Chapter Text
It takes a while for the green scaled mer to calm those in his arms. Kristin wants to scoop them all up and promise that nothing will ever hurt them again. But she knows any sudden movement or even getting closer will likely send the pups and guppies into a panic again.
So, Kristin turns her focus to the fish she had caught earlier and starts ripping them apart into small enough pieces. It gives her something to do with her hands and lets a little bit of the built up anger bleed away. She knows she is going to need more fish but that is a problem for a later time. She lets her eyes wander over to the green scaled mer who mumbles softly to the colorful ball in his arms. She studies the injuries and tries to determine if any of them are going to be lethal if not taken care of.
Blue eyes meet purple as Kristin blinks a few times. “They look worse than they really are.” He tries to reassure Kristin seeing as she is looking over him so carefully.
Kristin scoffs and tears apart another fish. “Your fins are shredded, and I can see your gills have been slashed up. Meaning you cannot move around quickly, and I am assuming breathing is difficult in this stagnant water.” Kristin gives the green mer a look when he opens his mouth to say something. “Add on that you have flinched in pain a number of times even if you try to hide it.”
The mer looks away and huffs. “I will figure out something.” He mumbles before hugging the ball of younger mers to his chest.
“You don’t have to figure out anything. This is my territory, and it is my responsibility to take care of everything.” Kristin starts but doesn’t get her next words out before being cut off.
“No no no. I can’t ask you to do anything like that! Just give me a little bit of time and I will be fine.” The green mer starts to panic a little and shifts forward as he speaks. “I just to rest for a little while then be good.”
Kristin holds up a hand to stop the rambling. “What do you think I am going to do?”
The other looks around for a moment trying to figure out what to say.
Kristin has a different idea. “Let’s start off with introductions. My name is Kristin. While I do go by many other names, those are not important right now. At the moment I see someone who is in need of assistance, who is trying to be stubborn.”
The green scaled mer shrinks back a little before offering a shaky smile. “I’m Philza, but most people call me Phil.”
Kristin nods and offers a smile back. “Pleased to meet you Phil.” She holds out a handful of fish towards him. “You look like you could use something to eat. You are looking a little worn out and I am guessing you might have been sacrificing food to someone else.”
Phil looks down at the many eyes that look back up at him before he smiles sheepishly at Kristin. “They were a little more important than some hunger pains.” He lets out a soft thrill to show the younger mers everything was alright.
The red pup seemed to take this as permission to slip away and flare his fins at Kristin in what should be a threatening manner. If he was not so small and skinny.
Phil sighs and snags the pup around the middle to bring him back towards him. “Please ignore him. He has been taking on the role of the protector from the time I had met him long before this whole mess happened. His mother was killed in a war and his father came here seeking a new life.” Phil’s eyes soften at the young pup who lets out an unhappy chitter at being pulled back.
Kristin can’t help but smile softly at the interaction. “I am sure he will grow up to be a strong mer who will keep those he loves safe.” She lets a few pieces of fish slip from her fingers and hang in the water between them.
Phil watches the fish float for a moment before reaching out to bring them closer. He offers a piece to one of the guppies who snatches it up and starts eating. This sets off the others to start chirping and trying to steal the fish from the first one. Phil is quick to offer more pieces out to keep the peace. The only ones who do not fight over the fish are the two pups.
The red pup has settled in front of Phil and is flaring out his fins whenever Kristin’s eyes wander to him. While the brown pup is darting forward to grab any pieces of fish that are out of Kristin’s reach before offering them to Phil to give the guppies.
Kristin keeps letting fish float towards them and settles down to just watch once the fish is done. She watches as the ball of guppies slowly leaves Phil’s arms and sends curious looks her way.
Phil lets out a few encouraging chirps and warbles when one floats a little closer to Kristin.
The brave guppy has golden scales that fade out to bright red fins. Bright blue eyes stare with wonder at Kristin’s much larger form. His eyes flick between Phil and Kristin like he is comparing the sizes before turning back to Phil with a questioning chirp.
Phil snorts before speaking. “Remember the stories of the ancients that roam the waters? Beings of great power and magic.” Phil uses a free hand to gesture towards Kristin. “She is an ancient, that is what she is so much bigger than me.”
The golden guppy turns his blue eyes back to Kristin and eyes her suspiciously for a moment. Before drifting closer and reaching out to run his fingers through the long floating hair of the huge mer.
Kristin makes sure to stay still and watches the guppy playing with her hair. She keeps her arms crossed under her head and her stomach touching the sands to seem as non-threatening as she can be. She is sure the soft sounds coming from Phil is helping the guppy feel more comfortable. She is so focused on the golden one that she misses another guppy darting up bravely to look at her nails.
