Mermaids of the Deep

by SailorHexGirl

Rose was in tune with the sea and the beings that dwelled below its surface. When she passed away she leaves many questions for her son. Now that Steven is older he wants to meet the people his mother was close with. There are many challenges for him to face including the trust that has been severed between his family and the ones below.

7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"How is it supposed to hold water?" Jasper asked nudging the edge of the pool with her foot "It's flat."

"That's because there's no air in it yet." Steven said moving around the three non-humans in the car wash. Greg had left a while ago and now the kids were trying to set up the pool, the aquatics looking on curiously. Steven figured that with everything going on that the mermaids would want some comfort in water sooner rather then later. Also, Pearl was looking a bit tired, even though she kept saying she was fine when asked.

"Why are you doing this?" Jasper asked crossing her arms. Habit or not, she had put herself between the big car-wash doors and the group. The door was pulled shut and locked but it didn't really make her feel better. If anything it made the Guardian feel a bit trapped. The need to protect the three of them was poking at her core a bit. Easy to ignore but unconscious enough to move on habit rather then need.

"I wanted you both to have somewhere comfortable to sleep." Steven said with a smile "You both won't fit in my tub and I figured that you would want to be together so this was my solution."

'It's very sweet of you Steven.' Pearl clicked as Jasper translated 'Thank you.'

"Your welcome." He said with a bigger smile. "Now, it's going to get loud in here when I start the air pump. If you guys wanna go wait in the house that's ok."

"Air pump?" Jasper looked confused.

"They fill flat objects with air like a ball or balloon but the one they have here is very loud." Connie said taking Pearl's hand. "Let's go inside."

Both aquatics looked at Steven and after getting reassured that he was going to be ok they followed Connie inside. After filling the pool with air and setting the hose up he joined the others inside.

"Oh, sorry. I thought the door would of muffled the noise more." He said. The mermaids had there ears covered, Jasper growling not loud but enough to be noticed, and Connie looked uncomfortable.

"It's ok Steven." Connie said "I forgot how loud it gets. It's been a while since you turned it on with me around."

"Last time you cried cause it startled you so bad." Steven said shutting the door at his back "So what do you guys wanna do?"

'Do?' Pearl clicked confused 'Do what?'

Jasper shrugged and the kids picked up on there confusion.

"Why don't you show them the stuff your mom held on too!" Connie said with a smile "Maby they can tell you how to fix that knife that broke or what different things are. Where they got them."

'The gemmed dagger?' Jasper clicked as both kids quickly moved across the room and down the blanket hall out of sight 'She held onto that?'

'Apparently she kept a lot of things remember?' Pearl clicked back looking at where the kids went before slowly walking forward.

Jasper just grunted as she followed Pearl. The pair walked down the hall slowly towards the sound of the kids talking. They jumped when the blankets first touched them. Pearl had to grab Jasper's wrist to stop her from ripping them down off the walls. The Guardians first instinct was to attack whatever attacked her and ask questions later. It was a fight or flight reflex. Jasper grumbled at Pearl but she just took her companions hand, huffing but following behind where Pearl pulled her. When they reached Steven's room they weren't prepared. There eyes went wide and the kids smiled at there faces.

Steven's room was something. Every wall that could have a shelf attached to it did. They were packed with trinkets the mermaids recognized from all over the world. Things they had brought Rose over the years like shells, bottles, different things holding different color sands. Random bits of metal that held nothing but sentimental value to them and broken watches and glass blown orbs from the ocean floor. What caught the mermaids eyes was the shelf right at the very top, over Steven's bed.

A shelf of weapons. Well, daggers really.

They came in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some were curved where others were straight as a rod. A few were cut from stone while others were decorated peaces made of shells. Most of them had sea glass embedded into there handles and adorned the bottoms. What caught Pearl's eye was one right on the very end. Walking into the room she tapped Steven on the shoulder.

"What is it Pearl?"Steven asked. Pearl pointed above his head and he turned to follow his line of sight. "Oh, that's the dagger that broke."

Pearl kept tapping his shoulder excitedly and Jasper spoke up for her. "She wants to see it."

"Oh, yea ok." Steven said. Pearl backed up to Jasper's side as Steven climbed onto his bed. Steven pushed his pillows out of the way and stood on his tip toes to reach the blade. Once he had it in hand he fell onto his butt and bounced off the bed. "Here you go."

