I have a strange tingling sensation inside my chest. It's strange. I feel warm and comforted. As my eyes open I begin to see a light shining through the waters and the cracks of some rocks. Am I in a cave of some sort? Ow! A beam of light just shot into my eye! The light is shining off that object! Or that... person. Who is... that? Mm? Hello? Swap? Is that you? A face comes right up to mine in one bold move. A face that holds crimson-red eyes and sharp fangs like a horrid shark.

Wingding's POV.

     "Gah!" I startle awake and I sit up, staring at the stranger. It seems I have startled him as well. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself down. 

     "You okay?" The voice of the stranger asks. It is rough and mean-sounding as if full of sand and gravel. 

     It takes me a moment but, finally, I am able to get my words out. "Yes. I'm alright. Uhm. Why am I here, exactly?" I ask as I tilt my head slightly to the left. I do wonder what I am doing here. Not only that, but I wonder why my hand feels strange. Looking to it, I see it is wrapped in a bandage of some sort. I don't believe I've ever seen such material, it's soft and a bit torn. 

     "I found you floating around in open sea unconscious, and with a swollen hand." The stranger grunts while crossing his arms. 

     I continue to study my bandaged hand but then my vision begins to shift. The light reflects off of this man's smooth tail that sways side to side. My eyes widen at this horrifying discovery. I back against the wall staring in shock. "You're a shark!" I exclaim in fear. I watch the stranger look down at himself and then back up to me. 

     "Uh. Yeah. And?" He seems annoyed that I mentioned it in such a way. 

     "You're not going to eat me, are you?" I ask, feeling the adrenaline rush through me, ready to flee, swim as fast as I possibly can-! 

     "Ohhhh yeah! I'm gunna toss ya over a hot spring and let ya roast!... No! I'm not gunna eat ya, you idiot!" The stranger snaps at me. 

     I flinch and look down in well-deserved shame and embarrassment. "Oh... I'm sorry." I whisper ashamed of myself for making that assumption. Especially after he willingly brought me to his home to let me rest and recover. 

     "It's alright kid. I get it. Not many people are too fond of sharks. They are apex predators for a reason" The shark man gloats. 

     "Right... Anyways. I thank you for helping me, but I can't stay too long. I have research I need to conduct!" I exclaim as I begin to make my way upright. 

     "With a hand like that? Kid, you've been poisoned by something. I don't know by what but you need to rest. Here. Take this." The shark man hands over a small bowl of dense liquid. It doesn't even want to mix with the water around it. 

     "What is this for?" I ask as I stare at it with dismay. 

     "It's medicine. Now take it before ya get even sicker. You probably got that nasty sting from doing your little "research"." The shark man gruffs. 

     I can feel my face scrunch up, but he is right. Besides, the sooner I am better the sooner I can keep conducting my research. I lift the bowl to my lips and drink it down. The vile-tasting medicine makes me cringe and gag. I cough and stick out my tongue while my eyes squint. This causes the shark man to begin laughing at me and my misery. 

     "Come on, kid! It can't be that bad!" he laughs. 

     "It is that bad! And stop calling me kid! I am a fully grown adult who can think and speak for himself!" I snap out in frustration. This only makes him laugh more. 

     "You sound like one of those fin biters! He laughs. 

     "A fin biter?! How dare you compare me to one of those vile creatures that some consider to be pets!" I argue. After some back-and-forth banter, the shark man and I calmed down. "Hmp. Not a fin biter..." I grumble under my breath. The shark man chuckles and then sighs. 

     "Anyways, what's your name, kid?" He asks. 

     I feel a bubbling sensation when he uses that term again even though I gave him an entire explanation of why I am not a kid! "It's. Wingdings." I say through clenched teeth. 

     "Alright, Dingdings. Get yourself to bed before ya fall over. That medicine should be kicking in soon." The shark man grunts. 

     "You didn't even tell me your name!" I snap back. He looks at me and stares for a moment. 

     "Fell." ... "It's Fell."

Fell's POV.

     Man... It didn't take much for this kid to knock out again. He's kind of small. He'll stand his ground though so I'll give him that. Looks like he'd get swallowed whole by a guppy. Can he even fight a guppy? He does have a few scars so maybe he can. Maybe those scars are from him losing though. Maybe he picks fights that he can't win. I can see that happening. I'm surprised he's even been alive for this long. These waters ain't the friendliest. 

     As I pick up the scarf given to me a long time ago, it just continues to remind me about how hateful these waters really are. Looking out into the open blue seas around me I bring the scarf closer to my chest. I let myself ponder on this, on what this kid's goals are, if he will make it out here alone... is he alone? I found him alone. He shouldn't be alone. Hm. Wingdings. I don't think I've ever heard a name like that. It's interesting. Strange. That sand down there is strange. What is sand? Small rocks? Maybe some crushed-up shells? Hm... How long have I been staring at the sand? Why was I staring at the sand again? What was I doing? Hm. The kid is still asleep. I hope that medicine makes him feel better. He's young and has a life ahead of him, at least I hope so. Oh. I think he's starting to wake up. Wait- no- A dream? Nightmare? Wait. Nope. He's waking up. His eyes open and he tiredly looks over to me. 

     "Mm. How long has it been?" He asks with a bit of hoarseness in his voice. 

     "Since you've been asleep? I'm not too sure." I shrug. He lifts himself upright and then yawns. I watch him try to stay awake as his eyes keep closing. His head keeps falling and he keeps jolting himself awake. "Why don't you get some more rest, kid?" I suggest but I see him shake his head. 

     "No... I need to get back to my research. It's imperative." He groggily states. 

     I just look at him with a feeling of pity, knowing if he continues like this he will perish. I don't know why I care for this kid. I haven't cared for anyone in a long while. Then again, I haven't seen anyone in a long while. It feels like I haven't even seen another person in years. Has it been years? 

     "Where is my bag?" His words interrupt my thoughts. 

     "Bag? What bag?" I ask as I am unsure what he is talking about. Maybe it's the medicine. 

     "My bag. Parcel. Whatever you want to call it. It has my journal and pen in it." He says while rubbing his face. 

     "You had a bag with you? I uh- didn't see one." I admit while looking away. His eyes slowly open and it seems he has awoken fully. He rushes up and around in a panic. 

     "My bag! I need it!" He exclaims as he begins searching my place. 

     "Aye aye aye! I didn't bring the bag! It ain't in here!" I bark. He looks up at me with eyes full of distress. 

     "I can't- I can't lose that bag! It has my research tools! Personal items!" he goes on to continue before I stop him. 

     "Listen, kid. You are injured. You need more rest before you go wondering about again! Besides it's dangerous out there. You'll be ripped into tiny little bits over a stupid bag." I snap at him. He looks over at me and it seems like he could cry.

     "But! What if I wait too long and I never find it again?! What if a current takes it?! I've already waited too long I need-!"

     "Okay okay, I get it! You need your bag! But I doubt we'll find it. So don't get your hopes up." I grunt. He stares at me with glossy eyes and keeps staring. "Tch. What are you looking at?!" I snap. 

     "We?" He asks. 

     "Uh- I- Ugh. Yes. We. I'll... I'll help you find your stupid research bag." I say as I cross my arms and look away. 

     "O-Okay! Let's go!" the kid says before quickly swimming out of the hole. He then pokes his head back into the hole a moment later. "Uh- Which way did you find me?" 

     I sigh and look around my home before looking down at my scarf. I put it around my neck and then look forward. "Let's go find that bag. You and me. Together."