Open Chronicles The Gem of the Sea

[Hali]

Hali didn't have a scratch on her, but she'd have preferred the wounds had been inflicted upon her, rather than him. Not to be a hero, but because she knew that the blame would no doubt be deflected onto her. To be fair she wasn't exactly the best influence and their friendship had been discouraged and at times when they were a little younger, absolutely prohibited (not that it made much difference).. But she was a palace orphan raised by the help, and he was the Prince. If there was someone to blame, it would be her.

She winced at Ana's question and chewed on her long, claw like fingernails as she bobbed frantically from side to side. Hanging around with blood in the water was never wise, they'd have to get his wounds patched up soon.

Petra had patched her up on more than a few occasions. She didn't stand for any shit, and she was Hali's sort of person. She was strange and intense, and her little cave was always brimming with weird and wonderful things that Hali could barely resist to study. She was barely inside more than a minute before her fingers were reaching toward an orb of mysteriously floating green light, drawn in by it's ominous beauty. Petra's boney hand curled over hers to pull it back slowly before she could touch it, and the tired glare that the woman gave her was enough to make Hali shrink back and drop her gaze like a child told off.

The sea witch gave her a look of mute warning and Hali gave her the sweetest smile, prompting an eye roll. It was clear this was not the first visit, nor the first time Petra had had to keep Hali's curiosity from getting her in trouble. She gave Ana a slow once over also, a slender brow quirking as though she could tell the siren was not from these waters, but the smell of the prince's blood drew her attention back to him, her lips parting to speak..

"Shadow eels.." Hali piped up as she twisted through the water up into a hammock that hung from the stalactites, and she reached to pluck a crystal from the rock when the woman's attention was elsewhere.

"Put it back, Hali..." Petra groaned as she gathered the tools she required to treat Tijan's wounds.

 

[Andromeda]

Ana, too, kept to the sunny waters as they swam further into the city. Every shadow had her imagining teeth and hurried her pace after the duo. Now the adrenaline was wearing off the Siren was questioning her choices in coming to this city and seeking out the darker parts first of all. She knew a part of it had been to find comfort in the establishments she knew but after such a close brush with death she was now berating her own stupidity. She should have been more cautious instead of jumping straight in. A sentiment that only grew as Ana saw with her own eyes what exactly Petra was.

It was hard not to keep the surprise from her face, coral eyes opening wide and her jaw falling open, but she managed to compose herself quickly and shot after Hali. Unlike her however she slunk into one of the small alcoves where a plush seat had been arranged and settled herself down there. Her wounds were somewhere between the other two with only one long nasty cut from her collarbone to her shoulder and it didn't appear to be very deep. She could wait.

Instead she turned her energies to taking in the vast cave of wonders she found herself in. Ana had never seen anything like it, not even when she had raided lost islands and followed tattered treasure maps across the seas with her father. If Petra didn't scare her so much she too would have probably been tempted to touch everything.

"This place is amazing," she whispered in awe.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Petra’s moved through the cluttered cavern with practiced ease. Despite her many twisting arms she didn’t knock a thing out of place, and Ti’Jan was certain she had memorized exactly where everything was. She didn’t need to look behind herself as her arms gathered various ingredients and poultices and she worked in silence for a minute or two before turning her eyes on the prince.

Ti’Jan felt himself diminish beneath her gaze. Petra had always been good to him and Hali, fixing them up and working discreetly, but he could feel her judgement washing across him like icy surf. He couldn’t help but tense initially as the sea witch took hold of him in her tentacles, something he didn’t think he’d ever get used to. How could something so soft be so terrifyingly strong?

“Why would you disturb a den?”

”It, uh…” he shivered under the sensation of hundreds of wriggling suckers against his skin, ”It wasn’t on purpose.”

Petra only raised her eyebrows and turned to face the others in her cave while her tentacles continued their work on him independently. She regarded Ana in particular (after ensuring that Hali was keeping her hands to herself).

“Thank you, it is nice to hear that from someone well traveled. I will tend to you once I’ve finished with the fool prince.”

Ti’Jan moved to protest her revealing him, but he was silenced by a rather firm grip around his middle.

 

[Hali]

Hali grinned at the siren's words, her tongue running over her slightly pointed teeth as she peered down at her. "Sssssssstimulating, isn't it?..." she mused, letting a crystal sink it's way down toward her with a wink.

