Sylvie followed Cherry absentmindedly, the enchantress’s words ringing through her mind.
Two of us? Did that include Maddox? Who was she referring to? Not just that… why did she ask us to bring her daughter home?

  She hadn’t even provided a description and Sylvie was too awestruck to ask for one before the enchantress had receded deeper into the sycamore. Sylvie scrunched her nose, her tongue pressing into the roof of her mouth to hold back an outburst of frantic questions. Why on earth did she decide not to confide in Trench? Even Cherry would have tried her best to help and yet… part of her attempted to reason it was for the better. What would they have even done? Argue who the two capable members were? Find someone with no description? No hint? No lead?

  Her thoughts were interrupted as she collided with Cherry’s backside, peeking around the sound of waves lapping a sandy shore filled her ears. Cherry inched forward, bending down to check the scent trail, a small wave crashing forward sending water up her nostrils. She jerked up and sneezed the salty contents out.

  “He definitely barreled straight through, there's nothing suggesting he waited even a second.” She rubbed her nose.
  “Not just that, look ahead.” Trench tossed his head toward a significant wave, even Sylvie could see the thick oily spacedust floating above the water’s surface, the patch was much too big for someone Maddox’s size. “I assume he used his dragon form to make the trip easier, as should we.”

  Cherry furrowed a brow, eyeing Trench as if he’d grown an extra head. “Trench, I don’t know about you but I can only become a horse which, in all honesty, isn't well-equipped to traverse the ocean.” She gestured toward Sylvie. “And I’m sure whatever beast is hidden inside Sylvie’s doohickey is just as waterproof as she is, not at all!”
  “It’s…a chicken…” Sylvie’s voice faltered, overpowered by Trench’s scoff.

  “You act like I can’t carry the both of you with all my fins tied behind my back.”

  “What I can tell you is that landing on your back nearly popped a disk!” Cherry snorted, fluffing up her fur. 

  “Maybe you should’a thought before jumping down headfirst after seein’ what happened to me! Are you sure that haunted house fella didn’t knock a few screws loose in there?” Trench cuffed her ear. “Besides, I can figure it out just hold on a moment.” He trotted towards the shore before Cherry could return the blow, eyeing the amulet wrapped around his wrist.

  Cherry turned to Sylvie, utterly unamused with Trench’s experimentation. “Maybe I was wrong about that shopkeeper’s wares, what can some stupid horse do a dragon ca- YEOWCH!” She jumped back, landing with a solid thump while lifting her right paw. “What is the world!?” 

  Sylvie, after having a mini heart-attack at the sudden noise, quickly glanced at Trench who only gave an exasperated snort before continuing his endeavors. Clearly not open to helping, she took it upon herself to rush forward and glance along Cherry’s body, searching for any noticeable wounds. “What happened? Are you alright?”

  “That stupid amulet bit me!” Cherry snarled at the jewelry, fully expecting Sylvie to join in her berating of the inanimate object. The confused hesitation must’ve caught her attention, looking up at Sylvie she explained: “I tried to yank the stupid thing off and it hurt, a lot!” Still not receiving the reaction she wanted, her eyes darted to Sylvie’s amulet as she reached out and gave it a firm tug. “Look!”

  The pain was instant, nothing compared to the searing pain that shot through her forearm, it felt like Cherry was trying to tear her bones out. “OW-”

  “See!” She pouted at the object, tapping a claw against its shining surface. “I don’t think we’re getting these off anytime soon…not unless we’re chewing off our paws!”

  Still nursing her arm, the pain quickly subsiding as Cherry let go, Sylvie could instead feel a knot forming in her stomach.”Why would someone do that? Do you think the shopkeeper cursed these items? Do- Do you think she knew?” Sylvie stammered.

  “How could she not! A good shopkeeper knows everything about all of their wares! How else can you sell them if you don’t even know their purpose? Their actual worth?” Cherry rolled her eyes. “And to think I was so polite to them and I can’t even get a small warning in return.” Her brows furrowed, pausing in her rant to face Sylvie. “She didn’t tell you anything else, did she?”

