Chapter 18 Lizards

While going around the mountain, looking for someone to use as a witness, Lucy found a group of eight lizards hiding in a cave not far from their own. The lizards had actually tried hiding in the cave Toz and his gang was in but Lucy's magic and Nil's traps made it dangerous to approach and gave the impression that there was nothing inside except for a bottomless abyss.

The lizards had originally wanted to leave the mountain range after their leader had returned but had been stopped by several other beasts that refused to let anyone leave. Ever since, they had been hiding in a tiny, obscure cave they had found, while waiting for an opportunity to leave. And that opportunity had now arrived in the shape of a small black kitten.

Lucy had just wanted to scare them away since they were a bit to close to Toz but when he got close he overheard their hushed whispering.

"...lt, we know you want to leave, but forcing it is just gonna make that stupid lion even more suspicious of us."

"I know, but if someone who saw me, makes it back up and tell the deer about me killing one of their leaders, before we get out of here, or if another leader comes back, we are all doomed!"

"Still, there's nothing we can do at the moment, the moles might be able to tunnel out of here but they and the badgers have completely disappeared from the mountain range already, our best hope at the moment is to wait for someone else to catch the attention of those wanna be guards and use that opportunity to sneak out."

It wasn't the first time they had had this discussion but like always the lizards found no solution to their predicament. Even if they were in trouble they didn't blame their leader since he had exacted vengeance for something they all hated that third lead deer for. Any one of them would have made the same decision if placed in a similar situation and they didn't regret ending up stuck and possibly in lethal danger. But it would be even better if they could get out of the mountain range and escape from the deer's territory before the herd leaves the mountain range and returns to eradicate the lizards.

Although Lucy wasn't certain based on that short conversation that he coincidentally managed to overhear it sounded a bit like the leader of this group of lizards had finished off the deer that the two wolves had managed to beat up. He obviously wouldn't have done that for no reason, maybe it was because of grudge established between neighbors? In that case the deer herd and the lizards should know each other, even if their relationship is bad, with the way the lizards talked they were only worried about the deer in case they found out about what had happened in the pit, not because they were in danger otherwise. For Lucy it seemed like a dream situation.

Even if the lizards hadn't killed the third lead deer they were obviously familiar with the herd and could be used to sow discord between the deer herd and the wolf pack. With that in mind Lucy approached the group of lizards that were startled stiff upon discovering a black kitten appearing from out of nowhere in their midst.

Although the lizards were shocked that someone had sneaked up on them and they hadn't noticed anything at all, one of them quickly reacted and asked in a flustered manner,

"Y-you! Who, are you?! What do you want?!"

SMACK

Their leader, although one step behind also reacted and analyzed the situation before responding appropriately. He hit his subordinate to keep him from making too much noise and revealing their hideout, before turning to Lucy.

"I am assuming you do not wish us harm since you showed yourself without any malice, am I correct?"

"Yeah, the wind whispered in my ear and told me you were in trouble, as the good boy I am I decided to help you out a bit."

Although the leader had his doubts about this supposed 'good boy' and the help he offered he decided it wouldn't hurt asking about what Lucy had in mind. What he heard in response shocked him, and it almost sounded too good to be true. Since he had put his group in trouble to begin with he accepted Lucy's deal both as a way to relieve his guilt and as an opportunity to screw over the deer herd even more.

They hammered out the details together and with no time to lose proceeded with the plan.

With one night left before the beast in the pit complete their ramp the boiling pot of trouble was stirred even harder.

The first step of the plan was simple, sneak out the lizard group as a guarantee in case the Lucy would decide to back out after the leader completes his part of the agreement. After seeing off the seven lizards Lucy and Kolt, the leader of the lizard group circled around the mountains until they reached the deer herd.

Now it was all up to Kolt to lay down the finisher. He approached one of the sentries standing guard in a perimeter outside the herd, since it was the most peaceful and secure way to get in touch with the acting leadership of the herd without arousing suspicion.

"Halt, who goes there?"

"Kolt, leader of the Fireclaw Lizard clan has come to seek and audience with anyone in a position of authority. I come bearing an important message regarding the happenings in the hole in the center of the mountain range."

"Hmph, how would you know anything about what's happening down there?"

"Because I climbed back up from the hole after i thought the matters regarding the treasure were finished."

"Hmm, I see, I guess I'll go inform someone then. Wait here."

Kolt reinforced his conviction to bring trouble to the deer herd after once again having to suppress his anger in front of another arrogant deer. He almost couldn't wait to hear about the herd getting on the bad side of the wolves. Although they were approximately as strong as each other, the wolves were a greater threat considering their natural habits and traits.

The deer guard returned after a brief moment and told Kolt to follow him to the center of the herd. There he was greeted by several elderly deer and their condescending gazes.

"We heard you came to report, quickly do so and leave. I don't need to warn you about spouting nonsense and telling us about unimportant stuff."

"Yes, of course. I will cut right to the chase, down in the hole, during the fight for the treasure, I witnessed the third Great Leader being attacked by the two leaders of the wolf-"

"Hold it right there! Did I not say to not spout nonsense! What do you think you are doing right now!?"

"I apologies for my discourtesy but I am merely relaying what my weak self saw down there."

"Hmph, continue then, but be warned that if the truth differs from what you have told us death will not come easily. And tell us about the treasure."

"Yes, as I was fighti-"

"Did we ask about you?!"

"My apologies. I saw the third Great Leader being attacked by the two leaders of the wolf pack, when I last caught a glimpse of the third Great Leader he was unconscious with severe injuries."

"Hmm, and what were the first and second Great Leaders doing? Are you saying they stood their watching the third Great Leader get attacked."

"Not at all, the first and second Great Leaders fought valiantly against sir Nespeth, trying to stop him from getting the orange orb that seemed to be the treasure, when the two wolves ambushed third Great Leader."

Kolt's report had the gathered deer elders in a thoughtful silence. Since the two leaders were fighting against that monstrous mammoth it was reasonable for them to be too busy to stop the wolves from attacking the third leader, but why would the wolves do that to begin with? It was no secret the two hegemons didn't agree on most points but they were not at the level of hostility where they would ambush each other like that.

The elders considered asking the trembling lizard in front of them but it was probably meaningless so they just sent him away to be kept watch over. His story would be confirmed or renounced as soon as their leaders returned. Meanwhile they kept thinking and discussing about what could make the wolves make a move. One of them eventually came up with an idea.

"What if the wolves got the treasure while all the other beasts were focusing on the fight between our leaders, and now with that treasure they plan to take over the wilderness, starting with weakening their greatest competition, us?"

The suggestion left the elders in a stunned silence for several hours.