CHPT 436: We Move.

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Claude and his packs boat ripped out of the Tangent and slammed into the icy Tendread Sea surface like a wooden bomb, sending rushing waves and splashing water every which way. Massive Salmon, Bass and Bluefish slithered away beneath the chaotic waves. Their scales reflected the suns shifting rays causing it to look like the explosion of fireworks underwater.

A good way to start another day at Sea.

Despite the chaos of it all, everyone on the boat was relatively calm. Well, as calm as anyone could be after learning what they had only hours beforehand. Which wasn't very calm at all actually. At least they weren't running in terror like the fishes below.

Ursula and Cassidy were doing the opposite of running, actually. They were preparing to fight. Cassidy had shed his leather trench coat and wore only a sweater rolled up to the elbows. The scar running across his scalp and face was nothing more than a part of who he was. A part they'd all grown to accept. Ursula had shed the bulkier portions of her Berserker animal skull armor as well in the wake of their sparring match.

A simple match. Boxing. Something Cassidy knew well due to his connections to Camacan people. Boxing was a heavily lucrative combat sport and style in Camaco.... legally and illegally as Claude had seen only a week ago. It was a good way to train Ursula's endurance and allow her to take damage repeatedly without truly injuring herself. It was also a good way to train her restraint.

Claude had other plans. He also already had a primary combat style. Maybe Boxing would be for Ursula what Wood-Weaving was for him.

An idea that could only become a reality in time. If at all.

SPLASH!

Claude was the last to exit the Tangent. Without the boat, he deliberately dove into the ice-cold waters like a dehydrated fishman.

Immediately, his skin went inky black. White trailing designs outlined his eyes and underarms followed by suckers on his webbed hands and feet as his muscles enlarged and his skin turned leathery.

A form equally split between Orca and Octolepid. With his newly adjusted aquamarine senses, he could smell the fleeing fish and predators deeper below through the suckers on his hands with each stroke of his arms through the water. He could feel the Orca's joining him in his hunt for breakfast and more.

He locked his sights on a Salmon as long as himself and took off in a stream of bubbles and debris. In the distance, a Shark loomed, growing closer. Too close. Before it could chose to join to hunt or attack him, Ma appeared between them and shrieked, sending a rippling auditory blast to it's sensitive nerves.

The Shark bolted the other way like a Deer in the presence of Wolves. Leaving Claude to burst through the waters and tackle the Salmon. The suckers on his hands held it to him-- even as it's massive body writhed and smashed into his midsection. He dug his claws into it's scaled skin, tasting it's blood and fatty flesh. In a way he was eating it raw in those moments without actively doing so. He forgot how wonderful food tasted before it was destroyed by fire.

[+50 EXP]

Eventually the Salmon stopped squirming. It's insides crushed and ripped apart by his hands as they copied the Salmon's color and consistency. It slowly spread across his body.

Octolepids could do that. It made them invisible in the worst of times, causing many Ocean-based Heroes and previous Ocean Lords to lose body parts from random unseen bladed tentacles cleaving off their limbs.

Claude shivered at the idea, remembering there was another unseen force beneath the water he searched for.

Gizagiza. The worlds current Ocean Slaying Expert and member of The Nine. A WereShark..... possibly enslaved by Ronin. A man who wanted nothing more than to kill all Monsters. A man who killed his own surrogate father after finding out he was a WereTiger before he was even old enough to be Reborn.

It made no sense at all. And that's why he stood still beneath the water, trailing behind his boat, dozens of feet above. He wanted answers. Gizagiza didn't want to outright kill him.... she had questions just as he did. He was hoping she wanted answers just as much as him, but his answers could get them killed. Then again so could hers.

Maybe it was a bad idea to await such an outcome.

Maybe.

Claude's paranoia overwhelmed him all too quickly as he stared out into the dark abyss of the Tendread Sea.

After a few minutes, Claude ripped the Salmon in half and tossed it to the Orca's before heading for the surface with Ma at his side.

He was beginning to dislike the water. And Sharks.

***

By the time Claude made it to the surface, Ursula and Cassidy had a good sweat going. Along with some bruises and bloody noses.

