Verik arrived next to last, the archer had tailed him the entire way back as he walked along using his spear for support. Sitting beside a wagon he leaned back and sighed in relief, he may not know how to truly "fight" with the spear but circumstance and fate had favored him once more.

Sefu sent the archer on top of the wagon to stand and keep watch while he stalked around the battlefield quietly counting and judging.

Asha was quick to check him, one of the others had been hurt more badly than they had realized and after tending to them it was his turn to be checked for injuries. Removing his shirt she looked him over and found several cuts that had come very close to being fatal.

"You are lucky."

"I think we are all lucky today not just me."

Zuri tried to undo his pants but couldn't figure it out nor the boot laces. Undoing both for them they yanked them free and Asha paled for a moment before both ran to the wagon grabbing water and a bag before returning.

Looking down he realized what they were so worried about: apparently he had not done as well as he had thought.

Adrenaline can do marvelous things, pull off true miracles, that was the case here. His head stung a little because he had not in fact dodged the rock the slinger whipped at him but had in fact been nicked along the side of the head. All those blows and stabs from the first bandit he fought had nicked his arms all over the place and even a few punctures to the chest but nothing too dangerous.

His legs however... How he had managed to even stand for that length of time was anyone's guess, his pants had obscured the damage from everyone at first but now that he could see...

Asha and Zuri were quick to stop the bleeding and rubbing a salve into the bandages they pressed them into the various stabs and cuts on his legs causing him no small amount of pain. At some point that bandit had also managed to make a good shot on his leg but with adrenaline coursing through his veins he failed no notice despite the limping.

Lots of bandaging later and putting salve on the other wounds Zuri pushed him back against the wagon telling him to rest, allowing the salve to heal the injuries, if her seemingly magical concoction could remove a vicious sunburn in a matter of moments he wondered how it would fair against cuts and stab wounds.

Verik could see others had been injured but only one had died so far, a blow to the neck had killed one quickly but another had been less fortunate: a throwing stick had shattered their skull.

They were alive but from the way the others acted there was nothing they could do for him, the damage was too severe and still so far away from civilization the odds were very much against them surviving till morning.

Zuberi was strangely enough the most angered over the dead and dying, after checking over everyone except Verik he stormed off and kicked one of the dead bandits a few times before turning to Verik.

"You. You are bad luck."

"If I am bad luck why are we still alive? Whatever fate has in store for us or if there is some grand design it would appear I was supposed to be here today."

Zuberi opened his mouth to say something but his sister Zuri hissed at him making him go silent, turning away he kicked one of the corpses again before wandering off.

"Do not mind my brother, that is one of his friends." Zuri pointed at the zebra dying on the ground.

"He wont make it will he."

She shook her head.

"No, back at Wete... Maybe... Maybe... But not here." She sighed. "Rest, we will not be able to move the wagons till either tonight or morning, too many wounded. Rest."

Verik leaned his head back against the wagon and closed his eyes a moment, the sun thankfully could not reach him here in this little nook, at least not until noon at any rate then he would have to crawl under the wagon which he fully intended to do.

Water was carefully rationed out and passed around, Sefu had returned and accepting a bowl squatted across from Verik and sipped slowly while staring.

"Yes?"

"Explain."

Verik told him what had happened but it took a little while, Sefu stopped him now or then to get more details if he had them but otherwise listened silently and asked Verik to point out which corpse he was referring too, making certain there was no mistake not that there was any.

"You growled at them."

"Wild guess but it worked."

"Growl at me. Like you did them."

Verik just stared as Sefu continued to sip at his water and sitting upright did his best to repeat the action, Sefu just stared back quietly then stood up and walked off. It was not Sefu that had him a little worried however, the snarl had gained the attention of every last zebra within earshot which was all of them.

A few mouths hung slightly but most just stared wide eyed for a moment before Sefu waved at them to ignore it before passing his bowl to Zuri as he left.

Asha kept one ear turned towards Verik and Sefu as she tended to Jelani, she was the second most lucky of the fighters today, Sefu had not a scratch on him but Jelani had nearly been stabbed at one point and narrowly missed a fungu that had left a welt on her shoulder.

Despite it she was still able to use her shortbow, a testament to her ability to ignore pain and also just being stubborn.

