Part 15

Soap

Fate had other plans for today though. The ion pistol Kaimana had drop into the drink had fallen to the sea floor, right underneath where the

monster hovered in the ocean. What Kaimana said about it couldn't get wet; wasn't just because it would take a long time to dry out.

No. . . It was the fact that the gun energy magazine didn't act so well if gotten water on it. Matter of fact, it becomes quite unstable. If it stays wet for too long, the battery storing the ion energy will start heating up. It will continue to get hotter, till the casing failed, and discharged all available energy at once.

As the Criberler pulled Moko straight to its awaited mouth, the gun exploded in a brilliant blue sphere of ion energies underneath the creature belly. The energy turned all the water around its vicinity straight to heated gasses. The heat only last for a split second, but for that moment it was like that the Criberler was being streamed on top of a large boiling cook pot. That sheering pain it had to endure was so agonizing, that it couldn't think of anything else except to flee from the caused of it.

It even forgot about dinner, as it had unknowing let go of Moko just before its flight. Moko was just relived he also haven't been cooked too, let alone eaten. He hovered there, watching the monster turned and swam back into the darkness of the vast oceans. He couldn't believe his luck, nor what just had happen. Never the less, he was alive. It seems he would live much longer then he first thought, and that made him smiled, oh how he had smiled. . .

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Mieka and Gentoe didn't wait for the Sea Guardian to set anchored. They both jumped right off the side of the boat when they came near the beach, together in a shallow dive. They just couldn't wait any longer. As they climbed up the beach, both Kisely and Link ran as fast as their legs could moved them straight to their little brother. Gentoe never had been squeezed as hard in his life, as they embraced him from both sides.

Kiselsy even starting licking him on top of his head. All this loving would start making him feel embarrassed if this last for much longer, but they didn't seemed they never wanted to let go of him ever again. It taken Mieka to step in and pulled them apart finally, even though Kisely manage a few more final licks in. Now breathless, and with a wet face, Gentoe taken a second to breathe deeply inward from all of the renewed love he just received, although he was sure he would be getting more of it quite soon he believed. He would welcome every scrap of it.

"Oh you fish headed younger brother of mind. Did you know how distraught we all had become after you disappear?" It seemed Kisely mood change form massive relief to furious anger, and he thought just having to deal with his parents would be difficult enough. Guess it was too much to ask for them also not to be angry at him too. He just hoped they will not decide to do to him what they did to Link once before. Speaking of Link, he turned to see him frowning too, but his head was down, not able to make eye contact. This had him worried about him, but suprised when he spoken.

"Brother, I need to make an. . . apology." He said softly, but loud enough for all of them to hear.

"For what?" Gentoe asked as his head turned to the side. Now he was really confused. Link had a lot of trouble just to bring his head back up, but he just managed to make eye contact before specking what he needed to say, something he wanted to do for far too long.

"Back at the Aquarium, I had always been rough with you. But what I done the night of our escape, making you think I was out to get you was too far out of line in my behavior. Because of me chasing you, you stayed away from us, and caused all of this mess just because I was angry with you.

I don't know how I will ever make it up, but I will try, even if it will take years to gain you trust and friendship again."

Gentoe cocked his head the other way now, he couldn't help it. Link. . .Apologizing? No this couldn't be real. Was he dreaming all of this?

However any satisfaction of hearing his brother making these apologies was short lived by seeing how miserable these feelings were making him. He now felt bad himself. Link was clearly suffering far more then what he really needed from this. For all the loved he just been given, it was cleared as the day was to him that Link could used some support too, so out of the pureness of his heart, he answered him.

"Link, we're brothers." Linked looked up, surprised by the notion. He never thought in all of the responses he would receive, this would be the one he uses, but there was more that little Gentoe had to say.

"There will be times we will argue, and times when we will fight, but we will still be kin to each other no matter what happens between us. For that, we will always be friends. You, Mink, Kisely. . ." Kisely anger dissipated by hearing her name added.

"We're family, and that bond will keep us together. Yea, sure I am still upset about that night, but you are still my friend." Link actually managed to produce a faint smile, which was another oddity in his life. Mieka, who stood there, seemed satisfied that the pups finally might stop their squabbling against each other. It was a small hope for it to last for any considerable amount of time, but boys will be boys, and Kisely will be herself too.

"Well, if this keeps up I might start shearing tears." Kaimana joked as he walked over to the group. He and Shinda finally gotten their boattied off with a impale stake inland. They both look hurt and tired as well.

"Was this the reunion you were hoping for Shinda? He turned to asked his boss, who stood there crossed arm.

