WoF Shorts: Stolen Sapphires

Chapter 2 ~ (#5) Mother & Father

Ultramarine finally made it 'Meeting Island.'

Of course that's not the actual name of it, if it did have a name. It was small and pretty much in the middle of nowhere.

The island was... Nice! Again there's not a lot to complain about. It's only big enough for six dragons to sit comfortably, and it had a round stone table placed in the middle. The few palm trees on the small island were tied together with chains, trunks forced to bend inward so their leaves acted as an umbrella.

He hummed, glancing around and realizing he's alone. Surge and Dottyback must've started fighting underwater. He looked over his shoulder to scan the ocean behind him. I hope they make it in time. Ultra walked under the makeshift canopy and sat in his seat.

Ultra started drawing in the sand with a talon. He realized the shapes he was doodling was the same shape of Dotty's sapphire. A tear drop, or rain drop... or water drop. He thinks about that jewel an awful lot. It must be because of its strange glow.

Ultra took a moment to look across the vast, emptiness of the sea. He started to piece words together out from his conscious.

"Oh, little jewel... So blue and fine... Oh, little jewel, what secrets do you hide ~ Ohhh little jewel, what secrets are in the tides ... "

He sang the lyrics softly into the breeze, feeling the tenseness in his shoulders melt away. It was a dumb, immature, useless coping mechanism. But it was his.

... Is a coping mechanism ACTUALLY useless if it actually calms me down—? His brain stuttered. Maybe I shouldn't put myself down like that.

It was only a second or two later before his ears twitched at the sound of water splashing about. Heavy, mighty talonsteps stamped across the wet sand. Ultra turns his head only to face his father.

His father, Colossus, was huge, brooding, and where Ultramarine got his blue scales. He was littered with scars and healed wounds, having fought in the war of the SandWing Succession. A striking detail about his father was a giant slash that started above his left brow, crept its way down his face, and tore through his lip.

Colossus worked as a butcher, selling whale and shark meats in a small shop. Which is a surprise to most, that's not the job you'd assume he'd have, and Ultramarine knew his father has always wanted to be more. He just couldn't, and nobody would tell him why without being cryptic.

"Hello, father." Ultramarine smiles up at him hopefully.

"Hello, Ultra. Your timing is punctual, I'm impressed." Colossus quickly scans the rest of the island before looking down at him, "Your brother and sister are not here. Your mother ordered you to retrieve your sister..."

Ultra frowns, nervously pawing at the sand "I found her and Surge. The two had a-" He stops to think on the wording, he always does his best to replicate his father's vocabulary, "They had a disagreement and I disengaged them. Dotty and Surge went on ahead of me, but I believe they got distracted."

Ultra felt his face flush as his father actually smiled at him.

Dad smiling is like spotting a blue lobster. He must be in a good mood. He smiled at me. Granted it was a small smile, his lips slightly curling upwards, but still. He has to set his standards low.

"Heh. I appreciate your effort to speak professionally, Ultramarine. That'll be useful for your future career." Colossus's flat voice somehow managed to sound proud, and Ultramarine had to quell the glee spreading through him.

"That's if he does manage to get a future career, dear..." His mother, Urchin, arose from the sea. Ultra shriveled away, his mom's words the cool water pouring over his small moment of victory.

Urchin ran a distinguished business where she repaired jewelry. Her claws are sturdy and precise, her disposition calm and knowing. She brought a leather pouch with her, which Ultra found weird for a business meeting. It was harnessed around her neck, and there didn't seem to be anything inside it. She also wasn't wearing any of the jewelry she had on this morning, which was REALLY weird.

Ultramarine's paternal grandparents had an impressive stash of jewelry, all of which are now in their custody. Urchin happily decorated herself in their inherited wealth. Surge often says that their mother only is staying with father because of their treasure.

"She's a vain seacow, and father isn't any better."

Ultra winced as he remembered that horrible conversation. He didn't believe that was true about mom. If she was as vain as Surge said, she wouldn't have allowed him and Dot to have their bejeweled rings and bracelets.

Colossus and Urchin sit down at the table beside each other, the both of looking like well polished statues.

Ultra felt incredibly self-conscious about his appearance sitting next of them. His parents sat with this confidence and royalty he couldn't  possibly replicate. Maybe it was because he didn't have any noticeable scars like his father? He's quick, and has never allowed himself to be struck in such a way that would cause scarring. Or maybe it was because he wasn't a brilliant purple like his mother.

He once heard someone describe his bright blue scales as 'tacky looking.'

I know I'm not bad looking, I like how I look. Ultramarine's tail flicked in irritation, remembering he wasn't able to give that green jerk a piece of his mind. He not sure which part of his mind he would've given them... Maybe a stern rant about character over physical characteristics.

"Clear that frown off your face, Ultramarine. It makes you look unappealing." Urchin nudged him with her wing. Ultra blinks and nods, putting on his politest smile. She smiles back at him "Much better."

Dottyback and Surge soon made their grand entrance, quietly hissing and trying to swat each other without mother and father noticing. They almost stepped on each other's talons before splitting to sit on their assigned seats. The two used to be seated next to each other, but of course that was changed quickly. They now sit across from one another, a big stone table between their wrath.

"You have arrived on time," Colossus said plainly,"Thank you."

Urchin only hummed, her eyes quickly zipping to Dot "Your necklace, sweetness," She pointed at the heirloom around Dottyback's neck before opening the small leather pouch "You'll get it back after the meeting."

"What-!" Dotty protested, slamming her talons on the table "Mother, why-- no!?" 

Urchin whipped her thick tail down onto the shore, causing a huge wave of sand and water to erupt behind her. Ultra flinched, Surge seemed to as well.

Urchin gave Dot a scowl that could melt stone "You will not  talk back to me. Your necklace, now."

Dotty snapped her mouth shut, lowering her head and reaching behind her neck to undo the silver clasp. Surge grins, briefly making eye contact with Ultramarine with this cocky arrogance that made him uncomfortable. I really wish you and her got along...

Urchin reaches out and gingerly plucks the shining necklace out of Dot's claws, slipping it into the pouch. She pulled the strings shut, the sparkling glow now out of sight as she set it beside her. Dot frowned, looking more miserable than ever.

As curious as he was, Ultramarine knew better than to ask mom what any of this was about. She's not wearing any jewelry herself, so for whatever reason, the person they're about to sit with... Mother (and possibly father) don't want them to know about their treasure?