Her attention returned to Petra, her nose wrinkling as her tentacles wrapped themselves around Tijan. She wasn't envious, those bastards tickled. She had been about to speak up before the word slipped passed the woman's lips, but she too was too late and so winced at the revelation..

"Prinnnnce of FOOLS, she means.. Ahah.." her head shook and she slapped her tail. Good save, Hal.

 

[Andromeda]

Well that was unnerving...

Andromeda tried to keep her eyes from popping out of their sockets as the woman turned to regard them both whilst her... tentacles continued their dutiful tending to the--

"Prince?" she squeaked. Coral eye flashed first to the man writhing in Petra's black coils and then to Hali with a scowl; her misdirection only served to irk her more. Of course she understood why they would keep it secret but she had a right to know the exact kind of trouble she had been getting herself into. There were levels to these things. At the bottom you had the harmless trouble children busied themselves with, then you had the usual kind of trouble with your gangs and murderers, then you had the real high-end-definitely-not-being-paid-enough-for-this-shit trouble which involved royalty and other dignitaries which could lend you at the end of a hangman's noose and barred from your favourite Tavern in Gibrim.

"No, no, no, I didn't come to this par' of town to get stuck with a Prince," Ana wisely side stepped the crystal being dropped towards her and made for the door.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Ti'Jan again tried to say something, but Petra's grip tensed once more and forced the air from his petulant lungs. It would appear, per usual, that he was not in control of the situation. As much as he hated to admit it, Petra's medicine was working. He was no longer bleeding and the wounds did not sting so badly.

A singular tentacle moved to bar Andromeda's path to the door. It moved like a thick wisp of ink in the water and turned its suckers in her direction. The siren may not have understood why, but Ti'Jan remembered with a queasy feeling that Petra could actually taste with those.

"Your wounds require care," the sea witch said in a voice at once soothing and commanding. She floated over to the golden traveler and Ti'Jan shivered as her remaining limbs slid over him. Her eyes bore into the face of her guest. They were a burning yellow-green, much like the flames that inexplicably lit her liar, and the pupils were stretched horizonal waves. "And you simply must tell me of the surface. What season is it, now?"

"You wouldn't ask her to pay you before your treatment, would you?" Ti'Jan managed to get out. Petra snapped her head to him with a gaze that drained the color from his face. "I mean... you're more professional than that."

She narrowed her eyes and turned back to Andromeda. "Of course not."

Ti'Jan looked at Hali. She knew, as well as he did, that Petra did not take regular payment for her services. The cost of the sea witch's time was measured in secrets. He trusted Petra, but it was not wise to give the kraken more than she required. Perhaps it had been rash to bring someone here who held so much exotic knowledge.

 

[Hali]

"Ey." Hali scowled down at the siren, her simmering orange gaze flaring like fuel on a flame. "Have some damned respect. Or is that not a thing, where you're from?.." she sneered, her upper lip tugging upward with disdain and waved a dismissive hand through the water. "Most people throw themselves at his fins and beg for his company. You're goin' to hurt his feels. And I don't like when his feels get hurt." she glowered, and slunk out of the little hammock to pull herself back down to the cavern floor.

She'd been about to make a move toward the woman herself, the last thing they needed was her yapping about the Prince being in these parts, but another of Petra's tentacles curled it's way around her arm and pulled her back, much to Hali's chagrin.

Hali caught Ti'Jan's gaze and gave him a look of disgruntlement and a shrug. She would let the sea witch empty the poor siren's mind without a hint of remorse. Hali's respect, her friendship and her loyalty was there to be earned, not given freely to land walkers, but she could enjoy toying with them in the meantime. They'd either end up earning such things, or they'd end up broken in the process, either way it kept her happy.

 

[Andromeda]

Petra's tentacle coiled about her like a viper. Despite its warmth she shuddered as every tiny little sucker rolled over her, smelling her, tasting her. Ana wasn't sure why but she was sure that the woman would have been able to follow her trail no matter how far she swam now. She tried to wriggle free but the grip grew tighter until a tiny squeak escaped her lips. All she could think about was how she wished she had gone to that little wine bar in the upper levels rather than sought out something similar to what she knew. She was out of her depth.

