Fish, Fins, and Scales (Poem)

Fish, Fins, and Scales

In the early wake of the morning and the churning of the seas, creatures of all sizes and shapes dipped in for their daily meals. Bigger fish ate smaller fish, crustaceans feast on the decay of larger and smaller animals, and things grew more lovely thanks to the suns awesome light hit the sapphire oceans. Near a cliff edge on an island, many seals had gathered and began their dips into the sea. They hunted the smaller schools and individual fish, whether it was for themselves, a mate, or their pups. As two seals intertwined in a dance further from the others, something came through and the two seals disappeared.

More of the seals vanished because of this large presence, and the few more fled to the rocky beaches where they would be safe. Some failed this struggle and too vanish in the deep and shallow blue. Something breached the water, a scaly backside, but vanished and away from the island. There were bigger fish in the sea.

This was said enough for a large, reptilian dragon of the likes was... odd in appearance. After finishing a quick morning snack it swam wherever it pleased whether the area was cold or warm, deep or shallow, nothing was out of it's range. Nor were the sailors gathering fish or traveling to unknown lands. Like a voracious storm, five ships were quickly dragged down or broke in half, sinking swiftly and most the crews dead. Whoever was left witnessed a creature of violent nature, believing it a monster, and tried their best to find wreckage they could stay atop. One older captain saw the beast gather almost every bit of treasure, metal, and whatever else valuable into one half of a corvette and swim away with the entire piece. Ahead, the old man spotted a massive island they were going to venture anyway and went to collect the remnants of any crew.

For the beast in question, it swam to that island and around it until surfacing. Dragging the corvette's half ashore it stood on its hind legs and waltzed into a cavern. This said beast was none other than the nomadic Bassasail, once a Sea Wing Dragon turned coastal and deep sea ship brigand. In years past he had a fascination with collecting junk, or rather treasure for his hoard. And through cave he walked through still dragging the broken ship and into his lair. The deeper he was the darker it got until he found himself in a massive cavern, the only source of light was a large hole in the ceiling, daylight growing gradually allowed for the dragon to see far better.

Bassasail was once the tribe leader of the Sea Wings, however due to rogues wanting to emd him for being an easy target, Bassasail killed them one by one using the darkest depths and rocky bottom for cover. He was too injured to travel far and many years ago found the archipelago he defended and inhabited. Since then, the drake found loneliness... comforting. He kept his wits about and was in prime condition to take on whatever. However not seeing as many other dragons was haunting, as Bassasail was present for that day everything went to Abyss. It was part of his job as a nomad of the sea to clean up the mess that were humans and drown any monsters that dared trek the oceans. To him, it was fun and games. It was twisted with how he viewed it.

After securing the treasures toward the side of the cavern, the blue dragon set the broken piece of a ship with others that were overgrown with plant life and critters, acting more as trophies than anything else. There were at least two dozen smaller ship halves, cruisers abd what not, however massive ships he couldn't haul because... well, there wasn't enough space for that size a trophy! Along the island itself was riddled with shipwrecks, boats the drake had dragged from the oceans that bear no inhabitants save for the local flora and fauna.

When all was said and done, Bassasail crawled out of his home and dipped back into the seas, his lungs converting into gills once more. Further and further into the blue he went, going about the usual day, as usual.

Birds chirping and the waves of the beach crashing against the shore. This was something he woke to everyday, something he could count on to stay the same. The wind was lifting his wings as he slowly stumbled to lift up his heavy body, upon which he began scratching the sand out of his ears. He yawned saying hello to another day, except something felt different, something was missing. He looked around and found the outline of his sword in the sand. It was gone, and in it's place was hundreds of tiny footprints leading away back into the sea. where what appeared to be one of their ships marks in the sand leading back into sea. He knew instantly what they were and he had to find them. Humans always taking what aint theirs. He growled, and flare of anger burned in his chest as he roared. He knew he had to find them. The last thing he ever expected to do was to search the oceans, he hoped he could survive. but he had to try. diving into the ocean he went searching.

He searched for days determined to find his weapon. There was no telling how far they were able to go let alone if he was even going in the right direction. Another day passed when he managed to find a shipwreck. He scavenged its remains no sign of his blade, nor of any valuables, odd he thought to himself this wreck was obviously recent. The wood was still floating above him. what could do this? he noticed claw marks somewhat larger than his on the side, more like who....

