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A sharp whistling sound pierced the air as a black-tipped arrow streaked out of the cavern. A rattus guard stepped out of the way and held out his new shield for it. The arrow slipped right through the tempered steel like it was butter, and buried itself deep within one of the rocks by the entrance to the mines.

He tossed the shield aside with a sigh and waved at the dark figures in the cavern, then went back to his post. The mines here at Kun'dodonta had been around for many generations and always in control of the Empire of Thorns. It was, at times, known as the Endless Mine, as it always had something to be excavated. Recently though, parts of the mine had gone missing, and were literally replaced with caverns that came from another land all together. At first, the rattus had fought hard to try and reclaim the space, but as time went on they found they could not keep up the assault. Strange black scaled beings inside of the cavern, who the rattus could not communicate with, were defending their portions of the cave with deadly arms that were able to pierce the toughest armor. Even with numbers and skill, the rattus decided it best to move their workers to other gold mines, and merely keep tabs on the cave.

It was Greyzoo's shift that day and where he stood watch he was out of view of the entrance, and holding his pole-axe. He wore a nice set of half-plate and chain, with a forest green mantle that had some faux gold trim. He also had a tabard covering part of his chest that said "Honor, Glory, Justice" on it in rattus.

The kobold with him looked at the arrow in shock. His face was dirty, and his hands covered in sores from working. He shook his head as he sighed. "Another failed experiment! Will no metal stop these arrows?"

Greyzoo rolled his eyes and looked at him. "Look puppy-dog, they on our lands. As long as they ain't comin' out to kill us, we ain't worried about goin' in an' killin' 'em... not 'less we find out what's what 'ere."

The kobold threw up his arms. "Bah! Then the Empire of Thorns will never have its mine back, mark my words on that! These things are nothing but killers!" Another whistling was heard and he paused, looking up a little. A shot, arched from the entryway had found its way right into the dirt between his feet. "Ahh~!" He jumped back, then immediately pointed at it. "See!"

The guard made a shooing motion with one of his hands. "They hate annoyin' sounds, so I'd get outta 'ere while yer able."

The kobold shook his fist towards the entrance with a growl. "You've not seen the last of me!" Then he turned and stormed off in a huff.

From the entrance, one of those dark figures listened with a keen ear and nodded. The cavern entrance was like the door between the two empires, with a guard at each side. On the inside, the gronk group known as the Shadow Clan had Jarza, a female with deadly precision. She sat down at the edge of the wall, turning away from the burning light of the sun. Producing a mushroom she forced herself to bite into it, and quickly swallow it before it could gag her from its wretched taste. She even wrote simple lines in the dirt in her people's language while she waited the tedious hours away, despising her post, but understanding that it needed to be done. She didn't wear anything heavy, just some leather pieces strapped to her chest and lower body, complete with boots and a bracer. A regular hunter's outfit and all she had weapon-wise were a short sword and some arrows, all dark-steel.

Before she knew it, Zinorzo came up the passageway and waved to her. His mind spoke to hers, a language without words. ~Jarza, I hope you have not become too bored.~

She slowly stood and brushed off her backside. ~The only thing to disrupt my boredom was that stupid canine again.~ She gathered up her bow and arrows before she walked up to him.

He smirked. ~Ah, persistent. I assume you sent him running.~

She looked at him a moment. ~With his tail between his legs. Have we found any new source of food?~

He moved forward and embraced her. ~In the time you've been guarding? I wish... The native mushrooms and occasional insect hive is all we can do to keep ourselves alive at the time.~

She nuzzled the side of her face against the crook of his neck. ~Oh Zin... I just want to leave this world and go back home.~

He patted her back gently, and rubbed her with his other hand. ~I'm sure we'll find a way. If we got here, we can surely get back.~

They released the embrace and she nodded. ~Yeah, okay. Let's hope we all survive until then. I don't know why the furry scaled-tailed ones want these caverns so bad, but we surely can't keep them from coming in forever.~

~Don't be so glum.~ He thought from an optimistic perspective, hoping to influence her thoughts.

She shook her head. ~No more use for cheer. Hope of peace has killed many of our people, and I fear we may yet be seen only as monsters.~

Zinorzo shook his head slowly. ~The guard out there does not seem hostile. Perhaps they know that we are as confused as they are. Both of our people lost lives, I doubt they could be completely blind to our intelligence.~

Jarza's ears flicked about, and she looked back. ~Just... don't do anything stupid. Guard the door... okay?~

Zinorzo smirked. ~Yeah, yeah.~

She shook her head and turned, walking away. Zinorzo's eyes became entranced by the view for a few moments until she disappeared around the bend. He looked down at the dirt. ~Right...~

That night, Greyzoo sat and ate his meal as usual. He had some jerky and some hard bread, along with a bit of sour grape juice from his canteen, and a small wedge of cheese. Sitting down with his back against a rock and his bum in the grass, he bit into the hunk of bread with a soft crunching sound. Just as he did, he happened to look up, and to his surprise, he had a visitor.

Zinorzo stood with his bow strung and taut, pointing one of the black-tipped arrows at Greyzoo's head, staring him down... and staring down the food. Unlike Jarza, Zinorzo had forgotten his meal... and he was very hungry, just like the rest of the shadow gronk populace.

Greyzoo paused, looking at the shadow gronk in an almost goofy manner with the bread in his mouth. His eyes turned to look at his pole-axe, laying on the ground, and shrugged gently. He finished crunching through the half of the bread, and began to chew on it.

Zinorzo was confused... usually he saw fear and hostility when someone was pointing a weapon at them, so he tried to make a point and fired an arrow. The arrow whizzed not an inch away from Greyzoo's ear, and landed in the rock behind him. This made the rattus pause for a moment, but then he went on to take a bite out of his cheese.

