The Ocean's Song (pt. 1) (Going through edits)

~18~

"Ok, go ahead." Naida said, permitting them to handle her as they needed to in order to deliver their gifts. It was over as quickly as it had begun. Naida took a deep breath in, the dryness in her throat disappearing.

"Before we head home, what do you guys eat here? I'm hungry and I'm going to assume you don't have fast food." Naida chuckled, batting her eyes as the small irritation that was starting to set in faded away.

"No we do, it's just hard to catch." Shark stated and everyone, including Naida, laughed.

"This way." Ray beaconed to her from a few feet away. "Reef made a reef a while ago that's almost like a cage, and Krait stocked it with delicious edible animals! That's where we get all our food. One downside is you have to kill it each time." Ray shrugged and looked mockingly at Krait.

"Hey, my power over animals comes with me being easily bonded to them! I can't just kill an innocent friend because I'm hungry!" Krait barked defensively.

"Whatever, you're just squeamish around blood." Ray snarked.

"Who isn't?" Krait retorted. The other four brothers raised their hands, but Naida didn't. "See!" He gestured to Naida frantically. "I'm not the only one!"

"Well that's cause Nadia's a girl." Lionfish replied matter-of-factly and wiped a little lingering blood from his nose off his face.

Naida turned to him with an offended expression and her hands on her hips. "And what does me being a girl have to do with anything?"

"Well, girls aren't as strong, brave, or reliable as men." Lionfish stated. The brothers made wounded noises and looked pitifully at Lionfish.

Naida gasped, her expression changing from offense to anger. "Oh, and I suppose you think men are so great, of course. Remind me, which gender is able to grow a perfect human being in their own body? It can't be men, because they barely take care of themselves as is. And if you think for one minute that I can't be strong, brave, or as reliable as any man, then you really have a dense skull. This, Lionfish, is not how you win over a woman." Naida raged, her face growing red.

With every sharp word Lionfish winced a little and looked more and more regretful. "N-Naida-"

"Don't say another word." She fumed and joined the other brothers, leaving Lionfish alone and in the back.