The four sailors looked up at him. One spoke, “It’s called Fleet, ever played?” He looks back at his cards, “I do believe I win lads, shall we play another hand?”
Tharos glared at Dolphus freely from beneath his hood, how had he known? Such a specific jab, but Tharos was sure no one else knew. Well besides Tharwyn, and now the entire crew
“Don’t forget us.” Came the sleepy voice of one of his eternal tormentors.
Tharos wasn’t listening, he was too wrapped up in memories.
Raising his hand against a sudden harsh light, Tharos blinked slowly and looked around. He was sitting in an alley, like many that could be found around his home. This alley however was filled with more light than Tharos had seen in his life. He took a breath, the air tasted… Strange.
A sudden noise alerted him to a creature watching him from the rooftops. It was a curious beast, it possessed two thin legs, and a small rounded head that bobbed as it paced trying to get a good look at him. Tharos slowly got up, then gaining his feet, broke into a run. Trying to get away from this terrifying monster.
It was then Tharos ran right into a second monster, literally. As Tharos fell to the ground again he looked up. What he saw was familiar, but alien. It looked like an person, but bigger, bulkier and far uglier.
The creature made an equally ugly sound of Delight. “Dolv! Come here! I found a little freak.” As it spoke, it reached for him with a hand the size of Tharos’ head
Tharos tried to get away but the giant was quicker. Hand closing about his wrist, it wrenched him up to it’s eye level. His shoulder feeling ready to tear, Tharos could do nothing but dangle there as a second giant examined him.
“Yeah, that’s a Sunthralli all right” the one called Dolv chuckled, “I’ll get the kids to prep some stones. Should be fun for them.” It leaned in real close to Tharos. " Hope you can run little one, don’t wanna spoil the game too quickly."
Tears began to form in Tharos’ eyes, as it hit him. This wasn’t a dream, he’d failed his father somehow. This was his punishment. He recognized these creature now, the subject of every scary story he’d been read. Humans.
He knew they were going to hurt him. He tried to kick, and fight. Working every muscle he had to get free, but it was pointless. The large brute held firm, and kicked him in return.
As the air was driven out of Tharos’ body he began to cry freely. Trying to catch his breath he felt something welling up inside. An intense heat that kept building hotter and hotter. It hurt, but it didn’t stop. More and more this agony until eventually it disappeared. Tharos felt himself fall.
He hit the stones on his knees, not wasting this opportunity he pushed himself up and ran. Readying himself to duck under a grasping arm, but it never came. Tharos made it to the end of the alley safely. Looking back he saw the human that was holding him flailing around in a panic, somehow it had caught fire. Thinking his luck had turned for the better, he turned back towards the street.
His jaw dropped, he started to hyperventilate. The street was packed with more humans. Tharos hesitated, one human had been bad enough. There was no way he could get away from them all. Sudden heavy footfalls from behind told him the first human had managed to extinguish itself. Tharos had no choice, he ran out into the street.
Ducking and weaving his way through the crowds, he kept his head down, hoping he wouldn’t be noticed. He glanced up and saw another alley opening, his only chance. Tharos ran for it, slipping around the clumsy humans with ease. Halfway now, he could almost see the end of the crowd, when he collided with something solid.
Noise from the crowd told him he’d been noticed, but strangely they sounded concerned? Perhaps they thought he was one of their young. A cool shade fell over him, and a surprisingly gentle voice spoke to him. "Are you alright little one?’
Tharos tried to nod without looking up, but as he tried to push himself up, he felt another large hand close on him. This hand was as gentle as the voice though, and Tharos found himself back on his feet.
“You know, you should watch where you’re going. Where are your parents?”
Tharos fought back tears, where were his parents? Certainly not here. He risked a quick glance at the Human, and his eyes widened This Human had a shapeless face of metal. To scared to speak he tried to back away.
“No need to be afraid little one, I won’t hurt you. My name is Tharwyn. I’ll help you find them.”
Tharos blinked back tears, eyes no longer glowing. Looking back now, he had found his real father then. He just couldn’t see it.
Taking a breath to calm himself, he cleared his voice, “If there are no further votes” he brought his hand down. Then raised his other. “Rook Andreas”