Fathoms Below

At least if nowhere else in the Rift was to be untouched by the plague of strangers that had arrived, Akvo City would still be a haven. The rain was falling so heavy on the surface that Nostromo had almost needed to start using his gills to breathe - but once he was under water it was utterly peaceful. The occasional flash of light above the surface hinting at lightning. It didn’t matter down here. His eyes adjusted easily to the darkness as his powerful limbs struck out - the fins at his side and the long tail that moved along behind him helping in his navigation. This was still the city he loved, the city he had sworn to defend, no matter what state it was in. There was little down here that he feared but he was cautious all the same - not so foolish to believe himself the apex predator of this land. There was always something larger. As he dived, he called upon his magic - creating a small version of himself that he could send off to scout in one direction while he went in another. But no matter how hard he tried to command the little magic creature, it would not leave his side. Blowing out a stream of bubbles in frustration, he let the miniature-Nostromo remain for a time - hoping that the insubordination might just be an effect of not having used the magic in so long.

art by littlewillow-art at deviantart.com

“Nostromo!!” The shout echoed across the still city, causing some small fish to scatter out of the way as the hippocampus swam towards the familiar face. While Nostromo glowed a sickly green in the depths of the water, this creature’s jet black body and fins were lined with an eerie red and dotted with pale blue towards the tips. His eyes were pearlescent and shone no matter what - but in this moment they seemed brighter because of his delight. He swam up to Nostromo’s side, falling in beside his once-comrade in movements that were committed to memory. How many times had they patrolled these borders together? “It’s good to see you again, my friend.” Their ranks had almost entirely dissolved, so he hoped it would be okay to slip from the ‘sirs’ and ‘captains’ that he had once addressed the strange stallion. His pupil-less eyes then slid to their surroundings, his jubilation fading ever so slightly. “The City still sleeps.”