During my training as a youngling, my parents taught me to listen to the distinct sounds of certain threats. The heavy thumping footsteps of a larger predator in the forest meant a quick escape into the trees. The cry of a dying animal could also indicate a predator or a hunter—a Tamarine who used weapons and traps, a savaged resident of the forest to be avoided. The hints of an arriving storm could be sensed through the air currents and increase of moisture, providing adequate timing to take shelter before rain and lightning would cause the environment to be too hazardous to survive. The sound of falling rocks after a disturbance in the terrain—this particular danger could damage even the strongest of Teraganes.

  “Our homes in the mountains have been securely established by our ancestors,” my father had told me. “But, like any rock of the ground, escape is crucial to evade being crushed. Even a boulder falling from the mountain side can crush the limb of any Teragane.”

  As I stood under the wooden shelter of the mine cavern, surrounded by arguing Tamarines, my heart raced as my mind flooded with images of falling rocks crushing Lillie. The distinct sounds I was once taught to flee upon the slightest disturbance suddenly exploded in my inner ear as my imagination began to run wild.

  No. I cannot accept this fate—not yet.

  “When a tunnel collapses during the excavation process,” the woman explained. “It can cause a whole shit-show sediment and problems.”

  “And bodies,” the bearded man added, only increasing my worst fears of the situation.

  “And—and this recent cave-in?” I asked, and swallowed the lumpy sensation in my throat. “W-what is being done to find the missing workers?” The two collaborating miners looked at Ezra, who quickly turned his back to them, crossing his arms and angrily sulking.

  “I see no reason to let this boy know what’s happening in our business,” Ezra said while huffing heavily. “Maybe he is working for some lord and has been sent here to spy on us. Ever thought about that? Do you have any idea how many delays this is causing?”

  “Ah, there you go again, all about the delays and job security, what about the people?” the woman exclaimed. “The good folk of the city deserve to know where their loved ones are, especially if they’re dead already!”

  “We will privately inform them when we have a better idea of the situation,” Ezra quietly said as he turned to face the woman again.

  “We already know how critical it is!” The woman slammed the table with her fist and gritted her teeth. “There is no better knowledge of the situation. You’re just looking out for your own goose-neck.” Ezra rubbed his eyes with his thick fingers that were surprisingly clean in comparison to the woman and the other man. He sighed again while shaking his head.

  “Taffy, you know the delicate position I’m in,” Ezra said while he moved his hands away from his reddened eyes. “If—you know who—finds out about the delays.” He hesitated and lowered his eyes. The bearded man grew solemn, yet the woman, Taffy, continued to fume with anger.

  “So, that’s how it’ll always be with you, eh?” she scoffed. “Damn-you Ezra! This is why I feel like I am constantly fighting a lost cause! Nothing will ever change if it’s only me looking out for others, especially when the geezers are only concerned about your own necks.”

  “Now, now,” Ezra said quietly. “It’s not about that—really.”

  “Really? Cause it sure as hell sounds like it!”

  “Quiet, that’s enough. We all know the risks that go with the territory.”

  “Only because we are forced to take risks and no one barks!”

  “Taffy,” the bearded man said. “You really should lower your voice.”

  “No,” Taffy said; however, she did lower her volume, and her voice no longer echoed through the area. “We are forced to take risks, and people lose their lives too often.” I looked over my shoulder and noticed other workers passing by, pausing in their steps as their pointed ears perked. Their soot covered faces sunk into the surrounding darkness, but their eyes spoke unsaid pain of fear of the environment. I didn’t need to know the whole story, only that it was obvious that these people were put into danger every day just for the sake of providing for their families.

  And Lillie has been here all along.

  “Well, what am I supposed to do?” Ezra said while placing his hand on his chest and rolling his eyes.

  “We have seven workers in danger,” Taffy said and slammed her fist on the table once again. “It’s been three days! We are running out of time!”

  “I don’t see you doing anything to rescue them,” Ezra arrogantly chimed.

