Something was prodding at his temples, a soft reminder that he was still alive after Illesia had finished with him. His wrists, trembling with weakness, attempted to separate the bronze shackles, but to no avail. The prodding continued, Yerbol groaning in a vain attempt to make the annoyance cease. He wanted nothing more than to allow the comfortable darkness to envelop him. The pain was non-existent there. 

[i]They found a tunnel, we’re coming to get you.[/i]

They? Who? The sentence sounded like it belonged in a context, but the latter wasn't there. He knew that voice though. It was the only thing that kept him from breaking entirely. A reminder of what he wanted to keep living for, even when he told her what that malignant witch had done to him. He didn't know if she would forgive him for the weakness. The darkness forgave everything. Welcomed him. She'd be better off without him. Without him. Yes. It made sense. He closed his eyes once more, sighing contently as he slipped into the velvet-smooth blackness. 

Yes. Without him. 

___

"Have to be in an access tunnel of some kind. Probably to a drainage system or monitoring system." He then added rather flatly:
"I spent a lot of time in underbellies. And don't ask me to elaborate." Voldon looked down at the Tuk'ata, who were smelling every square inch of the square shaped area they were in. While the small grate had gotten them to this wider opening, there didn't look like there was any other promising way to go other than forward into an even smaller passage. Aria didn't look she would fit, which meant that neither he nor the Tuk'ata had a chance. To their left and right were solid walls, the former being the direction he chose. Placing a hand on the wall, he channeled a small amount of Force energy, prompting the once solid wall to bend backwards, stones dislodging from a few points to reveal dim rays of light that looked like glowing beacons in comparison to the darkness that they were wading through. 

Ah. 

"Hold on." The former Battlemaster gently brushed the beasts aside, their tails swishing rapidly in anticipation of finding the other part of their pack. 
"Be ready. Don't know if there are any traps the Xiis might have planted." The wall that once stood in their way was, within a few moments, a pile of fallen stones. Stepping over the remains granted the party access to a more illuminated hallway that was about as wide as the square area they were in before. There was an iron door at the end of the hallway, which branched left and right. Above them was grating that served as a walkway above them.
"Must be how they're navigating through the undercity." Voldon mused as they approached the door, dodging viscous fluid dripping lazily from the grating above. One of the hounds suddenly lifted his(or her? He couldn't tell with these two) head into the air, sniffing intently before emitting an excited yelp, sprinting forward with their packmate towards the door at the end of the hall, clawing at it before one decided to headbutt the door, leaving a massive dent. 
"Save your strength." Voldon patted the head of the more zealous one before using the same destructive process that he used on the wall, except instead of disassembling the metal, it fell forward, creaking in protest. After dodging the door, the Tuk'ata bounded inside and nudged the lifeless form strapped to a wooden chair, blood staining the metal floor. Years of seeing men and women in similar situations conditioned Voldon for Yerbol's state, but he wasn't sure Aria would have the same cool-headedness. Quickly turning, he grabbed Aria by both shoulders firmly. 
"Let me treat him first. I can hopefully get him to his feet and we can patch him up on the way there. Search for an exit and get back here as soon as you do." As he let go, he added firmly:
"And that wasn't a request." 

"No..." 
"Come on, Yerbol, fight it."
"No..I can't...'
"Knock it off. I can't have one of the first Champions get beat. Not like this." When Yerbol hesitantly opened his eyes, he saw Voldon seated across from him, legs folded, hands clasped together in a meditative position. There was a green aura permeating the room, surrounding the younger Force user. He felt...better. Not healed. But better. 
"How...how..."
"Keep quiet. You need your strength." Yerbol groggily watched Voldon rise, standing next to him as he helped him out. A shriek of agony came as Yerbol could feel the immense pain in his seemingly broken body. 
"You've probably got multiple broken ribs, broken ankle...not to mention multiple lacerations, bruising and probably internal bleeding from the looks of the purple spots on your abdomen." Voldon shot him a teasing glance.
"I've seen worse." 
"Shut...shut up..." The Elder chuckled as he brought Yerbol into the hallway.
"Ari..."
"She's here, son. Just give it a couple of minutes."