--------///----Reina's POV----\\\--------

When we saw the bubble, we all raced towards the gate and saw that the thing we were waiting for was heading towards it. Though the look on everyones faces betrayed the expectations that we had. The thing that was rushing towards the gate looked like a type of ant with a gray carapace and some silver like coating on its mandibles. It was a meter tall and seemed to be moderetly fast.

Though we were just looking at it and happy that it wasn't something dangerous or something we couldn't handle. The guards seemed to base what they should be feeling off of our reactions, and seeing that we weren't worried seemed to relax them.

(Endis) " So... Who wants it? "

(Mina) " Not me. "

(Reina) " I could... But now i don't feel like it. "

(Ava) " I'm not offensive enough to fight it. "

(Orven) " If none are willing, then i shall take it. "

(Endis) " Whoa there. Who said i wasn't interested? "

(Orven) " Eh. Then... How shall we decide who... I see. "

Endis stuck one of his hand out over his palm and smiled at Orven. We all knew what that meant. Orven sighed and did the same. Then they looked to Mina who just shook her head and started to count down. 

(Mina) " Three...Two...One... Shoot! "

And so they did. Endis shot rock while Orven went paper. Even though Orven won, Endis was the one smiling.

(Endis) " Now i don't have to get nagged about not doing it. "

(Ava) " What's that supposed to- "

(Mina) " You did that on purpose didn't you? "

(Endis) " Yup. "

(Reina) " You smart asshole. "

(Mina) " We can still nag you about it. "

(Endis) " I can just say i lost fair and square. "

(Mina) " Tch. "

(Reina) " Tch. "

(Ava) " Uhh. Umm. Can we get back to the issue at hand please? "

(Orven) " ... I shall go now... "

Orven said that, but he didn't seem too happy about it. Probably because he didn't actually win against Endis in the first place. Orven jumped off the wall with his tower shield in hand and ran towards the ant. Before they hit, he coated his tower shield in earth and smacked the ant hard enough to make one of its mandibles fly off. It didn't seem to like that much since it let out a loud screech as it raised its forelegs up to try to grab Orven's shield but he kneed its body and turned to slam his tail into it.

It broke off a part of that bugs carapace which gave him a spot to skewer the ant with a spike he made on his shield. The ant tried to break the spike with its last mandible and its legs but it wasn't able to do it. Then Orven used his free claw and pierced the bugs eye. It struggled for a bit and then then just died. Orven took his claws out and let the bug fall to the eground. We all looked at it and sighed.

(Mina) " Haah. That was so anticlimactic. "

(Ava) " It was still better to be safe then sorry. "

(Endis) " True. Still anticlimactic though. "

We just shook our heads and went down to Orven to check out the ant. Endis went ahead since he would be able to figure out weaknesses from things faster then any of us. Though while he was doing that, the rest of us went to Orven to see what he thought about the bug. 

(Orven) " Weak. At first i had assumed the shell would take a blow yet i dealt more damage then i expected. However it seemed to have some level of intelligence as it tried to remove my shield from me instead of trying to destroy it. Aside from those points, it was weak. "

(Mina) " Hmm. Well then. Let's go back and give the people some good news. "

(Ava) " Should i help again or do something else? "

(Reina) " It's fine. You don't need to help this time. "

(Ava) " Kay... Can i still get some candy? "

Ava looked my way and gave me the puppy eyes, which she knws i can't ever deny. I grabbed the candies in my pockets and looked at which ones i could give her. Though she yoinked the closest one to her, which was a cherry candy...

(Ava) " Mine! "

She stuffed it into her mouth after taking off the wrapper and put the wrapper back in my hand. It took me a second to process what just happened since Ava hasn't really done that before. When my brain finished realizing what just happened, i quickly brought the rest of my candies back into my pocket and dropped the wrapper as fast as i could. Ava just look at me with her innocent face while chewing on the cherry gummy candy she just yoinked from my hand as if nothing was wrong.

(Reina) " I... I was saving that one... "

Ava looked at me but the turned her head when i was about to match her gaze. I just sighed and decided to try to get more from the nearest candy store here.

