Ocean Treasures (ch 2)

2-Day Early Release for patrons!

Thank you all for the reviews of chapter 1! I just pray I didn't get your hopes up too much and I hope you'll enjoy these chapters to the fullest as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

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							Chapter 2. Separation

When the next morning arrived, casting warm beams of light down into the depths of the ocean, Weiss woke first.

She was initially puzzled to find herself in a foreign room where the coral was dark purple, rather than the pale pinkish-white of her own. But when she noticed the slumbering mer-Faunus at her side, resting with just her head and arms touching the sea grass bed, all of the memories came flooding back to Weiss.

She put a hand to her neck, rubbing fingers along the cut and finding all pain absent now. The ache in her scales from being tangled and suspended by the net had all but faded with the good night's rest, and aside from a minor growling in her stomach, she felt oddly refreshed.

But this wasn't her room nor was it her native district of the Great Coral Reef, so she didn't feel comfortable with taking any course of action without permission.

So she waited as Blake continued to sleep, traveling her gaze over the other mermaid's luscious black hair, and then down to her captivating tail. The mix of grey and purple really was alluring to Weiss; each and every scale swirled with both colors, starting as a darker shade and gradually becoming lighter toward the ends. They were dusty and mystic, but very clean, and Weiss could see as much even more clearly now in the more favorable lighting.

With idle fingers, she reached out to gently pet through the girl's hair, being careful not to rouse her. Her nails moved slowly over the bases of Blake's ears, feeling the course, thick fur absorbing the warm light.

It wasn't much longer before Blake woke sleepily to find Weiss caressing her cheek. Clearly, the white-haired girl hadn't expected to get caught, and both mermaids jolted and scrambled back, flustered and apologetic.

But when the "I'm sorry!" was spoken simultaneously between the two, each couldn't help but chuckle and then laugh a little harder.

"How are you feeling?" Blake asked, her golden eyes already scanning Weiss for any signs of distress.

But the smaller mermaid's voice was much clearer when she spoke now than it had been yesterday.

"I feel wonderful, all things considered," Weiss reported. "I rested very well last night. And it's only because you took such great care of me. Did I ever properly thank you for saving my life?"

Before Blake could give an answer, Weiss leaned forward once again and kissed her cheek gently. The contact was warmer than any beam of sunlight, and Blake felt a very slight but happy rumble work its way into her chest. She couldn't help but smile, too focused on the faint contact of Weiss' lips on her skin to remember how to answer properly.

"I, um... I don't remember..." she said distractedly.

"Then I'll thank you as many times as I must," Weiss declared, her tone becoming a bit more serious now. "I owe you my life, Blake. If there's anything I can do to repay you, then please-"

"Weiss, it's fine. I don't need anything..." she murmured.

Weiss couldn't tell if she'd trailed off because she was embarrassed, or because she really did have something in mind she refused to say.

"Fine. Then if there's nothing you need... is there anything you want?"

Blake's eyes found Weiss' once more, vibrant blue and entirely honest and willing to do whatever she could for her. Blake found herself getting lost in them, and her heart started to pound a little faster, the purr hitching in her throat.

"I... um-"

"Blake!"

A whisper of her name stopped her, derailing her train of thought; and perhaps that was for the better.

She uncurled her tail quickly as she broke her gaze away from Weiss', motioning with one hand for her guest not to worry and to stay put. Blake swam across the room to the tunnel carved into the coral where Ruby's whisper had come from. Blake replied in a normal tone to indicate neither she nor Weiss was still asleep.

"Good morning, Ruby," she called softly. Her voice echoed around the walls of the coral and was easily able to reach the young mermaid on the other side.

"How's everything?" Ruby asked. "Is your friend okay?"

Blake cast a questioning glance over her shoulder, just to ensure Weiss really was feeling alright. When the white-haired girl smiled and nodded, Blake gave an affirmative answer.

"Yes. She's feeling much better."

"That's good!" Ruby sang. "Come over whenever you're ready for breakfast! Mom and Dad picked a fresh batch of fruit from the gardens!"

"We'll be there soon," Blake said. She then looked back to Weiss. "You up for some breakfast?"

