Storm Above

Adaman, as the responsible leader he was, was keeping an eye on their youngest Warden while they went about collecting seashells from the shallows. He had propped his upper half on some smooth rocks near the beach, close enough to help the little squidling if trouble came and far enough to not get beached if the water level receded.

He had a lot of work to do back at the clan, since they were all preparing for the Great Silence that was about to come in 2 months- the Current of Life, passing by their clan's territory, carrying life in the form of krill, small fish and of course the bigger fish eating them. It was a gift from the great Sinnoh, providing them all with food. Once a year, however, the Silence came, for 3 months no new fish would come, the waters would hardly move and if they were not prepared, they would starve or maybe even lose some people.

Adaman had heard stories, of course, of the time before his father became the leader of the Diamond clan. The time of the war…

The Pearl clan to the north worshiped a false Sinnoh, which many in the clan still despised, especially the remaining elders. Back during his grandfather's time, while his father was still a guppy, the war broke out, blood was spilled, lives were lost, coloring the sea and sand red. That time had been especially hard for both clans, but then it became worse for the Diamond- the Silence came without warning. They were unprepared, many starved and lost their lives. It must have been the doing of almighty Sinnoh- punishing them for their sins. When his father took charge of the clan, he stopped the war- both clans exhausted and wanting peace.

"Adaman!" Sabi thrilled "Look at these! Do you like the color?" – she was showing a few colorful seashells and a small piece of seaglass she found.

"Yes, they are pretty but why are you asking me? Wasn't this your idea?" – his tail swished behind him.

Sabi was their youngest Warden, she wouldn't be if it depended on him, but she was chosen, given the role as she was the last member of her family and the only one of the Diamond clan that could serve Lord Braviary- Sabi's family being the only ones able to climb to the top of the cliff where the lord's altar was and give offerings. It was said their family was gifted with their amazing sight for serving the lord faithfully for generations. Sabi, supposedly inherited the very rare Future Sight, but thanks to her young age, playful nature and the cryptic way she liked to talk (inherited from her late grandmother) sowed some doubt in her predictions.

"I know! Some of these will be offerings for the lord BUT!" her tentacles wiggled in the wet sand as she shifted closer to the sea "You also need to choose! It will be important!"

"How important? It's just colorful shells and seaglass. You can't do much with them, especially ones these small." – he scratched his forearm, the sun starting to dry out his skin.

"It will help with the storm! The really big, scary, dangerous one! It will be a special gift! So, choose!" – the girl showed him her find again.

He sighed and looked them over. After a bit, he stopped at a bluish-green piece of seaglass that kind of reminded him of both his scales and the clan's colors. He chose it. Sabi smiled and thrilled happily as she put it and several other things in her sachet. Adaman was about to stretch himself across the rock when he heard something. In the distance, the forest overlooking the small beach they were on, there were voices and footsteps.

'HUMANS!' – his mind alarmed.

He quickly pushed himself up and gave a warning whistle to the youngling on the beach. Sabi stiffened for a second but quickly slithered back into the water. The voices started shouting, getting closer. He wrapped his arms around Sabi and with a few powerful swings of his tail, they were gone from the shore and in much deeper waters. He didn't stop until they got close to the clan's territory border, sighing in relief when they finally arrived.

"Wooo! Adaman really is the fastest swimmer!" – Sabi cheered.

"That was dangerous. I didn't think those creatures would even come this close." – he swam after the little squidling.

"Oh, here you go!" – Sabi handed him the seaglass he chose before swimming off to her abode.

He held the small round thing in his hand and looked it over. He shrugged but still took it with him to his own abode- a cave carved in the boulder right in the middle of the clan's home. He left the stone in a small basin he used to keep small trinkets and forgot about it. He had more important things to do after all. Time, as the sea currents, always flowed and waited for no one.

===A few days later===

Adaman stalked a big grouper on the outskirts of the reef. They would be able to preserve its meat and have more food for the Silence, that is if he caught it. He hid behind a large rock, it obscuring his features, the plants and corals helping him hide better. He was about to pounce when an awful vibration spread across the water. All the fish scattered and he silently cursed.

*Creeeee~Craaaak~*

He winced and looked towards the surface- one of those vile human creations they used to cross their sea was passing by.

'Those damned humans… not only taking from Hisui's land but also sullying its waters! Can't they just disappear and leave us alone?!' – he thought angrily.

Turning around, he swam in the opposite direction, not wanting to be anywhere close- he knew the stories, he knew how they killed, he knew what the humans did to their kind when they saw one. He swam for a while, but then, out of nowhere, the sky rapidly darkened, thunder sounding in the distance.

Adaman knew that during a storm you should stay down, but his curiosity got the better of him. His head breached the surface as he looked around. Finally, his eyes settled on the sky right above the tallest mountain, right in the middle of Hisui, Mt. Coronet. Storm clouds had gathered, harsh winds blowing strong enough to even be felt on the sea, thunder clapping, lightning flashing- a HUGE storm was suddenly brewing! Suddenly, Sabi's words made a lot more sense.

'But how am I to stop a storm with a pebble?!'- he thought, a bit panicked as the storm became bigger and more vicious.

As if possible, it became even worse…

*Crackle~BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

The sky shattered.