'She really kept it!' Pearl clicked excitedly taking the little dagger when Steven offered it to her 'Oh, I remember when we found this!' Perl turned to Jasper 'He wasn't kidding. This really did break right down the center. Oh, it could of been fixed if he brought it to us, this hard stuff just ruins the whole peace. Remember when we were passing through the arctic and Garnet found the peaces for this? It was right before we-' She stopped mid click as she looked up at her companion 'What?'

'I like when you talk about stuff like this' Jasper said reaching out and running her fingers through Pearl's short hair a bit 'It's cute'

"Was that something you gave mom?" Steven asked after Pearl looked away from Jasper with a burning face. Pearl nodded excitedly then she spied something else that got her bouncing on her toes a bit. She started tapping Jasper's shoulder and clicking quickly. The kids looked a bit confused until Jasper translated.

"The tiny shells in the jar there." Jasper spoke pointing to a lower shelf "Gimmy."

"Uh, on this shelf?" Connie said turning and pointing to the closer shelf to her. It was full of random jars with random things on it. From sea glass to shells to bits of paper. The Guardian nodded as Pearl kept tapping her arm.

'Pearl give them a second' Jasper said to the smaller.

'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' Pearl was practically vibrating next to her with excitement. It made the taller smile a bit.

Pearl really didn't get too excited about anything since being told Rose died. She had been a great help to them on this side of the war but even greater companion and friend to the pod long after its end. Even after everything had settled down and things were calm for a while she continued to befriend the aquatics. She taught them many things as they taught her many in turn. The Guardians questioned how she would know when the next attack would be or where hey would find another of there kind in need of help but valued her word to keep them safe. It was only after the last fight when they were almost killed off, that there last call to her for help, for anything, went unanswered. It scared them and kept them from this place for so long in fear and resentment.

When they had been brave enough to come to see Rose on there own did they finally learn why she never called them. Why she never answered there own calls in turn. She was gone. It ripped them to peaces inside and resentment was what they all felt in those moments. They were angry and upset and at the time, did blame Greg for her passing. They almost killed him over it but now it was just a sore spot for them all.

"This one?" Connie asked pointing to the jar full of tiny shells. At Pearl's vigorous nodding she picked it up and held it out to her "Here you go."

Pearl clicked out what they assumed was a thank you before turning on her heals and power walking out the door. They called after her as Jasper was quick to follow. 'Pearl would you wait a second! What even is that?'

'Don't you recognize these?' Pearl clicked over her shoulder as she turned and went into the bathroom 'These are the water talkers!'

'Water talkers? From the war?' Jasper said following after Pearl into the bathroom. She paused at the look of the room but when she saw the tub, which was still full of water, she pointed to it 'I like that'

'I do too' Pearl clicked walking over to its edge and opening the jar in her hand 'They put me in here when I was hurt'

'They did that on there own?' Jasper asked.

'Yup'

'And you didn't tell them too?'

'I didn't say much of anything when they found me outside. I don't remember anything after they brought me in here. I just woke up in the tub this morning'

Jasper took a breath 'They even put salt in it'

'They figured out it would help me more then fresh water'

'Pretty smart for small organics huh'

'Very much so'

She watched as Pearl took two shells out of the jar then placed the container on the floor. As the kids came into the bathroom, spooking Jasper a bit on there way by, Pearl took the shells in her hand and put them just under the waters surface. They never emptied the tub from this morning which ended up being a good thing. They asked Pearl what she was doing but only got told to wait.

After a few minutes Pearl pulled her hand out of the water and turned to the kids. She reached forward and pulled Steven over to herself. After she placed herself on the edge of the tub she turned Steven's head to the side and started messing with his hair.

"She said hold still." Jasper translated as Steven tried to look at Pearl but was turned back to the side.

"But why-ah!" Steven jumped as something wet touched his ear. He shivered and started laughing as Pearl gently put the shell into his ear. After messing with it a bit more and wiping away the extra water that dripped down his face, Pearl let him go.

'There, right in place' Pearl clicked as Steven's eyes went wide 'It fits perfectly'

"I can understand you!" Steven shouted. Both mermaids jumped and poor Pearl covered her ears, almost falling back into the tub "Agh!- Sorry Pearl."

'It's ok Steven' Pearl said rubbing her ear a bit before gesturing for Connie to come over.

"How did you know these did this?" Steven asked as Connie was trying to hold still for Pearl "I thought they were just for decoration."

