What an unusual group of creatures. Is what you had been thinking as you continued to observe what is currently the targets of your first ever fascination. Watching them not with a small amount of interest as more of their own keeps on coming from somewhere further in Land, and thus, from somewhere deeper within the Dark.
Why are you felt drawn towards them for so much so however? You can't really be certain. Not even when their numbers slowly grew were you able to pull the answer you've sought out from the unknown. Just like how most things were with these strange, intriguing creatures.
To put it simply. Even with what little you could make out of these Land walkers who are currently occupying the top of your shore, they are just too unlike any other animals you have ever seen for you to properly discern them accurately.
As a Sea, you are reluctant to admit how you do not actually have the greatest understanding of just what kind of animals there are on Land. With the only definite knowledge you have was on how all of them seemed to spend their full entire lives living mostly on air instead of water.
A complete opposite compared to their aquatic counterpart deep within you. But, even then, there should still be some similarities which exist between the two. Even if it was only in the way they act and behave amongst more of their own.
It was just how life was in every single Place of the World.
For their appearance, at first, you thought of them as some kind of furless relative to the Ape. A mighty being of muscle and aggression covered with fur who you once have the displeasure of actually encountering with in the depths of Chaos.
But, after a few convenient occurrences, you are able to get a much closer look out of the creatures when some of them thought it was actually a very good idea to take a drink straight from your very waters. Not realizing how salt comprised the most of your being.
Something which, had also allows you to directly confirm how any possible connection that they have with the Ape seems to only extend as far as them having the same kind of general body shape between each other.
Beside some of their age variants you've seen moving around the area, you had also managed to see how these Ape like creatures before you has apparently two different kind of physique to their general existance. Physiques, which seems to be determined by their own gender.
Both are hunched to some extent, with either also having two different pair of limbs which they seems to have used for a variety of purposes. But, beside those and a tuft of hair with varying amount of length at the top of their heads, the two different types of these creatures can only be described as polar opposites compared to each other.
The males seems to be mostly on the larger side between the two. With many of them possessing a strong set of arms and a nimble pair of legs to complement their lean and muscular bodies. Something which would help them greatly in any strenuous activity where they would doubtlessly be able to prove their dominance.
If it weren't for their white as teeth hair and a pair of eyes which glowed faintly in the Dark, you would also find it difficult to keep a constant track of these well built creatures. All due to their deeply, ink like, black skin. A great advantage that they have which would allow them to seamlessly blends in with the surrounding darkness.
A truly dangerous creature they are, nevertheless. Worthy of both fear and respect from any ordinary beings and entities they would've encountered.
The females however, seemed to have went into a very different direction.
The other type of these creatures are all usually smaller than the males. With their bodies looking mostly weak and frail. Dangerously so even, what with how conspicuous they are with skin as white as the palest pearl you've ever witnessed.
Yet, there seemed to be something more to these counterparts. Mostly in their general demeanor. With hair as long and dark as the blackest sea weeds concealing their most important of organs and eyes as black as the darkest pits hiding their most insidious of intents, all of their actions are quiet and calculated, capable of giving both horror and regret to any beings and entities who have managed to earn their ire.
So far, nothing which are truly unique nor special for a being such as you. There are many other creature beneath your waves who are capable of what they can possibly do in an equal or far more impressive manner. Their physical prowess doesn't seem to be the reason for your interest.
Was it their behavior then? You momentarily began to wonder. Mentally going through everything you have already seen in the rather short time after you had first began your observation.
From what little you have already seen, these creatures seemed to mostly act just like any other animal you know would've. Behaving around violently and seemingly without a care as they are being helplessly driven only by their instincts.
Again, you just can't seem to find anything extraordinary about them that would have managed to drag so much of your attention towards them. Not even when there's a large number of them who are currently staying around the shore for you to easily scrutinize.
A number which seems to have finally decided to stop from growing to become even larger. It has been a while ever since you've saw more of these creatures who are able to come silently out from the darkness behind them. With some of their last seemingly having lost a few of their body parts due to something or another before they are able to join up with the rest of their kind.
And with that, you have learned about every possible knowledge that you could have regarding these Land walking creatures by merely using only your sight alone. You would need to do something much more intimate should you have any further desire for more.
Your effort however, doesn't seem to have gone entirely wasted. For in your determined attempt to understand more about these creatures, you had managed to somehow connect yourself with something beyond the realm of the material.
The experience itself has almost gone completely unnoticeable to you. What with it feeling like something both natural, and yet also unnatural, all at the same time.
It is like a faint feeling, a vague sensation, or even something like a distant memory. The only thing you are able to understand out of the entire incident was you seemingly reaching out to the creatures you have put your gaze upon using nothing more but your own will before barely managing in pulling out a single... Name.
