The Wannabe Warrior
Chapter 92

Madison POV

We ate a meal with some lovely people, they were full of laughter and were light-hearted about all that had transpired, they were not a type of people to carry a grudge and were quick to share.

Made my heart warm to think such people still existed and not all power hungry.

They talked about being able to go outside and see the stars again, and to hunt for food and to just shift and run, they were full of joy and happiness, they did not complain that they had lots of work to get the tunnels back to how they used to be and make it a home again.

They just accepted and moved on.

It was at moments like these that I wished my mate were here, he would have enjoyed these people’s company, but he is back at the packhouse, worrying about me, while he has to try and replace the traitors. I feel I have the easy part of the job, making all these new friends. They are nice. I was never one to make friends. I saw no point, as I had expected to die on one of those days when I found the rogues that killed my mum, and here I was, the man who we thought was the main instigator dead, and I found these lovely friendly people.

I heard one of the warriors say ‘mate’ and Alex asked if it was okay for the mates to be together. They were okay with her joining the royal pack. How could one not support the goddess given?

We cheered and celebrated the union and disappeared down the tunnel to where I assumed was her room. They looked so besotted with each other, and I was glad with all the death around us that some love was still around and made the bad situation a whole lot happier for some.

Maybe the moon goddess thought we needed a break from all the death that surrounded us at the moment.

It was getting close to heading to bed, we were all winding down, the youngsters that were allowed to stay up and play with the visitors were now all in bed, and many of the older ones were not far from being in bed too.

Then the most woeful sound ever to be heard, rang out in the quiet night.

Some screaming for help and the sound of agony.

Alex said they were most likely the ones that bathed in the water. The timing was about right.

We talked about whether we should go outside and put the poor fellows out of their misery, and I bowed to the wisdom of Alex, he suggested waiting a little longer, in case some of their own would do the deed. And by the sounds of it, someone did put an end to some of one’s suffering.

Alex and a few of the warriors and I, together, entered the tunnels, and closed the large stone door that would reduce the noise from entering the main cave that was their home. A lot were many levels down and would not hear this screaming, but those who stayed near the top as part of the first responders to alarms, were not be able to sleep with the noise from outside.

We headed to where the screaming, being cautious of it being a trap of some kind, we edged closer to the cave entrance and could see a group of about twenty warriors, lying on the ground screaming in pain, and trying to get relief by hitting themselves in the stomach. While we were watching, we witnessed one man hit his stomach so hard, that it exploded and he fell to the ground and was still and silent, his intestines strewn over what was left of his stomach and on the ground close by him.

I had never seen such an act before and I stood motionless for a little while, staring at the men acting so violently against themselves, in an attempt to achieve pain relief, the pain must be so great to do such a terrible thing for relief.

‘That is how it is written in our history books. Exploding stomachs and a type of madness takes over them. From the pain, do you have any of your blow darts? Maybe we can put them to sleep and then slit their throats, giving them some relief.’ Alex asked me, and I thought about that being a great idea. Though these are rogues, they still should not die like this. At least taking away their pain and slitting their throats would make the death quicker and a sort of dignity.

‘I do, I never leave home without some sort of protection, and climbing a tree and blowing darts at anyone who tries to climb up it, was my go-to plan when I was little and not strong enough to fight big men.’ I explained why I had started to carry them

Pulling my bag from around my shoulders, I opened it up and grabbed the equipment I needed.

One at a time, I hit them and they fell silent. Once we had them all asleep, the warriors made quick work of slitting their throats.

‘We will leave them there for tonight and move them to the pyres in the morning, no need to risk our warriors being out here in the dark cold night.’

We returned to the caves and not too soon I found my bed. The memory of that man who killed himself will be forever in my mind and I hope that there is no more water like that found anywhere else. The painful death is one I do not want to witness ever again..

I wondered how Zane was doing, whether the other warriors were like we have here and in pain, and if they would put them out of their misery like we had here.

Climbing into bed and relaxing, I decided I needed to talk to my mate to hear his voice.