Dath

There, cutting through the water--a long, sharp-finned shape. Gliding past the old sunken ship, seeking prey--

She lunged from the wreck's shadow, jaws clamping onto the catshark before it could do more than thrash once. One bite, and it went limp.

Feh. So easy.

She'd eat it, but--captain's privilege. Instead, she swam for the shore. Pulling herself up on the rocks, she threw the shark onto the gravelly strand. Her mate was there, teaching their spawn some fighting tricks.

"Good hunting?" he asked.

She wrinkled her muzzle at him. It had been an argument once--fishing, not hunting. Now it was a joke. The onshore wind had made a tangle of his fake hair; his trailing clothes were knotted up at his waist. He was ridiculous.

Brave, though. Strong. A fighter, despite how he seemed.

Leaping from the rocks, she flew out over the sea, toward deeper water. Folded her wings and dove. Still too close to land, but she might find something bigger and more satisfying than a shark.

The crew was all ridiculous. But she stayed. Obeyed the captain's orders. Followed the rules. For the chance to fight and sometimes kill, of course, but more than that--

For the sea.

The wind and the rush of speed. The roaring challenge of the storm.

The great depths, farther out than wings could carry her. Depths where the largest monsters lived. Where teeth and claws and hunger in the dark were the only laws, and survival meant a feast.

Soon. Soon they would sail again.

Movement on the sea floor--something large and scuttling. An old megashrimp, half again her size. Not dangerous, but difficult to kill and a challenge to bring back to shore.

Sensing her presence, it scurried faster, and she bared her teeth.

Prey.

They would eat well tonight.

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