(Ava) " Sorry... I can buy you another one! I have the mon- "

(Reina) " Deal! We're going now. Let's go. "

As soon as the though of free candy ran through my head, i grabbed Ava's hand and ran with her back to find the candy store. Though suddenly Mina was behind us.

(Mina) " You two are going to take forever so i'm coming with. "

(Reina) " Hmm? Oh really now? You sure you didn't want to get some candy? "

(Mina) " Well, if i get offered some candy then i won't say noooo. "

(Reina) " Then we're buying your cooperation. "

(Mina) " Sounds good to me. "

(Ava) Uh... Do... Do i have to pay for Mina's too? "

(Mina) " You have enough for mine too. "

(Ava) " Uhh.... Uhh... "

(Reina) " I'll pitch in for whatever Mina wants, that sound good Ava? "

(Ava) " Yes. Thank you. "

(Reina) " It's whatever. "

We eventually made it back into the city amd headed to the nearest candy store to fill up on candy. We split up and took different sections of the store so we could find what we wanted. We took a while and eventually came out after using a silver and some change... Of Ava's money. I only spent over a dozen copper since Mina just wanted three things.

On the other hand, me and Ava bought a bags worth of candy for ourselves. We started to make our way back to the gate so we could meet back up with the guys, but then we ended up meeting closer to the guild. The ant body was being brought into the guild so the scholars could disect it. Endis and the basilisk children looked at the bags in our hands and came over. 

(Endis) " Soooo... You gonna share? "

(Reina) " What do i get out of it? "

(Endis) " Hmm... I'll take one of your shifts next time we camp out. " 

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(Reina) " ... Deal. "

He knew my weakness. Whenever we would stay out for a request, we would take shifts to make sure we weren't ambushed while we slept. I always hated having to deal with a shift so this was a easy trade for me. 

(Endis) " Yes! Whatcha got? "

I opened my bag and showed him what i got. I had gummies, tablets and other hard candies, i had as many of my favorites that i wanted in the bag. I loved hard candies while Ava loved the gummies and other soft candy while Mina ate whatever she wanted. Endis was the same way.

(Reina) " Just don't take any cherry or grape candies. "

(Endis) " Yeah i know. "

While he was looking through my bag, Ava was standing close to Mina as the children were crowding her for snacks. We've figured out which candies the kids could eat and which ones they couldn't eat. They all had their own tastes but they all had to eat tablets since they wouldn't take too long to dissolve or hurt them in any way.

Ava may be a little scared of the kids, but she still liked them. She was picking out what candies to give to them and let Mina hand them to the kids. Though i couldn't keep looking at them since i saw Endis grab what looked like a grape candy, which i specifically told him not to do! He noticed that i snapped towards his hands and smiled as he opened them to show that there weren't any grape ones.

(Reina) " ... Sleeves. "

(Endis) " Tch. "

He clicked his tongue but still shook his sleeves for me. When he did, a grape gummy fell out but he caught it before it hit the ground. I was about to say something but he took the wrapper off and chucked it into his mouth. He smiled as he started to chew very obnoxiously as he looked at me.

(Reina) " You lucky son of a- "

(Endis) " Dunno whatcha mean. "

(Reina) " Wanna go? I'll beat you up if that's what you want. "

(Endis) " Hoh. You've still never "beat me up" you know. "

(Reina) " Then time for that to change. "

(Endis) " Then let- "

(Mina) " Oook! Shows over you two. "

(Ava) " Yeah. No fighting here! "

(Orven) " How disappointing. I was hoping for the spectacle to continue. It is quite the enjoyable experience. "

That was when me and Endis checked around and saw that there was a small crowd starting to form They were all looking at me and Endis, so were our party members and even the kids. Our basilisks slithered over to us and mine wanted to wrap around me so i let him climb up and wrap arond my waist while he rested his head on my shoulder. After that, we headed into the guild together and looked at requests we could handle in the city before we moved on for the next place.

At one point later the same day, the lord tried to make a fuss but we shut him up and went on with our day. There were things we could handle on our own so we split up and did our own things. We also liked this place so we decided we'd stay here for a bit and relax while we handled some small requests for easy money. That's how we spent a week just relaxing and enjoying a break. But that was about to change.

