The Earth After Rebirth

"So you don't have a base?"

"I mean, we do, it's in the city."

"Do you know why my master called that idiotic? You have erected your base in enemy base. My uncle is cruel and cunning, I'm sure he keeps tabs on everything you hounds do. No wonder you haven't been able to topple his monarchy. He has been leading you all by the nose. Useless!"

He was breathing heavily with anger. He couldn't believe how stupid his kin were, originally he thought they were really smart beings. The anger felt hotter when he thought back to when they looked down on Kiro.

"Hey now, don't do anything stupid. Don't make me bring back your punishment."

He was still frustrated but he obliged. He didn't quite want things to go back to when food was foreign to him, he was too used to this newfound delicacy.

"What were you doing here in this forest anyway?"

"We just came here for wood. As you say Sire, the current King suspects us, so energy in the city was cut. We depend on the old ways to survive."

Hubris told them to stop bowing. It was awkward talking to them like that, he wasn't quite used to being a King of anywhere. While they stopped, their heads were still downcast while talking to them.

"It's okay Hubris, we will use this forest as our secret base. They can continue alluding your uncle, pretending they're the main force. We will stay here, you're experienced in building shelter aren't you?"

Hubris nodded in agreement. He made sure to hammer the fact that nobody can know that they're in that forest, not even their own allies. He knew that there was no way his uncle would've let them stay in his city without planting spies within their group.

He'd never met his uncle not in memories he remembers anyway, but knew better than to underestimate him.

"Now then, leave us. Live as you normally do, pretend you've never met us."

He had to chase them away, they didn't want to leave. As if this encounter to them would all be a dream if they stepped out of the forest, but Hubris forced them to leave. It would raise suspicions if they started living in the forest. So they left, albeit hesitant.

The minute they left Hubris started working on a base. Since a structure above ground would be too conspicuous, he started digging.

"Command me Sire." Kiro said jokingly.

"Master, I'll need your whirlwind to get the dirt out of the hole."

Kiro obliged. He was growing tired of sitting around and doing nothing anyway. Hubris would dig, and he was right behind him, transporting the dirt from the hole to the surface of the forest.

Hubris dug for days, then changed direction and started digging a straight line to the city. Their rabbit hole was a big one, it went on for a long distance. Thousands of people would comfortably live there without a problem.

He even installed lanterns, preparing for when people who can't see in the dark need a hiding place.

He went back to close off the hole in the forest. Just enough so nobody could tell that there was a hollow tunnel underneath. He then created an almost invisible door, that could only be seen by him and Kiro.

It took them a week to finish the underground base and they were properly tired as they didn't take a break doing everything. Since they couldn't start a fire underground without ventilation, they decided to have a cookout at the forest.

Smoke coming from the forest wouldn't draw attention, so they didn't bother trying to hide it. Kiro took a week's worth of meat, and started grilling.

"We haven't heard from them in over a week, I'm a bit worried." Hubris finally shared his concerns, he'd been brooding the past week, not saying anything, but the sour mood didn't fool anyone.

"It's just been a week, I'd understand you if it were a month that passed. Your uncle is good, but he's not that good."

"What do you mean?"

"There's no way he knows we're here. But we should operate under the assumption that he knows. We can't only rely on the element of surprise, it's too much of an unknown uncertainty to rely on it." He told him, while poking and turning the meat. It smelled divine, his own mouth was watering.

"So then, what's your plan?"

"You're the king, I'll just follow your command for now."

"Then my command is, what would your plan be."

Kiro looked at him with an amused expression on his face. He couldn't believe that Hubris had no plans going into this, he had to applaud him for how stubborn he was, he was too thick headed. But he promised he'd help him, so that's what he will do, through and through.

"I'd scout the enemy first. Ensure I know their strengths and their weaknesses, create small chaotic problems to see how they would react to them. Essentially, you can gauge a government's strength through a crisis that needs immediate attention." He finished, while taking a chunk of a bite on the still very hot chicken leg.

He listened to the taste, it was juicy and spicy. It was as if he were eating the real deal. As hot as it was, he couldn't help but go for another large bite.

"So, create a crisis." Hubris interrupted, still chewing on the words his master said.

Kiro simply nodded, and dished out what he had cooked. They dug in immediately, Hubris was in his mind, trying to think of a way to create a crisis. He didn't want Kiro to think of everything. Kiro noticed the dilemma Hubris was in.

"Don't worry, we will scout them first. Surely that will gauge what the current King holds most dear, then that's what we will attack. Information is very important in a war."

Hubris nodded, impressed and made a mental note to never, ever be at odds with Kiro.