Amante lay flat on his back, staring at the gaping hole in the mud roof above him. Dust fluttered about the air, glowing in the dull light of the morning sun. Amante's eyes remained on that gaping hole in the ceiling, one of many imperfections surrounding him. His lips were dry and crusted, his body felt heavy and weak. Each breath he took stung his tongue and throat, his lungs barely able to inhale and exhale ever so slowly. His eyelids felt heavy yet he remained awake, still entranced by the hole just above him.

"You're still hot." The voice of his mother sounded sweet yet numb. She was burdened by the weight of an ill child.

Amante's gaze shifted from the hole to his mother's face. She had placed her cold hand upon his boiling hot cheek without his notice. His mind felt foggy, his actions were slow–he could hardly muster the energy to even speak.

"Huh..." His voice was small. It wasn't right. The whole situation didn't feel right. He fixated his attention on the faded jewels that hung around his mothers neck as she pulled her hand away from his face.

"You didn't sleep last night, did you?" she murmured softly. Her gentle blue eyes were vibrant and beautiful, yet terribly sad.

"No," he croaked.

"Well, drink some water and try to get at least a few minutes of sleep for me, alright?" Her voice was trembling as if she were afraid. Was she scared? Perhaps. Amante could see she was terrified, and terribly worried. She was already mourning and he knew why.

He could only vaguely now remember the past few days. He'd been sick for too long. He was a dying child of only twelve years.

His mother handed him a bowl of water and helped him to sit up. She had to hold the bowl for him, he was too weak to do it on his own. He could only take a few sips before his body begged him to lay back down.

"Amora," A harsher, stern voice abruptly interrupted the interaction. The name hung in the air, swirling around Amante's mind. But why? It was only his mother's name.

"Kalbak?" His mother turned her attention away from him to the mouth of the small mud shelter they called a home. For some reason, hearing this name wasn't as startling to Amante. Why was he thinking of his mother's name now?

Amora.

"Your other son will need help preparing for the ceremony. You can leave Amante, he'll be fine," the man said with a sense of power in his voice. He was Amante's father, a man whose skin was as tough as rocks and covered head to toe in scars from his losses and victories.

"Of course," his mother said and helped to lay Amante back on his mat. She nodded affirmingly to him before getting up and exiting the hut.

Amora.

Why was he thinking of the name? He recognized it somehow. He knew there was a Cretos woman who went by that same name, though he wasn't exactly sure how he knew of such a thing. Perhaps he had made it up. He turned his attention back to the hole in the ceiling and forgot the thought entirely.

"There's only three? I was told there would be ten!"

Amante jerked awake, hitting his ankles abruptly against his rocking cage. He had now realized he'd been dreaming, and this was reality. However he still felt weak, just as he had been in his dream. Hesitantly, he drew his hand to his cheek and found it was hot. Just like his dream.

Looking down below him was a crowd of the absurd Troktikos people. As if they were tourists, they crowded below the area where the cages were kept. They pointed and spoke amongst each other, curious as to who the people above them were. It hadn't occurred to Amante until now that these people probably had never seen another human who wasn't a Troktiko for a majority of their lives underground. They were all sickly pale from their lack of sunlight to nourish their bodies, the veins under their skin giving them a bluish or purple appearance. When they smiled, admiring the three in cages, Amante was able to see their teeth, all gnarled and a brownish yellow.

"Go away! Scram!" Misty snarled, gripping the bars of her cage which gently swayed back and forth. The people roared with laughter which only fueled Misty's rage, obviously shown through the evil glint in her eyes. Amante was still barely recognizing what was going on, for his mind was still in a dreamy state.

"They can speak!" One of them exclaimed before joining the others in laughter.

"Maybe they can have a conversation with us while we eat them!" said another.

"I'm vegetarian..." another said, her voice slowly dying. Amante looked at the speaker as the people kicked her aside, saying she ruined the fun. She was certainly the most peculiar being Amante had yet to encounter. Strange enough to make him believe he was still asleep.

