✔THE STING (onc-19)

15. 'A wretched critter.'

Kai paused signalling others, as he peeked into the city while hiding inside the kelp forest. Either way, they were in danger, irrespective of whether the war broke out or not.

"I don't think anything has happened." Zaren whispered to Sheila. As if to disprove him, a carcass of a severed arm floated aimlessly in front of them. Zaren was the first one to gasp as it approached nearer, "Shi*!"

"It means..." Kai paused, lost in a thoughtful moment. "Where are the military outposts Zar?"

"One each in every direction of the city and the base camp near the temple tower." Zaren remembered the facts that were taught to him during his military lessons.

"Civilians must be taking shelter in the temple tower, right?"

"Yes." Zaren nodded, both rage and fear laced in his tone.

"We head towards the temple tower. We find Gabby, Sal and Kids first. Then do the next best thing. Alright?"

Zaren nodded his head briskly, but Sheila's face had already lost the charm. "What's wrong?" Kai held her shoulder and gave a gentle press.

"It's all over, isn't it? We are the war breakers, we angered the witch." A gush of tears brimmed her eyes as she choked while speaking.

"Look at me." Zaren swam over to face her, he held her by arms and jolted her out of the emotional turmoil. "There's nothing to blame, okay? We did our best and there's still some hope left. If only we could figure out the meaning of 'sinew of a star'." Saying that Zaren bumped his both hands in frustration, "I mean, a star doesn't have a bone or a sinew."

"What was that song again?" Kai asked, waving his index as the realisation struck his cords.

"What song?" Sheila exclaimed, trying not to sob anymore.

"The anthem...song of the sea." Kai struggled to remember squeezing his eyes, "they sing something about the twin stars."

"The sea witch and the sea goddess were twins," Sheila frowned trying to understand the gist. A moment later, her knotted eyebrows released. "What if they were the same person? Or the same star, perhaps?"

"Exactly." Kai jumped, his face unable to contain the amusement any more.

"Now, I don't think I want to believe it. But, you have been right all along Kai, so I do agree." Zaren held his clenched hand out, welcoming a gesture of fist bump.

"Thanks Captain." Kai exchanged the gesture before leaving the place.

"So, does that mean, we need to kill the witch for a sinew?" Zaren asked Sheila, as they swam through the ghostly silent market towards the temple tower.

"That's what I think." Sheila said, "that's what it boils down to."

A group of soldiers were fighting the enemy eels by wielding spears against them. Zaren balled his fist and tightened his grip on the spear.
"Duty calls," informing that, he left towards the fight, "slay that witch for me, will ya?"

"But..." Sheila stretched her hand out, but he was already spearing the enemies, ripping their bodies apart and skewing them like shish kebabs.

Kai held Sheila's hand and motioned her towards the temple tower. She obliged, her worrisome eyes still lingering on to her twin brother's silhouette.

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The sea witch was walking the streets of the city. People ran amok the lanes, screams and chaos echoing the abyss; her feet moving and hovering just above the seabed, as if she was walking in the mid water. Her raven wings spread across her back, wide open and waterproof, not even touched by a single drop of water to soak it's feathers.