WoF Shorts: Stolen Sapphires

Chapter 1 ~ (#2) Heirloom

Ultramarine looked in the seaweed reefs, the volcano valley, the chasm, and stuck his head into his neighbor's houses. No Dottyback. He swims underneath a natural stone arch, trying to recollect any other of his sister's relaxing-spots as he hummed a tune to himself.

Dotty was only two years older than him. An energetic dragon with glossy light blue and indigo scales. He loves his sister, she was the only one who accepted his silliness and played along.
Anyone else in his family would just scowl as they usually do and rant about how disappointed they are.

Ultra can already hear it now...

"This is a self-respecting, proud, SeaWing family. If you're not going to act like you want to be a part of it, you can leave."
"What is the meaning of this? Do you want to embarrass us? Pick up your weapon at once."
"Aww... Poor Ultra can't fight anymore, how sad!"

Ultra doesn't even think he's that silly! He just likes to relax, which must be a foreign concept to his stringent parents and older brother.
All his life he was taught to fight, being prepared for the real world, for war. Everyday he trained for combat. How to dodge, claw, bite, behead. Ect, etc, the usual.

Ultramarine was too wrapped up on his thoughts, he bonked face first into a blobby red octopus. 'Oop, my bad there little guy,' He flashes aquatic at the cephalopod with a polite head bow. A passing SeaWing swims by with a bewildered look, the two exchanging awkward glances. Nothing wrong with apologizing to squids or whatever... Ultra swims down onto a rocky ledge, tail swishing back and forth as he focused. The sea behind him kicked up because of it, tossing fish and kelp around in the current.

I checked everywhere, Ultra blew frustrated bubbles out of his nose. She's going to get the both of us in trouble. Maybe she's gone off treasure hunting?

That makes sense, Dotty loved treasure. Gold and gemstones, whatever she could get her talons on. He rubs his temples with his claws, closing his eyes. Most of the jewelry his grandparents owned belong to her now. And with all the jewelry she was gifted with, you'd expect her to have some stolen by thieves by now. He'd like to see people try. Dotty could take on three dragons by herself, six if she's annoyed.

He remembers a funny incident four years ago, when Dottyback's pearl earring got stolen by a fish and they chased the school down. They were swimming for about three hours straight, mother was furious that they missed dinner, but was mighty impressed with their stamina.

Not productive, brain. Please think of something else! The sound of clanging coconuts and bird love songs echo inside his skull. Somehow less relevant than his previous thought, but he couldn't help but to enjoy it. Lovely but not useful...

He tries to recall any ruins or abandoned temples she may visit. The remains of the Old Summer Palace would be far too patrolled, and any treasure would've been long since collected. Bah bah bah bah, c'mon Marine. If I was a spontaneous and impish sister where would I be—

His thought process derails as his sister reels up from the coral in front of him, tackling him and flinging the two of them off the stone ledge together. They slowly tumbled down to a crevasse in the seabed, Dottyback pinning him down.

Ultra tries to wiggle and thrash free 'Dot!!' he blows bubbles into her face, Dottyback giggles and happily flashes her markings. She finally floats off him.

'You better sharpen those reflexes, they're pretty bad,' Dotty smiled, fluttering her wings. She was decorated with as much jewelry as Ultra expected she would be. She wore three silver bracelets that swirled like the shape of wind. Her other arm had only two bracelets, the sparkling gray was a lovely color against her baby-blue scales. Dottyback didn't have her pearl earrings on, in fact he hasn't seen her wear them in the open sea since the fish-incident. The earrings she had on now were silver with a dangling green gem.

And then there was her necklace, one of their many family heirlooms.

Grandmother gifted it to her when she turned five years old. Ultra is sure she's never taken it off since the day she got it, mainly out of fear of it being stolen. Just like her bracelets, it was a stunning silver. Twisted and intertwined with jewels. In the middle of it, there was a giant, blue sapphire that glittered handsomely in the sunlight. It seemed to glow all on it's own as well, as if there was something inside desperately wanting to burst out. That part always made him a little uneasy...

'Y'know if you gawk at any pretty piece of jewelry you see, you're never gonna get a girlfriend.' Dotty flashed at him, she always flashes her lights so bright. Ultra smiles and rolls his eyes 'Uh huh, like you know how to keep a boyfriend.'

'Shut up! Anchovy was a pretend boyfriend.' Dotty raises her nose, just like mom. Ultra swims up beside her and she gently shoulder-checks him, big grin on her face 'Another thing you ought to work on is your spacial awareness, I've been following you around all morning.'

'What?!' Ultra huffed, bubbles spinning around them 'I've been—'

'Yeah whatever c'mon,' She grabs him by the wrist and starts to swim along 'Let's go do something fun!' And he was dragged off  before he could protest.

Well, guess I'm at the mercy of Dot now. Hope Mother will understand.