Her head was rather large for her tiny shoulders, she looked about the size of a baby. Her body, aside from her head, was covered in silvery-white fur. In fact, she was a rabbit with a human head! Her long ears stood high above her head, while her light golden hair was pulled into two braids that hung below her fluffy shoulders. Amante had never seen such a color of hair before, he was used to darker colors. However, most of the Troktikos appeared to have paler, brighter colored hair.

Amante had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last time he saw the girl with the body of a jackalope.

"There isn't enough for all of us," murmured one of the crowd members.

"I want their toes," said a greedy looking one. Amante wrinkled his face in disgust.

"I want tongues!" said a wrinkled older woman.

"You're not eating us!" Herogi screeched.

"We'll see about that," said the man who wanted their toes. Herogi shifted uncomfortably in her cage. Amante continued to examine the crowd. It was evident they were bored out of their mind. They simply had nothing to do underground. Amante kicked the bars of his cage, making a loud thunderous clap. The crowd went silent in surprise, staring at him in amazement.

"Do it again!" said one of the children. These people evidently had no fear.

"Go mind your own business. You can eat us later but in the meantime, we would like some privacy," Amante growled. The people continued to stare.

"Do it again," said one of the adults this time. Amante rolled his eyes, and kicked the bar, making the same booming noise. The crowd seemed pleased by this, as they finally began to dissipate, turning their backs and leaving. They went about their usual daily lives after that, but still spared their curious looks to the cage dwellers.

"I can't believe we are in the tribe of idiots," Herogi said as she slumped back against her cage. "Also, my legs are cramping from being stuck in here."

"Cut them some slack. They don't know what people look like besides each other," Amante said calmly. "Just look at their appearance, completely outdated indigenous culture."

"More like savages. I mean seriously, who eats people?!" Herogi grouched.

"Are you guys ignoring me?" Misty snarked.

"No," Amante replied, "are you grumpy?"

"No," she crossed her arms. "Just tired,"

"You racked out pretty quickly yesterday," Herogi commented.

"Whatever," Misty mumbled.

"Is it something else?" Amante questioned.

"Nothing that concerns you." She grinned with trickery. It was that mischievous grin you'd see a toddler give while convincing their mother they didn't steal a cookie that they, in fact, held behind their back. It made Amante suspicious but he just assumed that was part of her nature as a Sly Vulpes. He had to trust her for now. "But, we can try and break out, right? We don't need to involve the Troktikos."

"No. We need as many people as possible if that works. But we have to go at it differently from now on. We can't allow the future tribes we run into to be aware of our mission, even in the slightest. I think, for our next few we should disguise ourselves and-"

"If we get out. Or we become someone's dinner," Herogi interrupted Amante.

"And the tribes would be able to see right through it. Lots of tribes are small, where you'd know every person in it. You can't simply pretend to be one of them. They would notice. They're like family," Misty explained.

"Right," Amante shrugged. "Guess we wait."

"What? Can't you get us out? You can destroy things with the tips of your fingers!" Misty exclaimed.

"I'm not going to. They hate us already, and they're giving us a free ticket to the Troktikos council. We just have to play dumb. Got it?" Amante took a deep breath. "So hang tight."

"I don't know if you meant that as a joke but I am already hanging from the ceiling in a tight cage," Herogi chuckled lightly. Amante rolled his eyes.

"You know what I meant," he stated.

"Yeah, I'm just pretending to play dumb. Cause that's what you said to do," Herogi smirked.

"You know what I meant!" he outburst.

"Do I though?" she continued.

"You guys are the worst," Misty grouched, "and you're both stupid. The Troktikos don't have a council. You heard what they said, they live without rules. No chief, no leader, it's chaos!"

"They somehow organized themselves into jobs, how else would we have run into the warrior scouts?" Amante retorted.

"True, but who said they were warriors? There's no rules here!" Misty exclaimed.

Eventually, a guard of some sort had walked up to the river bank below the cages. He looked a lot more civilized or important than the protectors who'd dragged them there last night. By his side, two people who looked to be servants, carried heavy chains that Amante had a feeling were meant for them. The guard had thick eyebrows that sprouted like whiskers from his face. They narrowed as he inspected them, rubbing his mustache curiously.