Not just a name however, but the very Name of these large group of furless beings.
Now, you know their Name. They are...
Humans. You slowly finished from within the deepest part of your being. Carefully feeling out the word you had gained.
That's what you all are.
You float the Name around in your mind for a few more times. Testing and appreciating just how it could sound like before eventually deciding, you could ponder more about it at a later time.
Altogether however, they created an impression upon you which is so unlike anything you have ever seen before. There is just simply nothing you could actually think of which would even come close to resemble what these Humans had already shown you in the rather short time after you had first known about them.
They are not like any numerous, marine life, animals which lives their simple unchanging lives deep inside of you.
They doesn't feel like any single unique beings comparable to you who are all currently watching the group alongside you.
And they are definitely not like anything you have ever remembered from back during the confusing turbulent times you have just went through after moments of your birth.
They are just something different entirely. This, you are very much certain.
Because of what however? You questioned. Staring hard at the Humans as if they are going to just suddenly gave you the answer.
Unfortunately for you, however. You will not have the time necessary to find out. For something which you have been patiently waiting over for had finally decided to come.
It started with a cry. A Human cry. One that is soon followed by a couple of similar others. All of which seems to be in pain and are desperately gasping around for breath.
They all sounded like they are slowly running closer toward the other Humans on the shore. Most of which, seems to have also been beginning to notice the situation, and while some are preparing themselves to see what is going to happen, others had already quickly leaving the rest behind.
The sounds are now coming from somewhere so much closer. But, amidst the ragged and tired voice of the approaching Human being, you are quick to realize one single important detail.
It is the only one that is left. The other voices following it is nowhere to be found.
Something is hunting them down. You thought to yourself. Feeling how your tides are slowly rising up and how your waves are gradually becoming agitated along with the Humans rising nervousness as more and more of them are beginning to take notice of the very same thing you have also did.
But, by what?
Soon enough however, you are finally able to see the last remaining runner. They are Human, just like what you have expected. An adult male too, should you ever need to guess. And he looks like a mess.
The Human seems to have gone into the state of complete and utter exhaustion. His steps are all being done heavily and his motions are all looking very clumsy and uncoordinated. Mud and dirt seems to have covered various parts of his body, and his face is being uglily marred with an expression of both pain and fear.
What attracts your attention the most however, was the way he is desperately clutching onto one of his arm. Or to be exact, what is remained from the arm that is currently just dangling around on his side after seemingly having been severed through brutally by something.
The moment the runner is able to recognize just who it is that has been waiting for him however, you are practically able to see how the despair in his eyes quickly gives away into hope. The Human then hastened up his steps, gives the other Humans on the shore a smile, and raises his one remaining, functional arm to the air before-
A large white object suddenly pierced straight through him.
The Human stopped, seemingly confused. He then turned his eyes downwards, and takes a single long look at the thing occupying what is most likely the entirety of his torso. Looking as if he simply just cannot believe of what he is currently seeing.
His then turned his eyes back toward the other Humans who are all watching him in their now terrified silence, and thus, also towards you. Where you are able to see his fastly draining hope.
Then, from the Dark, it appears.
It's big. Compared to the nearby Humans, the thing is very very big. It seemed to be an entity which resembles what you know as a spider. Instead of having a living breathing body however, it's body looked dead. Having seemingly made from nothing but bones and a Human like skull which serves as both the center of it's body as well as it's face.
It leisurely raise the body it had just stabbed up toward it's 'eyes'. Where it then spend a few moments doing nothing but watch at how the Human it had caught is slowly becoming sluggish before eventually becoming still and releases something faint altogether. Smiling cruelly during the entire process. Seemingly founding some kind of relish at the sight it had created.
It then turned it's gaze forward. Right towards the gathering of Humans who have now become totally horrified after being forced to witness what was being done to another of their kind.
The entity easily notices them, and upon seeing the Humans, the smile on it's skull somehow turns even wider. Becoming a grin that is so full with malice as it then carelessly throws away the one it had stabbed to the side. Seemingly no longer having any kind of interest in it.
Just as the Humans began to scream and scatter around in terror, the entity suddenly lunges itself forward with a burst of speed. Just running itself straight towards them with it's mouth wide open to release a loud, reverberating howl. Already almost reaching it's targets within literal seconds.
Alright. That is far enough.
Immediately, you pushed your tides forward far harder than what you usually do. Quickly creating a series of tall waves for yourself. Something which, almost took no time at all in overtaking the majority of the shore. Where you are able to announce yourself to the scene with a mighty thunderous impact.
In their panic, the Humans didn't even have the chance to react to your presence. Before they were even able to do anything, you have already long done collecting them all within the safety of yourself, and after making sure you would always keep their heads up above water, you surge the rest of you pass them to engage with your new foe.
