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The next two days were a steady stream of disappointing attempts. As usual, something always foiled her hunts, leaving her empty handed. Now it was the morning of her blood rite, a day when the entire shiver turned out to watch the pup venture off to hunt. She would have three days and nights to hunt and bring back a suitable kill that would place her in the ranks of the hunters, a pup no longer in the eyes of the shiver. It was rare for a pup not to return from the rite, but not unheard of, and the thought of failure had Morna’s gut in knots.
The ceremony was a grand affair, full of bioluminescent streamers, energetic drumming, and dances. She was one of three pups to begin their blood rites and she eyed her peers nervously as they were placed together. She knew them well, a male with dark hair and smoky gray coloring and a female with silver hair and a light gray coloring. Two of her worst tormentors growing up and those that had pushed her to tears that day she discovered the coral bed.
They ignored her today, reveling in the attention of the shiver. They would come back with grand kills she knew, having watched their hunting skills flourish during the group lessons. She could barely pay attention to the speech that was being given by the wizened male. As was tradition, the eldest of the shiver gave the speech, a grand sermon about how they would leave as pups and return hunters. Morna glanced towards her parents, fearful that this would be the last time she’d see them. If she could not make a successful kill by the third day she would not be allowed to return. To do so, she knew, would lead to death. The shiver would tear her apart for the failure and her parents would be forever shamed by it.
The speech concluded and the shiver roared around her in wild encouragement. To a final flurry of drums Morna left her home alongside her peers. Both her peers seemed to know exactly where they were going and soon jetted off to hunt. She turned back, giving her home one final glance. Then, with a resigned sigh, she headed out.
She circled all her usual spots, making attempts again and again. As the waters dimmed she found herself once again empty handed and her frustration was at its limit. She tore through the water, pushing her muscles in her anger. She didn’t realize her destination until she reached the kelp forest. She paused briefly, listening, then dove into the thick strands.
It was far later than the first time she had entered and she found herself quickly getting lost in the darkness. Panic slowly began to eat at her senses and she spun, disoriented and confused. In her panic, she had missed the soft whirr approaching and soon spun herself straight into the bubble. She froze, her upper body flush with the smooth transparent surface. Inside, the creature looked equally startled. Morna blinked, surprised that the creature looked so similar to her. It appeared to be male with golden brown hair and bright blue eyes, the latter wide with shock. Its skin was a similar peach shade as her own and dusted in tiny darker spots. It covered itself in a brightly colored netting of some kind and seemed to have two thick limbs where a tail would be.
The creature moved, slowly raising its hand to the hard shell. Morna studied its hand, noting its lack of claws. Curious, she placed her own hand in the same spot, mirroring his gesture. The creature bared its teeth as it gazed at her hand, causing Morna to instinctively flinch, but she forced herself to study the expression. It was aggressive and yet somehow not. She noticed his teeth were not sharp and pointed like hers. She cocked her head, confused at what such an expression could mean if not a display of predatory might. He noted her action and sheathed his teeth though she noticed the sides of his mouth were still turned upward. Her eyes narrowed, her mind racing to understand. This was not aggression, she was sure. It seemed more like delight and excitement if the sparkle in his eyes was any guide. She watched as he studied her though he seemed oddly reluctant to study her chest. His eyes would seem drawn to it only for him to force his gaze away, his face turning red in response.
Embarrassment was an expression she recognized, though the reason for it eluded her. She pondered what the reason could be as her eyes drifted to the strange netting he wore. She wondered if she could be exposing something normally covered in such netting, something a male was not usually privy to. He wanted to look though, she mused, noticing his eyes once again drifting to her chest. She was not as well-endowed as other females, but she was pleased with her chest’s mounds, her dark pink nipples well proportioned and symmetrical. She found herself enjoying the fact that this male, though a different species, was drawn to them.
Curious to see his reaction, she removed her hand from the strange material and pressed a mound against the smooth surface. The reaction was instantaneous and rather amusing. He turned almost as red as her tail, yanking his hand back as though stung and falling backwards onto the oddly shaped rock inside. She cocked her head again, trying to communicate her question without words. She paused, wondering why she had not tried to speak before. She had no proof the bubble blocked sound yet.
“Can you hear me?” Morna figured it was as good a place to start as any. She watched his eyes narrow and he began poking at the strange collection of bumps on the table before him. A high pitched whine came from the bubble and she winced, covering her ears. He spun a large lump quickly and it subsided.