  “That’s what I’m doing right now, you bastard!”

  “All you’re doing is yelling at me and blabbing your mouth at some stranger who just happened to wander into the mine, possibly a spy for the lords.”

  “And more people will continue to flood in looking for their family and friends if we don’t do something about this hell-hole!”

  “You don’t know if that would ever happen.”

  “Then how the hell did this guy get here?” The woman pointed at me, and jolt of tension ran through my muscles and my wings twitched from behind.

  This could last another three days. I need to do something!

  “Where is the cave-in?” I asked, raising my voice in effort to be heard, and the three Tamarines looked at me while their varying tempers lingered.

  “Ha! You think you could do better than our own rescue team?” Ezra sneered. He shook his head and laughed with a bellowing growl, like a wild boar—no, even worse than the vicious pigs of the forests.

  “It’s dangerous,” Taffy said, her tone of voice changing as she softened her jaw. “But I’ll take you if you think you can help. Hell—I’d even recruit witches at this point, for hell hath no fury when innocent lives are suffering in the flames.”

  “What good would it do to take a Teragane to the cave-in?” the bearded man snarled, like a younger boar pig imitating its father.

  “He’s the only one who seems motivated enough to actually get shit done around here,” Taffy said, causing the two pig-like men to roll their eyes. Her gray eyes glistened in the reflection of a lantern, and a smile began to cross her round face.

  “So, what? He has delicate wings,” the bearded man said while his sunken eyes gazed upon me. “He knows nothing of working in a mine. Look at the guy! He’s a delicate boy who has never done a hard’s day work. His hands are softer than a baby’s bum.” I avoided looking down at my hands, and instead crossed my hands behind my back. Flashes of Lillie’s scarred hands caused guilt to overrun my mind, yet, their sneering attitude in light of danger brought more hatred towards the cruel, careless men I deemed even less than the pigs of the forest.

  “He obviously came this far, and he may not have an ounce of hardship laden upon his skin,” Taffy said while shooting a glare at the bearded man. “He obviously knows how to track down his friends. His determination may be the vital key our missing people need.”

  “Please, I mean no offense,” I pleaded. “I only want to help, whatever that looks like. I’m strong, I can move rocks easily, and can carry people if needed. Lillie—she means so much to me and I only want to find her. I will even help free the other trapped workers.”

  As a flood of emotions caused sweat to pile on my forehead, the thin air made my unsteady breathing even more difficult. The heavy weight of guilt and fear surged through my muscles, and I was so terrified that my strength would not be enough—whatever threat was holding my Lillie trapped.

  Oh, Lillie. Please still be alive.

  “As long as you can accept that there are many dangers upon entering deeper into the mine,” Taffy said while she rolled up the parchment on the table. “If you’re willing to risk your safety, I will take you.” She then stuffed the parchment into a round holder upon her waist belt.

  “I’m willing to risk everything for Lillie,” I said. Taffy’s eyes softened as her dirty cheeks rounded, and she looked over at Ezra who had stayed rather apathetic to involving me now that I was willing to take a risk he was not.

  “I’m taking the kid—he’s willing to do what all of us cannot,” she said. “Plus, dare I mention, it’s better than us just yelling at each other while those poor folk suffer a slow and painful death—if they haven’t already. Then, you can tell your masters we’ve got a special force on the team if they ask about their delayed exports. If this is affecting Teraganes to come wandering into the city—higher ups will be forced to reevaluate their lack of safety precaution, especially if the desert bastards come next.”

  “What?” the bearded man suddenly said with a jolt of his neck. “You don’t think—”

  “Oh, that’ll be the day,” Taffy said with a laugh as she continued to gather items, placing each into the leather pouches attached to her stout waist. “Just imagine the next to be a Teshamen looking for his Tamarine lover. Ah, then we’d for sure lose those export trades if we upset those guys.”

