Hooks

Chapter 18: Land Ho!

To my surprise, in the blurry distance I could see a large reptilian creature on the land chasing the humans around. I heard screaming and panic. Kambara. He had jumped out of the water to save me. He was the only one who could breathe on land and in water. Kambara grabbed their fishing equipment and begin to viciously tear and shred it up to pieces with his sharp, pointy teeth. I heard a panicked male voice say to someone that there had been a crocodile attack. I hoped that Kambara was almost finished because we needed to get out of here and back to Coral City. The children ran around in circles as the crazy crocodile continued to chase them around. I watched as the humans grabbed their supplies and threw it all into their car. Kambara let out one last roar as they sped away out of sight. He began walking over to me.

"Ello mate, are you okay?"

"Yeah...I'm...fine..." I said gasping for water.

"Blimey! We need to get you back to the ocean stat!" he said urgently.

"Need...water..." I said wheezing out of breath.

"Here mate, hop into my mouth, careful of the teeth! I will carry you back into the water." he said.

He lowered his big snout down to my level and with every last bit of energy I had left, I jumped into his scaly mouth.

I then caught my breath and could see water once again.

"That was a close call mate! You okay?" Kambara asked.

"Yeah I think...my lip is numb though," I said.

"The salt water should take care of that over time. Just let it heal," he said reassuringly. I looked around but only saw Kambara.

"Where's Gummy?" I asked.

Kambara gazed up at me as a tear began to roll down his eye.

"Where is Gummy..." I said worried.

"Don't worry, he is okay mate," Kambara told me.

"Where's Gummy..." I asked swimming back and forth trying to make sense of everything.

"Mark, you've been a great friend to me and I'll never forget you. But there comes a time in your life where fish, reptiles, sharks, you name it...have to part ways." he said.

"You're leaving?" I asked as tears began to roll down my cheeks.

"For your own good. Gummy and I couldn't bear to see you get hurt again and the first time was my fault. I can't let that happen again. You're better off alone," he said.

"But you can't leave...I still have to defeat the mayor. I couldn't have got this far without you guys. And besides, I got hurt before you guys were here anyway. See?" I said showing him my damaged fin as my eyes filled with tears.

"Mark, you have reached the part of your journey where you don't need us anymore. You are almost there. Accomplish your dreams. Be what you want to be. You are a rad fish. Don't forget that," he told me.

"Kambara...I-I-I-I'm...gonna miss you," I said sobbing trying to catch my breath.

"I'll miss you too mate. You are pretty neat for an American," he said.

"You are a pretty cool Australian too," I said.

"Farewell Mark," he said quietly.

I quickly swam up to him and gave him a big hug on the side. I then watched as he swam off further and further into the distance.