I'm a Stingray?

Chapter 78: Home (1)

Travelling the next 12 hours became much easier all thanks to the massive kill the leader of the diamond stingrays managed to make.

The much capable lady had managed to find, battle and kill a reef shark. It was understandable really, considering a full grown reef shark was usually half a meter long. But the thought of killing a shark weighed heavy upon the subconscious, as commonly it wasn't something easy to do.

When it came to the pact of solitude with the entire reef, it wasn't necessarily a problem to kill a shark. Sure in the hidden den they had gathered 15 or so sharks to work for the reef's favour but the rest share that prime thought of survival.

Which equaled to butchering everything in sight, the reef wasn't a limit for them so in all ways, they were the true aggressors towards the pact.

The shark carcass was consumed to the bone, it wasn't quite difficult to do so with big stingrays feasting on the body. But yet bones and a bit of flesh was still left behind, everyone was full and whomever gets hungry through the travel, can eat once they arrive in the den.

Throughout the travel, they thankfully had not faced any difficulties. The reef here was mostly dead so the risk factors are far lower compared to what the effect would be if this place was full of life.

They did not encounter Harold or Drake either, that would be a major problem as battling a 2 meter long shark and a fat eel companion would be like pushing coral with their heads, it wouldn't make sense even with the large stingrays to their aid.

...

"You're finally here." Marlo shouted once spotting the hero of the den and the entire reef for that matter, swimming in with more than worthy troops.

Hoping that it won't be a deal breaker, Timmy followed up. "Yup... a bit early but I can explain everything about it."

Breaking the little portions the boy worried about, the leader here followed up. "It wouldn't make sense if you stayed. Look at this place, it's carrying more fish than we can handle."

But yet unwilling to stop with the praises, Marlo continued. "Once again, you have proven more than successful. At this point I don't even know what to name you... what rank would fit you best?"

"Uhhh." Timmy stretched, not quite sure what ranks are.

"A hero, that's what he is. I don't think there would be a better rank from that point." He heard a familiar tone shout, after that portion the entire den busted in cheers.

That tone struck feminine, and he remembered right away who this good lady was. "Hello Haze. How are you doing sister?"

"Better than ever." The small stingray lady answered right away and then Marlo interrupted. "She's been working harder than most... I expected your siblings to be like you but this girl tips the coral."

At this point staggered with intrigue, the boy immediately asked. "What has she been up to?"

The enthusiasm's pace remaining firm, Marlo answered. "Mostly hunting, a quarter of our food pile is thanks to her. I've never seen a small stingray hunt as good as Haze."

Most definitely impressed that a small stingray without a system, could achieve such results, he offered. "Maybe I should take Haze on one of my missions... how are my other siblings doing? Where are they?"

Direct, the leader answered with an aim to praise them as well. "They're good, currently on a hunt behind the misty border, they're fast learners."

...

After snacking on some of the loot, Tim had taken a nap for the sake of recovery and half ideas strolled in the little boy's mind before crashing cold.

Waking up to what appeared to be the break of dawn, at least based on what a few other fish described, the boy went towards the food pile and took a few more bites to thoroughly satisfy hunger.

Seeing one of the big stingrays, an idea enrolled in his mind, specifically the one he thought about. "I should find my sister."

After asking Marlo, he managed to understand that the lady of this family had swam out for another hunt. She was progressing tremendously well with it so honing the craft became a motive.

One other thing he noticed through the inevitable morning dizziness, was Stacey's work. As a start the den here appeared to be much cleaner, she had mentioned something about that earlier.

But after processing the idea, he remembered. "She's eating trash here... and pooping out sand. It's best if the rest don't know that."

Stacey appeared to be working on the backside of these walls, apparently an expansion was necessary now with so many fish around. That would likely take a while but at least it will be done.

Swimming halfway through the long tunnel, he was greeted by one of these massive dungeness crabs. Recalling what he might have ignored, the same species was also in the very start of the exit.

After swimming all the way up, another crab stood in the tunnels, not doing anything important but just standing around.

After observing the little holes near where these crabs stood, he managed to recall that such architectural work wasn't here before. Stacey either worked too fast or this was achieved differently.

Talking to these crabs was ruled out as an option since he could not understand their language, but he could figure out why they were here. "Placing the most dangerous crabs in the reef as guards ha? I will never call fish stupid again, this is too well thought out."

Swimming just 10 meters away from the exit, he was blessed by a friendly face. "Oh you finally woke up ha? I was hunting when you came here."

Thankfully remembering her name, he shouted with joy. "Amie... how's hunting going?"

Not sure why would he ask such a question after seeing her without any food between those fish lips, the needlefish answered. "Bad enough, but I'll bring something home."