Escape

There had only been a slither of guilt about killing a man whilst he relieved himself. It was Zephyrion's first time killing another being, and the nausea he felt soon fled as he remembered who the fucker was and what situation he was in. That guilt, that nausea dissipated. 

The last of his strength, which hadn't been much to begin with, dispersed as he held the dead guard to the cage whilst the Slinktail beside him went through each of the keys in the lock. They still had time until the next guard came. This guard hadn't been at his post long. Still, Zephyrion's body was stiff with pulsing adrenaline. The more each key didn't unlock the cage door, the more he grew anxious.

A click resounded, and Zephyrion and the other demon locked gazes for a moment before he pushed open the door. Zephyrion released the guard, the sound of his body crumbling to the ground, not rousing the other humans. It was perfect. 

Jumping out of the cage, Zephyrion's legs almost collapsed from the lack of movement and stayed mostly in one spot for so long. There was also the malnutrition and his lack of strength, which he used to kill the guy who was now on the muddy ground, lying in his own filth. While others piled out of the cage, Zephyrion grabbed the leather tie he used from the man. It had no sentimental value to him or the Zephyrion before him, but it might come in handy like now.

As he grasped the necklace, he realised it wasn't his pure strength that caused the guard to die via strangulation. The fang on the end of the necklace was deep-rooted in his throat. Crinkling his nose at the mess he'd created, Zephyrion withdrew the fang, wiping the blood on his trousers before swiftly putting the necklace back around him. Now wasn't the time to get distracted; he needed to run.

The small horde of demons escaping the cage had mixed ideas about what they would do next. Zephyrion thought they might run for the hills, which had been his plan, but he forgot one crucial little factor about the Slinktails. They might be weaker than the other demons, but they were also vengeful fuckers, and those humans were asleep. 

Cries erupted behind Zephyrion, where he tried to run with his weak ass legs. He aimed to grab one of the horses to aid in his escape. In the meantime, the other Slinktails either fled into the darkness or brutally attacked the humans in their sleep. The sounds of their slaughter, blood-curdling screams and splatter of blood, along with the Slinktail's laughter, echoed across the small campsite. Some of them didn't fall to the demons and evaded death with their swords after hearing their comrade's cries.

It was illogical to continue their slaughter, especially when many were so weak. Gunshots pierced through the night with Slinktails already falling dead to the ground. They might have been their product, easy earnings, but it was no longer easy, and the Slinktails were killing their comrades. They had no hesitation in killing the demons.

While they were distracted, Zephyrion used it to his advantage, rushing through a few tents already on fire and rummaging through bags for food and weapons. In and out, and he was done without being noticed. 

Not wanting to waste any more time, he slung the bag over his back and dashed towards his escape route- one he'd pieced together hours before he killed the guard. His approach startled the horses, but he stopped by the one further away. 

Hand curling on the reins of one of the horses, he tried to calm the animal. "Shh, shh…" His lizard tongue slipped out by accident, making the damned thing buckle back and kicking its legs up.

Zephyrion evaded its strikes, hissing in annoyance as the startled horse continued to cause a commotion.

"Dammit!" Once the horse calmed somewhat, Zephyrion mounted the animal only to realise even with a saddle and stirrups, he didn't know how to ride. As though the beast sensed his powerlessness, it bucked back, throwing him off into the dirt with a loud thud.

Sprawled on his ass, mud splattered on his face, Zephyrion then watched in utter dismay as another Slinktail calmed the beast and hopped onto its back. He fled, riding the horse skilfully. "Fuck!" He looked behind him, where the fire started eating up those who had fallen, spreading across the campsite in a giant wave.

Hooves thumped along the grass in front of the demon. Zephyrion started backing away and moving to the side at the rider's approach. 

"What are you doing just standing there?"

The Slinktail seized Zephyrion by the upper arm, exerting a painful grip that pierced through his scales as he hoisted him up onto the spot behind him. Zephyrion stared at the Slinktail in disbelief. He thought the demon stole his horse.

"Hold on," the Slinktail snarled over his shoulder, eyes flashing. 

Zephyrion recognised this demon. Though they all looked alike, there were a few distinctive features between them. This one appeared blind in one eye. It was a milky white compared to his other golden eye. He was the demon Zephyrion ordered to undo the cage.

The pair rode further away from the destruction of the human campsite. In the darkness, they couldn't see much, but this Slinktail was confident in the direction they were going. Zephyrion was just glad they were too far away for any survivors to catch them. The longer they rode, the more Zephyrion's mind began to spin with suspicion about the Slinktail steering the horse. 

Slinktails didn't help each other. They only helped their 'masters' the levels above and did anything to try and scramble up the ladder to get in good with those above them. Were they returning to his gang so he could use Zephyrion somehow? Like a slave?

Why did he help him? It didn't make sense unless he wanted something in return.

"I despise being indebted to others," the Slinktail revealed. "You saved my ass, I saved yours. Now we are even."

The horse stopped before a town. Zephyrion smirked, aware this demon was trying to leave with the horse. "You realise we are still not even."

"What?!" The Slinktail turned in his seat, glaring at Zephyrion. 

"I could have easily taken another horse. What will you do now to pay me back?" Zephyrion didn't intend to use this demon further. In fact, when they escaped, it was survival of the fittest. Everybody knew that. Yet this demon seemed to have some sort of honour, and Zephyrion could use that to his advantage. He could use all the help he could get.

This wasn't his world after all, and his knowledge was poorly lacking.

"What do you want?" The demon spat, looking Zephyrion up and down like he was a bug. Well, back at ya! They were almost identical! 

"First… What do I call you?" It could be advantageous to keep this Slinktail by his side.

Until he didn't need him anymore, that was. Zephyrion had been a loner most of his life before Sonia entered it. This company was a little smothering, especially after being in a cramped cage with others for almost a week.

"Dain…" The Slinktail eyed him, narrowing when Zephyrion didn't offer his name in return. "You?"

"Zephyrio… Zephyr."

"What does it matter to know each other's names anyway?!" Dain spat. 

"Because you're going to be my guide until I say otherwise, Dain."