"Huh?!" Was the only thing the entity has even managed to say. For you had already flooded your way into it where, after swiftly smashing it's body into the ground, you then began to tear and crush it's brittle form into-
"
PHUAAAAHHHHH!!!" Into nothing. Because even againts your wildest expectation, the entity has managed to escape from your deathly grip by jumping high into the air. And before you could even try to recapture it back into your grasp, it had already turned itself around to fall towards you legs first in a position where it could easily cut and stab you using them. All the while, letting out a shout full of rage which somehow a sends chill even
You could felt. "HOW DARE YOU!!?"
Sensing true danger for the very first time in your short existence, you flowed yourself away in order to dodge the airborne attack. Not wanting to know what would happen were you to try and ignore it.
"
GYAKKHH!!!?" All for nought however. For either because of your total inexperience or your foe was indeed just that much better than you are in a real time combat, the entity was able to tract your movement as it fall so that it could slash and deal some injury to you despite how you are nothing more than a mass of moving water.
Angered, you come rushing back towards the entity in the form of another large and devastating tide. Further rearranging the shore with your series of indiscriminate attack, with your raging waters doing everything that it can to break all that comes within your reach.
Something which the skeletal entity is infuriatingly not a part of.
It is fast! You furiously acknowledged from within the dephts of your mind. Swiftly sending another wave of water which you closely follows from behind at the skull faced entity. One that is able to be easily dodged by it thanks to the quick skittering movements that it has.
Time and time again, when you thought you had managed to corner the spider like entity into where you are able to cause a massive crushing blow to it using the force of your waves, it was always able to rapidly slip around or even
through you to escape. Before it then began to always try and take another stab out of you which, while indeed
painful, wasn't really a concern considering just how much of you is actually here fighting againts this thing.
Until finally, you had managed to capture the entity within your grasp. But, it had also managed to cause a stab which just feels
agonizing to you. Thus, in your haste, the only accomplishment that you have in your consequent flailing around was you forcing it far and away using one powerful throw to the side. Freeing you from it's attack and, judging from the sound it makes when it landed, also giving back some of the hurt it deserves.
More importantly however. During some moments within your clash, you are able to feel something from the entity. It felt like what you had also have with the Humans, but a little bit different somehow. And just like it, you are able to understand something about this skull faced annoyance you are currently facing againts.
Now, you know just
who this entity is. Thus, just as it starts to gather it's bearing, you began to shape your form into something much more definite. Giving yourself something close to a body which it could look up to and for you to more easily convey your intentions with.
What Do You Look Like? You Looked...
[ ] Humanoid
[ ] Immense
[ ] Monstrous
"Begone
Death." You decreed upon the entity. Glaring hard at it's empty pair of eye sockets as if to promise what would happen to it if it doesn't decide to wisen up and obey. "These Humans are all under my protection."
Instead of immediately skittering away or bowing themself down before asking you for your forgiveness however, the entity instead has the utter gall to laugh at your face. "Begone? Me!? Sorry
Sea, but I don't think I want to!"
"Then drown."
"Make me!"
Once again, the both are you are immediately on top of each other. Water and bones are being constantly exchanged between the two of you, and yet, none of you had managed to done anything substantial to affect the course of the battle.
You are just too big and too massive for Death to injure meaningfully. Meanwhile, Death is just too fast and too agile for you to reasonably catch. A complete stalemate.
The fight then quicky becomes repetitive, with neither of you being able to do anything to the other. Soon enough however, both of you knew something will just have to give.
Until finally, you tried to give a single wide, but quick wave toward one side of Death's many bony legs. Hoping to at least restrict it by injuring it's main method of movement. Only to be left disappointed when your attack wasn't able to hit anything, again.
Looking around, you are left confused when you found, or rather, unable to found just where in the World your foe had disappeared to. All that you can see within your expansive line of sights are only the newly made gulf that you had just made, the Humans, the Land, the Dark, and then yourself. With Death being nowhere to be seen.
"Had to give it to you,
Sea. You're strong." Said Death from somewhere above you, just when you are beginning to get wary from a possible sneak attack. And when you turn yourself up to glance towards it, you are able to see Death just hanging there. Watching you smugly from the safety of the area's far ceiling which you didn't even realize was actually there to begin with. "Wasn't expecting myself to get into this hard of a fight when I just want to go out and hunt some Humans, but look at where it had all gotten me to this time. Fine! You win. I'll leave those Humans to you for now,
Sea."
Is it planning to run away? You thought with anger, and told to it as such.
"As if!" Mocked Death angrily upon hearing what you have to say. Then it began to explain itself with the sharp, snapping sound of it's teeth clacking themself together loudly. "I am just saying I don't want those Humans anymore! So, there's no reason for me to keep playing with you. You want them? You can take them!"