Not that the others were not listening either, just about any that were not too injured had an ear turned and listened to the bizarre tale Verik told. It really was a miracle he had not been killed outright then so completely ignored he was able to swing the battle in their favor.

Remembering what happened with the one crawling under the wagon she now understood why they had disappeared so quickly cussing and screaming, then the one who had climbed up and was aiming to skewer someone.

Several flinched when as he described using the wagons wheel as a battering ram to kill the one bandit but none felt sorry either she guessed.

Verik had done quite well for someone not trained to fight but it was when Sefu asked for clarification at the end that heads turned. Hearing that feral snarl made heads, ears and eyes turn rapidly while the fur on her spine stood up, it was not the angry sound a zebra or Arabian made but something more primal, feral, predatory.

Now it was clear why she had that odd feeling around him of being both safe but disturbed. He truly was different than them, catching a glimpse of his face as his mouth was open she stared a moment at the sharp teeth before looking back to Jelani's shoulder.

Verik was a predator.

Some rest did wonders, the heat had faded quickly and now the sun was approaching noon meaning if he was going to do what he was planning now was the time, assuming his legs would let him.

Sitting up and leaning on his spear he looked around and decided to hobble to the other side and check the two he had killed there first. Now that the adrenaline was gone every last ache and pain from the various slugging matches he had screamed back at him with the stab wounds on his legs making the simple act of walking very hard.

Nothing would deter him from his task however, he had killed them and some deeper part of him declared that whatever they had on them was now his.

Making his way around the wagon he looked for the two bodies but did not see them, someone had already drug them away and piled the two of them together a short distance away. Limping after the bodies he looked them over and saw absolutely nothing, not even a pouch assuming they ever had any.

Turning back towards the open field on the other side where he had first fought, Verik made his way slowly over as the archer watched him from her perch.

"What are you doing?"

Finally able to hear her voice for what it was without the screaming he had to admit her voice was more pleasant now, a single stripe ran down from under her eye all the way to her shoulders. Like Asha her hair was braided tightly and laid flat down her back then bound up.

Looking into her amber eyes he blinked a moment.

"Looting the bodies of those I killed. Why?"

She coughed out a small laugh then shook her head and waved him off and muttered something, muttering he happened to catch. Apparently he acted very much like a mercenary.

Shuffling on he found the first two and retrieving the tarp and string which had been blown around a little before he squatted beside the first body and looked it over before retching.

It was covered in lice and flees.

Grabbing the thin cloth belt that was strapped around the body he yanked hard but it would not budge, undoing the knot that held it was a small task but working quickly so he could get away from the infestation he finally got it free and repeated the process with the other corpse.

Moving a short distance away he dumped the contents onto the ground and threw the pouches back, the flees were already looking for a new host. What little had come out of the pouches amounted to spit on a griddle, tarnished bronze and two silver coins.

Reaching for his pockets he realized he was still walking around barefoot and without his pants on but turning back to the wagons he spotted his visitor.

Asha had followed him and was standing quietly watching, leaning down and scooping up the coins he passed them to her.

"Hold these. Left my pants behind."

"You should not be moving around, might open wounds."

"Not like anyone else is going to go over these bodies for me not that anyone should... You should probably go tell Zuri they are covered in lice and flees."

Her eyes widened a moment before she backed away from the bodies quickly but she did not go back.

"I check the bodies then and you hold whatever I find. Deal?"

Asha nodded and followed him to the next body but kept a respective distance, thankfully the bandit who so eagerly impaled himself on the spear was not infested. Taking his time Verik undid the belt and opened it with much of the same results.

"I have a question Asha... Does anyone in this country have more to their name than... Four or five tarnished or rusty coins, maybe a silver or two?"

Verik held his hand out and coming over quickly she accepted the coins before backing away again, she shook her head and stared at the tiny pile in her hand.

"Maybe they stashed it all at their camp but I doubt we will ever find it nor do we have the time I guess... Shame."

"Why are you picking their bodies?"

"I killed them and its not like they were upstanding folks, bandits. Kind of poetic irony for the bandits to wind up being looted of their ill begotten goods dont you think?"

"You are very odd."