“Try saying that again?” His voice came through a strange black circle on the outside of the bubble. She was surprised it was the same language though it was thickly accented.
“I said,” she repeated, “can you hear me?” He nodded, baring his teeth again. Definitely not aggression, she decided. “Why do you do that? Baring your teeth like that?” She tried mimicking the motion, the feeling strange. His brows shot up in surprise.
“It’s called a smile,” he explained, “an expression that indicates happiness, joy, pleasure, that sort of thing.” She nodded to show she understood.
“So you are,” she paused, considering her words, “happy to see me? I am not seen as an enemy?” He nodded enthusiastically at the first question though her second seemed to shock him.
“Enemy?” He shook his head almost violently, “I’ve never encountered a creature like you. I’d certainly remember seeing something so lovely.” She felt herself blush. Compliments were rare for her and while she was a lean, well-built female her coloring was always seen as disgusting, not lovely.
A beeping drew both their attention away from the conversation and she watched him sigh dejectedly. He flipped a few lumps and the whirr resumed.
“Sadly, I need to get back to Morvern,” he said. She could hear the sadness in his voice and found she was also sad to part with him. “I hope I’ll see you again.”
“Morna,” she said, “my name is Morna.” He smiled and nodded.
“Tam” he said, “Tam Mackenzie.” She watched him mess with more lumps and bumps and the bubble glided forward. Morna followed, swimming above the bubble and letting him lead her out of the maze of kelp. Once out, Tam raised his hand to her in farewell and she mirrored the gesture. She watched his bubble head back to the large structure he’d called Morvern. It was dark now, though she could easily follow his progress thanks to the glow in front of his bubble.
Her stomach decided it was time to announce its dismay at the lack of a meal and she shook her head at its grumbling. It would have to be content with a few clams harvested from the coral bed tonight as those participating in the blood rite were not allowed to bring supplies on their hunts. Only the weapons and wit nature provided would see her through this trial.
Clams were an easy meal if not a very filling or satisfying one, her sharp claws easily carved them off the bed and a sharp smack against the coral popped them open. She pondered where she might hunt next as she choked down her meal. Night was usually for sleep, but with no way to keep water rushing along her gills she would have to keep moving. She was also equipped to breathe air, she’d learned, but had never attempted it. The cavern was likely a safe place to sleep seeing as Tam visited it regularly, but it meant traversing the kelp forest in the dark.
She swam back to the swaying maze of kelp, her determination firm. She took a steadying breath, steeling her resolve. She was a fierce hunter, she assured herself, she would not let a clump of seaweed best her. With a final steadying breath, she plunged into the kelp.
Bursting through the other side, Morna gasped in relief. Her heart was hammering from the claustrophobic feel of the kelp so she took some time to reorient herself. Pitch black open water stretched before her, the wall with its fissure lost in the darkness. Closing her eyes, she calmed her breathing and focused on making her body relax. When she reopened her eyes, the world had turned into a fuzzy gray, but the wall was now visible. She was grateful she had learned to attune herself to her night senses even though she generally hunted in the day time. Scanning the expanse, she made her way to the fissure with ease and slipped inside. The tunnel was dark, but the water was aglow in the cavern.
Breaking the surface, she couldn’t help her eyes widening at the sight. Glittering, translucent stones climbed the walls and hung from the ceiling like giant teeth. Each piece varied in size and crowded in between others as if fighting for space. In the gaps between the giant protrusions a bioluminescent film coated the rock, filling the cavern in a soft blue glow. She couldn’t blame Tam for visiting such a place regularly as she took in the beauty of the cavern, feeling a deepening kinship now that they shared this secret wonder.
Remembering her purpose for seeking out the cavern, she turned her attention to the cavern floor. Most of the rock rose high above the surface of the water, but she spied a small sandy area with two large trenches in it. She suspected they were likely from Tam’s bubble. Breaching herself onto the sand, she curled herself up on the grainy bedding. She was unused to breathing through her nose and mouth, but her body seemed to understand well enough. Satisfied she would not suffocate in her sleep, she closed her eyes and let her body rest.
Continue Reading: Part 3
I finished my TAE art card donation this week so after I scan a high resolution copy for future prints it’ll be winging its way northward to Vancouver BC. For more information on the exhibit, click here.
For those curious, I do plan to properly publish my stories as physical books, mostly as illustrated collections, and I’m currently on the lookout for an experienced editor that fits my style (and budget). Creating audiobook versions will also be looked into once I have nice, polished work ready.
As always, feel free to leave questions, comments, and critiques.
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