Aquata Cove Ch. 64

~~~

Merrick shakes with fatigue as he carries Arnaav in his arms. He is so, very, extremely, drop-dead tired. It's only by sheer willpower that he's been able to last this long, though he knows the clock is ticking.

He can only see with his eyes barely keeping open just enough to see where his feet is going, unable to focus ahead to look for shades.

In the air, comes buzzing the same giant insect as before. Following him is a strange formation of pelicans, at least ten large birds, each with their bills bulging and swaying, almost too heavy to keep themselves flying.

A very low frequency of noises were being emitted from the insect, before it and the birds flew down. The pelicans perch onto the hot shells as the buzzing creature dived and zoomed around.

Merrick groans as he falls to his knees, hearing the strange bug buzz sharply around him again. He holds onto Arnaav tightly, until he hears the flapping of pelican wings. Merrick opens his eyes to see a flurry of white feathers, and also hearing the sound of pouring water.

He grunts and grimaces as he moves himself up, and sees a small, cavernous entrance inside one of many spiral shells. The large birds around him seem to somehow pour water into the small space.

Panting with exhaustion, Merrick quickly explores the half full space. It's very, very cramped...

~~~

The two Noitas and Adras continue to charm and bid the waters to rise. All of the mermaids from both pods are singing as well to give support with their own minor influences of the tide.

The mermen look with anxious anticipation as they watch the surface, going up to swallow the shells inch by inch, at an agonizingly slow rate.

The Noitas strain as they conjure as best as they can, grunting as they intill their very will into the water to bring the tide up. This would be a LOT easier under the moon, let alone without a Black Sun.

Samudra's insides tinge with fear and suspence as he sees the progress of the water come to a stop. After a moment of waiting, he can see that the elevation has stopped again, short of encasing the entire mound of shells.

"No..." He shakes his head, "That cannot be it..." His fists clenched, "We must... We have to-"

Before he can finish his sentence, the sea level jumbled back up. His eyes beam as he sees the surface rise higher at a more reassuring rate.

"It is working," Olaroc said, "The tide is rising!"

"How? And why??"

On the complete other side of the Sazae Graveyard, out of plain sight, an otter Noita slowly waves her hands up, around, and gracefully down. By her side is a thick, bear-like mermaid mimics her exact movements. Below them is a pod of half-mixed merfolk, mostly comprised of otter merfolk, with a few different Amniens. The Triton of the pod, a mighty polar bear-type of merman holds his trident as he watches the two mermaids raise the tide.

~~~

It's not big enough.

This small carven is not nearly roomy enough for almost anyone.

Merrick's stomach sinks as tears roll down his cheeks. He can't sense any more light around him, and he is out of time, after what feels like weeks of wandering in circles in a searing maze. It's just not fair... The Waves of Fate have been cruel on this day. First three Scyllas appear, and devour some of his new friends. Then he gets stranded on an enormous frying pan out in the middle of the sea, all the while tripping and burning himself trying to find a way to escape. And now, as things stand, he will never see his only real reason for living again... The love of his life is forever out of his reach...

But none of that matters now. Just one thing matters at this moment.

Sniffling and sobbing, he closes his devastated eyes, and moves the boy in his arms forward. He carefully places Arnaav into the partially full space of water, and safely tucks the otter merman into the tiny pool.

Arnaav is completely submerged, if just barely. Arnaav is safe...

Merrick bows his head down. He sobs silently as he can feel a false night all around him, save for the last ounce of light left before the sun is completely eclipsed. He shakes his head as he reflects over and over again how his life has might as well have come to an end. Once he's some grotesque freak, he can never feel Adam's touch again. That scruffy, charming human that only needs to smile to send Merrick into bliss.

"Mnn... Merrick?" Merrick huffed and collected himself as he trembles in order to hold himself up, "Where are we...?" Arnaav asked very drearily.

"We're... We're safe, Arnaav." Merrick holds back his immense sadness for the sake of the young one, "I found us some safety..."

"Can we go back to the pod though?" The otter asked, his eyes still closed as he rocks a little.

"I-It's ok, Arnaav... Y-You need your rest... The pod will come to us..." He chokes a little in his throat, more tears rolling down his face.

"But... But what if the monster comes back?" Arnaav groaned.

"Th-That's what I'm here for, Arnaav." Merrick whined as he clenches his eyes, "I keep watch... You just curl up, o-ok buddy?"

"Wh-What about you, Merrick?" Merrick sobbed as he pressed a hand over his hot, wet eyes, "Are you not tired? You can sleep too..."

"N-No, Arnaav, I'll be fine." Merrick thickens as he wept, "Y-You need to sleep... I need to show you a complicated hunting move later, but you need to rest, ok?"

"But I'm..." Arnaav gives a long yawn, as Merrick reaches in and cradled his head, "I'm terrible at it... I just wanna..."

"It's ok, I'll take care of you." Merrick cried, "I'll take good care of you, just sleep for me, please. Can you do that for me?"

"Mmmnnnn... Okeh..." Arnaav succumbs again, and his head lowers back into the water. He curls up tightly as he snuggles within the snug confines of the full chamber.

Merrick whines and grunts as he pushes himself to roll over on his back, so he can feel his body covering the cracked opening. He can't move another inch anymore. Lying on the warm shell, he lets the tears drip and run on either side of his head, sobbing freely but quietly as he can see only darkness. His eyes open as he can see the black circle in the sky, glowing with a white aura from behind.

The never-ending shadow gradually creeps over Merrick, slowly engulfing the humanized Piscien under the line of shade. Merrick can already feel a shift of his being starting to tinge at his very body.

"... Dammit... Dammit... Adam... I love you... Please don't forget me..." Merrick wept as his lips trembled, "I love you... I'm sorry... I tried... I tried to come back... I loved you so much..."

With a shaking hand, Merrick reaches into his stiff fishnet handbag, and pulled out a small pouch. His fingers insert into the tight hole of the tiny bag, and pushed it open. He grunts as he moves his two-ton arm over his body, and turned the pouch upside down.

"Please..."

Many blue and silver discs cascade onto his abs and shark-tooth crossbelt. Fumbling his fingers, he finds the one with a chain through it, and brings it up to his neck, "Please..." He puts the chained scale up to his neck, and leaves it there so his arm can rest down.

"Please... Land Father... Spare me..."

As he breathes, a white fog puffs from his lips. He can feel himself tremble from head to foot. He shudders terribly as he feels a harsh spell of cold surround him.

"Cold... I shouldn't be cold..." He mumbles weakly, "Cold... So cold..."

KKkkkklllll

He can hear a keen cracking sound as he starts to freeze. Rabid rolls of white smoke curl from his mouth as he shivers. His toes and fingers become numb as they tingle, before losing all feeling, as well as hardening and becoming so stiff. He finds himself paralyzed as with chill as he huffs and whimpers. His body twitches in a small, seizure-lie fashion for a few moments before he stopped.

Cuukkkkk

His eyes look up into the sky with his mouth ajar, as if staring at a hypnotic swirl, as he sees nothing but abstract time and memories.