Karina made it up the stairs with, Mowgli wincing every time they went up a step. The Wolf Girl was in such pain at the time. The Previous nights punishment and the battle with, Beretta had made her body extremely sore. Every movement was a painful one.

She groaned as she tried to walk with, Mowgli to the side of the rotunda and thankfully there was hardly any guards awakened. The Sun was still early in the rise but all it was borrowed time at best. If Beretta had not gotten in their way, they would have made it into the swamp by now. All that time fighting her has left them with very little time and, Karina's sore state left her unable to move with haste.

"Come on, Karina. We have to get going!" Mowgli told his friend as he pulled her hand as she grinded her teeth as, Mowgli's tugging on her only caused her to hurt more. She did not say anything as she knew he was eager to get as much as her. She did her best to follow her friend as she used the spear to help her balance as they made their way towards one of the wall openings.

There were two guards sitting at both sides of the opening. They were asleep but any loud noise would stir them. Their way out was just in front of them and there were no other places they could try to escape without any more of the risk they were taking.

Karina and, Mowgli carefully stepped forward. They silently moved up past the sleeping guards as, Karina kept an eye on them both. If any of them looked like they would wake they would have to run for it. She could have used the spear she had in hand taken from the fallen, Beretta but that would only cause of them to wake and scream in agony and thus wake every primate around them.

But as, Karina kept her eyes on the primates she failed to see that a toppled piece of the wall was in front of her foot and she struck it hard. Karina collapsed forward and almost fell on, Mowgli. The Thud of the ground was rather noisy and one of the guards began to move but all he did was stretch for a moment before rolling over to his side.

Karina used all of her will to try and not shout from the sudden impact that made her sore body surge in more agony. Mowgli helped her back up though it took nearly a minute to get her back on her feet. Her heavily sore state was holding her back and, Karina realized this. She and, Mowgli continued on through the opening and finally the swampland was before them.

Mowgli could hardly believe it as he helped, Karina along with an arm over his should as he kept his arms wrapped around her waist. This was it! They were finally going to get away! He had started to lose hope but thanks to, Karina's great thinking they were finally going to get away from the ancient ruins. It would be a very long trek through the jungle but with, Karina by his side they will no doubt find the Wolf Kingdom and not only reunite with his family but can inform them of the return of primates and explain of what they have done and see to it they are confronted and stopped before anything else can happen.

They continued onward as the sun was rising higher into the sky. Anytime now the Primates in the ancient ruins were going to awake and soon discover that the prisoners were no longer in the dungeons and would find the corpses of both the guard, Karina killed and the right of the primate royals, Beretta dead at floor of the dungeon.

Karina tried to continue with, Mowgli's help but as they started to step through the swamp their feet began to sink a little through mush grounds. It started to become a challenge for her to even walk as any movement aggravated her. At this state they were hardly going to get anywhere. The Primates would send out parties to find them and with so many of them they would easily be recaptured. Karina could not allow this to happen. Either they would be captured again or due to the killing of two of their own especially one that answered directly to the Primate Royals they may answer for their deaths with their lives on the spot.

Karina stopped as the ancient ruins just went out of sight as they stood next to an algae filled pond. Mowgli tried to pull her along, but she resisted. "Karina are you stuck?" He asked.

"Mowgli…you will have to continue on without me." Karina murmured as she knew what she was about to do could mean her end. Mowgli did not think he heard her right.

"Karina! What are you saying?!" Mowgli gulped hoping he was just hearing things.

"You have to go, Mowgli. I am no condition to make through that swamp. Let alone move quickly to get ahead from Primates that surely by now would have woken up." Karina explained as she griped the spear tightly with her hand.

"No, Karina! I am not leaving you here!" Mowgli stated as he tried to pull her along but, Karina pulled him into her getting on her knee's and hugged him close.

"Mowgli. You must leave me. I will only slow you down and you must make it back to the Kingdom. Only you can tell them of the intruders in this jungle. Those that have violated the orders of the kings of old and have been stealing what belongs to the kingdom." Karina told him with regret in her voice. She did not wish to do this, but she had to if, Mowgli were to have a chance.

"Please, Karina! Don't make me go! I can't leave without you!" Mowgli pleaded as he hugged her tightly as tears began to leak as he understood that his friend was serious. She would likely die if she remained.

Karina lifted up, Mowgli's chin and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. "Mowgli…Prince of the Wolf Kingdom. I made a promise to you to be by your side to the end of days. But if I do not remain behind to hold them back when they come for us then it will be end for us both. I cannot allow that to be for you." She told him as she rubbed the side of his face affectionally.