"They are for decoration." Jasper said "We only used them for the younger minnows in the pods so they would understand there elders and leaders as they learned how to talk."

'There we go.' Pearl clicked as Connie brushed her fingers over her ear.

"This is so cool." Connie said smiling at Pearl "Thank you Ma'am."

'Ma'am?' Pearl looked a bit confused and Jasper just shrugged at her.

"Oh, Ma'am is something you call your elders up here on land." Connie said "It's a sign of respect."

'Oh. How nice' Pearl said.

"Do you guys have anything like that in your culture?" Steven asked.

"Why?" Jasper asked in turn.

Steven shrugged "Mom wrote a lot about you guys but never in detail."

"About us?" Jasper asked.

"About a lot of things really." Steven lead the way back to his room. When they got there he went over to the little dresser that was pushed up against the far wall, snugly tucked in between two small bookshelves "The only thing she wrote in great detail was what she thought about all of you." He turned and held up a few notebooks. "She said all good things like how she thought Jasper was strong and the perfect example of what a Guardian should be or like how she thinks your very smart and a great fighter Pearl."

Pearl smiled as the kids giggled at Jasper. She had her chest puffed out a bit at the kind words about her and couldn't wipe the smile from her face. "Well she knew what perfection was." When she flexed she had them all just out right laughing.

'I sure do' Pearl clicked earning a blush from her companion.

"How did you guys meet anyway?" Connie asked sitting next to Jasper's leg as Pearl followed Steven to the bed to sit down "You guys don't look like your from the same area."

"Why do you think that?" Jasper asked.

"Well, your orange." Connie said "Warm colors like that are usually found around the center of the world, especially in the Mediterranean- er Dead Sea." Connie said.

'Shes not wrong' Pearl clicked. 'Sit and let me tell you about it'

Both kids got excited. Jasper sat herself on the ground next to Connie. She was big enough and the little shifter sitting so close to the doorway was making her uncomfortable. They promised to keep them safe so she had to move. Jasper grabbed Connie by the back of her shirt and lifted her up. The aquatic adjusted herself so she was sitting in the doorway, half facing the group half facing the way they came.

Pearl watched as her companion put Connie on her knee and crossed her arms. She would point it out later but Jasper was doing what they promised without hesitation. She grumbled and was vocal about things when she didn't agree with them but she always kept her promises. This was no exception.

'Where to start' Pearl clicked to herself as Steven got comfy next to her. 'Well, originally I'm from the South Atlantic Ocean. Halfway between the center seas and the south seas'

"I'm from between the Dead and Red seas." Jasper said.

"I thought they don't really connect." Steven said.

"There are hundreds upon hundreds of tunnels deep under water that connect the seas together." Jasper said "Not like a big tunnel system but like hidden bridges deep in the earths crust."

'It's where most pods lived and flourished' Pearl clicked 'Right under the ones above'

"That's amazing!" Connie said.

"So how did you meet?" Steven asked "Since you weren't in the same pod."

'It was after the war' Pearl clicked 'Me and Garnet, the one with the different colored eyes that was slightly pink that came with us to meet you Steven, were swimming the seas for survivors'

~past flash back~

"How are you feeling?" Garnet asked looking over her shoulder at Pearl. Her silent companion was still shaken up after there last close call. They had just swam away from some high grade military ships and were a bit beat up from it. Guardians were made to take a beating but bruising adorned Garnet's back and arms. Pearl was more beaten up then her friend. Her forearms were cut deeply and both of them were missing patches of scales from there tails and bodies. The beings on land were trying very hard to catch any survivors they came across and had almost caught them. Several spears and fishnets later the two of them had managed to loose them in a seaweed field.

Pearl shrugged glancing over her shoulder. "Hey." She looked to Garnet who had stopped to wait for her to catch up "It's going to be ok."

'How?' Pearl clicked softly 'Even if we find survivors there not going to want to come with us, let alone travel with someone like me'

"If they try to hurt you it won't end well for them." Garnet said looking back the way they came for a moment "We should keep moving."

The smaller nodded her head and the pair of them continued on there way. They traveled for a long time and were finally reaching the very edges of Penny's territory. They were here to check on a few more pod locations before heading down south to look for any survivors of Bella's pods. They had just reached the very end of the Mediterranean Sea and had headed down the first few twists and turns of the tunnel systems when a jet of water slammed into them.

