Queen of Nothing

Chapter 2

In the morning, Dina was packing her things in her room while Morrison sweeped in the house. Suddenly, they heard distant thuds on the ground, and the things around them began to tremble slightly. Dina looked out the window, many people were running to the other side of the village, which was near where she lived. She got out carrying two bags and stood on higher ground. In the distance, she saw a bright blue scorpion walking towards the village.

The people were murmuring in fright, fearing that the scorpion was there to terrorize a village the scorpions once feared. It was the biggest that they'd ever seen around the area. However, when the scorpion was closer, they saw a figure crouched on its head. Dina's eyes widened considerably as she recognized who it was. Dina ran down the stairs of the building to go straight to the entrance and run ahead of the crowd. Everyone noticed it immediately.

"She's crazy!"

"Why is she out there?"

"Is she trying to die?!"

The scorpion stopped in front of the village, and they heard a voice shout from above it. Looking up, they saw a woman in a veil. "Dina, I got us a ride!" Elle shouted, waving and grinning.

The villagers gaped at the sight. "How will we ride a scorpion?" Dina shouted back.

"I made a small tent attached to her back!" Elle shouted. "Get on! Our stuff is in here already!" The scorpion crouched down and Elle threw down a rope ladder. Dina stared at the scorpion for five seconds before approaching the ladder.

1st Person View

Once Dina got up the ladder, I pulled it back up. I told Dina to sit on the leather seat and to buckle up. Our things were inside the tent. I tapped Nua's shell gently. "Let us go," I said.

Nua growled softly before getting up from her crouch. I saw Morrison at his window so I waved at him. He stared at me dumbfounded and waved back. Nua turned around as I held on to the edge of the shell. "What's her name?" Dina asked from behind me.

"Anua Sergei," I replied, smiling. "Came up with it myself. Like it?"

"It's pretty," Dina said. "Do you have any family?" My smile slowly fell.

"Used to," I answered. "They died with my home." We were silent for a while.

"How about I adopt you?" Dina asked again. "As my sister."

"You won't want to be related to me," I replied. I looked at Dina. "Everyone I loved died. You don't want to be a part of that." I looked back ahead.

Eventually, I began to see green in the distance. "Oh, we're nearing the edge!" Dina exclaimed.

"Are there any civilization that might be destroyed if we pass through?" I asked.

"No, they're pretty far away," Dina said. Nua screeched.

Company.

I took out a little scope from my pockets and focused the eye on the treeline. In the distance there were men covered in hunting gear. "It looks like hunters," I said.

"Must be Rangers," Dina stated. "I heard they're the secret soldiers of the king. Half assassins and half ambassadors. If they are, they should have at least wear the crest drawn on the coins."

I put my hand on the rough surface of Nua's shell. "Stop here, I'll walk ahead and see what they want," I said.

Nua growled softly as I brought down the rope ladder. I climbed down and ran ahead to go near the treeline. The said "Rangers" came out from behind the trees.