Locust Witch

The girl who had covered her face and held a scythe walked closer to them. The three of them still were cautious.

One ant came from one of the holes with vases of water on its back. The person took one of them and offered it to them. She drank the water herself to prove it was not dangerous.

Rufus then took the water and gave it to Doreen who desperately needed it.

"Who are you?" Joan asked and pointed her sword at her.

The woman didn't flinch or seem to care and didn't utter a word.

"I would put down your weapon if I were you," an old man said walking toward them through the alleyway of the rocks.

The old man was a Saracen and was accompanied by two other men. They had very humble-looking clothes and the old man used a cane to help him walk.

"Who the hell are you?! I really want answers now!" Joan yelled.

"Joan, calm down!" Rufus ordered.

"I would listen to him if I was you. The only reason the ants do not attack you is that our Locust witch doesn't see you as harmful to her or us. She might change her mind," the old man explained.

"Locust witch?"

"Indeed, and she is our town's Locust witch," The old man explained.

The old man then came to take a closer look at the others. He saw that they were not in good condition or used to the hot desert condition.

"Get to our town. We will heal your wounds and give you much-needed water," he said.

"We have many more people who need help. We have to go and get them as well," Rufus yelled.

The locust witch then walked silently away.

"Do not worry. It seems our locust witch knows about your compatriots and has decided to help them as well," the old man explained.

"But there are many more there. She can't carry them by herself," Rufus pleaded.

"She is not going alone, don't worry," the old man explained before the ants started to swarm out of their holes and started to follow the young witch.

~~

Edward and Haley were awake. They were looking at Amala who was taking care of the two Ghersengs who were still badly hurt. One of them had even accumulated a high fever.

"They should arrive now. They won't survive moving around without water for long," Edward explained.

"So unless he arrives in the next fifteen minutes, he is most likely dead," Haley said back in a hopeless tone.

Edward just laughed.

"We both know Rufus. He will most likely arrive a week late, carrying the other three, having fed his own blood to them to keep them alive, and then wander here with a smile," Edward said optimistically.

Haley laughed as well. It truly did sound like Rufus.

Soon they saw a large swarm come at them. Edward held on to his sword and ran to ready the rest of the Ghersengs and others who were in fighting condition.

The locust witch then dropped from the sky right in front of them. They all took their weapons not knowing who she was.

Again she offered water to them. The ants soon came there and started to go toward the injured. Gwon turned into his Seng form since he thought they would attack them.

The locust witch then easily passed Gwon and before they could attack her, she gave water to the injured.

They looked confused.

The ants started to give out vases of water to everyone and with some hesitation at first, they all started to drink and recover their energy. They started then following the ants who led them to the rocky lands.

~~

Just before the hot sun rose, they reached the center of the rocky land. They came to a large rock that had been carved open and inside many people lived in cave homes, escaping the sun's evil gaze.

They were guided inside by the Sahira and saw tens of families living there as if life was normal, with the giant ants working as guards. Haley then saw Rufus and ran to hug him.

"Welcome to the village hidden in the rocks. Welcome to the green solo moon world," the old man explained to them all.