Part 13

Sprits

The feeling was getting stronger, he was sure of it. They had been traveling since morning, straight towards the source. Every time he far sighted, the essence, the entity he seeks was coming ever so closer. Now only about a mile away, he was more determined to reach it.

"Not much longer now Mieka." Moko said turning his head back to his mate, using the Long Talk spell as they swim alomng.

"I hope so, my bottom going to cramp soon if we don't find somewhere to rest." Mieka replied tiredly, referring about her base tail muscles. Moko laughed by the response. It only had been a couple hours since Mieka finally gotten the swimming technique down. In fact she was now complaining shown how far they have gotten today. Usually Mieka would show how uncomfortable she became, only after she was deeply fatigue and in a foul mood.

She would not even let the others know if she had became sick, until all full blown symptoms had developed and even then, only after a week has passed by to make her even more miserable. He remembers those few days back at the Aquarium long ago, and it wasn't a memory he wished he could still recalled. She must be exhausted now that she finally mentions tiredness.

"If you wish, we could find a place. . ." But he was cut off stright away.

"No, we keep going; I can manage a little longer. Our pup is just right around the bin you say?" Mikea asked, although seeming more frantic then tired. Moko shook his head in disapproval, although Mieka stared back, narrowed eye. She would have to remind the fish brain later that she was more capable of knowing her own body then he does, and might have to pull his ear fin later for it; not like she still remember what she intended for him later though, if she ever get the chance.

But the thought was put out of her mind, when Moko finally pointed into the murky depths below in front of them. She squinted her eyes. The thin film that protected the eye surface when submerged dose slightly reduce their sight, but she could easily make out something at the bottom. As they got closer, the imaged became clearer. A large size blue pup body, with an white under belly was just sitting there on the surface, and was apparently waiting for them. When he spotted them, he called towards them excitedly when they approached using Long Talk.

"MOM, DAD!" Link cried out. He pushed up from the surface with a burst of energy, his feet and tadpole tail displacing the sand all around him in a large cloud. Both Moko and Mieka was startle by the sight, but not from the long awaited reunion. For Mieka, she was more shock about that Link was actually swimming. Moko was surprised when Link called out to them using the spell, only he and Mieka knew how to use. How he had learned how to use the skill was just short of marvelous. The delays of thought only lasted a second, as they both pushed onward. They closed the distance quickly, and as they met, Link embraced his mother mid stride.

Well he now knew who he favoriteted more, as Moko felt a bit saddened by the thought. Link always had looked up to him a bit more than his mother, usually at least. It was that bond between father and son which makes it more special for him. This was quickly corrected though, as the pup then came over to him next, and hugged him ever harder. When the reunion was finished, Link hovered in front of his parents, mouth open in a happy grin as they Long Talked between themselves.

"I had been picking up your Far Sights for hours Dad. I would of called back if I knew how to so you would had known it was me." Link said. He frowned a little by the thought. It pain staked him that he couldn't even let them know he was all right at the very least. It was also when he notice that his father was injured. The white cloth bandaged was slightly stained in spots with blood. Moko notice what he was staring at it, and he looked back at his right rear leg.

"It's nothing, just a scratch. I'm all right." He said hoping that would ease his feelings on it. If it hasn't been hurting as it had been since receiving the injury from that thing of a monster, he would had almost forgotten about it by now.

"So how did you learn to swim?" Moko first question was. He was sure Link couldn't even dogpaddle well before the storm.

"The Hindi Porpoises taught me. They have shown me how." Link responded happily.

"Dolphins. . .Taught you how to swim?" Mieka replied, seeming a tad skeptical.

"Not Dolphins Mom, Porpoises.” Link responded. "They swam with me, taught me how to swim amongst them. It was so fun; you guys should try it some time. They thought I was one of them in all practicality."

"Perhaps another time." Moko said, as he activated his Far Sight powers.

"Right now we need focus on finding the others." He said, as he pushed away past them so he could get a clearer picture.

