The Marshal sat before the busted table, the dog-headed radio set squarely in front of him. Harsh sunlight burned across the rubble, throwing long, jagged shadows; heat shimmered off scorched stone.
Through the speaker came a voice—calm, almost cheerful, unnervingly serene.
Chain:
"Little puppy."
The pitch climbed, sing-song and taunting.
Chain:
"Little puppy…"
Then it dropped—heavy, feral, laced with a mocking rage.
Chain (roaring):
"LIIITTLE PUPPY!"
The Marshal didn't flinch. He answered flatly, humility folded into every word.
Marshal:
"I hear you."
Chain:
"'I hear you'? You forgot my title, puppy."
A tight beat of static. The Marshal bowed his head slightly, as if the voice could see him.
Marshal:
"I hear you… Leader, god of the sun and of creation."
Chain:
"Good. The puppy obeys—like a proper slave. When I say stand, you stand. When I say sit, you sit…"
Around the Marshal, the camp lay in ruins. Black Wolves drifted slow and hollow-eyed through the wreckage, weak and desperate, prying at slabs of broken masonry for food or a hidden canteen. Flies worried at torn canvas; a dry wind pushed ash in soft eddies across the ground. Off by the tree line, a small squad worked in silence—shovels biting earth, thud after dull thud—as they buried their dead between the roots. The radio crackled once more and went quiet, leaving only the scrape of metal on dirt and the brittle hiss of sun on stone.
Chain (voice crackling through the radio):
"I hear you've been doing wonderfully, puppy… I sent you after a single papyrus, and you did splendidly."
His tone twists, half amusement, half venom.
Chain:
"You lost your eye to a filthy little monkey… destroyed your own camp… and let some gutter rat tear your army apart."
A pause — long enough for the Marshal to feel the weight of it.
Chain (mocking laughter creeping in):
"How did you even manage that, puppy? Come on, tell me your secret… I'm dying to know."
Marshal, with a grave look, answers:
Marshal:
"Some problems came up that we didn't foresee, but we have the papyrus you asked for."
Chain:
"You forgot to use my title again... this is the last time you forget my title, pup. Next time... I'll crush you. Answer me again with my title... answer me again with my title... that's how you'll answer me."
The Marshal, gritting his teeth in anger, forces himself to speak calmly:
Marshal:
"Leader — god of the sun and of creation — I answer you with all my humility before your greatness: some unforeseen problems appeared, but we have the papyrus you requested... great god of creation."
Chain:
"That's how you'll speak to your god — with respect and humility."
(Suddenly his voice erupts, heavy and razor-sharp.)
Chain:
"Bring my papyrus to me by tonight — I want it here, in front of me."
(His tone smooths back into a calm, almost serene whisper.)
Chain:
"You will kneel before me and hand it over. You know, pup, let's not debate this — like a humble servant, bow to your god… as people once bowed to animals. That's how I want you, pup."
Marshal:
"Yes, god of creation… I will bring you the papyrus and bow before your greatness and your power."
Chain:
"Good boy, pup… you're learning. Slaves must always know their place."
(His tone drops suddenly — cold, heavy, stripped of any trace of warmth.)
Chain:
"Remember this, pup… you belong to me. You are my property."
The radio-dog's mouth snaps shut with a harsh click — then goes silent.
All around the Marshal, the Black Wolves stand still, their eyes fixed on him — anxious, fearful, yet filled with a kind of reverence.
They don't see just a commander… but something higher, something broken and divine.
The Marshal's face twists with anger and disgust. He looks at them — and his voice bursts out, low and venomous:
Marshal:
"Did anyone tell you to look at me like that? …Trash. Cursed beasts."
He spits at their feet — a sharp, wet sound cutting through the silence — then turns his back and walks away.
His figure fades slowly into the forest, swallowed by the shadows of the trees.
...
FOREST CITY
Las slowly rises from his hospital bed, with Eli helping him stand and steady his steps.
Across the room, Scarface leans against the wall, one hand buried in his pocket, a sly grin playing on his lips.
Scarface:
"Come on, little monkey-boy, move faster."
Las (grumbling):
"I'm not a little monkey-boy… I have a name."
Scarface (mockingly):
"Alright then, Las — the little monkey."
Eli laughs as she helps him walk, while Las glares, visibly irritated.
As they step out of the hospital room, Scav, Vroom, and Piu wait for them at the entrance.
Scav is munching on a sandwich stuffed with jam.
Piu (annoyed):
"Will you stop eating already?"
Skav (mouth full):
"I can't help it—when I'm happy, I eat."
Vroom (deadpan):
"When you're happy, you eat. When you're sad, you eat. When you're bored, you eat.
Keep it up, and you'll end up like that guy over there — the one with the cigarette and the belly."
Mehiko
"¿Perdón, mano!"? What did you just say, you white ferret?"
Skav:
"You're wrong — my belly isn't that big."
(Mehiko closes his eyes, getting visibly pissed; steam practically starts coming off his head.)
Piu:
"Yeah, but if you keep eating like that you'll end up looking like that."
Vroom:
"Hey, guys — look, he's literally steaming from the head."
Mehiko (to himself):
"One day you'll end up in my hands and you'll find out exactly who this pot-bellied menace really is."
As they all make their way down the hospital stairs, Scarface strides ahead toward the massive double doors at the entrance.
He places both hands dramatically on the handles, a bright grin spreading across his face as he glances back at Eli and Las.
Scarface:
"Alright, kids… are you ready to see a magical world waiting just behind this door?"
Eli and Las exchange excited looks, smiling wide.
Eli & Las (together):
"Yeees!"
Scav, Vroom & Piu (joining in):
"Yeees!"
Mehiko (grumbling):
"What 'yes,' you little gremlins? You haven't even seen it yet!"
Scav (snickering):
"Guys, the chubby ferret's talking again!"
Vroom (deadpan):
"He's right — it actually talks."
Mehiko (gritting his teeth):
¡La chingada!
"My nerves… my beautiful nerves…"
As Scarface slowly pushes the doors open, a blinding light pours in—spilling through the hallway and flooding the entire hospital in a brilliant glow.
Scarface "
Let's play