The deep caverns roared with fire and magma. Red pools of dark water guarded the lands' edges. Upon the rocky barren landscape ran a man. His worn boots scrapped against the ground, kicking up dirt into his coarse deep blue beard. He couldn't stop. He had to keep running. If he was to pause for even a moment, the demonic creatures that patrolled this landscape would surely capture him. He was a mid-lander, a human. These creatures only sought the destruction of mankind and all that lived within the world known as Slugterra.
He continued to race away from the deafening march of the soldiers. His breath rushed, his body shake and his feet ached. Blisters grew and grinned along his soles. The man lifted his head, his blue eyes catching a small glimpse of a tiny figure falling down from the stalagmites from above.
"Is that-" the man breathed. He held his hope and dashed for it. His feet lifted from the ground as he dove under the falling being. "I've got you!"
The tiny creature landed safely in his rough hands. His body laid flat against the floor with the rocks cutting through the fabric of his shirt. He lifted his grazed hands to inspect the slug. It was a deep sickly green with strange red thin markings along its sides that wrapped towards its singular eye. It began to stir. Its eye blinked open, the deep black void with its red pupil stared at the man.
He looked back with confusion. "What... what kind of slug are you?"
The green slug perked the corner of its lips before speaking, "I am... a bringer of peace."
"Yeah... no. This is some sort of trick," the man gathered, knowing that this slug couldn't be something natural. "Unless I'm suddenly able to talk to slugs like some Slug Whisperer."
"Hmph. You pull an act to cover your curiosity of how I am able to communicate with you despite my form as a slug," the creature huffed.
"Huh?" the man was confused on how his bluff fell through.
"I know quite a lot about you... Will Shane."
"What, how?"
It chuckled, "Please, allow me to formally introduce myself. I am simply known as the Goon. I wish for the equality of slugs and slingers. Just like you and your son, Eli Shane."
"My son- how do you know him? Where is he? Is he safe?" Will drilled the ghoul with worried quires.
"He is... not well. He is hurt. I can take you to him, but I fear I may not know the way out..." it held up a sob story.
The bearded man's eyebrows pinched together, "I think I know one way out. It opened up a few weeks, maybe months ago. But I never had a way up."
The Goon glanced up at him. "Perhaps... we may need to use what is down here with us."
"If you're talking about taking an Eel, oh no, I rather eat my own arm before that."
"It may be the only way to get to your son in time."
Will frowned as the choice played tennis in his head. He didn't know the situation his son was in. He needed to know. Through gritted teeth, he answered, "I can try to catch an Eel for a ride. But if it fails, I am not sticking around to be its lunch."
"That I know, Will Shane, I assure you that we will be able to obtain one of those creatures in haste," the dark slug bobbed its head.
Will stood up and placed the Goon upon his left shoulder. "Alright, lets get going."
He began to stealthily tread back towards where he had run from. He would dart behind rocks and outcrops to hide himself from the Dark Bane warriors patrolling the grounds. He continued on his way, another few hiding spots used as more guards wandered the land. He held his breath, the demons bantering between one another.