"I'm glad you all right. I was so worry about you this whole time." Mieka said relived, swimming around Link, checking to see if he hasn't been injured or anything. Then coming back up front, she asked him to open his mouth to inspect his teeth. Dragon's teeth always keep growing back if the tooth is loss, but pups will have a first set of baby teeth that takes around a year to outgrow. Link was just at that age, and some of the teeth were gone, with small studs of his first adult teeth just starting to pushed through to replace the gaps.

"You been able to catch food?" Mieka asked surprised.

"Yea, I had. I'm not fast enough yet so I had to use magic. I know you said not to used it until I am better trained, but I was hungry."

"It's ok Link." She said, and then smiled. "You had grown up, in less than two days. I'm still surprised by it. You're going to now have to help out more now you're older and more responsible."

"I don't fell older, just stronger. A little bit more, at the very least." Link replied truthfully. He also didn't fell as responsible either.

Well beside that Shark attack which he didn't choose to kill it out of respect for the animal. Still, he wouldn't mind a little longer being cuddled again, especially after all that had happen after the storm. A good night rest snug up by his parents would do wonders for his shaken sprits. Moko then finally swam back, but his face seemed stiff from worried.

"I can't detect anyone out there. I was sure I could sense two more of them just a while ago, but both are gone now." Mieka and Link now frowned too.

"But you were so sure. Where will we go now?" Mieka asked.

"It was westward before and I say we keep heading in that. . ." Moko tried to say, until flickers of light shot though the murky darkness, which caught all of their attentions.

They flashed in and out of the darkness, coming closer with each flicker that materialized into existence. The sight was unbelievable, if not unnatural.

"I have no clue what that is, but I don't like it." Moko said, being cautious. However Mikea seen the lights in a different view.

"They are like beacons. They are trying to tell us to follow them. I'm not sure why, but I just know that what it means."

"Still, it could be dangerous." Moko added.

"Well as you two can't make up your minds, I think I will go see what it is." Link said, and then he darted over to the lights. Seemed he had taken his mother compliment a little too seriously.

"Link!" They both cried out to stop him. So much for him becoming more like an adult. Perhaps he still has a tad bit of carelessness left at his age. Never less they followed him. Link wasn't hard to catch up to, and Mikea pull Link back by his tail to stop him from going furthered. Link was about to complain, till he saw his mothers warning glared, and he kept his forked tongue tight. However any anger he had soon dissipated, when the lights around them came closer. The lights were orbs at first glance from a distance, but when they got closed enough to see in better details, the orbs seemed to transformed, pulling outward and becoming longer.

Fins and tails developed, and white fur stub snouted Seals, with a small rounded horn on the base of the noses came into existence. Their large brown eyes seemed empty, despite the orbs having taken physical forms right in front of them. The three Darjeets was stunned, watching the spectrals. More and more of the orbs transformed around them, and as suddenly as the lights appeared, an dozen or more seals now swam in a pack, encircling the family.

"What. . .are they?" Mieka asked nervously, looking at her mate and son. It didn't helped that they both seemed not to be frighten by the event.

"Don't you know Mom?" Link said not looking back. One of these Seals then came up to Moko. He and the Seal stared face to face. It was strange for the Alpha Male of his pack. When Moko stared at the creature, he couldn't understand what he was really seeing. When just looking at the creature as it is, the animal seemed solid enough, but when he looked even closer at it, trying to REALLY studied it, it became slightly transparent. He thought he could see it right through it, as if it was not really there, like a ghost or sprit. This just added to his confusion though, as he couldn't decide if they were really here, or not. They do seem real enough though.

"I thought they were extinct." Moko said finally, breaking the silence.

"What were?" Mieka asked.

"They're Boggle Seals Mom." Link said normally. It seemed all the excitement was all gone from the pup. Something felt, gone from these creatures, something he couldn't put in words. They were extinct, well beside the last two survivors back at the Aquarium. They were alive, but these, didn't felt like they belonged here. Despite felling the abundances of energy they emitted just being in their presents, the energy felt cold and lifeless. Link didn't know if he should to fell glad of seeing them, or wanting to just swim away from fear. Mieka wasn't much different in thought too, but Moko saw something else.

"I think they want us to follow." He said. As if on command, the one staring at him, as well some of the other Seals swam westward. A couple still swam around the three, waiting for them to move.

