The Order of the Pig Story 5: A Secret Beneath the Waves

Chapter 7 - Making Friends

I held Reuben close as I swam through the darkness.

Jesse: "I can't see anything."

In my head, I kept repeating those words. 'Just keep swimming down.'

Jesse: "How thick is this thing?"

Soon after I said that we came out the other end. We looked up and around to see we were in like a black dome.

Jesse: "Oh my gosh! Where are our friends?!"

Reuben began trying to sniff around for them. I just turned my head and Kelpie was practically in my face.

Jesse: "Ah!"

Kelpie: "Good. You're here. Took you long enough."

Jesse: "Where are my friends?"

Kelpie: "They haven't come out yet. I assume they're still in there."

Jesse: "Well, Reuben and I did go in first."

Kelpie: "Then I'd imagine they'd be right behind you. Unless, somehow they did not swim strait down and they're lost in there."

Jesse: "Don't even say things like that!"

Kelpie: "Fine."

Just then, the others popped out. Reuben and I went over strait away to hug them.

Jesse: "Oh, thank goodness!"

Lukas: "No need to act so surprised."

Petra: "We were alright."

Axel: "It was a little creepy in there."

Olivia: "But we made it out just fine."

Excited, Reuben did a barrel roll into us. We all laughed. Until Kelpie said.

Kelpie: "Right. Follow me please."

He lead further down. As we were swimming, I asked him.

Jesse: "By the way, what is this big black thing that's surrounding us?"

Kelpie: "It goes by 2 names. Anyone or anything above it calls it 'the Abyss'. But everyone below it in Subtropolis call it 'the Cloud'. It may not be pretty, but it keeps us safe."

We went down a little further. Soon we saw the most beautiful sight.

Kelpie: "Welcome to the Secret Merfolk city of Subtropolis."

Our faces were beaming.

Kelpie: "Before we go down there, I need to give you one more warning. Expect strange behaviour from the merfolk. No one here has seen a human in about 10 years."

Petra: "Why's that?"

Kelpie: "Umm. It's a long story. One we don't have time for right now."

Axel: "What do we do first?"

Kelpie: "Before anything, I need to tell you to stick close to me. Then we must go see his majesty, King Saturn."

We swam down and there were merfolk everywhere. It was amazing. Just like Kelpie said, they were all glaring at us and whispering among themselves. Most of them were staring at Reuben. They may have seen a human before but they've never seen a pig before. One little merboy caught Reuben's eye. He was hiding behind his mother. Reuben swam up to him.

Jesse: "Reuben? Where are you going, buddy?"

I followed him. The little merboy was still hiding behind his mother. I could see what Reuben was trying to do so I came up from behind Reuben and said.

Jesse: "Don't worry. He won't hurt you. He just wants to be your friend."

He looked up at his mother. She looked and me. I smiled. She looked back down at her son.

Ivy: "It's ok."

He came out from behind his mum. Reuben smiled and oinked. The little merboy burst into giggles. He hugged Reuben. I smiled and looked at his mum. She was smiling too.

Jesse: "Thank you for trusting us. I didn't think you would."

Ivy: "I must apologise. We haven't seen a human down here in a long time. And this pink creature you have. We've never seen."

Jesse: "You don't need to apologise. I know how strange and different we must be to you. I'm Jesse, by the way, and this is Reuben."

Ivy: "My name is Ivy and this is Caleb. It's so nice to meet you."

Suddenly I heard Kelpie call.

Kelpie: "We don't have all day, Jesse!!"

Jesse: "Coming!!"

I yelled back.

Jesse: "It was awesome to meet you, Ivy."

I hugged her. I bent down to Caleb.

Jesse: "And you too, little one."

The little merboy hugged me. I giggled and hugged him back.

Jesse: "Goodbye, new friends. Come on, Reuben."

Reuben waved goodbye to his little friend and followed me. Little Caleb waved back. I met back up with the others.

Axel: "Who were they, Jesse?"

Jesse: "Let's just say, Reuben and I made some new friends."

Reuben smiled.

Olivia: "What were they like?"

Jesse: "Nervous at first but then they were really friendly."

Lukas: "That's awesome, Jesse. I'm glad they trust us."

Jesse: "Me too."

I smiled and we kept swimming to the palace.