Records of Rebirth

Seeing Ophelia excitedly flutter through the air, Arsinoe came to understand something was terribly wrong.

A fiery reptile was laying waste to all the scorpions on the ground. And aside from those running amok, the scorpions that had been burnt became simmering piles of meat that gave off an irresistible smell. 

While this amazing scene was enough to make her mouth water, she was deeply afraid.

What was happening was some strange change in fate, but weren't they in even more danger?

Her eyes fixed on a presence that was even more ominous than the fiery reptile on the battlefield. 

That sinister looking creature was strolling through the corpses as if it had all the time in the world to eat them, and not once did it attack any nestlings. 

Yet, all it had to do was show up and everything attacking them fled.

This creature was simply too tyrannical!

Could she ever become this powerful in her lifetime?

But why was Ophelia celebrating when they were about to be devoured? Wasn't the creature simply focusing on the scorpions, because they were more plentiful?

Arsinoe didn't fancy becoming its next meal – she'd just evolved, and her adventures with Typhon as his second in command were only just beginning!

Yet, her mouth started to water at the sight of so much food.

No! She needed to resist such a temptation. 

They had to flee.

When all the scorpions died, it would be their turn!

Ophelia landed next to her, with a very sparkly, awestruck look in her eyes. Seeming to have regained all her energy, she pranced around like a nervous wreck, unable to remain still in her excitement.

[What should we do?!] Arsinoe heard her say. ['She' is going to be so upset – just look at the state of things. The cave is ruined!]

[That should be the least of your concerns.] Typhon replied.

He was now able to stand and was intently scrutinizing the newly arrived monsters.

This made Arsinoe even more confused. Why wasn't he ordering them to run?

Were they both so afraid, they had lost their will to live?

The smell of roasted meat once again wafted over her senses.

[What the hell is happening?!] she complained to the two captains, who only now realised she hadn't caught on.

[Our leader is back!] Ophelia gushed, her serpentine wings wriggled excitedly. [She looks so different, but I can spot that cute aura anywhere!]

Cute?

Arsinoe did a double take at the hellish shadow of a monster that ensnared everyone's attention. 

It seemed to be arguing with the fiery reptile, who stubbornly continued to breathe fire even after it was scolded. Yet, its tail alone was far scarier to Arsinoe than the large reptile.

Why did it emit an ominous hiss and strike out at passing scorpions on its own, like a thing from a nightmare?

There was no way that creature and their leader were the same. Although she didn't like her very much, she never looked this terrifying. 

Arsinoe had to conclude Ophelia had gone mad.

Seeing her skeptical look, Ophelia chuckled before insisting. [It really is her. Look closely, her tail is the same…and you can see her eyes are a bit similar...]

Ophelia continued to speak, but Arsinoe's face had already turned green. She rushed out to stare at the creature, a terrible jealousy filling her heart.

How could this be!

This serpent was really too evil! She wasn't giving her any chance to catch up at all.

Ophelia gave her a radiant smile – she expected this kind of reaction.

Their leader had gotten even stronger, anyone would be impressed…although the awe Arsinoe should have shown looked far rather ravenous, like she was staring at food.

Ophelia thought this had to be a mistake, she was probably too happy to suppress her other instincts. Instead, she looked over at the battlefield to check on the nestlings, as well as the Veladrys and lastly the wolves she invited.

With everything seemingly about to be destroyed by fire, the Veladrys were gathered together as they cowered away from the flames – It seemed they all hated heat.

The wolves on the other hand, had all begun to leave and it seemed they were being pursued as well. Ophelia immediately rushed down to prevent this, she had to inform their leader the alpha wolf was on their side, before he and his pack were put to the torch.

As she flew off, Typhon and Arsinoe moved out to gather all the teams towards the cave, where the flames were less. It wasn't long before they had several teams rushing over to them in confusion.