  “Fine,” Ezra said, suddenly flinging his clean hands into the air, and he began moving aside. “If that day comes, we’d all lose our jobs, for the desert bastards haven’t stepped foot in Ciimera since the beginning of the war. Oh, and make sure no Keeper finds out about this. If I lose my job, it’s on your head.“ He pointed menacingly at Taffy, then turned his back and walked out from under the wooden shelter. His clean boots stomped away, and he barked orders for the massive crowd of workers to return to their stations, and they all scampered away, causing a loud murmur as people shot glances at me.

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  “What a chicken,” Taffy chuckled, and she stood by my side. “Glad to see at least there are still good folk out there—even if you’re a little young to risk your life.”

  “It’s bad luck, if you ask me,” the bearded man said as he stood by my other side. “Take care not to damage those pretty wings.” The bearded man huffed while rolling his eyes and then walked away.

  “Follow me, eh?” Taffy said as she stepped out from under the shelter, and she waved her hand. As my heart raced, a sense of hope rose, regardless of the circumstances and I hurried after the helpful Tamarine woman. We walked past many workers, machinery, and large areas where rocks were being examined and resting in metal containers. I did not understand what type of minerals, rocks, or ores they were examining, for it all looked the same to me. Dark, dirty, and grossly unentertaining. Only the shimmering stones from earlier seemed interesting, but those seemed to be far from the normal rocks being transported. The tools looked dangerous, the air was stiff, and the people working looked exhausted. Many wore simple clothes that were covered in dark substances. They wore the round glasses to protect their eyes, and some even wore scarves around their mouths. The loud sound of metal tools crashing onto rocks echoed through the cavern as we moved deeper within.

  “What is your name?” Taffy asked as she pulled out a brass object from her waist belt pouch.

  “Sable,” I replied while observing the object that opened up, revealing markings and a thin needle in the middle that spun. “And yours is Taffy?”

  “Yup, that’s me. Taffy Mari Ki”

  “It is very nice to meet you. Thank you for being so helpful and allowing me to seek Lillie.”

  “Likewise. It’s about damn time someone has the determination like a fire—like you!”

  “Taffy, what is the purpose of this mine?” I looked around the area, and my mind wondered about the specific people Taffy was referring to that caused the other men to cower—like a chicken.

  “We excavate mainly iron, copper, tin, coal, but we find other minerals like gold or silver, other gemstones—anything that is deemed useful and desirable by others. Amethysts are a big hit with the elites. Black onyx, interestingly is heavily sought out for too.”

  “What do you mean by useful?”

  “Well, some ores are useful for blacksmiths who create iron works. Like this—“ She reached out and grabbed a pointed tool from a miner.

  “Hey!” the unsuspecting worker exclaimed, and they twisted their blackened face, but their eyes were one of a young child, causing my heart to ache.

  “Hey, sorry, just one moment—this is a pickaxe,” Taffy explained moving the tool over for me to look at for a moment. Then, she swung it back to the young Tamarine. She handed the tool to the worker, causing them to grumble. “It’s dirty work, but after the ores are sold, some artisans can make some pretty amazing stuff. I’ve heard stories about what they make up in the north, specifically in Larcosia. Pretty immaculate jewelry. And we mine the gemstones fit for noblemen and kings! But, yeah, those desert bastards mainly need the exports for weapons for their endless wars. Good thing they just fight each other. Good business for us—not so great for those dying by the weapons we make.”

  I frowned, feeling even more confused by the world I was utterly ignorant to, and began to wonder why the Sage kept the Teraganes isolated from such an expansive world. Yet, as we passed by the workers, young and old, and exhibiting a weariness from the life they were born into, I began to theorize that my ancestors kept us apart to avoid ever being subject to such a cruel life.

  “Sounds like you like this job,” I replied as my eyes wondered at all the tools the Tamarine miners were using. As cruel as it all was, I had never seen so many forms of rock, nor ever thought something elaborate could be made.

  “Oh, don’t mistake me, I don’t like it. Mmm—no, not even a bit,” Taffy said while giving a disdainful chuckle. “But I can at least be proud of some of the work since it is what I’ve fallen into.”