Mowgli was about to cry now. It could not be. He wanted to, Karina to be right by his side for all his life. She was his best friend. They have only known each other for a short time and yet she was someone that he desperately needed in his life. Someone he desired to have that he never knew he needed before. When he had gotten to know her better, she had proven to be the best friend anyone could ever want and more than that.

Karina saw the tears running down his face and gave him a soft pet through his hair. "There, there, Mowgli it will be okay."

Mowgli shook his head. "No…it won't! Without you, Karina I don't know what I am going to do!" He whimpered.

"You will be okay. Trust in all that you have been taught. Believe in yourself and never let anyone tell you otherwise. You have given me something to believe and reminded me of how I used to be when I was your age. The Spirits will guide you along, Mowgli and I will be watching you." Karina assured.

"I beg of you, Karina! Don't leave me!" Mowgli begged as he hugged her again.

"I will keep my vow to always be with you, Mowgli. If not in life but in spirit I will. I will not allow you to be harmed again! Let me make my stand here and give you time to get away. I know you will make it back to your family! Please give them my best. Tell them my thanks for allowing me to be part of their proud kingdom. For giving me a home and tell, Shaman Liara that she was the best mother that anyone could have wanted. Give them all my love!" Karina asked as, Mowgli reluctantly nodded as he hugged, Karina close as she hugged him back.

Suddenly just outside of the swamp, Karina hear upset howls and shocked screeches. It was coming from the ancient ruins. The Primates have awoken and may have discovered the prisoners have escaped along with killing two of their own by now.

"Mowgli. Go now!" Karina gently pushed him off of her. "Go!"

Mowgli was still crying as he slowly stepped backwards. He realized that this indeed could be the last time he would see, Karina. His best friend. The Girl he actually fell in love with. Who he wanted to be by her side as well her to be by his.

He stepped backwards more and nearly fell into the algae pond. Karina gave him a smile letting him know that it was okay. He then turned and ran as fast as he could into the swamp disappearing in the harsh and mucky grounds. Karina took a deep breath of courage. This may be her final stand. If it meant that she would fall then she would fall with honor. She would give, Mowgli his chance.

She gripped the spear tightly and readied herself. Within minutes no doubt dozens of Primates would come running into the swamp to find the escaped slaves. Either they would kill both her and, Mowgli on the spot or recapture them it did not matter as the fate of death could come quick or come later. Karina was not going to leave this world without making her stand.

"Spirts be with you, Prince Mowgli." She prayed for the mancub as she prepared for what could be her end. She had no regrets. She would miss all that she had gained in life. The Wolf Kingdom had given her something that at one time she never believed she would have again. That Kingdom would avenge her, and she will gladly join in with the spirits and be reunited with her loved ones. She had hoped she did something good to be allowed to join with the great spirits and be part of something grand for all eternity.

She heard hollering coming from the direction where she and, Mowgli came from. The Primates were on their way. "Come on! Like Beretta you will face death for all that you have done!" She growled readying herself for her final stand.

Mowgli ran as fast and as far as he could alone. He was leaking tear after tear as he felt shame and guilt wash over him like a tidal wave. He had just left, Karina behind. They were supposed to go together. To escape back to the Wolf Kingdom. Perhaps if she were not as hurt as she was, she would not have felt like she had to remain to give him a chance.

How could he leave her like that? Karina was the best thing to ever come into his life. It did not matter what happened during his times with her. Even while they were enslaved together, she was still around him. She was a beacon of hope to him. Now he was alone. She would be dead by the time he could find his way back to the Wolf Kingdom. If he even could. This was the swamplands he had heard about. Far off into the jungle and away from where even the boldest of hunters would go.

How was he even going to find his way out of this place without getting recaptured by the Primates? He continued to run on just wanting to get a distance from the ancient ruins. Sometimes he would sink in the mucky ground that he would have to pry his foot free and duck under some low hanging algae covered branches.

He continued to whimper over, Karina. It just was not fair. How could they have been able to finally make it out of the ancient ruins, but she had to feel she had to stay. He did not hate, Karina for it. He hated himself. If only he rushed in earlier when she was fighting, Beretta. There were many times when her back was turned on him and he could have grabbed that spear and ended her with it before she was able to hurt, Karina further than she would have done if he acted sooner.

After he ran as far as he could go before, he stopped for a minute to catch his breath. He found a log to sit on to rejuvenate from all the running. He wiped the tears he had cried from his eyes. Karina would no doubt be gone. He had hope that maybe she could find off the Primates but that was a false hope. There were far too many for her to take on directly and due to her injured state, it would be a wonder if she would last more than a minute.

