Chapter 4: Survival

A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm back! I'm sorry I haven't updated this since last month. I was busy with school and stuff. I just wanted to say Happy Holidays! I hope you all have a great Christmas, even though it's not Christmas yet. But it's getting close! :D

Sandrastar1: I'll do more soon. :)

The sun rose high in the sky. Its rays shone in the big, blue ocean. Dory slept peacefully under the rock. The sun's rays shone in her eyes. It bothered her. She wasn't used to the sun since she used to live in the MLI for five years. The fry slowly opened her eyes before yawning and stretching. Her tummy growled. Dory didn't really eat much since she lost her parents. She realized that she has to eat. Dory swam out. She searched around until she found kelp.

"Kelp!" she exclaimed.

She swam to the kelp. She tried to grab some, but she couldn't pull it out. She pulled as hard as she could. The poor fry suddenly bumped into a rock.

"Owwww!" she cried.

Dory looked at her fin. Blood came out of it.

Tears filled in her eyes. It hurted so much. She blew on her wound.

"I wish I knew how to make my boo boo feel better," she said.

She then looked down. There was some kelp on the ground.

She smiled and swam slowly to it. The small fry began eating.

After her meal, she decided to ask some fish who will help her find her family.

Dory looked around, hoping to find fish that will help her. The young fry saw a female flame angelfish. She smiled and swam to her.

"Hello!" she shouted.

The fish stopped swimming. She looked at Dory.

"Oh, hello. What's your name?" she asked.

"My name's Dory! I lost my family. Can you help me, please?"

The female gasped. "Oh, you poor dear. Of course I can help you."

Dory grinned hugely. "Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome. By the way, my name's Allison."

"It's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too, little one. Now, do you remember where you last seen your parents?" Allison asked.

"I don't remember," Dory stated sadly.

"It's okay, sweetie. Let's search around the ocean."

"Okay."

They searched the best they could, but it was no hope.

"I'll never find my parents!" Dory cried.

"Now, honey, don't say that. It'll take a while longer to find them," Allison assured.

Dory sniffed. She lied against Allison.

Allison stroked her softly. She felt bad for the poor fry.

Dory suddenly felt really hungry. She hadn't eaten since morning time. She was so focused about finding her parents, that she forgot to eat. She then looked at her fin. There was still a scratch with blood.

Allison then looked down at Dory's fin. She gasped. "Oh, my goodness! Dory! You... You have a scratch!"

"Yeah. I think I have it from earlier."

"Oh my! I'm so sorry! How did I not see it in the first place? I'll get some kelp to heal your wound." She grabbed some kelp and wrapped it around her fin.

"Feel better, sweetie?" she asked.

"Yes. Thank you."

Allison smiled. "Are you hungry?"

"I'm starving," Dory said.

The female chuckled. "Let's get some dinner."

Meanwhile, a hungry barracuda was searching for some fish to eat. The barracuda stopped. He sniffed, getting scent. He licked his jaws and swam fastly towards the scent.

"Mmm. That was a good dinner," Allison said.

"Yeah," Dory agreed. She then heard a growling sound.

"Do you hear that?" Dory asked.

"Hear what, Dory?"

"There was this growling sound. It sounded scary."

"Maybe it was just your imagination, hon."

"Maybe it was."

Allison's eyes widened when she heard the same growl. "I hear the growling sound!"

Dory shook in fright. She hid behind Allison.

The barracuda saw them. He roared and chased them.

They both screamed loudly. Allison picked up Dory and swam as fast as she could. She found a cave. She placed Dory in there and protected her.

Dory cried. She hugged Allison tightly.

"Shh, it's okay." Allison hugged her.

Allison then went out. She gasped when she the barracuda stood in front of her. He licked his jaws.

"Allison!" Dory cried.

Allison tried to swim for it, but it was too late. The barracuda grabbed her into his mouth and ate her. Screams filled out as the barracuda crushed her bones.

Dory's eyes was as big as ever when she saw the scene. Tears was leaking out of her eyes, and she screamed.

The barracuda gulped dead Allison down before swimming away.

Dory cried to sleep. She wanted to forget the most terrifying thing that happened to her besides being sucked away by the undertow.

Months later...

Little Dory learned to survive on her own. As much as she knew how to survive on her own, she still needed her parents. She truly missed them, and she could do anything to get them back.

Dory finished her meal. She swam up to the surface to go look at the stars.

Dory took a deep breath. She would've loved doing this with her parents.

After looking at the stars she lied down in a cave and went to sleep. She hoped to find her parents someday. She'll stay determined no matter what.