"Alright," he barked up at them. "I'm taking you to the crystal. No tricks or funny business. We don't like your magic!"

"A crystal..?" Herogi muttered to Amante, looking around the cavern with querying eyes. Amante's gaze landed on a large gemstone that appeared to be hollowed out, hidden by the other tall bulblike buildings nearest the roof. Perhaps it was a castle of sorts. But why have a castle if there isn't a king to live in it?

"You are to remain still," the guard instructed. He tapped on a strange pressure plate with his foot and the cages began to lower from the ceiling, suspended by chains.

"What in the world?" Herogi said out loud.

"The Troktikos have very different technology from everyone above land. More advanced machinery, yet somehow outdated in culture," Misty explained as if being in a foreign machine that moved on its own was no big deal to her. But it just made Herogi look like she was going to pee herself.

"Lovely," Herogi stammered.

As the cages swung low above the shallow river, which glistened peacefully beneath them, their doors opened. Amante remained still, and so did his comrades. The servants stepped into the water cautiously, their thin papery skin reflected in colored light from its presence. They placed bags over Misty, Herogi, and Amante's heads. Then the chains were wrapped painfully around their wrists and tightened together. The servants dragged the three out of the cages and walked them to shore like animals. The bags had some sort of magic over them, which prevented the captives from seeing or speaking through them. They felt the chains tightened and followed blindly wherever they were led.

"Don't even think of doing anything funny, or I will end your lives faster than you can plead for mercy!" the one in charge ordered. Amante felt so vulnerable, unable to know where he was going, or keep his balance. The guard and servants also enjoyed making the teens walk into each other blindly. They would fall in the dirt by tripping over one another, then get dragged over the stone, unable to get up. Their laughter was most unpleasant.

But the guard and servant's fun was over when they presumably reached the crystal. They were led up an arrangement of stones toward the entrance, tripping on their feet, while keeping up with the chain holders. Amante had reopened all his wounds from yesterday and even added some more. The dirt would infect him soon if he didn't get it treated.

"We're here," the guard said miserably. He shoved them inside the cold room, and all three crashed onto the tile. Large doors slammed shut behind them. Amante tried to speak. He tried desperately to speak to anyone. But, of course, the bag prevented him. He just wanted to know he wasn't alone. When someone spoke, it wasn't either of his accommodates. It was a low deep churning voice that made the air feel a bit colder and thicker, taking Amante's very breath away. Or perhaps the bag was suffocating him.

"Take off the bags," someone said, but not to them. Amante heard the rustling of feet as something or someone neared them. Amante was blinded by the intense light as the horrible smelling bag was yanked off his head. When his eyes adjusted, he saw the same strange rabbit girl from earlier taking the bags off of Herogi and Misty. He still was laying on the floor acting helpless, but he couldn't help the curiosity that overtook him as he himself spoke up, revealing to the others he was not scared. Not at all.

"Who are you?" was all Amante asked. The girl jumped in fright and did a running hop back to the head of the room where a king-like stature of a man rested. His eyes inspected them from afar.

"Why are you in the warren?" the man asked with the same deep voice.

"It's a long story," Amante responded, shifting himself up to his knees without the use of his hands. The room was magnificent and made his voice echo throughout the walls. It was entirely made of colorful crystals. The floor was tiled in grey and treasures piled around them, glistening and shining all around. The whole place seemed a little over that top.

"Who are you?" he boomed, the vastness of the walls carrying his voice around them in circles.

"I am-" Amante was cut off by the man dismissively raising his hand.

"Let the women speak first," he demanded. Amante looked at Herogi and Misty who were barely clambering to a sitting position. Herogi had gone pale, but Misty looked fine.

"I am Misty, a gatherer of the Sly Vulpes," she said confidently. The Troktiko man seemed amused, and looked at Herogi who seemed too petrified to speak. But to Amante's surprise, Herogi was able to form words, though her voice trembled and her voice cracked.