The yellow guppy startles Kristin when he starts poking at the little left-over bits of fish under her nails. Blue eyes widen when purple eyes turn to him, and the small guppy freezes like if he doesn’t move, he will not be seen. Green fins flare out when Kristin’s hand is turned over to let the yellow guppy have better access to the nail. Several seconds pass before the yellow guppy chirps softly and starts poking around the nails in wonder.
This draws the attraction of the golden guppy who darts down to also poke at Kristin’s nails. Both mumbling something softly as they explore the ancient’s hand.
Kristin must once again fight the urge to just scoop up the small beings and never let them go. They are so small compared to her and so fragile that she coos softly.
Phil nudges the two pups who are hovering between the adults keeping a watchful eye on the small guppies. The red pup gives him a glare while flaring his fins out before drifting closer to the guppies. The brown pups take that as full permission to do what the guppies are doing and starts swimming around Kristin’s hand.
Kristin smiles at the two pups and keeps still to see what they will do on their own. But her eyes do wander to the last guppy still curled into Phil’s chest. They are the biggest of the three guppies by a fair bit, even curled up safely in Phil’s arms. Their body is nearly split in half black and white with the fins following the same color as the scales. Duel colored eyes of red and green peek out before hiding away in Phil’s neck.
Kristin’s attention is drawn away suddenly when she feels teeth on her finger and sees the yellow guppy is currently seeing if he can get through her thick scales. Blue eyes freeze under the look before the guppy keeps going with a new purpose. It does not hurt at all and just feels like a slight pressure on her scale.
The yellow guppy seems unhappy that his small teeth do little to Kristin’s scales. Small fins flare out in anger and small chirps follow soon after. This draws the golden guppy closer to see what has upset the yellow one. This also leads to the golden guppy trying to bite Kristin’s scales as well with the same result.
The brown pup floats over with a questioning chirp and the three seem to have some conversation with low warbles and thrills. This ends up with another one of the younger mers trying their luck at chewing on one of Kristin’s scales.
Kristin finally pulls her hand back to see why all three of them had tried eating one of her scales and sees that the one scale they are all interested in is loose. She carefully pokes at the scales before pulling it off fully and holding it out to the three.
It takes five seconds for any of them to react, but the golden guppy lets out a thrill before darting forward to grab the scale that looks comically large compared to the small mer. With a solid grip the guppy takes off with the yellow guppy close behind screeching like the other had just wronged them.
The red pup is on high alert in an instant looking around for where the danger is. Once his eyes fall on the two guppies darting around, he settles with a glare towards Kristin.
Phil breaks the quiet tension when he shifts and muffles a yelp of pain. Kristin turns to him and frowns, looking over his wounds once again. “We need to do something about your injuries. Leaving them to heal on their own is not going to work. You will be lucky if you will be able to swim again, but only if you get the injuries taken care of.”
Phil flips his tail and covers up a yelp of pain. “Really, they are worse then they look. Rest and time will get them healed up no problem.”
The guppy still in Phil’s arms lets out a quiet chirp and looks up at him with wide eyes.
“Don’t be agreeing with her. You don’t even want to go play with the others because you are scared of Kristin.” Phil tucks the guppy close and lets out a comforting chirp.
Kristin shakes her head and looks back at the golden guppy fleeing away from the yellow guppy. It seems the brown pup is also joining in on the chase cutting off the golden scaled mer.
Kristin knows the best thing right now would be to bring everyone back to her home. The problem is she lives far away, and the trip might be to hard on Phil. He would not be able to swim at all without aid, and with the amount of blood he may have already lost he might not have the energy for the trip. She was not going to be leaving him behind even if it would be safer for the pups and guppies away from this area. This only meant one thing, Kristin was going to have to make the trip back alone to gather things to heal Phil enough to travel.
Kristin looks around the area trying to determine if she could block off the area enough to keep any large predators out so Phil would not be attacked. The walls of the area were too damages to entertain that idea for long. She tries to think if she saw any other still intact areas but comes up blank.
With a small sigh Kristin turns back to Phil and offers a smile. “Phil I am going to leave for a little while.” She keeps her face neutral when she sees the panic cross Phil’s face. “I need to get something to help heal you up. But please do not worry I have an idea for keeping you all safe while I am gone.” She places a hand over her heart and focuses for a moment. Once she feels the magic collect in one place, she carefully peels off one of her scales and holds it out. “This is a heart scale. It carries some of my essence and will keep you safe.”
Phil just stares for a moment before shaking his head. “I have learned about ancient’s powers and what a heart scale means. I can not accept that.” He curls away from the offered scale.
Kristin clicks her tongue and watches Phil flinch. “You have two options at the moment. First you can sit here and slowly die. In the condition you are in, you are not going to be able to protect yourself or the younglings. I don’t think you have the energy to even leave the area anymore. Something will come smelling the blood and finish you off. I honestly don’t know how you made it this far without already being picked off.”
