“It has already been two nights. The queen seems quite nice towards the baby. She takes care of all his needs.
It’s a little shocking. Isn’t it? ”
Ruby asked lying on her back.
” I think she is waiting for something! ”
Jade added.
” Like what? News from the Scouts? ”
Jade nodded. ” They will be coming back any moment. I wonder with what news. ”
A commotion outside caught their ears.
” Go check what’s happening! ”
Ruby rushed out at the instruction.
Jade to was putting on her suit to go outside. But before she could Ruby dashed back.
Her face red. She was out of breath .
” Jade… Jade…. Hurry up. Hurry up! ”
She could barely utter.
” I am coming. Wait… One second. What happened? Why do you look so flustered? ”
” They… They are back… ”
Ruby said.
” Who is back? Laeba and Tara? ”
Ruby nodded,
” Yes… Yes… They are… But along with them… ”
She could not say anything further.
” Along with them what? ”
Jade could no longer wait for Ruby’s answer. She swam past the crowd making her way to the front.
Laeba and Tara had two males of their kingdom tagging along.
A child and an adult.
Jade immediately identified both of them.
One was Crystal’s mate and the other was the mate of the present queen who was still growing up.
Was the accusation against Mia true? Even if it wasn’t the situation proved otherwise.
They were able to track the one who they had been trying to track for centuries, without any hint.
Now all of a sudden they were back with him after following Mia’s track while escaping.
Ruby was back beside her too.
” What do we do now? ”
” Where is the boy? ”
Jade asked, Ruby’s eyes travelled back inside.
Mia’s son was fast asleep. There was a very peculiar trait of his when he slept. It was amusing and funny at the same time. His little fox tail would pop up and wiggle when ever he was snoring.
” Hurry! Wrap him up! ”
Jade urged Ruby who didn’t waste a moment with the prompt.
” We need to get him out if here right now. ”
Ruby swam up with him as Jade swam behind trying to make sure that nobody was following.
They were almost near the surface when suddenly Ruby stopped.
” What happened Ru… ? ”
But Jade’s words died in her mouth.
There an army of the mer-witches waiting for them.
” Going somewhere? ”
The lieutenant asked.
Ruby looked at Jade. There was no way they would be able to get away from there.
” We need to send words to the foxes. The child’s life is in danger. Mia is missing. Only he will be able to get help… But… How do we get past this… ”
The army was standing in an unbreakable formation.
Jade slowly took the baby from Ruby’s hand. Then pulled out the silver scale.
” NOW! ”
Ruby was pushed out on the land before she could even protest.
She held her chest, gasping to adjust to the new environment.
She knew her sister had willingly sacrificed herself. And she needed to move fast before the mer-witches caught upto her trail.
She stood up and tried to run. Her newly formed feet were still adjusting.
She started running nevertheless. Stumbling and falling. She was on the shore. But something was not right there. There was too much commotion.
The territory near the mer- kingdom was never so happening.
It was as if an entire population had migrated there.
Her feet was bleeding, still she walked. The queer thing about the new settlement was it’s concentration.
It was heavily concentrated in one stop while the rest of the landscape was mostly barren. What was going on?
She didn’t know.
She needed something to clothe herself first.
Water dripped as she walked, leaving behind a wet trail.
Suddenly there was sword pointing right at her throat!
Where did it come from. Her senses were in a middle since she was out of the water.
” What is a fish doing out of the water? ”
The sword bearer asked.
Ruby turned.
It was a very handsome man. A very handsome face.
But words did not leave her mouth when she tried uttering an explanation.
The person threw his cloak over her naked body then yelled at his two mein
” Bring her inside. Let’s take her straight to father. And somebody go call Lin. ”
Ruby was trying to struggle but the moment Lin’s name was mentioned, she stopped struggling.
Was it Mia’s husband or somebody else by that name?
She needed to make sure.
The men walked just a few steps when they stepped inside a barrier.
Ruby was perplexed.
She had never seen a barrier of that magnitude.
It was huge. Gigantic. Now that she was inside it, she could see the entire stretch. It was as big as the population.
Now she understood. The settlement was inside the barrier. That’s what left the rest of the land barren.
Ruby was not able to differentiate well but she could atleast make out that the population was not homogenous.
What kind of a settlement was she being taken into. Was it a wolf terrain? A fox one or was it human?
She didn’t have any anwer.
She was taken inside a huge tent.
Too majestic to resemble a mini palace.
The men who were carrying her, put her down.
Then yelled seeking permission to get in. She knew she was going to be in the presence of royalty by their behavior.
” Come inside. ”
I voice called.
The moment they got in Ruby straightened up.
The Lin they mentioned was indeed Mia’s husband. He too was startled to see Ruby in that condition.
The king who was seated on the high chair stood up as well. But Ruby could not quite recognise the face well.
” Aunt Ruby… ”
Lin uttered as he rushed towards her.
” Let go off her! ”
He yelled as the men still holding her like a captive.
Then he turned towards the king and said,
” This is Mia’s aunt. Aunt Ruby. ”
Then turned back towards her and asked,
” Why are you here? In this state? “