The next day they rested a bit and continued on their way. Erica carried Liliana, but after a couple of hours Liliana asked her to put her down to walk on her own.

—How are your feet?— asked Erica.

—Super— Liliana assured her.

She felt good after letting them rest, so they continued without any problems. Not long after, in the distance they noticed rocky uprisings, mounds that rose and expanded, covering one side of the horizon. As they continued walking, they noticed a camp on the side of the rocky mounds and red people around it. It was a noni camp.

—What are they doing there?— Erica asked the air.

—Eeeek— replied Papel, over Liliana's head.

Liliana pursed her lips. She didn't want to approach a group of nonis, but she supposed they could guide them. Neither of them had any idea where they were or where they were going, and they needed to get back to civilization as soon as possible. Despite her struggles with the nonis, Liliana saw no other option but to go and talk to them.

—Let's ask them how to get to the nearest town— she suggested at last.

Erica stopped, looked at her companion with the face of one who did not feel like it, although she knew it was the best option. She was a little surprised, because from what the brika had told her, she had made good friends with other nonis.

—All right— she resigned herself.

—What's wrong?— Liliana wanted to know.

Erica looked at her feet.

—Nothing. Just... it's a lot of people.

Liliana was surprised. Then she thought that maybe Erica was intimidated by the number of nonis.

—It's true— she observed —there are too many nonis, we should avoid them.

—Eh? Avoid them?

—They could capture us and sell us as slaves— noted Liliana— that's what worries you, isn't it?

—Oh, no, I can kill them all easily— assured Erica.

Liliana stared at her dumbfounded.

—Fighting is easy, but going and talking to them...— Erica sighed— but then we'll feel silly if we don't ask. Let's go.

She continued walking. Liliana, puzzled, hurried to follow her.

—Do you dislike talking to people?— she wanted to know.

—It's not that I dislike it. I like to talk to nice people, like you— explained Erica —but to go with so many strangers...— she wrinkled her nose in a grimace of displeasure.

Liliana thought for a moment. This was her chance.

—I'll ask them, don't worry— she said.

Erica looked at her for a second, tempted by her proposal.

—Really?

—It's nothing to me, as long as you protect me if they try to do anything to us.

Erica beat her chest in a gesture of confidence.

—They won't do anything to you.

Liliana smiled. Spending so much time alone, she hadn't seen Erica share much with other people. She had never expected her to be the antisocial type.

So, they approached the camp. As they got closer, they noticed weapons and high quality uniforms. They knew that these nonis were soldiers. Not only that, their clothes were different from the normal militia. Liliana put on her best smile and a good girl face. She called out to the first noni they saw from a safe distance.

—Excuse me— she greeted —Mr. Noni.

The soldier seemed to be checking his weapon at that moment. Seeing both girls approaching, he turned his head and called out to someone.

—Hey, there's somebody coming!

Immediately, several soldiers emerged from among the tents and surrounded the intruders. They didn't point their weapons at them, but Erica prepared to react anyway.

Then, from the group emerged two nonis distinct from the rest: The first was a rather large and muscular one, with several scars all over his body and a patch over his right eye. The other was quite small, a young man no more than thirteen years old, with small horns and orange skin that made him contrast with the rest. He was even smaller than Liliana.

—Humans...— the boy greeted, or at least it seemed to the girls that he greeted them— What are your intentions?

Liliana noticed impatience and arrogance in his way of speaking.

—He must be someone important— she thought, looking at the soldiers who let him speak as he wished.

She wondered if he was some kind of nobleman.

—We are a little lost— said Liliana, in a soft but firm voice —we wanted to ask you how to get to the nearest town or city, other than Vergherel, because we are coming from there.

The boy frowned.

—And how is it that a couple of humans came to get lost precisely in this place?

The tension suddenly grew. The nonis put their hands to their guns, preparing for when they were given the order to aim and fire. Erica formed a concealed knife in her hand and turned her sights on the big noni. If they were to start a fight, sending him flying at first would give them an advantage.

Liliana sensed this tension best, but she gave it the least thought. She wasn't going to let simple dialogue get out of control, especially not in front of a spoiled and petulant child. He distrusted them for a reason, that much was clear. She didn't care why, just to get that distrust out of his way.

—We are escaping from a gang of bandits— said the girl —We don't know why this place is so important to you, but it's not to us. We just want to get to a town where we can sleep comfortably and eat well.

