As the group flies on their platform over the desolate Nearth, they fly over a great city with stone walls that towers over the yellowed grasslands around it, and Thee pulls the lever on the flying craft, bringing it to a halt mid-air.

“What on Nearth is that monstrosity?” Trouse gapes as the group peers down at the wriggling masses of dogs enclosed in a pen while humanoids wander about their own business.

“Let’s get a closer look.” Gole says and Thee slowly lowers the craft on top of the walls with no one below noticing.

“Why are all the dogs enclosed in a pen?” Poole whispers as they watch the action below, the noisiness of the city floating up to them.

A strange, doub-looking man pulls a dog out of the pen using a leather noose and drags it up to a wooden platform, where other doub-looking people shout out in an unfamiliar language at the man.

“I think they’re bidding for the dog.” Thee says slowly and Teemu growls,

“Slavery. Disgusting.”

The man raises his hands as the shouting stops and gestures to a woman to step forward onto the stage. She takes the dog by the noose and hands the man something glimmering in the sun, possibly gold coins, but the group isn’t quite sure. Then the woman drags the dog off the stage and the process starts over again with the man grabbing another leather noose.

“We’ve got to do something.” Gutu says and Poole frowns,

“It doesn’t exactly scream ‘visitors welcome’ down there. In fact, this place gives me the chills. Let’s just go. If we manage to fix the water, then we can gather an army together to free the dogs. For now, there’s only what, six of us? Against all those people, whatever they are?”

Suddenly, a loud horn sounds and the figures below scatter.

“I think they’ve seen us.” Trouse says as he points to the armed humanoids climbing up the wall.

“And that’s our cue to go.” Gole says and Thee pulls up on the lever.

The craft lifts into the air and Thee steers it away from the city.

“I am very sorry about your people, Gutu.” Teemu says and Gutu looks at her,

“My heart is sorrowful for their plight, but not because they are my people. My people are those around me right now.”

Teemu tilts her head as she studies Gutu but says nothing.

“So, where to now?” Thee asks, and Trouse looks around at the others,

“I have an idea.”

“What’s your idea?” Thee asks and Trouse looks at Teemu,

“You’re not going to like it.”

“Why not?” Teemu asks unsurely and Trouse takes a deep breath.

“I would like to return to the flying glishen city where I was born.”

“No way!” Teemu yelps while Thee claps his hands excitedly,

“I have always wanted to see the famed glishen city.”

“We’ll get murdered there! The doubs hate travelers!” Teemu exclaims and Trouse shrugs,

“Maybe they have changed or died out. Either way, I would like to see my old home. Maybe my pigs are still alive.”