"I am Herogi, daughter of Desparo and Yaku, a protector of the Cretos," she said, following Misty's lead. Her lips were quivering and her voice stuttered. Amante gave her a smile to boost her confidence but she did not look at him. Amante then looked at the Troktiko man for permission to speak. The man nodded slightly.

"I am a warrior of the Chatons, the son of Kalbak, Amante," Amante answered without a doubt. Unlike the other tribes, the Troktikos most likely weren't aware of his past crimes. This gave him a glimpse of hope.

"We don't like Chaton's..." The rabbit looking girl muttered to herself while the Troktiko man looked at him heavily.

"You have the audacity to trespass in my territory to then later reveal you are a Chaton? I ought to kill you," the kingly man said very musingly. "But I shall save that for later. It will be much more fun in a gathering,"

"These people are insane," Herogi said bitterly. Amante gave her a small agreeing nod.

"Juntul," the man addressed the rabbit girl. She jumped in surprise.

"Yes, Diandamos?" Juntul looked up at him, her ears lowering to her back in a cartoonish way.

"I have an idea," he announced.

"What is it, sir?" She looked up at him with large silvery eyes.

"They seem rather tired and uncomfortable. Let's give them a small temporary home and then hold a local burning. I've always hated that empty shelter on the post over there. It blocks my view, and no one lives there. Why not remove it in a fire? Once it falls down, our fellow people are free to do with the bodies as they will. It will be exciting as things have gotten rather boring lately. Two days ago those twins tried to eat each other, right?" Diandamos hummed to himself.

"They tried to eat each other and killed themselves. The parents ate them," Juntul replied, her face looking disgusted.

"Ah yes. We can't have that. Before we know it they'll all have eaten each other and even you. There's enough wendigos as it is," he laughed. Juntul shuddered at the mention of a wendigo–a terrible creature that manifested upon the greedy soul of a human who committed the most sinful act of consuming another human being.

"They've already tried to eat me, sir," she closed her eyes as if the memory was painful.

"Ok, maybe beyond insane,'' Herogi whispered yet again.

"Very. Maybe more so than my own tribe," Amante admitted. Amante was horrified himself, and Misty was probably coming to the realization that a large group of mad cannibals lived just below her village.

"Yeah, most likely. I can't believe they've come to the Cretos, and we let them," Herogi scrunched up her nose.

"What do you think of my idea?" Diandamos asked the small rabbit, obviously searching for praise.

"Spectacular, sir," she bowed her head. "I think it is wonderful." She was lying, but the man didn't seem to notice.

"I tell you what. I let you take them up to their new home. Of course, I will send guards so they will not hurt you, my precious. Make sure to lock them in," Diandamos assured her as if that's what the girl was shaken up about. "Then spread the word throughout the streets. They will surely get excited. We haven't had real entertainment in ages,"

"Yes, sir. Right away," Juntul hopped over to the three prisoners on their knees. "I'm terribly sorry," she muttered as three separate guards took their chains. Juntul raised her head. "Right this way, and hurry!"

"This will be fun," Diandamos boasted as they left his palace walls.

"You didn't let us speak!" Amante blurted out.

"Why would I? I don't care about what you have to say," Diandamos snapped. The guard-like men and women teased Amante, laughing as they slammed the crystal doors shut behind him. Amante grumbled something under his breath, sulking his head low as they took him to an upward leading rope bridge tied to the ground.

"I don't know who you are," Juntul said, "but no one should ever deserve this."

"Yeah," one of the guards chuckled, "says the rabbit who tried to burn a witch!"

"I think that witch changed more than just your body Juntul. You used to actually be fun!" another mocked.

"She made you pathetic, and dull. You don't know what food is, nor fun. Why does Diandamos even keep you? You're a pet," the first one sneered.

"That's rude," Misty intervened.

"You don't know anything," the last one jerked Misty's chains back, rubbing sorely against her wrists.

"Even though you're his pet, I doubt Diandamos would care if we pushed you a little too close to the edge..." one of the guards began to mutter something to himself. Their wooden rope bridge gently swayed beneath them as they climbed higher and higher. "Ha!" he shouted, kicking his foot at the jackalope girl. She began to tumble off the side, but Amante reacted fast enough.

