The Forgotten Waters.

Chapter Eighteen: Change of Pace

"You're certain he's gone?" Caspian looked around the reef as he spoke to himself quietly. He was checking for any signs of the Land Walker's debris. It was hard to trust anything that belonged to them, including their trash. Everything about them was just, bad. The merman gripped the handle of his spear as he looked out towards the open sea. Towards the end if the reef, the remaining warriors were gathered and seemed to recouping.

He wanted so badly to talk to his mother, to Aiden, but his father seemed to weigh heavy on his mind. Caspian found himself with a guilt that weighed heavy in his chest. Had he listened, perhaps his father would still be accounted for. The warrior male shifted back a bit as he moved towards the wounded warriors. Caspian looked at Gal, but before he could say anything, the other male spoke up.

"Where were you?" Gal moved forward suddenly; stopping Caspian from going any further, "You ran from the colony. You left your post."

The male looked towards Gal, a light sneer ran across the prince's lips, "Gal, are you so quick to forget that I tried to bring ALL of you back with me. More of us would of had a chance. I lost my father, our king." Caspian got in Garth's face, "So before you start looking to blame me, remember you all could had came back with me. I tried to protect all of them just like you did." The prince spoke coldly. His ice cold eyes darted towards the end of the reef. Caspian collected himself. The merman was always serious. It was rare to really see him break. He cleared his throat before moving back. The merman had no interest in really fighting with his people, but he wasn't one to take mouth, "How many did we lose?" Caspian looked at the other warriors. It was slim, and many faces that had been there before were gone. He swallowed a bit before pointing out of the reef, "How far did those lights go out? What made you come back?"

One of the fellow warriors spoke up, seeming to try and keep a calm demeanor, but his body shook as he spoke. He sat in the sands as he looked out at the open water, "T-they went on forever, and we couldn't get out of it. That's why we came back. As the morning came those lights didn't light us up so well, but they had other merman, with those suits..."

"They were like tar. It just stuck to their skin."

"Camouflage." Gal spoke up, letting out a heavy sigh, "They're learning how to track us better. It's been years. I'm sure by now they've learned to communicate. Those bastards working with them, must be pretty desperate to go against your own kind." The male's fins flared as he looked out towards the open waters, "I say we stay back here. We know are land enough to protect it. It's safer then going out there towards them." Garth shifted a bit as he moved a bit more towards the hides and pointed, "We could ambush them here. It would be perfect."

"No. We're going towards the Forgotten Waters, Gal. At this point, I feel that's going to be our only chance. Staying here is EXACTLY what they're expected. Especially after you all swam for how long before deciding to come back? We should be moving by day, and hiding of the night so they can't pick up us up with those lights."

"No bullshit. We should stay here. We don't even know if the waters exist anymore, Caspian. We could be going there to find nothing! You'll be leading us to our deaths just like your father!"

CRACK

Caspian's hand went forward as he punched Gal in the jaw. He grabbed ahold of the man and slammed him down into the ground; sliding him against the rough reef. The other warrior had started swinging, and the two had began to brawl. The prince had blacked out; throwing punches and slamming his tail into the other while recieving it in return. After taking a hit to the side of the head, his ears were ringing, but Caspian had slammed his weight into Gal and pinned him to the ground, "We follow what Drake ordered! We follow what has been set in stone for decades! It existed! Instead of fighting with me, why don't you look towards the bigger picture!? This isn't home anymore! It's a damn warzone!"

"How do we even know, Caspian? How can we believe a word your father said after he got nearly everyone killed!?"

"Because I came from there. Caspian, my son, get off him." Lana reached her hand down and grabbed his shoulder, "This isn't how a warrior should treat his troops. Especially when everyone is afraid." Lana looked at Gal and swallowed, "But you, you keep my husband's name out of your mouth. He's the reason all of us are alive to begin with." She reached up and held her own shoulder, "Everyone has finished packing and preparing, but I don't think we should leave this late in the day. Everyone's tired and needs rest before we try to go anywhere. If we don't give them time to revive themselves, we won't be able to get anywhere before the day is up."

Caspian listened to Lana, and slowly pulled himself off Gal, who had a busted lip and seemed to be quite beaten himself, "Everyone is tired." He finally said, "Why don't we go to my cave? It's below so no one will be detected. We can sleep in there until morning and then head out. I hadn't expected gathering supplies to take so long. Have everyone on the other side of this reef to go into the below."
Caspian looked at Gal, who still had a cold look on his face, "Is that clear, Gal?"

For a moment, the other warrior stood proud, almost refusing to say anything to Caspian regarding any of the orders that his new leader was giving him. He finally nodded his head, and looked towards Penelope, who was picking seaweed and gathering their trapped fish for the journey. Aiden was with her, quietly helping and glancing at them as well. Gal pointed towards them and spoke up, "I'm going to help my girl get things ready. I'll have everyone in there before the sun has fallen. Until then, I'm taking care of her." He swam off, moving towards Penelope and Aiden.

Aiden had looked towards Caspian, and the prince had caught the merman's gaze, but looked away rather quickly. He couldn't help but feel guilty. Caspian had wanted time with Aiden, but he was overwhelmed with so many feelings, thoughts. Even if he held it together here, the warrior had a hundred thoughts going through his head at once.

Aiden of course, didn't give him time to react and approached rather quickly. The merman moved towards him and grabbed ahold Caspian's hand gently. The red haired male looked up at the warrior before giving a light pull of his hand, "Come on then."

"What for?"

"You said it yourself. Everyone needs rest. Including you." Aiden began to pull him towards the cave, "Come on then. No more fighting for you today." Aiden gave the male a reassuring smile as he led him towards their little haven for the night. Aiden had heard enough the conversation to know what they were doing. He saw the marks on Caspian from his scuffle with Gal, but he didn't mention it. The small merman knew good and well who it had been with. The two had never gotten along.

Caspian followed Aiden, but he spoke up after they were away from the crowd, "I'm sorry for getting upset earlier. It's just-"

"It's alright, Caspian. You don't have to talk about that right now." Aiden knew that his partner wasn't in the best of places right now, and neither was he. The feminine male was doing his best to just keep it together for everyone, "You should rest, I should rest. Come on. Let's get some sleep before anyone else gets down here." Aiden kissed his cheeks, "Okay? At least then I'll know you got something."

The shark merman smiled softly, giving a soft nodd of his head as he took Aiden's hand gently in his own. Sometimes he forgot about himself. Aiden had always been the one to remind him, "Alright, squirt. You lead the way then."

"With pleasure."