Weiss put a hand to her stomach, pleased to find the red marks had faded for the most part.

"If it wouldn't be too much trouble to impose, then..."

"Of course it wouldn't."

Blake returned to her, picking up the seaweed from last night that had drifted away a little. She rubbed it gently over the underside of Weiss' neck, extracting the last bits of paste from it to sooth her injuries. She went around the girl's shoulders, then down to her stomach, and finally to her tail.

When she was finished and the seaweed was no longer of use, Blake went to a small window in the coral, a hole that led to open water, and dropped the crumpled plant out into the currents.

When she returned to Weiss, she was thanked with another kiss.

Weiss roused herself from Blake's bed, and the mer-Faunus watched her carefully to ensure she wasn't in any pain when she moved.

But when it was clear that Weiss was truly feeling better, she led the other mermaid down the tunnels. They veered left to lead them to the main room where the seaweed plants grew.

Blake's adoptive family was already gathered around a shell full of fruit, waiting for her.

There were greetings and introductions all around as the rest of them saw Weiss for the first time. The white-haired mermaid did her best to greet all of them properly, though she couldn't help but feel embarrassed by the faint marks on her skin.

However, it very quickly became apparent that none of them minded things like appearance. The main emotion in the water was concern for her, but Weiss could sense their curiosity as well.

So as she curled her tail up beside Blake and they began to eat, Weiss felt that explaining things to them was the least she could do after staying a night in their home and eating their food.

She stuck to the story Blake had suggested, how Weiss had gotten herself badly tangled in a kelp forest and Blake had come to her rescue. Thankfully, they all believed her story, and Weiss knew that would be the tale everyone else heard; the truth would be kept exclusively as hers and Blake's secret.

Weiss was introduced to Blake's adoptive parents, Summer and Tai, as well as her sisters Ruby and Yang. Weiss could tell right away that they were all very kind, expressive mer-folk, a bit different from Blake's somewhat quieter, almost taciturn nature.

But the mer-Faunus seemed to fit in perfectly, a softer voice perhaps, but one that was always heard and appreciated.

It was after they'd all finished eating when plans for the day were discussed. Weiss announced she was going to make the journey back home to the Middle District. Summer voiced her concerns about having Weiss travel alone in her condition, but Blake quickly spoke up and offered to escort her.

Naturally, Ruby and Yang decided to accompany them for fun.

When they were ready, Weiss thanked their parents before the four young mermaids headed out into open water.

Weiss led the way back, though Blake was sure to keep close to her.

The sisters, on the other hand, got distracted by almost everything they saw – a beautiful scallop shell, a rainbow fish, an octopus...

Blake had to constantly call back over her shoulder to them.

"Come on. Let's stay on track here, you guys."

Easier said than done. Ruby and Yang couldn't remember the last time they'd traveled as far as the Middle District, simply because they lacked reason to.

So the foreign sights captivated them, and Blake had to admit to herself she was also excited about the change in scenery.

As they swam, the coral started to turn lighter colors, signifying they'd successfully passed through three of the five Districts to the eastern side.

They paused around midday to rest, curling their tails atop the coral as the kind locals offered them some fruit for their travels. Ruby kept breaking off bits of her food and feeding it to every passing fish that came along, and Yang had to remind her to save some of it for herself as well.

"Ya don't have to feed the fish, Ruby. They've got an entire ocean to eat."

"I knooow!" Ruby whined. "But these are fishies I might never get to see again!"

Her words served to stop Blake mid-bite of her fruit. It finally seemed to hit her for the first time that she was bringing Weiss back home...

But then what?

Her ears flattened, and despite the food, her stomach suddenly felt hollow.

A gentle brush of fingers on her arm had her looking up.

"Are you alright, Blake?" Weiss asked, wearing a small frown. "You look upset suddenly."

Blake's tail swished a bit in embarrassment of getting caught. Her ears flicked, and she forced them back up as she took another bite of her food.

"No, I'm fine. Just thinking."

Weiss had half a mind to inquire further, as she knew they were clearly troubling thoughts. But she held her tongue for fear of prying into Blake's personal business.