"In more ways then I first imagine it." She said, but then frowned, as he peers around the area looking confused. Then she looked worried, very worried.

"What is it?" Kaimana asked.

"Where is Moko?" She asked. Mieka heart dropped. She was so pre occupy with getting Gentoe to safety, she had forgotten her mate. She thought losing Gentoe was hard enough, but this was her mate they were talking about! She loved him, and didn't know if she could go on without him.

Whiteface, and without saying another word, she sprinted towards the ocean.

"MOKO!" She screamed desperately. What if he gotten hurt, what if that Criberler had . . . ?" Suddenly, Moko came out of the ocean, walking up casually like nothing was really happening. He was even smiling, not seeming to notice his mate's worried expression. Mieka gaped, her mouth twitching.

"Sorry I had taken my time. I had to make sure it was gone." He said smoothly, like some kind of hero in stride.

"Moko." Mieka said tightly, her eyes closed. It was quite obvious she was furious with the Darjeet. However Kaimana was the first to speck, as he and Shinda ran over to him.

"What happen to your leg?!" Shinda asked, getting to her knees. Moko knew this was going to be brought up first, before anything else, he just knew it.

"That Criberler did it, yesterday I mean. We think it was the same one. Mieka patched me up." He said, and Shinda taken a firm hold to his right leg to take a look at it.

"This is a remarkable job Mieka."

Thanks, I was taught by the best teacher I knew." Referring to Shinda. The biologist smiled back to her.

"Still I would like to take a closer look at it." Kaimana said.

"Yea sure, just be careful with the bandaged. It still hurts."

Kaimana unravel the cloth so he could take a look at the wound.

"This isn't too bad; I can heal this here and now." He said. Shinda may know a lot on how magic was supposed to work, but Kaimana actually practice the magical arts in his spare time.

"I know healing Moko, I know how to used magic to rebound flesh. I can heal you cut, scar and all. It will be like it was never even there in the first place."

"You could?" Moko thought about it, and then shook his head.

“Heal it, but I want to keep the scar.” They both stare at the pack leader.

"It will remind me to be more careful in the future and besides." He turned to look at his mate.

"Mieka said it makes me cuter in her eyes." He said, blinking rapidly to add to the joke. Mieka actually blushed.

"I said no such thing!" She lied. When they had first set off from sleeping last night, she might of mention about how that scar would looked later on him, just that, really. . .

Never the less, Kaimana got to work adding flows of magic to the wound, and started allowing the flesh to mend itself, as Shinda slowly pulled away the stitching. To Moko, it felt itchy, and numb with some jibs of pain, but those unpleasantments were far less compare to when he was first stitched up. When they were done, all that was left was the scar. It was light blue around the edge, and a small pink line right at the cut.

In time the skin would pigmentate some color back into the area, but the scar would always be there.

"If you ever want it removed now, you will have to go to a treatment center. Back at the island I mean."

"Thank you for suggesting it, but I think I'm going to keep it." He said, staring at the thing.

"I hate to asked Moko, but what happen to all of your magic? When I healed you, there was barely any left. I was surprised you weren't overcome with magical sickness." Kaimana said. Mieka's jaw dropped.

"Yea, I used it all fighting that thing down there. I kept having to defend myself every time it reached for me, then the next thing I know, I was out, and it got me.” Mieka eyes had shown shocked as they widen. So he also had lied.

"It almost ate me too. Then some short of explosion happen and injured it. I managed to get away then."

"Sounds like my ion pistol." Kaimana said dishearten. Looks like he wasn't going to be getting that back. With that long time family heirloom destroyed, he was going to have hard time explaining this to his own father.

"Moko, I thought you said you were only going to just distract it, not fight it!" Mieka snarled.

"At first I did, but I had to show it we aren't going to be easy prey for it either. I doubt it will ever come back to try again. I also shown I can defend us too, so you should be thanking me for being brave. It's been a while too. Come on now I know you want to." Moko said teasing.

Mieka didn't know to either yell at him, or to pull him by his ear fin all the way around the island. The idiot was going to get himself killed one of these days, and yet she couldn't do anything about it. Well except perhaps doing her best to make sure his pride is kept in check. That what's going to do it in for him, if nothing else.

"Thank you Moko." She replied tensely. I don't know what I would of done if that big mean scary Criberler would of ever had eaten you."

"You're welcome." Moko replied stretching out the words. It seemed her sarcasm just blown right over his head.

"Now if you will excuse me my darling, I need to ask Shinda something." Shinda Gone seemed confused by what she meant raising up an eye.

Nerveless she follow Mieka, strangely back to their boat. Kaimana stood there, also confused.

"I gave you some of my spare magic too Moko, you're feeling better right?" He asked looking down at him.