Checking the slinger revealed a small, poorly crafted knife that was too shallow to do much damage but he supposed that in the heat of the moment it had been forgotten.

"Ten little... What is this? Bronze or copper?"

"Bronze."

"Hooray I think I struck the jackpot on this one... Lets go back."

"Does it not bother you?"

"No. Why?"

"You killed them, that one, there... You smashed their head in with a rock. How does the death not bother you?"

"Does it bother you?"

"A little but the way you killed them is so..."

"Brutal. Yes Asha, it does bother me but it was either them or me and I chose them, they were horrific ways to die but better them than me not that I escaped unscathed. Anyway, whats done is done, figured you would not be bothered by it though."

Asha jerked her head towards him.

"Why you say that?"

"You explained how dangerous this region is, figured that by your age you would have seen more than your share of it."

"I have but it does not make it... Easier."

Verik shrugged. "Fair enough, so how much is that worth?"

"You know how to read but not count coin?"

"Not your worlds coins at any rate."

"Mmm... This might keep you alive for... A week, maybe two if you live on the street."

"Impoverished and overpriced world."

Asha shrugged, "Coin is very precious to us so we make it last but things are expensive in the cities and towns. Coin only goes so far."

She held her hand out and poured the little pile back into his hand as they approached the wagons, none paid them any mind as they sat down and Verik scooted under one of the wagons before looking out at her.

"Here, take this."

Holding her hand out she accepted some of the coins he passed to her.

"What this for?"

"Well you have done the cooking and even looked after me, I have no other way of showing my appreciation."

Asha handed them back, "No, you help us."

Verik finished sliding under the wagon and stretched out in the shade and grabbing his nearby pants shoved the coins inside.

"Warn them about the parasites."

Closing his eyes he enjoyed the cool shade and listened to the birds that had returned now that the battle was over, this would be an interesting trip.

Sefu and Zuberi were the only two left that still had the strength to drag the bodies away from the wagons. Asha had approached them earlier about Verik's concern due to the sheer quantity of lice and flees that infested most of the bodies.

They already knew this and were thus moving the bodies away rapidly via dragging them by the hooves and running.

"Burn the bodies?"

Sefu shook his head as they grabbed another corpse by the legs and began dragging it away.

"No, maybe more, maybe not. They have camp near here and others may see smoke and come looking, also too dry to burn bodies, start wildfire."

"Dragging them is only knocking the lice and flees loose though not that we have a choice Sefu, also this stink and blood is going to bring predators not that we need any more of them."

"He may not be Wete but he fought, could have run too but did not."

"I know that Sefu but that does not mean I trust him."

They let the body drop and Sefu shrugged as they walked back to find another.

"You will honor deal yes?"

"Of course, he is employed to travel with us until we reach Alzamard, after that-"

"Asha tried to convince him to stay."

Zuberi let out a low groan.

"She means well but we have enough problems without adding to them."

"True." Sefu grabbed a leg and began pulling. "But you know the ancient tales yes? Predators from north, jackals. Like us in some ways but live deep in mountains away from others."

"I think we are all familiar with Nuru's stories, always trying to scare us as foals."

"I think this one similar to them maybe. Predators that travel in packs, loyal but when angered..." Sefu looked down at the corpse they were dragging for a moment then back up. "None of these bandits save two knew how to fight and neither did he."

"Which is why we are better off." *grunt* "Without him."

"Maybe, maybe not. Maybe we keep eye on him and see. More bandits are attacking, even here so close to protected place. Many villages burned so quickly and wars breaking out all around Wete. Maybe it wiser to keep him closer, little training he make useful warrior for village..."

"Sefu, you have done nothing but complain to the chief for months about needing more warriors and now you have a chance to get another one... Alright. Fine. But tell me this, how do we know this predator is not going to turn on us? You said he has sharp teeth and we all know what that means. Also we were doing fine till he arrived-"

"Luck runs out Zuberi. Today it did, maybe again tomorrow, long trip home and one is already dead, one more die soon... He is strong but not used to battle. You say he betray us? Ask him. I think he tell you if asked. Predator yes but not wild or insane, if he like those stories Nuru tells we can trust him."

"Alright, we'll ask him but if he-"

"He wont."

