[GlacierDragon]

Ooh, good thinking! But Blege definately doesn't work there anymore. He's one of those guys who thinks he's the best at everything and he doesn't like being told what to do. Also I think he was hit on the head a couple of times as a young Slig which has caused him to have mood swings every now and then .

Did the kidnapping ever take place? Because I seem to remember you were hiding in a cave.

No I didn't get kidnapped. But the threat scared me so much that I ran off to a cave for a month . All I had with me was my computer (which somehow worked without any power) and a neverending supply of food and drinks.

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Chapter 13

Though Blege was a bit reluctant, we managed to persuade him to go along with the plan. He kept arguing that it wouldn’t work but when we started ignoring his protests he stopped complaining (though he would occasionally mutter things that sounded like insults under his breath). That was all last night.

So now we’re getting prepared. My stomach growls from hunger. I haven’t eaten anything in what feels like ages. They haven’t said anything, but I don’t think the others feel any better.

We’ve decided that after we ‘borrow’ what we need we’re going to head north. The fact that we’re Sligs will hopefully help us; to other species we all pretty much look the same, which means with any luck we won’t be recognised. Perhaps we can find work in a place where news of us hasn’t reached. It’s a bit much to hope for, but what else is there to do?

Getting back to current events, Creck went away a little while ago to search for patrols, while the rest of us stayed behind in the same clearing in the same patch of trees. We didn’t force him to go or anything. In fact it was his idea. While we wait, I whisper a question that has been bugging me to Zevenk.

“Why were you smiling when you came out of the Queen’s cave?”

Zevenk laughs. “It was just something she said. Don’t worry about it.”

“Tell me,” I plead.

“All right. When I told her I shot a Glukkon she started to laugh, which is extremely weird because if you’ve heard the stories you know she never even smiles. When she stopped she asked me some more questions such as who the Glukkon was, how high up he was in status, what his occupation was, and loads more stuff like that. I answered her questions as best as I could and when I finished she said she’d try to let me off easy. But when I asked her ‘why’ her mood suddenly changed from slightly happy to angry and said I should be grateful and not ask questions. That’s when I left.”

“She laughed at you for killing a Glukkon? Why?”

“I don’t know. I suppose deep down she hates it that she has to do what they say all the time. It’s similar to Sam. All she does is lay eggs so the Glukkons can have workers. It can’t be a very eventful life. I feel sorry for her, really. Skillya, I mean, not Sam. Mudokons deserve to be enslaved.”

Blege cuts us off, rudely telling us to shut it unless we want to attract attention. Zevenk and I exchange a quick look that says someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed and then we fall quiet.

Time passes and Creck doesn’t come back. I hope he hasn’t been caught. No one else seems worried. In fact, Blege’s snoring reached our ears not long ago. It’s still pretty early in the morning, and it was a restless night for all of us, but I didn’t expect anyone to fall a sleep in a time like this.

After some more time I pull my way over to the pond. Zevenk asks if I need help with my broken arm but I say no, not wanting to look dependant on everyone. The water looks a bit dirty but I’m too thirsty to care. I cup my hand and lift the water to my mouth underneath my face tentacles. It tastes like something died in it, but it’s welcomed after not having anything to drink in ages. Zevenk warns me that I might catch something nasty, but again I’m too thirsty to take notice of his words.

Then, breaking the silence, a Slig unexpectedly leaps through the trees at us. I twist my head around in shock, almost losing my balance and falling into the pond. Blege suddenly wakes and lunges to the ground in confusion, his arms over his head to shield himself. Zevenk stands swiftly, grabbing a fallen branch for protection. The Slig rights himself and we all relax when we see it’s Creck.

Creck, out of breath and panting, speaks in an urgent whisper. “Quickly…everyone hide! I’ve…got a couple of Sligs…chasing me. When they’re here…attack them.” He stumbles to his right and hides behind a log amongst some ferns. Hearing his words, we all try to find somewhere to hide. Blege pushes himself flat behind a tree, and Zevenk, still holding the branch, jumps behind the log with Creck. Creck looks as if he’s about to say, “This is my hiding place. Go get your own!” but he puts up with it.

I look around franticly. No one’s even helped me try to hide. By the time it will take to get behind a tree, the Sligs will be here and will have seen me. The only option is to hide in the water. I don’t really want to, but there’s no other choice. And the water isn’t that deep.

Using one arm and one arm only, I lower myself into the water. I keep one hand holding onto the land so I don’t sink. I can feel the bottom with my tail, which gives me some comfort. I lower my head so I can’t be seen, my tentacles getting submerged. I peak from my hiding place.

Two Sligs slowly come through into the clearing. Neither of them have weapons, which is good. They must think we aren’t much of threats. Cautiously, they saunter to the centre, looking around. Their arms slump to their sides when they find nothing. They shrug to each other and turn around, going back the way they came, when Zevenk lurches from behind the log. He holds the tree branch close to himself for safety. Creck follows a little more slowly, holding a heavy-looking rock in his hands.

The two Sligs reach for their weapons. Their faces slacken when they see they have nothing with them, and that’s when Creck hurls his rock at one of the two. It smashes into its target on the side of the head, cracking the Slig’s skull open and sending him falling backwards. I see a pool of blood forming under his lifeless body, soaking into the fallen leaves.

The other Slig has no time to react, because at that moment Zevenk swings the branch at him. He raises his arms to his face in defence, but it does little to help. Zevenk alters his aim and hits the Slig in the stomach. The Slig falls backwards, just like the one before him. He writhes on the floor in pain, groaning. He weakly puts a hand out as Zevenk stands over him with the branch.

I awkwardly climb from the water, silently cursing when I knock my bad arm. Before Zevenk can perform the final blow I call out, “Don’t kill him!”

Zevenk stops, lowering his weapon. “Why not?” he asks.

“Because he’s only doing his job. It’s not his fault he has to try and capture us.”

Zevenk looks at me doubtfully. Then the Slig on the ground speaks to all of us.

“You’re all disgraces! Going against orders. Not doing as you’re told. You’re the type who make us Sligs look lazy and incompetent!”

Zevenk gets angry, and I mean really angry. “I don’t care what you say, Shrown. Here is a threat, and to be safe we have to remove threats.” Without any more words, he brings the branch down on the Slig’s head. I wince as I hear bone shatter. Zevenk repeatedly strikes the Slig again and again until he is sure all life has gone.

Another pool of blood joins the first.