It’s a new day.
Dapple had received a text from The Undaunted Guardian, telling them to come to Marooner’s Bay. Dapple was quite surprised, considering this was the first time she had ever asked Dapple to come to Marooner’s Bay. The tracking devices on the helicopters also made them quite hesitant to go.
Regardless, Dapple did want to see The Undaunted Guardian again. They took a helicopter over to Marooner’s Bay & figured they’d find out how to get back safely afterwards.
However, when landing onto the ship, Dapple did not see The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay at all. It seemed they were the only one there.
“Helloooo?” Dapple yelled out. “Anybody here?”
The sounds of ocean waves crashing against the water increased as the sky reddened. Dapple turned to look toward the bow. Cohozuna, King of Salmonids, rose out of the sea, more intimidating & massive than he’s ever been before. Dapple had seen him in the past during Grizzco shifts, but they had never faced him alone.
“GREETINGS, DAPPLE.” Cohozuna’s voice bellowed.
“Um, hello.. sir!”
“WHAT A PLEASURE TO FINALLY MEET YOU IN-PERSON.. WHEN YOU’RE NOT TRYING TO KILL ME, THAT IS.”
“Yea, uh.. sorry about that. Heh.”
“THANK YOU FOR COMING, HOWEVER. WE HAVE MANY THINGS TO DISCUSS TODAY.”
“Oh! Is this like.. a meeting?”
“PRECISELY.”
Dapple glances around for a moment. “Will The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay show up?” they asked.
“NO. SHE WAS SIMPLY THE MESSENGER. OUR MEETING WILL SIMPLY BE BETWEEN US, & US ALONE. NOBODY ELSE SHALL KNOW ABOUT THIS, MOST DEFINITELY NOT THE BEAR.”
“Oh, ok!”
They sit down at the very tip of the bow, looking at Cohozuna.
“So! What do you wanna talk about?”
“I WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOU.”
“Oh, I can talk plenty about myself! My name’s Dapple (but you already knew that!), I used to be in the Octarian military-”
“THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT & YOU KNOW IT.”
“Oh.”
Cohozuna leans in, his beak just inches away from Dapple’s face.
“WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME HERE? TO MAROONER’S BAY?” Cohozuna asked. “YOU KNOW AS WELL AS ANYONE THAT THESE GROUNDS ARE FORBIDDEN TO INKFISH, ESPECIALLY INKFISH THAT WORK FOR GRIZZCO.”
“Well.. Mr. Grizz said there was something strange going on at Marooner’s Bay, so as an Eggsecutive VP & also his kid, I-”
“YOU’RE HIS KID?!”
“Yeah, but that’s not important right now. Anyways, I wanted to see what was happening here, so I stole one of Grizz’s helicopters & ended up meeting The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay!”
“..I SEE. & WHY DO YOU KEEP COMING BACK?”
“Well.. I like The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay! I think she’s pretty... uh, p-pretty cool, that is..! I- I mean, she IS pretty in, like, an aesthetic sense, but-”
“YOU DON’T HAVE TO KEEP SPEAKING. I GET WHAT YOU MEAN.”
“Oh. Ok.”
Cohozuna leaned back, so he wasn’t all up in Dapple’s face.
“NOW NORMALLY I WOULD NOT ALLOW A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS TO FORM, ESPECIALLY NOT WITH AN INKFISH WITH SUCH CLOSE RELATIONS TO THE BEAR.” Cohozuna said. “HOWEVER.. THE UNDAUNTED GUARDIAN HAS MUCH RESPECT FOR YOU, & WE SUSPECT SHE HOLDS THE SAME FEELINGS FOR YOU AS WELL. I SHALL GIVE YOU ONE CHANCE TO PROVE YOURSELF.”
“Prove myself.. in combat?” Dapple asked.
“NO ACTUALLY I WAS THINKING TABLETURF- YES PROVE YOURSELF IN COMBAT! MEET BACK HERE WITH ME TOMORROW, WHERE OUR FIGHT SHALL COMMENCE. DO NOT TELL ANYONE. BRING NO WEAPONS, FOR ONE WILL BE PROVIDED FOR YOU.”
“You got it! See you then!”
“YES.. SEE YOU THEN.”