Chapter 4: Fight! Worry! Love!

Part 1: Frye The Brave

"So... Thrash was it? You're from Shiver's clan? Don't think I'll go easy on you." Frye scoffed as she wiped some ink off of her lip. The green ooz burned as it touched her skin, but it was dripping off slowly. The eels didn't seem to like it ether, as they swam around their friend and master. One was even granted a small pet for its curiously. "You're no match for my eels, so let's dance!" The yellow inkling spun around to clean herself as she spread her own yellow ink. Green and yellow began to fight for the battle field. The octo raised his gun towards the inkling, but the girl was fast on her feet. He had trouble aiming, but his expression never became more then a straight face. "Keeping your cool Hu?" She got closer, eels beside her with every step. Frye analyzed her opponent carefully, keeping in mind that it wasn't just any treasure she was guarding. Shiver means the world to her now. There was no turning back. Her hearts wouldn't let her give up. That soft pale skin, deep blue tentacles, piercing red eyes; how could she not fall for her band mate? "Focus!" Frye reminded herself that this was life or death. The Octoling shot at Frye, she dodged but it hit one of her eels. The creature flailed in shock, knocking Frye out of her ink zone. She hopped on the green ink as if it were hot coals under her toes. "Fucking Shell! Why is your ink so awful! I've been shot by an octo before and it never hurt like this!" Frye blew on her aching feet as she dodged another shot. "Hey, come on! Don't you have anything to say?" Apparently not, he continued to shoot relentlessly. To Frye's surprise the Shark didn't want anything to do with her. It swam in the green ooz but didn't make any moves to attack. She had an eel keep tabs for her as she focused on the tamer.

After a long while of dodging and avoiding the ooz, Frye managed to get some ink on the boy. Her eels swarmed nearby and attacked in one big swoop. Frye watched as the octo barley moved from the attacking animals, for the Shark blocked her eel's target. The beast ripped through her pets making a pit form in her stomach. "How ruthless! How heartless!" She growled. The flute was blown into as she picked herself up. Eels joined her side as she shot ink onto her victim. The once scary green octo was now soaked in yellow ink, and the shark surfaced once more to chomp away. "Why you!" Frye quickly motioned her pets to back away as she shot Ink onto the eel eating monstrosity. She was so distracted on protecting her eels, the octo was able to get a clean shot. Frye's face began to burn from the horrific substance. "Aaah! Keep your ink to yourself!" She growled, trying to wipe the stuff off. She aimed at the boy and right before she could fire, the shark knocked the inkling off balance. "Rrrra!" She roared, falling to the ground covered in green ooz. She couldn't move. The pain running through her back and limbs was too great. Now she knows how Shiver felt. How long was she in this much pain? She asked herself, barley able to watch her eels come to her aid. Pressure wrapped around her frame and when the pain jolted, her eyes began to betray her. "I can still fight." She mumbled to her fleeing pet. The eel ignored her but stopped when the slippery squid slid out of its grip. She was determined, even if her body tried to convince her otherwise.

Her yellow ink kept her hidden as Frye aimed her weapon at the defensive octo. Slowly and carefully she made it to his back. Her ink had definitely had an affect on his body and she was ready to finish him off. Sharp fangs bit into squid flesh as she quickly took the shot. The boy fell to his knees before Frye shouted "Booyah! This is my turf!" Frye took a step back to catch her breath. One eye staying shut as the other had to be forced half open. The octo didn't move but his shark swam to he's side. In horror she watched as the creature engulfed its master. "What the Fuck?!" Frye raised her gun with whatever adrenaline she had left. She kept shooting repeatedly without focus, until she could no longer comprehend what was going on around her. The darkness consumed her senses, but the pain lingered.


Part 2: Cold blooded but Warm Hearted

"Put me down! Frye needs us!" Shiver continued to struggle against the fast moving eel. Her claw and bite marks covered the creature's backside as she wiggled most of her way out of the tight grip. The eel hissed as it shot a glare at the octoling. "Let me go!" She demanded, staring back with sharp red eyes. To her surprise the eel unraveled itself. Shiver fell to her hands and knees, looking up to the now curled up eel. The creature licked at it's wounds, watching closely. "Now let's go!" Shiver turned around and glanced toward the unknown area. Dread filled her hearts as she tried to figure where to go, or even where she was. Looking back at the eel she realized her mistake. "Um... Hey... I'm really sorry." She slowly approached the eel as though it was a shark. She reached out and recoiled only slightly when it growled. "Hey. I know you were only following orders. Let me see?" The octo lowed herself, but still held her head up. The fear and anger was absent from her eyes. The eel watched as Shiver slowly scooted closer, and only twitched when her hands touched the slimy skin. The wounds were deep, making Shiver feel worse. Her blue tentacle moved to the side as she laid her head down, hand gently sliding back and forth with loving pets. This was Frye's eel, her loving pet, how could Shiver hurt such a loyal member of Frye's swarm? Tears rolled down her cheek, with soft calming hums on her lips. All her pain and regret laid out for the creature to see.

