The engine was still going. We were still moving. "When we get back to Goldtail Tribe territory, you can keep this one as a prisoner. We warned their whole group that we were all dangerous and not to be messed with." All 7 of the mermen were totally shocked. "We've never been able to take one of the pups from Grayflank Tribe prisoner before. They are the apex predator of the underwater world." Jared said. I shrugged, and winced as the pain flared up again. "Damn it! It still hurts." I hissed as I sat down on one of the seats for the fishermen. I was going to have to wait for my HP to return to me. They knew where to go and gave me directions. I followed them to the best of my ability. It still took us 3 days to get there. Once we were in the middle of their territory, they told me to stop. I cut the engines and said "Well, I guess this is goodbye for now." They looked surprised. "You aren't coming with us?" Jethro asked. I looked around. "There is no dry land for miles. Is there really anyway for me to get down there. Other than drowning that is." I said. They looked stumped here. I just shrugged.
Joel looked at me and then at his comrades. "What if we used the Air Pearl?" he asked out loud. All the other mermen gasped. This must have been a radical proposal. I guess that made Joel the best one to propose it. "No way. You can't let a human down in the water! That's wrong!" the Grayflank pup said. Jared also shook his head. He was the leader of the group. "The pup is right. Even though we owe our lives to David, we can't use such a holy artifact for a single human." This Air Pearl was getting hyped up more and more. "What is it and what does it do?" I asked. "The Air Pearl is one of the pieces of Neptune's crown that was broken off as a covenant between him and merkin. Every chief of a large tribe gets one and it has lots of power." the pup recited proudly. Jude nodded his head and added "It can perform all sorts of great miracles, but only one per chieftain. He has no reason to allow you to live in the tribe with us as a human. None of us can convert you anymore either." This was a conundrum. I shook my head. "I'll be here for a while. You can go and come back." I said.
None of them moved. "If we go down, we will have to assume our tribal role immediately. The warriors will do nothing but patrols and fighting if need be." "As a female, I will be expected to take care of the guppies and prepare to lay eggs of my own. None of us will have the luxury to return to the surface and see you." That kind of sucked. In the broader scope of things, that might have been for the best. I needed to get to the world that Suzie was on so we could play together. "Oh well. It was nice knowing you guys." I said. I got the net and threw it on the pup. He protested, but I pointed the harpoon at him. He shut up really quickly. "You are now a prisoner. They are going to take you down to their tribe and deal with you there." I told him. He hissed at me. His mouth was full of sharp fangs, but there was nothing he could do about the net. Jethro stood up and walked by me. "I don't want to leave your side, David." he said. Joel got up and stood on the other side of me. "I feel the same way. I won't leave you." he said firmly. The others were upset. "You have to come back." Jesse snapped.
While they were arguing among themselves, I tossed the net with the sharkman pup in it over the side of the ship. He thrashed and struggled once it hit the water. "You guys, you have to go. If he escapes, he will more than likely bring a raiding party to the heard of your tribe's territory. Some of you have to secure him." I said. Jeremy groaned and said "I guess it's up to me to keep the pup in line." He then looked at me and said "I will always remember how you saved my life. Thank you." he said. He then jumped in the water. Jude followed after him without a word. Jesse said "You brought me back to life when I had drowned. That is not something that I could ever forget. Thank you, David." "Your welcome. You will make a great warrior." I said to him. He smiled with a nod and jumped into the water. Jared was still trying to convince them to return. Eventually, he had to give up. The pup was almost free of the net. Even as a kid, his teeth were sharp and his tail was powerful. Jared hurried to secure the net and drag him down to their tribe below. I was now left with just Joel and Jethro here.
