According to what I have learned, began Klaus' stream of thoughts, checking back on all his knowledge of the city The city of Two Rivers is inhabited by 3 races, Wingers Kobolds and Humans. Even though they share this land, they do not get along. General Makai of the humans is a naive man, unsuitable for being representative of the city. General Ridley Wizen is known for letting his racist ideals get in the way of his better judgment and the Wingers have no real leader to speak of. The Kobolds probably would not take kindly to a human walking on their terrain, so it is best to keep a low profile.

The young strategist tip toed through the small forest pathway into the village. There a grumbling noise assailed his ears and something gnawed at his feet. The boy froze cautiously, before looking down to see a guard, fast asleep, mistaking the end of his trousers for a blanket. Klaus calmly shook his foot, only to encounter resistance from the guard. Much to the annoyance of the sleeper, Klaus slipped free from the persistent grip. The guard snapped to consciousness, but Klaus had already fled.

Activity was at its lowest at this time of day, just like Klaus had expected. Though, as countless battles have taught, not everything goes according to plan. Just when Klaus dropped his guard, he almost bumped into a Kobold soldier. Klaus remained quiet despite his shock, the soldier was large, but his back was turned and he was too busy concentrating on other matters, so perhaps the spy could slip unnoticed in between the trees.

Success, now everything could be seen safe view. It was foolish to be so careless He thought I must not be overconfident next time.

A group of soldiers gathered to the square where the captain was waiting for them. Soldier training! This should prove to be interesting.

Trying to get a closer view without exposing his whereabouts, Klaus setteled on a perfect spot and took out pieces of paper to note down the procedure. The Kobolds were well trained, attacking in unison with fierceness. Outmatching them in combat should prove to be tough, though Kobolds weren't known for their thinking ability, Klaus' domain. The only other time such a blood thirsty snarl invaded a face was Ruka Bright, Prince of Highland, in battle.

“Judging from earlier reports from this area,Father’s army has the advantage in matters of size. But General Ridley is a formidable opponent.” Klaus mused, writing down more.

The young strategist noted diligently on his papers. The shadows began spilling on the notes like ink. Klaus looked up to see the fiery sky ablaze in the explosion of sunset.

“From what I have seen the Kobolds seem like worthy opponents, it shall not be a good strategy to attack from this side. Perhaps sending a small decoy troop to divide the forces shall prove successful, and send the extraordinary troops to finish it off. But we cannot spare the soldiers.” Klaus’ thoughts trailed off, before he was finally brought back with a smile. “Perhaps.... perhaps if strife were to boil in between this already divided city... yes, if we attack from the human district while they least expect it they shall be forced to escape through the Kobold area. In desperation the human and kobald army shall end up fighting themselves. Yes, this sounds perfect on paper, but what of the actual fight...?”

Klaus walked off, forgetting the fact that Kobald guards watch their city quite vigilantly at night.

“Arf, what are you doing there?” The voice startled Klaus, who did not expect a guard to catch him. From what he saw it was the same guard who grabbed his foot that afternoon.

“I beg your pardon, I have lost my way and...”

“That accent” A deep voice bellowed from behind Klaus. “Sounds like a Highlander”

A taller Kobold soldier imposed himself from behind. Klaus stepped back, and the papers dropped.

“Grrr, what’s this?” Said the guard, handing the paper to the other soldier. The soldier peered down from his high nose, nodding as he skimmed through the notes.

Two guards appeared at the soldiers request, and grabbed Klaus from his arm, dragging him away.

“I have failed, forgive me, father.”

Kobold’s prison were small and damp, and was filled with the stench of wet dog.Times like this Klaus wished he was a warrior, just like Kiba had always secretly wished he would be. Klaus had noticed, and did not wish to disappoint his father, but he was not one for battle of physical strength, something he inherited from his mother.

But Klaus preferred the mental world, even now he continued to muse about his battle strategy, trying to gather the facts about the number of soldiers and provisions and painting in his mind every possible outcome of the war, trying to find a solution for each one to have Highland emerge victorious.

The moonlight that flowed from the small window was split in half by a tall figure-like shape. The lack of light to his face aroused Klaus’ curiosity, as he peered through the bars to look outside.

“Arf, you are not allowed here” Said the Kobold guard.

