You travel to the south of town. You notice you're receiving quite a bit of attention from passersby; it's not because of you, but rather the pack of large dogs beside you, you suppose. There is indeed a petrified tree as you were told, two deer examining it closely.
"If we were to cut inside it we may be able to see—" one begins.
"If we were to cut this tree it could severely damage the engravings on it!" the other shouts. "You're keenly aware of the anthropological significance of this. It needs to be preserved, as is."
"I'm sorry, but not going anywhere until we get our answers!" the first says.
"Then you'll be sitting on your rump until it sticks to the ground. This is important, we cannot act rashly."
You watch them for a moment, trying to follow along with one of their conversations. It's cut short, however, when Ruff breaks rank and starts running around the tree. The deer aren't quick enough to stop him, and before you intervene he's already torn off a branch of the rock-like bark.
"Oh heavens above!" the second deer exclaims, dramatically fainting on the spot.
"Bad dog!" you shout, snatching Ruff away from the site.
You hold him firmly in place, stroking his head while he whines pitifully. The deer gather around him, angrily shouting at him and you.
"Do you understand the damage you've just done?!"
"I'm sorry, he's a rambunctious lad." you say.
"That tree was to be used in an upcoming exhibit!" one shouts. "You've destroyed valuable archaeology!"
"It cannae be that bad, can it?" you say, picking up the branch and trying, failing, to reaffix it to the tree. "Maybe a spot of glue? It's not that bad."
"These symbols, they're a message from the ancients! They tell us how they lived!" one sobs. "How can we learn that if you destroy the tree?"
"Who are 'the ancients?'" you ask.
"Why are you even here if you don't know that?! The ancient people who lived here before! They're your ancestors, for goodness sake!"
"But I'm not a deer..."
The buck sighs. "You don't seem to get it. We believe these runes date back to the age of predators, when all hooved races lived as one. These ARE your ancestors, and ours."
"I didn't know, I'm sorry." you say.
"Sorry isn't going to cut it here. This was an important discovery! It proves everything we've been saying!"
"I dinna understand. What have you been saying?"
"That the predators weren't a single race. That they're a collection of races united by way of predation! They had their own cultures, even! This is the first time we've seen a written record from before the great war that wasn't made by an ungulate."
"Wait, if a predator wrote this is it really 'our' ancestors?" you ask.
The deer glares at you. You can't really think of a way to respond, so you just stay silent and wait for them to calm down. You stare at the runes; it's not any language you've ever seen, and the markings, faint as they are, seem jagged and stiff, as though they were carved directly with claws rather than a proper tool.
Eventually, the duo of archeologists start to murmur amongst themselves.
"We'll have to get a new sample." one says.
You ring your bell, bringing your dogs close, and try to leave before they cause any more trouble.
"Oh no, you aren't getting out of this!" one of them shouts at you, freezing you in your tracks.
"No offense, but she's not trained and would probably destroy evidence." says the other deer.
"I guess it's only some dirt. Maybe my dogs could help dig?" you say, trying to seem enthusiastic. "I mean, it can't be that hard if you two were able tae do this, aye?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing, sorry."
They whisper to each other for about a minute, and then present the ultimatum.
"If you wish to avoid trouble with the law, there is a limit to how far we can travel within a nearby archeology site. An expedition was recently conducted in the outskirts of the prairie after the discovery of a burial ground."
"A burial ground? You can't just dig those up, can ye?"
"Well we... no, we can't, but what the cattle don't know can't hurt them. We believe it contains a number of valuable artifacts, which would be a tremendous boon for the museum."
You step back. "Yer asking me tae grave rob."
"After a few years it's grave robbing. After several millenia it's archeology!"
"I dinna feel comfortable with this at all..." you say. One of your dogs growls.
"Look, if you're caught, just say that you were following orders from the government."
"It's not my government though!"
"Just do it if you don't want to end up in a cell."
You think back to your previous cell visit. You could use another snack...
"Besides, those floofy things would love it!" one says. Leaning down he speaks to the smaller dogs, "how's that boy? Wanna dig? Wanna dig?"
At mention of the word dig Tuft goes into a frenzy, tearing up the ground in front of him.
"No! Bad puppy!" you scold.
"We'll tell the guards about this yard damage too. This is private property. Might get you for trespassing, even." the other adds.
"Fine. If only tae get the pups away from a bad influence like you two." you say, gathering your dogs.
"Be sure to meet with us with your findings when you get back. Don't want you taking all the credit when we gave you the coordinates!"
You leave without comment.

