It took weeks to reach the mud flats. We didn’t suffer any casualties although the food situation had become a bit dire. We had to eat over five hundred goblins during the journey. But they would quickly reproduce once we were settled in.

  We had just reached the edge of the mudflats when I ordered everyone to halt. I called James over as I sat beside a tree doing my best to juggle some weird pine cone looking things. James hurried over and bowed before saying. “What do you need, My Queen?”

  I smiled and said. “We are going to kill some rats. I want you to leave five hundred skinks here to keep the goblins in line. The rest of us will be invading the mud flats. We are going to kill anything larger than a hatchling. Especially the rats. I want this area to be completely under our control by sundown. Organize the groups however you’d like. I need to visit somewhere. Oh! Keep the rat skulls, I need them.”

  James nodded, bowed and siad. “As you wish, My Queen.” He turned and instantly began to organize everyone. I smiled and turned towards the nearby forest. I took off at a light jog, occasionally hopping from tree to tree as I made my way towards the mass grave where my kids were buried.

  I walked into the clearing and felt tears begin to stream down my face. The entire area had been covered in corpses when I had left it. A large grave filled with the corpses of my descendants. And for some fucking reason the grave was gone, a large hole in the ground replacing it. What was more concerning was that the corpses of my kids were missing.

  I stared at the hole for a few seconds, cycling through emotions as I tried to think of the best way to handle the situation. Then I decided that was dumb and let out a roar of anguish and rage.

  I punched a nearby tree, shattering it as I stomped around screaming. “Who the fuck desecrated my babie’s graves? Who stole my babies from me?” I stomped around for a bit before noticing a familiar imprint on the ground.

  It almost looked like a boot mark, right next to where Diana’s body was buried. My only daughter. I leaped onto a tree and climbed to the top. I looked over the foliage and saw small plumes of smoke in the distance.

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  I stared at them for a few seconds before hopping down and turning back towards the mud flats. I would have revenge, but not by myself. My fury would come down on those humans. Aided by a horde of thousands.

  I stopped for a good cry before reaching the mudflats. The mudflats had been turned a beautiful red color with the amount of rat blood being shed. There were thousands of rat corpses everywhere. I saw a skink every once and a while but they were rare. The skinks that I passed seemed exhausted and almost all of them were injured. I ran over to the money tree. I had described the natural landmark to James when he was younger. I wasn’t surprised when I found him setting up camp under it.

  He nodded at me as I walked over. He stepped away from a small council he seemed to be holding. I walked up to him and said. “How’d everything go?” James smiled and said. “We secured the entirety of the mud flats and the surrounding area with minimal casualties. We await your orders on what to do next.” I nodded and said. “Alright, follow me.”

  I walked over to the edge of the hill overlooking the mud flats. I was now the ruler of an entire nation. That meant I had to actually organize stuff, can’t just leave it all to James. Although I’m definitely putting him to work.

  But first I gotta get to work. I called a few windlcaws over and said. “Gather everyone, I have a few announcements to make.” It took a few minutes for the entirety of my people to gather. Once everyone was in the general area I began to speak.

  “Skinks! I am your ruler! Queen Aya. All of you have followed me for the past few weeks. The march was long, hard and tedious. But now I must ask you again, for your help. For I did not bring all of you here simply to fend for yourselves. I want to form a nation. One so powerful that someday no one will dare to offend us.”

  There were a few quiet murmurs from the skinks but I just smiled and continued to speak. “However, I understand that some of you may not be ready or maybe just don’t want to be part of something like that. If so, you are free to leave. We will not harm you.”

  Half a dozen skinks separated and walked away, which wasn’t surprising. Honestly I thought more would leave. I smiled and yelled. “Then the rest of you will be put to work! We are forming a nation here. And I refuse to let it become some poor minor kingdom. Because we are not like those wretched city states. We aren't some weird human federation. We are skinks. And we will make an empire!”

  My statement was met with resounding cheers as I smiled and motioned for them to quiet down. “I declare today that this is now the first territory of the Dianat Empire!. We will expand! We will conquer! We will get rich! And someday, we will rule the world!”

  I had to wait almost a minute for the cheers to die out as I continued to smile. “So get your rest, for tomorrow we will start immediately!” I confidently trotted away with the most confidence I could muster.

  I walked over to the Money Tree and collapsed, exhaustion overwhelming me as my kids joined me. The sun was just beginning to set as I fell asleep. I dreamt of every single kid I’d lost that night.