Within the swirling whirlpool of sand, Ryker and the others saw a dark shadow emerge from the center, sand flowing down its form like water off a fish's back. At least, Ryker and Long Meiling saw it; Hina and Ji Shuchun were still engrossed in their word game beside them.
"Beetle."
"Elegant."
"Turtle."
"Eager."
"Rattlesnake."
"Grr, stop using words that end with 'e'!"
Ji Shuchun let out a frustrated sigh, while Hina only giggled in delight. Ryker, on the other hand, just glanced over with a helpless smile.
It was nice that they were getting along, but was this really the time to still be playing? He supposed with all of them surrounding her, Hina didn't feel scared in the slightest.
Soon enough, though, the rumbling beneath them ceased. Down at the bottom of the sandy crater, a large, chitinous head had broken through the sand to look up at their group, large mandibles clacking incessantly.
