the ocean

[instar]

Five pigeons, one with a beetle glued to her foot, fly to Seattle and find the aquarium and the orca tanks.

There is one with just one orca in it.

Five pigeons land on the glass edge of the tank.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

<Sure.>

Trouble, naturally, goes first.

[morphbox]

<I wouldn't eat you,> says Ax, sounding offended. His shark swims in lazy circles.

[morphbox]

<It's not the kind of thing I'd like to take casual risks with when there's no reason to,> Bella says. She demorphs and remorphs after Trouble.

[palmofyourhand]

Ethan and Robin take the next two turns.

[pandion]

Andi goes next.

[morphbox]

<You're an estreen,> remarks Ax, sounding impressed.

[morphbox]

<I'm a what now?> Andi asks when she's remorphed.

[morphbox]

<You have a talent for controlled and rapid morphing,> he says.

[morphbox]

<I didn't know that was, like, a thing, I thought it was just me.>

[aeskhyne]

<Makes sense, though,> says Trouble. He starts swimming for shore again.

<So - Aximili. What were you doing at the bottom of the ocean, anyway?>

[morphbox]

<Calling for help,> says Ax. <Isn't that how you found me? I thought I would reach others from the rest of the ship - I suppose they've all fallen.> The shark doesn't really do body language, but he is sad.

[aeskhyne]

<Yeah. We met one of the other survivors. Then Visser Three ate him,> says Trouble. <By what were you doing there I mean, how did you get there? Visser Three was bragging about watching your ship burn; I don't think the Yeerks even know you're here.>

[morphbox]

<Visser Three is an abomination,> hisses Ax. <The ship did not burn. The Dome fell intact; I was the only one in it. Who - who did you meet?> he asks.

[aeskhyne]

<Elfangor. I liked him.>

[morphbox]

The shark still does not do body language; but it slows down, for a moment.

<No one could kill Elfangor. He is the greatest - the best warrior - Visser Three killed my brother?>

[morphbox]

<He was your brother?> asks Bella. <I'm sorry. He was mortally wounded; he had time to give us morphing and tell us a few things and then Visser Three - killed him.> She pauses just short of specificity.

<Poor Elfangor,> sighs Andi.

[aeskhyne]

<I'm sorry too,> says Trouble. <I really did like him.>

[morphbox]

<He died fighting,> Bella adds. <And giving us information so we could fight too.>

[morphbox]

Ax is silent for a moment, then says, <My brother was a great warrior. Beloved by his cousins and feared by his enemies. I do not understand why he gave you the ability to morph - it is never done - but it seems like he has.>

[aeskhyne]

<I'm pretty sure he was out of other options,> says Trouble. <Why's it never done?>

[morphbox]

<It... Andalites do not share technology.>

[morphbox]

<Except when they do, apparently?> says Andi.

[aeskhyne]

<Huh,> says Trouble.

[morphbox]

<Well,> says Bella, <Elfangor morphboxed us all, and we kept the box and added Charlie since then.>

[morphbox]

<How do you ensure that someone you wish to "add" is not a Controller?> asks Ax suspiciously.