The four of them finished their meal soon afterward and continued swimming. But as they passed through the final two Districts, Blake was wrestling with her inner thoughts, unsure of what she'd do or say when it came time to leave Weiss.

That time came upon her quicker than she was ready for it.

The coral had turned pale pink, almost white now, signifying they'd reached their destination.

When Ruby realized they'd made it, she did a few flips in the water and squealed.

"Holy mackerel! The water's super clear here!"

"And there's lots more mer-folk, too!" Yang added. "This place is hoppin'!"

The two of them parted briefly from Weiss and Blake to greet a group of local mermaids who had swam up to say hello, asking them where they were from.

As the sisters handled that, Blake found her ears drooping once again as she followed Weiss close to the Reef. The white-haired girl turned to her with a smile on her face, her blue eyes sparkling like the surface of the sea on a summer day.

"Thank you so much for bringing me home, Blake," she said. "And for everything," she murmured a bit softer. This time, she was so bold as to wrap her arms around the mer-Faunus, small swishes of her tail keeping them both elevated in the open water for a moment.

Blake snapped out of her trance long enough to return the embrace, breathing in Weiss' scent of pearls and sunlight.

Blake knew she herself must've smelled of musky barnacles – it was a natural scent that clung to her skin simply due to how many years she'd lived in the outermost district.

But Weiss never recoiled or scrunched up her nose, nor did she pull away from the embrace excessively quickly. Weiss held it, just long enough.

However, Blake was feeling selfish, so she wrapped her arms around Weiss a little tighter, closing her eyes as she savored the last bit of warmth from her.

"I'm glad you're safe now," she murmured. "Take care, alright?"

Weiss tilted her head a little bit before pulling back, though her arms stayed looped around Blake's shoulders. Blake noticed the girl's smile was nowhere to be seen now.

"You're saying that as though this is goodbye forever," Weiss mumbled sadly. "Is that... what you want it to be?"

There was dismay in her eyes, along with a bit of pain - the pain of considering the prospect of losing a new friend she really liked so soon.

Blake felt immediately guilty about her own faulty assumptions.

"I-I mean... of course I don't want it to be like that," she said. "I know it might sound strange, but... I want to see you again, Weiss. Not just to make sure you're okay, but... just because I want to see you again. I don't... want this to be goodbye..."

Weiss felt her heart swell with joy upon hearing those words. So she hadn't just been a burden Blake had wanted to get rid of, after all.

"I'm so glad!" Weiss cried, hugging her again, this time with much more fervor.

Blake was taken aback, eyes flying wide open.

"W-Weiss?"

The white-haired mermaid explained herself.

"I'd thought... you were just taking me home to get rid of me... I know I caused you a lot of trouble."

Blake felt her ears perk tall in shock, and then her lips curved up into a small smile. Her arms found their way back to Weiss' waist and the small of her back, hugging her tighter than before.

"Of course not. You weren't any trouble, Weiss," she reminded her. "I was just... I thought you'd just wanted to get home, and you... wouldn't want to see me again..."

Weiss gasped softly, shaking her head over Blake's shoulder.

"That's not right at all! Of course I want to see you again, Blake! And... I know you said I don't have to repay you, but if you're fine with seeing me again as well..." She trailed off, voice stolen by the current as the thumping of her heart increased against Blake's.

The mer-Faunus sighed into Weiss' streaming alabaster hair.

"I want to see you again, Weiss," she murmured. "If I could have anything, it'd be that..."

Weiss squeezed her back, and Blake returned the favor.

"Then of course we can see each other again," she promised. "I don't have much to do every day. I'm not one for swimming with the dolphins very much."

"Neither am I," Blake admitted. "I love Ruby and Yang, but I don't have as much energy as they do."

"Then how about this?" Weiss pulled back from the hug smiling again, looking into Blake's eyes excitedly. "We can all meet up again tomorrow! I know the swim between our Districts is long, and it'd be too tiring to swim all the way back and forth every day. So let's all meet partway, around the Third East District. Does that sound alright?"

Blake's ears flicked merrily, her eyes lighting up.

