Pheo went to face Don. He looked as if he was waiting for him, slowly rotating the mineral with one of his hands.
"I thought I told that boy that he should work with you to face me?" Don asked himself.
His eyes were on Pheo, looking at him as if he was an intruder on his house.
Pheo looked at the mineral, "What are my chances for getting what's in your hand?"
"Compared to the fierce one?" Don asked
"Slim" He told him upfront.
Don didn't look as if he was bluffing either, he was certain.
It made Pheo doubtful of his chances for a bit, then he took a look at Ryu.
He was going toe to toe with Warhound, both of them smiling as they fought each other.
Battle maniacs.
Pheo got a glass shard out from his pocket, the same one that cut from out of the restraints Narfius tied him in.
Don looked at it, "You think that's going to be enough?"
"I think that it's more than enough"
Pheo knew he wasn't as strong as the others, but he could still fight, even if it was futile.
He lunged at him with the shard, almost losing his balance as Don dodged.
Don grabbed his shirt and flipped him over. Pheo saw the world turn as he fell to the ground.
"When you attack you must have a target in mind"
Pheo dusted himself off before getting back on his feet.
"The target just has to be in front of me!"
He threw a punch at Don, but it flew over his head as he ducked.
Don grabbed his hand firmly and gripped it, "When you throw a punch you must keep it firm the entire time"
Pheo screamed as Don crushed his arm.
Agh!
He managed to break free by swinging the glass shard, forcing Don to move back.
Don stood still as he looked at Pheo, "And that weapon, has it not done more harm than good?"
He looked at his right hand, it was bleeding from how much he gripped the shard.
"I didn't need it anyways" Pheo said as he threw it away.
Don scoffed at Pheo as ran towards him again, "You mock yourself"
Pheo swung an obvious left hook that Don easily avoided.
Not just yet
He then flung the blood from his other arm, managing to make Don flinch for a bit as it went in his eyes.
It was his chance.
Pheo went for the rock, almost touching it before Don's eyes flickered purple, making his instincts take over.
Don seamlessly threw the rock in the air, kicking Pheo away from him along the way.
"Mine"
Warhound said as he towered above them both.
He clasped both of his arms, but Don managed to quickly hit it away as right as Warhound was about to clasp his hands.
The mineral, flying across the room, rolled right towards Ryu.
He laid down after being beaten up from Warhound.
Ryu looked at the rock, flashing a quick smile before speaking.
"Checkmate"
He quickly grabbed it with his hand, causing Pheo to shout out and celebrate.
"You lose fur-boy!"
Warhound looked at Don menacingly, then went to Pheo.
"You know it doesn't matter, right?"
He transformed his hand. revealing his claws that could tear rocks apart.
"No, wait!" Ryu shouted out.
But he was too late, Warhound already swung his hand.
But right before he tore Pheo's face, Don grabbed Warhound's hand with both of his arms.
"You out of everyone here should know that there is no point in revenge"
Don stared him down, "Are you really still there?"
His words rung in Warhound's mind, his eyes started to calm down as his hand reverted back.
Sigh
He sat down next to Ryu, "He's right, you beat me kid"
Ryu was hurting in a lot of ways, but he still smiled when he heard him.
"You're goddamn right I did"
Warhound laughed heartily at Ryu's comment.
Don and Pheo watched as the two started to bond together.
Don placed his hand on Pheo's shoulder, "This may be endearing, but don't forget"
"You're still a slave"
He tightened his grip, but it didn't faze Pheo.
"I know" he smiled warmly.
It confused Don, but he didn't pry on it.
"And for all of you watching, this moment of solace is over, get back to work"
Don shouted out to the others, making them go back to mining.
Pheo was about to go towards Ryu before Don stopped him again.
"What is your plan with that?" He gestured at the mineral that Ryu held.
Pheo hadn't really thought about that, he was just engrossed in the moment.
Don read the look on his face, he went to Ryu and extended his hand.
"How about you hand it to me for a bit, I have something in mind"
Ryu looked at Don, then Pheo.
"I mean, what were we going to do with it in the first place?" Pheo told him while shrugging.
Ryu chuckled, mixed with a bit of choking.
"Alright" He said as he handed it to Don.
Don began to admire its luminescent nature one last time before placing it in his pouch.
"I'll give it back in a few" He told him as he patted Ryu's shoulder.
He wasn't sure of it, but Don's stoic face moved slightly as if he was about to smile.
"And you" Don looked at Pheo, "Start mining again"
"But what about him?" Pheo complained, pointing at Ryu, "Why does he get a pass?"
"Are you as injured as he is? Or do you want to be so you can be next to each other?"
Don's eyes quickly flashed purple.
Pheo groaned before picking up a pickaxe.
He looked at Ryu while he passed by, seeing how he put his tongue out to mock him.
"Looks like I get to sit back while watching you work" He teased Pheo before he started coughing out blood.
Pheo wanted to talk back to him, but saw that Ryu quickly went to sleep right after.
He felt conflicted, angry at Ryu for his comment but also didn't want to wake him up.
Warhound laughed at the two. They reminded him of better days.
Maybe they'll end up differently
He put on a conflicted look before going off somewhere else