Chapter 4: Thrashing the party

As soon as yellow eyes popped open, the Inkling jumped out of bed. Quickly she noticed Shiver's sleeping bag was scooted right next to her own. "She really did forgive me." Frye bounced out of the tent to see Shiver cooking on the fire. "Morning Shiv! You're cooking breakfast?" Frye came up behind her and slowly pulled her into a hug. "Morning Frye. You made dinner so I thought it was only fair." Shiver smirked as she flipped the contents in the pan. Frye nuzzled into Shiver's arm before letting go. "Where's BigMan?" She asked, plopping down on the log. "He'll be back soon. He's tracking the Shark you met. "

"We met. You beat the carp out of it!"

Shiver cleared her throat, "Yes... I suppose. Some of my mind isn't all there."

"Well if it helps... Nether is mine."

Surprisingly, Shiver couldn't help but laugh. "At least you know." She joked. "Hey!" Frye was going to protest but Shiver handed her a plate. It smelled so good she forgot what she was going to say. "I hope you like it. I haven't cooked in awhile."

"If it tastes as good as it looks and smells, then get ready for my seconds!" Frye cheered, shoving a bit into her mouth. Shiver watched in anticipation. Frye eventually swallowed and took a long look at the next bite. "Is it bad?" Shiver bit her lip, looking towards the ground. "Not at all, it's perfect!" Frye lifted the plate to her mouth and continuously stuffed her face.

Frye laid out lazily on her log as Shiver slowly ate her own food. BigMan emerged from the woods with a tired look on his face. "Ay!" (I'm Back!)

"Any luck?" Shiver asked, making a plate for the ray. "Ay." (Not really.) Frye lifted her head a little before speaking, "Shiver did send it flying!" She smiled as BigMan looked down at her. "Ay. Aay Ay?" (You two seem better. Ready for a long day of work?)

"You betcha Big guy! My belly is full and my mind is ready for action!" Frye cheered as she lifted herself up. She pat her stomach in content. "Shiver your an amazing cook!"

"Thanks, but you really should have eaten slower."

"Aaa~ I'm fine. It will turn into energy soon enough."

"That's what I'm afraid of." Shiver smirked as Frye laughed. "Don't worry Shiv. I'll let you keep up." This time it was Shiver's turn to laugh, but as she did a quick sharp twinge made her recoil. Frye quickly got in front, kneeling on the ground, placing caring hands on the other's legs. "Ay." (Maybe her memory came back too fast.) BigMan supported the Octoling from behind with his flippers. Frye looked up and down Shiver as the Octoling's breath hitched, "Shiver, let me get a look at you."

Shiver closed her legs and covered her chest in an instant. "What?! I'm not ready to..." she groaned in pain. Frye, trying to stay calm and her mind out of the gutter, gently took ahold of Shiver's cheek. "I need to make sure that nasty Ink didn't touch you. I promise that's all that's on my mind."

Red eyes met yellow and after seeing the seriousness in them, Shiver relaxed. "Alright, but don't think I won't hesitate to slap you." "Fair enough." BigMan waddled to the tent, slipping inside. "Ay!" (I'll get the first aid.) "Thanks big guy." Frye called back as Shiver removed her shawl, watching where Frye's eyes and fingers wondered. "You can keep your wrap on. It would be green if there was any." Frye gently lifted Shiver's front tentacles and inspected underneath, the owner watched in curiosity. "See anything?" She asked, letting her eyes focus on Frye's serious face. "Mmm, I'm gonna check your back, then you should be clear." "But what about my legs?"

Frye smirked as she lifted the back of Shiver's hair, "Do you really want me to look?" Shiver became flustered as Frye teasingly ran a finger down her back. Shiver jumped, quickly turning her head, "Hey!"

Shiver was clear, but what could be messing with her head? Frye handed back her shawl. "Here, sorry I couldn't help." The blue Octoling slipped the cloth over her head before leaning onto the inkling's shoulder. "It's alright, thank you for looking out for me."