Amante jumped off the side of the rope bridge, diving for the strange rabbit girl. He broke his left chain with the use of his tribal magic, outstretching his hand for her petite body. The chains tightened abruptly, digging into his right wrist, while in his other hand, he held Juntul by the scruff of her neck. He felt his left arm pop out of his shoulder painfully. He bit his lip in pain, hard enough it began to bleed.

Juntul was looking around herself in bewilderment. The guard holding Amante's chains was so surprised by his actions he almost let him go. Herogi, still on top of the bridge, threw a fist at her guard who had kicked Juntul. He staggered backward, reaching for his weapon at his side. Misty must have created an illusion because the three spears that had once belonged to the guards were in her hands.

"Watch your belts," she smirked.

Herogi moved to the guard, struggling to keep hold of Amante's chain. She grabbed the chain herself, to keep Amante from falling.

"You little-"

"Shut up," Herogi glowered.

"I'll let him go and watch them die. One casualty will be permitted," he threatened her. Herogi instantly tied her own metallic chains to Amante's.

"And if there are two?" She narrowed her eyebrows. The guard went pale.

"You're not gonna kill yourself," he gasped.

"I will if I have to," she claimed. Misty had backed the other two guards against the opposite flimsy rope, the bridge swinging from all the movement. Herogi smirked. "Now help me pull him up,"

The guard nodded, realizing he could lose his job, or life if he failed to take the prisoners to the strange house structure looming above them. He and Herogi strained as they began to back away from the edge, pulling the excess chain towards them. Amante, with Juntul in his arms, was slowly lifted back up onto the bridge. Once he was close enough, he tossed Juntul to safety, the girl landing beside Herogi. They continued to pull on the chain as Amante got a hand on the edge, lifting himself the rest of the way. He rolled onto his back, finally at peace.

"You will let us escape, or I will throw you over," Herogi threatened the guard, who had dropped the chain next to her, coiling at her feet.

"No!" Amante gasped, slowly getting to his feet. He looked at Herogi. "Trust me. Just take us to the chamber."

"It's a house," the guard corrected.

"Whatever," Amante held his dislocated shoulder gingerly. "Lock us up for all I care and burn us tonight. Herogi, don't fight back."

"Fine," she grumbled, letting go of the handle of her hatchet bitterly. Juntul stood on her hind legs.

"I-I," she stammered, looking at Amante in shock. "You saved me?"

"Why wouldn't I? That would be a cruel way to go–falling." Amante shrugged his good shoulder. He looked uneven if even that could describe it. "Your warren is a kingdom of jerks."

"Watch what you say kid," A guard sneered. Misty narrowed her eyebrows, glaring intensely. She raised the spears over the edge and the guards looked at each other in a panic. She dropped them without saying a word, and one yelped, almost jumping after it himself.

"Hey!" He said angrily at her. Misty remained mute.

"Let us continue," Juntul regathered herself.

"She threw our spears!" one complained.

"And you threw me. Lets. Go." She pinned her ears flat against her human head.

"I'm seriously not afraid to throw you again," the first guard threatened, picking up Amante's last chain.

"I'm not afraid to send you to the core of the earth. Cause I can, and I will." She bore her buck teeth comically.

"I will destroy everything you know," Amante threatened harshly, raising his hand which had black soot-like matter crawling down from his fingertips.

"I'm not afraid to let you go insane with hallucinations, I'll drive you mad. You'll never know what's real or not," Misty joined in.

"And I..." Herogi faltered. "I can punch you in the face," she stated hesitantly. "Hard."

The guards went silent after that. It made the three, including Juntul, feel powerful. And a bit better about themselves too. It was one thing to mess with someone, but another when the bystanders stepped in. It made the guards scared.

They returned to walking up the rope bridge, which had stopped its severe swaying by now. They kept walking till they reached the top, never exchanging a word. The wooden planks surrounding the bulbous structure were much sturdier. They walked around the first bulb, then onto another rope bridge which led to a second white bulb-like home. Juntul stopped hopping, looking up at the prisoners and guards behind her. She continued to stare as if getting impatient.

