FSE

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Zariah continued to walk forward through the forest, ignoring the pantheress' protests. He had it set in both his heart and mind that he would keep his promise. He would bring back the little girl, he would console that poor woman's aching heart. These men were desperate and acted on impulse. He was certain that they weren't bad men. Shahira seemed to think differently.

"The world is a sick place, kid. These people won't listen to you. You might get hurt. I'll more than likely have to save your skin, and in the process take out a few lives. And for what? Not even a single coin. It's a waste of time, I'm telling you. There's real work to be done back in town. Work that could get us proper payment." She followed a few steps behind him. It angered her that he wouldn't listen to reason. Is this boy stupid? She growled in frustration as he refused to slow down or even look at her. He was headed to the mine and he wasn't stopping.

It was an abnormally nice day. The sun was bright and warm. The leaves were changing color, many falling to the ground. Shahira couldn't help but notice that the human almost seemed at peace here. It was as if he belonged in some warm, bright and beautiful atmosphere. His blonde hair lied perfectly atop his head. His clothes, while dirty and old, seemed brighter than usual.

"This is the right thing to do. They aren't bad people; they just acted out of fear. I'm sure of it. They need help. I can help them. Just watch me. If you don't want to help, then turn around and go back to town. "Shahira wanted to knock the kid unconscious and simply drag him back. She wasn't sure what stopped her. Maybe she wanted to see how he planned on convincing a group of men to do his bidding. Maybe she just wanted to make sure he didn't get killed. Whatever her reason, she followed him.

"Fine. But when they start yelling and threaten to chop your head off, don't think I'm going to save you." He merely waved a hand. He wasn't concerned. He was certain of the way that things were going to be.

They soon approached the abandoned mine where the fox had suggested the kidnappers might have taken her daughter. Zariah came to a stop outside the opening. He kneeled down, putting one hand on the dirt. He closed his eyes and started praying. He prayed for strength. He prayed for things to go well. Shahira just watched him. She was curious as to what he was doing. She thought maybe he was scared.

"Look, Zariah. If you want to go back and wash our hands of this, it's not too late. We can just say that they weren't here. We can say that we decided not to do it. We can find real work." He didn't say anything, he just shook his head. He stood up and started walking into the cave. They were immediately swallowed by darkness. The pantheress couldn't imagine what it would be like to not be able to see so well in the dark like her. She noticed the human carefully placing his steps. There was a light coming from somewhere far off in the distance. The cave twisted and turned, but Zariah kept moving without stopping. Why is he so determined?

There were old cart tracks, as well as old carts, lying throughout the cave. Old, distinguished lanterns hung from the ceiling gathering dust and spider webs. The ceiling was low, Shahira was practically crouching to not hit her head. It was a dreary place. All Zariah could think about was how scared the little vixen must be. It was wrong. Still, his heart knew that the men were just as scared. They were probably worried about their own families. They had their own reasons, and Zariah would find out what they were and how he could fix it. Every step took him deeper into the cave. Soon he could hear talking.

"Damn it. This was a bad idea. We shouldn't have done this." This voice was panicky. He was nervous and clearly regretful. Zariah and Shahira were creeping slowly toward the next corner. The light was now very bright.

"For Christ's sakes, shut up Lloyd. We need the money. You know that as much as I do. That broad may not have much, but I'm willing to bet she'll give up everything she has to get her little one back." The human peeked around the corner, taking in the scene. Three men sat on rocks around a fire. A few torches were throughout the cave. It looked like it was the end of the mine. There were no more tunnels branching off of this one. The three men were all canine. Zariah wasn't exactly sure what species they wear. But one had short, black fur, whereas the others had longer, golden fur. They were fairly muscular. It was almost intimidating.

That's when he saw her. He saw the helpless vixen pup. She was tied up by rope; her mouth was gagged by a piece of cloth. She was crying, the tears streaming down her cheeks. Two of the men had their back to her. The one that didn't stared at her the whole time. His expression was difficult to read. Zariah looked over his shoulder at his companion. She was gritting her teeth, one hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed bladed attached to her leggings. He gave her a stern look and shook his head. He moved in close to whisper into her ear.

"Don't do anything stupid. Just let me try to handle this. You'll know if I need you." She enjoyed the warm breath against the inside of her ear. She almost purred, but instead just relaxed her hand and nodded. Her yellow eyes met his and he knew that she meant it. He stood up and stepped out from behind the cave wall. The three men immediately turned to him, taking out knives. One stepped over and grabbed the girl. A muffled noise could be heard and her eyes grew wide. They were an emerald green.

"Who are you, human? And what are you doing here," asked one of the men. He was shorter than the others with longer golden hair.

"Damn it all, if this mine didn't reek so badly we could have smelled him coming from a mile away." The called Lloyd looked anxiously back and forth at the other two. Zariah raised he hands, showing that he had no weapon.

"I'm here for the girl. I don't want anyone to get hurt. Let's all calm down and act reasonably. Okay?" The black-furred one snarled. He was clearly the leader and mastermind behind the plan -he was the one that Zariah had to convince. He was also the one holding the girl.

