14(b). 'The Beast of gold.'

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Kai shot through the water leaving a trail of bursting blue bubbles along his way. The seagull took off into the sky as soon as he touched the water. Sheila and Zaren followed him flapping their tails faster than ever.

Jay saw his seagull wifey fly across the sky with a pair of stretched wings, enjoying her lost freedom. She flapped her wings to slow down and perched on Jay's shoulder. She spread her wings to hug him around his neck.
They pulled away from each other as a voice called Jay's name out, "come on. They are right behind us."

Jay thought only for a split of second and said, "meet you on land," to his wife and dashed into the sea, as she took off to the clouds again.

There was a swarming army of eel mermen, wading behind their tails. And right above them the sea witch flapped her raven wings and mangled her face at them.

They swam and swam beating their fins, splitting the water with their arms without a break. Kai had to breathe once in a while into Jay's mouth to keep him alive.

The sea witch sky rocketed and took a turn into the clouds. Cottony white clouds of day light started to blacken, with thunderstorm and tornado. Kai took a moment to witness the sky, as it changed it's mood. He signalled them to move faster.

Kai and his mates were underwater, he knew he was safe. But, he constantly worried about Jay's wife, who was now up in the air and probably fighting the thunderstorm. He shook his head to chuck the desperate thoughts away and tried to look at the brighter side.

Once they lost them, they left a sigh of relief. They resurfaced to look for Jay's wife.

The place they were stranded currently was way more familiar than the previous one. Kai tapped on Sheila's shoulder, pointing at the island infront of them. "We were here before. Look."

By that time, Jay's wife flapped her wings to hover above them and perched​ on Jay. "I was worried," he said, pampering her feathers gently. She closed her eyes, leaned on to his cheek, letting out a soft sigh.

"No, this doesn't make sense. The sea witch let us go on purpose?" Zaren rubbed his index under his chin. "Feels fishy to me."

Kai couldn't help but agree with his wise words. "That's right. What do we do now? Where to find the remaining ingredients?"

"All we need is a scale and a sinew." Sheila spoke to no one in particular. "I got it. The sea goddess led us here," she beamed saying that and looked at the island which stood at a distance.

Everyone looked at her with a hint confusion. She scanned their faces one by one, but nobody understood a thing until she had to spill the beans herself. "The scale of the serpent, remember?"

"Aah...right!" Zaren nodded at her justifiable point.

Kai gave a stern but single nod. "Let's go hunt the beast. But...how do we go up the hill top, I believe the serpent resides there."

"Don't worry," Jay said, "I'll play the 'prey'." He caressed his wife for one last time before he pushed himself out of the sandy beach.

His foot prints faded away with every new wave, as they waited for his return.
"I have a favour to ask of you, Mrs. Jay." Sheila tickled the smooth neck of the seagull.

"You guys saved us. Ask anything you want," Mrs. Jay squawked, she flapped her wings to perch on a stone which was right beside Sheila.

"We uh...we need a spittle of your saliva." Hesitation was apparent in Kai's voice as he informed her. "That's what the prophecy says, 'a spittle of a seagull who lost her love'."

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