The day started the same way, we all woke up in the inn we were staying and got our day started with some breakfast. Then we split up to just go relax and do our own things. Ava came with me and Orven took the kids. It might've been because he was reptilian, but all of the kids loved him. Me and Ava were debating where we wanted to go for today and eventually settled on heading over to the harbor to get some fruit from the stalls over there.

(Ava) " What should we do after though? "

(Reina) " We can figure that out after we pick up some fruit. "

(Ava) " You sure? "

(Reina) " Of course i am. Just trust me. "

(Ava) " Ok. "

So we just kept heading to the harbor so we just talked about random stuff as we were going. Eventually we got to the topic of party stuff.

(Reina) " So how're you really feeling about the party? You've been here for about a year now. Anything You're worrying about? "

(Ava) " Umm... Yeah. It sort of feels like a family. "

(Reina) " I can see that. Mina's pretty much our mom. "

(Ava) " Exactly! But then sometimes shes like a big sister when she's not being super serious. "

(Reina) " Then what about me? "

(Ava) " You're definetly a sister, you just feel easier to get close to then Mina. " 

(Reina) " Hmm... I'll take that answer. Then what about Endis and Orven? "

(Ava) " Hmm... Endis is the annoying older brother that cares while Orven feels like... An uncle? Maybe? I think? "

(Reina) " Really? I mean... I can sort of see it? "

(Ava) " I don't know. That's just the way i feel. "

(Reina) " I see. Anyway, we made it. "

The harbor was a heavy trade area since it was connected to the ocean, and that made it a perfect place for all kinds of stalls with all kinds of stuff to eat or sell. We've been here a bit ever since we stopped here and decided to stop for our break. We looked around and got some fruit to eat while we kept going on with our day. At some point we found Orven and the kids at the far end of the harbor at a fishing pier. He was fishing with some people who seemed to know him and giving some of their catches to the kids.

(Reina) " Want to head over? "

(Ava) " Umm... Ok. "

(Reina) " By the way, why are you still scared of them? "

(Ava) " I think... It's instinct? Even though i don't look like one, i'm still a birdkin. It's not exactly easy to get over an instinctual fear of snakes. "

(Reina) " But Orven is a lizardkin. "

(Ava) " That's different. The kids are literal basilisks while Orven is a lizardkin who even though he looks like and has some behaviors that are reptillian, he doesn't feel like a true reptile. "

(Reina) " Huh... That's interesting. "

We had been walking towards them while we were talking and the kids seemed to have noticed that we were coming as mine started to slither over. Ava flinched for a second and scuttled behind me but it was fine. The kids have gotten used to seeing her do this but they still didn't seem to like it. She tried to pet them sometimes but it was still a rare thing for her to do.

Orven looked to where my kid went, and noticed us and waved us over. Though while he did, he was distracted and didn't notice the other kids peeking into his bucket and took a fish each for them to gobble up. Orven noticed that and sighed as he moved his bucket away from them as we were coming over.

(Reina) " Hey uncle. "

(Orven) " Excuse me? "

(Reina) " Don't worry about it. "

(Orven) " ... If you say so. What brings you two here today? "

(Ava) " We stopped by for some fruit and ended up seeing you over here fishing. "

(Orven) " Then shall we take our time and play with the children since the opprotunity is here? "

(Reina) " Sure. What about you, Ava? "

(Ava) " I-i'll try. "

And she did. Sure she may have flinched when two kids wanted to play with her at the same time, but she was still trying. The other fishermen contributed by feeding the kids, sometimes maybe a little too much, which got Orven involved as he told them that it was a little too much. We probably spent a half hour just playing until something unexpected happened that got our attention.

(Ava) " Wait... Isn't that. "

Me and Orven were confused by what she was saying, until we looked over and saw what Ava did. In the direction of the gate, there was a massive water bubble that was rising up into the sky that soon popped with a massive boom. We knew what that meant.