You exit the city, passing through a large gate at the south border of town. A guard and sprite pass nervous glances of each other as they let you through. They seem to look relieved?
You walk in silence. After a day or so in the city, the prairie is relatively silent. Mama walks ahead of the pack, but there's nary a creature. As the temperature rises grass begins to grow once again, satisfying your stomach, but grass and cacti seem to be the only signs of life. You know the cattle don't stay in one place often, but you expected to see something.
The upside to this is the supposed burial site is just as deserted, so nobody needs to see you defile a grave. You're far enough away from those archeologists that you probably wouldn't see them again, is there any reason to actually do this?
You stand around, looking at the site while trying to process this. There are a few signs of previous attempts to dig the place up, even some tools left aside. These really aren't good people, they didn't even put them away neatly, as though they just dropped them where they were at and left.
"Och, I'm too sheepish, why does it feel so hard tae not do this?" you mumble out loud.

You're paralyzed in thought for so long that you fail to stop Tuft from already digging. Sniffing around he quickly found one spot that caught his interest, and before you're aware of it he's several feet beneath the surface.
"Tuft! Bad! I already told you once not tae dig!" you shout, following after him, running up to the hole—
Tuft is gone. There's no trace of him even, nothing but a deep, black hole.

Gasping, you immediately look around the site for a rope or something that might be able to reach whatever is down there. Thankfully the archeologists were kind enough to leave some behind.
You clear some space, instructing each of your dogs to hold onto the rope. The runt Woof holds on right behind you, the other dogs sorted by size with Big Papa at the back. You stand at the hole and begin lowering the rope, shouting "Tuft, lad! When ye see the rope, bite down and hold on! We'll get ye out!"
Dangling your forehooves over the edge you crane down to try and see ANYTHING below you, but the setting sun doesn't breach the hole.
"Dinna worry Tuft it'll be fine, it'll be—"
Things are not fine, you realize as the ground crumbles beneath your hooves. You try to grab onto the rope with your mouth, but with your added weight on the rope the pups begin to be pulled along with you. First Woof falls, then Puff, then Ruff; Big Mama is at first able to hold on near the edge, but her mass is just too much for the crumbling ground and the entire area gives way, taking her and Papa. The six of you plummet down the hole, spiraling into the darkness.