The eel and Octo snapped into alert when the smell of ink hit their noses. Shiver quickly pulled out her fan, wishing she had brought her Tri-Stringer. Not remembering much of when she got there in the first place, let alone if she packed her favorite weapon. "Hello?" Shiver called, hoping to cod it wasn't Thrash chasing her after a victory. To her relief it was BigMan. He popped out of his ink trail and quickly embraced his friend. "Ay?? AyAy?!" (What's wrong? Where's Frye?!) he asked in a semi worrying tone. Shiver held onto the hug, worried about the answer herself. When letting go, she whipped her face from any tears. "Alright, you followed your orders. Take us to Frye... please." Shiver bowed her head in respect, and in desperation. "Ay?" (Is she in trouble?) He knew the answer, but he was hoping it wasn't the case. The eel lifted its head and closed its eyes for a few moments. Listening to the surroundings. Shiver was shocked when the creature slipped between her legs, hosting her onto its back. Without warning the three were zooming through the forest, eel at the lead and BigMan trying to keep up from behind.

The beach was splattered in Frye's yellow ink. Some green mixed in, but it looked like yellow had won the turf war. "Frye!" Shiver called out hastily before the eel even came to a stop. The octo pat the creature in thanks and maybe even for her own comfort. To her surprise it chattered at her. "Ay?" (Is she here?) The ray wobbled to the edge of the ink, looking around for a squid perhaps. Unsure, Shiver felt the eel whip around. Two eels seemed to have been patrolling. The three chittered as Shiver tried her best to comprehend. They didn't seem hostile or worried, and that was a big relief to the octo. "Um? Excuse me, may I see Frye?" The eels stopped their conversation and looked up it the octo. They chattered and turned around, leading the way as Shiver rode on her new friend and BigMan swam beside them.

"A cave?" Shiver slid off the eel and gently scratched under it's chin. The creature seemed to like it, for it purred and leaned into the touch. "Eels purr?" She smirked thinking of Frye acting in such a manner. It made her cheeks tint with ink as she walked up into the dark cavern. "Ay." (Shiver.) Said Octo turned to the ray. "You ok?"

"Aay, Ay." (I don't do well in tight spaces, I'm gonna stand guard.)

Shiver smiled, "Alright, just call out if you need me. I don't think I could stand anymore worry."

"Ay Ay!"

With that, Shiver followed the now luminous eels down into the unknown. A soft green glow got her attention as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. It didn't take long for her to run into the swarm. "Frye?" She softly called out as the creatures began to eye her. Some moved closer to smell her as others nuzzled against her arms. "Ok! Ok! Silly things, where is your queen?" Shiver chuckled as the eels pulled her in. Her smile sunk with her hearts when she saw Frye. She was out cold, some bruising shown along her face and stomach. "Frye!" Shiver fell to her knees and gently pushed away the swarming eels. Her cold, pale hand cupped the inkling's cheek. "Frye, you're so stupid. You know that?" Shiver laid her head on the sleeping one's chest, listening to the soft heartbeat and shallow breath. "I need to take her to camp." Lifting her head, she was met with concerned chattering eels. Shiver slowly leaned over, she went to scoop up the Inkling but the creatures tightened their grip. Shiver hissed in rebellion, "I will take care of her! Trust me." The creatures circled around her as she showed off her fangs. 'They know me, so why are they begin so difficult?' Shiver thought, lowering herself onto the inkling. Hissing and growling filled the cave as Shiver tried to convince the eels that she had the best intentions. Small shark barks left the Octo's mouth in attempt to communicate. In retaliation a few of them chattered back, a bit hostile but willingly to listen. "I am more then capable of taking care of her. Besides, she's in this state because of me." Shiver mumbled softly as one of her claws traced the inklings's jawline. The worried pets gave her a reassuring nuzzle as they chattered away. The one Shiver was more acquainted with lifted its head and gave off a sharp howl, almost sounding like Frye's flute. "Thank you." Shiver barked in shark with a bow before she was swarmed with eels, who wanted her attention. With soft giggles she lovingly scratched a few under the chin. "I promise to keep her safe."


