Citizen 1167 Eris

Artist: paradoxspir1t

Staring out into the churning water, Eris felt the cold dread of doubt in his stomach, but he had no choice but to press on. 

Only an hour ago, Eris had stood tall when the other Rexes murmured between themselves, debating over his business. He had waited for the meeting for so long, after he had extended an offer of partnership to many parts of the seedy underbelly of the Posian Islands, but this crew was the first to take an interest. Once he had one acceptance, he knew his reputation would spread and draw more business to him. Eris had it all planned out, and it just relied on getting the first partnership accepted. He knew his worth and what he had to offer. 

Though he was young, he was not naive. Eris was well aware of the dirty work the partnership would entail, but he didn’t expect he would need to put himself in harms way to be prove himself before working with them.

Eris watched the growing storm crash into the waves, whipping them into a frenzy and spraying the Rexes on the shore. He just had to swim through the rough water, from this shore to the small island on the horizon, one of many within the area of the Posian Islands, and return before sunset. What time was it already? Dark clouds blotted out the sky, but it had been only midday when he’d met the pirates to discuss arrangements. Perhaps he could survive the wild seas, but would he make it back in time?

“Having second thoughts, newbie?” The voice behind him sounded smug. Eris stiffened, they actually expected him to give up and go home. 

Holding his head up high, flicking his mane for good measure, he shot the pirates a grin over his shoulder. “A little storm isn’t going to scare me off. You’ll have to try harder than that.” 

The pirate’s leader’s expression soured, giving Eris a little bit of satisfaction that he wasn’t caving to their expectations. “Well then, hurry up.” They snapped. “I don’t have time to waste.”

They stepped forward and dug their claws into the sand. “Swim.”

Obeying, his body crashed into the waves before his mind caught up. The icy water soaked him to the bone, until his fur weighed heavy on his body and dragged him down. Saltwater filled his mouth as the first wave smashed into his face and he was left coughing and spluttering for air. His clumsy movement barely kept him afloat and the little seed of dread began to grow as he wondered if he had underestimated the challenge. 

No, Rexes were build to brave the seas. Eris would not fail and let the smug Rex get to gloat over him. 

Slowly, he found a rhythm with his kicks and held his head over the surface of the water. Eris focused on his target, the island before him, and ignored the burn of his limbs or the growing taste of salt in his mouth. Eris flinched as light flashed in the sky and thunder crashed overhead like an ominous roar. He didn’t look above him, or under the water, testing fate like that was bound to curse his luck. A strike of lightning would kill him and, if he was to succeed, he couldn’t waste his energy on a battle with any underwater predators.

Taking another slap to the face from a wave, Eris choked on saltwater flooding his nose and mouth. Despite his progress, the wild water sapped his strength and tried to fill his lungs, two things he couldn’t afford in his test. With a grimace, he dipped under the waves.

The first thing he noticed was the quiet. Though he could still hear the muffled sounds of the storm above, it felt so distant from him, like he was floating in calm waters without a care. Except he couldn’t linger, Eris had a mission to complete. He savoured the feeling before pressing on, only breaching the surface for sips of air before ducking back under the chaos.

The outline of rocks and the sloping seabed was just in front of him. He could dive deeper, reach out his hand and touch them, but his lungs burned and his limbs begged for a break. With the island so close, there was no time to indulge his curiosity. Even with his energy drained, he pushed himself to shore and flopped onto the sand. 

Lightning still whipped across the sky above him, the waves still crashed against his body as he laid on the beach, but he’d completed the first half of his journey. The grains felt so soft under his aching paws and he relished in the feeling of solid ground whilst he could. He would have to get up soon, to complete the next leg of his journey.

Eris snapped his head up, before letting out a sigh of relief. The sky didn’t seem any darker than when he started, he still had time to return and succeed. Just the though made the pain in his limbs burn with more intensity, but he was too stubborn to give in. He would not be made a fool of. 

With a groan, he pushed himself to his feet and locked his eyes onto the shore he had come from. It seemed so far away and pride swelled in his chest at how far he had travelled already. His strength was clear, even this reckless challenge, braving stormy seas between island, was not enough to fell him. If this didn’t impress the pirates, they weren’t wise enough to see his potential. Taking a final deep breath, he dipped under the waves once more.

Travelling back to shore had him fighting against the tug of the current and he underestimated the strength he would need to fight it. He was exhausted already, the treacherous water on the surface of the sea had sapped him of much of his strength. Now it was no longer about pride, he had to swim or drown. 

Out of the corners of his eyes, he could see circling shapes. Were they tricks of the light? Regardless, he pressed on, even as his heart skipped beats whenever colours shifted in the edges of his vision. The instinct to survive kicked in and the pain of his body was ignored as his paws finally, finally, rested on the finish line.

He was in so much pain. The muscles in his legs, arms and neck burned with exertion, and Eris swore he could feel water slosh in his lungs as he stumbled onto shore. Still, he held his head high and grinned. His fur was a mess, waterlogged with seasalt and sand crusting against his skin, but he was victorious, a fierce smirk on his face. 

“Was that all? Now, lets talk business.”