Kristin makes a point of holding the scale out again. “Second option and the one I am hoping you will take. Is you take this heart scale and keep it close to you. With it close nothing will come near by because they will know a powerful mer is here. With you holding the heart scale, I can leave and get things to help heal you. After treating your wounds, we can start the journey back to my home where you can heal in peace. While the young ones have a safe place to rest and lots of fish to eat.”
Phil stares at the heart scale thinking over what he was just told.
The two brave guppies hover around Kritin’s hand looking at the shining scale but not daring it touch it. If they had not been there when it was created, they would feel like they needed to flee. Bright eyes turn towards Kristin and small questioning trills are released.
Safe calm safe Kristin softly trills back to the younger.
The brown pup floats above Kristin’s head with a tilted head while the red pup darts back over to Phil and settles at his side looking up at him.
“If you are sure about offering this scale to me.” Phil lifts his eyes to look into Kristin’s purple ones. “I will accept the protection the scale offers and…” He looks away before shaking his head. “Thank you, Kristin, for doing this. I just want the younglings to be safe and will do anything to make that happen.” He still hasn’t reached for the scale.
Kristin flicks her tail to move a little closer and sends the two guppies away with her movement. “Phil, you have already done so much. You have been through so much keeping them safe. Let me take at burden from you now.” She carefully takes Phil’s hand, being mindful of the black and white guppy that is still curled into Phil’s neck with wide scared eyes. She places the scale into Phil’s hand and pushes his hand towards his chest. “I will gather some more fish before I leave so you all have something to eat. I will move as quickly as I can and be back with supplies I will need.”
Phil just nods and keeps the heart scale close to his chest. He can feel the magic radiating off it and feel it pulse with a heartbeat.
Kristin backs away slowly and offers a smile. “I will be back in a moment with some fish.” She turns and heads out ignoring the chirps from the guppies and pups calling for her to return. She will not be gone for long and this first trip.
Gathering fish is an easy task that doesn’t take to long. She gets around seven medium size fish before heading back. The guppies might be small, but they can eat a lot and often. They are still growing and need every bit of food they can get. Pups also need a lot to eat, and she knows the two pups have been passing on meals to make sure the youngers get something. She does not even know if Phil has eaten anything, so she is going to make sure he does before she leaves.
Upon returning to the destroyed nursery, she can see the large predators are steering clear of it. She is glad the scale is working well. She will not have to worry about anything happening to the other mers while she is gone.
Kristin is greeted by some chirps and trills when she is within sight of the others. It seems the two guppies do not have any fear of her anymore. The brown pup also seems to feel comfortable around her. The red pup still fans out his fins like he is trying to be threatening. But doesn’t stop her from getting closer with the fish.
Phil has his eyes closed and opens them with a smile. “Welcome back.”
Kristin settles and starts shredding some fish and laughs when the golden and yellow mers basically steal strips of fish out of her hands. She has to be careful with the two so close to her claws.
“Now Phil before I leave you have to eat something.” Kristin starts and can see Phil opening his mouth to argue, so she cuts him off. “I have enough for everyone, and you need energy to heal. Skipping meals is not going to help anyone out. You need to start strong to keep an eye on the young ones. Sure, nothing is going to bother you while I am gone. But I don’t need you falling asleep and not waking up.”
Phil clicks his mouth shut and huffs like a child.
Kristin just grins and holds out a large piece of fish. “I am not leaving until you eat.” She raises an eyebrow when he does not take the fish. “Come on Phil, I am not above force feeding you. Or do you need it in small strips to eat easier?” She grins as she teases the other.
Phil huffs again and takes the fish. “No this is fine.” He makes a point in biting off a piece and chewing it.
Kristin can see even the simple action of eating is tiring to Phil. But with some food in him, he should have some more energy soon.
The spilt scaled guppy does wiggle up and steal some bites of Phil’s fish.
Kristin shreds another fish and lets the guppies and pups eat until they are full. When it seems everyone has had their fill, she sets the rest of the fish beside Phil. “I will be off again. I will be back as soon as I am able. Please be sure to stay here and keep that heart scale close.”
Phil nods tiredly. “Be safe out there.”
Kristin laughs and turns towards the exit. “Nothing is going to even think about messing with me.” She gives one last look over the mers and starts her journey back home. She really wants to take the pups and guppies with her, but with how fast she is swimming they will not be able to keep up. Even carrying them would make them uncomfortable. So, she will just need to push herself a little harder to return faster.
She places a hand over her heart and feels a low steady pulse. The pulse is linked to the heart scale she offered Phil willingly. As long as he carries it, she will be able to feel his heartbeat and know he is alive. She pushes herself a little more, adding some magic into her tail.