Freedom awoke and rubbed in hands across his eyes trying to clear from them the grit and mire that had been in the air last night. He didn’t know when he had fallen asleep but berated himself for it. Looking around, however, he saw that he had not been alone. Even Dennizon, still close by, now slept fitfully along with several others. With all of the noise of the waterfall and explosions it was a wonder any of them had fallen asleep regardless of exhaustion. But then that was just it. It was so quiet! The explosions had stopped, but so had the other noises. Standing Freedom walked down the dark expanses of the caverns that the people had run into seeking shelter should the entry cavern prove unsafe.

The cave worked its way upward and slowly began to brighten as the light of day crept in. He made another bend and as he turned the corner he stopped with wide eyes. The people had been right to go deeper into the caves for the main cavern had indeed collapsed. What had been the roof of the great cavern was now rubble on its floor, but what was more disturbing was that in place of water and the stream that had produced the waterfall was now a thick black sludge oozing down the walls. Of the waterfall there was no sign. Freedom climbed over some rubble and got a good view of the plains and hills. From here he could see where the camp site had been. Only memory of the place told him that though. What he saw was a burning wasteland. The ground was pockmarked and littered with thousands of meteors. All vegetation had been blackened and where there had been trees there now only stood burning stumps and blackened skeletons of branches if even those stood.

But even worse were the charred remains of what he knew to be his fellow Immortals who had not survived. He tried to count them but gave up for their number was too great. Looking down at his feet he saw a bit of clothing protruding from between some of the fallen rocks. Feeling sick he knew that not everyone had left the main cavern for the safety of the smaller caves.

How many had died here he wondered? Then a more important thought came to him. How many had survived? With a run of adrenaline fueled energy he ran back to the caves in search of life for out here, there was only death to be found.

Paragraph 29: The Tally

Albertus surveyed his people with a grim look on his face. The count was in and it appeared that approximately 200 had survived. It seemed inconceivable to him but there it was. Nearly the entire remnant of his people, newly escaped from the clutches of an evil King and demons had been destroyed by a fire from the very heavens.

Looking around he surveyed the survivors. There was Kitana, tending a wound Jaha had suffered though he looked none the worse for wear. Phoenix sat tending Farseer. Apparently he had drug the stretcher himself and saved the injured High Councilor. Freedom sat talking with Umores and a handful of the crusader army to include Doomwolf, Larohan, Silencer, and Metalmaniac. In another corner sat Azcon and Ultima conversing with each other. Dennizon tended to a group of men who seemed irate and on the point of mutiny whilst Caerial sat was bent over a line of injured trying to save their lives. There were more but Albertus was simply too weary in body and mind to think on it anymore.

This entire ordeal weighed heavier on him than it did with others. In years beyond memory of most he had suffered incredible loss like this once before. Fire and death seemed to haunt him. He slammed his fist down onto the hard rock on which he sat and the rock cracked with its forced. Oh yes, he could wield great power it was true, and crush rock with his bare hand if he had the mind, but he could not stop these tragedies. Despite these feelings though he forced his unruly emotions back into control. His people needed to see him calm and assured at this moment in particular. Age and turmoil had taught him great patience and calm, but this tested him. By all that was good this tested him.

He stopped thinking as he saw Kitana approaching him. “Are you alright old friend?” She asked with a look of concern in her face. “Yes I am fine thank you. It would appear that your brave husband is in worse shape than me.” Kitana let out a rich laugh, a blessed sound at the moment. “Jaha is made of tough stuff. He has to be to win my love” She smiled and sat down beside Albertus. “Oh, he will be alright, just took a pretty hard hit to the back from falling debris trying to save someone last night.” “He is full of honor truly.” Albertus said admiring the large man for his courage when so many others had lost their wits. “No less than you though my dear friend.” She said warmly. “I recall a small boy who was saved from the brink of death by a wily old sorcerer last night” Albertus merely grunted, silently wondering how the little boy was doing and if he had survived. He had not been able to see to everyone. “Yes he survived.” Kitana said showing how well she knew her old companion. “In fact you would be surprised at how many women and children survived. It seems that in my absence the honor has not left our people. In fact many of our casualties are those who remained outside striving to get others in to safety. Phoenix led them of course. He had ordered them back inside when it was plain that the danger had become too great only to lose most of them when the cavern roof caved in.”

Kitana sighed sadly and Albertus felt renewed anger and disgust well up inside of him. Those noble souls would not be forgotten. And Phoenix. Phoenix truly embodied the character of that noble force of which he was now the last surviving. His loyalty and honor were unmatched. “This whole thing has been most tragic.” Albertus said with deep currents of sadness running through his heart. “Indeed it has.” Said Dennizon who had quietly approached them. “But we will survive.” Dennizon’s simple words rang true in Albertus’ heart. “Yes, the sacrifices of our people simply with not be forgotten” Albertus said, his feeling of conviction rising above the feelings of loss.

The rest of that day and most of the next were spent gathering what provisions could be found, tending the wounded, and working out a plan to get their people somewhere safe. Albertus waited eagerly for word from scouts sent out to survey the damage and see if there was anywhere safe to lead the people.