You can't do anything but stare at how Death
seemingly offers up the Humans behind you in exchange for it's... leave? Is that what it is doing? You can't really tell for sure.
Before you can think about it any further, however. The spider like entity high above you then began to talk once more. "Don't think I will just go and forget about you though,
Sea! You will regret ever daring interrupting my fun. Mark my words!! I
Will eventually turn you into nothing more but a lifeless splatter on the ground. Did you hear me,
Sea!?"
You've already began to dismiss what Death is saying as nothing but empty threats. If it wants to kill you, then why not now?
But then Death says something which readjust all of your focus back towards it. "That's why, it would be such a shame for me to just leave without having something to remember you by,
Sea. Give me your Name so that I could curse them whenever I feel like it!"
"My... Name?" You confusedly asked back. Feeling somehow strange.
"Yes your Name you oversized puddle!" Snapped Death. Seemingly at the limits of it's patience. "Everyone like us all have a Name. Even you should have one too,
Sea. So don't be shy and just tell me. Here, I'll even start with mine."
The skeletal and very spider like entity who is Death then seems to began preparing itself for what it is about to do. Cracking it's bones together till they pops before it then gave you the very Name that it possess.
"My Name is
<Thanoigea>." Said Death solemnly. Acting unlike anything you've ever seen it like before. "What's yours,
Sea?"
For a moment, you are tempted to say you have no Name just in order to spite the annoying entity, but you stopped yourself. This feels important somehow, and you felt like you would be wasting an opportunity if you were to carelessly answer.
"What's wrong,
Sea?" Asked Dea-, no, asked
Thanoigea curiously. All the while, it is tilting it's head to the side as if wondering just what it is that is making you hesitate. "Don't you have a Name for yourself to share?"
Your mind began to furiously think. Is this a trap of some kind? It doesn't feel like it. What is so important about a Name anyway? Why did it even want it? There is a lot of things which you simply didn't have any kind of answers for.
In the end, however. You gives in to temptations, and began to search through your whole being for your Name. Until you finally find it, and saith it out loud for the World to hear.
Who Are You? Your Name Is...
[ ] "
<Seadragora>."
[ ] "
<Neptcys>"
[ ] "
<Write-In>."
Thanoigea laughed upon hearing you utter your Name for the very first time. Looking as if it is being completely drowned in with joy. "Thank's for sharing it with me,
Sea! I will never forget it. Have fun with those Humans, and remember! You will not be able to protect them forever!"
So thus declares Thanoigea, and before you even know it, the chatty entity of Death has long since vanished from within your sight. Having seemingly already retreated back into the Dark where it had once came from.
You stayed your form for just a few moments longer. Wondering whether Death has indeed just gone and left. Once you are sure that Thanoigea was truly no longer around, you then let out a deep gurgling sound which is your equivalent to a sigh.
That was... something. You began to thought. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed.
Out of anything that could have happened, meeting and fighting Thanoigea is not the first thing you would have expected this early into your existence out of all the Chaos. And now after it is gone, you would need some time to process everything that had occurred out of the entire event.
Before you could do so however, a sound from behind you draws back your attention toward the very reason why you are even fighting the entity of Death in the first place.
Ah, yes. The Humans.
Turning yourself around, you are able to see the many remaining Humans. All of which are those who you had been able to successfully protect from Thanoigea. They are all still floating around the calm parts of your waters, and the previous sound seems to have come from one of their quiet conversations discussing about what they should do now. Currently, they are all watching you with eyes which are filled with equal part awe and fear.
You would need to release them. The question is however; how?
What Are You Going To Do? You Are Going...
[ ] To do nothing: Even if you do felt somehow drawn towards them, that doesn't mean you should also get attached. After swiftly putting them back on the ground, you simply let them watch silently at how your form rapidly broke away into streams of water before unhurriedly flowing back into the rest of your being. If you ever have a need for them, then you would simply call.
[ ] To comfort them: Feeling somewhat compassionate, you slowly put each of the Humans up on their feet, or on their sides for those who didn't seem to have the strength, before making sure that all of them are doing just fine by gently nuzzling them with some of your small, watery limbs. After all of that caressing has been done however, your form then began to carefully backs away from them before gradually sinking itself away into the rest of your being. That should reassure them enough about how they are now safe with you staying around and watching them.
[ ] To claim them: After saving them from a dangerous entity like Thanoigea, it is only natural for you to want something in return. The World is not a kind Place, and survival is everything in it. They now owed you with their very lives. So you spend some time expressing what you are expecting out of them before quickly dissolving yourself back into the rest of your being. You would have them do something for you later.