Karina was as good as dead. But Mowgli did not wish to think like that. Karina was strong and confident. She was wounded but not broken. If she was going to have any chance to remain alive he would have to make it back to the Wolf Kingdom but first he had to find his way out of the swamplands and try to figure out where he was to try and find a way back to his home.

Mowgli picked himself up and started to run again. He could not walk for every second would mean; Karina would be closer to her demise. He had to get out of the swamplands as fast as he could, Karina's life depended on it.

"How am I going to find my way?" He asked himself as the swampland was thick. There were trees all bundled together and were covered smelly algae and the ponds were too covered with algae. He dared not take a drink from something that was covered in such filth.

Mowgli was lost. This swampland was hardly well known and avoided by the wolfs. It made him wonder why anyone would build anything within it. The Smell indeed was horrible and with all the trees so close together he could not even see the sky above which made the land rather dark.

The Mancub was worried for both, Karina and himself. He continued to run in various directions trying to get his bearings as well as continue to make a distance from the ancient ruins. The further he got away the better but it would make it difficult to find it again since he couldn't make a trail with anything as he didn't want to leave something for the primates to follow him.

For almost an hour, Mowgli continued on. He decided to continue going straight as by now he may have at least been able to get a good enough distant to not worry about pursuers at the moment. But right now, he believed more than ever he was lost.

He stopped again and took a look around. The Swamp was bigger than he had thought. Again, he was confused on where to go. Remembering how he was blindfolded on the day he and, Karina were captured they were taken so far into the jungle and up to this swamp that without having a visual look around since they were brought it made finding his way far more difficult than he anticipated.

Mowgli groaned as he stomped his foot in frustration. "What am I going to do?" He cried as it seemed it would be too long before he could find his way out. By the time he did, Karina would be dead by now.

"I'm so sorry, Karina." He apologized as he was about to cry again but then he heard something. He perked up as he could hear something. Sounded like voices. He did not know if they were the voices of primates or something else as he immediately hurried into a hollow tree.

He worried that the Primates may have already caught up to him. He should have ran farther and not lagged. But the voices were still faint. If it were the primates, they would have become louder by now. Slowly leaving the hollow tree he crept to where the voices were coming from. He knew it was a risky idea, but he had to know if the Primates were picking up his trail or if it is someone of friendly nature, they might help him.

He stayed concealed through the thick brush staying hidden to make sure he wasn't spotted. If it was the Primates he would need to stay out of sight. As he got closer to the voices, he could hear someone sounded very upset. And to, Mowgli's surprise it sounded familiar.

"Are you speaking the truth?!" Prince Exon demanded as the scouting party his father had sent out had returned earlier that morning as they brought news of what they discovered.

"Yes, Prince Exon." Sabre confirmed. "We found a wagon that had to be what, Prince Mowgli and Karina were taken in. It was fully submerged, and the wagon was ravaged by crocodiles. All we found within the remnants was fur that looked to belong to a primate."

Prince Exon shook in grief turning away from, Sabre and his father who stood by him. Mowgli and Karina were in that wagon. If what, Sabre told was true then they could be gone. Dropping to a knee he put his hand over his face and sniffled.

King Rama came up to him. "Exon! Did you not hear, Sabre? They found fur that doesn't belong to your brother or Karina."

"How does that make me feel any better, Father!" Exon snapped. "They were taken in that. And for all we know those crocodiles could have eaten them entirely!" Exon then looked down again. He had failed them both. They wouldn't have suffered such a fate if he didn't drop his guard that day and left himself open like he did to be knocked out.

"Son, get a ahold of yourself! If the crocodiles did devour your brother and, Karina there had to be some trace to it." King Rama told him before looking back at, Sabre.

"Was there anything else you have discovered, Sabre?" He asked.

Sabre shook his head. "No, my king. Other than the fur and the remains of the wagon there was nothing else."

King Rama patted, Sabre's shoulder. "Thank you, Sabre. You have my thanks. Get some rest." Sabre bowed and went over to the others who followed him and sat down and shut his eyes as he and the others walked through the night to bring the King their news as soon as their could.

He went back over to his third youngest son who was in momentary grief. "Don't lose hope, Exon. I know, Sabre brought back news that is not what I hoped for but it does bring light to a theory."

"What theory?" Exon sniffed.

