The Tooth Collector

Chapter Nineteen

 The strange thing about where we decided to reside, is that there were close to no signs of life. There were no animals, not even fish. Only plants and rocks. It seemed like the definition of 'the middle of nowhere.'

I decided to go for a swim, since Henry and Bobby had to go practice hunting again and left my behind-boy am I grateful- and I was determined to find some kind of life other than plants. I decided to swim in the opposite direction to which we had come from, eventually I'd find the end of the reef and perhaps find an animal or two there.

The trip wasn't all that bad. It was actually quite peaceful with no one to bother me, no one to judge or assume things about me. I kind of liked being one of the only animals to live there.

Besides my beliefs, I kept swimming, hoping to find a new companion. I was almost to the end of the reef, and so far, nothing was found besides dozens of limestones.

"Did she really say that? You cannot put up with that behavior!" I heard a high pitched voice from around the corner of the nearest limestone. I hid behind it, hearing a series of high pitched voices talk amongst themselves.

"I know, I know, but she's my wife! I can't say anything when she's always right!"

"Aha, and who told you that?"

"Well, her of course. She knows best."

Eruptions of laughter filled my ears. I was holding onto the limestone, trying to lean onto my side to see who was talking. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold on forever, for my fins were slipping.

My hand slipped and I fell into view. What I saw surprised me, for I don't think I've ever seen fish as small as the ones I stood in front of at that moment. They must've been around two feet big with furious looks on their faces.

"Um, hi." I spoke awkwardly, watching as they all looked at me with their beady black eyes.

"Intruder." Harper muttered.

"Were you spying on us?" One of the fish asked.

"N-no, I was swimming around looking for friends." I declared.

"Intruder." Some of the other fish repeated, exchanging all knowing glances towards each other. As if they all shared a singular brain, they all attacked at once. First, Harper lunged towards me at full speed, pulling at my skin with her mouth. The others followed after, some headbutting me but mostly biting. It didn't affect me in the slightest, for I just swam awkwardly as the fish tried to hard me.

"Hey, what kind of fish are you anyways?" I asked.

"Damselfish." Harper told me between headbutts.

"And why are you attacking me?"

"You're in our territory."

"You live here?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Do we look like we could survive anywhere else?" Harper responded, giving me the same look as I gave her. "Now you gotta leave before we hit up the others-"

"Listen, you can't hurt me. I'm like, twenty times the size of you. I don't know how many 'others' you have but if you really want me to leave, just ask."

Some of the Damselfish stopped biting me, they looked up into my eyes and then to Harper, as if waiting for a command. Others however, continued their useless attacks on me.

"Leave." Harper told me. "Please," She added softly, most likely so her companions couldn't hear. I nodded and felt the others halt their headbutting and gnawing. "I'm sorry for intruding," I told them. "I just wanted to make a friend." After apologizing, I made my way back to my cave, not daring to say another word.