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While attending the festivities that was Bloodfest Khanda had happened upon a rather shady looking merchant trying to sell some sort of elixir. Maybe sell was the wrong word, as the vendor was giving them for free. Khanda was immediatly enchanted by the prospect of having glossy hair and horns while keeping her young looks. Being a seadweller promised a long life, but there was no guaranteeing she remain as beautiful forever! Bessy had been very cross with her when she returned home, but seemed to ease up a bit when the troll showed off her trophy happily. Still, the lusus locked her in her respite block and the seadweller returned her attention to the pretty bottle holding her miracle elixir. The directions stated only a teaspoonful with each meal, but Khanda found the elixir to be so yummy she drank the whole thing! Her tummy felt a bit odd after that endeavor, though, so she turned in early.

Upon waking up she had a hard time getting around. Her limbs didn't seem to be where they should be and everything seemed far too big. Looking in a mirror she finally realized what had happened to her. She had reverted back into a tiny wriggler! Aghast she started crying, which alerted her lusus who swiftly arrived. Upon seeing her charge she let out a roar and shoved her back into her recuperacoon before swimming off and patrolling the outside of the hive. Khanda knew what this meant. Bessy wasn't going to be taking any naps any time soon. She would be constantly vigilant. Not only to keep her from running off to the surface again, but also to protect her in her small state.

A couple nights had gone by and Khanda just couldn't take it anymore! While she may not have had the fun adventure she had hoped during her romp on land, she didn't want to continue her life stuck here in the watery depths! She also wanted to find that merchant and give them a piece of her mind! How dare they turn her into this! This was unacceptable! She wanted her normal body back! It was time to find some way past her overbearing lusus and back to the surface.

Getting past her lusus proved to not be the challenge she had originally expected. While her current state was not ideal her small stature did prove handy. She was able to find a portion of her hive wall that Bessy often rubbed her tusks against. The constant abuse made the wall weak and Khanda was able to chisel out a small hole through which she could squeeze through. She simply needed to wait until her lusus had taken up her watch on the other side of the hive and then swim off! She already knew plenty of places in which to conceal herself should Bessy come around this way again from her last escape. She prepared her little hole and then waited until the next night when she would set off early.

Once she had made her escape she once more found herself on the beach. This time there was not a soul in sight. The stalls and stage had been packed up and moved. There wasn't even any grub-burger wrappers left in the sands. This was very saddening for the seadweller, as she had hoped to find something to tell her where she could find that merchant that sold her that cursed potion. Turning her sights to the former capital she made her way to the ruined city. She had heard the queen say she planned on rebuilding it, perhaps there would be someone there who could help her. Besides, walking around in the streets should be more fun than mulling around the beach!

The old city was kind of creepy, with all the buildings in disrepair and not a sound to be heard save for the wind through the empty streets. As creepy as it was it was also really cool. Khanda found herself peering into dusty windows and stepping over debris, exploring the city was like exploring another world. So different from her life under water and even the time at Bloodfest. It was almost sad. The city must have been beautiful before everyone died. Despite her intentions on finding someone to demand answers from Khanda found herself just wandering around aimlessly with wide eyes and an open mouth.

Then she heard a voice call out and she almost jumped out of her skin. The voice was accompanied by the hurried thumping of feet. Turning towards the noise she blinked. It was just a wriggler! Their lusus in hot pursuit of the young troll. She didn't remember seeing anyone that young at Bloodfest. Oh, he was a redblood, she thought lowbloods didn't live near the ocean. Wait, what if he had the same problem as her? That might explain why he was in this city! He might be looking for answers just like her!

As he came closer she finally remembered that he was asking her questions when he had called out. Finding her voice she said, "Um, I'm Khanda. No, I don't. I, uh, usually don't come on land. Have you seen anyone selling stuff around here recently? I'm kind of looking for someone." The more she looked at him the more he was reminding her of that unpleasant orangeblood she met the last time she left the ocean. Colored hair, he even had glasses like that jerk (though, admittedly not nearly as cool since they were the plain black variety). Still, he was the only person she had seen this entire time so he was the only one to ask help from.

Khanda blinked at the young troll as he dug through his pockets. She made a face at his wares. Just a bunch of junk. Who would want that stuff? The scalemate was cute, but it was missing an eye! Hardly worth anything. Then the lusus showed his disapproval and she stared curiously at the giant hog. His tusks reminded her of her own lusus. Her attention was drawn back to the child, soon enough, as he mention the rule against those of her caste. Once more she made a face.

"Of course I am! If the color I wear isn't proof enough what about my fins?" she scoffed as she stroked one of her precious fins. "Why aren't seadwellers allowed to this market? The one I'm looking for might be there! I need to find them because they turned me into a kid again! I don't wanna be a kid! I'm 7 sweeps old for god's sake!" She crossed her arms in agitation and glared at nothing in particular. She needed to find an antidote, or something that could help her!

The seadweller made a face as he dismissed her claim to being older than she appeared. She wasn't a liar! She shrugged off the hand he had placed on her shoulder and set her mouth in a firm line. Then he had the nerve to insult dear, sweet Bessy! "Hey!" she said as she balled her fists up. "My lusus isn't an idiotbeast! She just. . . She's just worried about me." Her expression changed to that of sadness as she looked at her feet. She really did love her lusus, but it was true she never let her do anything fun. It was all about keeping her away from the vicious landdwellers and teaching her how to be a proper aristocrat. Khanda harldy even noticed when the redblood got shoved to the ground by his own lusus as she was thinking of her's. However, once he opened his mouth again her attention was drawn back and she glared at him.

"I'm not making it up! I really am seven sweeps old! There was this troll selling some pink goo that was supposed to keep you looking young and energized. I took some and then I woke up like this!" she said as she waved her arms around. She was so caught up in trying to explain herself and prove him wrong that she didn't even notice his pointing. Even if she had, though, she wouldn't have understood what he was insinuating. "I just want to go back to how things were!" she whined as she pressed her hands against her temples in agitation.

Her heart fluttered as he said he believed her, she was making progress! Then he said he'd help her and she beamed at him. Things were looking up for her! She'd find that scoundrel for sure now, and then make them pay. Her excitement was cut short, though. He wanted her to do what? Lowering her brow she stared at him. "What's wrong with being a seadweller? They should be honored to meet someone of my caste! I'm not going to let some redblood tell me how I should present myself to others. I'm not going to disfavor myself in any way!" she said haughtily. Really now, what did he expect of her? She was so caught up in defending herself from the insult he just hurled at her that she almost over looked his comment about the type of trolls who loitered at the Black Market. Were they really that bad? It would make sense for some hokey merchant to spend their time surrounded with other liars. Oh just thinking about it was making her even angrier! Oh dare this all happen to her! This was so unfair!

Khanda planted herself firmly to the spot and stared at him aghast. "Really? Trolls around here would do that? Even to the queen?" she gasped. The idea was unthinkable! You can't do that! It was against the rules! This was a very troubling thing to learn. Very troubling indeed. Playing with the hem of the cloth tied around her waist she looked back towards where the ocean lied. Perhaps she should just go home? Wait, what was she thinking? No! She couldn't do that! She shook her head. She'd get to the bottom of this if it was the last thing she'd do!

"Fine, no market." she said in a huff. She'd find some other way to get info. "Hey," she said, turning back to LaRoce. "Do you know where we can get some food? I'm huuuuuuunrgyyyyyyyy." It was true, she hadn't even eaten anything before making her escape. Surely a local would know of a good place to chow down at.