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Ruby slowly faded abck into view, eyeing Snapdragon and Ambrosia suspiciously.

“…prove it… How are we spposed to just… take your words at face value?"

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"I'm sorry, but I have nothing to prove it. My word is my only proof." For a child, she was very refined and had an elegant way of speaking, just like her mother. "It isn't safe up here, what are all of you doing in the mountains?"

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“The Meadowsweet Mountains are my home” Cami tells Ambrosia, grip still tight on her staff as she occasionally glanced warily at Snapdragon. “I’ve lived there ever since my dough was new and freshly baked, the wilderness is my own blanket, the beauty of nature surrounding my cottage each day. it’s much nicer living out there.” Cami continues, eyes looking Ambrosia up and down, noting her outfit choices. “I am curious though, how did you earn the trust of Snapdragon? Few get to talk to any dragon or dragon hybrid, let alone ride them” Cami asks, tilting her head curiously as she does so. As if she wasn’t friend with Coca, a half dragon herself. a mildly strange question to ask, given that the shorter human-dragon was clinging to Cami, feelers vibrating in mild fear

Coca meanwhile, had calmed down somewhat, curious eyes still cloudy from having just transformed, patches of dragon scales still visible on parts of her neck, yet gaze intent and fixed solely on Snapdragon.

"Snapdragon is rather solitary and prefers to be alone, though many a time they had come seeking trouble in Floraberry Kingdom. My mother, Lemon Lavender Cookie, had created a treaty between the kingdom and the dragons, and when the kingdom came falling down, it was my other mother who left me in the care of the dragon. It was the only place I would be safe." Ambrosia nodded to the group.

"Then, maybe you know what happened to the council? We're on a mission to bring them back together, and we could really use your help!" Mona took a step forward, cautious of the watching eyes of the dragon.

"Well, it might not be of much use, but I heard that the adults had scattered throughout the nation- though I'm not sure where exactly, I'm sorry." She looked down at her tiny hands, clutching the bottom hem of her dress. Mona shook her head with a smile.

"No, that's plenty useful, thank you. That just solidifies the fact that we should continue our journey to Amaryllis City." She turned back to the others. "We've extended our stay in the mountains long enough. Is every cookie ready?"

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"...yeah."

Ruby's shoulders slumped slightly, as he pulled his scarf upwards ever so slightly.

"We should...go."

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Rosewater Cookie nodded with a smile. She was ready for adventure! She was excited to see more of Earthbread, learn secrets of the Cookies that governed, and to see her family members in Amaryllis City.

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Black Lilly Cookie is protecting the unconscious floating cookie to a secret location...

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Meanwhile, three hours previous...

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In the heart of the dense woodland, Dee found herself needing a breather from the melodramatic dynamics within her group. She hated feeling... mean. But she was easily fed up with people. It was part of the reason that she was confident that she would never be a good wife. Cookies could be tiresome. Seeking solitude, she ventured off the beaten path, stumbling upon a serene clearing bathed in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Dee sat in the lotus position, working through her breathing forms. She really didn't mind people. Not really. She was just easily frustrated. Mona and Lem and Roo and Ace all seemed okay. Instead, it was Dee who had gone from solitude to living in a house with half a dozen people overnight. As she attempted to gather her thoughts, an unexpected interruption materialized in the form of a pomegranate scarab. These beetles were annoying, and usually hostile. This one was small, but still posed a threat.

Swift to respond, Dee drew her sais, ready to engage in a dance of precision and agility with the intruder. The scarab, adorned in a resplendent shade of red, proved to be an adversary of formidable prowess. It's emerald wings and golden horns glinted in the morning sun. One shot from her blowgun under its carapace, and Dee would be fine. But it glared up at her, squaring up.

The ensuing skirmish, devoid of grandiosity or theatricality, saw Dee sheathing her sais. Aiming with her blowgun and darts, she used her fairly nimble nature to maintain a strategic distance, deftly thwarting the advances of her hostile opponent. The only word to describe it was sparring. The small creature had clearly been taken aback by her presence, already on its guard.

A distant rustle in the underbrush heralded the arrival of a more formidable pomegranate scarab, its menacing visage dwarfing both its predecessor... and Dee. She was completely outclassed now. One swipe from its pincers and Dee was done for. She could beat it, but that would take time and energy. Time and energy Dee didn't feel like expending. Realizing the asymmetry of the impending confrontation, Dee made a pragmatic decision—retreat.

The smaller scarab, displaying an unexpected tenacity, chose to abandon its hostile stance, fleeing after Dee. It had likely been running to avoid becoming lunch meat. The large scarab was pursuing, and Dee shot a spread of darts to slow it down. She heard the thing clicking over the undergrowth behind her, chasing her down. Together, Dee and the dwarf navigated the tangled undergrowth, the relentless pursuit of the larger scarab serving as a constant reminder of the impending threat.

Finally, she lost him. She bent over, panting from the chase. That was... close. Dee realized she was far from the cabin now, and decided to make her way towards the western road, which, although in the opposite direction, would be the fastest way to the mountain city. She stuck a finger in her mouth, pulling it out to feel the wind. Checking the sun, she realized she was currently facing East. She turned, pleased to realize she would be heading downwind from the Pomegranate Scarab.

