Britney sighed heavily, accepting his help to get to her feet. "Yeah, real great," she grumbled, brushing the dirt off her clothes and spitting out the last remnants of sand. "Just the start I was hoping for."
The man only smiled, the kind of smile that came from someone who had seen too much to be easily surprised. "You'll get used to it," he said, his tone is more serious now. "This world has a way of forcing you to adapt. You just have to keep up."
As he walked away, leading them toward the market town, Britney glanced back at the hornet, which had already taken off to circle above them.
She couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of their rivalry. She followed the others, noticing the hornet touch down with a gentle thud as Veena and Ender carefully dismounted.
Before they could fully regain their bearings, a blur of movement caught their attention. A small figure somersaulted through the air, landing gracefully in front of them. It was a girl no older than seventeen.
"Hey, Danny!" the girl called out, her voice high-pitched and full of energy. "I see you brought some new friends along!"
And the man gave his infamous warm smile once again.
She bounded over to the hornet, which had been standing still like a loyal pet. "Cupcake, aren't you such a cute little boy?" she cooed, rubbing the hornet's enormous head.
The hornet responded with a chittering noise and jumped around in circles, its wings buzzing with excitement like a dog seeing its favorite human after a long day.
Britney watched this scene unfold with a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "Very good, of course," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as she dusted off the remnants of sand from her earlier fall.
The absurdity of their situation was becoming more apparent with every passing moment, and Britney struggled to maintain her usual composure.
The girl, seemingly oblivious to Britney's sarcasm, turned her attention back to the group. "I'm Reina," she announced proudly, puffing out her chest as if her name alone should impress them.
She gave Britney a quick once-over before looking at Danny. "I'll take it from here, Dan," she declared.
Danny smiled, his eyes crinkling with affection for the girl. He nodded and turned to walk away, leaving the newcomers in Reina's care.
As he disappeared into the shadows, Reina pivoted on her heel to face the group, her expression shifting from playful to serious in an instant.
"Oh, would you look at that! It's already 'nighty scary time,'" she said, as if addressing a room full of children. "We've got to get you all somewhere to stay before it gets too dark."
"'Nighty scary time?'" Tobias echoed, his brows furrowing in confusion. He glanced at the darkening sky, noting how quickly the light was fading. "Is there something dangerous out here we need to worry about?"
Reina didn't answer immediately, her eyes scanning the horizon as if she was calculating something. "Follow me!" she suddenly chirped, her mood flipping back to cheerful.
Without waiting for any input from the group, she started off toward a cluster of low, dome-shaped structures partially hidden behind a rise in the ground.
Veena, still leaning on Ender for support, whispered to Tobias. "But didn't you say that humans didn't exist 298 million years ago?" Her voice was tinged with worry, though she tried to mask it with a brave smile.
Ender hesitated, looking at the girl who was already several steps ahead of them. "Or maybe," he admitted softly, "we were wrong about evolution.....?"
Reina led them to one of the larger domes, her tiny hand gripping a piece of vine that acted as a makeshift door handle. With a practiced pull, she opened the entrance, revealing a surprisingly spacious interior.
The walls were lined with glowing stones, casting a soft, soothing light across the room. Low, cushioned platforms covered in what looked like woven blankets of an unfamiliar material were scattered about.
"You can all stay here," Reina said, motioning for them to enter. "It's safe, and the blankets are made from woolly caterpillar silk—really comfy!"
Britney, still brushing herself off, raised an eyebrow. "Silk from caterpillars?" she asked, her skepticism evident.
Reina grinned, clearly proud of her knowledge. "Yep! Only the best for visitors." She paused, her expression softening slightly.
"You'll be safe here tonight," she repeated, her tone more serious. "But you should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be... interesting. You'll all have new roommates."
Ender, Tobias, Veena, and Britney exchanged glances, each reading the same unease in the others' faces. There was also a sense of reluctant acceptance.
The following morning, as the first light of dawn filtered through the landscape, Danny emerged from the camp. The camp itself was a fortress of iron and stone, with towering walls and intricate patterns etched into the metal.