"They're fine, really," she whispered meekly. The woman terrified her and from what she could tell seemed to terrify this Prince too. Always a bad sign when the rich and powerful were scared. "I'll just... get help from my crew when I get back, it'll be fine, really. Best for everyone," her coral eyes flickered from Petra to the Prince - whatever his name really was - and Hali. Before back to Petra.

"I've learnt my lesson to stick to warmer waters."

 

[Arva]

Arva had never been to Ti'Ciuda. Her kind, with their large wings and long tails, preferred to stick to the open waters, but she... she had a need.

And she'd heard that this was, perhaps, where she could find an answer.

What she had not expected for the entire city to be... in a state of celebration. As she carefully swam her way through the city, trying to follow the directions she'd been given, she couldn't help but gawk at the sights. And help herself to a few of the, apparently free, refreshments being offered. One in particular--a rare type of crab that she'd only ever heard about--made her tastebuds sing and she hoped she would be able to have a little more of it before she left to return home.

As she swam, making certain not to accidentally lash someone with her tail or knock over a display with her wingspan, Arva realized that... she scented blood on the water. And not only did she scent blood, but it seemed to be tracking in the same direction as she was headed.

"You'll know it by the green flames outside the door," she'd been told.

"Flames? Underwater?" Arva had scoffed.

"You'll see."

Arva shook her head in disbelief. Green flames. Underwater. Sure enough...

And the scent of blood was definitely leading there as well. But she hadn't come this far to shy away now, and she set her mouth in a firm line, swam up beneath the rocky overhand, and knocked on the coral-encrusted door.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Ti'Jan was not a stranger to these sorts of tense standoffs. They tended to happen when one frequented seedy areas of town while having rich parents. He hadn't been held for ranson yet (not technically, as he would always remind Hali that the letter never actually reached his mother), but he'd managed to scrape by with a silver tongue and a bit of sea magic each time.

He didn't think either would work with Petra. The sea witch would not harm Andromeda, he was pretty sure, but she didn't seem to have any intention of letting her leave.

"Shadow eels are cruel beasts," she crooned against Ana's protests, sampling the exotic aromas of the surface world that she encountered so rarely. "That will not heal properly without my help. Stay, let me-"

She was interrupted by the knock, and her hold loosened on the prince and the siren as she squinted back at Ti'Jan.

"It was only the three of us," he put a hand over his heart to indicate sincerity. He had no idea who it could be. Guards wouldn't knock...

The sea witch did not look convinced, but she floated nearer the door and cracked it open. Her odd eyes swept Arva up and down before asking, "Can I help you?"

 

[Arva]

Arva gnawed gently at her lower lip with her sharp teeth as she waited. Part of her just wanted to turn around and leave. It was... a really big risk. With no guaranteed outcome. She could just turn around and go back into the city and fade away into the crowds there for... whatever celebration was happening, and no one would be the wiser.

She waited a little too long, though, and suddenly the door was creaking open.

The sea witch did not look convinced, but she floated nearer the door and cracked it open. Her odd eyes swept Arva up and down before asking, "Can I help you?"

Arva opened her mouth, but all that came out was a squeak. She slammed her mouth shut, her face tinging blue with embarrassment.

"Ar-" she tried again, and there was still a little squeaking, but she managed. "Are you Petra? I heard that maybe you could help me."

 

[Hali]

"My crew." Hali mocked Ana's words with a short as she twisted through the water, circling from above. "She talks too much like a land walker. Doesn't deserve those pretty fins if you ask me." she murmured to herself, lacing her fingers behind her head as she lazily drifted on her back.

She tensed as the door knocked however, and flipped around with a glance to Tijan. It wasn't just guards they had to be careful of, there were plenty other unsavoury characters in these waters who would consider it prosperous to get their hands on the prince. Her pale fingertips danced along the ornate handle of her blade, her fiery gaze flared as she watched the door.

At the voice though she eased, using Petra's distraction to slip a sea slug from a large cage of them and sucking it quickly into her mouth with a slurp, a look of innocence on her face despite her cheeks bulging.

 

[Andromeda]

As soon as she was released Ana darted back to her small cubby hole amongst the nick nacks and oddities that decorated Petra's home. A small part of her wondered whether she would become one of the odd little collections. The pounding of her heart however did not go far to drown out Hali's words and she threw the other mermaid a dark look.