Looking down, she stifled a scream. The small scarab, barely coming up to her waist was still there. Why? Was it going to attack? No, she didn't think it would. Confusion etched across Dee's face; she couldn't fathom why this pomegranate scarab, which had been hostile just moments ago, wasn't sinking its pincers into her. Tentatively, she tried shooing it away, thinking it had some sort of delayed attack plan. But the scarab remained unfazed, almost like it had adopted her as its unlikely protector.

No. It couldn't be here. It couldn't stay with her. She turned to leave, assuming it would wander off. She took one step. Then another. Then another. It was still watching her. "Bye..." she said with a shrug, walking off. She hadn't gotten more than a dozen paces when she heard a strange clicking sound. She froze. The noise stopped.

Dee cocked her head, listening. After a moment of frozen stillness, she tried to brush of the disconcerting feeling. Nothing. She started to walk again, blaming as a trick of the mind. Three steps later, the shuffling clicks started again. She froze, and the noise stopped. This was... weird. Dee took a single step, hearing a few clicks. Then another. Whipping her head around, she saw the tiny scarab behind her. It was following her.

"What the heck? Go away! Shoo!" She was actually annoyed now, the creature not taking the hint. Dee glared at the beetle, who gazed back at her with a blank look in its single ruby eye. She turned on her heel, marching through the forest, an unnecessary and unfathomable rage boiling inside her as Dee heard it following her. She balled her hands into fists, trying to keep from screaming.

Whirling back around, she shot it her most venomous look. Grabbing a berry of a nearby branch, Dee got an idea. "See the nice berry? I'll give it to you if you leave." It blinked. "Yeah? Okay... fetch!" She tossed the berry into the undergrowth behind her. "Oh for CRYING OUT LOUD!"

As Dee trudged through the stages of disbelief, denial, and attempts at dismissal, the scarab persisted in its dogged loyalty. She couldn't wrap her head around the fact that a creature she'd considered an adversary was now steadfastly following her like a peculiar shadow. With each futile attempt to rid herself of the scarab, from dismissive gestures to sarcastic remarks, Dee found herself slowly transitioning through the stages of grief. Finally, acceptance settled in, begrudgingly acknowledging that this unexpected companion had firmly woven itself into the fabric of her peculiar adventure. And so, amidst the woods, Dee's solo quest evolved into an unintentional duo, the scarab and her, navigating the challenges ahead with an odd camaraderie born from the quirks of the unexpected.

"Stupid creature..." she muttered under her breath.

As the woodland foliage gradually gave way to the outskirts of the capital city, Dee, her sarcastic demeanor still intact, couldn't shake off the persistent presence of her newfound companion. The scarab, however, seemed to interpret Dee's actions as those of a savior—a perception she was quick to dismiss.

It drew a bunch of stares, scuttling behind her on the cobble streets. But then Dee finally found Mona and Ruby, the group talking to some more strange cookies. "Hello, Mona, darling. And Little Roo! Didjya miss me?" She beamed, happy to see them despite herself. The creature cowered behind her. She was going to kill it.

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She nodded and began to walk away, giving one last wave to the child and the dragon. Once they were about halfway through, Amaryllis City could finally be spotted, gleaming skyscrapers and glistening penthouse pools. A river to the sparkling soda sea cut through the center of the city, and towards the academic division, the Apple Spice Academy could be just barely seen.

It was only when they were closer to the entrance to the city when they reunited with Dee. Mona smiled brightly for her, rushing to engulf her in a hug. "Dee! Where did you run off to, I was starting to get worried!" She pulled away and noticed movement from the corner of her eye, glancing down at a unique pomegranate scarab. "Looks like you had quite the adventure, hm?"

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"Literally don't ask. This thing... has been following me." She scowled down at the scarab, who was still looking to her for direction. It had scuttled out of the way when Mona had come barreling in for a hug. She didn't blame it, as she was nearly knocked to the ground. "Hello, hello."

"Sorry about breakfast..." she sighed, knowing she had been rude. But everyone had just been so present... It was like a claustrophobia of personalities. "I'm glad I met up with you here before you all got too far. Are you still on your way to Amaryllis City?"

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Rosewater Cookie was smiling wide as the group made it to Amaryllis City. She hadn't been here in so long, but she remembered it, and it looked so great!

When Dee arrived, she smiled bigger. The missing member had returned! And with another!? Spotting the Pomegranate Scarab made Rosewater gasp in surprise and delight. This one was so small, and it seemed incredibly shy. Skipping over to get a better look at the Pomegranate Scarab, she spoke. "Aw, look at this little one! Where did you find it?"

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"In the woods." Dee glared at the thing. "If you want it, feel free to take it." The pomegranate scarab almost involuntarily shuddered, creeping closer to Dee. She rolled her eyes, noticing it's motions. It's single eye blinked up at Dee pathetically. "You idiot. Basically anyone would take better care of you than me. You'd be much better off with her. Go with the friendly rose lady." The scarab refused, but did deign to let Rosewater Cookie examine it.

