Kallian was a broken man. His humiliation from Kaela was bad enough, but what happened next only made things much worse. Instead of learning the value of mercy, he instead decided to launch an all-out attack on the cave. Thanks to Kragon, he knew the majority of the Dowath were hibernating.

  He launched a diversion to draw the Dowath out to a different location. This left only the Ponu. His army moved ahead into the attack. He never expected the sheltered Cave Ponu to be a match for them.

  Using flash bombs and uncanny aiming of their spears, the Ponu had driven off the attack, suffering very few fatalities.

  The Ponu mourned their dead, but celebrated after for the sacrifice of those who had fallen.

  For the Red Band, it was a total humiliation. They were routed. Kallian had lost almost a quarter of his force. Without the Dowath even being present, his army of hardened survivors was beaten back by girls in pink tights.

  The Ponu were enraged by this attack. After the deaths of 3 Ponu women in the attack, there would be no compromise. The usually level-headed Dana had been pushed past the point of no return. She sent a message. "The land that you now occupy is, from now onwards, Ponu territory. Leave in one day. On the second day, the Ponu and Dowath will attack if you are still there."

  There was no choice; all the camps in the vicinity had to move, far enough away that the Ponu no longer felt threatened. All the while, Dana was fighting the hardcore elements in the cave who insisted they should launch an attack regardless and erase the red band, make them pay for the Ponu who lost their lives.

  Thankfully for Kallian, most of the Ponu leaders agreed with Dana.

  Whatever credibility he had as a leader, a warlord, was fading fast.

  He started to drink more and more. Dukota, his top spy and trusted lieutenant, urged him to stop, that it was making things worse.

  Kallian only laughed. Of all people, Dukota urging someone not to drink. Dukota angrily said, "I don't have to lead a damn army".

  Thus it was that the once-feared warlord began his spiral. Word spread throughout the camps under his control. Some wondered if, maybe, with Kallian's grip loosening, maybe it was an opportunity to make peace with the Ponu. After all, despite their cyclical pattern of violence, there had really not been any unprovoked aggressive action from them in a long while. Others simply wondered if Kallian's downfall would lead to a bloody Red Band Civil War.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  In essence, Jettal and Jarigal were leading the red band scavenger army. Kallian had only retreated to his camp to fantasize about his peak, his assault on Geeryo Island. He thought of it and smiled. It was such a perfect thing. It had happened months before JaKaelath's mission. His scouts had noticed Geeryo transports landing and Ponu being drawn to the transport, like a siren call; they had to obey. Anyone else who moved close would make the "siren" go off. It emitted a terrible sound that caused pain. He witnessed a Dowath try to get close, only to be on the ground the next moment, writhing in pain.

  Kallian had his people catch some of the Ponu who were being drawn to the Geeryo transport and take their Ponu suits. His men and women dressed as Ponu to enter the transports. When they arrived on Geeryo island, they began a slaughter, a massacre. Only 3 of his people returned from the mission, but for Kallian, it was worth it for the black eye they had given Geeryo and their Ponu puppets.

  Jettal and Jarigal entered the tent. "Do not disturb him, Dukota," Jarigal says.

  "Disturb him!?!" Dukota angrily says. "Our enemies are kicking our ass, already forced us to leave. They didn't even need those damn monsters. All our bluster for nothing.

  We need leadership, not whatever he is becoming!"

  "And we have leadership," Jettal interrupts with a fake smile on her face as her companion Jarigal is stony-faced as usual, with a look that says Dukota had better be careful what he says next.

  Jettal goes on, "Me and Jarigal are handling things until Kallian gets back on his feet. Don't worry, we'll get back at those walking doll bitches. Btw, what were you doing during the attack on the cave Dukota? Back at camp, holding things down? I sure didn't see you in the fight. Jarigal took out a Ponu all by herself, and I nearly took one out also. So I hope you weren't even thinking of the idea of yourself being a better leader."

  Dukota looks at them like the world has gone mad. "I am loyal to Kallian, and I answer to him," he points over to the sleeping Kallian, "when he's not drunk and on his ass."

  He looks at Jarigal, "Besides, I wouldn't brag about being part of that battle if I were you. You got your ass kicked," he says with a grin.

  Jarigal moves closer, but Jettal extends her hand, holding her friend back.

  "Tell me, Jarigal, what happened after you got that one Ponu? You looked around, saw all those little porcelain dolls coming at you in pink tights and said 'Forget this shit, I'm gone!'

  Jarigal knocks her friend's hand out of the way and delivers a blow to Dukota, knocking him on his back. "You're a talker. When you become a fighter, then you can tell me about battles," she says. Jettal just laughs as Dukota, still on the ground, rubs his chin.