Klaus scanned what little area was available to his vision. Apparently the Kobold soldiers had caught 2 poor men wrapped in cloaks.

“Please” Pleaded one of the men. “We are put humble travelling peasants who wish to enter Two Rivers, we mean no harm.”

The guard approached the man menacingly. Klaus watched the scene, and noticed one of the men’s cloak ejecting a faint red light. A rune! The put his right hand on the unsuspecting guard’s head. The guard struggled, turned around three times, and with a few helpless yelps fell to the ground.

Dead? Klaus thought. No.. sleeping. He concluded as the peaceful snoring of the guard filled the otherwise silent night. The cloaked men disappeared from the view of the window and loud thuds came from the door. It finally stopped resisting and Klaus saw a wooden pole come out of the open.

In walked the two men who were outside, except now in closer view they seemed familiar. One of them gave a Highland salute, and revealed themselves as soldiers.

“It is an asked that you come to L’Renoille by order of Ruka Bright, prince of Highland.”

The papers, if General Ridley or General Boris get a hold of them the plans will be ruined. “Pardon me, but I must request that we recover the documents taken by the Kobold guards. There are vital information in those pages.”

The men looked at each other and shrugged. After all, how many kobold soldiers are there?

The three had spent most of the night rummaging through the possessions of the soldiers. The papers were nowhere to be find. They have hidden the documents very well. Impressive, I did not know that the Kobolds were this clever.

Klaus and the two soldiers reached the training area, a massive square. At the other side, a short shadowy figure could be traced hovering over the sleeping guards like a vengeful phantom. It’s bony arms plunged into the guard and took out his wallet and a familiar looking paper.

“The documents” Klaus exclaimed as the figure rushed toward them. The men were quick to subdue it. Without the veil of darkness the phantom was nothing more than a little winger.

“Hey! Let go of me.” He said.

“I am sorry” Began Klaus. “But that paper you are holding is of importance to us.”

“Of importance eh? Well if it’s really important than you would pay a lot for it.” The winger struggled from the guard’s grip and fled to the end of the ground. The place seemed to swallow the winger as he fell in.

A winger. I have learned of them but to see them in action is very...interesting.

The three followed the rascal into the Two River’s sewers. The only light to them was the trail from the outside which stopped at the entrance. The winger was completely shrouded in the darkness, their only guidance was the footsteps echoed through the place.

The guards walked on, followed by a hesitant Klaus. The hallways stretched farther into more darkness when the guards finally caught onto the winger.

“Give us the document or else..”

“OK, ok, sheesh. There ya go.” This Winger isn’t as persistent as Klaus had learned Wingers were. Probably the black sheep of the clan.

The man let go of the Winger who plunged into the mouth of darkness, chuckling. His laughter was drowned out by loud roaring of an unseen creature. The soldiers intuitively took out their spears from their cloaks and shielded Klaus, waiting for the black entity to spring. At once a rat lunged from it’s safety of darkness and struck, missing the guards by a narrow centimetre. The soldier didn’t hesitate to take it to his advantage and side stepped back to strike on it’s head.

Klaus only managed to get a glimpse of the attacking creature. It looked like a rat, except it was a little bigger than human size, not nearly as big as the some of the mutants that were supposed to have lurked in these places. Again it attacked, this time managing to wound one of the men. The other stepped into the darkness. Loud yells could be heard and in a matter of seconds, blood sprinkled on the walls and ground. Such fighting skills... the royalty of Highland have risked sending their elite forces to escort me back? I wonder what their plans are. The other guard took Klaus and walked away, followed by the first one a little while later.

Thought to be dead, the monster slowly rose, shaking the ground beneath him. The whole sewer seemed to be stricken with an unexpecting earthquake, and from the bowels of the darkness tiny grey things materialised and gathered.

Rats.... Thousand of rats streaked toward their victims to be. Klaus and the soldiers ran as fast as they could, wishing they had a Holy Rune. Finally the pale light of dawn illuminated them the exit ladder.

The furious guard waited next to the ladder, waiting for the lousy thief who stole his wallet to emerge. But instead, he saw the poor men who assaulted a fellow guard and the prisoner rise from the sewers. They were too quick for his attempt to grab them, and before he could go chasing after them a wave of grey hit him from behind.

The trees that signalled Two River’s entrance shrunk from view as the three, on their horses, headed toward L’Renoille.