Rogue Currents

Chapter Nine

Sorry for the long delay, people. I had computer issues to deal with. Technology, am I right?

Lamprey ate the anglerfish in one bite. It only barely took the edge off his hunger, but at least he was still alive to feel hunger. He had been certain he would die in the deep waters of the trench, but he had dug up enough deep ocean life to keep him alive, if not fully sated. The only time he had not been hungry was when he had killed the giant squid. There had been enough meat from the animal to keep him well fed for a short time, but that hadn't lasted.

Lamprey swam back to the cliff wall, staring up into the darkness above. The ravine was too deep for the light of the sun or the moons to make any difference. Lamprey could see in the dark, but since the level of light never changed, he had no idea how long he had been down in the dark abyss. He only knew that it had been a long time. He had not dared to leave, knowing that Stingray's dragons likely still blocked the top. They seemed to have left him for dead, but Lamprey wasn't eager to prove them wrong. He had survived this long; he wasn't ready to get himself killed.

Lamprey settled on a flat rock by the wall and fell into a fitful sleep. He dreamed that he was back home, with Reef and Octopus and Shell, Barnacle and Seagull. He swam into the cave under the coral, and noticed there was a small figure in the cave. The dragonet turned, and Lamprey saw it had Stingray's face. Lamprey shrank back, and the dream-dragonet grew larger, becoming battle-scarred. The coral cave fell away, and Lamprey and Stingray were left floating in a vast, empty ocean. Lamprey backed away as Stingray opened his mouth in a cruel smile.

"Have you been hiding this whole time, little dragonet?" Stingray's voice was audible even under the water. "I thought you had died already. But it doesn't surprise me that instead you've been cowering somewhere far away. You don't have the courage for anything more."

Lamprey turned and swam away as fast as he could. Stingray's laugh followed him even as he fled. "You can run, coward, but it won't do you any good! The queen will fall to me, and I will rule the Kingdom of the Sea!"

Stingray appeared in front of Lamprey and seized his snout in his claws. Lamprey kicked out at the SeaWing prince, but Stingray only tightened his grip. Somewhere in the midst of his panic, Lamprey realized that though the older SeaWing's claws were piercing his scales, Lamprey didn't feel the pain.

This is a dream! he told himself. Wake up. Now!

He closed his eyes tightly, and when they opened again, they opened on darkness. Lamprey sank back against the ravine wall in relief. Stingray had just been a dream. The SeaWing prince hadn't found him. He was as safe as he had ever been.

Hiding at the bottom of a ravine, with only bottom-feeders for neighbors, he thought, feeling suddenly bitter. All this was Stingray's doing. The SeaWing's bid for power had affected everyone in the Kingdom of the Sea.

And will continue to, if he's not stopped, Lamprey thought. He turned around, glaring at the dark wall of the ravine. Would you rather die hiding, or die fighting? he asked himself angrily. Are you going to be such a coward that you won't even do this one thing? You're not a dragonet anymore! At least, he didn't think so. He certainly didn't feel like a dragonet. You're the only one who knows what Stingray is planning. You're the only one who can warn the queen!

It's been so long, he thought, reassuring himself. Stingray has bigger things to worry about than a single escaped dragon. They probably think you're dead anyway.

Lamprey waited until he thought it was night. It wouldn't stop him from being seen, but fewer dragons would be awake. He swam down the ravine, away from the end where Stingray had made his hideout. He followed it for a while before coming to its end. Every time he was tempted to turn around and to back to his hideaway, he pulled his parent's faces to the front of his mind and kept going. He swam up against the stony wall for a long time before he saw the water begin to brighten slightly. He swam harder, certain the surface was near.

Finally, he burst into the surface, breathing in fresh air for the first time since he'd escaped. He looked up and saw the dark sky above him, sparsely peppered with stars. He turned around and squeezed his eyes shut at the red and orange light of the sunset. He'd been in total darkness for so long that even the dimmer light of the sunset seemed almost blinding.

Lamprey dared to crack one eye open, then the other, letting his eyes adjust to the now-unfamiliar brightness. As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, Lamprey spotted a dark shape flying against the vivid color. He squinted, trying to see more clearly.

His eyes widened. He had only seen the dragon once, but the hunched-over form of the queen's publisher was unmistakable.

Lamprey tried to call the dragon's name, but was shocked to find that his voice came out as a hoarse, croaky whisper. He cleared his throat and flew quickly closer to the old dragon.

"Humpback!" he croaked again, and this time the old dragon's head lifted. He turned and saw Lamprey flying after him.

"Who are you?" the old dragon asked curiously.

"It doesn't matter," Lamprey said hoarsely. "Just please don't think I'm crazy." Well that was a great start. "I need an audience with Queen Dolphin as soon as possible. It's urgent."

Humpback frowned. "What do you mean, urgent? The attacks are nothing new, whoever you are. The queen has her claws full with them. Is it something bigger than that?"

"Yes," Lamprey nodded vigorously. "Much. The queen's brother, Stingray, he's alive. He's plotting to overthrow her. He's behind the attacks."

Everything Lamprey had seen or heard during his long imprisonment in Stingray's caves came spilling out in a rush. By the time he had finished, Humpback's eyes were wide.

"That's quite a story," he said finally.

"I'm not lying," Lamprey said desperately.

"No, I believe you," Humpback reassured him. "That's too elaborate to have been made up. The queen will want to hear this as soon as possible." He turned to look at the western horizon, which now had only the faintest red glow. "You can tell her first thing tomorrow."

Lamprey nodded gratefully. "Humpback, can I ask you one thing?"

Humpback nodded. "Of course."

"How long has it been since the attacks started?"

Humpback thought for a moment. "A little over four years."

Lamprey's jaw dropped. He had spent over a year living at the bottom of the ravine.