The very next day, while Mr. Grizz was off dealing with “personal business” (as he liked to call it), Dapple was on their way to Marooner’s Bay. Due to Marooner’s Bay being indefinitely removed from shifts, they had to.. “borrow” a Grizzco helicopter for themself to get there.
So, after a couple hours of figuring out how to fly a helicopter, Dapple made their way to Marooner’s Bay. From their view in the helicopter, Marooner’s Bay looked perfectly normal. Dapple couldn’t spot anything strange or unusual about the place.
They super-jumped out of the helicopter & landed at the bow of the ship, like they had done many times before while on-shift here.
Dapple scanned the area carefully. It was high tide, so they’d have to watch their step.
As they took a few steps away from the tip of the boat, they could hear water splashing behind them. Dapple assumed it was just the waves from the ocean, but when they took another step...
“HEY, YOU!” a voice yelled from behind them. “Stop right there!”
Dapple jumped at the sudden voice, turning around to see where it had came from.
A giant fork was pointed at Dapple’s throat. The person holding said fork looked quite familiar to them, also. It was the “salmonling” Mr. Grizz had told Dapple about yesterday. The blurry pictures he had given them were cool, but it was so much cooler in-person.
“I am known as The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay.” the salmonling announced. “You are walking among sacred lands the likes of which are not for you. Be gone, inkfish, or I’ll make you leave myself.”
Dapple was stunned. Not by the fact that there was a giant fork pointed at them & that it could impale them at any time, but by the fact that this salmonling was just.. so beautiful.
“Hi! Nice to meet you!” Dapple grinned, holding out their hand for a handshake.
“Wh- I’m threatening you right now. You’re not scared?”
“I’ve been through worse in the Octarian military.”
“You are from the Octarian military?”
“I was, but that’s a long story & neither of us have time for that right now! I gotta say, though, that’s a really neat fork you have there!”
“Guh- ..thank you?”
“Of course! Where’d you get it, if I may ask?”
“Well,” The Undaunted Guardian lowered her fork a bit. “when I was of-age, his largeness Cohozuna, King of Salmonids, blessed this fork upon me after besting him in combat, as a symbol of my strength & passion to protect-”
She paused.
“Hey- wait a minute! You’re distracting me!” she snarled, holding the fork up closer to Dapple’s throat.
“No, no! Continue!” Dapple raised their hands up a bit. “Salmonid culture is very interesting to me!”
“I’m about to stab you, & you want me to.. talk about my culture?”
“Yeah.” Dapple grinned.
The Undaunted Guardian of Marooner’s Bay lowered her fork again, glancing at the Grizzco slopsuit Dapple was currently wearing.
“You won’t tell.. the bear.. about this, will you?”
“Mr. Grizz doesn’t even know I'm here! I had to steal one of his helicopters to get here. Your culture is safe with me!”
“...ok.”