Part 3: Heart Strings

With the help of BigMan and a few of Frye's eels, the inkling was gently moved to their campsite. Shiver took charge and carefully slipped the inkling into her sleeping bag. With a sigh, the Octo leaned over and lovingly pushed the stay yellow tentacle behind Frye's alert ears. 'She's tense?' Shiver thought, rubbing the back of both pointy ears. Claws moved down to the neck, pressing gently between the shoulders. The tightly wound muscles felt hard and stiff under the fingers. "Shh~ Frye you're alright. I'm right here." Shiver whispered, running her hands down the tightly wound arms. To her surprise the inkling twitched from the contact. "Frye?" She repeated her motion, but this time pressing down on any pressure points she could make out. The arms jerked as if electricity ran through them, so with confidence the octo moved down to her legs. Starting at the feet, she pressed into the hard flesh. "This is going to take a while." She sighed, but quickly smiled when a few toes began to move. "You're lucky I like you. I don't give massages to just anyone. Silly little inkling."

Feeling worn out, Shiver sluggishly exited the tent. She was greeted by BigMan and a couple of eels as she sat in her spot. "Ay Ay?" (You look awful, are you ok?") the ray asked. "Ya... just tired. Today have definitely been, eventful." She rubbed her temples from the slight sting behind her eyes. An eel calmly laid its head on her lap, causing a smile to form. "I'm not your tamer, you're just as silly as Frye." Shiver pet the creature's fin, a soft purr started to form. "Ay Ay?" (How is she?) BigMan stirred the pot as he voiced his concern. "Better. I got her to relax a bit. That ink did a number on her."

BigMan looked down with concern. "Ay. Ay Ay ay." (I'm just glad she wasn't sanitized. You barely made it back.)

"Sanitized?" Shiver lifted a brow in question. "What does that mean? Was Thrash... Sanitized?"

"Ay. Ay-Ay Ay." (Sorry. I thought you knew all the gossip. Some Octolings have been chemically changed. They're ink has become toxic and somewhat infectious. Some say those poor kiddos were experimented on. Something about the octolings wanting obedient, reliable soldiers."

Shiver felt her blood run cold. "Obedient soldiers?" She looked down at the eel in her lap. It must have noticed her change of mood for it lifted it's head to nuzzle her arm. "Do you think my family is ok?" Shiver mumbled, not noticing BigMan's worried expression. "Ay Ay..." (Sorry, I didn't mean to...)

"What? Oh sorry! I was just thinking out loud. I do have a question though."

"Ay." (Go ahead. I'm here for you.)

The eel also showed it's support as it purred. "Thrash was green and yellow, even his shark looked sickly. Do you think that happened to...?" She covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes. Thinking of her brother or mother in that state made her feel sick. Regret filled her hearts. 'If I stayed would we have won? Would I have been sanitized? Did they escape?' Those questions filled her head as it began to sting with pain. Her emotions felt like claws ripping at her soul. Shredding her mind as tears dripped from closed eyes. Her hearts stopped when a flipper pulled her into an embrace. Eel quickly leaving the warm lap. Small comforting coos left the ray's lips as his flippers rubbed her back. "Ay." (It's not worth thinking that way.)

"But..."

"Ay. Ay-Ay." (No butts. Just think, they protected you. And if you weren't here, Frye and I wouldn't have met you.)

A small twinge of a smile threatened to appear on the Octo's lips. "You're not wrong. But... I need to know what happened to them."

"Ay."

"When we get back, will you cover for me?"

"Ay?" (What?)

"I know I haven't been helpful with my memory loss, but without closure... I don't think I could... open up more."

"Ay-Ay..." (Well we have missed you on SplatCast, but I understand. We can go on a little longer for our favorite Octoling. )

The fins loosened as BigMan sat up to look at Shiver's determined red eyes. "Thanks big guy. I owe you both."

BigMan snickered, "Ay, Ay Ay." (Ya, I bet a date will make Frye the happiest Inkling in the world.)

Flustered, Shiver pulled away. "W-What?! I..." She drew circles on the log's bark nervously. "I would like that too... but... I need my head cleared first. I've realized that without my memories I can be warm hearted and calm... and Frye deserves that. A calmer, warmer partner. I think this trip will help me one way or another."

"Ay?" (Another?)

"I mean... for good or for worse. If I find my family it will help me come to terms with my past, but if they're gone... I don't want to think of that now."

"Ay." (Understood, but remember you're not alone.) He warmly hugged her again. "Ay." (We love you Shiver.)

"I love you two as well. I just wish i showed it more."


Note: Sorry for the long wait! With holidays and watching SplatFest I got a little distracted. I hope to have the next one up soon! And good job team water! I love all DeepCut members and I'm so happy to see BigMan win! Now Frye needs a win! I hope to get the game and play along too! Happy splatting!