  This was her chance! Though…only a squeak escaped, an invisible force kept her jaw taut and a lump formed in her throat. She tried to swallow it down but it held fast, a trickle of dread weighing down her heart. Blinking hard, she shook her head, voice dry as she confirmed with a: “No, she didn’t.”

  Cherry fluffed up her fur, dusting herself off. “Rude, reminds me of Mad—”

   “Girls! Hop on!” Trench called from the water, his once large canine form replaced by a gigantic sea turtle, spikes running along his jaw and the split of his shell. “It’s not too different from my leviathan…just a set of flippers in the back and a lil’ extra weight.”

  Cherry rolled her eyes, snorting. “Finally! Come on Sylvie, I’ll help you up and make sure you don’t get too soaked.” Sylvie followed hesitantly behind, Trench inching further into the sand to allow them an easier passage.

  With a small shove, Cherry lifted Sylvie onto the carapace, allowing her to get adjusted before clawing her way up. The pair settled near the middle, Sylvie gripping onto one of the spikes anxiously.

  “Alright…it’s gonna be a bit bumpy before I’m fully submerged…fins an’ all that.” Trench warned them mere seconds before lurching forward, Sylvie scratching at the spikes to keep steady while Cherry could only let out a surprised yelp. In just a few bumps water splashed along Trench’s sides, a few more and a consistent rush passed them by. A decent amount of shell was left above the surface, along with Trench’s eyes placed just high enough to be unreachable by a foreign splash. He veered to the oily patch, rushing through the abandoned dust Cherry took the role of captain and called out the next sign of Maddox. Sylvie simply chose to fear for her life in a death grip at the very center of Trench’s shell, of course water wouldn’t kill her, but just as the same she’d be even more helpless than she is now, prey to any carnivore that may lurk in the great big blue. How could Trench have ever lived in such a place? With such expanses of…nothing? It made her stomach churn.

 

  It had been what…an hour? They hadn’t seen any sign of Maddox for an entire hour, and tensions could only rise as Cherry became more brave with her stability on their tempered craft. 

  “Can you go any faster!? You know his trail was becoming more sparse. It's going to be a while before we see another sign!”

  “Another sign? Cherry I’m quite positive that ‘patch’ you saw was just a figment of your imagination! I didn’t feel no dust anywhere last time. Are you sure you ain’t too dependent on that nose of yours?”

  “I’m not blind Trench! I’m not the one with saltwater in my eyes!” She barked, her hackles standing on end.

 “You will if I figure you just lead us into the middle of the ocean! There are no scent trails out here Cherry, you could get us—” He clamped his beak shut.

 “Get us what, huh!?” Cherry stomped her feet, scooting closer to the edge of Trench’s shell she reached out to slap at his head. “Lost!? I’m an expert tracker, Trench!”

 “Cherry quit it.” His voice dropped, looking around above the surface he submerged his head underwater.

 “Get back up here, I'm not done! What is with you two and just hiding away when I’m in the right! Trench!” She leaned over the edge, snarling at the water’s surface.

  Sylvie looked around wildly, something changing in the air.  Trench, what did you sense?

  Only the bright shine of the waves caught her attention, not a single shadow, a fin, nor an exceptionally large wave. Cherry was still shouting a call for war, Sylvie opening her jaw to ask for silence before suddenly… they were all airborne.

  It felt like she froze in time, her paws leaving Trench’s shell as he too was sent flying into the air, Cherry’s snarl turning into a frightful scream as she flipped over the side and landed into the ocean. Enormous waves rose away from the knucker dragon who had leapt from under Trench, claws extended to wrap around his neck and drag him under.

  They landed before her, Sylvie expecting to be washed away by the oncoming wave made by the dragon but felt scaled paws reach around her, forming a shield as her captor dived into the water. Cold engulfed her as a brightly colored lamprey-like creature was stuck onto her throat, fluttering her eyes open as they passed the fighting dragons. Trench thrashed around only for his opponent to wrap her body around his shell, his flippers useless to the onslaught of claws wearing him down. As they shot past Sylvie craned her neck back, as soon as his movements became more labored a small slim merruff grabbed onto the same neck the knucker dragon held firm. Squinting she could’ve sworn they injected something before Trench shrunk to his former self, the dragon soon following after.