"Yes, that sounds great! I'd love to," she smiled. "But only if you're feeling up for the swim. Make sure you take time to recover. That seaweed is great for healing the soreness, so if you have some-"

"I'll be fine, Blake," Weiss reassured her. Still, she found it very endearing how concerned Blake still was for her.

She was pulled into another embrace, a softer one this time, but warm all the same. Weiss found she fit perfectly in Blake's arms and rested her chin on the girl's shoulder.

"Take care getting home," she said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Blake."

"Yeah..." She nodded, her tail swishing happily beneath her as she held onto Weiss. "I'll see you tomorrow..."

She was finding it hard to believe this was real, that tomorrow was no longer something to dread. Rather, it was now going to be another day she'd be able to see Weiss.

She was already excited.

Their embrace lasted for a few more heartbeats until they parted, arms loosening grips.

"Thank you again, Blake," Weiss murmured. She leaned in for one last kiss to Blake's cheek.

But the mer-Faunus had turned her head as Weiss addressed her, wanting to see her eyes.

The small motion caused Weiss' aim to be thwarted by a few inches.

Her lips ended up bumping lightly against Blake's.

Weiss squeaked and recoiled, though she failed to break free of Blake's arms.

"I-I'm sorry!" she gasped. "I-I didn't..." She brought a hand to her mouth, face pink like the coral.

Blake felt a blush creeping across her own cheeks as well, her ears standing taller than ever.

"It... It's okay," she stammered. "It's fine... with me..." They hadn't know each other for long, but they certainly knew enough. Blake swallowed. "Is it... fine with you...?" she asked.

Weiss realized she'd started to sink a little in her shock and quickly got her tail working again, keeping herself elevated in front of Blake.

It was a heavy question, and yet she didn't have to think about her answer. She'd felt enough for herself.

"Yes..." she whispered. "It's fine with me, too."

Blake smiled - enthralled and elated - and Weiss reflected it sweetly. Her hands held onto the mer-Faunus' waist as she felt Blake's hands cupping either side of her face.

Weiss closed her eyes as their lips met again in a longer, firmer kiss.

Their hearts raced together for a moment before they pulled apart, tiny bubbles of soft laughter rising up between them and traveling to the surface.

Weiss was on cloud nine as she brushed her nose against Blake's, and it was clear that the feeling was mutual.

"I'll... see you tomorrow, Blake" she whispered.

"See you tomorrow."

At last, they released one another, letting the cool water of the currents replace the warmth of the other's body. There was a lingering feeling in their chests, like the ticklish prickles of little pufferfish.

Ruby and Yang had just finished chatting with the locals before swimming over to join up with Blake once more. They waved to Weiss and called goodbyes to her, and Weiss smiled and gave a joyous flick of her tail.

After seeing them off, she returned to her worried father and sister, but they were both relieved to find her unharmed.

She told them of the mer-folk who had helped her, told them how she planned to meet with them again tomorrow. Her father was grateful to them and wanted her to tell them as much, glad that Weiss had found friends in these mermaids.

Even Winter swam forward to hug her, admitting how worried she'd been. Weiss smiled as a few tears slipped down her cheeks before dissolving into the water; it had been years since her sister had last hugged her.

And as Blake traveled back home with her sisters at her sides, she told them of hers and Weiss' plans to meet again tomorrow. They were eager to come along as well, as Blake had assumed they'd be, but she was glad to share this with them.

By the time they returned home, it was nearly dusk beneath the waves, and after a brief meal, Blake wished her family goodnight and returned to her room.

Weiss' scent was still on the sea grass, and as Blake curled up on top of it, the smell of pearls and sunlight wreathed around her in its own intangible current.

That pleasant scent - combined with the warmth in her chest and the tingle on her lips - lulled her into a deep sleep that night.

Weiss was no different, glad to curl up in her own room once more, though she had to admit she already missed Blake's presence.

But the promise of tomorrow harbored many things, so for now they simply slept.

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The following morning, Weiss woke early due to the bubbling excitement that had been popping in her stomach all night.

She ate quickly before kissing her father and sister goodbye and darting out to sea.

Blake was just as eager to get moving, if not more so.

