WoF Shorts: Stolen Sapphires

Chapter 2 ~ (#7) Branch of Peace

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The water is warm and brightly lit. Perfect weather for practicing wielding weapons. Ultramarine prefers to fight with his claws and teeth, (it allows him to know exactly how much damage he's doing to his competitor.) With weapons, it's like no matter what; you're going to hurt them somehow. Ultra took a moment to absorb the empty stadium he's training in. There were fish swimming through the mossy arches, and kelp growing out of the cracks of the pale stone bricks. 

Ultra tried to imagine if there were people sitting in the bleachers and watching him flail a spear around. Stabbing and dodging imaginary threats that aren't there.

And Ultramarine tried to avoid thinking about that weird meeting. He's been trying his best not to think about it all morning. One other thing on his mind is his parents declaration of battle between him and his sister. Despite how the meeting failed, they still going through with the Lapis Gauntlet plan!

Ultra sighs through his nose, watching the bubbles drift far up to the surface. He swims over to dim stadium hall, glowing jellyfish faintly lighting the place as he puts his weapon back in it's stand.

Might as well get going. He's bored and dread is weighing his chest down. A typical month in his life.

No! No. Don't be such a dampdowner... We're not planning on killing each other. It'll only be a big deal if you make it one. We'll be okay.

It's been about two days since the meeting. Ultra still isn't sure what he made of it. What did Mollusk even mean? It was serious enough to warrant him yelling at his entire family.

'Crook family.'

Crook family? Thieves? Ultra knows for a fact there's most likely an obvious connection he could make here, that would make Mollusk's claims all make sense. But whatever it is, he's too emotionally brained-out to make it.

He decided it would be best to unwind. Write some songs and maybe sing a little.
Ultra steers upwards in the water, swimming over the arches and towards his secret little song den.
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He makes a sharp turn, swimming past kelp and thick batches of barnacles.  His night vision makes this part easy, swimming in the dark. Apparently other tribes don't have night vision! Who would've thought?

Squeezing through a hole in the slimy stone wall, he beats his tail and breaks the surface of the underwater cave. A little pocket of air.
Luckily- everything was exactly where he left it. Jars of jellyfish lighting up the walls, a pile of rocks shaped into a desk, and a woven seaweed basket where he keeps all his scrolls.

Everything is still nice and dry. Good.

He stands in the corner and shakes himself completely water-free. The cave isn't all that big so he has to still be careful. Only took a few steps to make it to his desk, where he rummaged through the seaweed basket for any empty scrolls.

There's one! Now what to write about...? Maybe venting my emotions about the Lazuli Gauntlet will ease my nerves.

He stares at the inkwell to his side.

Ease my nerves for maybe a day or two...

Ultra hums, delicately picking up his carved stone pen and dipping it in ink.