//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Man Among Orcs // by Dakota of Raptors //------------------------------// If there was one word to describe the various twist and turns that made up the robust and somewhat large building, it would be disorienting: Each hall looked relatively similar to one another, were all mind-numbingly dark, and added with the fact that small horse-like creatures spewed magical projectiles his way, Talion would've considered escape an easy feat. That was not the case though. "Beast, stop where you stand and withdraw your weapon! Complience will ensure your safe capture!" A voice from behind screamed, and judging by the femininity in that voice, added with that ever-so-present upbeat tone in her voice, it was Kuna, a changeling Talion differentiated from the rest, mostly due to her gender. "Kuna, we can't...that thing will just escape once again and if it gets it's claws on our Queen, so help me..." Another recognizable voice - as raspy and fear-stricken as ever, Bugsy... "Can it, Bugsy! I got this..." When those words were uttered, the frequency of which the hooves sounded grew louder behind him, initiating his hulking figure to turn a corner, as generic as the other dozen or so he came across. But the hooves grew closer yet, nearing only but a foot behind. A couple of the blasted insects flew his way - horns pointed outwards, like a buggy-missile ready to impale you on a whim. He easily sidestepped their predictable maneuvers, punching the other droids that grew closer. If the human had to be honest with himself, he might have broken his knuckles, damn were these things tough...in an effort to slow the pursuers, he kicked down miscellaneous ornaments that littered the halls - from sculptures of the presumed queen (more hideous than her spawn,) to pots and vases. It slowed most of them, but a couple were still close behind. "I will sever your head if you hinder my escape," Talion threatened, drawing his wooden knife and pointing it over his shoulder, to anybody whom still lay chase. "Not if I can stop it." Within only half a second, his only weapon had levitated from his grasp, landing with an audible 'ting' in front of him. Now he was suspended in air, face to face with the changeling he actually grew to hate less: Kuna, who smugly stared at his defeated form. "Oh, I forgot you could do that..." Talion admitted. "Yeah." Her eyes wandered to his hand, blood seeping from the cloth that tied around it. She inched closer, concern washed over her face. "What happened?" "...I held a weapon against one your guard's throat, his horn was as sharp as a saber." With a solemn nod, Kuna backed away, and with Talion still held in her magical grasp, turned to address the changelings whom stood watch. "Bugsy, I'll take him to the infirmary. You can rest well knowing I will look after him." "Pfft! As if!", Bugsy nearly choked on his own laughter, "Listen Kuna, if this thing breaks-ss out - and if Chrysalis found out about this-" "When he heals I'll take him to the queen." "What!?" The crowd had yelled in unison, and if Talion wasn't placed inside of a protective bubble, he might have lost his hearing - it was still loud though. "What?" She asked nonchalantly, shrugging to her compatriots as if what she said wasn't that big a deal, but everybuggy else deemed it as such. "Kuna, as your superior, and friend, I forbid you from doing such! What if it attacks the Queen?" With a role of her eyes, Kuna reassured the group, "And she can't handle herself? Look, it's perfectly fine. Besides, if we can get him, umm...what's your name?" She inquired. "Talion." "Talion, to side with us, then we can gain vengeance, and ultimately, love! I mean, Talion has obviously proven to be a formidable minotaur-thing- "Human." "-Human, then we can gain the upper hoof." The crowd was left silenced, only a few buggies expressing their uneasiness via murmures and squirms. Except for one. "Ahhumm, excuse me for asking but...aren't you insane!? Why should we go back to Equestria when we would surely get our flanks kicked again? You weren't there, Kuna, I was... Those ponies are dangerous, and I doubt one 'human' can tip the scale to our benefit." Of course, Bugsy was always the one to voice his concerns; he gained a mixed reception for that, but as Chrysalis' main apprentice, he claims to know what's right. But now it was her turn. "What other choice do we have? Everybuggy's dying - we are starving! I doubt the Dragon Kingdom has enough love to keep us going, and the Griffon Empire is too far to travel to." Talion kept his mouth shut through the whole ordeal, mostly because he doubts he would have a say in this, but boy was it interesting; Bugsy was contemplating on what to say next whilst Kuna held firm. And what about starvation? Maybe a power struggle, he presumed. "So what do you say?" Kuna asked. The man was at the mercy of these miniature equines - as strange as that sounds. So who was he to say no? With a long and weary sigh, Talion raised his hand to appease the questionable looks etched on the crowd's face. "Yes." Surprisingly, with the exception of Bugsy, everybody cheered happily at his response, hugging one another and thanking some unknown god. "Thank you Talion," Kuna smiled. Talion didn't replicate her feelings, rather he bore a serious expression as always. "But on one condition..." The crowd grew silent. "What is that?" Somebuggy asked. "Freedom."