The coastline swells and crashes against the peachy sand leaving behind crabs for the seagulls to devour, and other strange little critters that scutter about. I grab a turquoise spiral shell lifting it to the sinking sun to watch it sparkle. The Parallel Coral Reef of the North is beautiful. Shades of blue and green mingle into white foam that pops and dissipates when it touches land or sand. If it wasn't so dangerous I'd love to go in there and swim around, but if I do I'd get eaten by the hidden beasts and Uraqur in the depths and shadows. 

How many months has it been since I left Lepidoptera, my home? Two months, almost three now. My group and I traveled from Sleepy Chestnut to the Parallel Coral Reef and we are now so close to our goal, Mirror Tomb. All we have to do now is find ourselves some local Ocean Dwellers. They are the only people who can navigate the waters and get us there safely. 

We have been here for three days with no signs of any Ocean Dwellers. Tomorrow, I'll be here again, looking and waiting some more. How much longer am I going to have to wait? 

"Young Lord Niaphi," Thealre asks behind me, "Should we continue our search in the morning?"  

I snap, "Yes, we should..." I throw the shell and it hits the water with a soft splash. As soon as it hits the water something large snaps its jaws over it disappearing. I really shouldn't push my frustration on her, but I had hoped we would find them today. "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so rough." I walk along the coastline, "I hate wasting time. We could be sailing there by now." 

"Those who have had dealings with them said it would take weeks to find even one. It's summertime, so they are in smaller groups right now so we might have a better chance to find them." Thealre ponders for a second, "I also heard of several ways people got their attention. We can start a list." 

I growl under my breath, "We don't have weeks." I spin around storming back towards the forest. Thealre flinches, taking a step back. 

My heart twitches in pain, and I try to hide it from my face. I know she doesn't mean to flinch, so I give her some space pretending nothing is wrong. 

Thealre is one of the most popular guild leaders in the Moonlight guild. Double my age and a solid warrior climbing Towers since her youth. And yet my special heratical ability Menace horrifies her. It's an ability that has allowed my family to stay in leadership for centuries. However, unlike my ancestors, I cannot control this ability and end up striking fear in allies and foes alike. 

Thealre in her annoyingly perceptive way notices and says kindly, "Do you think the artifact you're looking for will be in this Tower?" 

"The Twins say a level four Tower named Tiamat will have the Ocean's Tears in it. Books say it allows its user to control their abilities. If I can get it, I can stop others from fearing me and at the same time prove my worth as heir to the people." I was given the honor of proving to my people I can be a powerful strong ruler. By claiming the core of an ancient tower I can do just that. "May I ask why you decided to join my adventure?" 

She takes my question seriously, placing her hands behind her back and pacing slowly left and right her eyes never leaving the sea. At her hips, two swords sway always in an easy position for her to draw just in case of an attack. She's six feet tall with dark pink hair cut in a pixie style, the same color as the light fuzzy cat fluff that covers her entire muscular body. Any place that has skin, has scars preventing new growth. And she has a lot of scars. "You are the best choice for the next Lord." 

"What about my older sister Peoffi?" 

Thealre snorts her blue eyes sparkling, "That whirlwind can never stay in one place. Malkuth is her entire kingdom, but the people of Lepidoptera are yours. You have the compassion of a parent, the tyrannical nature of a god, and the bloodlust of a Uraqur. A perfect leader. " 

"I don't know, until I can control this power I am a blade without a hilt."

"Then let us get you one, Young Lord." She kneels in the sand bowing her head, "I will have pledged my lifeblood to My Lord and I do the same to My Young Lord."

"Rise, I accept your blood, and know I will never let it spill wastefully." I smile trying to keep my voice from shaking with joy, "First step, first the annoying Ocean Dwellers before we die of boredom." 

"Young Lord Niaphi." Shouts Menphreras, one of my cousins. Her hoofed feet easily bounce through the solid ground but once she hits sand she slides and gets stuck. Letting out a curse she struggles to free her foot, "There's a stranger in camp." 

"A stranger?" I ask heading to the forest where she shakes sand from her fur. 

"A very strange one. The twins have already adopted her as their pet." She scowls her face twisting in a sour tone. "They are determined to fight for their right of ownership or whatnot." 

I rub my nose, "Tell me about this stranger?" 

Menphreras shrugs, "I think she's an outsider." She crosses her arms, "She can't understand us so she hasn't taken any communication orb, and she looks disheveled. I'd say she came with that crazy storm from yesterday." 

I groan. That storm was so bad we almost died of a falling building, it was crazy. But we did get lucky and found an Endless Bag and a few other good artifacts to take home. 

"Will you deal with the Twins and get them to release their pet." 

Rubbing my nose I try not to smile, "I'll talk to them. They get bored easily so I doubt they will last long." I'm glad my cousins are with me. Since they are family they carry the same heretically ability I do and are less affected by my out-of-control powers. 

Speaking of cousins Zaran's deep voice suddenly appears making us all jump out of our skins. "Food is ready, hurry before the Twins feed it all to their new pet." 

Zaran is a shadow Awimah so his entire body is as dark as any form of shadow he is in. From his black eyes, skin, hair, and feathers he becomes a tangible shadow within darkness. 

"I was told they found something interesting." 

"It was more like..." He hisses softly trying to find his words, "She found us... She is a very odd otherworlder." 

The term otherworlder is what we call those chosen by the god Malkuth. It's not a polite invitation, for he is not a good god. But those who are here are allowed to fight and become their best self. Only the brave can survive this world. Any otherworlder I've met is pathetic and weak-willed. Most join Papilio so they can return home, instead of embracing the powers gifted to us and achieving great feats.

"I'll check out this otherworlder." Once at camp, I can see the commotion happening. The Twins are feeding a human sitting in their chair. A cute short woman with light brown skin, and mousy hair. She's well fed, sweetly built with breasts as large as mellons and a butt that can barely fit in the chair. She peeps like a chick waiting for her next bite. 

Eveyln our cook is a little more motivated than before cutting up the food in small pieces and cooking it with her special herbs. Even Efi a usually cautious man has melted away from her aura and is now sitting next to her waiting his turn to pinch her cheeks. A privilege the twins are not allowing. 

 "Hey, what's going on?" I call out. 

 A set of pale pink eyes flicker to me, and their pouting begins as they cling to her. "She's soooo cute! Let us have her!" Thoelren begs first, "We will feed her, and take care of her needs, she can sleep in our tent too!" 

Zhysse adds, "We won't let anything eat her, she'll stay with us in the backline." She squeezes the woman's cheeks. 

What really surprises me about this, is how calm and accepting the otherworlder is of all of this. She's not screaming, not crying, or acting uncomfortable. She's relaxed munching on food and leaning into their hugs. You'd think they've known each other for decades rather than minutes. 

"We can't take her. We are about to enter an ancient Tower. Half the team will take her back to Brine Stone. I will allow you two to join and drop her off but you both have to return without her. For now, Zhysse please make a communication orb for her." 

"Fine... Oh hey," She cries out, as the young woman suddenly stands up. I stare into her huge sweet upside-down crescent eyes shimmering a summery hazel blue that glimmers like fireflies in a forest. She takes a step towards me, and then another as if entranced, her eyes getting as wide as a full moon. 

I hold my breath not sure what to do. No one but family willingly walks up to me, and never an Otherworlder. 

She reaches out whispering, "Beautiful."