"Green isn't a shade that suits you, Hali-dear," she called sweetly then folded her arms over her chest and slouched back into the small space. Revised plan: get healed and then very quickly get the fuck out of here and don't come back. She had had rather enough of discovering the other half of her and had concluded her initial thoughts that it was better left unexplored had proven to be right.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Ti'Jan took his chance to swim back to Hali, "Take it easy, Hal, she's new here. And we didn't exactly give her the best welcome, eh?" He tried to put on a smile, but it was rendered awkward and lopsided given the weird situation. This was not the time to be hot-headed, not while indebted to Petra and with a stranger at the door.

Petra continued to stare at the newcomer, but her cave was getting quite full. "What sort of help do you need, my dear?" She really didn't want to be distracted... but this one had the look of yet another traveler.

Her eyes lifted from the Arva at the site of an armored merman. She tutted before reaching a tentacle out of the doorway to loop around Arva's back and guide her inwards. "Come on, then."

Ti'Jan darted behind Hali once more as a newcomer entered, but he lifted his head over her shoulder when he saw how very strange she looked. She wasn't from around here, and wouldn't recognize him... he hoped.

"Seems a little crowded, we'll just be going then, yeah?" Petra's gaze felt like it stopped his heart.

"Guard out front, and you still haven't paid."

Ti'Jan sighed. "I stole my mother's comb when I was five and she never figured it out."

"It isn't much... but acceptable. And you...?" She looked to Ana while her tentacles held the healing salve out to her. "Just a secret, and I'll take care of that gash so it doesn't scar." A long tentacle hovered over Arva's back, an assurance that she was not forgotten.

 

[Arva]

Arva found herself almost unbearably nervous as presumably-Petra watched her closely. She was about to answer when the sea witch's eyes flickered to a spot behind her, and then a tentacle was gently wrapping around her and guiding her in the door. A glance back, and her heart started to race at the sight of the guard. Had she knocked over a booth and hadn't noticed, on her way here?

It seemed that Petra already had several guests and Arva grimaced, trying to make sure her wings didn't knock anything around. While she was quite an agile swimmer, things got difficult in enclosed spaces. She very carefully pulled her tail inside and looped it up over her shoulder and around the back of her neck. It wouldn't be fun to have it catch in the door.

If the sea witch hadn't already pulled her inside, Arva would have excused herself and come back later... if she could work up the courage again.

So she just... waited to the side, watching the strange interaction between the sea witch and the three others. It seemed the cost of the sea witch's services were secrets, though, and Arva tugged nervously at her tail. She didn't know if she had any secret that would be sufficient for what she needed... but of course, Petra might not be able to help her anyway.

Just one thing at a time, she reminded herself. Just deal with one thing at a time.

But at least it seemed that the guard wasn't after her, Arva examined the silver-haired boy curiously. It seemed they were after him.

 

[Hali]

Hali's smouldering eyes flared in rage whilst her lips curled with a hint of applause at the siren's retort. Hali, given her faults, was simply used to pushing boundaries and found herself surprised and admittedly delighted when others pushed back. The worst thing she could be was bored, and perhaps the siren had a bit of bite in her, and only that would gain her respect.

She gave Ti a look and scrunched her face as though she'd bitten into something sour. She could take anyone else reprimanding her for things, by Gods she was used to it, but he was the only one she'd actually listen to. He got a huff, but no retort, and the siren would be left alone for now.

Her gaze narrowed upon the one who'd been dragged inside, her head tilting curiously as her attention had quite clearly shifted. "HelloOoo.." she sang, and gave a jagged-toothed smile as sweetly as she could muster.

 

[Andromeda]

A secret?

Ana shifted uncomfortably thinking what would class as a secret to strangers who barely knew her. Nothing too big - his didn't seem like a big secret. Whoever he was. Prince... That's what she had said but was the name he had given her a lie too or was that the truth? She shot him a frown before looking back to the seawitch in front of her.

"You're the first of my kind I've ever met," she shrugged lightly and leaned back into the small alcove she had found herself in to avoid having to look at anyone else.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Petra‘s expression softened, and a smile that might almost have been genuine crossed her lips. “That will do.”