With fires spreading everywhere, it was inevitable that they would think they were in danger. A great many scorpions had just died, and as Typhon checked on each team's status, he could see so many piles of charred corpses. 

It seemed 'she' was really upset.

But Typhon had come to suspect it wasn't just the lizard who was killing the scorpions, so he regarded their leader with interest.

There were other swift creatures moving through the forest that he couldn't make out properly because of the shadows. What exactly were they and were they also under her command?

Typhon really wanted to know, because he thought he might have spotted another large lizard among them, although he wasn't so sure, as they never quite come into the light, and he smirked as he watched their leader approaching. 

He couldn't wait to find out what she'd done this time.

Apollo eventually succeeded in making the bottom feeders return to the tunnels and although he was apologising to the nestlings that had been injured, most of them were less than pleased.

Typhon thought this was unnecessary. He didn't know what riled up the bottom feeders, nor where so many had come from, but after today, there was no longer any need for them.

It was better if they were all incinerated since the creatures refused to be tamed and he would have to break the bad news to Apollo. 

However, before he could say anything, they heard a sound from below and looked down to see the ground split open as several green saplings forced their way out. 

Artemis emerged from one of the underground tunnels along with three Veladrys, and following after them were Lyra and a very battered Europa who was covered from head to tail in dirt and carried over on a makeshift woven stretcher.

Arsinoe audibly gasped at the sight and slithered over to them, only to be stopped by Artemis who glared at her.

[While you were making heart eyes at Typhon, I had to rescue your team! Do you have any idea what Morgana planned to do with them?]

The Veladrys behind him all nodded, their muddy faces showing some anxiety from their ordeal. 

Arsinoe noticed they were covered in mud from top to bottom, and all extremely filthy. She couldn't begin to imagine what nasty thing Morgana had planned.

[This isn't how you lead a team.] Artemis continued to say. [You shouldn't leave at any point during a battle.]

Arsinoe had no energy to defend herself, she simply listened to his scolding and took note of the things he said.

At the time she had to admit she was driven by her competitive streak with Cygnus, and had ignored her team, whom she saw as a liability. 

But in the end, she still won!

Cygnus was now too injured to move and his protégé was giving her evil looks from afar.

Arsinoe sighed. When Artemis finished speaking his mind, she gave the serpent a victorious smirk, deciding to ignore her from now on.

She would have taken her more seriously if she had a name, but since she didn't, she relegated her to the back of her mind, like the rest of the nameless nestlings she deemed herself more superior than. 

Instead, she concerned herself with more pressing issues.

She promised to take Morgana away and since Ophelia was fluttering around their leader, likely telling her what had happened, she decided to do so now.

'She' would be the one to deal with her.

Inside the cave, Morgana was unceremoniously dumped into one of the cells. The Veladrys had assisted in tying her with tough vines, alongside the remnants of her creatures who were still yet to wake up.

Arsinoe didn't know what the plan was for them, but she knew that with Morgana no longer influencing them around, they could assimilate back into the [Pit] as they were originally meant to. 

When she returned outside, it was to a bizarre setting.

The teams Typhon gathered had all settled down, together with the large lizard that had been spewing fire earlier, although it looked to be asleep now.

Beside it were several toasted scorpions that reminded her just how hungry she was.

But as she came out, she could hear anxious whisperings from the nestlings all around her, some were even shivering.

[What is that?] She heard one say.

[Are we going to die?] Another whispered, before he was promptly hushed.

Although some were clearly hungry, they didn't dare to touch any of the large reptile's food. 

Typhon was with them, but he wasn't listening, instead his eyes were fixed on the monstrous serpent approaching with Ophelia.

It seemed they had followed his instructions to not run away, even when the large lizard settled down next to them.

Yet, although they listened, they couldn't suppress the fear they truly felt.

Arsinoe, who knew what was going on, couldn't help smiling in superiority.

[Don't you recognise your own leader!] She snapped at them. [I should have her punish you all for being so pathetic!]