Abzu

THE SKY AND THE SEA ARE ONE

"Captain! We've got 'em off starboard!" He bellowed, swooping from the crow's nest to guide the sails with the others. Blue skies and a bright sun made the sea sparkle. A dark shadow was illuminated as it swam next to the ship.

"We need the net!" The captain shouted to the fae above. Abzu shrieked in return and grabbed a large fine-woven net from his perch. He sped far ahead of the boat and dropped the net in front of the shadow's path, watching as Diver finished the job and roped the creature in. Abzu crowed in victory, alerting the captain to slow the ship and drop anchor.

"T'che, this one's feisty!" Diver called out from the waves as he hauled the netted being close. Jahnavi reached out and grabbed the catch and dropped it onto the deck. It flopped around mildly, obviously grumpy about being disturbed. This octoflyer was a brighter blue but slowly trying to turn a mottled tan to match the wood of the deck. As soon as Jahnavi got the spear to quickly end the creature's life, it squirmed violently as if it could sense the iron out of its view. Its tentacles thwapped the deck, getting water droplets everywhere. But this was food, never wasted or death long-drawn. the flailing almost immediately turned to erratic twitching. The guardian put her spear in the water to rinse it off before tucking it back in its spot on the ship wall. "There we are. Dinner for the next week."

Stars twinkled above and the fire crackled enthusiastically. Roasted octoflyer was a treat, and Abzu was enjoying every bite of his share. Juices dripped from the meat onto his perch, a sandy rock just on the edge of the campfire. Bits of conversation between appreciative chewing. The slight breeze ruffled Abzu's wings.

HOARD