1st Granite, 1052
"We must not let the elvish spy escape! He'll lead them and their damn clergy right to us!" Argonnek slammed his copper axe to the ground. "We're giving him the time he needs to get away."
Ingiz replied, "We can't just tear down the wall. That would let everyone in."
"I don't think he's a spy." said Hazey Jane.
Grue McGee added, "He might not be, but even if he is, he's not going anywhere anytime soon. He was terrified of the undead, remember. He'll wait for an armed caravan to slip away with."
"Well then, I have a plan." Deon started sketching images on the wall. "We can construct a system to only let the dwarves in that we want to let in."
Everyone nodded in approval, except Doompotato. He nudged Grue McGee with his elbow and muttered, "Or kick dwarves out."
Grue nodded.
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3rd Granite, 1052
Lily sat by the bed, spooning some soup into the unconscios dwarf's mouth.
He coughed, then his eyes opened. "Where am I? What happened?" he said as he glanced around the room. "Who are you?"
"Mommy! The strange man is awake."
Denise and Niel came in the room. "Lily, go play with your brother." Lily bounded out of the room.
Therlith Thimshur repeated, "Where am I?"
"You are outside of your compound. There was a fight. We don't know what happened. You washed up on the shore."
"How long. I feel so weak."
"A week. Her daughter has been taking care of you." Niel replied.
Ramcolukes ran into the room. "The dead elephants are coming back. The man in the graveyard told me to tell you."
Therlith sat up immediately. "Undead elephants! I've got to get back inside the walls." He jumped out of bed and staggered toward the entrance. He paused for a moment to take a drink out of a barrel. "Yech! Water. Are you trying to kill me?"
Denise answered, "We don't have enough food to spare any plants for brewing." But he was already on the surface. She turned to Ramcolukes, "Now what is this nonsense about elephants? And where is your sister?"
Burnt yelled down from above, "Niel! Get your sorry hide up here. Four undead elephants are approaching from the south!"
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7th Granite, 1052
Burnt turned to Niel. "We need to discuss strategy before we go after them. Now I..."
Denise yelled, "Lily! One of them has Lily cornered!"
Niel jumped up. "Charge!" he yelled as he started to run into battle.
Burnt grabbed him by his shirt and held him. "Niel. You are going to distract the elephant. Make it run after you instead of the girl. Do not engage! You have no weapons, no armor. If you get the girl killed and survive yourself, I'll let her mother use my war hammer on you."
"Agreed...Charge!"
Burnt still held him. "Then I want you to lose the elephant. We are in no condition to take on this many of the creatures." He let Niel go.
Denise asked, "What are you going to be doing?"
"Making sure the other three don't ge any closer."
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"What is he doing?" asked Hazey Jane. "Why is he building wooden floors?"
"I think he is trying to get back inside." replied Deon. "We'll have to work faster. If he can get in right now, so can anyone else."
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15th Granite, 1052
"Stop the floors! Don't reach the far bank!" Grue McGee yelled at Deon and Argonnek.
Deon replied, "We have to finish if we want to keep people out."
Argonnek looked at the far bank. "Grue is right. Look, spiders. Big ones too."