Vines snaked up the sides, softening the harshness of the structure, but the thick, iron gates at the entrance made it clear that this place was built for protection.
Perched on a high ledge like a watchful hawk was Reina. Her striking green eyes sparkled with seriousness, and the bright red scarf tied around her head fluttered in the breeze.
Her black boots were sturdy, built for running and climbing, and her jeans were tattered and patched.
"On it, Dan!" Reina's voice rang out, clear and confident. She didn't wait for further instructions, her agile frame already moving with the grace of someone who had spent her life navigating the rugged landscape.
In one fluid motion, she leapt from her perch onto the large brass bell that hung in the center of the camp. The bell was ancient, and as Reina's small hands gripped the rope, she swung it with all her might.
The bell's toll reverberated through the area, its deep, somber tone cutting through the early morning quiet. Huge butterflies took flight from the treetops, startled by the sudden noise.
From all corners of the settlement, people began to emerge from their huts, their expressions a mix of concern and readiness.
They were a diverse group, each face bearing the marks of a life lived in constant awareness of the surrounding dangers. Some carried weapons and makeshift clubs.
Among the gathering crowd were Britney, Ender, Veena, and Tobias. They moved slowly, their bodies still heavy with exhaustion from the previous day's ordeal.
Britney's normally sharp gaze was dulled by sleep, and her hair was tousled. Tobias stumbled slightly as he exited the hut, his glasses crooked on his nose.
Veena, her leg still bandaged from the injury, was the last to emerge. She moved carefully, testing her weight on the injured leg.
The pain was evident, but she refused to let it slow her down. Ender, who had been the first to notice her, smiled warmly and stepped forward to offer his arm for support.
"Thanks," Veena muttered, her voice low but filled with gratitude.
"Anytime," Ender replied, as his blue eyes stared into her's.
Reina, having finished ringing the bell, climbed down with the same effortless grace she had shown before. She landed lightly on her feet, her red scarf fluttering in the breeze as she walked over to Danny.
Danny nodded to her, his face serious but with a hint of approval. He stood confidently on the altar.
While Reina stood beside Danny, her sharp eyes scanned the crowd, while the four newcomers—Veena, Ender, Tobias, and Britney—stood slightly apart, their faces a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
"Greetings to you, fellow villagers of mine" Danny began, his voice calm but commanding, "Today, is a very special day for me, and I hope to share this speciality with you all, as you have witnessed, we happen to see some new faces amongst us. These four have been through a lot to get here, just like the rest of us"
He gestured toward the four friends, and the camp's inhabitants turned their attention to them, One such inhabitant, a tall, brooding boy named Koryand'r, rolled his eyes in disdain, clearly uninterested in welcoming anyone new.
Beside him, Gwen, a quiet, aloof girl, looked away, her disinterest palpable.
Reina stepped forward with a mischievous grin. "Alright, time to sort out your roommates!" she declared cheerfully. "This is where the fun begins."
Koryand'r, still standing in the crowd, muttered under his breath, "Please, not me, please not me…"
Reina, grinning as though she had heard him, pointed directly at Veena. "You!" she called out, then pointed to Hilary, who had been watching quietly. "And you!"
Hilary smiled warmly at Veena, who returned the smile with a hint of apprehension. Koryand'r sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his brow.
But just as he began to relax, Reina's finger swung around to point directly at him and Tobias. "You!" she said with a gleeful twinkle in her eye.
"Damn it!" Koryand'r cursed under his breath, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Reina, clearly enjoying herself, turned to Ender and Gwen next. "You!" she said, pointing at the pair, who exchanged a look—Ender with a slight smile, Gwen with a raised eyebrow.
Then, with exaggerated slowness, Reina pointed her finger at Britney. "And you…" she began, drawing out the suspense. Britney's face brightened slightly, thinking she might be paired with someone tolerable.
"…will stay in the abandoned hut," Reina finished with a wide grin, "with the hornet."
Britney's mouth fell open in shock. "You said what!?"