Chapter Text
If there was one thing that was true about Merfolk, it was that they always returned to the water.
There were myths and tales of various forms of Merfolk, from Mermaids to Selkies, all of whom had experienced the land above. Tales of Merfolk adventuring, exploring, exploiting and being exploited, but one that that always remained true about those stories was that the Merfolk would return to whence they came.
The water.
It took many forms. Rivers, lakes, ponds, seas, oceans. Merfolk took many forms as well. Freshwater, saltwater, aquatic and semi-aquatic. Any Hybrid that felt at home in the water, they were all Merfolk.
One of the cruelest punishments a Merfolk could face, was to be stripped of their ability to transform, to join their brethren in the water. To be bound to the land, never to set foot in the waters below again.
It was a cruel fate. Even the Banlands did not restrict a Hybrid’s transformation abilities, the natural magic that flowed through all of them. Even the worst of the worst were allowed that one, singular mercy. Or at least, that’s what he had heard.
Elliot had grown used to the longing, the yearning in his very bones as he stared out over the docks. The week so far had been rough, the first half of it having him tend to 007n7, and the second half being forced to play hide and seek with Shedletsky, who was determined to be the biggest broodiest Avian in all of history, he was pretty sure.
It was inevitable that the instinct high would hit him, too.
He sat with his feet dangling off the edge of the docks, letting him dip the webbed appendages in the ice cold water below. It was just salt in the wound, knowing that while he could just swim in the water in his humanoid form, it wouldn’t be the same.
It wouldn’t be the same as swimming in the saltwater ocean that cradled his home, surrounded by his family and friends, his pod, his own Creator gently directing the tides as they made laps around the island. They would come to rest in the reefs, the more predatory types of the group, Elliot included, taking their time to hunt for everyone.
It was fun! It was relaxing, taking the time away from work and the land above to simply be. His father and Creator were always so proud of him for his hunts, his sister a quick learner as she had grown old enough to join him on supervised trips.
It was a mockery, now, seeing the Survivors be able to be tended to so carefully, so gently. Elliot couldn’t have that care, there was nothing to be done for his situation. The Admins had been stripped of their power, and even 7n7 had no remedy for the situation. There was no point in asking, and so Elliot didn’t.
Footsteps against wood. The shifting of boards, the dock aged and just a little frailer than it should be. They sat next to him.
“It’s…. A lot, right?” Noob’s voice echoed over the lake, and Elliot glanced over.
They had a pensive expression, tired. It was easy to forget that Noob was the only Canine Hybrid in the group, a dog without their pack, in a strange and foreign place.
“....Yeah.” Elliot agreed after a moment, turning his gaze back to the water.
“I really, really miss my friends. My pack.” Noob admitted, and Elliot leaned his weight against their shoulder, knocking his head against theirs in a gentle manner.
“I miss my family, too.” Elliot opened up. “It’s been really hard, what with the season and all. Merfolk are family creatures, y’know?”
“Canines are too. I get it.” Noob nodded slightly, just barely enough to not jostle Elliot.
“Is there anything I can do to help you?” He asked the Noob, who hummed for a moment.
“....I don’t think so. I’ll be okay, I-I think? Just gotta…. Ride it out. Like always.” A deep breath, to calm their nerves.
“....Same here. It’s not like the Admins can fix me, right now.” Elliot gave a scrap of a laugh, before pausing at Noob’s confused noise. Well, it’s not like they’d make a big deal out of it, hopefully.
“Oh, right, I never mentioned. I can’t transform here.” He explained, before suddenly feeling hands on his shoulders and a face in front of his. Elliot blinked rapidly.
“YOU CAN’T TRANSFORM?!” Noob shrieked, and somewhere a bird flew from its perch at the high-pitched cry. Slowly, Elliot brought his own hands up to Noob’s, gently pushing them away.
“It’s not that big of a deal-”
“Not that- Not that big of a deal?!” Noob’s hands flew to accentuate their bafflement, ears drooped down in distress.
“Yeah. Not a big deal.” Elliot smiled reassuringly. Noob did not seem very reassured.
“That’s- Elliot, that’s horrible! And here I was complaining when, when you- when you can’t even go in the water properly! That’s a Merfolk’s whole thing! Your whole thing!” They cried, and Elliot sighed, wincing as it was laid out plainly.
“This is why I didn’t want to talk about it….” He sighed, and Noob wilted in place, causing him to wince once more.
“I just, didn’t want it to be a big deal? We’ve got so many bigger problems, that my loss doesn’t really matter much, y’know?” He shrugged, giving a helpless “What can you do?” smile. Noob frowned, hands fisted in their lap.
“But…. It’s important, Elliot. You’re important.” A sudden steel came into their eyes, and they sat up straighter.
“I won’t let one of my pack think they’re not important, Elliot!” They declared, taking his hands with surprisingly gentleness.
“But-” He tried to deflect, only to be met with a shaking head.
“No buts, okay? You’re important, your problems are important, and if there’s literally anything I can do to make you feel even a little bit better, please let me know. Please. I-I wanna help. Okay?”
Elliot had to just sit in silence for a moment, eyes wide as he looked at Noob. Their gaze was searching, defiant and confident. He wasn’t sure he had ever seen them like this, not even when it was just the two of them. Slowly, he smiled.
“Thank you, Noob. I’ll let you know. Right now I just need to ride it out.” He explained gently. He felt proud of them, for finally finding their confidence, even if it was just in the little situations.
“Okay. If you’re sure.” They tightened their hold on his hands for a moment, before letting him go. He smiled, and they offered a shy smile back.
“Is there anything I can do for you, Noob?” Elliot offered in return, and Noob gave a sheepish laugh.
“Hah, not- um, not really? It’s not like I can make everyone stay in my den, or the main cabin all the time. I’m just kinda checking in on everyone that I can. And avoiding Shedletsky’s grabby hands. He’s so grabby….” They shivered, before giving a laugh, easily met by Elliot’s own.
For as annoying as it could be, all of the Survivors appreciated Shedletsky’s care towards them. It was nice, to be doted on for once. Even if you were a grown Immortal who hadn’t needed coddling since his first century, of course.
“So grabby, yeah!” Elliot laughed, and the two smiled.
“Can I, um, sit with you? A bit longer?” Noob asked hesitantly as the giggles died down, and Elliot nodded.
“Of course you can. Take as long as you need. I’m probably not moving any time soon.” He explained, and they nodded back.
The two cast their gazes back to the lake, to the ripples on the water, to the tide slowly pushing and pulling, lapping at the sand.
It was quiet that night, in the Spectre’s Realm. At least for two of its inhabitants.