It takes time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness of the cave. The now much larger hole offers enough light that it's no longer pitch-black, but you still can hardly see anything between the shift in brightness and your disorientation. You're not really sure how you got so lucky; save for a few bruises you really aren't harmed at all, possibly due to your light frame. All your dogs also seem fine, Tuft included. You're unsure how you'll get out, but at least all of you safe.
As the light levels become normal, though, you see the red glint of a predator's glare.
And then a second.
And then a third.
And more still.
You spot movement all around you, as the predators—now very much aware of your presence—close in for the kill. You hold your dogs close; there are too many to fight. You pray that your dogs don't suffer too much, and shut your eyes.
But then, the harsh rattling of one predator petrifies the others, halting their encroachment.
"THE SHEPHERD CAN BE USSSSSEFUL TO USSSSS . . ."
One of the other predators objects. "THEY HAVE BROKEN THE PACK'S WILL . . ."
"THEY HAVE MERELY SSSSSUBMITTED TO SSSSSURVIVE . . . AND ARE NO MATTER. WHAT WE WANT IS THE LAMB . . ."
Your eyes remain shut, your head buried into a dog for comfort, until you are addressed directly. "OPEN YOUR EYES, KEEPER, AND SSSSSEE ME . . ."
You slowly uncover your eyes and are greeted by a pair of red, reptilian eyes staring into your own. The creature, towering over you, slithers forward, revealing a poisonous serpent.
"I AM VENDAKEYA, SSSSSEER OF THE PACK . . ." she says in the usual hissing tone.
The predators around you growl, some at you and some at the serpent, apparent disagreement in the ranks. You remain quiet, or rather deathly silent, as Vendakeya continues.
"YOU HAVE BONDED WITH PREDATORSSSSS . . . YOU CAN SSSSSEE THEM NOT AS A THREAT BUT AS BRETHREN . . ."
You say nothing. The words barely reach you as you think only of your imminent death.
Vendakeya recognizes your fear, and in a single word:
"DISSSSS-PERSSSSSE."
The pack of predators scatters, absconding and abandoning you. The only ones to remain at the mouth of the cave are you, your pack of dogs, and the snake.
"THEY WERE GOING TO EAT YOU . . ?"
You nod, unable to control your shaking.
"THEY WERE GOING TO DRINK YOUR BLOOD AND FEED OFF YOUR FLESH . . ." she says with a harsher tone.
"A-Aye..." This is starting to make you uncomfortable.
The snake touches her rattler to your chest, immediately setting your pups into a frenzy of aggressive barking. She pays no mind to it.
"I WILL NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN . . ."
The tail motions closer to you, coaxing around your legs. It is not constrictive at all, but that fails to make it any less frightening. Papa lets out a blood-curdling growl, his tolerance reaching its limit even in such dangerous terrain.
"I HAVE SSSSSEEN YOUR COMPASSION FOR OTHERS . . . WHEN YOU ENCOUNTERED THE INJURED WOLF . . . YOU SSSSSAW NOT AN ENEMY BUT A VICTIM . . ."
"I-I-I..." Your heart beats a million times per minute.
"HMM . . . ALONE, THE SSSSSAFETY OF YOUR HERD NEAR, WITH ONLY ME, YOU ARE UNEASY EVEN SSSSSTILL . . . HMM . . ."
Nearly inaudible, you squeak out "Please don't kill me..."
"AHHH . . . I KNOW OF HOW TO SSSSSPEAK TO YOU . . ."
The snake, already positioned to do so, constricts you with her tail, lifting you to eye level. The dogs attack upon hearing you cry out, but rather than defend herself Vendakeya bears it and continues speaking to you.
"LOOK INTO MY GAZE AND SSSSSEE ME . . . SSSSSEE ME AS I SSSSSEE YOU . . ."
You stare straight at her as she speaks.
"YOU ARE NOT MY FOE, POM . . . and I need not be yours."
"Wh, what?"
The world around you has greyed out. You look about frantically but can no longer even see your dogs. You've become free of the serpent's grip, but though you stand you find yourself unable to move.
There seems to be nothing around but you... and you.

Standing across from you is yourself, or, no, it obviously isn't. Across from you stands a lamb, with slender legs, a thin coat of wool built up at the top of the head into a pompadour, and a collar with a bell around her neck. Her wool is that of a shadowy purple, and she looks at you with sad eyes.
Your sad eyes. But even they aren't quite the same; you have sky blue pupils, while the doppleganger looks at you with the bright red eyes of a predator, pupils of scarlet surrounded by a crimson sclera.
"Ple, please, just listen." It's your voice, identical to the pitch. The only distinguishing factor is a lack of any discernable accent, but... it couldn't be anyone else.
"I have so much to say, but we do not have much time."
"What is this trick? Where are my pups? Where am I? Who are you?"
"It is not a trick. Your pups are fine, exactly where they were. You are also fine, exactly where you were. I am Vendakeya, seer of the pack."
"Why can't I move? Why are you me?!"
"Be not afraid, Pom. You are in a trance, so that you may see me as I see you. I do not know a form that would put you more at ease than yourself. And, at the very least, you are speaking to me now." The shadow gives a weak smile.
"Well let me out of the trance and give back my body! I don't wanna be here, I didn't mean tae come here, I just want—"
"Please. Pom." There is genuine grief in these words; what would be imperceptible in the spine-chilling voice of a predator speaks loud and clear in your own. Vendakeya is begging for you to listen. "If I could have anything it would be more time to speak to you, to assauge your fears. But I have only minutes to convince you."
"Of what?"
"To help us."

