The hounds bayed in the distance as Dart ran through the abandoned city of the Elders. His red hair was coated with sweat as he looked around wildly for a hiding spot. The package must make it back! Dart’s trip through the city would normally be slower, wondering around with an awed expression, wondering about the fate of the Elders. What had happened? Where had they gone? Why had the Guardians infested the cities? Nobody knew. The silent monoliths told no tales.

Dart’s wild search had come to a conclusion. He didn’t like his conclusion, but the hounds were gaining, and so were their handlers. He had no choice. With a sigh that his breath capacity could barely afford, Dart ducked into a building. The hounds stopped abruptly as two handlers ran up. The first handler grinned an uneasy grin. “Come on,” he said to the second. “The guardians will do our job for us.”