Pearl yelped in surprise as both her and Garnet were forced back. The Guardian quickly got in-front of Pearl and growled loudly at there attacker. The answering growl was just as loud followed by yelling by another.

"Go away!" The voice was almost lost in the battle of sounds between them.

'We aren't here to fight!' Pearl clicked out loudly 'Were looking for-'

"We don't care what your looking for." The growling didn't stop as the second voice talked to them "This is our territory. Get out."

"Survivors." Garnet boomed into the dark tunnel ahead "Were looking for those who are left."

"Why? How do we know our one of us?"

"We aren't attacking you." Garnet said "We aren't here to fight you. Please." Both girls looked into the darkness "Were looking for help."

The growling on the other end stopped and both aquatics waited. They held there breath as slightly hushed whispers echoed down the tunnels to them. They couldn't make out the words being said but they could tell it was at-least a debate about them happening.

After a few tense moments a graveled voice spoke to them "How many of you are there?"

"Two." Garnet answered "Just us."

The pair watched as a pair of orange glowing eyes came around a far bend with slightly smaller red ones close behind.

"Your still alive." The smaller voice said "The one who was to be given away."

Pearl half hid behind Garnet and her friends eyes started to do there own glowing. The red eyes started glowing brighter but the orange dimmed a bit. There dark figures moved and the red eyes stopped glowing all together. This caused the pair to back up slightly as the orange eyes started to come closer. Garnet couldn't stop growling but she wasn't here to fight. She didn't want to and knew they would lose in there current state. Her growling was light, a warning but not hostile.

When the pair come right up to the others they finally got a good look at them. The smaller aquatic was red with dark eyes to match. Her tail looked like flames dancing from her fin up to her hips. Her hair was curly and close to her head. The other was huge. White hair for days and glowing eyes to match. Stripes decorated her skin and her tail matched in sharp swirling orange-red patterns. There colors and patterns were similar and different at the same time. They were definitely from this area of the sea but in different sections due to there colors.

When the bigger aquatic and Garnet locked eyes all growling stopped. There eyes stopped glowing and they both placed there hands on there hearts. A sign of trust. A sign of respect for other Guardians. There was no quarrel here anymore and they expressed just that.

"Your hurt." The smaller said looking the pair over.

Garnet nodded as Pearl stayed hidden partly behind her. She was weary of others with her current condition. They knew who she was and have probably figured out that she has no voice. Siren or not most were disgusted by aquatics like her. It was disgraceful to talk to one, let alone travel with one. Pearl felt the other Guardians eyes on her and she shrunk more behind Garnet to hide. Her friend reached behind her and squeezed her hand gently.

Only when the bigger Guardian moved to get a better look at her did she flinch. Pearl just looked at the other as she offered her her hand. "C'mon." The bigger said as Pearl looked up at her "Let's get you fixed up."

~Back to the present~

'From there the rest is history' Pearl said.

"We patched them up and I haven't let her leave my side since." Jasper said with a shrug "I'm her's."

'Like I'm yours' Pearl clicked.

"Wait. Since you love each-other why didn't you get your voice back?' Connie asked.

Pearl face got a little sad and Jasper was pushing away the urged to go over and hold her. 'It doesn't work like that Connie' Pearl clicked 'Once your voice is gone it's gone forever'

"How did you lose your voice?" Steven asked taking Pearl's hand and rubbing his thumb across the back of it gently. Pearl smiled a bit at the gentleness Steven was showing her. It was another comforting gesture and the aquatic appreciated it. With her free hand she reached over and ruffled Steven's hair a bit.

'That's a story for another time' Pearl clicked gently.

"Oh, Steven the pool should be full." Connie said perking up. "I don't want you to flood the car-wash bay again."

"Let's go see!" Steven jumped to his feet but didn't let go of Pearl's hand. He held on tight as he pulled her out of his room, over a fumbling Jasper trying to get to her feet at the same time, and down the hall. The three of them followed Steven to the pool and were very impressed.

Pearl leaned over the high edge to look at the water inside while Steven went to turn off the hose. Jasper walked around the pool slowly before tapping it with her foot. When the water didn't fall out and looked to her companion. "I like it."

"How much salt should we put in it for you both?" Connie asked dragging the bag over to them. When she reached Jasper's side the bigger mermaid picked the bag up and looked at it. Not reading or listening to Connie talking she turned and ripped he bag in half over the water. With a smile she tossed the remains of the bag over her shoulder. "Or we can just do that."

