On our Side 2

"The donkey... what? Planted?! Damn, it's dead then..." Klaus

And Alucard, as he approached and cast his glances around the donkey, trying to search for the items, he got closer and closer... He began to inspect the area, but muttered in annoyance:

— "Ooh... Not here."

Klaus called out inquiringly

"Oo, Alucard, can you pull it out of its place?"

"I'll try."

He bent down and grabbed the donkey's stiff hind legs, but as soon as he started pulling, he felt something strange... a cold, rigid texture, repulsive. He pulled slowly, then with more force, but the mud seemed to refuse to let the donkey go. He tried to retreat a bit, then pulled again, his steps heavy, and his boots sinking deeper into the muddy ground.

"Yooo... What a feeling! Its texture... Fuck this!"

"Don't complain, boy, just keep pulling."

Alucard gripped the legs more firmly, pulled with all his might, until the donkey suddenly came free! And it was yanked out of its place... Alucard stepped back and fell on his butt, completely covered in mud.

Klaus spoke with a laugh.

"At least you got it out."

Hell, Hell! No existence for any blood, it is dead... death cold!

"Death cold? No blood!!!?"

"Ouch, Klaus! Damn it, what is this?! It's a deep black hole, almost strangely carved... It looks like that thing... what's it called...?"

Klaus "What do you mean, boy? What do you see?"

Alucard "That thing... in the sheep's belly... It's..."

Klaus "Stomach? Intestines?"

Alucard 'The intestines...! It's a deep hole carved in this way towards the bottomless void..."

Klaus "Damn, what is this now?"

Alucard "Do you want to see it?"

Klaus "No, I've seen enough... for today"

Alucard "Should we ignore it?"

Klaus "Hii, Alucard, leave it be... and with a little thought, I might conclude that those giant birds live down there..."

Alucard "Their world is underground... is that what you mean?"

Klaus "Yes... maybe..."

The news was shocking, after a while it didn't stop, the hours passed quickly, until they gathered again, the four of them, after all they had been through. They sat facing each other, the usual afternoon fog creeping in... reflecting its effect on their tired faces, as if the fog reminded them that they were still here, still alive.

The conversation flowed smoothly between them, each one exchanging words as if they were threads weaving the story of their survival together. They could hear well those stories that had passed them by. They talked about the journey of healing, how it would be done, and how seriously Janemba took it, about the pains left by that day, and about the rest that didn't last long, but most importantly, the dialogue wasn't just a recollection of what happened, it was healing in itself, their words were the balm they needed, even more than the medicines.

How each of them felt as they stood on the edge of danger, how they thought for a moment that the end had approached, but they clung to life. They were against the seed of evil that almost swallowed them in this vast world, the world that carries within it great danger, despair, and doom... It did that to them... just a seed of it...

And Raiv proved that by saying, "This day may have been thorny, saturated with sharp emotions, but it was a seed of something worse... and yet you learned a lot."

The others nodded in agreement, they all felt the same thing. They realized that they didn't just come out with intact bodies, but with more aware minds, stronger spirits, and higher awareness...

Now, after everything, there were only a few hours left until sunset. Alucard was walking with steady steps towards the designated place, as Raiv had described it as their only chance to return. The atmosphere was quiet except for the sounds of nature that didn't calm down for a moment, until the time came when the animal traders started to return. At times like these, the traders would pass through these areas, but this time it wasn't just an ordinary, tiring commercial return, as the humans themselves were the ones riding the carts, while two strong donkeys pulled them along the rugged path.

The cart was somewhat old, made of thick wood bearing the marks of time and its wheels were irregular, making its sound fill the place as it moved slowly over the hard ground. It swayed with every stone or hole, emitting an annoying creak every time the rusty wheels tried to turn. Despite that, it seemed sturdy enough to carry those on it.

Alucard was walking around the area, observing everything with his sharp eyes, moving without getting lost or straying too far from them. Finally, after minutes of cautious walking, his ears caught the sound he was waiting for—the rough sound of the wheels rubbing against the ground, filling the air with an inconsistent echo. He turned towards the source of the sound, and soon found them. The caravan was moving slowly, led by two strong donkeys pulling the heavy cart that had previously been filled with goods, but now carried the men themselves.

When he reached them, the encounter was as Raiv had expected. As soon as the traders heard his name, signs of acceptance and respect appeared on their faces, and they didn't hesitate to agree.

After everything, everything happened smoothly, they were received... and respected...

The two men had given up riding the cart without hesitation, while Raiv was laid down on it slowly, as if he had finally found a place that allowed him to rest and return at the same time after a hard day.

His massive body occupied a large part of the cart's surface, and he rested his head on an old sack that seemed stuffed with coarse fabric. One leg was stretched out and the other slightly bent, his left arm relaxed on the side of the cart while the other was over his wounded chest, contaminated by Howard's scratch, he was in a position that suggested comfort but wasn't entirely so.

On the upper side of the cart, Janemba and Klaus sat facing each other, each looking at the other with eyes reflecting the fatigue of the journey, interrogating the traders with their many questions. There wasn't much talk between them...

As for Alucard, after carrying the heavy petrified spear and placing it with the cart's belongings... he continued walking alongside the traders. His eyes never stopped observing. He walked with steady steps, close to the two donkeys pushing the cart forward. The sound of their hooves echoed from time to time, mixed with the sounds of other carts moving in the area. They were getting closer and the horizon began to be tinged with the colors of sunset, blending between orange and dark red, the sky preparing to bid farewell to this day...