The Little Salmonid

Part 2

It was early in the morning, and finally, an Inkling girl walking her pet sea snail found the Inkling boy lying on the beach. Given up hope, Samantha jumped back into the ocean not noticing that the girl came running over. The Inkling boy finally opened his eyes after the girl tapped him.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked, kneeling towards him.

"You saved my life...?" the Inkling responded groggily.

Samantha was devastated. The Inkling boy never saw her, or even knew that she saved his life. The little Salmonid sadly swam home to her family. At home, she nervously asked her Mawmaw, "Can a squid and a Salmonid fall in love?"

"Huh? What kinda crazy question is that?" answered Mawmaw. "No, of course not! Them squid folk think we Salmonids are ugly. Besides, they're nothin' but intruders who steal our Golden Eggs... but I'll admit them squid are delicious, heh heh... Anyways, you shouldn't be thinkin' of stuff like that. You should be thinkin' about protectin' them Golden Eggs, ya hear?"

Samantha sighed deeply. "Yes, Mawmaw..."

Samantha dejectedly swam outside to gawk at the land junk that her sisters had collected. She couldn't help but imagine what wonderful things were on land, and how that Inkling boy she saved would love to be with her. Henna, who noticed Samantha sifting glumly through the haul asked, "Samantha, why do you look so sad?"

Samantha sighed. "I went up to the surface last night and I saved a squid boy on a boat. I really wanna see him again, but... I don't know where to find him!"

"Well, where'd ya last see him? Maybe I could help you out."

"Hmm... I saw a bunch of ships near a colorful city..."

"Ships and a colorful city? I know that place! That's Inkopolis! I've seen that place plenty times! Want me to take ya there?"

Samantha nodded, and the two Salmonids began their trip to Inkopolis. When Samantha began to smell a familiar scent, she asked Henna to follow it with her, leading them to a luxurious villa on the beach. To Samantha's surprise, the Inkling boy lived there, which was why she recognized the scent. He was outside on a lounge chair calling someone on his phone. Samantha wanted to get closer to him, but she couldn't. She glared at him from afar with her slightly crazed eyes, wishing he would acknowledge her existence.

"Are you starin' at that squid over there?" Henna interrupted. "They make funny noises when they drown, and then they go *poof*!"

Saving the Inkling boy only tripled her deepest desire. Not only did she want to live on land, but now she wanted to be an Inkling, so she could be with the dear squid she saved.

After a while, it became dark, and the Inkling boy went inside to eat dinner. Henna was about to swim home, but Samantha had other plans.

"I know the only guy that can help me," she thought. "And that's the Steelhead Sorcerer..."

"Samantha, where you goin?" shouted Henna, but she was already too far away to hear her.