At once she brought a jar of thick salve to her humanoid hands and gently reached to apply it to Ana’s wounds. It would be cooling to the touch, and Petra’s fingers were quite a bit more delicate than her tentacles.

Once the golden siren’s wounds were attended, Petra turned back to the newcomer. Her mood seemed to have shifted to a bit of a lighter color, and her tentacles did not reach as far as they had before. Ti’Jan was grateful for this, as he could now move around without fear of bumping into them.

He gave Hali a knowing wink at her huffiness. They could chase spearfish or toss stones at the abyss after this and blow off some steam. He dutifully ignored the fact that, after today, such opportunities would be rarer. The city’s celebration was merely a public spectacle, but the significance of his coming-of-age would not fade with the daylight. He would be shackled with the most terrible burden: responsibility.

With Ana addressed and Petra sated, Ti’Jan saw no reason to stay. ”We’ll just leave you two alone, then, eh?”

Before Petra could reply a hard knock sounded from the door. “In the name of her Majesty, open this door.”

 

[Arva]

Arva had never experienced a situation quite like this before. She thought she'd be able to quietly slip into the city, meet with the sea witch, get some sort of information--really, she'd be happy to learn anything at all about what might be going on with... well, hopefully she'd get to that soon--and slip back out.

Instead, she'd stepped into something where she could feel almost feel the ocean whirling around her, trying to suck her into a whirlpool of complications, which became even more obvious when the eyes of the most-vicious looking one in the room--not even the sea witch intimidated Arva as much--

Her gaze narrowed upon the one who'd been dragged inside, her head tilting curiously as her attention had quite clearly shifted. "HelloOoo.." she sang, and gave a jagged-toothed smile as sweetly as she could muster.

"H-h-hi," Arva stuttered, shrinking, as much as she could, behind Petra. Focus shifted again, though to the other female there, and Arva continued to wait patiently, attempting to be invisible-ish despite her size and appearance.

"You're the first of my kind I've ever met," she shrugged lightly and leaned back into the small alcove she had found herself in to avoid having to look at anyone else.

Even Arva couldn't help but be moved a little, though. Ray-mers were solitary creatures for the most part, but Arva couldn't imagine going her entire life without knowing another one like herself. A few minutes later, Petra finally turned to her, though, and the others tried to make an exit.

With Ana addressed and Petra sated, Ti’Jan saw no reason to stay. ”We’ll just leave you two alone, then, eh?”

Before Petra could reply a hard knock sounded from the door. “In the name of her Majesty, open this door.”

"They're not... like... criminals are they?" Arva whispered hesitantly to Petra. "Am I going to get dragged away and arrested just because I happened to be with them?"

 

[Hali]

Hali could only chuckle at the pretty ray's stuttered response to her, knowing that she could make people so nervous was one of life's simple delights. She caught Ti'Jan's look and stretched as she floated lazily toward her friend, about to reach for the door when it knocked.

"Ah shite." Hali groaned and looked back to the Prince apologetically, though she'd no doubt be in a shit load more trouble than he would. He was the Prince and he was in the wrong part of the city, and hurt. Her shoulders sagged and she groaned as she considered the punishment she'd have to endure. "Welp.. Was fun whilst it lasted." she grumbled and looked to Petra..

"You really should think about having a back door.." she snorted.

Hali turned back to the door and opened it ever-so- slightly to peek out. Ten guards. Ten. Her eyes rolled and she put on her best smile.

"Hi Boys. What brings you here hah?...Shouldn't you lot be at the party?.." her brows wiggled.

 

[Andromeda]

Ana stiffened when Petra pulled her close to deal with her wound, though she relaxed when the ointment the woman smeared on her only tingled a little bit. She had half expected it to turn her into a guppy or something. As soon as she was finished she shot off back to her safe little corner and thought through exactly how she was going to get out of there. This new stingray...woman was a good distraction. Perhaps she could just slip out the door without anyone--

The knock and stern voice from outside quickly put an end to that idea. From the way the Prince turned a pale shade of green and his bodyguard psycho girlfriend rushed to the door, she assumed that if the guards found him there they would all be in the shit.

The guard didn't seem at all impressed by Hali's attempt at a distraction, shoving against the door.

"We know he's here," the sentry snarled and made as if to enter the house.

Guess it's time to see if my magic works down here...

Andromeda casually slid into the gap beside Hali to block the guard from entering, laying her hand gently on the man's forearm.