Pearl walked over to Jasper's side and was going to ask her something but the Guardian just bent down, grabbed Pearl, and picked her up. With a startled yelp she told her companion to put her down. With a smile too wide for comfort Jasper put her down, by throwing her. In the pool.

Both kids were laughing as Pearl's clicks were cut off by the water. She glowed brightly in the pool and emerged to splash water on her companion. 'That wasn't funny!'

"You wanted to be put down." Jasper said pointing at the water. "So I put you down."

'That's not what I meant!' Pearl snapped/clicked.

"Hey, I did what you asked." Jasper said crossing her arms with her smile never fading. Pearl growled through the kids laughter but Jasper wasn't fazed by it. She liked poking Pearl's buttons to rile her up, all in good fun of course. The guardian stepped up to the edge of the pool and leaned down. She pressed her forehead to Pearl's. She gave a small chuckle as Pearl's growl lessened but was still there. She pressed into the smaller a bit more before she sighed and gave in, pressing back, letting her eyes flutter shut.

"There enough salt in there?" Jasper asked not really pulling back at first.

'Enough' Pearl answered pressing a little more before pulling back 'Going to join me?'

There was a loud bang from outside that made all four of them jump. As the sound of multiple footsteps could be heard moving right outside the big door it sent fer into the group. Jasper put herself between the group and the big door. She was fighting the urge to start growling in warning at the threat she couldn't see. Pearl had backed up in the pool but had reached forward when the kids started t move. She managed to grab Connie's arm but missed Steven's.

Pearl clicked as quietly as she could after the boy 'Steven!'

Steven had went back towards the front room. When he opened the door a voice boomed out of the other side of the front one. "Steven?!"

As the boy reached behind him to tell the others to wait he paused. Connie had the same confused look as he did. The mermaids had a whole other expression that set worry into them both.

Pure. Fear.

Drop off to the shore, sunken ship

Bismuth had woken up way before the pod had even began to stir. She had gone and circled around the ship, making sure it was still safe before heading back. When she got back to the cargo bay they were all still asleep. She couldn't fault them though. They had been through a lot and probably needed the rest. As she settled in to wait for them to wake she had time to think.

She thought about everything. The way the runes in the cave told her what happened, showed her the fear the others went through. It spooked even her and she wasn't even there! She thought about how Pearl made such a mess and still managed to get away. The ones who attacked them made damn sure to rough the thin aquatic up. They tried so hard to get the heart but turned on Pearl instead to get what they wanted. She didn't understand though. She didn't get why they went through all the trouble but let her go in the end. By all the damage they left behind they had more then enough power to get what they wanted. Catching a beat up mermaid wasn't that hard when you knew what you were doing and these attackers sure as hell knew what they were doing.

All these questions with no answers left her brooding for a good long while until the Guardian woke up. She silently watched the banished mermaid for a time before drifting up "Your mind is clouded."

"I don't understand what there after." Bismuth said "They had more then enough power to catch Pearl but they let her go."

"She got away."

"No matter how you look at it they let her go." Bismuth said leaning forward a bit, pushing her finger into the center of her hand with each word.

"They did it on purpose." Garnet said as it dawned on her "They didn't want to catch her."

"They wanted to follow her, to see where she would go." Bismuth said "And they damn well made sure they could."

"There hunting down our safe havens." Garnet said "There trying to kill us off again."

"No. No I don't think so." Bismuth said leaning back as Garnet swam over to hover in front of her, arms crossed "There not dumb enough to do that again."

"Then why?" The Guardian huffed "I don't understand."

"If they wanted you all dead they would of done it a while ago." Bismuth said "No, they needed the heart and when Pearl sealed it off they knew she was the only way in. So they roughed her up and let her go." Bismuth tisked crossing her arms "Ugh this sis frustrating to think about."

"Going on the assumption there after our safe havens." Garnet crossed her arms. "Then they let Pearl go hoping to find one."

"Or others who rome the sea." Bismuth said. As they kept talking the rest of the pod was starting to wake up. They didn't leave the cargo container instead just listened to what the pair was talking about. "I bet Pearl going up on land wasn't in there plan."

"They mite not be able to find her." Garnet said "But it's not like they can't wait her out. She has to return to the sea."

"That kid of Rose's, do you think he would help her?" Bismuth said looking over Garnet's shoulder "Ya'll can come out here. I know your awake." She caught the look Garnet gave her as the pod sheepishly swam out to join them "What? Rather them join us then sit there listening in rudely."