She was typically roused by her rambunctious sisters who rose with the sun, but that morning Blake was the one who hovered anxiously in the main room as she waited for them to wake up and eat.

Once everyone was prepared, the separate parties swam toward one another for a few hours until they rendezvoused. Blake and Weiss instantly picked up their speed and met in an embrace so exuberant it left no room for questions.

But just in case that wasn't enough, they couldn't stop themselves from kissing each other softly, forgetting that Ruby and Yang were watching this time.

A little "Ooh!" from Ruby had them pulling away quickly and swimming back a pace, blushing red. But Yang draped an arm around her sister, ruffling her hair a bit as she laughed happily.

"Aw, c'mon, Ruby! You can't tell me this is comin' as a shock to you! You couldn't tell how Blake was acting different after we went home yesterday? She kept fidgeting all throughout dinner and was spacing out."

"Wh-What?" Blake stammered, her cheeks going even redder. "W... Was it really that obvious...?"

"Juuust a bit," Yang winked.

Blake's ears went flat as she hid her face in her hands, mumbling to herself. Weiss giggled softly and hugged her again.

"It's okay, Blake. I'm certain I was just as bad." She kissed lightly in between her Faunus ears. "Truth be told, I'm really quite smitten with you," she confessed.

Blake lifted her face with a small smile.

"The feeling's mutual."

The four of them spent the day playing together.

There were no passing dolphins to race today, but Ruby had limitless other ideas for how to pass the time together.

First, she and her sisters showed Weiss the ropes of "how to rescue little crabbies who got themselves flipped over".

After that, it was watching the fish in the corals, betting on which clown fish would dart into which anemone, or which butterfly fish would hide in which crevice.

Weiss actually ended up having a lot more fun with that than she'd initially expected. Every time she guessed right she laughed merrily, and every time she laughed merrily, Blake would get mesmerized by the lovely sound.

At least until Yang snapped her out of her trance with a nudge and a smug smirk.

"She's you're little angel fish, huh?" the blonde murmured.

Blake blushed madly, then lifted her tail up and smacked her sister on the rear.

Next, Ruby had them collect seaweed and bring it to her, threading it expertly into a tight ball. She and Yang stuck together to make a team, while Blake and Weiss composed the other pair.

They tossed the ball back and forth, sometimes with hands and sometimes with their tails. Naturally, Yang liked to show off with a few head-butts or other flashy twirls.

As the game went on and their laughter filled the water, it drew the attention of other teenagers – boys, girls, Faunus or not – and within an hour they had full-fledged teams competing.

When a powerful hit from Yang's strong tail burst the ball into pieces, they weren't deterred from their recreation. Several of the players got to work with Ruby in forming new balls of seaweed, and they soon continued the game with several, making things that much more exciting.

Blake and Weiss found it was much less stressful and much less awkward for their feelings to be known openly, rather than having to deliberately dodge one another whenever Ruby and Yang were around – which was just about always.

Every day after that was much the same.

The quartet of mermaids played ball with other mer-folk, but would sometimes break away to engage in hour-long activities involving just the four of them, like shell-hunting.

On that day, Weiss found a pitch-black shell in pristine condition and offered it to Blake shyly. It curved with two bumps at the top and ended in a narrow tip at the bottom, resembling a heart.

The mer-Faunus hugged and kissed Weiss in thanks, then used a strip of reed to tie the shell onto her hip. She secured the reed around several of her scales so it wouldn't loosen.

Blake soon chanced upon a white sea blossom with full petals all around - quite a rare find in these waters. She swam over to Weiss, tucking it behind her ear and kissing her temple affectionately.

After returning home that night, they each stowed their treasures away in their rooms for safekeeping.

Looking at that shell or that blossom kept the other one near, even when Blake and Weiss were alone.

. . .

A few days later, the four of them raced dolphins together for the first time, accompanied by several dozen other mer-folk.

Weiss hadn't raced them in years, but she was glad to find she could keep up quite nicely. Blake too, was pleased to find how easily she could matching their speed, sticking close to Weiss as they flitted between the dolphins, ducking beneath their tails and turning over to swim facing the surface.

Ruby and Yang were more experienced dolphin racers, and they were bold enough to jump up and break the water's surface with the animals.