There was a hand on Verik's shoulder shaking him awake before finally tugging. Eyes opening quickly he sat up but a loud thud filled the air as his head smacked into the bottom of the wagon.

"Damn it!"

Laughter broke out as he slowly rolled over and crawled out from under the wagon, the sun was setting and the others were looking better than they had, the archer was laughing till tears threatened to flow.

"Shut up archer."

"I have a name, Jelani. You, you are funny mercenary!"

"I am not a mercenary."

"You act like one."

Sitting up and leaning back against the wagon he looked around at the others as they ate.

"So only bandits and mercenaries pick the bodies of the dead then?"

"Soldiers do but you are not a soldier."

Sefu and Zuberi were sitting very close to him which was very odd, Asha handed him a bowl heaped with food.

"No breakfast in morning, we travel first light and only stop for water, not stop again till late."

A pile of weapons sat beside where he had been sleeping, it was strange that nothing had woken him from the slumber but exhaustion can do that. Sefu made a motion at the pile.

"Yours. You tell Jelani you keep what you kill but you left those behind, you want them or no?"

"I will take them and I assume you want your spear back."

Sefu nodded and Verik pulled it from under the wagon and passed it back as Zuberi put his bowl down.

"You eat flesh?"

"Yes I eat meat, why?"

A hushed silence fell over them all a moment before some went back to eating not caring, Asha had never stopped and just continued to watch and listen. Verik looked at Zuberi and narrowed his eyes.

"I am not going to eat you."

Sefu gave Zuberi a side-wards glance before making a quiet grunt and went back to eating, Zuberi stared for a moment before speaking.

"What will you do after we reach Alzamard?"

"Not sure, I would like to travel and see your world but Asha has also made a strong case against it and after today..."

"Hmm. You are not a warrior where you are from correct?"

Verik explained things again quickly as the others listened.

"For one who labors you are not used to heat or strain..."

"Different kind of strain and different heat, I can carry things all day long but rolling around on the ground fighting for your life under the blazing sun tends to take it out of you."

Zuberi made a humming noise. "If you returned with us to Wete, what would you do?"

"I would still prefer to explore but if I went back... Probably farm until I figure out what to do."

"You were farmer?" Sefu stared at him with a cocked eyebrow.

"Growing up yes but land was... Expensive, where I came from so I never got the chance."

"We will be at Alzamard day after tomorrow." Zuberi stood and walked over to his sister and sat with her and talked quietly while looking at one of the wounded.

Verik ate and began to pick over the pile of weapons left for him by Sefu, most of it was flimsy junk but the throwing sticks or "rungu" as he was told were decent and useful. Somehow the flimsy wicker shield had survived the ordeal just barely and after some consideration Sefu warned him to not trust it against more than an arrow.

Of the various spears Sefu had laid on the side one stood out, its staff was in excellent condition and with a little help the two changed the spearhead after undoing the pin with some effort to a better one.

Two throwing sticks and spears along with a ragged sling and pouch that was half empty. Looking at Asha for a moment then her glorified "walking stick" she used to fight with he gave her one of the spears and sling. If they were attacked again it would be better to have something more than a blunt stick to smack someone with.

As the sun finally vanished there was no hushed conversation this night, most attention was given to those few still too injured to move around. Whatever was in the magical salve had most back on their hooves except for Verik and two others but their wounds were well on their way to healing.

Asha checked him over carefully and reapplied the mixture before moving on but Verik continued to stare at the one who received the most attention: a dying stallion named Wadi.

Zuberi spent the better part of his time sitting there watching and debating something as the other slowly died. Others watched in silence and he did not have to ask as it was clear to all that there was nothing that could be done.

With a heavy sigh Zuberi looked at his sister then two others, they all shook their heads and clustered close to the body for a little while whispering to themselves before a quick snapping sound filled the air. Moving away from the body they carried it a short distance away from the wagons and began digging alongside the trail.

"Mercy killing?"

Asha looked over and nodded.

They had both seen the wound and truth be told it was either a miracle or curse that Wadi had survived the blow which had caved in part of his skull without killing him outright. Digging the grave took some time as it had to be deep enough to prevent predators from digging it up.

Almost everyone took a turn digging the grave, the other who had died was already buried earlier in the day while Verik slept but they did not ask for him to dig, the five doing the digging were his friends or family that had come along with him on the trip.