"I think Steven would definitely help us." Amethyst said coming out of the container last "He was so nice to us, just like she used to be."

"Do you think Jasper made it to your minnow?" Bismuth asked.

"Yes." Garnet said mater-o-factly. Her confidence in her words left to room for dout in the others mind "What do we do now-"

"Get down!"

Sapphire dove at the others and slammed the lot into Bismuth. They flew back in a tangled mess as Sapphire's scream echoed through the water. The others got pushed into a twist of metal and cars as the small mermaid was yanked out a window. Garnet and Ruby were the first to get untangled but before they could go follow Sapphire Bismuth stopped them. She quickly tangled the lot up in chains and yanked them back into the cargo bay. She understood the danger right outside and them all going out there was going to end up with them all more then likely dead.

"Bis-"

"Shut your mouth." Bismuth growled pulling the lot into the shadows. They could hear Sapphire fighting whoever was out there and it was hard to listen too. She was hissing loudly and whimpering at the same time.

"Don't hurt her." A voice said "Just knock her out."

Garnet yanked on her chains hard as Sapphire's voice was suddenly cut off. The others were a mixture of growls and whimpers causing Bismuth to chain there mouths shut as well. As voices started to come to there ears Garnet's eyes started to glow.

"Don't make me blind you too." Bismuth whispered harshly "All of you freaking stop now."

"She isn't the one were looking for." A voice said carrying to them inside.

"Are you sure?"

"The one we want is white, not blue."

"What do we do with her? Bring her with us?"

"Bella will want her." Those words sent a cold bang into both Garnet and Bismuth's chests. The weight of those words had the others in the pod feeling the anxiety rolling off the other two. "She mite not be alone though. Let's do a quick sweep of the ship then get out of here."

Bismuth looked at Garnet as she quickly unchained them all. She trusted the Guardian to not be a complete idiot and run out there. Garnet herself knew she couldn't play a hero right now. Both her and Bismuth pushed the pod back into the crooked hole Sapphire forced them into. They could hear people coming. Ill intent flowing off them heavily into the water around them. This forced the pod back as far as they could go as a few beams of light passed there hiding spot.

"This place gives me the creeps." One voice said.

"No kidding." The other said "If she was with others they would of come out by now. Let's get out of here."

"Right behind you."

The sound of the the attackers retreating had the Guardian and outcast moving right to the front of there hiding place. They could hear them talking as they swam up to the surface. The further away they got the further the two older mermaids ventured. They swam to the very edge of the ship hidden in shadows. They watched as teh figures took Sapphire up to the bottom of a big ship with them and hand her off before getting out of the water themselves. they watched the boat start and only when it was a dot on the horizon did Garnet and Bismuth looked at each-other. Before a word could be muttered Garnet wound back and punched her right in the jaw.

"You damn shark!" Bismuth snapped as she flew backwards before righting herself.

"Why didn't you let us go after her?!" Garnet yelled swimming at her. Before she could get to Bismuth the rest of the pod got in the way. Amethyst, Lapis, and Blue got in Garnet's way. They wrapped themselves around her to hold her back as Peridot clung onto Ruby who's eyes were glowing so bright the water was starting to vibrate around her. "We could have saved her! We could of faught back!"

"And then what?!" Bismuth yelled so loudly they all flinched back from her "Cause a big enough scene that they send more here?!" The power rolling off her had everyone but the Guardian flinching back away from her. Garnet just growled deeply hand held her ground, her own eyes starting to glow. "Listen-"

"No you listen-" Garnet said trying to cut her off.

"If they wanted her dead she would be dead!" Bismuth yelled "But they don't. They took her with them which means killing us all off isn't what there trying to do."

"Then what are they trying to do miss knows everything?" Lapis snapped pushing against the fear rolling through her.

"I don't know but what I do know is that we know exactly where Sapphire is."

"And hows that?"

"Trackers." Peridot said getting excited "We use trackers!"

"Trackers?" Lapis said "What in the seven seas is a tracker?"

Bismuth smiled big before raising her fingers to her mouth "A special thing Readers and Writers like me can do." She whistled loudly and it echoed through the water. To the surprise of the others a thin glowing blue trail started to twist itself through the water. "To find each-other when runes were being made." She looked after the trail "Now, we use it to find your Reader."

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Note: Setting up to some of the big drama of this fic is the most fun I've had in a while!