  Sylvie attempted her own flailing but was immediately met with claws digging into her shoulders, her wounded one exceptionally persuaded to fall limp. She looked up at the large merruff, his face neutral as the pair from before struggled to catch up, being tugged back and forth by a hissing Trench.

  Sylvie’s captor glanced over at his struggling companions and spoke up in clicks, the three merruffs instantly fixated on his movements. He spun Sylvie around until she was belly-up, pulling her closer to his face he opened his jaws and a smaller set of fangs lunged out, gripping her neck. The sudden pressure caused her to squeal, a stinging sensation growing from the puncture. These were no average, perhaps territorial merrs…but she could…breath?

  Trench fell limp immediately, though his eyes glared daggers at the neutral merruff, a growl rising in the back of his throat. Seeming satisfied, Sylvie was flipped back over with only a small nick to enunciate the fact these ruffs were willing to take specific measures. The merruff who had incapacitated Trench earlier snickered, her companion soon following.

  “I’d watch it, we’ve already had to deal with another half-brained nitwit.” She scoffed, as if thinking fondly on the memory.

  Sylvie perked up, sharing a glance with Trench.

  “Does that sound familiar to you?” A voice rumbled above her, even more gravelly than Trench’s which Sylvie thought impossible.

   Sylvie bit her tongue, Trench clearing his throat. “No, we’re just surprised others are out here.”

  “Is that so? Strange, from where you were coming from you should’ve passed one of our developing settlements.”

  The corner of Trench’s maw flicked down in a frown. “I don’t remember any settlements being built this close to the shoreline.”

   “Luana’s kind wouldn’t, would they?” He interrupted, glancing over at Trench with a look of pure boredom. “It’s quite brave to wear something of her kingdom’s making, especially around these parts.”
Sylvie’s heart spiked as Trench’s face dropped, unable to recompose himself for more than just a few seconds. She gave him a quizzical look but he was focused on the smug merr.

   “It’s even more idiotic for you to show your mug around here, Trench.” He now turned to face him directly, his captors giggling playfully amongst themselves.

  He was silent for a few moments, swallowing hard before he could meet his opponents eyes once more. “What do you want from me?” The forced growl in his voice giving away to Sylvie he was not confident in this situation at all. 

  “It’s not what any of us want, Trench.” They reached a small town, only a few buildings had their outer shell complete, workers of every shape and size carrying supplies or building up the marble homes. No one looked civilian, if they weren’t wearing helmets and gloves they were donned in shining armor wielding weapons of steel. Her eyes caught sight of two large buildings at the edge of the makeshift village, one built extravagantly, depictions of serpents and sea life etched onto its doors  and just beyond that…a small square building. No markers, no signs, nothing to hint at what it was.

  “It’s what she wants of you.”  They dove through the opening at the top of the building, swerving through a collection of claustrophobic hallways before stopping at a barred door with a guard at its side. The armored merr took their trident and shoved the ends into three holes, twisting the weapon as a door began to slowly rise. As soon as they could swim under, Sylvie’s neck was shoved into a clamp, feeling its icy touch squeeze around her still aching wound. Similar cuffs locked around her wrists and ankles, hearing Trench struggle beside her they took much more care into making sure he was firmly in place. The only addition to his restraints being chains wrapped around Trench’s tail, the three merruffs exited the room and with a loud thump the door was quickly snapped shut.  A click sounded as the clamps around their necks were given chain to work with, Trench jerking his head only to have it snap to a halt. That however, didn’t seem to stop him, as he continued to yank his head this way and that, trying to twist around to bite at the chain.

  “I am not playin’ this sick game again!” He continued his attempt, the guard only glancing at him before reaching for something Sylvie couldn’t see, another click sounding before Trench’s chain shot down, his jaw cracking against the ground.

  A chuckle sounded from the guard as he returned to his upright position, now Trench was completely immobile, and Sylvie was seconds from losing it all. She didn’t dare bring attention to herself, instead moving her head slowly to try and get a look around the room. She couldn’t see anything of note, they were quite literally in a stone box, the walls not yet finished being carved into. Two more sets of chains lay beside her, and beyond that—

   “Maddox!” Sylvie gasped, the small fox’s head pressed into the floor, he must’ve upset the guard just as Trench had.