It took them a little while to chisel out the hole but after they finished the body was lowered inside and they began to cover it, Asha explained in the morning before they left rocks would be placed on top to weigh it down and keep scavengers away.

They had won the battle but their faces told a different story.

With morning came a rush to gather rocks and pile them on the grave before moving off. Today everyone would be involved in pushing or pulling the wagons, it was important that they get as far away as possible and reach Alzamard within Zuberi's time frame.

Sefu was helping to pull the lead wagon and every few hours he would trade off with Jelani for keeping watch. One of the zebras who was still too wounded to walk had been laid on the largest wagon for the time being and acted as another set of eyes as they slowly recovered from a particularly bad arm and leg wound.

Flies were probably the worst though, all of them had a... "Smell" to them from lack of bathing but the flies that buzzed around and kept trying to get in their eyes were the worst. Zuri had passed around a jar that contained some concoction that chased the flies away when applied to the arms and neck but the odor that wafted from it did not help their noses.

Sefu was quite a sight, unable to clean the blood off he had changed colors as the blood dried and darkened, the flies buzzed around him more than anyone else and his tail never stopped flicking at them.

Verik's leg was nearly back to normal but the one stab had been deep and as such he now helped to keep the larger wagon moving along whenever it hit a large rock and often enough would use the his boot to kick away the obstacle allowing the wagon to progress.

Sweat poured from them as the sun reached its apex resulting in a sweltering dry heat. Zuri checked on him along with the wagons passenger now and then before waving him away from the wagon after a time instructing him to just walk along and keep rocks from blocking the wheels.

At some point they reached a well and a quick stop was made to collect water and rest before moving on. Large jars were quickly refilled and Zuri made certain they all drank as much as they could before finally having them dump water on themselves to cool off.

Sefu took a little longer as he tried to scrub the blood out of his fur using something akin to soap that took most of it out but left him dyed a light red color anywhere the blood had touched him. On the other hand the flies no longer bothered him nearly as much.

Even the cooking pots and jars were filled with water before moving on and as the day wore on the pace began to slow little by little as fatigue overtook them.

His limp was gone when the sun had passed high noon and began to dip lower in the sky. Zuberi had a quick conversation with Jelani and Sefu then everyone began slowing their pace back to what it had been when he first joined their little convoy the eagerness to put distance died off, the battle had been left far behind them.

Some were removed from their various tasks of pushing or pulling and the order was rearranged quickly so those who were too worn out now walked while others continued to pull.

As for how far they had traveled Verik had no idea but his feet burned from the rapid pace they had kept and his arms burned from strain and sunburn. Asha had been pulled from towing a wagon and now joined him as they kept walking towards a distant ridge line.

Zeburi wanted half of them rested somewhat before they reached it, a great deal of pushing and pulling was required to get up the side and the water well was on the other side along with the city in the distance.

He was pleased with all of them for the time they had made and even bothered to talk to Verik a moment albeit begrudgingly. Once they crossed the ridge it would be downhill from there and into the wide, smooth valley Alzamard sat in along the Thriti River.

Actually getting to the city would not happen that day unfortunately, there was still a great distance to cross and by the time they worked their way up one side then down the other Zeburi was certain they would be too tired to go any farther.

Getting up the ridge proved to be quite the ordeal, struggling to push the heavily burdened wagons up proved to be a grueling task as it got steeper. Bwnai had almost entirely recovered and was now limping along to the far front knocking rocks out of their way so the wagons would not be slowed.

Everyone pushed and heaved for hours as the wagons slowly moved up the ridge before finally cresting and beginning the descent. Using larger stones as chalks so the wagons would not roll away Zuberi called a halt for a short time to catch their breath and drink.

Most simply sat where they had stood either swatting at flies or reapplying the goo that chased them away. Verik though was sitting off to the side with a clear view of the distant city.

It was quite a distance and little detail could be made out but from this height it was clear Alzamard as a very large city, or had been. Walls were visible of various heights along with mighty towers but little else could be made out except for a large sprawling mass leading away.

A wide river cut through the city dividing it in half, the only link between the two were bridges that came halfway across the river to a large island in the middle joining the two halves.