She turned to the other cookie apologetically. "I'm sorry. It's Rosewater Cookie, right? I'm not sure if we were formally introduced. I'm Dark Chocolate Daffodil, Dee. This thing has been following me for the last two hours. Tried to fight me when it saw me, and then followed me when we fled from one of his giant brothers." She shrugged. "It's obviously kind of stupid. Doesn't realize I don't want it here." She said the words very pointedly. The bug was completely oblivious.

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When Dee spoke, Rosewater Cookie looked up at her.

"I'm sorry. It's Rosewater Cookie, right? I'm not sure if we were formally introduced. I'm Dark Chocolate Daffodil, Dee. This thing has been following me for the last two hours. Tried to fight me when it saw me, and then followed me when we fled from one of his giant brothers."..."It's obviously kind of stupid. Doesn't realize I don't want it here."

Rosewater smiled. "Got it in one, and it's nice to formally meet you, Dee." Hearing what Dee said about the Pomegranate Scarab, Rosewater frowned. "In all honesty, it may be a runt. That's probably why it's so small and was scared of the one you fled from. In the wild, runts are usually scorned and even booted out for being 'weaker'. It probably sees you as equal or greater in strength when you were fighting and followed you when you fled its sibling out of instinct. Sort of in a 'birds of a feather flock together' idea."

Turning to the Scarab again, she smiled and slowly dug in a pocket. She brought out a special made rosewater and starfruit jelly, offering it to the creature.

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Ruby quite liked Dee's nickname for him. He just waved a little, keeping to himself.

His gaze flickered over to the scarab.

'...can I see it?"

He didn't seem to want to talk much.

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Cami walked along silently with the rest, keeping a wary eye out for any creatures. When Dee came back with the pomegranate scarab, she raised her eyes curiously “It’s not one of Dark Enchantress Cookie’s minions right? Last I recall, she had all sorts of little critters under her control”

Coca, on the other hand, had gotten distracted by the food Rosewater Cookie brought out. She bounded over on her little dragon paws to Rosewater Cookie, looking up at her with her best puppy eyes, as if to ask for some of the food.

"No, stranger-i-don't-really-know, it's not evil. The other ones are evil. This one is not. It's probably too stupid anyway." The scarab huffed indignantly at her comment, snuffling around. Taking the jelly from Rosewater's hand, it fled from the dragon amalgamation to hide behind Dee. "See? It's scared of everything! Even it's own shadow!"

Dee sighed, nudging the bug away from her. "Again, stranger. I am Dark Chocoalate Daffodil Cookie, aka, Dee for short. I only know you as the one who tried to stop me from going in the woods... Should of listened to you, wouldn't have ended up with this lump. Who might you be?"

The bug took the hint and moved away from her. Finally. She could her the click of its legs on the flagstones, and turned to see it wandering over to Roo. It liked Roo. Roo smelled like moon. The scarab liked the moon. It was much nicer than the scorching sun. Peering up at Roo from its one red eye, it tilted its head. They were both ruby, too.

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"...pretty..."

Ruby gently stroked the top of the scarab's body, smiling from under his scarf.

"I like him..."

Ruby gently lifted the scarab to his shoulder, setting it down.

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Mona giggled quietly, watching everyone interact with each other. "It's nice to see everyone getting along. That's usually rare, especially after the destruction of the nation." She bent down and tilted her head, examining the scarab. "It's odd to see any scarabs here- we're so far from the nearest desert, where they're usually found. Perhaps they made new homes in the debris of the ruined towns."

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The beetle was on Roo's shoulders. It felt safe up here, able to see a lot more of the world.

"Stay with him." Dee taunted it. "See if I care. Good riddance, too." Of course it wouldn't. The pomegranate scarab still viewed Dee as its lord and savior. She pointed turned away from it, tilting her head at Mona's words. That was curious. Come to think of it, she had only really seen the species in arid climates during her travels.

"Well, we've already established it's stupid." But that didn't explain why there had been at least one other in the woods. "Perhaps they just wandered north, or some eggs were accidentally transported up here in a caravan with pomegranate shipment. Or, going out on a limb, we don't know what we're dealing with. Perhaps the Dark Enchantress's influence is screwing up the climate zones?" She shrugged.

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Ruby looked up at Mona, eyes shining slightly.

"I like him...! He feels like the moon..."

He just smiled at the scarab, patting it gently.

"..plus, he's... my color..."

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“Nice to meet you, Dee. My name is Cami, short for Caramel Milk Cookie. I was a Professor at the Parfaedia Institute of Magic.” Cami dropped to a polite bow, giving Dee a small smile. “Though I do suppose you’re right. It is unnaturally skittish.” A short pause, as her eyes flickered over to Ruby. “Seems to like you both. I’d much prefer dead ones, however, given that powdered pomegranate scarab carapace would make a wonderful itch relief mixed with the gem of a pomegranate snake, and a few other ingredients” Cami pointed her staff in the air, then looked back at the ragtag band of travelers. “We should leave soon if we want to reach the city by nightfall”