Zinorzo was a little annoyed now, and strung another arrow. He approached closer to the rodent, and pointed the tip right at Greyzoo's head. At that point, the rat took a piece of jerky and very nonchalantly held it up to the side for Zinorzo to take.

This made the gronk pause and slowly let his arrow go lax. He hesitantly took the jerky from the rodent's fleshy hand and brought it closer. Then, after another pause, he licked the end of the piece.

That's when Greyzoo looked up at the gronk and nodded a few times. Zinorzo also nodded and put the jerky in his mouth, slowly chewing it until he was satisfied it wasn't dangerous, and swallowed it.

He decided to put his bow down on the ground, and slowly sit down beside the rodent, who seemed to pay no mind one way or the other to Zinorzo's presence. Until, of course, the scaled one picked another piece of jerky away from the rat.

Greyzoo leered at him. However, with a mind to be friendly, he separated some of the jerky from his pile, and put the other half of his bread over by the gronk.

Zinorzo looked at the pile for a moment, then at the rattus. Greyzoo made a shooing motion with the food, as to say he could take it. Zinorzo was overwhelmingly happy that he was giving him food that he almost pounced the poor rattus guard, locking him in a hug. Greyzoo had a very confused look on his face as he slowly patted the gronk's back, looking around to make sure no one was watching... because he was pretty sure this gronk was not a lady.

Zinorzo then backs up and, rather happily, picked up the food, his bow, and made a rush back into his cave.

Greyzoo watched him go and brushed off his sides. "Yer welcome... ugh. Du kajuza du zao..."

"Guardsman Greyzoo, reportin' back," he said as he came back into the barracks.

Rakeclaw looked him over with a sneaky eye of disgust and spoke their language as he asked: "A_nything to report?_"

"High Guard Rakeclaw!" Greyzoo took a bow before the dark brown rat. "I did have an abnormal contact with the reptiles from inside today."

"Really now?" He raised a brow and put his hands together behind his back as he made a half-circle around Greyzoo. "Do tell, Guardsman."

"I have learned that they are much like us. Intelligent enough to make and wield weapons, but still follow their basic needs. While eating my meal, one of their males emerged. He caught me off-guard and already had his weapon drawn." Greyzoo animatedly brought one hand forward and the other back, mocking a strung bow.

"Since I knew there was no way I would survive if he fired that arrow, I showed no fear, and no hostility. I continued to eat my food." He then taps his forehead as he continues on.

"I believe this was confusing to the creature, as he didn't seem to know what to do. I believe that since I did not try to fight him, he was not able to kill me. A sense of morals, sir." He stroked at his tabard insignia as he spoke of morals.

"After coaxing him close I shared some of my personal meal with him. Must have been the trick, sir. He was hungry, and took the food I gave him." He grinned, proud of himself. "So, in conclusion: One emerged, we both met, and neither side wounded, sir." Greyzoo nodded, finished with his report.

Rakeclaw rubbed his chin in thought for a bit before suddenly acquiring a sly grin. He patted Greyzoo on the back. "You have achieved something that none of us have ever done before! Congratulations, Greyzoo! I shall have to write back to the Capitol about your service, and in the mean-time, I would like you to bring extra rations with you! Take a whole portion if you like... and let us try to make friends. Achieve something great, and you too may one day become a High Guardsman." Rakeclaw's grin was false, but Greyzoo didn't notice the indications.

He instead saluted smartly. "Aye sir!" Then he left to ready himself for his rest.

~Elder Kizan, I have returned from my duty.~ Zinorzo knelt before a shadow gronk who was dressed in elegant black and dark purple robes.

The older gronk curled his fingers back expressively. ~Rise my child, and be glad you have survived one more day.~

~That is not all, Elder!~ He thought with an excited feeling. ~I have made contact with one of the natives, and it was not hostile at all for either of us!~

The elder looked at him in shock. ~What?! Do not tell me you allowed him to set foot inside of the cavern!~

Zinorzo shook his head and hands. ~No, no! I went out to him. I was terribly hungry, and I knew he was sitting down for a break to eat. I thought I would just go out and kill him, take his food and eat it, but he didn't fight me... it wouldn't have been right. Instead he offered me half of his meat and bread which I took, ate, and am not dead.~ He patted his chest to add more punctuation to the last thought.

Kizan scowled and raised a hand which burned with a dark purple fire. ~You should know better than to leave the cavern! Favorable interaction or not! Hungry or not! You are not allowed to step foot outside of the cave!~

Zinorzo pleaded with his elder. ~Elder, please! We can make peace with them, and stop the periodic violence. We can make it work, even if we cannot communicate through traditional means with them!~

Kizan bared his teeth. ~Zinorzo! You are hereby relieved of guard duty, and are to spend three nights in the cell. Go to the armory and return your equipment NOW!~

Defeated, Zinorzo's heart sunk. ~Yes, elder... excuse me...~ He left Kizan and sulked over towards the armory. As he handed his things back in, the only two remaining guards showed up behind him. He nodded gently and turned around. ~Jarza... Lukai...~ He acknowledged them and held out his arms.

Jarza shook her head and scolded him. ~I advised you not to do anything stupid, and you left the cave anyway. Why would you do that?!~

~I don't know... but I made contact with one of the natives,~ he thought in a manner of mixed emotions, looking between the two.

~Really?! How?~ Jarza was most interested in that subject, as she and the guard had a fairly set understanding of cease-fire.

As Lukai and Jarza were leading Zinorzo over towards the cell, he continued. ~Well, he was eating... I was hungry... and I was going to kill him and steal his food. He gave it to me though, just like that. He didn't try to fight or anything, just... gave me food.~

Lukai nodded gently. ~How very interesting...~