Vendakeya's puppet lets out a terrified sigh. "You lack reason to trust me but I cannot lie to you now. Were I to try, you would see through it, for I am letting you see me. You are compassionate enough that you may listen."
"I don't like this, I don't at all." you say.
"I am sorry. We predators struggle with your tongue. The dogs of Baaah have forgotten how to speak altogether, silencing themselves so as not to terrorize their symbiotes. Were I not to hypnotize you, I would never have broken your wall of fear. I would have ran out of time and gained nothing."
A picture flashes in your mind of Woof running up to you and saying "PLAY WITH ME . . ." You can empathize with the snake's plight.
"What's a seer? You called yerself that. You knew my name but I've never said it."
"I am Vendakeya, seer of the pack. I see many things. I see afar, the places and people of Foenum, from the meadow to the volcano.
I see the future that may be. I see the paths to our downfall, and to our salvation.
I see the contents of your heart, and why it is worth destroying a reputation forged millenia ago to speak with you."
"But I don't understand! You're, you're evil!"
"That is what you have been told, and it is easy for you to believe, for we are natural enemies. We have done what we must to survive, taking the sustanance we require. The fear we elicit is well-earned, and some will call our actions evil regardless of circumstance. Even your prophet was guilty of this, claiming all dogs as evil incarnate and fighting to have them banished once discovered."
"They are NOT evil!"
Your shadow smiles again, as if she took the compliment for herself. "Thank you, it is nice for you to say that. But, if you were to remove yourself from the situation, what separates the actions of dogs from wolves? Dogs are not vegan, I have seen your discovery of this. They hunt and kill. They have merely set their sights on targets other than you."
"Nae, it's not the same."
"Why not?"
You open your mouth to refute such slander, only to find something caught in your throat, blocking the airways. You cough and hack before gasping for air.
"I... am sorry, I should have warned you of that. We are not having a physical conversation, but rather are seeing each other directly. You tried to speak words you knew were untrue, a kneejerk rationalization to protect the image of your dogs. I promise I am not damning them in my statements, but please, do think about this. The victims of your dogs are living beings just as you. You accept their actions as natural and not evil."
"I, I do." you admit.
"Is it evil for the wolves and panthers to do the same thing to larger creatures such as cows, deer or even sheep such as yourself?"
You find yourself unable to answer. It's different, worlds apart. Why can't you find the words to say so?

"Pom, this is not the debate I came to have with you, and I will put it aside. Please do keep the perspective in your mind as I plead with you. I am nearly out of time."
"Until what? What's going to happen?"
"To fraternize with one's prey breaks the code of the pack. It is desperation that brings me to you, and I was not given long to speak before my judgment is overturned."
"They're going to kill me. And, and I can't move—"
"You have my word that I will release you before they come and give you a fighting chance. Please do not panic Pom." The doppleganger approaches you, nestling its head against your own. "Listen so you may be convinced."
"You can move?"
"This is but an illusion I am using to speak to you. It does not matter. While I can, let me speak to you of the Hold."

"Where the predators were banished." you and the clone say in unison.
The clone nods. Standing inches from your face she continues. "Yes. It is a non-place. There is no sense of time, or of space. Imagine you were held here, in this trance, for thousands of years, feeling neither hunger nor tiredness. Sentenced not to death, but still to never live again.
"You would go mad."
You don't know what to say, trying to look away, but Vendakeya raises a hoof and guides your eyes back to your reflection.
"Do not feel guilt, for it was thousands of years before your birth, but understand it. It is why predatorkind harbors such a lust for revenge. Who would not?
"We seek the Key. Some seek it for revenge, but all of us seek it so that we can once more live."
These words cut you like a knife. The mirror image before you may be a manipulation of your feelings, but there's no refutation of the words: what was done to the predators is a fate worse than death, a neverending nightmare. You would never wish this upon anyone.
"I see it in your eyes, Pom. You understand our plight."
"Aye, but..."
Vendakeya nods. "Please, tell me your reservations."
"It's awful, but... do you think..." you have trouble bringing it out, fearing the reply.
"We have but moments left. Please, I will answer your question."

