Sleeping!

„What was he doing?” The King, Ali's father asked with a roaring, deep voice, looking at Ali right in the eyes, not knowing who he wanted beheaded was right before him.

„Uh...! Sleeping, your sire! The prince was sleeping!” Ali mumbled shouting. „I didn't want to d-disturb his ma-majesty and I left. Sire!" Ali bowed, covering his almost tearing eyes from the king and his father, while his legs could barely keep him standing.

„Alright. You may join the others in the dungeon.” The king spoke, turning around to leave the room.

Ali did not look at him, he turned around and left the throne room before his heart would give in, and collapse. He couldn't believe it, he was inches away from being found, by his own father no less who wants him dead and buried. Ali gasped for air, closing eyes, trying to calm himself down. His mind worried, he couldn't keep doing this for much longer, not with a bounty on his head, he considered leaving the kingdom he was born and grew up in, and try his luck in the wild world, maybe there someone would be more merciful. For now, he opened his eyes and did as instructed, join his fellow guards in the underground dungeon, a place he never been before, but heard many stories.

Once he walked inside, he was met up with thousands of cages, all of them almost filled with people begging for the sweet embrace of death. Ali walked horrified through the many cells, eyes peeled at the many kinds of anthros locked up for god knows how long. They looked starved, thirsty, with clothes so dirty and torn apart, that they mixed up with the colour of the gray walls of their cells. His heartbeat began beating again, horrified by what he was seeing. The Kraft brotherhood was known to be a pacifist tribe, why so many people locked up under the kingdom's floor? Between the cages filled with starving children, and wounded man, inside one of them, there was a beautiful female English Springer Spaniel, that Ali recognised as one of the few women that he met during his childhood. He could recall that she visited his father and mother (during her time being alive) and talked about the market, now she seems way older, maybe around 50.

Mary was her name, if Ali could recall correctly. She was dressed with almost nothing, a dress with many holes that barely covered her thighs. Bright brown and with fur on her body, and beautiful blue eyes. Even with an old age, she still seemed pretty, her bossom definitely grew, they could barely be kept by her tight, torn clothes. As Ali stared at her, she eventually stared back at him. „Please. Help me. Save my daughter.” She cried, putting one of her hands through the bars of her cell to reach Ali, but he was too far away. „They're gonna kill her if they find her, please help me get her away from here!” She continued crying, Ali's face was drenched in horror. Why was she here? For how long? What did she do?

All those questions were never answered as someone grabbed Ali by the hand, and pulled him further into the dungeon. It was Liam, the male German Shepherd that was once in charge of looking after him during the night. „Don't pay them no mind. They won't leave this place alive.” He said saddened, making Ali more distressed and worried.

Liam and Ali eventually reached a room made of wood, unlike the cages of the dungeon which were fully made of stone. The room had a wooden table, a few chairs also of wood, and barrels of food and water. „You should rest. If the king sent us here, that means he'll send us after someone tonight.” Liam let go of Ali's hand before taking a seat at the table, and grabbing some food.

Ali stood on his feet for a little while, staring confused at the Shepard who was indulging himself in the prisoners food. „What. What is all of this!?” Ali shouted puzzled.

Liam stared back at him saddened. „First time I presume?” Ali nodded. „It's where the people who the king doesn't like end up. Criminals end up in our bellies, but these people suffer locked up in here until they drop dead. Most of them have been here for years, maybe decades..."

„W-why...?”

Liam sighed. „Because the king likes to see them suffer. He finds this, amusing. I'm glad that he won't force his son down here, and instead give him an honourably death on someone's hips.”

„That's not any better!” Ali shouted.

„I know, but I can't do anything about it. I am... way too deep to back out now.” Liam closed his eyes and rested his chin on the table. „Wake me up once the others arrive.” He whispered.

Ali remained frozen in place, his father, his kingdom lied, they weren't peaceful, they just pretended to, just to lock up and torture whoever he wants, and the guards have no choice but to do the same. Mary, someone he thought he had lost for years was locked up down here, and her daughter would probably join her if no one intervines. Maybe he could do something about it, not fight, definitely not fighting, he's far too weak for it, but with Mary's help, maybe he can help someone avoid this torture. Liam was already starting to snore, and there was no other guard there, it was the perfect time to go against his lying father, and save his people, or stay there and live a lie in another lie.