Citizen 299 Oxide

Oxide’s halo was the only reason she could still see so deep into the poisan trench. The mysterious abyss was known for its glowing flora and fauna. The lack of light could only be blamed on the distance Oxide had already covered, still, it was different seeing it first hand—stories always left Oxide wonder.

Sunlight didn’t even dare to venture as deep as Oxide was going—as deep as she had to go, technically. She wasn’t there just to have fun, it was a mission of sorts, a task, something she knew she had to do. Thinking about it as such was easier, following orders was easier.

The trench’s walls seemed to close around her by the time her eyes finally got used to the darkness. They were weathered down and worn out by the water, giving them the appearance of wounded flesh with the numerous signs carved against the rocks. Jagged scars covered the trench’s walls, and Oxide found herself soon slowing down to look at them.

Her paw was lifted hesitatingly at first, before she pressed it against one of the largest indents. She wasn’t sure what exactly she thought she’d find, Oxide’s paw simply laid pressed against the cold trench’s walls. Still, when nothing happened, she did feel relieved.

By then the water pressure didn’t bother her anymore, Oxide didn’t feel it nearly as much nor did she fear the weight reminding her of the forces at play down there. Alone, walking through the trench, a sense of isolation and vulnerability washed over her. It didn’t last long—it couldn’t, Oxide couldn’t afford it, not when she was down there to prove herself.

As she pushed forward, the water almost seemed to thicken. Oxide was quite sure her mind was simply playing with her, but that didn’t make continuing any easier. The silence was profound, broken only occasionally by the distant rumble of underwater currents and sounds Oxide didn’t recognize. Animals—she hoped, harmless ones.

Time seemed to stand still every time she stopped to look around, the weight of the ocean above kept pressing against her, threatening to flatten Oxide against the trech’s floor had she allowed it to. She wasn’t going to, not once had she considered giving up and she wasn’t about to begin at that moment.

For the first time in years Oxide found herself looking up into pitch black darkness and feeling small. The green light from her halo helped her see what was close, but the unknown waiting for her as she continued to move was scary. In the poisan trench, no matter how big, no matter how strong, she was on her own.

It wasn't the first time something of the sort had happened, not when her line of work literally involved fighting others. Oxide could work alone, she could be alone, she taught herself to. But it was different, for once—it felt different. No matter what; she was alone, facing the unknown.

Trying to shake away the thought Oxide didn’t think much before taking a sharp right when the opportunity presented itself. Her eyes had been glued to the ground, but as she entered what she guessed would have only been an underwater cave a glow forced them to move upwards again.

There, hidden away from the main path, there was light. It was dull, but it was there. A plant—Oxide realized—light blue, shimmering almost, and definitely lighting up more than her halo had been. It was nestled between some rocks, trying to stand taller than they were but barely making it out.

Oxide was drawn closer to it. She wasn’t familiar enough with the vegetation that dared growing in the trench, but she had seen similar plants at the beginning of her journey. They grew much taller, stronger, and bloomed small pink flowers in their prime. To see such a small one was surprisingly nice, it made Oxide feel less alone for some reason.

Briefly she glanced down again, this time at her paws, and again, briefly, she felt smaller. It lasted longer than the previous time, Oxide’s surroundings seemed to blur and fade away for a moment. She wasn’t in the trench anymore, her back burned underneath the heat of the sun. Her bones ached—training, why was she training again?

She could feel the colosseum’s dirt under her paws, the hard floors she had hit so many times—downed, defeated. Oxide felt small, and it made her fucking angry. Someone was screaming, a firm voice that quickly grew familiar before Oxide blinked and the sun disappeared again.

Her body was aching, but she couldn’t stop. Oxide could almost feel her bones and muscles stretch back to their normal size—her size, she was not small, she was not weak. Fighting was her calling, it had always been, she enjoyed it, the anger was a natural consequence of it. She needed the anger, even if it burned.

It was silent in the trench aside from Oxide’s growling at… nothing. The sound stopped when she realized, eyes back up, fixating on the small plant. She was surrounded by sharp green sparks, threatening to bite her or anything they touched. Magic ran through her veins and felt like fire—like anger.

She needed it, she needed it, she needed it. It kept her alive.

Oxide breathed out and her magic slowly began softening again. Without a word, she stepped close to the plant and moved one of the rocks out of its way. Trying not to think much about the gesture, she turned around.

There was a weight nestled in Oxide’s chest, almost as if the rock she had removed had simply switched owners for the time being. Too much had happened in what felt like seconds, but with the rock somehow still in her hand Oxide felt like she could turn her back to the poisan trench and finally head home.

As she retraced her steps, a creature started humming in the distance. A soft sound, resonating through the water and contributing to the trench’s eerie ambience. Still, Oxide found herself thinking of that song as soothing, almost. A reminder that she wasn’t alone—even if in that moment she almost wished she could be.

The soft glow of plants and fishes as she stepped back on the main path felt disturbing, for once. It was not nearly as reassuring as it had previously been when she first stepped down there. Oxide almost found herself missing the darkness. Almost being the key-word, of course.

written by: FeralYEEHAW