   Both the merr and nebulruff jumped at her excitement, Maddox not being able to twist his head to face her but she felt his eyes focus on her. “Sylvie!? Wh-wha on earth are you doin- doing here!?” His voice slurred, thick with exhaustion.

  “We’re here lookin’ for you ya old catfish!” Trench laughed, seemingly dropping the naive act. “What do you think yer’ doin’, tryna cross the ocean all on your own?” 

  “What do you think!?” Maddox’s voice harshened as he blinked awake, chains clinking as he shifted. “Instead of wasting time at the village I followed that thing that took Percy!”

  “Well what’re you doing now? Wasting time in jail?” Trench pointed out, Maddox stammering for an answer until he ultimately ended his lack of response with an annoyed growl.

  “Not my fault these fish-breathes can’t mind their own business, I didn’t even know they were in this area nor did I even try to take anything from ‘em!”

  “Wow, high standards ‘round here huh?” 

  Maddox snorted at the jab but couldn’t hide the smirk crawling up his face. “Guess so, why are you in here? Picked a fight with some other meathead? Sylvie burn some fish-face?”

   Trench chuckled but his jovial attitude quickly died down, instead replaced by a look of stressed concentration. He worked his jaw, the gears turning in his head to come up with some explanation, Sylvie couldn’t help but be weighed down by the tension the simple tease had caused. Maddox remained unaware, only a cocked eyebrow hinting at his notice of Trench’s odd behavior.

  “I—”

  A groan wailed from the door as one of the merruffs from before shot in, a squirming Cherry in their grasp. Just as quick as they’d come in, they left, Cherry now trapped beside Sylvie.

  “There you guys are!” She turned to Trench and Sylvie, a bruised eye plastered on the right side of her face. “I got swept up by some lunatic! Turns out having hooves is pretty helpful for knocking some teeth out but then they stabbed me with something and—” Her eyes swept around the room, examining every crevice until they reached Maddox’s form. “-oh, it’s you.”

  “You sound so happy, nice to see you too.” Maddox bared his teeth, a look of disgust tainted his expression and words. “Can I get my own cell!?” He shouted to the guard who, blatantly, ignored him.

  “Will you quit it!? It hasn’t even been a minute and you’re trying to start a fight!”

  “Oh would you rather me wait like you did!? Wait until everyone's oh so enjoying their lives and then send it all crashing down around them!?” He yelped, thrashing around in an attempt to face Cherry. A small cloud of dark smog formed around his spacedust.

  “It wasn’t my fault you wouldn’t listen to me the day before!”

  Sylvie glanced at Trench for some sort of support, though once more his attention was turned elsewhere, specifically to the cloudy commotion Maddox was stirring up.

  “The day before!? Oh is that so much better?”

  Cherry rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she gave Sylvie a can you believe this guy? glare. 

  “Keep rolling your eyes, maybe you’ll find a brain back there.” Maddox hissed.

  “I didn’t even roll my eyes! You can’t see me your head is too far stuck up—”

  “ENOUGH.” The guard shouted, everyone snapping to face the merruff who stood in the doorway. The small trail of dust had reached his feet, following some sort of current. “Keep yapping and your tongues’ll be separating from the rest of your maws!” With a snort he leaned back against the wall, fiddling with the symbols etched in his trident.

  The group paused before, if they could even move their heads, lowering them.

  “What’s the plan?” Cherry whispered, eyeing the guard as he continued his mindless plucking.

  “I don’t know, but I got the start of one…” Trench gestured toward Maddox’s billowing tail, the wispy clouds it had created had either slithered its way out of the cell, or disappeared into the water completely. “...not sure how much you got left in you but a cloud big enough could catch the attention of the guard, maybe even lure him in.”

  “Trust me, if I have to hear one more benign word leave that woman’s tongue we’ll all be choking on stars.” He snorted, spacedust flaring as Cherry stuck her tongue out at him. “That still doesn’t answer how we’ll get free of these chains.” Maddox hissed between his teeth, struggling to readjust his paws. “I can’t even lift my head up!”

  “That’s what I’m stuck on, knowing… knowing merrs these chains are fit to keep a whole Royal on lock-down.” 