"I suspected that if these primates have developed a mind in their skulls they would take, Mowgli and Karina away. But here in this swamp they meant to throw us off." King Rama explained. "If nothing but primate fur was discovered in the wagon mangled by crocodiles, they may have thought that we would assume those we seek have perished and call off our search."

"Your saying they may have taken, Mowgli and Karina somewhere else on foot?" Prince Exon asked.

King Rama nodded. "Yes. Sabre and the rest of his party did not find anything else on the other side of that river which meant they stopped to toss away the wagon and the primate fur they found had to be one that was killed during the capture of your brother and Karina to dispose of it and make us believe everything in that wagon was eaten."

"But where does that leave us then?" Prince Exon asked still his voice filled with grief and frustration.

"I am presuming that the Primates wanted your brother and Karina for another purpose. They wanted us to trek this far into the jungle and find that wagon and make us believe their dead. But if they wished for the death of those, they captured they would have done it. Where we have been these past days has shown me that the primates either got stuck or they meant to stop."

Prince Exon put some thought into his father's explanation. It did make sense in a way though he still assumed the worst has happened. He was at a full loss all the same. It seemed hopeless by now that they will find, Mowgli and Karina.

The King put a comforting hand on his son's shoulders. "I feel in my heart your brother still lives, Exon. Now that we have this information, we shall expand our search in this swamp. We will not leave it until we find something." He assured.

Meanwhile one of the wolfs that was on guard a short distance away from the two royals heard a rustle in the bushes nearby. He pointed his spear in the direction of the noise and saw the bush's move a little. He growled warningly. "Who's there?" He demanded keeping his spear pointing towards the bush's.

The Bush's rustled more showing there was something or someone in them. "Show yourself!" The Guard demanded. He pointed his spear so close that it almost poked within the bush. Suddenly a hand emerged from the bush making the guard step back. He peered closer to see that it was a hairless hand. Then coming from the bushes was a mancub. The very mancub they were looking for.

"Prince Mowgli?" The Wolf gasped kneeling down the mancub withdrawing his spear. "My prince! Are you hurt?"

Mowgli could not believe it! A wolf was out in the swamp. He was a solder of the Wolf Kingdom and not a hunter. A soldier would not be all the way out here for no reason. Mowgli was so happy to see a friendly face. "Please, help me!" He pleaded.

"I got you, my prince." The Soldier said wrapping a protective arm around, Mowgli and took him over to where the others would be.

"King Rama!" The Soldier howled. "I found him!"

King Rama and Exon turned to where they heard the call. Coming from the swamp was one of their soldiers but within the arm of him was, Mowgli! He looked tired and scared but relieved.

"Father! Exon!" Mowgli cried dashing from the soldier running up to the two.

"Mowgli!" King Rama cried getting on his knees with his arms out, Mowgli ran and into his father and hugged him close.

"Oh, Father!" Mowgli cried happily as he nuzzled his face into the safety of his father's chest then upon the side of his father's face.

"My, son. My son." King Rama happily whimpered taking, Mowgli's head looking at him for a moment so happy to see that he was okay before bringing him back into a hug.

Prince Exon was just as happy as kneeling down to, Mowgli hugging around him and his face. He was so relieved to see his brother. He did not look injured or hurt in any way. It was such a relief. Just when he lost hope does, he come out of swamp like a miracle.

"By the spirits, Mowgli its good to see you!" He smiled hugging around his brother. "I have missed you, brother!"

"I missed you all too!" Mowgli whimpered hugging his father and then his brother so happy to see them out in the swamp that was unexpected but so relieving to see them.

The Three of them remained together all so happy and excited to see each other. Some of the nearby guards were all smiling at the scene and sent praise to the spirits for the, Princes safe return.

Exon then look past, Mowgli then realized it was just him that was found. "Mowgli, where is Karina?" He asked.

Mowgli gasped in horror as he was so happy to see his family that he had forgotten about, Karina. "Oh, no! Please we gotta go safe her!" He shouted in fear and tried to pull his father.

"Wait, Mowgli!" King Rama grabbed his son's shoulders. "Son. I know you have been through a lot. We talk about it later. First you need to tell me. Where is Karina? Tell us what you know, and we shall help her. By the spirits above those that have taken you and her will face the wraith of the Wolfs, I promise you. Now, calm down and tell us all what happened."

Mowgli took a few breathes to calm down. "Okay. But please we have to go quickly! I'm not sure how long she will last!"

"Just tell us briefly where she is, brother." Exon unsheathed his sword. "And I'll personally gut all those that made a fool out of me and dared to place hands on you and her!"