The water was filled with merry laughter and the playful squeaking of the dolphins, the splashing of waves and the swishing of tails.

Motion. Energy. Life.

They swam for almost two hours that day before returning to the Reef, saying their goodbyes, and parting ways until tomorrow.

Their days were eventful and fun, and Blake and Weiss confessed to one another that they'd never experienced such enjoyment out of life until now. Their shyer, tentative kisses became much more frequent and loving as the days passed them by.

For a time, they enjoyed things peacefully, waking happily every morning and swimming home even happier every evening.

But dark waters were flowing in, and a few weeks later would find their affections strained beyond limits.

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There weren't many events with set dates in the mer-folks' world.

Most pleasantries happened by the day, frequent joys and occurrences they could draw delight from often. It was in their nature to enjoy the "everyday".

But there were a few rarer occasions that instinct informed them of, events that only graced the oceans for a few days at a time.

Today was one of those days.

Humpback whales were beginning their migration into warmer waters, and the mer-folk loved to swim out and watch the great beasts from afar.

They stuck close to the Great Coral, usually resting on it while a handful would swim out into open water for a better view.

Some years, they could only see sights of massive shadows and bobbing tails. But others, they were blessed with seeing the gentle giants up close, and strikingly clearly.

All of the mer-folk who intended to go whale-watching woke earlier than usual that day.

Weiss and Winter waited in the main room of their home as their father swam out to the gardens with the other mer-folk. He brought back a harvest somewhat bigger than usual, so they could eat while watching the whales.

The three of them had made plans to view the spectacle with friends, and they gathered in an embrace before swimming out together, each holding a bit of fruit.

Weiss parted from her family and instantly started making for the Eastern Districts where she'd be meeting with Blake and the others.

Those three would have to travel farther today, as the whales often showed near the Western Districts. They'd gotten a head start with swimming this morning and met up with Weiss before long.

The white-haired mermaid couldn't help but hurry to them, embracing Blake first and kissing her quickly in excitement as Ruby and Yang circled around them.

Blake chuckled, flattered by Weiss' openness.

"Good morning," she managed once the kiss had ended.

"Good morning!" Weiss beamed. "I trust you all got a proper night's sleep? It's going to be a big day!"

"Literally!" Yang added. "I mean those whales are huuuge!"

Ruby chuckled and bumped her hip against Yang's. Weiss rolled her eyes before pecking Blake's cheek.

"Have you three eaten?" she asked, scanning all of them.

"Yup!" Ruby replied with a salute. "We had a lot for breakfast cause it's a long swim!"

"Good," Weiss grunted, releasing Blake from her arms. "I'm sure there will be plenty to share once we get there."

Yang swished her tail, grinning eagerly.

"Well then, let's get goin'!"

"Yeah!" Ruby chimed in.

Weiss kept hold of Blake's hand as they continued on their way together. Blake could sense her girlfriend's excitement just as clearly as she could feel her own.

Blake had seen the whales before of course, but never with someone she could enjoy it with romantically. She too had had sea butterflies in her stomach all night and morning, and they hadn't fluttered away even now.

The quartet was accompanied by dozens of other mer-folk as they swam, and that group only grew in numbers as they continued further down the Reef.

There was chattering all about, the water bubbling with excitement. There was something different about the water today, as though it was expecting the whales, welcoming and ready for them to pass through.

The mer-folk settled along the top of the Reef all along the Western Districts, sharing food and news with their fellows.

Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss all settled near somewhere in the Third Western District, not wanting to have to go any further than that, considering how long the swim home for Blake and the sisters would be.

The local mer-folk had plenty of fruit to share, and many of the travelers had brought their own as well. The four mermaids munched happily as they awaited what was to come.

The waters were thick and darker than normally, indication that a storm was brewing above, but that wouldn't stop the whales.

They waited for a little over an hour, simply socializing and chatting and playing together.

Ruby and Yang played games as they waited, counting fish and little ribbon eels as Ruby fed them bits of her fruit. Ruby found a comb-shell and brushed her hair with it before passing it to Yang so she could do the same.

