" You are asking the wrong person, Uncle Jin. "
Mia's voice was now full of compassion.
" Even though I followed in your footsteps. Relationship wise, " Mia smiled, trying to make their light, I do not compare anywhere near any of the others in strength.
My powers only burst out in dire situations. I have no control over them. "
" I don't need your powers. I need something else that you have. Inside of you.
A pendant.
The pendant where the last drop of my child is buried. The pendant which can make me take of my body momentarily. "
Mia looked at him in wonder.
" Inside me? "
" I guess you have felt it before! It is able to project images in the wearer's brain. Leave behind impressions. "
It was still not clear.
" It had mystic powers that tied it all to the curse.
I need that to access my body. "
Mia took a step back.
" Since when do I have it? "
" Since you were a child. Probably your father or your mother had bequeathed it inside you.
Most likely your mother. To plant your father's imagery inside your head! "
" So that was what it all was. My father and myself, together when I was a child. It was part of trick associated with my very creation. "
Mia sharply turned towards Jin.
" If this was all you needed, why did you not just take it back then? I had to leave my newborn and rush here. "
She fell on the ground and sat right there.
" He must be really .. . He must be missing me! "
" I am really sorry for making you suffer this way. But the extraction process is difficult. You were at the time. It could have been risky for your child.
It will still be very painful my dear child. But I am unable to do anything about it. I have my faith my niece is strong enough to get me through this hardship. "
Mia stood up as suddenly as she had fallen.
" What are we waiting for then? Let's begin. I need to get back as soon as I can! "
" Yes you do Mia. "
" It's such a blessing that my baby is in the mer-kingdom. He is at least safe there! " Mia was reassuring herself.
" Don't be so sure Mia! "
His words did not only disturb Mia, it made her angry to one point.
" What does this mean? "
" The Mer- Queen has evil plans. We must hurry up and get back to his rescue before it is too ! "
Mia's eyes were turning red and furious.
" You lured me here in spite of knowing this? You made me leave him all by himself in the 's hand! "
Mia turned to jump out but bounced right back.
" Mia we are still inside the tree... "
" TO HELL WITH YOUR TREE... PENDANT... EVERYTHING.
I have seen what that Queen is capable of. I need to get back. I will give you what you want I come back with him.
Let me out. Now. Please! "
She was hyperventilating.
The fate her mother had run from was about to drag her back in its toxic grasp.
" Mia!.
I am afraid I cannot do that.
Getting the pendant out is more important.
We can rush to save your boy right after that! "
" You cannot?
What is that supposed to mean?
You said it is a lengthy process. How can we be sure my boy will be safe till then?
He is all alone.
I had thought I was leaving him behind with family. But... "
Mia was teary.
But Jin did not seem like he was changing his stand.
" There is more than one life at stake on the land Mia. You cannot be selfish like this. Let me the extraction process. We will head out as soon as it is over. "
Mia backed up several steps.
" More than one life? Is my baby now a mere number to you now? "
Mia's eyes were spilling suspicion.
" Tell me your real motive, beast!
Will this help you grow stronger! Is this why you need it! "
Jin appeared in front of her now.
Bodily.
His structure was very much like Mia's father. Only much more handsome. Even though her had aged, Jin seemed like the teenager that he once was.
" Mia, it's not like that. Give it to me! "
He advanced towards her.
She kept getting back .
" I refuse! ".
She announced as he came face to face.
" You are leaving me with no choice but to hurt you! "
" Try that! What's stopping you! "
Mia read the hesitation in his body language .
" Alright! "
In Spite of that he grabbed her hand .
He lifted another hand to strike at her chest when Mia screamed with her eyes closed.
A phenomenon repeated itself.
A white light that emitted from her chest, sent Jin flying.
He was tossed with force and possibly his fingers were burnt.
" This is my chance. "
Mia thought as she frantically looked for escape ways.
She must have been at it for some minutes when she heard Jin's voice again.
" It's useless Mia .
Just give up and accept your fate .
What's yours will come back. What's not , you will never be able to hold back.
Let's see the bigger picture here! "
Mia understood the pendant acted as her shield .
She needed to use it well.
She now had a fighting chance. Or so she thought
The moment she tried standing up and ramming into the tree trunk , Jin swept her off her feet.
Three her over his broad shoulders.
Mia did not understand what was happening.
How could he touch her this time!
At One moment he was sent flying.
The other moment, he barely even bothered.
******
Fish out of water
"It has already been two nights. The queen seems quite nice towards the baby. She takes care 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 what news. "
A commotion outside caught their ears.
" Go check what's happening! "
Ruby rushed out at the instruction.
Jade too was putting on her suit to go outside. But before she could, Ruby dashed back.
Her face was 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 .
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 .
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 .
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 traveled back inside.
Mia's son was fast asleep. There was a very peculiar trait of his when he slept. It was amusing funny at the same time. His little fox tail would pop up and wiggle whenever 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 of 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 is an army of 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 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 -witches caught up to 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 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 were bleeding, still she walked. The queer thing about the new settlement was its .
It was heavily concentrated in one stop while the rest of the landscape was mostly barren. What 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 a sword pointing right at her throat!
Where did it come from? Her senses were in the middle since she was out of the water.
" What is a fish doing out of the water? "
The sword bearer asked.
Ruby turned.
He 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 the population.
Now she understood. The settlement was inside the barrier. That's what left the rest of the land .
Ruby was not able to differentiate well but she could at least make out that the population was homogenous.
What kind of a settlement was she being taken into. Was it wolf terrain? A fox one or was it ?
She didn't have any .
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 by their behavior.
" Come inside. "
I 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 .
The king who was seated on the high chair stood up as well. But Ruby could not quite recognise face well.
" Aunt Ruby... "
Lin uttered as he rushed towards her.
" Let go of her! "
He yelled as the men were 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? "