"The Prince isn't here," a ripple pulsed through the water, hitting the nine other guards behind. An odd vacant look came over their faces. "You searched everywhere and there was no sign of him so you moved on in your search," there was a pause as magic thrummed through the water then slowly the sentries turned and drifted off to continue their search.

 

[Ti'Jan]

Ti'Jan grit his teeth as the situation escalated. An inversed shower of tiny bubbles cascaded to the cavern's ceiling as the guards pounded against the door, and her clutched at his silvery hair, glancing from side to side. They wouldn't hurt him, but his friends were another story. Hali had suffered enough on his behalf, a debt he had repayed with booze and trinkets and as much string-pulling as he could manage, but he would not wish any serious grievance upon any of them.

Maybe it was time to give up, and go back to the castle with wounded pride rather than shackles.

Andromeda moved first, and he felt the pressure change from the doorway as she spoke. And then the guards... left. They just left! He rushed to the door to verify with his own eyes from behind Hali's shoulders and- yes, yes it was true! All ten, armored and burly and stupid, floating serenely away to search somewhere else in vain.

"That. Was. Incredible!" he exclaimed when they were well out of earshot. "How did you do that? Wait! Don't tell me. Wow. The things we could do with you on our side." His grin was filled with pointed teeth as wild idea formed behind the shark's eyes.

"You will do them elsewhere." Petra's voice caused a shudder through his entire backbone. "Leave now, you have brought quite enough trouble to my home for one visit." She set her orange, oblong eyes on Arva and added "Speak your purpose quickly, girl. My services draw to a close."

 

[Arva]

It all happened so quickly that Arva wasn't sure what had happened. There were guards and then... the guards were leaving, and Arva thought she heard something about the prince and her eyes drifted over to the only one among the group of them that could possibly be a prince, and she wondered what exactly she'd stumbled into.

"That. Was. Incredible!" he exclaimed when they were well out of earshot. "How did you do that? Wait! Don't tell me. Wow. The things we could do with you on our side." His grin was filled with pointed teeth as wild idea formed behind the shark's eyes.

"You will do them elsewhere." Petra's voice caused a shudder through his entire backbone. "Leave now, you have brought quite enough trouble to my home for one visit." She set her orange, oblong eyes on Arva and added "Speak your purpose quickly, girl. My services draw to a close."

Even Arva shuddered at the insistence in Petra's voice, and she gulped when the sea witch's eyes fixed on her. She gaped, silently, for a moment, and then the words tumbled out of her.

"My siren song has been failing," she said, voice softly quavering. "It started with my grandmother's grandmother. Each generation since has... lost the ability a little earlier than the previous. The first to do so was in her 60s when it happened. My mother is in her 40s and her voice is only just starting to fade.

"I'm not even twenty yet," Arva said, fists clenching in frustration. "It shouldn't be happening yet. It shouldn't be happening at all."

 

[Hali]

Hali's mouth fell open as the guards just turned and left.

"What the shit?.." she asked as she turned to Ana, glancing between her and Ti with incredulity. Her cheeks heated a little with jealousy at the Prince's reaction and she folded her arms across her chest. The kivren's jaw was clenched tight shut, and she managed to swallow any words of scorn or spite before they could be directed to the siren. She had saved their scales, hers in particular, and Hali huffed a sharp stream of bubbles as she shrugged a shoulder.

"That was..pretty cool." she mumbled and dropped her gaze, clearing her throat awkwardly.

She couldn't exactly help but overhear Arva's predicament and she glanced to Petra, wondering if the sea witch could help her.

 

[Andromeda]

Andromeda let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding.

"I guess that answers that question," she muttered under her breath as the guards left. It had been a heads of tails situation as to whether it would - she had never tried it on one of her own kind before, but that didn't mean it wouldn't work. It was the last risk she intended on taking in this place anyway. Lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice the Prince swimming up beside her until he erupted like an excited child. Ana flinched and then a faint blush coloured her cheeks. Nobody had ever called her gift incredible before, well, not unless it was followed by a string of horrific adjectives that likened her to monsters of legends.


"Thanks," she rubbed her arm awkwardly. "I thought that was something... everyone like us... could do..." she trailed off awkwardly when she overheard the odd stingray creatures problem.