(Reina) " Orven, grab the kids and get your stuff. Ava go with him and and get your and Mina's stuff. I'll head over to check out what's going on! "

(Orven & Ava) " Yes ma'am! "

Even while we were relaxing, i kept my hybrid and Siellas with me since they didn't really bother me at all. But Orven couldn't carry a tower shield and still relax so we would usually keep his gear wherever we stayed. Mina would even leave her crossbow and her expendable throwing weapons. And Ava was Ava.

With the orders given, we moved. I started to run and took to the first roof i got too when i got out of the pier, and kept rushing towards the first gate's wall. I even saw Endis running along the roofs a bit aways to my right and heading over too. He noticed me but we kept running and saved whatever jokes we had till we got to Mina and saw the situation.

When we got there, Mina was in her armor but didn't have her gear so it actually was still at the inn. Mina was still giving orders to the guards and didn't notice we were here. Though she turned around and saw us and nodded her head. She let the guards go to fulfill her orders and started to lay out what was going on.

(Mina) " Something's going on at the cove. A party went over with some of the scholars to get Sea Reaper scales and corpses to get atleast some materials when they found the cove to be entirely different. They said it turned into some kind of massive tunnel system. They found traces of the Sea Reaper corpses but when they tried to go further in, they heard echos of what sounded like "a stampede" and sent back a messenger as soon as they could.

The people themselves are still coming back but they've said that they will hide if they can't make it back in time. But what bothers me the most is what they said about the cove. There's just no way a tunnel system just sprots out of nowhere after some kind of ant creature comes out. "

(Endis) " But unless a different rift, brought out the SAME thing, then there's no way they're related. "

(Mina) " That's what i was thinking. But what if the first ant was a scout? "

(Reina) " For what? "

(Mina) " A queen. That or the first ant had an egg attatched or laid some before it left. "

(Endis) " Well, there's no point in worrying about it now. I think a "stampede" is more pressing. "

(Mina) " Yeah. So le- "

Mina was about to finish but them... We felt it. Even though we were far from the cove and on te gate's wall... We felt the ground shake. We looked towards the cove and just saw a tidal wave of ants start to approach us.

(Endis) " Holy shit... What the fuck am i looking at? "

(Ava) " We're here! Wh- "

Ava and Orven managed to get back, but since Ava was in the air, she managed to see what we were looking at. Orven was still on the ground level but he was coming up and would be here in a few seconds. And when those seconds passed, we were all together looking towards the impending wave of ants.

(Orven) " How shall we handle this? "

(Endis) " ... How we've always done it. "

(Mina) " Agreed. "

(Reina) " Let's do this. "

(Mina) " But first. Ava, amplifier please. We need to start an evacuation. "

 (Ava) " Yes mom! I mean ma'am. " 

Mina looked confused for a second but she shook her head and started to warn the residents. The message was loud and people started to move. When that started, we looked to the wave of ants that were getting closer and closer until they were about to be in range and started to get ready. They were coming closer but we were ready to hit them.

(Mina) " Let's go! Orven, golem form! "

(Orven) " Yes ma'am! "

Orven jumped off and began turning into his golem form to meet the wave head on.

(Mina) " Reina, Endis, GO! Ava, support! "

(Reina, Endis & Ava) " Yes ma'am! "

Me and Endis hopped down from the wall and ran to Orven's side and jumped out from his sides to tear into the ants that were trying to pass him. Ava flew up to Orven's golem head and surveyed the scene while Mina was ordering the guards and helping keep the walls safe as she started to coat the front wall and gate in water to make spears to impale any ants that got passed us.

But then, it seemed like there were clouds covering the sun... That's what i thought at first. But as the shadows started to grow and encompass more of our field of vision, everything just seemed to stop. Some ants at the back were still rushing forward but the majority of them stopped. Endis stopped. Ava and Orven stopped. I couldn't hear Mina shouting orders as everyone just looked up.

And that's when we saw it. Massive slabs of earth just growing thicker then the gate walls and coming down faster and faster as something kept coming closer with them behind it. I couldn't see it well but the black fur and red eyes seemed to remind me of something. Of someone. And the shout sold me on who it was.

(Eclina) " Reinaaaa! "