  A spike of fear shot through Sylvie’s heart. “That’s it?” She turned to face Trench, swiveling around to find a lack of reassurance between Cherry and Maddox. “There’s no way to break out of these chains?”

  “Don’t give up so easily-!” Cherry attempted to hush the Phoeline, interrupted by a shrill squeak.

  “What about our magic!? Trench!” Her head flickered back, voice growing in volume. “Use your turtle-thing! The enchantress said it’d give us power!” 

  The merruff lowered his eyes, “That won’t work Sylvs, if any of us tried these chains would strangle em.” Trench finished with an apologetic glance.

  “It has to be different! I don’t want to die here! I don’t even know how I’m still alive!” She jerked her head up, claws digging into the stone beneath them. “She promised!” Bubbles shot from Sylvie’s flames, curling around her to the ceiling above. “I didn’t even want to leave Hometown! I miss my home, I want to go home!” Sylvie thrashed, adrenaline and fear churning waves in her stomach, her heart felt like it would jump out of her chest at any moment. “Let me go!” Tightness grew around her throat, whatever they attached to her squirmed against her roaring flames.

  “Sylvie stop! Calm down!” Trench hissed, attention split between the panicking phoeline and the leaning guard.

  “I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to get hurt again, please!” The bubbles only grew in volume, a collection forming against the roof of their cell.

  Cherry stretched over, trying to beat the distance between her and Sylvie. “Sylvie look at me! Remember your exercises!” Squinting against the flames she leaned closer. “You’re okay, I won’t let them hurt you.”

  Whirling around Sylvie faced Cherry, her expression a strained calmness as she gave Sylvie a small smile. “We’re gonna get outta here, now stop burnin’ so much or you’ll ruin your scarf–!” 

  Sylvie let out a pitched yelp, lurching back as Cherry’s chain shot into the ground and her head bounced against the ground. 

  “Great Augustus! Are you alright Cherry!?” Trench scanned the nebulruff, a plume of red escaping between her teeth, even a look of fearful shock etched onto Maddox’s face.

  It took a moment to recuperate, Cherry scrunching her nose as she licked her teeth. “Yeah just…bit my tongue I think.” 

  None of this could pierce Sylvie’s thoughts as a hurricane of dialogue stormed through her head. Had she…caused that? Why did he do that? Did Cherry blame her? Was she mad? Why did she do that? Why had she yelled? When was Maddox going to lose his temper? Would Trench yell at her? Scream? Did they think she meant it? She didn’t, she was sorry they knew she didn’t mean it they had to. What if they didn’t? What if they did blame her? They wouldn’t be wrong to do so would they? It was her fault she hurt Cherry! If she hadn’t acted out none of this would’ve happened! Cherry told her to stop talking, why couldn’t she just do something right for once and shut up!? Even after all Cherry had done for her and she hurt her! Where was the screaming, why wasn’t it there yet? Had they not noticed, were they so upset then couldn’t put it into words? She deserved it why wasn’t it here already?

  Heat rushed around Sylvie as her silent form stared ahead, lost in her thoughts until…

  “Maddox, I'm fine, will you shut it!?” Cherry’s groan caught her attention.

  “What if it gets infected? Or attracts parasites? Sharks?” A bubble ran along her rib, it tickled.

  “Do you really think they’d let sharks just roam around their town? What's with the change in tune you numbskull?” An itch twinged under Sylvie’s pelt as the bubble left.

  “Well sorry I don’t want to get worms from you again!” She shifted her weight, kicking out.

  “You never got worms from me in the first place! You literally swim in dumpsters!” There was no jingle of shackles, no force keeping her pinned down. Sylvie shifted her weight to kick out her other paw…it was loosened. Using her free paw she kicked off the melted cuff, only three more held her.

  Trench, who had been watching Cherry and Maddox with a grimace, had finally glanced at Sylvie. Furrowing his brows at her focused expression. “Are you…alright Sylvie?”

  “I melted the chains.”

  “You— what?!” Eyes widening his chains jerked to a halt as he attempted to twist his head around. “That’s great! Think you could do it a couple more times?”

  “Sure.”

  Trench clicked, when that didn’t get their attention he let out a growl. Cherry and Maddox quit their bickering to glare at the disrupting merr.

