"It's okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings" -Kurt Cobain
The gravel was slick, covered with the remnants of washed up algae, creating a greenish hue to the incoming waves lapping up on to the shore; trees in the background were swaying as the leaves fell from their branches, landing into messy piles beneath the canopy. The surrounding weather was growing colder as winter's clouds began to infiltrate the skies, even the once noisy birds of the forest had departed for the warmer sun traveling down to the southern lands. But still fall was prevailing, hanging by a thread of daring yellows and bright reds, and not yet asleep critters scrounging through the thick wooden maze. And soon the clean scent of pine drifting out from the forest had vanished as the winds shifted to the north, and what was just a subtle hint of stormy tides suddenly morphed, pouring in like a hurricane.
The strong salty breeze blew fiercely into the freckled face of the young hunter who was angrily throwing sea-smoothed stones into the dark waters from his perch on top of a wayward boulder. He was a lone boy merely the size of a nine year old with radiant auburn hair that shone gold in the light, and when he extended his gangly arm backwards to toss another rock, the soft wispy strands upon his head freed themselves from behind his elvish ears as he no longer was pushing them back with restless hands. The tanned skin peeking through the rips and tatters of his worn clothes offering little protection from the impending shadowing forecast about to rage from above, but the child paid no attention to the shivers cascading down his spine, or the bruises that were beginning to appear on his backside from his rough seat. Instead he continued to vent his frustrations with more hissing catapults of pebbles into the deep blue completely unaware of the violet eyes watching him from under the surface.
After another freezing splash of a stone, this one falling far too close to him, caused a spray of sea water to stain the disheveled trousers of the child, stinging the abrasions uncovered on his legs. Finally, overly frustrated the hazel eyed boy stood up jumping off his ledge and marched towards the offending ocean, his calloused hands curled into fists.
Shouting on the top of his lungs he wailed, "Stupid! Why do you have to ruin everything, huh? Why can't you leave me alone!"
Exhausted from his tantrum the child slouched to the sandy ground, his body practically melting in defeat.
"Everyone else does…" He whispered, a tear left from one of his earthen colored irises as he hugged himself only being cradled by the ghosts of the waves crashing onto the shore, swirling around his trembling figure.
Slowly emerging from the depths a mysterious form ascended on to the land dragging its heavy legs unsteadily across the foreign dry terrain. Lifting one wobbly naked foot after the other it staggered closer to the unsuspecting child yards away. Unbeknownst to the sadden boy whose reddish appearance matched the most vibrant shade of fiery coral, another being was struggling to crawl towards him reaching out with heavily kelp covered arms.
Growing too cold from the ocean spray the lonesome orphan pushed himself out of the weeping sea, salt stains dripping down his speckled legs as he swung himself around only to immediately come tumbling down into the unsettled waters behind him.
"AHhhh!"
Screaming and scuttling backwards further into the tide, the frightened boy grabbed a fistful of sand pelting the monstrous invader directly in its supposed face. The creature fell heavily to the ground with a loud groan, the seaweed draped over its body sliding off revealing a shockingly humanoid physique. As it rubbed the sand off, long inky hair was no longer concealed by the muddled ocean foliage and was framing the rather plump cheeks of a child, its build lanky like the drenched fair headed boy panting fearfully in the shallow pools.
Regaining more of his composure the golden tinted eyes of the boy confusedly began to observe the stranger in front of him, whatever it was it was a person, or at least half of one, its violet orbs now staring into his. It looked like a boy possibly, but he couldn't be sure with how long its tresses were. The other's hair was like ebony silk rolling over their shoulders like a tapestry hanging over the walls, rustling in the evening's ravenous currents.
"Who are you? Or what are you?" He asked, barely more audible than a choked gasp.
The other blinked blankly at him tilting their head to the right causing raven blessed ringlets to stick to the side of their bluish tinted lips. But instead of answering him, a wet, slimy hand was felt sliding over his neck leaving a trail of goosebumps rising on his skin. The pale ocean inhabitant dropped their arm as they revealed pointed teeth glinting out from an unlatched jaw.
"Who are you? What are you?" A hollow voice echoed.
Feeling more confident that the sea visitor before was no threat, the soiled boy rolled out from the clutches of the ocean and back onto solid dry land. Placing his own damp palm to his still beating chest the scrawnier child exclaimed articulating carefully, "My name's Roy Harper, but everyone calls me just Roy, I'm human." His thumping heart was ready to burst from inside as he hopefully watched the other begin to copy him.
"My name's Garth, but everyone calls me just Garth, I'm human?" The webbed finger intruder repeated with uncertainty. Its expressive purple orbs flickering towards the restless redhead in front of them, whose mouth was hung wide open in vexed disbelief.
Resisting the urge to slap his forehead in exasperation, the land traveling boy rested his arm somewhat lazily on the other's narrow shoulder causing them to stumble briefly under the weight giving a surprised look aimed at him.
He sighed leaning into the aquatic visitor's ear.
"I feel like there's a lot of explaining I have to do… great. Just great."
The oblivious guest patted politely on the boy's sun stained wrist, smiling softly in complete ignorance quietly accepting that this new stranger would become something dear to them. And for the first time throughout the whole gray filtered day the skies cleared away the thunderous clouds, revealing the teasing warmth of a cheeky sun.