"We have to go back and rescue big bro!" Sari pounded on Raef's back as he charged out of the gate. His thundering hooves took them far away from the encampment. Sari was yelling the whole time, saying that they had to go back, but Raef listened faithfully to the last order that he had received. He was told not to stop or slow down, no matter what. The bull carried out his orders, bringing Sari three days of hard travel away from the place that she was enslaved. She had clung on for dear life throughout the whole ride, terrified that she might fall and be left all alone in the wake of the charging bull. Now that Raef had stopped, she slid to the ground and crumpled into a ball.
"What am I going to do? Big bro and big sis are both captured, and I am all alone with you, Raef." She sobbed.
"Mooooo." Raef offered a slow deep sound, in an attempt to reassure her, but the meaning was lost.
Sari's mind started to rip through all of her memories and possible futures. She could see herself coming upon the bodies of her two siblings, beaten and tortured to death. Or maybe she would be enslaved herself. What if something happened to Raef and her big bro started hating her for it. Would they ever be free again? Would she ever see them again?
'Wait.'
Amidst the chaos, an image struck her mind. An image that she had cast out and tried her best to forget about: the image of the ponytail wearing blonde girl that her big bro had tried so hard to find. The one that he was going to leave both Sari and Vynn for.
'She's strong.' Sari clung to the sliver of hope that exposed itself to her, 'She would help big bro, right? I just have to find her! Yeah, that's it! As long as she can save big bro then he can save Vynn!' The girl started to smile and then told her plan to Raef. She didn't know if the bull would understand or listen, but she needed someone to tell. Sari just couldn't keep this newfound hope inside of her. She feared that if she did then it might just shrivel up and disappear.
Sari pulled out the map and the compass then started planning her course back to the area that Kenra was in. When she got ready to go, she found that Raef was surprisingly compliant and listened to what she asked. With this pleasant development, the two of them set out to find Kenra.
***
The first thing that Vallum did upon regaining consciousness was trying to contact Raef. Thankfully the link that they shared didn't seem to be bound by distance, or at least not the distance that they had between them.
'Listen to me, Raef. I want you to obey Sari, and more importantly, I want you to protect her at all costs.'
'Moo. (Fine.)'
'Thank you, friend. I hope we can get back together soon."
'Mroo. (I don't.)'
'Thanks a lot. Okay, I have my own problems, right now. Later.' Vallum cut off his conversation with Raef and took a good look at his surroundings.
The first thing he noticed were the thick metal straps that connected him to the examination table that he was on. The room itself was plain. There was a table next Vallum with all sorts of contraptions that gave him a very bad feeling. Long and pointy devices along with pliers and corkscrews.
"This... doesn't look good." Vallum said. His heart started to beat with panic.
'Kenra. Kenra. Hey, Kenra, I might not be able to make that meeting at all.' He pulled against his restraints, but he was weakened from the drugs in him. He didn't think that he would be able to do anything anyway.
He wasn't left to struggle for too long before a man came into the room. The door was behind him, so he could only hear it open, and footsteps walk around the room as he stared at the ceiling.
"Don't be scared." A slimy voice came from behind him, "Whatever happens is going to happen. Just let it."
"What are you going to do?" Vallum asked with a tremble in his voice.
"Hmmm. First, we are going to cut you up nice and pretty. Then we are going to take you to the arena and give you a nice public crucifixion." Then, the man added in a lethal voice, "Not even the strong can escape the bondage of slavery." The man picked up a gadget off of the table beside Vallum and moved to stand over him.
***
"Something is wrong."
"You have to focus on your training."
"But Val is in serious trouble this time. His wisp is swirling black and red."
"Your knight is a strong one. He will make it."
"Just look at it!" Kenra yelled. She thrust the wisp in her master's face. The ball of normally white light was a haphazard mix of deep red and oozing pitch black. "I have to leave right now."
Birdie sat in a meditative stance, floating several feet above the ground. "You are just passed your first month of training. You have learned quicker than most, but you still have a lot to cover. Don't you understand that if you leave then I can't teach you anymore? I will have to find another apprentice."
Kenra looked up at the person who taught her so much in such a little time. She felt a hint of sadness for what she was about to say, but her face showed pure determination.
"Thank you for everything you taught me master, but it is all useless if something happens to the one that I am learning it for."
Birdie sighed, "Very well. Take your lightning sword with you. It would just be dead weight for me. Who knows how long it will be until I find another apprentice that I could give a weapon to."
With a farewell to her master, Kenra took off toward Vallum with the wisp as a guide.