The sound of waves crashing and thunder clapping echoed above, a testament to the raging storms plaguing the open seas. Kayrrus found herself curled up far below the waves, her splotches of koi patterns camouflaging her into the colorful rocky outcrops covered in coral. Her kelp-like whiskers floated up above, swaying with the push and pull of the waves. She was not a fighter, this was not the place for her to be. And yet, the sea was her home, and she felt the need to help protect it. There had been many a kiji and tally above the waterline, doing their best to fight against this unnatural storm, and here she was, cowering and laying in wait, as still as could be, ready to ambush any creature that dared to come close. Even though she was a coward, she could try her best to help, in her own way, beneath the surface of the sea.
Feeling a creature approaching her whiskers, she tensed her body, ready to spring up. The feeling of the current shift against her whiskers gave her every indicator she needed, and she launched herself up, jaws wide and ready to take a bite out of whatever had gotten close, only to receive a sudden smack of a tail against her face. With a yelp she recoiled, the glow of the tank-like structure on her lower body glowing brighter in alarm.
"How DARE you, creature of the- um..." Maqua, the flustered tally who'd almost been attacked by the golden Kiji, started, giving Kayrrus a onceover a moment before deciding this Kiji was not a creature of the land. "Sea..." She trailed off, before snorting, shaking her head.
"Sorry," Kayrrus muttered, rubbing her cheek with her paw. "I thought you were-"
"I don't want to hear it from a Kiji," Maqua snapped, her rainbow energy glowing hostilely as she backed off. "I don't have time to deal with you, I have a much greater aim to please my mistress." The tally turned to swim off, earning a small pout from Kayrrus. However, Maqua paused, glancing around in the darkness. "Although it seems I have naught a choice in the matter. It seems you can fight at least. How are you against sharks?"
Kayrrus immediately looked around, her ribbon suddenly pulling close to her body. "Sharks? I, uh-" Spotting a large form making their way near them, she gulped as it started to circle. "That's not a shark, that's a megalodon!"
"Same thing," Maqua replied with another snort, not caring to pursue this discussion. "As much as I hate to admit it, we may need to-" She made a face. "Work... together..." She kept her eyes on the circling meg, lips curling as if she ate something sour. Screw working together, this kiji was fish bait. Useless. Might as well simply be used as a distraction...
Kayrrus swam over closer to Maqua as the circling of the meg became tighter. "You have a plan?" Kayrrus asked.
"Yeah. Don't let it catch me, or we're both screwed."
"Can do!"