I'm a Stingray?

It took a while to drag a 1 meter long tunafish towards the hidden den, specifically since that den was a few hundred kilometres away, just entering the reef would take 300 meters of travel.

But yet the fish was surprisingly light for something that big, it had to range somewhere around 15 kilos. Surely enough to scarcely feed the whole tribe, but considering the food pile, no one would have to rely on what one hunter brings home.

On the way there, Haze had pondered over and over what her brother had said. He didn't want to get into further detail before they reached home and she didn't bother to insist.

As for the question she encountered, 'How do you feel about protecting the entire reef?' still stuck with her like a blood sucking leech under one's chin.

She wanted to protect the hidden den who had accepted her and granted a safe place to call home, but protecting the entire reef? It didn't sit right with her, especially since it meant that she had to protect the bad individuals as well.

If time was by their side, she would have enhanced such a thought, because of all those enemies encountered in one trip.

Finally reaching there and being spared by the trouble of squeezing the fish through the thin 50 meter long tunnel, all thanks to the aid of which one dungeness crab provided, what greeted them on the other side was a compliment.

"Good job Tim, you did us a good deed with this hunt." They knew this tone all too well, it was Marlo.

Deflowering what could have been a small wave of bickering, the blue dotted boy contradicted. "Actually, my sister killed this one."

"It's true, she blinded the tuna and then they both killed her." Amie added, knowing what the sea pancake was trying to do but refusing to strip him out of credit, she was with them after all when all that battle happened.

Although not quite understanding what a needlefish was doing in such a ferocious battle, Marlo still continued with good intent. "That does sound amazing, I'm glad to see you two work together."

"If you saw the actual battle you would reject that compliment." Tim thought and wanted to express it by the good ways of speech as well but was held back by another topic of which had bloomed.

"I have another task for you Tim... well actually you will be a part of it." Marlo introduced, weighing the base of what could be the biggest task yet. "You did an excellent job on finding more recruits but we can't forget why this group was created."

At this point, Timothy couldn't ignore that his task to keep the entire reef from dying, had to wait. It didn't take much logic to figure it out, nothing that came out of this... village leader's mouth had proved pale in importance.

Like a dictator, Marlo broke in what the deal was. "We want revenge on the bullies who robbed us out of family, we are united against them and need to act quickly."

Wanting a bit more time, the blue-dotted menace fought the idea. "What's the rush? It's not like they have the guts to go anywhere else."

Proving that a side of his might not be good and peachy, the leader broke down the prime plan. "Every day of their existence is a threat to you, me, your siblings and this entire tribe. Harold for a start, has to die and after killing him, Drake will be next."

Yet still opposing the plan although understanding its value, the yellow coated stingray continued. "I don't think it will be possible to kill them separately, they stick by each other more than ever because of our hidden den. They fear us, even though they are too stupid to accept it."

"I don't want to wait and see what happens when they actually manage to find our hiding spot, and I doubt that you want that as well. But yet if you fear to take this task, I understand." Such a statement weighed heavy against the stingray or anyone who favoured the boy, which was pretty much most of this village.

Finding that rage that was hidden in between his pea sized mind, Tim yelled out. "I'm not afraid, they should be afraid of me!"

"That's the attitude I want to hear!" Marlo cheered and afterwards assured. "Rest assured that I will be part of this battle and all the 15 other reef sharks in this tribe will assist us as well, our great white friend too!"

At this point it felt like Harold would stand absolutely no chance, because even though these reef sharks were half a meter long, they were still sharks and could prove deadly when their numbers combined.

Not to mention, the juvenile great white shark will aid this battle. Yet still feeling concerned and wanting Harold absolutely dead, he gazed at the dungeness crab who was making its leave to get back to guarding this place and wanted to figure something out.

Better yet, put out a recommendation. "What about those big crabs. Will they join us in battle?"

"No." Marlo assured and then sunk in deeper to this topic, wanting to assure that his plan wasn't ill thought out. "When we leave this den for the battle, there won't be many powerful fish to guard everyone who isn't for battle."

Recalling what these crabs did to that powerful old hag, Tim began to share the same thought. "It's a good idea to keep them here then, these crabs fear nothing and have claws to prove that patriotism as well."

"What about me?" They heard a casual but yet determined female tone echoing behind them.

"And me?" Another female tone shone, equally determined to the earlier.

Darting their eyes to the ladies, they managed to see Osira and Haze. Both of them have proved more than brave, although one more logical than the other.

Feeling a bit more comfortable with this battle, the young stingray had to second. "I wouldn't mind if they tagged along, these two are good fighters."