantly on the run you learn a few things.” Artemis answered frankly. “I’ve been making my own tools and clothing since I can remember.”

This surprised the group; just how had he been living till this point? Artemis again reached for the bones and found none. He looked up at those who were supposed to be breaking the materials as if to say come on get back to work.

“Just how long were you on your own Artemis?” Suntiana hesitantly asked. While at the same time motioning for everyone to get back to their tasks.

“It’s not an interesting story, I'm afraid. As a Wolfite my clan was always moving around to avoid the elves. I was about ten when I lost my clan and had to fend for myself,” Artemis stated as if it was a normal thing everyone went through. “I mean it could have been worse; I could have been forced to work in Nevlia for the elves like you all were.”

This was something Suntiana and the others had not considered, Artemis had been free, sure he was on the run, but he was free. They all had been slaves their whole lives, they didn’t know real freedom. This made the group angry, how was it they were considered worse off than someone who was on the run for their very life. It also made Suntiana determined, if they found weapons in that skyscraper, she was going to convince them to fight their way out of here. This was a new idea for Suntiana, she had never considered escape before but now she wanted to taste that freedom Artemis had.

“Alright, back to work everyone,” Suntiana ordered in a stern yet pleasant tone.

Before long breakfast was ready, Quade happily went around handing out to everyone. For the first time in a long time Quade thought they were having a full meal. Everyone was as excited as Quade about this. Finally, they would be eating something other than weed water. Weed water was a soup like dish made by boiling local flora to make a pungent yet nutrient rich broth. As they began to eat the meat everyone was overcome with a sense of satisfaction. The juices from the meat spilling into their mouths, the flavour was unlike anything they had had in a long time. It was pungent yet full of umami, it had a metallic taste but that only served to enhance the experience, it had a bite to it, but it wasn’t unappealing and the texture for being from a Dragolisk was surprisingly tender. Everyone scarfed it down like it was the first good meal they had ever eaten.

Once done everyone returned to work. Artemis finished off making another dozen or so picks and decided to call it quits after seeing the pile of tools on his left. Rothar grabbed an armful of the shovels and began to hand them out. Once someone had received a shovel, they went down the hole and started working on getting further down the side of the skyscraper. Picks were handed out; they too went down the hole and started removing rocks and other debris from the dig site. Others stayed at the top and manned the pulley to remove the dirt. Artemis was amazed at how proficient they were.

Tyrnal grabbed the tome he had been translating from ancient elvish and brought it over to Suntiana. He had discovered a passage in their detailing on what floor there would be supplies on. From what he had translated, that one mirrored surface was equal to one floor. Tyrnal had estimated that there were at least fifteen floors above them, give or take two or three. The tome referenced a first-floor armoury and a basement, whatever that meant, full of magical artifacts. It also made note of a kitchen which Tyrnal thought might have some food stores they could take advantage of. Everything above the fifteenth floor was referred to as something called office space, or military experimentation. Tyrnal also explained how each floor from the fifteenth down was connected by an internal walkway. Suntiana, not understanding parts of what Tyrnal was saying, understood that the fifteenth floor was where they needed to get to.

“What floor have we reached now; do you think?” Suntiana asked. “How long given our new rate of progress do you think it will take to reach it?”

Tyrnal thought long and hard about these questions before answering. “I think we have reached the twentieth floor. With our new tools and current rotation of manpower I think realistically we can clear a floor a day. If we add in a night shift, we can definitely do two. I would estimate it will take around eleven or twelve days to get to the fifteenth floor. Assuming we didn’t want to dig all the way down to the first floor.”

“I want to get in there as quickly as possible. From what you have told me the fifteenth floor is that point,” Suntiana said firmly. “I want to see if there is a way off this island hidden in there.”

Tyrnal nodded and got to work coming up with a schedule to make the most of the people they had. Putting people together who he knew would work efficiently, making the shifts no more than a few hours as he didn’t want to wear out the workers. He made Rothar, Sumal and Lyna the leaders of each shift. He asked Artemis to continue to make more equipment for the dig. No one else could come close to Artemis’s speed with this task. He asked Quade to keep making meals for everyone at Lyna’s request. Tyrnal would have preferred to put him on one of the shifts as he was strong and able. Xix oversaw the disposal team, they worked only at night and disposed of the displaced dirt. Tyrnal himself would continue to work on understanding the books they had found and coming up with a plan for once they were inside.

