Pressure.

Dark, constricting pressure all around.

It made Error rather light headed and nervous, the boys more so. But the new discomfort was so much more bearable than the painful boiling heat they had to endure near the surface. 

It was pleasantly chilly down where they landed. The achy sunburned feeling finally cooling down to a dull numbness.

This allowed his body was relaxed, taking advantage of the cool temperatures, but that didn't mean he wasn't on high alert.

It was dark. Very dark.

With the amount of time it took them to scale down the drop off Error was unsure if it was nearing night or because they were so deep and in the shadow of the cliff side. Either way it made him a bit twitchy.

The landscape was different and unnerving to say the least.

The sand wasn't like sand anymore. It was more muddy and dense Looking. Besides a few stray rocks and grass like reeds it was barren.

Open and dark. Two things Error didn't like. Not saying he couldn't handle himself in this type of situation. He's fought in these exact and even worst conditions before, so he could now. Even still, Error made sure to be extra alert for any other Souls in the area.

At the moment, thankfully, they were alone.

Red, who had lagged a little behind, finally caught up with a huff.

The smaller's blazing red eyes darted around the darkness. With out looking away the addressed the others "We can't stay put for long. Don't want to risk getting caught by a larger group."

Glancing at Error and the boys he sat down the supplies before laying down. "Let's just rest for a few minutes before moving forward."

Error nodded, letting the boys slip out of the satchel for the time to stretch. Null laid out on the sand with a sigh as Void swam around, taking in their surroundings.

Error himself glided over to Red, and made a spot for himself besides the smaller.

"You said a little while ago, that me and my boys will have to stay with the other SharkTales. Where are they to the Grounds? Where do I go once we get there?" He calmly asked, eyes dashing around for any signs of danger.

Red jumped a little at the sudden closeness of the others voice, having not noticed him. "Oh! Ok well. The Breeding Grounds isn't really a 'Grounds'; more like a giant gorge filled with deep sea corals and caves." He waved his hand nervously.

"It's not really appealing to SharkTales, that added with the Truce, they stay in the grassy Dugouts." Red bit his lip trying to come up with a description. "It's this giant... pocket in the ground that's covered up by a layer of rock. That rock cover has a whole bunch of holes in it that lets in light so moss and grasses grow inside." Red hummed out.

"Classic said most of the sharks like to make nests for their eggs out of the greenery that grows on the walls." He added with a smile towards Error.

Error hummed, watching Void pounce around Null to get him to play. "Is sounds nice. Have you been inside?"

Red shook his head with a fearful gaze. "Never. It's literally a giant nest that's full of sharks! Didn't I tell you before that some species eat guys like me?"

Error cocked his head, eyes narrowing at the vermilion. "If they wanted to eat you wouldn't they just go to the Grounds to pick you off?"

"The Truce is what keeps that from happening. Sharks can enter the Grounds as long as they don't hurt anyone, Tales can enter the Dugouts at their own risk. That's just how it's been for the past few decades, ever since I was a guppy." Red huffed, nodded to his own words.

Error look away, taking in this information. "How did you get them to agree to this Truce?"

The destroyer couldn't help but let his mind wonder to his old multiverse, if it even still existed. A truce back then would have solved some if not all his problems. I simple truce with Ink could have saved everyone. But on the other hand, Inky might not have agreed...

Thoughts for later.

"It wasn't originally for the Sharks, it was for the Tales." Red started. "Some species just don't get along and others have full out wars. So it was put up that as long as you're in the Breeding grounds you can't fight or kill each other and other stuff like that. But it's only for the Grounds. Anywhere else is a free-for-all...."

Red looked up at him frowning before looking away. "My dad told me stories that his dad told him, about species of mer that are extinct or who were close to being because they were chased away from the Grounds. That their eggs were unable to hatch out here or in the reef so they slowly died off. "

"What a horrible way to go." Error sighed out, eyes dulling. "Watching everyone you love die around you knowing their stories and history will be forgotten."

He could remember AUs lost in time and destruction. Some beautiful, some not so. Most were original, unique in every way. Why did it change?

"Dad! Ahh!"

Error jerked up eyes darting around, not able to process what was going on before Null and Void practically tackled him.

He grunted at the impact but recovered quickly, pulling the boys into his arms. "What happed?"

Null looked up with a gasp and pointed.

A fish.

A long ribbony fish was slowly making its way up to them. It wasn't that big. Maybe half the size of his forearm. It had a bright yellow head that faded into a light blue then a soft violet. A dark black stripe ran down the length of it.

Errors eyes narrowed, ready to give the boys to Red and kill the little bastard for what ever it did to scare the boys, when Red suddenly squeal happily and swam past them to meet it half way.

He stopped in front of it, reaching out slowly. The fish almost automatically swirled around his hand, face seemingly digging into Reds joins and between his fingers.

He turned and squealed again. "ERROR ITS A WRASSE!!!! Come here, look!"

The destroyer, hesitating for a moment, swam over. If Red was ok with it then it should be fine.

"What is it doing? It looks like it's biting you." Error huffed.

Red shook his head. "No... well kinda. It's bite doesn't hurt though, just tickles a bit. I think Null knows how it feels hm? Did it startle you?"

The pup nodded a bit looking at it warily. "It came outa nowhere..."

"It's ok sweetheart. It's not scary, it's actually really helpful. It picks and eats parasites and dirt from the scales and teeth of fish and mers."

He lifted his hand to his chest, letting the Wrasse slip to his ribs.

"Most mers ignore 'em or just swat them away, but some keep them as pets! I use to have one of my own till my br-... someone ate it." Red watched it, a sad gleam in his eyes.

"Their loyal little buggers. Once you feed them and show them some love they stick to you like fins on a fish. You want to see him boys?"

Null snuggled into Error chest, being the one it decided to surprise clean he was still a little startled. Void, on the other hand reached out enthusiastically.

The Wrasse fluttered from Reds chest to the baby bones arm, picking and nipping at Voids joints and bone. He giggled happily. "It tickle's!" It traveled up his arm and around his neck before coming up and flittering around his mouth.

Void laughed out happily, bringing a smile to each of the others faces.

It had been awhile since he heard his baby bones genuinely laugh.

Far to long.
-

-
Just some reference.

The Dugout

(My shit art lol. did this in like, two minutes.)

Cleaner Wrasse

Look at em go.

Beautiful clean boys.