Sprinkle

Sunsubiro subspecies

Clan fish gatherer

When Sprinkle hatched into the Sunsibiro tribe, most could tell she was going to be a great swimmer. Her colours were bright and reminded most of the ocean sunset, and she had developed a mutation of gills and fins from a planted virus that all eggs were given but rarely adapted with. At first the virus was dominant, forcing her to have her head underwater and to learn how to swim far faster than an adult, but as time went on her lungs adapted and soon allowed her to walk among the sand and celebrate with her kind.

*****

It was the festival of the sun, the most important thing a Sunsibiro could worship and everyone was setting up for the big feast. Some were making huts or shelter, some gathering food on the land, some helping the dancers, musicians and preachers set up, but Sprinkle was never given a role. She didn't mind though, she didn't worship the sun she only liked the festival for the bonding and food. She watched all day as the coatls ran and flew around in a frantic. The festival was almost to a start when a loud, distressed hiss echoed almond the clan. Many, including Sprinkle went toward the hisses and saw what had caused the alarm. It was the chef staring at the masses of food. One of the Sunsibiro asked what was wrong and the chef quietly said that the main ingredient for main dish was missing: fish. They looked at each other in confusion wondering why they couldn’t use any other fish but the chef said it needed to be one of the hardest fish to catch, the smallmouth bass. The coatls were stunned and also started to panic as well when they heard what fish was needed, no normal hunter could catch one on their own. Sprinkle started thinking of the quickest and tastiest fishing spot around the seas before a location popped into her mind. She made a declaring hiss towards all those who could hear her in the panic and headed head first into the water.

She swam quickly towards the Fishspine Reef in search of a heap of fish. There were many fish aimlessly swimming around but they were either too small or not the right breed. She had hear from local fishers that the fish was quite elusive despite being so big but when there was a catch it could feed a small clan for days. She continued to search, going as far as checking under rocks but there was no signs of one. When all hope seemed lost she spotted a maren swimming through the reefs. She knew to be careful when swimming near maren as they would either flee or fight at the sight of her kind. She wastched as the maren was frantically looking around, searching for something just like her. “Hello maren.” She cautiously called. The maren looked back, quite stunned at how she didn’t notice her. “I mean no harm in these field. I’m looking for a big fish, a smallmouth bass. You wouldn’t have seen one?” “I...I’m also looking for one. They seem to be all hiding because of you... Go away.” The maren quickly turned away from her and swam off. She couldn’t give up searching though, she needed that fish now! She made sure that there was absolutely no way there was any bass around before swimming after the maren.

She caught up to the maren near the cliff edge of the leviathan trench. She was looking down, a face of worry was very evident. “Maren wait up!” The maren turned around, startled once more. “D-d-dragon! What are you doing here?! Are you following me?” “I sure am! You know these waters far better than me so why not follow.” “... I saw some.” “Saw what?” “Some bass. They went down into the trench. Even we know not to go down there.” Sprinkle looked over the edge and saw the looming darkness that slightly waved movement in its currents. “Listen maren I REALLY need that fish, it’s needed for my kinds festival! How deep down do you think it could’ve went?” “I’m not sure. They’re pretty big so they wouldn’t have to worry about big sea creatures for a while.” She looked down into the trench once more before she started to swim down. “Wait! Dragon! It’s dangerous!” The maren shouted at her. “Well then come with me! Two is better then one and you were the one that saw the fish.” The maren looked over her shoulders before joining Sprinkle into the developing darkness.