The two didn't even cast him a glance as he jumped onboard in a splash of water and fish guts. Instead they kept fighting.

Cassidy's punches sounded like muffled cannon blasts due to the use of his Wind Element. Ursula's punches that landed sounded like glass shattering because of the ice hardening her knuckles. Despite how bloody they were and how long they'd been sparring, Ursula wasn't as wild as Claude thought she'd be.

Then again, she had a better start than him.

By the time he had the fish ready to cook over the fire, Cassidy and Ursula were finished up sparring and coming to join him.

"Oh, come on!" Ursula huffed before blowing a gust of icy winds over the fire to put it out.

"What are you doing?" Claude asked.

"I'm stopping your stiff as view on life from ruining exotic cuisine." Ursula said before ruffling his hair and sitting next to him.

"I still don't understand how you're more accepting of all this than me. You too." Claude said while looking at Cassidy.

"Man.... I'm literally the son of an Alpha WereWolf." Cassidy shrugged.

"Fair enough. What about you?" Claude said as he faced Frosty. "How do you feel about my views on all things Lupine?"

Frosty still hadn't looked away from the Salmon.

"Good talk." Claude mumbled, "Somebody get the fire going again before we have problems."

"DUDE! If I have to see you mean mug while eating food one more time, I'll actually rip out my hair. And I love my hair." Ursula said casually.

Claude didn't speak.

Ursula pleaded, "Come on. You never had sushi?"

"No. No I haven't, have you?"

Ursula nodded, "It's delicious..... probably tastes better when a big mouthed dirtbag isn't in your ear complaining about how much of it you eat."

"I'd assume so." Claude replied.

"So are we eating or not. I didn't box a bear-woman just to stare at food as a reward."

Ursula snatched the salmon out of Claude's hands and ripped a piece off with her clawed hands. She sniffed the strip before a smile lit up her face to brightness levels that felt like they matched the sun.

"Man.... maybe being at sea isn't so bad."

"I'd rather have a beer." Cassidy mumbled.

"We're minors." Claude stated casually.

"Ew.... he is stiff." Cassidy said to Ursula.

"I know right. Just be quiet and eat." Ursula stuffed the Salmon strip into his face. For a moment they were back in FeliAlu City eating fried turkey. Only the taste was a million times better. Actually flavorful. It didn't taste like charred wood. It tasted like... the ocean. Savory, cool, the perfect blend of chewy and flaky with a sweetness that was as good as it was short lived.

"I guarantee you those slave trading Pirates have done much worse. Right now, I'd say they're more uncontrolled, wild and heartless than us. Maybe not on a Full Moon though..."

"Nice." Claude commented sarcastically. But in truth, she had a point. And Claude was supposed to be accepting-- embracing, everything he was. In every sense.

She handed him another Salmon strip. Hesitantly, Claude took it and split it with Frosty.

After ten minutes they were chowing down casually.

"So..... what are we going to do about Ronin's ... attack-shark? Can we blackmail him?" Ursula questioned with a mouth full of Salmon.

Cassidy shook his head, "No evidence. No blackmail. All you'd do is piss him off."

Ursula's shoulders slumped.

"We can't do anything." Claude concluded. "She's stronger than all of us. We're in her Element. But she also isn't actively hunting or trying to kill us, she's curious. And Cassidy is still Human, meaning she can't get to reckless. Ronin gave her rules I think..... she follows them as if he's always watching her."

"So what?" Ursula said.

"So, we keep going as we have. Keep getting stronger, and make sure our risk management is good.... no, better than good. We're over halfway done with this journey. We'll be in the Angelos District in less than three days. It's a race to land. Currently we have a WereShark and legendary vengeful Swordsman at our backs along with a shit ton of Detectives and possible Pirates."

"What a beautiful speech from the leading wolfman."

"What I mean is, we can't turn around and fight. Not right now. We have to keep going and get through these Tangents. We need to get stronger, I feel like the Angelos District may be different from before. The Red Knight of Rage isn't exactly as calm and collected as Ronin."