Chapter Text
The sand was burningly hot under Makoton's feet, but he didn't care. He couldn't hear the sizzling winds or the thumping rythm that made his stomach turn, only his heartbeat. He choked on his own spit as he ran.
Goruru below. What could he do? The watchtower was gone. The patapons were coming. Aiton was-
Makoton tripped on a rock, but forced himself up. He kept running. "Oasis." He said to himself, voice barely intelligible over the pounding of the drums and his own panting. "Oasis. Get to gong." Get to Gong, Tell Gong, He'll send troops. They'll go, and they'll defeat the patapons. And Aiton will get pulled out of the rubble, and he'll be fine. He'll be all patched up, and it'll all be fine. He'll be alive.
The sky loudly crackled with thunder. Makoton felt like his heart caught in his throat, seeing an arrow plummet into the sand only a few meters behind him.
Run, Makoton, Run. Keep running. Rain began to come from the suddenly appearing dark clouds above in sheets. God, dont stop. You can't stop.
He could feel the ground taper off from sand into patchy grass. The rain lulled, and the boiling heat seemed to ebb. Everything stung, as he could see the zigoton camp in the distance.
Makoton's body skidded to a halt in the grass, falling to his knees. A few zigoton soldiers nearby murmured in shock, one coming to his aid. "Woah, Woah, Makoton, what-"
Makoton's hand shakily rose. He pointed to a certain zigoton standing infront of him. "Lieut. Lieutenant Kumoton. Get-" A wheezing sob shook him, his eye blurred with tears and rain. Aiton was dead, wasn't he? He was gone. He wasn't ever coming back.
"Get Gong. Please."
With that, Makoton collapsed down into the grass.
...
When Ragewolf felt himself come to, he was on the ground. The dry, stingingly hot earth below him didn't help his aching bones, as he groaned, finally stirring. "Ghrrgh.." He groaned out, hand coming to cradle his ribs- and paused, registering his gauntlet was gone.
As his situation really properly dawned on him, he heard the crunch of sand. Oh no.
Ragewolf panicked, scooting himself back as he stared at the two figures infront of him. His back thunked as he hit the wall- The Labyrinth of Restraint. Why was he..?
"Why did you not-.." Ragewolf trailed off, before he shook his head. He growled, trying to force himself up into a defensive stance- faltering as a sharp pain shook through him. "W..What, you drag me out here to finish me off?"
"The opposite." Buzzcrave chittered. "Lower your weapon. We want no more trouble. And if we did, you aren't in any state to fight back, no?" Ragewolf's eyes caught the halberd still clutched in his hand. Tentatively, He did as he said. "Then what do you want? Didn't that- that snake want me dead? D..Dont forget, i can still bite you into-"
"Go." The Ah-Ooh general cut him off simply. Ragewolf's hackles lowered just from confusion. "..Eh?"
"Did you not hear me? Madfang Ragewolf, you are to turn and enter the Labyrinth. You are to run, down far into it's depths. And, as long as Her Majesty remains, you are not to leave it, or the consequences that befall us all will be grave."
Buzzcrave's gravelly voice was stern, eyes narrowed as he looked down apon the former Dark Hero, but it shook at the last few words he spoke. "Do i make myself clear, or do you want us to reconsider this choice?" Ragewolf stared at the two infront of him, slowly standing. He took a step back.
Slogturtle's words broke the silence. "Get out o' here, lad."
Ragewolf hesitated, and then he nodded. He turned around, and, despite his limping, ran as fast as his legs could carry him into the darkness of the Labyrinth.
The wolf dissapeared into it, his frantic footsteps fading away into nothing.
..Buzzcrave sighed deeply. "..Sir Slogturtle, are you-"
"She has gone far, far off the deep end, Buzz. Madfang did not deserve her wrath like this." Slogturtle shook his head. "..If she makes us carry out this, lord knows what she shall make us do next."
The other general tentatively nodded, reaching down to help Slogturtle up onto his horse. "And you are absolutely certain she will never find out, yes?" The old turtle murmured a quiet thanks, getting himself situated. "I am sure of it."
Buzzcrave stared off into the dark entrance of the Labyrinth infront of him. He nodded.