"Listen human. We said the girl could go for the specific amount of ransom. You think we're just going to hand her back to you, simple as that?" He bared his teeth.

"This is senseless. Look at the girl, she's terrified. The mother is sick with worry. You're causing more damage than you could possibly know. Is money really worth this?"

"You don't know the meaning of money, slave. You don't understand how it rules the world. We need it to survive. We have families too. That's another thing you know nothing about." The other two canines nodded in agreement, glaring at him. Zariah let them say their words, he knew they were true.

"I know about fear. I know about being held against your will. I know that you're making that girl suffer. Look at her. She's done nothing wrong, completely innocent. Why should she have to be punished for the sins of those before her? She just wants to be with her mother. I know you're not bad people."

"Shut up. You spin words well, boy. But I meant what I said. This girl leaves when I get the money, or she never leaves at all." His eyes were fierce and angry. Shahira felt like she should step in, but she held herself back. He wasn't in serious danger yet.

"You don't mean that," he took a step forward.

"DON'T! If you come closer, I swear to gods I'll cut her throat." He put the knife to her neck. Zariah quickly stepped back.

"Stop it, stop this violence. Please, I'm begging you. I'll offer you a deal. Take me. Take me in her place. Let her go. Humans are much more valuable, and you know it. I'm just asking that you let the girl go." The man looked down at the girl, then back and the human. His mind was calculating. He could take the human. It was a hell of a deal. Or...

"Or. We take you AND the girl. It was stupid of you to come alone, boy. Especially unarmed. Jackson, grab him and tie him down. He won't move a muscle, because if he does then we gut the girl. See?" The larger golden dog hesitated and then nodded. The moment his hand touched Zariah, he was struck in the chest with a knife.

"It's an ambush!" Yelled Lloyd. The darker one growled as Shahira stepped out of the darkness. "Oh god, they killed him. They really killed him." Zariah looked over his shoulder at the pantheress. She stood at full height, one hand clenched into a fist and the other wielding a second blade.

"What are you doing?" He asked. "You killed him!"

"You needed help. You can't go right back into the hands of someone like them again. I'm not negotiating."

"You bitch," spat the leader. "You'll regret that." And with that he slit the vixen's throat, grinning. He cut a rope that was taught next to him and a pile of rocks came down between them, creating a make-shift wall. It was a trap that had been set the whole time. Probably intended to kill the mother after getting her money.

"NO!" Zariah yelled at the wall, falling to his knees. The girl was crushed under the rocks. "No, no, no. Damn it!" He pounded the ground with his fist. Then he turned to the pantheress, "Damn you! How could you? You should have let them taken me. She didn't have to.." He began sobbing. Deep, remorseful sobs. "I promised. I PROMISED!"

Shahira simply watched with a blank expression, sheathing her weapon. I told you, kid. I told you this was a bad idea. I told you these weren't good men. She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her, his eyes red with tears.

"We should leave," she said.

"No. I can't leave, not yet." He looked back to the pile of rocks, desperately throwing them away. He kept moving rocks aside, digging deeper.

Shahira was getting angry. "Stop it. Stop acting like a fool. We tried our best and she died anyways. You see this trap? There was never any intention to let the mother live."

"We need to bring back the body, she should have a proper burial. The mother should know.. She should know that I failed her." He kept digging until he saw fur. He'd almost freed the body when the pantheress grabbed him by the wrist and picked him up. She slapped him across the face. Then again.

"We're leaving." She threw him over her shoulder and carried him out. He beat his fists against her back, begging her to stop.

"You monster! You're a monster." He cried, tears still flowing down his face. His heart was broken. That little girl needed him and he failed her. She was hurt and scared, just like he was. His mind raced so much, his heart in so much pain that his body shut down. He fell asleep on the shoulder of Shahira.

When he awoke, he was lying on a bedroll next to a fire. It was dark and he could see the stars. Shahira was sitting across from him, eyes staring unblinkingly into the flames. He sat up, glaring at her. He blamed her. She took a life, and in that action caused a life to be taken. He was about to say something when she spoke up.

"I'm no monster. I might not make the best decisions. I'm trying to survive, and I make mistakes." Her eyes met his. They were distant, almost sad. "But I am no monster. Do you think that mother would have wanted to see her daughter that way? Cut, bruised, and broken? No. She deserves happy memories. She'll be mad at us, she'll tell you that you betrayed her. That she trusted you. She'll even say that she wanted to see her daughter one last time. But she won't mean it, not down deep in her heart. This way, she'll always have fond memories of a beautiful child. Not a broken one."

Zariah didn't have anything to say to her. He didn't think of it that way. Why was the world such a complicated place? He looked at his hands. They were covered in blood. He pictured that terrible scene again. He would have nightmares. I could have avoided it. What could I have done differently?

"You should get more rest. In the morning, we'll bathe and then we'll go break the bad news. Then, we find work. We need money just as badly as they do." She got up and put out the fire with what was left in her canteen. Zariah lied back on his bedroll. His mind replied the tragic event over and over. And for the second time that day, he cried himself to sleep.