"Oh, yes why I do, thank you." With that, he finally turned to the thing he most dearly wanted to see again. Gentoe was sitting there, smiling away. Walking over, Moko also gave his own hug to his son. They seemed to be embrace for some time. He, like Kisely and Link, never wanted to ever let go of him ever again. When he finally let go, he started rubbing his forehead, as if he had a full set of hair like Humans have.

"I'm so proud of you." He said smiling. Gentoe look up to him, to his father.

"I missed you so much Dad." Why It seem no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't still stop tearing up. He would be stronger, he must be!

"I missed you too. Hopefully I don't have to go chasing after you again anytime soon I hope?" He asked grinning.

"No Dad, I had enough of an adventure to last me for some time. All I want now is for us to be together, being happy again."

"Oh please, when are we ever this happy normally?" Mink said. They all startled when they found him sitting there, listening in on all of them.

Apparently he still hasn't fallen asleep yet. He even managed to walk all the way over here, but by the way he wobbled on his feet, he was ready to collapse.

"Mink, you need your sleep." Kisely said.

"I will sleep soon; I just wanted to see my brother again." He said, and then continues.

"What's with that bag Gentoe?"

"Oh this? Something I picked up last night from an island. Thought it could come in handy."

"Cool, might have to get one too at some point." He said. It was then Mieka and Shinda came back. The alpha female seemed very satisfied for some reason, and that had Moko wary on why that is. He didn't want to know, too bad we was going to find out anyhow.

"Oh Moko, my big strong self ensured mate of mine." Moko wrenched. Whenever she becomes like this, he himself was in trouble for some reason.

"Do you remember that night back when we was at that tank room at the Aquarium? Tell me Moko, why had I become upset, other than beside Gentoe escaping?”

"Tank? Um. . ." Moko had to actually think about that. He went back through that whole evening after they searched the building for Gentoe, where they finally stop along the public hallways. He started recalling that part of the night.

"Nothing coming up, sorry." He said finally. Mieka looked scornful by the remark.

"Perhaps, this will refresh your memory, Shinda?" Shinda look down at Mieka, bewilder by their strange customs. Well in a way it wasn't, really not so different. Mieka always seemed to be the Yin to Moko's Yang. They both in a way made sure they kept themselves out of trouble, well most of the time anyways. Still what she intended to do made her question why she needed the thing.

Guess she will find out now she supposed. She reached into her pocket, and handed Mieka a small unwrapped rectangle object over to her. Then Minka held it out in her hand so Moko would clearly see it. She did, and like that, his memory did recall that incident. Moko became horrified, taking a step back. She was holding a bar of soap.

"Mieka, sweetie, come on now, right when we just found our pups?!" He said shuddering takeing another step backwards. His expression was filled with fear. His ear fin's dipped stright downward.

"More then makes it a perfect time to wash your mouth out! You said a curse, right in front of our pups. I need to make an example of the rules you and I had set forth when we started our family."

Moko looked from Shinda, to Kaimana, looking for support here. They both stood there, and were smiling. They thought this was going to be amusing to watch. He turned to his pups. Gentoe seemed confused by what had just transpired. He wasn't there of the night of course, but Link,

Kisely, and even Mink, who seemed to find a tad more energy to stay up just for this, was also smiling, but much more gleefully. They also would enjoy this it seemed. With no support, he did the only thing he could. He turned, and bolted for the jungle.

"No you don't Moko!" Mieka yelled after him, and gave chase. All four pups started laughing, as they watched the event unfold. Even both of the biologists smiled. Moko was faster on foot, but Mieka knew a trick he didn't knew about. Reaching in herself for the power, she sent a small trail of pure magic ahead of her. The trail was invisible to the naked eye, but it firmed up, and became as solid as if it was truly there. Similar to the water tendril spell, but without the water.

She pushed the weave ahead of Moko. It flowed over, then back down turning sideways just hovering over the beach. He trip over the arm of magic and fallen down to his side. Mieka was right on top of him before he even started getting up. Rolling him on his back, she stood over him, with one hand clamped around his right horn, pulling his head up, and the other hand with the bar of soap.

"Open!" She demanded.

“Uh un.”Moko replied with a tight mouth, muffling his protest.

"Moko, if you don't open your mouth right this instance, I will make sure to do far worse to you then just merely soap can. You don't want me to go that route. You know what I mean by it." Moko did knew, and it shaken him to his core. It only had ever happen to him once before while still living under their old pack, when he and Mieka relationship was just teasing towards each other as pups. It had even once happen to their old leader, Oscar.