"Well?" she finally said, tapping her rabbit foot. They looked at her confused. "Well, I can't open the door! I'm too short! And I don't have thumbs anyways!" she exclaimed. Their faces filled with understanding as Herogi's guard opened the door for her. Juntul nodded as her followers walked inside. She instructed the guards to take off the remaining chains and leave. They obeyed, without saying a word. Juntul then hopped into the cozy-looking home herself.

"Nice place?" Herogi offered while looking around. Amante too felt desperate to break the uncomfortable silence.

"What are you really doing here?" Juntul asked with a small voice. All three turned to look at her. Amante took a deep breath before saying something himself, but he didn't exactly give her the answer to her question per se. Instead, he asked his own question.

"Can you really do what you say? Send those guards to the core of the earth?" he asked. She looked displeased, but took her time to answer.

"Well, yes. I started practicing our tribal magic when I was eleven," Juntul answered. "Of course, I've had to remaster it as a rabbit but, nonetheless, I can probably send those fools to the other side of the world."

"So you've practiced for a long time?" Herogi asked hesitantly.

"No. One year is not a long time," she giggled. Herogi and the others looked dumbfounded.

"You're twelve?!" Amante said in shock.

"Did she look like she was forty or something?" Misty sneered playfully.

"I'll be thirteen soon. On the eleventh," Juntul announced.

"Ok, but that's beside the point. Age doesn't really matter," he waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes, it does! You can't possibly think of taking her!" Herogi gasped. "She's too young!"

"We're young too! Misty is sixteen, I'm eighteen, and... Well I don't know how old you are. I'm desperate. And she might be on our side," Amante explained.

"Your side of what?" Juntul asked quizzically. Amante exhaled. Despite Herogi and Misty's objections, he explained why they were there, and about the prophecy. He told her about how her tribe was in danger, and despite Juntul's observed poor treatment there she seemed genuinely worried about her people. Somehow, Amante had managed to keep Herogi and Misty from protesting as he finished his story.

"I can't believe you." Herogi rolled her eyes.

"Hey, she asked," Amante sighed.

"Can I come?" Juntul asked.

"No!" Misty and Herogi yelled.

"Of course," Amante grinned. The girls held back the urge to slam their face in a wall. "Hey, I'm in charge of this whole thing!"

"What's the plan?" Juntul asked.

"Well, we don't have one," Herogi pulled out her hatchet (which Juntul had returned to her) and tossed it to the floor, its blade wedging itself between the wooden boards. "Because our great leader turns out to be, well, not so great!"

"You guys fight a lot," Juntul pointed out.

"Not my fault," Amante slumped. "Perhaps if we wait till tonight during the burning, we can escape," he offered.

"In the fire?" Juntul raised an ear.

"Um, yes," Amante said. "It's not as crazy as it sounds. "Are you comfortable with meeting us here?"

"Trust me, I'm very brave... at least I used to be. But I should be fine. I have a few tricks up my sleeve," she responded.

"Lock us in then. And sneak back up here five minutes before the burning starts. In the meantime, we'll make a plan up here," Amante instructed. Juntul nodded enthusiastically. "Alright, go," Amante said, now sure she was on their side.

"I'll try and send you guys food today, or at least bring some tonight. You must be starving," Juntul announced as she backed out the door. She managed to hop up high enough to insert a key in the door handle, letting the door swing shut.

"We're going to die," Herogi groaned.

"Definitely," Misty agreed.

Now all they had to do was wait. Only time would tell if this would be their undoing or the unraveling of their journey which was only just beginning. 

A/N

Since I gave you Amante last chapter you can have the same drawing again but it's actually Herogi :)

Fun Fact!

In the original concept of Land of Armonia from 2017, my characters all had animalistic features! 

Herogi had cheetah ears (which led to the creation of Belki), Amante as you may be able to guess had cat like atributes (my friends still call him cat boy / furry Amante lol), Misty had a fox tail and ears, and Juntul was the same as she is here! I got attached to the weirdness of her being a rabbit with a human head so it stuck!