  “Why don’t you like it?”

  “Well, for one thing, it’s dangerous and dark—my eyes used to be blue, did you know that? Hey, yours are rather intriguing. Never met someone with red eyes before. Then again, never met a Teragane, although I remember hearing lots of stories, especially from my father about his hunting trips. Oh, that reminds me, my brother once was approached by one. He said it scared the piss out of him! Some kid came from behind and attacked him.”

  “Oh, I—that’s unusual.”

  “Yeah, your folk seem to be just as weird as us Tamarines. Ha, anyway, I can appreciate what we do here, but I do not like the fact that we are often forced to take risks and not everyone is willing to follow safety protocols.”

  “Why? Who is forcing you?”

  “The Masters, of course!”

  Masters? Keepers? Lords? Desert bastards?

  What kind of world is this place?

  “But, hey! I’m doing everything I can to get some better safety measures,” Taffy continued. “At least those pesky Keepers stay out of the mines. At least I can have some control over the area.”

  “Who are the Masters?”

  “Oh, just a bunch of rich snobs, if you ask me,” she said and stepped aside for a worker to pass. I followed her movement, and while we paused our walking, Taffy looked up at me. I had furrowed my brows, and she continued explaining, “They run this mine, basically. Owners, investors, noblemen, yaddy yaddy. Higher ups of the capitalistic system of Cedrus City. You’d need a whole week to get the history. Even that may not be long enough.”

  “Oh, I thought Ezra led the mine,” I said, and we continued walking through the working area.

  “Well, kind of. Ezra manages this place. For, why would those pretty people wanna get their hands dirty? Ha. Yeah, us brave folk work here. Hey, Teraganes probably don’t have hierarchies, do they? Hmmm.”

  “No. Only spiritual and parental guides.”

  “Ah, that sounds way nicer. The higher ups been running the city for a while, since the dawn of its first establishment. Historically, this area was founded on the mine work after the discovery of its rich sediment. Wars in the desert brought more exports, need for weapons, tools, blah blah, and the Masters began benefitting from partaking in the politics, yeah, lowly folk don’t know how to deal with that shit. Life evolved over decades, but things weren’t bad until they brought the Keepers from the west to enforce their every little whim. Then it became brutal and more problems entered the depths.”

  “Those big green men?” I recalled the three large figures I briefly saw when I was with Lara.

  “Yeah, those guys. Those bastards are mean. They do—how can I say this—the dirty work of the Masters. Anyway, they made life a little harder to fight back when the Masters became more demanding. Just made politics more complicated. No one could just do their honest work without prying hands and eyes.”

  “Okay…”

  “But, yeah, that’s old news. I got them out of the mine after extensive measures. Couldn’t get work done when they kept banging up our machines. Now, I only have to deal with Ezra, and the constant pressure of heavy demands from the upper snobs who are too greedy to understand the ways of common folk and honest work. Anyway, let’s focus on the task at hand, shall we?”

  “Yes.”

  “We can push for safety measures once we get our people out, yeah?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  While I appreciated Taffy’s extensive explanations, it was difficult for me to wrap my ignorant mind about the world surrounding it all. I could not fully comprehend other people coming into a new city and claiming ownership over other people’s work. Is this why Lillie did not explain things to me? Did she even understand how the city functioned? Or was she too busy trying to survive under the boots of bigger oppressors?

  I continued to follow Taffy through the extensive mine. We passed by workstations manned by several people at a time. I recognized the sound of tools clashing with fired metal—hammers, Taffy explained. Sparks flew as several blacksmiths smashed their hammers with powerful swings. Furnaces twice as big as the city-blacksmith pumped heat and smoke into the air.