They plunged into the darkness looking for any type of land or reef to search in, but nothing was showing. “So maren since we’re becoming partners, let me introduce myself! I’m Sprinkle! I’m a mutated coatl which is why I’m different. What’s your name?” “My names Cora. I’m usually pathfinding but I was sent on a very special quest.” “Is that why you need a bass as well?” “Yes! We’re having a festival as well, a festival of perseverance, a celebration of how we have lived this long!” “That’s kinda sad.” “Well our kind are born enemies in your kinds eyes. Life ain’t fair.” Things went quiet after that, a lot of thinking and a lot of searching was the main priority. “OVER THERE DRAGON!” Sprinkle turned towards Cora and saw sparkles in her eyes. There they were, five big basses swimming downwards into the deep. “What are we waiting for let’s get them!” They both swam directly at them spear, teeth and claws ready to catch their prey. The fish must’ve sense the rapid movement in the water as they sped up their movement and three of them split off away. The two remaining bass kept swimming down into the abyss. “Sprinkle!” Cora screamed as their desperately swam after them. “If we go any deeper we won’t be able to see!” “But we need these fish!” They didn’t slow and kept going until all light was gone. “They couldn’t have gone far! Look for kelp!” “No! I refuse to go further! There are huge monster bigger than dragons down there!” “You stay up there then. These fish are mine!” Sprinkle kept swimming down, and down, and down. By now Sprinkle knew the fish were gone but something made her keep looking. A random flash of blue light shot across the pitch blackness, followed by pulses and blue lights. They were captivating. She swam towards the now stable blue lights and watched as they grew in her face. They were eyes. They didn’t move but she saw horns that curved downward, spines along its head and a green tongue inside a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Inside of its mouth was the bass, slightly hanging out. She stopped swimming once she got close enough to see the full thing. “Coatl. Here.” With that he creature dropped the fish and let them flow in the water. “What are you?” Sprinkle asked astonished. “Gone.” The creatures eyes dimmed and slowly left her alone. “Well that was weird!” She thought to herself. She put the fish in her mouth and swam upwards towards the light.

When light returned to her vision she could see her maren friend on the surface looking away from her. She quietly swam up behind her and said a very muffled “boo” causing her to shriek. She calmed down once she saw sprinkle and changed her expression to extreme happiness. “YOU CAUGHT THEM?! HOW?” “You ever heard of tidelord?” A nod. “Well I met tidelord. He’s cool.” “You dragons are nuts you know that?” “We sure are!” Sprinkle handed her one of the basses. “Have fun at your festival!” “Same back dragon! I won’t forget this!” The maren swam off, fish being flung around in her hand. There was still time for Sprinkle to make it to her clan before the feast so she got herself ready and swam back home.

The festival was saved! Many dragons danced in rejoice when she showed her face with the big fish. The chefs immediately got to work adding it to the dish. When time came for it to be eaten it was heavenly. Many of the children surrounded her, asking her of how her adventure went and she even put on a little play for them. The day was saved; all thanks for a special coatl and her new found maren friend.

———

Many years past before sprinkle decided to move on from her clan. She swam out into the Fishspine Reef and saw a familiar face. “Cora!” “Sprinkle! It is good to see you friend!” “Have you left your kind too? Said your goodbyes?” “Yes. It was time for me to move on, time to be with friends.” “Aww how sweet!” “ What don’t want me to tag along?” “Of course I do! Just never thought you would leave for me.” A blush covered both faces. “Do you know where we are heading?” “Yeah there’s a clan out on the western side of the ashfall, a clan that accepts animalise like me.” “How will I make it? Would I even be allowed?” “Well we’re going to swim there firstly and secondly I hear they have all types of beastclan living there.” “Oh so it’s accessible through water?” “Hehe take this.” Sprinkle was wearing two necklaces around her neck and took the top one off. “It’s a necklace that makes you resistant to lava. It’s like swimming in water only more... orange.” “We’re going to die aren’t we?”

——-

They made it to clan Boltninja mostly unscathed, just a bit shaken from actually swimming in lava. Sprinkle jumped out of the lava and made herself known to the clan leaders that she and her friend made it safely. The orange leader pointed out her house, which was very close to the lava pool so that she could be near Coal. They both came friends with many of the other residents quickly, and Coal especially liked how there was another maren to talk to. All in all they were both happy with their new way of life, away from the sea.