The trio made their way through the area. BigMan blended with the ground, Shiver ran near him, and Frye took the lead. The yellow inkling stayed towards higher ground and would look back once and while to make sure the others could keep up. Frye came to a stop when they hit a beach. BigMan emerged and patted the poor octo who was clinging onto every breath. "Shiver are you alright? Maybe we should take a break." Frye called as she approached her companions. "No I'm alright. Let's keep moving." Shiver choked a bit on her words but looked determined. Frye narrowed her eyes before turning her attention to BigMan, "Hey BigMan, would you check the area for unwanted guests? Shiver and I will start looking around here." He nodded before quickly taking off. "Are you sure you're alright? I brought some extra water and snacks just in case." Frye placed a caring hand on Shiver's shoulder. "Thank you but really, I'm alright." Shiver walked away with a little sway in her hips that Frye couldn't ignore. She watched her friend pick up some things on the beach before blinking herself back to reality. Shiver looked back with a smirk, "You know, you make a pretty good leader when you're not acting like a clown fish."

"A clown fish?! Is that how you see me?" Frye fell onto the sand and started to dig in frustration.

"That's not... Frye I didn't mean to say it like that." Shiver dropped the shell she was inspecting. Frye peaked over before opening her mouth again. "I understand, I don't take anything too seriously. But a clown fish?"

Shiver hummed in regret, "I meant to say, you're a really good leader. You're considerate and kind, and maybe a little goofy at times."

Frye smirked as her fingers wrapped around an object. "Hey, I found something!" Shiver walked over as Frye dug up a metal looking box. "Bingo! I wonder what's inside." Frye started to pry at it with her bear hands. It wasn't easy but soon enough it began to open. "Almost..." The inkling bit at her lip as she used her strength, but quickly paused when she saw movement in the reflection. "Shiver!" She quickly got to her feet, leaving the box behind. A forceful slap of green Ink hit Frye right in the chest with a pain filled grunt passing her lips. "Frye?!" Shiver looked up and saw an Octoling standing in the shadows. She squinted and noticed he looked familiar. "Thrash? Thrash is that you?"

"You know that octo Shiv? Tell him to chill will ya?"

Shiver held Frye in one arm and used the other to show him her fan. She waved it to get his attention. "Thrash! Don't shoot it's me, Shiver!" The boy hardly seemed moved. He jumped onto a moving object in the sand and began to quickly get closer. "That's the shark! Shiver get out of here!"

"Hey!" Shiver called out but was suddenly pushed to the ground. Frye had took another blow of green ink and was now howling in pain. She fell to her knees with eyes wide open and mouth hung low. "Frye!" Shiver desperately began to paw at the burning ink. "Sh...Shiver... go..." Frye tried to say as she reached for her bag, pulling out a flute. "No! Not without you!" Shiver held her ground as she noticed Thrash's ghostly appearance. The same symbol from Shiver's fan was on his chest plate that's scratched and crumbled beyond any recognition. His skin is a pale green, eyes sunken in, and his short curly navy blue tentacles were torn and ripped to shreds; making Shiver sick to her stomach. "Thrash, what happened to you?" Tears began to form in her eyes as a piercing musical pitch erupted from Frye's flute. The shark emerged from the sand and Shiver instinctively dodged and took hold of it's tail with a good fling. Ink was spread around as the shark sunk back into the sand. The octo jumped off and began to reload his octoshot. "I won't go easy on you." Shiver opened her fan and took a defensive stance.

The octoshot was pointed at Shiver and when he pulled the trigger Shiver was ready to deflect it, but an enormous yellow eel emerged from the sand. The eel howled in pain as it flung itself to it's master. Frye was hit by the injured eel strait on as another helped her balance. "Shiver! Go find BigMan, we'll keep him busy."

"No! Not without you!" Shiver refused.

Frye blew on her flute as she held herself steady, "Protect her! Go!" She ordered her eel and before Shiver could protest, the eel wrapped itself around the squirming octo. "Frye! No!" Shiver called as the eel took it's leave. The last thing Shiver saw was Frye waving to her with a silly grin.


Notes: My dumb phone erased all my writing two times! So if it seems rushed or choppy it's because of that. Otherwise thanks for reading!