"Well I guess we don't have much choice now do we, especially if they are guiding us." Mieka said. But to where, was a mystery. At the end, they all nodded to each other and followed the pack into the darkness below. A few of them kept swimming around the family as they went deeper, with a few others just ahead, guiding the way. Now that the sun couldn't reached down here, they stayed closed together.

They never have been this deep before. They didn't know what could be lurking here, waiting for unsuspecting prey to venture too uncareling, till it was too late to escape. But now, they didn't seemed afraid, not as long as were with the Seals. Whatever because they were sent to guide and protect them, or remorse to their created replacement within this world, the Seals flew though the ocean effortlessly, almost as like synchronized dancers would be in a show.

Up and down they went, as some swooped up and over them, barrel rolling with grace and beauty. Others twist and twirled about in the water with integrating patterns. The Seals didn't need much more in their lives then the glace of their style, their technique. Moko watched them as they went along. The show was great and all, but where was they taking them?

Mieka also thought the same thing. Link gleaming smile shown he really didn't care about where they were going, as long the show kept going on. The pup wasn't able to absorb enough on how lovely they were, and how far better at swimming then he nor his parents were at. Because they were all so focus by the slights, none of them kept track on their direction, nor how much time has passed by. It felt like hours had gone by while they swam along the dancing Seals, but suddenly Moko was the first to notice that they were climbing upwards.

"Hey, there's an island up ahead." He stated. The murky water had been clearing up and they could see seaweed and a small coral reef up ahead of them. It was then another surprise came to them, the Seals were gone. They didn't stay around. As instantly they had came, now they were nowhere in sight, as like they never was there to begin with.

"Where they go?" Link asked, seeming sadden by their sudden exit as he turn all over, hoping to see where they had went to.

"They were just here, how can they do that?" Mieka said next, as she also twirled around looking for any signs of the Seals.

"I don"t think they were meant to stay." The others turn to look at Moko. "It's just me I think, but somehow I believe they came to take us to the island, and then they had to go. To where, I don't think we will ever know." He had taken one last look into the deeper ocean behind them one last time. All that was there was some schools of large fish and darkness, and nothing else. Still somehow, he knew they were still watching.

"One day long into the future, I hope you will allow me to join your dance when the day comes." He said softly to the abyss.

"Hun, what you say Moko?" Mieka asked questionably.

"Oh its nothing." He said turning back.

"They did what they needed too; now we must do what we came here for.” Moko stated as he returns to the others.

"Let's get to the island. I think that we will find what we're seeking there."

______________

"Wait a second, what's that?" Mink said, as they just renter the brush. Luckily for him that he turned to look back just then. Kisley, his bigger sister also turned to see what he was referring to. What they saw wasn't something that was supposed to exist in their world. At the entrance of the cove, dazzling auras of blue lights, bright enough to be seen underwater shone brightly between the rocky crop towers.

Hundreds of smaller orbs of white lights pulsate around the aura. They also seemed to be moving quite fast, going around the larger light source. Both Mink and Kisely forgotten that they were supposed to be escaping as they stared wide eye at the spectacle. Then suddenly, the smaller lights disappear, and the large aura dimmed then faded out of existent. The sea returned back to normal, although they continued to stare there, as if it was still going on.

"What in the Dragons was that?" Kisely was the first to asked. Despite all she read about their little world, even the magical parts of the universe, noting she read beofre could of explain what they had just witness.

"I. . .I have not one clue. Whatever it was though, we can think on it later." That's was always Mink, rather keeping thinking on the here and now, and what they was supposed to be doing.

"We need to go sister, they are still coming."

"Oh yea, the boat." Kisely recalled, and looked back out. The boat was far closer now. Closed enough that they can see it was a slivery hulled water craft. The thing was strange though. Despite what Mink told her about the thing, it was still hard to believe the boat was just hovering above the water surface. Its wake was so small; one would have thought it was clawing along rather then speeding towards them.

"Let's get to the island." She finally said, and they went further inward. However Kisely had to make one look back just to be sure. The palm trees and small bushes, as well the sky growing redder from the setting sun, had blocked most of the view of the beach from here, but she saw

something just at the edge. Three dark blots were just under the surface there.