The boy and the big noni looked at each other, as if deciding telepathically whether to believe them or not. Finally, the boy downplayed the matter and returned to his tent.

The big noni gave a couple of orders to the others and they dispersed. Then the same fellow approached the girls.

—Excuse me if my master frightened you— he said in a low, raspy voice —I'll show you the way. My name is Ungrar, it is a pleasure to meet you.

Erica and Liliana were surprised by his way of speaking. It was the gentlest thing they had ever heard a noni say.

—Am... my name is Liliana— she said.

—Erica— growled the other.

Papel gave a squeak that could be considered a greeting.

—Oh, excuse me. This is Papel— Liliana introduced him.

Ungrar nodded to Papel, who gave another squeak in response.

—What's wrong with that asshole?— said Erica.

—That what?— wondered Ungrar.

—Erica!— said Liliana.

—What?

—You shouldn't speak ill of others in front of their friends.

Erica crossed her arms.

—I didn't like his attitude, that's all.

Ungrar arched an eyebrow.

—I don't suppose you're not familiar with the name Cilo'non Rialal?

The girls shook their heads. Ungrar sighed.

—Perhaps you had better not. Come with me, I'll show you the way.

The four of them walked away from the camp, towards the rocky mountains. Upon closer inspection, the girls noticed that, rather than mountains, it was a complex forest of rocks, slopes and caves intertwined in confusing webs of paths. In the foothills, before entering this jam of rocks, Ungrar stopped and indicated the first path they should follow with his bulky arm.

—First you have to go through that long rock, then you go into that cave over there...— he explained.

Liliana tried to pay attention to him, but was soon distracted by the large number of scars all over his body, his eye patch and his big, scary face. Despite this he modulated well, spoke with correct tenses and verbs and expressed himself excellently with his hands. She could tell he had a good education— ... and after about fifty kilometers you young ladies will be in the next town.

Liliana was stunned. She had been distracted during the whole explanation and was too embarrassed to ask him to repeat everything. Ungrar had been talking for almost three minutes straight.

—Never mind, I'm sure Erica understood him— she thought.

She smiled, trying to look confident.

—Thank you very much, Ungrar. You've been very helpful.

—You're welcome, child.

—Let's go, Erica— Liliana said.

—Ah? Ah, yes. Let's go.

They advanced a few steps, when Ungrar called out to them.

—Oh, and one more thing.

—Yes?— both girls turned to him.

—Nearby there is a shakma. You shouldn't go near it, it's very dangerous and won't do you any good. Although it shouldn't give you any trouble if you follow the way I told you.

—What is a shakma?— asked Erica.

—A prison with a horrible monster inside. That's why we came here, to kill the monster.

The girls nodded, indicating that they received the message. Then they waved their hands in farewell and continued their journey.

—Clench your fists, young ladies— mused Ungrar, though he was sure nothing would happen to them, for the path he had shown them had been eradicated of monsters by himself and his men.

The girls and Papel entered the first cave, losing sight of the noni and the camp. They continued along the only clear path until they emerged into a sort of grotto within the earth: a large pit that stretched lengthwise in a winding path and surrounded by smooth rock walls. At that point the path split into three: one that went up, one that went down, and one that turned and headed left. Liliana turned to Erica.

—Where were we supposed to go now?— she asked.

—I don't know, I didn't pay attention to Ungrar— she answered indifferently.

Liliana put a hand to her forehead.

—Me neither! What are we going to do now?

—What do you say, you piece of...?

Erica turned to Papel, but she couldn't find him. She looked around, pawed Liliana and lifted her feet, but it was nowhere to be found.

—Argh! Not again!

—Where is Papel?— asked Liliana.

—He's gone— Erica kicked the air and put her hands in her pockets— Damn rat, you're making me worry too much.

Erica started to walk down the path that went to the left. Liliana looked at her in fright.

—Shouldn't we look for him? Couldn't he be in danger?

—Don't worry, he'll show up— she assured her —Believe me, he's smarter than he looks.

—Oh... ok.

-----------------------------------------

As they advanced, the grotto got deeper, wider and darker. It was quite nice, just the two of them in such a quiet place. They had not gone more than half an hour, when they came upon a person lying on the ground. It was a woman of a species they did not know well; she had gray skin, her arms and legs were long and ended in large hands. She lay motionless on the ground, in an uncomfortable posture.

Liliana stifled a scream, as Erica approached her to examine her. First she turned her over to make sure it wasn't a trap, but as she did so they could see a huge wound that ran along a large part of her torso. She was dead.