  “Got a plan now, Maddox?” His voice dropped, the fox’s ears perked at the mention of his name. “Think you could work up enough dust to give us some cover?”

  “Like I said, this hag’ll make that easy.” He snarled, Cherry mirroring the vocal disdain.

  “Sylvie, once that happens finish what’cha got and we’ll be waitin’ for ya. With luck he’ll open those doors.” Sylvie nodded, she was going to have to work herself up all over again just for this to work. “We’re waitin’ you on Maddox.”

  “What about me?” Cherry piped up, beside her Maddox squirmed under the restraints, lashing his tail to and fro.

  “We’ll just wait, knowing you, you can take a few hits if anything gets wild.” He chuckled, glaring at the clueless guard with ill-intent.

 

  It took quite a few wiggles for Maddox to form a decent cloud, its added weight slowing its path out the barred door. Cherry sneezed at the contents, though as soon as it washed over Sylvie she focused on her downward spiral of thoughts, imagining all the scenarios she had concocted in her head, guilt and fear charging her flames. Stretching forward, as if to scratch her chin, her hind paw inched onto her wrist cuff. It melted under her touch, the seering metal barely affecting her as she did the same with the other side, then the one clasped around her neck.

  The cloud had made its way, Trench buried in it’s mist she took the chance to swim over, the sudden floatiness a shock to the system until she grabbed onto Trench’s tail and pulled herself over its restraints. Pushing away, she pressed against the clamp until it widened enough for Trench to slip out, repeating this for each restraint until he shot from the floor.

  Maddox had stopped, his dust cloud had made its way to the door as it followed the current. Now noticing the enormous black cloud behind him, the guard let out a surprised hiss and placed his trident in the lock, opening the door.

  “What do you think you’re doing in there! Quit it!” Pulling it from the lock he swiped it through the cloud, Trench grabbing the end and yanking the guard into the inky abyss with nothing but a helpless yelp.

  Sylvie had worked Cherry from her restraints, assuming Trench was saving them more time the nebulruff floated before clumsily swimming towards the open door. “It’s going to take forever to dry out!”

  Maddox next, it was much harder to save him from the smoldering metal, Sylvie wincing at each flinch whenever she wasn’t careful enough. Mumbling an apology he shook his body out, sending more blotchy spacedust Sylvie’s way. “Good work, cat.”

  Following the fox feeling completely burnt out, Trench appeared from the other side of the cloud. “I suggest swimming high if you don’t want to hit a bump,” As they made their way around he nodded toward the slithering trail of spacedust that left the cloud. “ grab onto my shoulders Cherry, you two find a holding on her and I’ll swim us out of here. Keep holdin’ ‘cause I want another round with that turtle.”

  They did as ordered, Maddox allowing Sylvie to grab onto Cherry before finding his place. 

  “Wait, round with what—?” Maddox’s perturbed question was cut short as Trench hurled himself down the hall, almost giving Sylvie whiplash. Each turn whipped the passengers around, Sylvie hearing Maddox thump against the wall making a part of her glad she wasn’t on the end. A light shone ahead, a passing guard yelping as Trench zipped by. 

  No one could stop them as they made their way out the door, another pair of guards covering their heads as the canine form twirled through the water, leaving a draconic turtle making a break for it in its wake. Risking a glance below, she saw the small makeshift town underneath them, a few workers looking up in shock as their shadow flew over them. It almost felt like flying, Trench waving his flippers in rhythmic beats, at least it was some sense of familiarity.

 

  “Where to now?” Trench called over his shoulders as soon as he was sure they hadn’t been followed.

  “Keep head’n straight, that raggedy dog in the marshes said she saw the beast fly this way so we’ll keep goin’ until we find it and bring my son home.” Maddox puffed out his chest, having crawled his way from the back to hang on to the edge of Trench’s shell beside his head.

  “Kip too? Y’know Amber’s boy was also involved-” Cherry interrupted only for Maddox to return the favor.

  “Yeah him too, whatever. With all those books he had shoved under his nose I’m sure Kip can smart-talk his way into some pity.”

  Cherry gave him a hard scowl but thankfully kept her mouth shut. With luck they’d have better chances on the surface, maybe even another sighting…and Sylvie could get herself a new scarf.