"C-Could... if you were all freed... could you not eat the ungulates?"
The dark lamb winces, a look of mortification on her face.
You plead with her, wanting the conflict to end. "Please, please answer me yes Vendakeya. There are mice, and rabbits, and other little creatures. It's not nice that the sheepdogs eat them, but they're, not like the ungulates. We're... we're like you! We ha'e cultures and histories and can talk to each other. You are... you're scary. But I know you're a person like me! You 'ave to eat but... do you have to eat us?"
Vendakeya turns from you. She opens her mouth to speak, only to cough and sputter. The lamb's body shivers, a horrifyingly relatable sight.
Not facing you, she weakly speaks, "Pom... I have seen many futures. You are one of our strongest hopes..."
"Can you spare the ungulates? Live like the sheepdogs?" You try to move, to face your shadow, but are as immobile as before.
A shudder breath comes out of the dark lamb, before she turns and meets your gaze. Fresh tears stain her eyes, and there is no doubt that it's a representation of the snake's genuine emotions.

"We cannot. It is impossible."
"Why? My dogs can do it. Why can't you? Why can't we all get along?"
"It was only a few wolves who escaped banishment. Their population grew slowly as they became dogs, and they never bred more than what their ecosystem can provide.
"There are too many of us. Were we to live as the sheepdogs we would drive our prey to extinction, and many would starve to death. It is impossible."
"No. No! This isn't fair! Don't make me choose one or the other! I don't want ye to suffer. But I cannae hurt the people of Foenum."
Vendakeya's puppet begins to breathe faster. "I can save Baaah. I can tell the Devourer, if he says the word the area will become sanctuary. We will not touch your land, your family, your race. I already see it happening, it is but guaranteed."
"I want to protect the Sheeple, but... the others are important too. Their lives aren't worth less."

"Do not doom us to the Hold. I have seen the branches on the tree of existence. Most paths to our freedom require help from outside the pack. You are the most compassionate of the champions, Pom. I have seen it and it is true. The keepers from the prairie, tundra, the woodlands, they cannot see us as more than monsters. The longma hold vendettas, they hate us. The anomaly of the high plains is not heartless but her, her view of reallity is abstract. You are the be-I-I-mean there are none who can p-possess—"
"Calm down Vendakeya, it's okay."
"Noooo," the imitation warbles. "I don't want to go back, it was so long, I'm scared, for failing I'll be punished," is what she manages to get out before breaking out into a sob and covering her eyes. How much of this is just traces of you being reflected in the doppleganger and how much is the unfiltered fears of the predator is not known, but the resulting display is too much to bear. You feel the strength to move, and console her.
"Sshhh, it'll be okay." You speak with a warmth similar to when one of your pups throws a fit or has a bad dream; slow, gentle, exerting no force and allowing her to let it out. "I know things are bad, and ye have bad times ahead. But even if it looks like the worst thing ye can imagine is about tae come, it may not come at all. If there's a way to save ye—all o' ye, everyone prey or predator—I'll do what I can. I don't want anyone tae hurt.
"Thing are bad for everyone, but maybe it'll turn out okay."

The sobbing slows, and she looks up at you, an emotional wreck no different than how you looked when you were shut out of Baaah and forced to begin this journey.
"You can look at us as creatures deserving of being saved?" she asks tentatively.
"If I can look at my dogs like that, I can look at you. I promise," you say with conviction.
The shadow buries her face in your chest, heaving. The stress of the situation has gotten to you both, and you lay down next to her, shutting your eyes and verbally comforting her.

When you open them, the trance has fully worn off, and you find yourself comforting the cold midsection of the towering snake that had captured you. The reality of the situation hits you and you jolt away. The serpent has no readable emotion in her expression, a blank slate who stares at you with those same sharp eyes. She speaks, her voice as before a disturbing rumble that sets off your fight-or-flight instincts.
"I SSSSSEE I HAVE FAILED . . ."
You try to say, but hesitate. Vendakeya's body moves away from you before you form the words, and she slithers into a pitch-black section of the cave ahead. "I MUST SSSSSEE WHAT MY PUNISHMENT WILL BE . . ."
You get up, almost as if to follow her and apologize, but Big Mama and Big Papa both stop you before you've taken a step, taking to each side of you and cutting off any path forward. Her tail disappears from view, and the last sight of her is a glint of her eyes through the darkness.
"I HOPE YOU FIND A WAY . . ."
She is gone.

If plans haven't changed, you have a few moments to think of a way to reach the hole in the ceiling before the gauntlet of predators arrives to finish what they intended to do.