The Drunken Ally    

The loud voice startled Rain and the others, causing them to pause and look back at the fast-approaching dwarf.

He was short with a bushy beard and a haggard face typical of the dwarven race. He swayed as he walked, looking as though he might topple over at any moment.

"Druger!" Hana exclaimed in surprise.

"You know him?" Rain asked her.

Hana nodded. "Druger and Lyncon were the first to build the port town."

Rain was shocked. "Wait . . . that orc with that young Zuwai was the first to build the port town?"

Just how old where they?

Hana nodded again, sadness crossing her eyes. "You won't believe it, but Lyncon and Druger are master builders. Together, they built the Port Town from scratch to the way it is now. They are the founding fathers."

Druger sneered, coughing as he looked at Rain and the others. He hiccupped as he panted, and when he spoke, his breath reeked of beer. "That Lyncon is a traitor! He doesn't care about the town and its citizens as long as he's living comfortably. *Hicc! Well . . . living like a fat, comfortable pig."

"What are you doing here, Druger?" Hana asked him.

Druger chugged from a bottle of booze in his hands, wiped his mouth, and answered with a groggy voice, "I heard that you're going with these folks. I'm tagging along. I don't want to stay in that port town any longer. Take me with you."

"Eh?" Hana was surprised, and Rain and the others looked at each other in confusion.

"Are you sure? You love the port town, right?" Hana was happy that Druger wanted to come with them, as it meant she had someone she knew tagging along, but Druger's life was the port town. He wouldn't leave it before no matter how much she convinced him. 

What changed?

Anger and sadness crossed Druger's eyes, and frustration laced his voice when he answered, "The port town isn't what I built anymore. I don't want to be there any longer." 

Hana was at a loss for words. She understood exactly what Druger was going through — how heartbreaking it was to watch their town being taken over, powerless to stop it. The feeling of helplessness as greedy and selfish creatures destroyed their home was all too familiar. It was easier to escape than to stay and witness the devastation.

But in the end, the decision lay with Rain.

Hana then implored Rain and the others to take Druger with them. "Uhm, Druger might be drunk all the time, but he's a great builder! He could help us rebuild the shelter."

"Really?" Rain was excited, but when he saw Druger, he was already asleep, dead drunk on the ground. ". . ."

Was this really going to work?

Hana noticed the skepticism on Rain's face and quickly interjected, her voice tinged with urgency. "I know he seems like a drunk right now, but believe me, Druger is an incredible master builder. I was going to recommend him to you before but couldn't find him. When Lord Izumi took over the port town, Druger was forced to watch as everything he built was stolen from him and the citizens. It drove him to drink, trying to numb the helplessness and frustration. B-but his expertise in building remains unmatched. Trust me, his knowledge hasn't vanished."

"You say too much, Hana . . ." Druger got up to his feet and patted away the dirt on his tattered clothes, his eyes barely opening. "Don't let my appearance fool you, young ones. I have a hundred years of knowledge in construction that you wouldn't find anywhere else!"

Rain's face lightened, and he looked over at the others with expectant eyes. He had made up his mind, but he still needed their opinions on the matter.

Chi only let out a chirp. 'Whatever you decide, I will go with it, my Lord.'

The others shared her sentiment. #4 didn't care as long as he was still on statue duty, and Pup didn't comment, too busy scratching his back.

Thraigar beamed, and his slow voice echoed. "It's up to you, friend."

"It's settled then. Welcome to the group, Druger. My name is Rain, this is Chi, Chin, Chill, Chick, #4, Pup, and Thraigar."

"Nice to meet you–!" Druger fell asleep in the middle of his speech and collapsed to the ground, snoring loudly.

"I wish I could sleep that fast," Rain muttered, but he was glad that they had finally found a builder . . . though he still had his reservations about it.

"Thraigar, please carry Druger with you."

Thraigar nodded and picked up Druger in his palm. They then resumed their journey home, but stopped when they heard voices again.

"Stop right there!"

Rain and the others glanced back at the town as the Ebizu guards closed in, their heavy shells gleaming ominously in the fading light.

Rain's heart pounded fast. "C-could . . . could it be?"

The sound of the Ebizu guards' slow but relentless advance filled the air, their faces menacing and their spears pointing ahead.

"Stop right there! In the name of Lord Izu, we order you to stop!"

Chi hissed, her eyes narrowed as she stretched her bow.

"Wait!" Rain stopped her and stepped forward. There should be no blood spilled between them, or their might be no return, it might mean war.

"Uhm . . . is there some kind of a problem?" Rain asked, raising his voice to be heard over the fifty meters distance between them and the Ebizu soldiers.

"You have angered Lord Izu, and we're tasked to extract punishment for our lord!"

". . ." Rain was appalled. So Izu was that kind of idiot. He was too stunned for words.

"H-he . . . he really went after us?" Hana was equally baffled and confused, though her face showed worry.

~Chi!~

"It's fine, Chi. Don't engage them. They're slow, so let's outrun them and lose them in the wasteland."

Rain and the others took off, leaving the menacing Ebizu guards lumbering behind them, their heavy shells preventing any hope of a swift pursuit.

"Hey! You! Stop! I said stop! Don't you dare run away, you cowards! Face us and your punishment, or face the death sentence!" the guard bellowed, his voice growing fainter as the distance between them increased.

Rain glanced back, incredulous. "Who in their right mind would wait around to be killed?!"

It was almost comical how the guards desperately tried to chase after them but were utterly hampered by their cumbersome armor and sluggish pace.

"Run, guys! Don't mind them, just run!" Rain called out, a laugh bubbling up in his throat. The absurdity of the situation struck him, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

Chi, always quick on her feet, joined in the laughter. 'It's like being chased by angry turtles!' she quipped, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Even Hana, who had been so tense moments before, cracked a smile. "We should leave a trail of lettuce for them!"

Thraigar, with his deep, rumbling voice, added, "Maybe we can finish building our shelter before they catch up."

Pup started to run in exaggerated slow motion, mimicking the guards. 

The group burst into laughter, their spirits lifted by the unexpected hilarity of the situation. They picked up their pace, their earlier tension melting away with each step.

Rain was laughing as he looked over at Thraigar carrying the snoring Druger. "At this rate, Druger will have sobered up by the time they catch us."

The Ebizu guards, far behind, continued their futile chase, their voices growing increasingly faint. "Stop, I say! Stop! STOP! In the name of Lord Izu, I command you to stop!"

But Rain and his friends were already out of earshot, their laughter echoing through the barren wasteland as they sprinted towards freedom.

The slow-motion chase turned their escape into an unexpectedly joyous adventure, bonding them even closer together.