Days passed with no issue until one morning the day team under Rothar heard something coming from below them. It was faint, it sounded like animals, were they really things inside the building? Rothar wondered. He ordered everyone to stop digging so he could listen closely to the sounds. Within minutes of the digging stopping the noises went away. This was strange, Rothar thought, were these creatures attracted to the digging? He decided to put a stop to the digging for the shift until he could talk to everyone else about it.

Once up at the surface Rothar gathered Sumal, Lyna, Tyrnal and Suntiana to explain what was going on. Rothar explained that the noises came and went as they were digging.

“I’m not sure we should be blindly going down anymore. We need to know what we are getting everyone into,” Rothar began. “It still faint but the noises are getting louder the further we dig.”

Suntianas face was not hiding how she felt about this; she was angry. She looked to Tyrnal as if to say do you have any ideas? He was barely paying attention, lost in thought as usual. Suntiana kicked him gently to bring him back to the group.

“What was that for?” Tyrnal asked. Realizing he had been ignoring the conversation he decided not to wait for an answer. “I think we should keep digging until we reach the floor where these creatures are located. I also think we should start construction on a second shaft to see if they are everywhere or if they are isolated to one spot. I know this will change how fast we get down there and will split our shifts in two, but I think it will be our best shot.”

“We can make an offshoot from our current dig site,” Sumal interjected. “It would be quicker than starting a whole new tunnel and wouldn’t split our dig teams as much. At least not until we made it to where our new site would be.”

Tyrnal thought on this, it would mean less work for the secondary teams, but it would also put a bigger strain on their equipment for removing the dirt from that one spot. Tyrnal nodded to himself as everyone waited to see what he would say. Tyrnal continued to ponder about their current situation and came to a decision he hoped everyone would agree.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

“I think that’s our best choice Sumal. I would like to make one change to it. I want you to dig straight out to the wall of the cave so we can push the dirt from the second dig site out that way. It would put too much strain on our current equipment to have two dig sites coming up that way. We should pause all digging at our current site until this is completed, I think. Then we can have the two sites digging down at the same pace,” Tyrnal stated. He then looked to Suntiana for approval.

Suntiana didn’t look pleased at this, but she wasn’t flat out saying no so there was a chance Tyrnal thought. Suntiana looked around at the group nodding as she looked around. Everyone had been working so hard to get there as quickly as possible and they looked tired.

“Okay, we slow the pace of the dig and go with your plan. We will only have two shifts and no more night digs. Everyone looks exhausted, I think giving them more time to recover is better than digging down as fast as we can. At least until we figure out what is down there,” Suntiana said firmly but with a gentle tone. “Also, Tyrnal I want you to put a team together to try and get more bones from the Dragolisk if there are any. We might need weapons once we’re down there.”

Tyrnal nodded and set to work. He took off the nighttime dig and redistributed them to other dig teams and to the gathering team. He put Artemis in charge of the gathering. Lyna took herself off the dig teams and went back to kitchen duty. Tyrnal wasn’t pleased about this as it meant losing another capable body, but he knew better than to argue with her. He added Seises to the dig team to help make up for this. He looked around for her, calling her name.

Seises was a Pantherite, her beautiful black fur had her blending into the shadows of the cave. Most forgot she was there. If it wasn’t for her piercing violet eyes, they wouldn't see her at all. She was average height around 1.54 meters tall. As she stepped out of the shadows towards Tyrnal she caught the attention of all those around her. She was slender but you could tell from her arms she was strong. Her fur was shining in the torch light. The light was dancing across it. Her face was soft and kind looking. Her teeth stuck down out of her muzzle like a vampire's fangs. She walked softly and quickly like she was stalking someone. She weaved in and out of the people getting ready to go into the hole and start the dig. It was like watching a dancer dance her every move was deliberate and graceful.

Before Tyrnal knew what had happened Seises was upon him. Tyrnal started to explain the new plan to Seises. She promptly stopped him, picked up a shovel and went over to the hole. Of course, she already knew the plan. She was the most informed one here. Tyrnal went back to paperwork and after reviewing their supply levels decided someone would have to make a water run with Suntiana today. He looked around to see who to send. The only ones not doing anything now were the ones who had just come off the final night shift. It wouldn’t be right to send them after working all night. There were others but they were too weak or afraid to be of much use. He could send some from the disposal team and Artemis to help.

