Deep

[Aqua]

Chapter One

Storm again.

There is always a storm.

Sometimes they are perfectly natural, sometimes its pain that causes them. Raging, twenty foot waves, holes to suck sailors in, lightning that strikes not just twice, but thrice. Innocent lives thrown below the merciless waters by bucking currents and waves kicked up in sorrow.

I know this storm will be like that, otherwise I wouldn't have swam here. This isn't in my counterpart's feeding grounds, they extend only so far, my reign moves more onto the shores where he can not follow and bring his ever starving hunger with him. Of course upon land I have other troubles, famine upon ships I can cure by sending fish their way. But once my claws become toes I hold no power and can only wish good like to those with out food.

But here in the lulling waters, below the boiling of rage and sadness, I am mighty. A force of nature that can both destroy and save, I prefer the latter. With a body large enough to take on the all mighty beast himself, strength to rip fragile lives from his sticky arms and speed to return them from his jaws of dread, I am the sea. Or at least I am one with the sea, feeling its emotions as clearly as I would mine, I can feel the pain rippling. Unlike the waters I can forgive, I can remember that humans - children of the dark and those whom were bestowed with treasures and curses- are flawed as I am, as we are.

My body flexes and the currents ripple around me, a small shadow lazily floats over one eye. A ship is drifting directly into the rage, my nostrils flare. Stupid mortal creatures! My fangs bare as lightning mixes with the atmosphere. A small flick of my tail brings me up far enough where I can stretch and poke my nose above the surface, my tongue flicking out to taste the air.

Shades and tints assault me. Colors of reds, yellows, and blues all crash together. They can sense the storm now, frenzied and some colors burn with regret while others darken with fear. The colors fade and I allow my appendage to flicker out once more.

Sharper and less muddled this time, I can sense a light among the dark. Its shuddering and has a grey tinge on its edges. But its color is white, absence of the dark that crawls onto the others likes blood oozes from a wound in my home. My ears perk as my eyes open to adjust.

That cannot be human.

Do they have... something else with them?

I need to get clos-

CRRRRAAAAA-blaaa-BANG!

There is the thunder, three flashes echo a crossed the skyline. Heavy clouds roll in with a vengeance. My teeth clench and I snarl before diving below the surface, my arms and legs curl up to my body as my muscles wiggle, form rocketing forward and under the ship's haul. Unlike my little brother I can not do protection magic, but I can calm the currents to keep the humans safer as long as I am below them. The waves won't be as big as the rest of the storm, but above I can do nothing.

circling my body below them I reach out with my sixth sense, touching each human's presence a moment, the light burns me when I get too close. But that isn't what I'm searching for, are any of the gifted aboard? If so then this ship can not go under. Not that I would want it to if I can help it, but the sort of protection of humans tires me easily, using up what strength I can collect as the storm rages.

Criiiiiiiiiii-BLA-ah-AAAANNNNG!

The thunder shutters the ship and I can sense the panic aboard. It flows through everyone, even the bright light is shadowed for a moment by fear. But then, suddenly, I can feel the weight of the ship being pulled off of me.

What is going on?

Then I relieze it, the winds above rocked the ship too far. Its tipping, it has to be. Other bodies flail by my flank. My nostrils flail in frustration. Stupid humans, stay still!

Darting my head over I begin to shove at the side, tipping it back an inch. But its not enough. My focus on the search slips and I throw my body at the side of the ship.

Bad idea.

The wood crushes below me.

I bellow out a string of curses, this is NOT good! Coiling back I flash back away from the wooden thing, my nose wrinkling in irritation. This can not be happening!!!


//End Chapter One

[Haraken]

OHMYGOD. CHAPTER TWO PLEAAASEEEEEEEE

[Aqua]

Chapter Two

My sense run on over drive, the waters fill with cries. Humans really need to learn to not scream in my home. Letting out a ruffled and deep sigh, I lurch over to them. My powerful body sending an updraft of motion forcing the sailors above the water.

Shaking my head, I allow the rage to take me a moment. The ship is sinking. Panic shudders from the ship to the waves. My teeth bare as I feel the light burn against me again, lighting my senses on fire. It collides with another, darker and sparking with tainted gold.

So the light is acquainted with a cursed one it seems. How couldn't of I have noticed this before?

Flicking my tongue out in mock concentration I dash to the surface. In my mind's eye I know I can not save then all. But maybe I can save the light and tainted. Concluding that is the only way I open my eyes to the world.

Lightning screams a crossed the sky.

I snort at the dramatics of it all. Then throw my powerful body into motion, springing from the murky waters and up into the air. I hear screams and gasps, some curses and prayers. But I ignore them as I morph, my body shaping itself smaller, smaller, smaller. Scales smooths to skin, claws shorten and thin themselves, fangs draw back to be less noticeable even when smiling. My snout changes, pushing back into my face, my ears become pointed and large. As I fall I can feel my fins morphing and rippling.

Then I'm spreading them.

Leathery bat wings cat the ocean's air and I glide over to the sinking mass. Flapping a bit I hover, eyes much more adapted to above the water not, searching out that light. My senses have been dulled, but my perception has not. I can see him long before he notices me.

Smiling I dart down, sailors scramble away from me. He now takes note of me. Hollering at me, "Please... Please stop this attack!" My eyes narrow a moment, what is he babbling ab- No, don't tell me he knows about all of this?

My forked tongue flicks out in irritation before I speak, "I'm here to save you." My hands open up to him, palms facing him. He gives me a concerned look.

"What about the rest of them?"

This shocks me. I stand still, my tail, though remarkably smaller now and not finned, flicks confusedly. Did he really just ask about the rest of them? He must lack self preservation.

"I cannot carry you all," My reply is smooth as the boat rock and suddenly a few people fall off. But I stay planted, catching the light as he falls forward. A person behind him falling onto him, my left foot shifts a bit at the weight.

But he glares up at me and suddenly I'm seeing the most beautiful blue eyes, they make all other blues look hideous and grey in comparison. Honestly they are almost metallic, they are almost like bright-liquid sapphires in color and intensity. He pushes himself back, "No. I saw you transform... You could carry us all."

My mouth twists into a thin line. The lives he wishes to save would take to long to collect. In that time it would take I would lose him and the golden one, "I don't have the time to."

He glares, but then the figure on his back coughs, his eyes turn panicked, "Alright... Get us out of here."

"Us?"

"Me and my sister!" There we go. The preservation does exist, just not for himself, how odd.

I nod and pull him into my arms, "Hold onto her." Turning he hugs the female in his grasp, whispering to her in a language that is foreign to this region. But I do not comment on it, preferring to flapping hard, forcing us up with a leap.

Carrying us away from the ship, I hear shouts and he continues to whisper to the girl, for she is one now that I'm paying attention. His whispers send warmth through me and I merely smile down at him from out horizontal angle, "Feel free to sleep during out travel... I will not let either of you two drop." He neither protests nor agrees, just continues whispering.

So our journey goes like that.

//End Chapter Two