'Shadow where are you taking us? 'Flashes of water and quietness followed by a much noisier place which was dryer but contained. more light.' His following signs inquired which. A look at them showed no preference. I figured the dryer one would have more people but the dark held a deceptive quiet which I sensed lingering dangers hid in the unknown.
'I sent him an image of the dryer location' and we continued down multiple drain connectors until we came to a gated section. Shadow tried to separate the bars so we could make our way through but couldn't get a good grip on the bars. Pain bark a soft laugh then walk forward to spray. the bars with her acid, five minutes later they snapped like twigs to Shadows bite.
We slipped through and wondered by the subway tracks looking for empty rooms or supply nooks to sleep in. After a few minutes we found a descent room and one look at Shadow sent four bums scrambling for their life. We let them go since we did not remember being given a mission or how we came to this realm. So we would remain quiet till retrieved or commanded unless danger came to us.
After kicking out a large amount of garbage and piss bottles we finally cuddled into our usual position. Pain snuggled into Shadows neck ruff almost completely vanishing in his fur. I climbed onto his side and used his forearm as a pillow his tail swept across me to his nose blocking out the cold. Sleep took us away quickly even with hungry bellies.
When we woke it was at the falling of dusk to go find food and water the first basics of survival. We quickly found our way to the garbage cans on the closed subway platforms. In addition we found a fountain to provide water, scranged water bottle were soon filled and we returned with them to our cubby.
Shadow was still hungry of coarse and wanted live food, so off he went to look for non humans as instructed. When he returned a large abundance of rats still twitching in his mouth made him a happy dog. Now we would do recon to determine the sadness of our position as well as make a mental map of our current location.
This was step two of survival to knew ones surrounding thoroughly allows one to set up escape routes. In addition we would learn which areas to avoid and where we could go to set up traps and surprises.
We soon realized we were in the center of a city called New York. There was several territories ruled by various fraction not much different then the demon Lord's. Each held a specify area and number of blocks and sold some types of drugs and protection scams. Young children were often used as runners or for a number of other tasks.
There was a large underground number of homeless and additive population that robed others and even each other's. The building contained people trying to live day to day which often fell prey to these surroundings. If they had nothing to take it resulted in beatings and worse.
Still they lived better then the weak in hell, minions were just food for the larger demonic beings in on up the chain. Only the strong and lucky survived and moved up the chain of command. The smart learned the rules and stayed off the stronger ones radar. This place was very simular to the place I was raised in, being a kill or be killed environment.
Then we saw the presents of unnatural being that should not be on this realm maybe they were lost like us or came for some reason or other. They sensed us as well and most slipped back into the darkness hidden among the malignant populations presents.
However some showed no fear flaring their power and auras, to intimidate or scare us away. We slipped away because we were exploring not declaring war. On our way back to our claimed cubby we came across a strange sight where a long line of homeless were getting free food from a few clean smelling men.
I decided to go in alone at the end of the line to see what was going on, I was sure there was some kind of catch. Most of this group wore multiple clothing and thick jackets but I stood barefoot with a thin shirt and baggy pants. A young lady came to me and asked if I needed help with clothes and a blanket.
I decided to nod and ask how much it would cost, and she said it was free a donation from the church. I had read about church's before and knew they were both good and bad ones, I decided to take a chance to get some clothing that would fit better and help me with hiding my intentions and weapons.
She brought me around a corner to the front of the church if was a bit shabby but still held a quiet peaceful feeling within its ancient structure. Strange to feel this here, in the middle of a manmade hell. It made me feel better some how, like when I had ran wildly in the desert magma fields.
Inside the doorway on the right was a large bin in which various clothes were lumped together. I searched throughout until I found some that were clean and better fitting especially in a fight. One of the jackets held multiple pockets good for hiding and carrying weapons.
She then lead me to a small stand up shower and bathroom, I started to quickly strip and appearently freaked her out as she ran out quickly. After scrubbing all that fluids and mud from my body I felt a lot better even if the water turned cold after a couple minute it didn't matter to me.
I thanked her with a gravelly voice unuse to talking and she handed me a blanket and led me back outside to get the last of the food. A old white bearded man smiled and invited me to services and told me some specific times. I thanked him as well and quickly vanished back into the shadows of a nearby alley.