• Each chapter is a different story.
• This will eventually diverge from canon.
Chapter 1: Dangerous Waters
Young One.
He didn't know it, but he would be the first of many with that larva name.
He didn't know what life would bring him, good or bad.
He had no idea what it would be like to be blended.
All he knew was that he enjoyed playing in branches that fell in the lake. It never occurred to him that it might be dangerous.
One river went into the lake. Another came out of it, and a larger than usual set of branches drifted to the one heading out. Young One didn't realize it until he and the branches fell down a short waterfall.
He was tangled in the branches!
"Help!" He squealed, but he was underwater. The blended couldn't hear him, and the other larvae were too far away.
Faster and faster he was dragged. The branches began breaking up, and he hit a rock. He squirmed himself free, squealing desperately, but no one heard him.
Why had he played in the branches?
He tried to swim upstream, but the current was too strong. He was tossed and turned. His body ached. He squealed painfully as his back fin hit a rock. In desperation, he leaped with all his strength towards the shore.
He landed in mud, then squealed sadly before passing out.
:.:.:
He was in a bowl with warm water that was tinged blue with his blood. A human sat in front of him, rubbing paste over his body. It hurt his wounds. It tasted awful!
"Don't eat me!"
"Relax, little one. I know it stings, but it'll stop the bleeding."
"You aren't going to eat me?"
"The poor thing is terrified," a woman said.
"It's probably in a lot of pain." He offered Young One a piece of fish. "Are you hungry?"
Young One chewed up the piece of flesh, then laid on it.
"Are you eating or playing?"
Young One absorbed fish juice through his skin, then fell asleep.
:.:.:
"Thank you. May we see him now?"
Young One perked up. Selmak! It soon felt Selmak approached…and she did not look pleased.
"It wasn't my fault!" Young One immediately protested.
"You are lucky to be alive," she said as she examined him. "You have tears in your fins and a break in your tail. How did you end up in the rapids?"
"I was trapped in a branch." He squealed when he was picked up.
"I have healed you as best I can."
"My fins?"
"You'll have to heal them yourself."
He squealed in sorrow.
"You are the only one who can. It'll probably take a few weeks, but you can do it." Selmak approached the man who had found him, offering him some coins. "Thank you for rescuing my brother. Please, take this as compensation."
He hesitated to take the money. "I have little siblings too, still getting into trouble. I would hope someone would help them."
"I know that, at the very least, you gave him medicine and food."
Young One realized he must have still smelled of fish.
He took the coins, then gave Young One a gentle pet. "He'll be alright? He was bleeding when I found him."
"The worst of it has passed. Thanks to you, he'll be fine."
The farmer smiled, looking to the larva. "Be careful, little one. May I know your name?"
"Young One. What is your name?"
Selmak translated.
"My name is Per'sus."
The larva wiggled. "May I use it? I need to select a name when I have blended."
The farmer frowned, curious about the excited squeal until Selmak translated. He laughed.
"You would want the name of a mere farmer? Surely, you would prefer the name of the legend himself, Perseus. That is whom I was named after."
"I would prefer the name of my rescuer."
Selmak translated.
He grinned, then bowed his head slightly. "I would be honored if you used my name."