Celia first initial thought was panic. It was to run and to hide. But she knew from experience that the scorpion was faster than her, and possessed the night to dig through whatever she hid behind like it was made from wet bread. She also knew that fighting him was suicide. The worst part of what she knew was that she didn’t have anything to really surprise him with like she did last time either.
If he decided to attack her, she would die. There was no defense she had for what he could do to her, and no way to really escape. Yet…
There was a part of her that wanted to know if that was true. She was stronger now. A changed thing. Different from the girl that had ran from him last time. And it would be a good test, unlike the poor road goer that threw himself at her the other day.
A good test right up until the point where she died.
Not that she had much of a choice. He was coming for her now. Slowly working his way through the crowds. Pillar like stingers stabbing into the ground and yanking themselves out with force as he approached. Every body getting out of his way, slowly creating a path that led from him and straight to her.
There were eyes on her as well now. Looks of curiosity stretched over faces that were anything but human. Faces that played a variety of things, from genuine curiosity to outright fear. Some spoke of hunger, like they saw a chance to get a free meal out of this. And it was those faces that Celia recognized the easiest. She could even taste their hunger as her own if she focused enough.
But she didn’t. She put a hand on one of her hips, scowled at the realization of how wide she was, and waited to face her death. It arrived in the form of a black carapaces chest that she had to look over to see the face of her would be killer. A face that was like some sort of perverse mix between a crabs and a spiders. With four black orbs staring back down at her.
Somehow violence didn’t follow.
What did follow was a lot more confusing and just as worrying. The giant reverse scorpion of a man began to laugh. Head thrown back, full heart thrown in, and the sound like booming thunder ringing in a too small cave.
Or in other words, annoyingly loud.
"Click! Click! Click!" He said, mouth moving in the implication of speech.
And Celia didn’t understand a word. "What?" She said, tilting her head in confusion.
Only for the scorpion man to slap her. Claw impacting the side of her head with all the force of a tram going downhill. The blow rattling something inside and sending her reeling back. Body hitting the crowd, and bringing a monster or two down with her.
But she could hear now.
The cries and sounds of distorted speech. Grunts that made words. Shrieks that former sentences. And guttural roars of laughter. It was as if the entire city had spontaneously come to life. The cry of noise transforming into a drowning thing that she could - for the first time - understand.
And it honestly reminded her of home, a bit. Of life in the city. All the noise, all the talking, everywhere and all at once. Like every individual sound was a small part of a greater whole, giving this place, this city in a cave an identity. And the identity it gave was a violent one. As there was not only the deafening volume of trades made and conversation given, but it was near buried by the sound of animalistic violence. A fight happening somewhere always. Her tremor sense giving her a good idea of where, if she focused.
More importantly, she could understand the giant in front of her now. Who was looking down at her with a face she couldn’t read, though she assumed it was a smile. The kind that made people want to get violent.
"You speak now?" He said, offering a claw to help her to her feet. "Haet, by way."
After a disorienting moment of hesitation, Celia took his hand - claw. Only to immediately regret it when he yanked her up to her feet far too fast and with far too much strength. But then he let her go and patted her on the shoulder. Again, far too fast and strong. Each pat feeling like a hardy blow that - a few days ago - might’ve knocked her off her feet.
"Speak, no yes?" He asked again, interrupting Celia’s mental processing of the situation.
But eventually, she nodded. "Uh, yeah I talk. I just don’t think I understand what’s happening anymore."
And Haet, the giant abominable scorpion, nodded once again. As if it was a perfectly reasonable response.
"Yes, world confusing. People out great hall, enemies. Things inside great hall, trading partners. Or if strong, hunting buddies, eh?"
For a moment Celia just stared. Rapidly blinking as she decided whether to believe what her ears were hearing or not. Sadly, she chose the former.
"Are you offering me to… work with you?"
Haet snapped one of his claws together, enthusiasticly raising the limb as he did so. "Speak and smart! You must make for good hunter! Or maybe, you Beyonder and not Beyondling?"
Celia, again, found herself at a loss for words. Unsure if that hit she had just taken had knocked into some sort of strange dream world, or if 'Haet' was speaking the truth. After all, the last time she had seen him - also the first time she’d ever seen him - he tried to kill her. And was very persistent in said attempt. Now here he was offering her the chance to go hunting with him?
It made no sense to her head. Sadly, her stomach understood just enough, and let loose a gurgling roar that would be hard not to hear even amongst the din of the city.
Which elicited something that actually resembled, somewhat, an actual smile out of the scorpion.
"Appetite agrees. How bout desire, hm? Even buy gear. One piece."
"You what?" Celia asked, confused.
But Haet didn’t respond. Instead he led her away with a laugh, through the now dispersing crowd and into the heart of the trading area. Which was assembled into the form of several rings, each one focusing on a particular set of goods. With the outermost rings focusing on food. The one after that focusing on armor, weapons, and other utilities that could be used for violence in one form or another. And lastly, the innermost ring was focused around the trading of inscribing symbols and effigies into stone, tool, or gear.
For what purpose, Celia had no idea. Nor would she be finding out anytime soon, as Haet all but dragged her to the second ring.
Where, it would seem, she was going shopping.