—What could have happened to her— Liliana asked.

—She was attacked— concluded Erica —It's not the kind of wound that a fall makes.

—Oh, no. Poor thing.

Erica stood up and nodded for them to go on. They walked alert to their surroundings and the high places they couldn't see. There were not many hiding places, only rocks and tunnels, but every now and then they seemed to hear something slipping over their heads, behind them, out of sight. The scene of the dead woman had fired their imaginations and they were beginning to get scared on their own.

They did not walk far when they came to a bottleneck, where the road widened a little on both sides. There, as soon as they looked up from their feet, they saw a few dozen more corpses. Liliana put her hands to her mouth, terrified. Erica frowned.

—What happened here!— exclaimed Liliana, her voice cracking.

Erica noticed that her companion was starting to get nervous. Her hands trembled and her face distorted into a pout of fear, so she put her hand on her shoulder.

—Calm down— she said.

Liliana looked at her, that calmed her down a bit. Erica decided to do what she had seen once on TV.

—Close your eyes. I'll carry you this part of the way. You don't have to watch this.

Liliana smiled at her, enormously grateful, but she already felt indebted to her and it didn't seem right to take on the role of a frightened little girl.

—Thank you... but no. It wouldn't be fair of me.

Instead of giving in to despair, Liliana put her hands to her chest to concentrate on her breathing. She slowed her pace by inhaling large breaths of air and exhaling through her mouth.

—Are you sure?— asked Erica.

—Yes, thank you very much.

They both advanced through the grotto full of corpses, carefully. Erica noticed that they must not have been there long, because she still couldn't smell them. There were men, women, old people and children, even pets. They were entire families.

—Do you think Ungrar and the nonis we met killed these people?— Liliana asked.

Erica didn't need to think about it for long.

Well, they look like full-fledged warriors, and their boss seems ready to kill anyone he doesn't like. Yes, that's likely.

—Wait, didn't Ungrar tell us about something dangerous we should avoid?— Liliana recalled.

—Ah? Oh, right, what was it?

—It had a strange name, but I can't remember.

Liliana scratched her head to see if anything would come out, but nothing did. At that, a faint wailing sound came up. They stopped, alarmed, and turned their heads to the next corner. The wailing was coming from over there.

Erica stood in front of it, advanced cautiously and leaned her back against the corner. From there she looked into the next section: she found nothing new, only several corpses and purple rock.

With one hand she indicated Liliana to follow her silently. The girls advanced slowly, the wailing latent, getting louder and louder. From one moment to the next they noticed something strange next to one of the corpses. At first it looked like a bundle of shivering clothes, but after they looked at it for three seconds, they realized that it was a child, a boy with gray skin and long fingers. He was trembling and wailing, crying on the chest of a gray woman.

Erica and Liliana looked at each other, hesitant. Then Liliana snapped out of it and turned to the child. The boy reacted frightened at first, even jumping backwards as a precaution, but Liliana made him see that he was not going to be hurt.

The girls took a long time comforting the boy, or rather Liliana comforted him while Erica couldn't figure out what to do.

—My name is Brontes— he introduced himself, now calmer and far from the woman's corpse —I am a sirivi, we are a small species of nomads. We live by hunting and collecting trinkets to sell. My clan was passing through this strait, we were heading to Vergherel. Everything was going well, but... but... but....

His face pouted, visibly tormented. Liliana took him by the hand to help him. That seemed to work for them, because the boy finished his story.

—...but suddenly a very big and ugly monster appeared, and it killed them all. It ate them and crushed them with its paws. It was horrible— he cried on the verge of tears again —My mom hid me. She told me everything was going to be all right, but... but... but...

His face pouted again. That was enough: the responsible for that massacre had been a monster. Erica had no trouble imagining how the bloodshed had transpired.

—Nudo has many monsters outside the cities— she confirmed— Some of them are uncontrollable beasts, there is nothing a normal person can do against them.

Liliana looked at Erica with a question on her face, one that Erica had already asked herself.

—Brontes, this place is dangerous— she said to the boy —We'll take you with us until it's safe for you, do you have someone who can take care of you?

Brontes thought for a moment.

—My uncle left the clan a few years ago. I could send him a letter.

—That seems like a good idea.

Erica held out a hand for him to get up from the floor, Liliana imitated her. Brontes, more cheerful, took her hands to stand up. Together they continued on their way to the exit.