Tyrnal went over to see Artemis who he assumed would still be making gear and supplies. To his surprise Artemis was sleeping. He looked around and noticed there were no materials left to make gear from. In just a few days Artemis had turned everything into bags, shovels, picks, armour and more. Tyrnal nudged Artemis awake. Looking less than impressed, Artemis stared at Tyrnal. Tyrnal got him up and over to Suntiana who was waiting by the exit and along the way he grabbed Xix and two others from the disposal team. Suntiana had already picked up a bunch of empty water canteens and a bunch of the reclaimed arm badges. Artemis moved the boulder from the entrance, and they began their trek up the cliff.

Suntiana took all the badges and water canteens to the guard. She looked like she was flirting with him a little bit. Artemis assumed to make him more agreeable. He disappeared back into the city and came back with more water than Artemis thought they should be getting. He started to step forward but Xix stopped him and headed towards Suntiana. She helped Suntiana by carrying some of the water and flirted a little with the guard too. The guard looked like he was having the time of his life, Artemis thought. Why not they were both beautiful and the guard was, in a word, not. Artemis was watching this from just around the corner with the other two off a little further down. When he heard screaming coming from behind him.

Another pair of prisoners, a Leoite and a Coyotite, had grabbed the two other women and were smiling as they saw Suntiana and Xix coming back with the water. Shit Artemis thought how they had managed to sneak up on him. Artemis wondered if he had been that enamoured by Suntiana and Xix. Artemis figured they were going to try and take the water, at least Artemis hoped that was all they were after. From what Artemis knew about Suntiana she wouldn’t sacrifice anyone from their group. Especially the younger ones who needed protecting most. Before he could act Suntiana and Xix were back with them.

“Hello Rivnear, Lotharn, what can we do for you today?” She asked through gritted teeth. Suntiana had only to take one look at the situation to understand what was about to happen.

Lotharn licked his lips and walked over to Suntiana. He looked her and Xix up and down, looked at the water they were carrying and smiled. He continued to press them closer to the wall of the broken down ruin as they backed up to try and get away from him.

“Well, you see we are mighty parched and in need of some company. You and Xix could help us out with that, or maybe you’re little friends... If you think we can come to some kind of arrangement we could be persuaded to let those two young ones and your buddy, here go without an incident,” Lotharn said in the sleaziest way possible. Drool dripped from his muzzle as he looked at the two women.

He got closer to Suntiana and rubbed the back of his hand down the side of her face and along her shoulder. Slowly heading downwards. She batted his hand away and smiled. Lotharn Pushed Suntiana back into the wall as she did and put his muzzle right up to her head. He pulled back to look at her.

Suntiana smiled but inside she felt sick at the proposition she had just been given. She looked at Artemis who looked ready to strike and shook her head. Violence wasn’t going to get them out of this. Suntiana thought at the very least it would put the two other members in danger. Suntiana knew if she and Xix didn’t do what they wanted the young girls who came with them would have to live through it. She also knew that she didn’t want to go through it herself. Suntiana looked at Artemis with pleading eyes. She was begging for help, hoping Artemis could get them out of this.

Artemis understood what Suntiana’s look meant and began to look around quickly to see what was going on. There were guards at the door still giving out water, inmates fighting for their amusement, and others getting high on Sunsparks. There wasn’t any cover he could get them too, but they were close enough they could go over the cliff if they were distracted long enough. Still Artemis understood Suntiana wanted a non-violent solution if possible. One that would protect the entire group. Artemis frantically looked around back and forth between all the people by the gates, he noticed someone was looking around for something. Artemis focused on him to see what he was looking for. Artemis noticed he didn’t have his armband on, and his water canteen was missing as well.

This gave Artemis an idea and he hoped it would work out for him. Artemis tried to look scared and confused. Artemis slowly backed away from the group and took off running once he was out of Rivnear’s reach. He headed straight for the city.

“Ha! Some friend you have there, Suntiana. It looks like Wolfite’s reputations aren’t well earned. I hope he doesn’t mind a few broken women coming back to him!” Lotharn mocked.

Suntiana’s face had never had this expression before. It was complete shock and disbelief. She knew Artemis was new to the group but never thought he would just take off like that and leave them. Suntiana now assumed that Lotharn and Rivnear would be having their way with all four of them. Suntiana’s expression turned to anger.

“If I ever see that damn Wolfite again I’ll flay him alive for this!” Suntiana Screamed.