They even did it themselves to Link too, and he was embarrassed for a month afterwards. He really didn't want her to do that to him. The pups would make fun of him for months, if not years for it.

Moko cringed, gulped, and then reluctantly opened his mouth. Pleased, she shoved the bar into his mouth.

"Start chewing." Moko did as order.

"It's bitter!" Moko tried to say, his words slushy. He didn't look to see, but he sure all of their pups fallen over from laughing too hard.

Even Shinda was chuckling.

A minute past had past then. Moko mouth diluted the bar, completly covered by the soaping substance, forming out from the sides.

"I'm sooorrry." Moko tried to say, tearing up just like a pup would being punish. Mieka didn't expect that from him, but it gave her more satisfaction none the less. After what felt like interiority, she finally told him to spit out the soap, although it came out in a chewed mush. Now with his mouth forming over with the stuff, he DID look like a pup again. It had even made her giggle a little.

If he kept deageing like this, she was sure he would start crying as if he just had hatched out, which strangely enough he did back then. Then out of the blue, she thanks him for being a good Darjeet for learning his lesson, and then gave him a quick peck on his nose as a kiss. That certainly made him stopped tearing up.

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With the chance that the Criberler could still be around when the sun finally disappeared over the horizon, Shinda and Kaimana decided to stay overnight with the pack. The two biologists helped make a fire for them, and they eaten some cook fish they caught out in the cove. It was the first time the Darjeets had anything cooked and warm before, and they enjoy every scrap of it.

Shortly after all the pups had fallen asleep around Gentoe, Mieka and Moko had stayed up. They and the Human and Gerinsi Water Dragon had a much long needed talk, discussing their futures. For it to succeed, they need a plan, something to follow along with a time scale. They needed information for survival, so Shinda told them they would get them weather proof books to read while out here so they can learn on their own.

They needed to show them that Darjeets can survive out here without intervention. Some help would be appreciated though like medical care and things they would need, as well checking up on every so often. Another thing they talked about was about the others. Oscar clan and the second, unknown pack. They talked for hours, planning it all out. When the final agreements were set, they shaken hands, and they too went to sleep, as the stars shined in the night sky of the cloudless night.

In the morning, as the sun not yet having peak over the ocean, the biologists said their final farewells, boarded back onto the Sea Guardian and left, heading back to their homes. Mieka and Moko sat there watching them go, with some sadness though. They were finally free, finally able to make their own choices in the world as they wanted too. Yet, they left their old easy lives behind which was what they only knew just two days ago.

They were scared, afraid what was out here, yet they know they can make it.

"Five months, that's how long we need to make it. If we can show them that we can, the others will be release." Moko said. Mieka turn to face him.

"What if they don't" She still seemed to not trust them just yet.

"Their civilization already going bonkers over what happen at the Aquarium, as you know what Kaimana had told us though that E-Chip of his. In a few days, maybe weeks, tourist will want to come find us; they want to see the planet long awaited replacement to the Boggle Seals. This will be all over the news. It might even go as far as the Uneepa galaxy. Everyone will know what we agree to, and if after five months pass and they refused to let them go. Well then the galaxies will hear of it. They will be pressured to release them, so I'm not worried about it right now. I'm just more scared about the next couple of months."

Mieka started to rub her head over hers mates head, smoothly away tensions and uneasiness that seemed to go away, as long as she is with her mate.

"We will need to be able to hunt, build a shelter, learn about the world around us, and survive. Doesn't sound too hard." He added.

"If the next five months is just as hard as the last two days?" Mieka asked.

"I doubt it now. We learned a lot from those two days. Kisely is old enough to help out; Link will soon be too. I think we will do well enough."

Moko turned to look at their pups. They were playing with a gift the biologist given them just before they departed. A bright red ball. This one would be much harder to destroy then ones before as its surface is thicker and puncture resident.

They all were passing the ball around to each other on the beach, seeing to vastly enjoy all the room around them. They never had such a space to play with before. The beach was far larger than the biggest room the Aquarium had. Also what was new, was that they finally allowed Gentoe play

along with them. They all seemed so happy, so care free again like they once was before, but they all know that deep down they will all have to toughen up if they were to survive out in the wild.

"You know, this island doesn't have name. It's protected under as a natural park, and since we are considered animal's, we can stay here. So I say we also get to named it if were going to stay here."

"And I know what it should be called." Mieka replied. She stop rubbing along Moko checks, but she rested her head against his, as they stared out into the rising sun, Olesski.

"Darjeet Isle." Mieka said finally. Moko blinked.

"Yes, that will work. Our very own island. It fits perfectly." Then finally added,

"It's a brave new world out there Mieka."

"A brave new world. . ."