Scorpion Dragon Option A: Explore Inland

We’re back, exploring Scorpion Island to see if we can find the Castle with Princess Maya.

Scorpion Dragon Option A: Explore Inland

The beach lays barren around you except for the occasional rock that breaks up the smooth, dark sand. But before you, toward the center of the island, the rocks grow bigger until you’re pretty sure they turn into cliffs. It’s hard to tell for sure because of how the rocks break up the skyline, but if a castle’s hidden here, you figure it’d be back where it’s hard to get to.

So you strap the sword around your waist and sling your pack over your shoulder and head inland.

Almost immediately the slap of the sword against your leg makes you stumble. You hold it with your hand but that hinders you climbing over the rocks. Sitting down, you take the sword off and use the belt to attach it to your pack. Satisfied, you slip the pack back on and head over the rocks again.

Not two steps in, you realize the sword wasn’t your only problem. The rocks, although they appear stable, move beneath your feet like each one sits on a pivot similar to a teeter-totter.

The pessimistic side of you grumbles with each step. The optimistic side delights in the fact that, the more secure the island is, the more likely it’s that way be design and you might actually be in the right place.

You’re trying to focus on that brighter side when a tiny giggle catches your attention. Rocks and sand meet your confused glance. The place seems dead of other life. You scour the area one more time before attacking the next obstacle, a larger rock, a boulder really, that requires you to climb over it.

Stuck half way up and scrambling for a hold on the top of the boulder, the giggle sounds again, a tiny chirping like a cat with the hiccups. You give a desperate shove with your feet, catch the top of the rock and haul yourself up by scrapping your belly on the rough surface.

You roll over and lay on your back to catch your breath. The giggle comes again.

“Could’ve helped me there,” you accuse aloud.

“No, I really couldn’t have,” whistles a soft voice.

“Why not?” you ask. By this time, your patience is limited.

“Well, look and see.”

You roll your head to the right and find a red creature with a stinger in its tail. A scorpion.

You keep from giving a cry and rolling away only because the tail’s raised, ready to strike and you’re not sure you’re fast enough.

“Oh, sorry,” the scorpion says, lowering his tail.

Now that you’ve relaxed, you see the creature’s only about an inch and a half long.

“I couldn’t help you, see, because I’m not big enough. But I can show you an easier way.”

“Easier way to what?” you ask, still eyeing the tail.

“The castle, of course. What else?”

“Why would you help me?” Your mother’s words, the ones about none of your family returning home, ring loud in your mind. This island’s full of pitfalls. This scorpion could be helpful…or he could be out to get you.

“Scorpus likes to eat us for fun.” If a scorpion could look morose, this one would have. As it is, his shoulders slump and his tail hangs near his head. “And showing you the castle’s my little way of getting back at him.”

Do you…

Aa. Accept his help?

Or

Ab. Decline his help?

Blessings and see you Tuesday!

Jennifer