Lothnar moved in closer, his hands moving all over Suntiana’s body.

***

Artemis, still running towards the city, thought, “Hold on Suntiana, Xix I’ll be right back.”

He made it to the Bearite that was looking for his stuff. Luckily for Artemis he was close to the drug taking group as well. This was perfect. He smiled a little smile and then got to work.

“Hey I noticed you don’t have your arm band on. I think I might know where it is,” Artemis began. Artemis pointed at Lotharn and Rivnear, “Those two were trying to brag to the group of women that they had gotten extra rations of water through means they would gladly share in private with them. They even gave them four or five canteens of water to prove their point.”

This got the Bearites attention, he looked Artemis up and down suspicious of this free information. “What’s in this for you, eh? You ain’t just giving me information for free.”

Artemis held back a smile at this question. Everything was going as planned, for once. He said in a louder voice now, “Simple, they took my Sunsparks while I was taking a nap, woke me up after and were bragging about the massive stash they have at their hideout. I was hoping to get that information from them, I mean who doesn’t want to escape from this place for a while. Am I right?”

Artemis glanced at the group to his left. At the word Sunsparks he could see their attention had peaked and once they heard about the stash they moved immediately. It was a mob of all kinds heading down towards Lotharn and Rivnear.

‘Shit I need to get my arm band from them! Wait for me, "and the Bearite was off after the group. Artemis, not wanting to miss out on the fun, ran after them laughing the whole time.

Lotharn hearing a commotion coming from the city looked up to see this mob of people screaming and shouting. He could only make out words as there were too many of them trying to talk over each other. The one thing he did make out was Rivnear and his name. Looking back at Rivnear who would have looked pail around his muzzle if he wasn’t already grey. They didn’t know why this group was after them, but something had set them off.

“Tch. Just as I was starting to enjoy myself,” Lotharn growled, licking the side of Suntiana’s face. “Rivnear let's get the hell out of here.”

Lotharn let go of Suntiana and took off running towards the dock with Rivnear in tow. The mob ran past Suntian and the others, not even noticing them. Suntiana wondered what Artemis had done to start this. She looked up at the direction the group had come from in time to see the last of the group go running past. She started to hear laughing at this point and could see Artemis running towards them. She went to ask Artemis but he just grabbed a bunch of the water and the bags on his way past. He headed straight for the cliff and back to the cave. Suntiana was confused but took it to mean they needed to get out of there. Suntiana, Xix and the two girls took off down the cliff after him.

Artemis moved the boulder back into place. Suntiana looked at him with confusion. She and the others were all looking at him for answers. After Artemis stopped laughing, he explained everything to Sunitana, Xix and the other two. Xix roared with laughter after hearing the story. While the two girls that had come to the surface just looked relieved to be back in the cave where they had no reason to worry about things like that happening. Suntiana went through a range of emotions from confusion, to anger that Artemis had left them there, to laughing hysterically thinking about the situation Lotharn was in now and finally happiness after realizing Artemis hadn’t abandoned them. Suntiana Threw her arms out and around Artemis’s neck, hugging him and laughing. She grabbed on tight and hung from around his neck. This took Artemis by surprise, but he gladly returned the gesture.

Everyone in the cave stopped at seeing Suntiana’s action. This was something they had never seen before. She was always pleasant but never got too close to any of them. Even Rothar, who had been with her the longest, had never seen her like this. She kept everyone close but at the same time at an arm's distance.

Rothar was furious with this. What had Artemis done to make her like this? Rothar had been with Suntiana since the beginning and had always done as she asked. He stood beside her when she was at her worst and rejoiced when she was at her best. Yet this new member of the group had earned her trust, respect and affection this easily. Rothar felt he had been pushed aside by this outcast, this Wolfite. He wanted, no needed Suntiana to treat him like this. He would do anything to get into her good graces like that even if it meant making Artemis the enemy of the group. Rothar began to formulate a plan, though truth be told he wasn’t much of one for thinking things up. He relied on Tyrnal for that, but not in this case. Rothar could bide his time till the right moment he had waited all this time after all.

After a few moments Suntiana lowered herself from around Artemis’s neck. Once she stopped laughing, she looked at Artemis and simply said, “Thank you.”

Artemis nodded and let go of her. Suntiana immediately started passing out water as though nothing had happened. Wanting not to ruin her good mood Rothar didn’t ask about what had happened. He just accepted the water and got back to work.