Squinting at the city for a while he finally gave up and when Zuberi called everyone rejoined and began moving the wagons along again. Winding their way down the ridge was easy despite being ready to collapse, little effort was needed to get the wagons moving on their own and after a couple of minutes they easily rolled along.

Near the base of the ridge they stopped as the terrain leveled out a little more before pulling the wagons to the well stopping for the day. Zuberi called them all over before they began to set up camp for the night and with a few loud claps to get their attention had them sit.

"Sometime tomorrow morning we will arrive at Alzamard, I will say it now and again in the morning then again before we go inside the city... Trust no one, accept nothing and more than anything stay close to each other! No matter how curious you are stay where you are and only go when I say you can then return immediately!"

Zuberi scanned them for a moment.

"Alzamard is a very dangerous city, if the guards approach say nothing and do not look at them, if they talk to you say nothing! Let me do the talking! If you have any coin..." He looked at Verik and Sefu. "Keep it close and if anyone bumps you grab them, they probably stole something."

"Why not just go now?"

Zuberi glared at Bwnai.

"If the city is dangerous in daylight it is worse at night. We are only here because we can sell our goods for a better price otherwise I would have never brought us here. Arriving at night? We would be lucky if there was one pot left on the wagons within an hour! Half of you would probably be grabbed by the guards and sold to the slavers or worse! TRUST NO ONE! Especially the guards!"

"Yes, yes Zuberi... We get it..." Bwnai waved him off. "We will not be staying only selling and leaving almost immediately like you said before we started."

"Good... I have the list of what we are getting and will have to take a few of you with me to get them after I have sold our cargo. Sefu and Zuri will remain and keep an eye on things, listen to them."

"Is the city really that corrupt?"

Everyone turned to Verik for a moment, some nodded others looked at Zuberi.

"Yes. Sultan Fareed is from a long line of corrupt nobles, Alzamard was once a great city but that was long ago before his family took over. Now... Now, it is merely one more of the worst cities in Zebrica, slavers, bandits and the corrupt control the city. You either pay handsomely for protection or..."

Zuberi made a gesture across his throat. "You do not want to be the last one standing holding the sack after the others have taken their share."

"So that massive sprawl outside the walls was what... A giant slum?"

"Slum? Few live inside the city now, too many buildings are falling apart and Fareed kicks them out since they only cause him trouble. They are too poor to pay taxes or for "protection" so they are forced to live outside the walls, not that he provides it to them either way."

"Sounds like a lovely place to visit."

"You wanted to explore... Now is your chance to see. Oh! If anyone tries to talk to you tell them you are from... Somewhere, make up a name and tell us in the morning, you are a mercenary. Stay well armed and you will look the part well enough."

Verik nodded before looking over at Asha who was shifting nervously.

"Something wrong?"

"I came because I had to, my turn to go."

"Ah. Have you ever been there before?"

"No, but know stories, many stories about how bad that place is."

"Well if it was that horrible I doubt many would bother going..."

Zuberi sat across from them.

"Alzamard sits on the largest and longest river in the region, never floods here but is one of two ways across the river the other being Quda. Labrad has some ferries but never enough. Alzamard and Quda are the only two bridge crossings on the entire Thriti River and Fareed knows so he uses it."

"Sounds like an... Interesting, fellow."

"Pah! Thankfully he has not born an heir! Maybe when he dies things get better... Never mind, you two, stick together and you strange one stay in the open. Don't hide. Stand beside the wagons and ignore everything, you are a mercenary I hired to help protect the caravan. If the guards say anything about your... Form... Ignore them and let me do the talking understand?"

Verik nodded, Zuberi grave a quick, sharp nod back before standing.

"Zuri! Rations."

Asha and Verik watched him walk off and pull a scroll from a satchel he had tucked away on a wagon, reading over it carefully. Standing they joined the others at the wagon and collected their cooking and eating ware before accepting their rations and a pinch of salt.

With two deaths there was no shortage of rations now.

Not wasting any time Verik wandered off without Asha's urging to find brush to burn and returning she just smiled and got a fire going quickly. Jelani joined them oddly enough and talked with them a little that night before wandering off to take up a post on sentry duty.

Tomorrow they would arrive in Alzamard.