Okay this chapter was supposed to be set in Terrelain and have different characters, but it didn't start out right so have another Kane chapter. Also, we all know what happens to the Tunneler's sons and idk what i was thinking, so now I'm gonna have to write a sad chapter somewhere in here. Anyways Skylar is a character in my mind that I created for a Skyward Flight Project thingy and i really liked him so here he is lol. Also sorry this is late I have been reading. *Holds up Pembrick's creaturepedia and Prince Warriors*

Kane led Hadley and the twins through the darkened streets of Akolan, and for the record they were really good at being quiet. No rabbits lingered on the ash-strewn streets, all waiting for whatever morning never came to go to their horrible jobs in a horrible city.

Kane hated it here, but he also pitied the poor rabbits who were stuck here, obeying the cruel orders of the tyrant they lived under. The heartbreaking thing was that some rabbits liked it here, or so he’d heard while they dragged him to the cold depths of the dungeon. Kane could never imagine a life here.

Fleck stopped and backed against the side of a drab, grey-stoned house that looked as if a fire had never been lit in its mantle. He blew out the torch, submerging the four bucks in deep, starless blackness.

Kane panicked, glancing everywhere for a handhold, he hated the dark and hated this dark the most. A firm, steady hand grabbed his own trembling one and before Kane could scream a familiar voice cut through the darkness.

“It’s alright.” Fleck whispered as he gently guided Kane forward.

“Are you sure you’ve got this?” Kane breathed, too scared to will his trembling feet forward. Fleck was silent, in fact, all was silent. “You’ve heard of the leper’s district?” Fleck asked warily.

“Um yeah—”

“Who goes!” And to Kane, it sounded more an exclamation then a question. The stench was horrible, and strong, but all was still dark.

“You know me, Adan Skylyr.”

“Cove?” Adan replied, his voice hoarse and deep with suspicion. Fleck lit a torch, revealing a tall, warlike buck no older than Kane.

“The very one.”

“I had no idea- How are you- You… Gak! We thought you were…”

“I was what?”

“Umm… Deceased?”

“DECEASED?” Fleck exclaimed, faking offense, one sword-gloved hand over his mouth. “How DARE you?”

“Oh sorry its just that arrow and Kaedyn said…”

“Kae? Is he okay?” Kane could see how genuinely worried Fleck was.

“Well… he didn’t make it, Fleck.”

“Can we come in?” Fleck asked wearily, his voice heavy with sorrow and exhaustion. Kane pressed his head against Fleck’s shoulder, too weary to look forward or even walk, even though he dreadfully wanted to know what in Natalia was going on.

“What’s the passcode?” Adan asked, stepping to the side and poking the lock with his stick. His stick. His very heavy looking stick, heavy like Kane’s eyelids.

“The truth in the tunnel.” Fleck spoke, his voiced tinged with deep sorrow.

A tall buck pushed back the covering to a secret cave opening in the wall and a horrendous stench poured out with him. “Adan, please stop bothering the- What in the Blue Moss Hills? Fleck!” Hadley, shocked, drew his sword, but just as quickly relaxed.

“Skylar? Skylar Blackstar?” Fleck asked, shocked, and the two bucks embraced each other joyfully.

AN HOUR LATER

Kane had just finished a conversation with the Tunneler (Adan’s father) and he felt a whole lot of unknown emotions flood him. Kane found Fleck sitting on the mess hall kitchen’s counter holding a Preymark to his right hand and Skylar washing the dishes from dinner.

“What happened to you?” Kane asked Fleck, who was humming to himself.

“Oh hmm? Oh I cut my hand, that’s all.”

“Correction: you were singing something about Cattle while washing a sharp object and not paying attention.” Skylar interrupted, scowling. “And now I’m doing his job.”

“HEY! What else am I supposed to do- listen to random diners muttering about the weather?”

“Well maybe a little CAUTION would do you some good.”

“Hey, I saved your life about ten times.”

“And I saved you from having a permanently crooked face.”

“I don’t think Jake would have punched me that hard.”

“Yeah he would of.”

The argument ended when Skylar dumped the contents of a glass jar on Fleck’s head.

“EWW! If no one wants to drink this water why would you douse me with it?”

“Because your warrior flames were getting high, and I didn’t need you to poke me with your sword.” Both bucks laughed a little. Kane started to wonder why two strong, ferocious warriors were so good at playful banter.

“Why are you guys arguing?”

“It’s not arguing, its bantering.” Skylar replied, drying his hands on his trousers.

“Playful bantering.” Fleck corrected, examining his hand and shrugging.

“How are you two so good at it?” Kan asked, wishing he could take notes to use against anyone who wanted to playfully banter with him.

“I guess it’s a hobby.” Fleck shrugged.

“You’ve got to lighten the load of war somehow.”

Fleck is really good at getting into playful banter, just like those three prisoners who used to share my cell. Jon Steadfast, Kaleb something-or-other and Henry Clay? There were also those kids, Ashford, Hudson, and Mason? They were Warriors of something- was it the Cause? They said something about staying strong…

“You okay Kane?” Fleck asked, placing a scarred hand on Kane’s shoulder. Kane shrugged. “Well turns out I’m the son of the Tunneler, so yeah my life just got super crazy.”

Fleck smiled. “At least you know… you get to be with your family, unlike me.”

Kane stared at Fleck a second. It’d make sense if he was a war orphan, but he wasn’t hopeless like the others.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Kane saw the grief in Fleck’s eyes, fresh sorrow from losing a friend and lingering sorrow, but beyond that a flame, hope.

“Are you Lieutenant Fleck Steadfast?” A breathless messenger rushed through the door, and Kane noticed it was Ashford, the bravest of the Causer kids.

“Well I guess…” Fleck trailed off. “Why?”

“Turns out Bleston is striking sooner than we thought. We need all hands on deck.” Ashford had white fur and light red markings.

“Thank you.” Fleck nodded to the kit, who spun and dashed out.

“We need to get to council. Now. We need a plan.”

“Are we going to, you know, use a boat?” Kane wondered aloud.

“I think its just a figure of speech.” Skylar scratched his head.

“Like you?” Kane joked.

“WHAT?”

“Well yeah your always saying weird things.”

“I am not!”

“Are too!”

“You better be careful, Kane, or Skylar will steal your breakfast.” Fleck warned, winking.

“What? I’m hungry in the mornings.”

“Your always hungry Skylar.”

“Am not.”

“Then why did you eat ALL Lord Blackstar’s birthday cake?”

“Umm it looked good okay?”

“Was it still good when you felt sick that night?”

Skylar laughed. “You’ve got me there.” And Fleck and Kane grinned.

As they ran along, Kane thought about Bleston, who he ironically knew nothing about. “Great.” He muttered under his breath, “One more thing I’m not ready for.”

-Fleck, lover of dramatic suspense