[PRP] In the Depths (Nerites x Deinos)

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

Their time would come. There could be no doubt about it. For it had been written in the stone archway of the caverns long ago, during the time when the Beast first awakened. “Once in ten must yield a price. Lest ye bear a greater sacrifice.” No truer sense of the term could ever be deciphered. Its meaning plain and simplistic to all those whom encountered the runes. And so, the village had set to task one family with gathering the necessary requirement. A blood pact passed down through the generations, placing duty above all else. Deino and her sister, Enyo, were to be next in line. Both understood the honor and necessity of the task. Both long since accepted that theirs was a grim yet important future. They were tide-born, after all, and soon to be Speakers of the Abyss. As such, Deino came to understand that a certain finesse would be prudent when attaining each chosen one. They could never know who she and her sister were, never realize that their future would be snuffed out soon enough. Above all, they could never come to recognize the true purpose of the cave. If this were to happen, and word spread, then finding a proper sacrifice worthy of the Beast would become far more difficult; however, as with all things, rumors and stories appear and spread, reaching even unto the deepest parts of the ocean. Deino had seen the consequences of these rumors. Young foals and foolish curiosity seekers idling by the maw of the cave, staring into its blackened depths as if searching for affirmation on the sincerity of the tales.

Despite not yet being handed the mantle of Speaker of the Abyss, Deino took it upon herself to govern the area near the caverns. She and her bonded, Thanatos, patrolled the waters daily to prevent the curious from disturbing the Beast by venturing too far. The current down seemed no different than others. The bonded duo had already shooed away four idiotic young foals, and the water hadn’t even lightened yet. So it was that another seemed to be feeling himself the fool now. “He wanders ever closer.” Thanatos spoke softly from his seclusion amidst the seaweed. His keen eyes peering intently at the intruding Seathi. “Then he is even more foolish than the children.” Deino harrumphed. She swung her tail grumpily back and forth, feeling the annoyance start to weigh on her. “I may be struck by the Beast for this but…sometimes I must wonder why we are required to seek out chosen ones. With the way these fools flock to the caverns, it would be much simpler to allow them enter at their own peril and be done with it.” The Koi’s whiskers flittered in the current as he sat silent in contemplation. After a pause, he said, “I suppose it is better to select a pure chosen one than to let a mere folly transpire. The Beast does quite enjoy the consumption of purity.” Now it was the Seathi mare whom drew quiet. “You do make a valid point,” came the hefty sigh in response. “In that case, we shall continue with our duty. The fool appears determined to glimpse the Beast, and it is still a year before the next offering is to be given. Come, let us speak with him.”

Deino swam backwards to keep the blue Seathi from witnessing their hiding place, exiting through the rearmost portion of the kelp then following along the edges. It was only when she could see the stallion’s rear that she came forward from the plant life. “And what is it that you think you’re doing?” Her voice boomed over the small clearing in which the stone cave resided. Though it would not penetrate deep enough to awaken the Beast. Thanatos hovered to the left of his bonded, keeping his attention on the surroundings lest any other danger should surface.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Kaya Wolf Moon]

Her eyes gleamed an eerie orange in the dim light of depths. They studied the Seathi intently, weighing his words and his actions to ascertain the truth. “Many have said those very same words to me,” she said after a moment’s pause. “And none of them have ever understood the dangers in which they place themselves. You would be wise to check your curiosity where it begins.” Deino inched closer until she was less than a foot away from him. She swam in circles around him, surveying him like a predator might prey. “Are you so foolish that you would let your curiosity lead to your doom?” There was a brief pause as she listened to him explain his purpose for being there. “Hmph,” the brightly colored Seathi scoffed. “I do not know what you have heard about the cave, but rest assured it is not what you think it to be. Rumors and stories are never to be trusted. They do nothing more than inspire idiocy in the minds of foolhardy individuals. Whatever you may have heard of this place, it is likely untrue.” Deino could sense the wave of intrigue wafting from her male counterpart. He wanted to bare witness to the source of the rumors. Rumors that had spread like wildfire since the last sacrifice had been made. Part of her desired to divulge everything to him, if only to scare him from his foolish tendencies. Yet, she knew that she could not. To confirm the hearsay would be tantamount to blasphemy and held the potential for dire consequences. No, she must use her abilities of deception and persuasion to send the male on his way.

“I am unaware of the job of which you speak.” She dismissed his comment with a huff. “The one and only job I possess here is to keep those such as yourself from venturing inside the cave. Unfortunately, we cannot dissuade everyone, and some have fallen to the whims of the cave. There are reasons we guard this place.” Her gleaming eyes cast over to the cavern’s maw. To any other, it might seem nothing more than a normal cave, accented with runes for a mysterious effect. However, Deino knew what lay secreted inside of it. The yawning darkness concealed far more than this stallion could ever imagine. Her attention returned to the blue and purple Seathi. “Contrary to popular belief, the cavern itself is the reason we keep watch. An ancient formation, it has not stood the test of time within its furthest reaches. Many adventure seekers have tested their mettle by trailing after the ghosts of rumors. Few of which have ever returned, if any. They either become lost in the labyrinthine tunnels or fall prey to the predators whom call the cavern home. So, tell me, would you follow in such footsteps?” She swam to the cave when she asked the last, floating just off to the side. It was an invitation for him to press onward without her interference. “Think well on your answer.” Thanatos spoke at last, speaking directly next to the male’s left ear. He had used the distraction of the conversation to sneak up on him. The Koi understood his bonded’s methods. Offering access to the cave was merely a bluff. One designed to inflict dread in the hearts of those they encountered. For, by offering freedom to enter, their curiosity would begin to morph into uncertainty. That uncertainty would soon enough turn into fear of the unknown and they would be sent swimming away.

AstoriaFallen