Kuma

Struggling against the sturdy arms of the man who held him, Kuma flailed out with his legs. His feet cracked against the shins and knees of his captor, but the man only grunted and bent Kuma's arms back painfully. He bit his lip against the pain, and flailed his feet out again; this time, not at the burly man holding him, but at the narrow, robed figure of the priest in front of him. A hood hid the priest's face, but Kuma knew the voice. Daestwyn.

"Lemme go, you bastard!" The snarl of angry rage became a whimper of pain as Burly Man jerked his arms back. He heard something crack in his back, and he saw stars in front of his eyes as his vision hazed from clear sight to black and gray fog, and back again.

"Don't kill him, Gwenlen," the priest hissed, his voice bristling with irritation. "Kokonof wants him to suffer for what his interference has cost us." Daestwyn stalked to the edge of the rickety dock, where a tall metal cage stood. The Thief's Cage; like so many other Guards, they were going to drown him. That knowledge revitalized him and he began to struggle, wrenching his arms and twisting his torso, feet kicking the entire time. Burly Man grunted as a kick connected solidly with his knee, but dragged the struggling Guard to the cage.

"In ya go, Kuma." Burly shoved Kuma in the cage and before he could turn, Daestwyn slammed the door shut and slid the bolt home. Kuma lunged at the door, striking it; stars flashed in front of his eyes again and his eyes teared with pain. The door rattled and the bolt slipped slightly; before Kuma could ready himself to strike again, Daestwyn pulled a heavy clunky lock from his robes and locked the cage door. Both the Priest and Burly Man grabbed a handhold on the side of the cage and with mutual grunts, they lifted it, carrying the cage to the end of the dock.

"Goodbye, Kuma," Daestwyn said, and he and Burly Man lifted the cage over the end of the dock and let go. The drop was about 10 feet; the cage splashed against the water, throwing Kuma to his knees. The metal cage floated briefly before water began to pour over the sides.

Dammit. He didn't think he was going to die like this!

Another boy who grew up in the Paths, Kuma realised that the Temple Boys was really a front for an elaborate thieving ring which benefitted the Temple. When the boys were too old to be useful, the Temple sold them into slavery. Reaching the age where he would have been sold, Kuma realised he was running out of time. So instead of thieving one day as usual, he bolted out of the Paths and into the Harbour District, where he met and befriended a member of the City Guard, David.

Thanks to David, Kuma got a place in the City Guard; he struggled to prove his loyalty and eventually paid the ultimate price for his faithfulness to the Guard; his life.