"Mink, hold up!" She cried back. Mink stopped and walked back over to her. She pointed what she saw to him, and they both watched as the blots broke the surface, and walked up to the beach. Kisely never thought this would the way they would be reunited. She thought they would have to find each other one by one, taking weeks, maybe even months before they would be together again. Kisley tried to stay optimistic since the storm.

She tried to keep believing they would find each other, to never give up hope. She was happy she never did. Mink also couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the three standing there. He was also the first to break out of the trance. Good old Mink keeping to the now, and the later for later on.

"MOM, DAD we're here!" Mink yelled. It sounded weak however, despite the effort. Kisely easily had over taken her brother as she went over to hug her mother first, then Moko next. She seemed not to notice that her father had been injured, but he really didn't feel like talking about it right now anyhow.

"You look dirty Sis. Been rolling in the mud again?" Link said as she also embraced him too.

"Oh you don't know how I'm so happy to see you again. She said to her younger brother. For once she didn't mind him making fun of her. She wouldn't even care if he called her a land lover. Both Mieka and Moko went over to Mink, as they looked worry after he fallen on the beach.

"I'm just tired, I haven't slept since we escape, that's all." He tried to say reinsuring. It seemed the relief of seeing his family again had finally drained what's left of his strength.

"Now now, we"re here. You don't have to worry any longer." Mieka said, holding his head up so she could see his eyes once again. Mink just barely managed to produce a smile.

Both Link and Kisely came over, and it was then when they notice the rumbling sound off in the distance.

"Oh no, we forgot again, we need to. . .run!" Mink said, but it was so muffle, it was a wonder he just haven't fallen asleep yet.

"The boat!" Kisely gasped too. She also had forgotten it.

"What boat?" Moko asked confused. Then he, Mieka, and Link turned to see the craft heading this way.

"Kisely, you and Link take Mink, and then head into the island." Moko abruptly said. The two seemed startle by the order.

"No, were staying. We will fight them together." Link said bravely. Yes indeed he was becoming an adult faster than his age suggested.

"Not sure how I could help, but I want to stay to face them too." Kisely replied.

"It's not a suggestion. This might get ugly. I want to know ya'll are away from here before they reached us."

"But Dad!" they both cried at once.

"You two should listen to him. He wasn't kidding. No am I. They might be here trying to catch us, and we're not going to let them take us back without a fight. I don't want you three to get hurt if that comes to it. Now go." Mieka said, stern faced. They stared off at each other for a moment, then Kisely and Link nodded. They dropped back to their brother. Kisely reached up under Mink chest, and Link grab the end of his tail, and they lifted him up.

"But I want to stay." Mink protested.

"You can barely stay awake brother, let alone stand. They want us to be safe so we need to leave."

"BUUUUT!" Mink cried stretching out the word as he was hauled away towards the forest. By the time they left the clearing, the boat had started to slow down. Knowing that their pups would be safer there then where they were at, Monk and Mieka turned to face the Aquarium vessel. The boat had two platoons along it sides, leveled along the bottom of the main hull. The Gravity plates are located in each platoon, which allowed the craft to be lifted up and down, forward and back, side to side.

As the boat slowed, the Grav plates reduce power, and the boat slowly fallen back into the ocean, platoons submerging back into the water. Now using only a 10th of what they used before, they cruised through the ocean, for once causing wakes along its path. As the boat stated towards the entrance between the rock croppings, the parents could see figures on board.

"I can't tell for with certain, but I think Shinda is on that boat." Mieka said dryly.

"Figures as much." Moko sighed. Then he notice flailing arm's at the front. Tiny blue forearms with white from the waist down to the rest of the swinging hand claws.

"Gentoe!" He cried out." They have him, they have our son!" He said deeply shocked. Mieka also couldn't believe it, as her stomach felt it had dropped inside of herself.

"If they so much as gotten a scratch on him, I swear I'll make them pay." She said darkly. It also fitted for Moko too, as he too became angry.

It didn't last though, as the boat then suddenly larch to a halt. Gentoe almost fallen over the side from momentum. Now they were scared more then angry.

"Something wrong." Moko said wide eye.

Something was terribly wrong.