  “Those are smelting furnaces,” Taffy explained, pointing to the circular stones where large puffs of smoke escaped. Large carts of ore were pushed towards the area, and workers shoveled rocks into piles near the furnaces. On the other side of where we passed, small donkeys brayed as they pulled two-wheeled carts, led by very young workers. Along the ground, metal tracks led in different directions. I watched as a four-wheeled cart appeared from a tunnel to my right, swiftly moving down an incline, and Taffy and I stepped out of the way as it rolled past us directly on the metal track. I twisted my neck as I watched the cart wheel to another workstation. A group of workers examined the newly unearthed material. One took a slab of rock to a different area, where a man with thick glasses carefully examined it.

  “Keep up!” I heard Taffy call. I had slowed my pace to watch the action, but I hurried after her, lowering my gaze. The mine was becoming less frightening and more intriguing to watch. However, my mind returned to thoughts about Lillie’s wellbeing. I thought about the others, the young workers—were they actually children? The idea of being forced into an exhausting and dangerous work environment sent chills down my spine. I knew Lillie did not want to work, yet she was forced to do so by her father. How many other people were also forced to be here?

  I could only imagine the feelings of working daily in an unsafe environment and how it impacted the people. I thought about Lillie and her rough hands and how there were always new cuts and deep scars. The image of Lillie sifting through sharp rocks, cutting her up, wafts of dirt filling the air around her began to make sense in light of her changes over the years: her fading hair color, the dimming of her stormy cool undertones, and the dark circles under her eyes. If Taffy’s eyes faded, would Lillie’s glistening green eyes also disappear into a lifeless gray?

  The surrounding rumbling of crashing rocks alerted my survival instincts, and I jolted my neck. Suddenly, my mind envisioned Lillie buried underneath heavy, sharp rocks, her scarred hands and legs exposed, crushed, and lifeless.

  No, I cannot accept that this is her fate. Lillie, hold on a little longer! I’m going to find you, no matter what.

  Taffy kept talking about different aspects and changes she could implement to make the mine a safer environment. I didn’t understand, nor did I care at that moment; Lillie’s lifeless body haunted my mind. Earlier, the shock of the cave-in had not impaled me as I logically assessed the situation. But as I walked deeper into the depths, I was afraid of the possible scenes of horror and tragedy. Fear of the situation, fear of the unknown, and fear of losing Lillie now began to overcome my mind, shaking my body to its core. As Taffy mused her ideas out loud, I felt numb, cold, and terrified. I blindly followed her, and I only felt the cold embrace of dread and the air thin as we descended deeper into the mine.

  “Sable?” Taffy said, breaking my transfixion. “You okay?” She stopped walking and looked at me with concern while we stood at the front of a tunnel entrance.

  “Yeah, I’m just worried,” I said while looking behind at the large cavern we would soon leave. The rumbling, the orange glow, the sunken faces—I hated what it represented, beyond the intriguing aspects, but felt even more fearful of what would come next.

  “I bet you are. Don’t lose hope yet, okay?” she remarked while grabbing my hand with squeeze. It felt warm, but her skin was rough, and I became very aware of the smoothness of my skin. “I think you can be very helpful in a rescue effort.”

  I moved my eyes to meet hers. She seemed more excited than before. Her pointed ears perked up, and her cheeks rounded. Her protective lenses resting on top of her graying hair reflected glimmers of light from overhead lanterns. Her hand tensed as she released me and crossed her stocky, but strong arms at his wide hips. The dark leather trousers held up by thick straps over her shoulders were torn in places, and she was obviously in need of mending as her green blouse had several tears on the rolled-up sleeves.

  “How?” I asked, really clueless beyond the ability to lift rocks or carry someone out. Yet, staring at her stocky figure, I could only assume she was just as capable.

  “Oh, I think you have some useful assets,” she said, then looked at my wings. “This way.” She moved through the entrance of the tunnel that was lined with support beams and glowing lanterns. Her boots stepped along the metal track leading along the decline of the tunnel, and I followed from behind, feeling the dramatic change of air now that we had left the cavern filled with furnaces. While Taffy seemed optimistic, I could only hope that I truly could find Lillie and the others even if I felt the least adequate while stepping deeper into the belly of the monster.