His search continued for another day. Now missing a part of himself he knew he couldn't give up. Swimming began to feel tiring and he missed the sand of the beaches he used to wander. Something then appeared into the horizon. A fleet of five ships in the distance were sailing ahead of him, a hint of relief came over him as he began to swim faster to get over there. he knew he would have to destroy the... CRACK!!! his ears shot up as one of the ships began to sink right before his eyes, with the screams of the lives onboard filling the salty air. it was shrill and was silenced as it was dragged under. the other ships panicked and tried to get away from whatever was doing this. More screams filled the air as a low roaaaar!! declared victory over them all. with all the ships decimated and scrapped. he now noticed a large beast swimming in the water heading towards a nearby island. and Poem began to follow.

The island was fairly decent for a dragon of Poem's size. He wasn't sure where he was. but he was happy to be on the beach once again. He heard something and felt it coming from the deep. He was surprised he beat it here. he hid behind a nearby rock as what he now saw as a dragon carrying what he instantly recognized the metal blade he was carrying. his weapon. the dragon walked on his hind legs into the cavern. he know he should wait until he would come out again. and then he will strike! then get out quickly and quietly.

after waiting for sometime the dragon eventually left. then Poem made his move. he quickly made it into the cave his night vision helping him navigate the dark passages. eventually reaching the sunlit dome room filled with treasures and well... junk. stacks of ships lay around him but his sword lay far across the cave. it was the only thing he was here for. he dashed towards it hoping the dragon wont come back. he touched it after all this time attaching it back onto the end of his tail. It's weight felt familiar. and he knew it was time to get out, but there was a silent beauty to this place. is this really what many dragons desired, wealth and power. He truly did not understand this, but he felt it's pull. something wanted him to stay. It's true that he was tired from all the swimming he did. he really needed rest. There was a small place in the corner of the cave, a hole generally his size that hid him from view, he fit quietly in and attempted to sleep. hoping to not get caught in this odd place. he was happy to have back what was his as he slowly drifted.

Something was off, thought the beast, as he began to pick up on... another dragons scent. No, he had never met this one and began to trail it back until he was right back at the cave entrance. Bassasail felt his anger begin to steep through, as his body- between each individual scale begin to glow softly blue. He trekked his way back to the cave and entered it not bothering to remain as quiet as could be. This was his domain, Bassasail's own hideaway from all the world and yet someone dared intrude his personal world?!

With a vocal roar that bore pure anger, Bassasail rose to his hind legs, a blue mist-like smoke rising from his maw and his eyes glowed a brilliant sapphire. It was clear he was all business, and did not take kindly to this invader. Regardless if they or it were a larger beast or smaller Bassasail did not stand for such things. No, he scanned the area beginning to lose sight of his senses in his own rage, and to any other dragon he appeared more like a monster than a draconic being.

"Step forth!" The blue beast shouted vibrating the entire cavern, "Or I will blow this entire lair to smithereens!"

And Bassasail didn't play games either, he was serious about destroying the entire cave. As Bassasail charges up his primary attack- a very deadly one to add, the entire area begun to warm. That warmth was swiftly turning into hot and animals of all sorts quickly fled the cavern as if knowing the impending doom. Bassasail aimed in the general direction of where he last tracked the smell, and his maw slowly opened just a tad to allow a brilliant bright light escape his jaws. If the dragon didn't show itself immediately then they would most likely die... Or worse, trapped underneath all that rubble.

The heat was getting intense, and the high humidity was just making it somewhat bearable. He heard what the wingless SeaWing said. Knowing that the only way out was through the way he came in, he stepped out slowly, hiding the blade on his tail behind one of the junk piles. Now looking at the opposing dragon he noticed he was nearly three times his own size, But he spoke anyway."I only came here to take back what was mine!!" flashing his scales so he would be noticed. "One of the ships you destroyed and brought back here had something of mine that the humans stole! I simply followed the ship for days, eventually stumbling upon you and this island. After finding what was mine I took a well deserved rest, now I will be going." Hoping he said everything he needed to, he waited.