Blake had an arm around Weiss' back as her girlfriend rested on her shoulder, dozing lightly. She contented herself with playing with the white-haired girl's tresses and planting kisses atop her head.

It wasn't much more of a wait after that.

Weiss was roused by the distant sounds of echoing songs. She straightened up to see that all of the mer-Faunus' ears were standing tall, directed toward the open sea.

"They're coming," Blake whispered in excitement.

A collective silence fell over the mer-folk as they all turned their gazes out to sea. The songs of the whales grew louder as they neared, and above that were the sounds of crashing waves high above.

A few moments later, the first of the whales came into sight, a distant mass of shadow soon followed by more. The water was filled with their songs, fluctuating notes of echoes as the creatures breached the surface before diving back down.

There were all sizes of them – calves, bulls, and mothers, all swimming together. Some ventured closer to the Reef than others, and the mer-folk could feel the shifting waters as they swam, sending waves of motion all around them.

The spectators were all in awe, humbled by the whales' mighty, majestic presences.

Weiss was breathless; no matter how many times she saw them, the humpbacks never ceased to amaze and enthrall her.

Blake was also captivated by them, and Ruby and Yang hadn't spoken a word in over five minutes, which might've been a feat just as rare as seeing the whales.

They were sure to savor every second of this, as they all knew it wouldn't last for long.

It was mere moments before the last giant tail faded into the distance, and all that remained were the quiet, unforgettable songs.

Gradually, the mer-folk broke the silence with incredulous whispers before their voices grew back to a normal volume.

Ruby was the first of their little group to speak up.

"That was so coooool!"

Her sister nodded vigorously.

"I swear, they just get more impressive every year." She lifted her gaze up toward the surface, frowning when she noted that the sunlight was almost absent. "I think we should start heading back. Storm's comin'." She swam up from the coral and stretched her arms and tail, and Ruby followed shortly afterward.

However, Blake didn't join them.

"I think I'm gonna stay with Weiss for a while. Just for today," she decided.

Weiss smiled instantly.

"Yes! And don't worry, I'll have her stay with me tonight if the storm gets too bad."

Yang seemed to be satisfied with that.

"Alright. Start swimmin' back soon just to be safe."

"We will," Blake assured her.

She and Weiss swam up to the sisters. Ruby hugged each of them in turn as she wished them temporary goodbye, while Yang simply pulled both of them to her at once, kissing the tops of their heads.

Once she'd released them, the two pairs of girls waved at one another as they parted. The rest of the mer-folk who had gathered for the whale-watching were also beginning to disperse now, swimming off back in the directions of their respective homes.

But Blake wouldn't have to swim all the way home this evening, only as far as the Middle District where she'd spend the night with Weiss.

"I'm up for a swim if you are," she suggested.

Weiss smiled brightly.

"I'd love to."

She looped her arm around Blake's, and together they started swimming out into open water, their tails working in time and finding a familiar chemistry to move them forward.

Normally, they would avoid the open sea, but with poor weather above there would be no boats posing a threat. And with a pod of whales not far off, sharks wouldn't be any trouble down below.

So they enjoyed the cool waters together, swimming merrily side-by-side, circling one another in a dance. Blake rolled over to swim on her back, pulling Weiss down on top of her and simply drifting for a time. Weiss hugged her shoulders, pressing a chaste kiss to her lips and giggling softly.

Blake did the swimming for a moment as Weiss rested, but the white-haired girl soon flipped them over and held onto Blake, reversing their positions. The mer-Faunus relaxed against her smaller form, her cheek resting on Weiss' pure-white shells, an ear pressing to her collar to listen to her heart thumping quietly. It was a calming rhythm, and she got lost in it all too easily, drifting off into a light sleep.

Weiss didn't wake her, but simply continued to swim as she looked up at the surface. The waters were swirling grey now, indicating the condition of the sky, and the surface seemed to tremble from heavy raindrops.

There were few fish present swimming around them, and Weiss carefully turned herself around to change course, intending to head back for the Reef.

But Blake's weight was proving to be a bit much for her, and Weiss felt her muscles straining.

The pulse beneath Blake's ear started pounding harder, and she was soon roused by Weiss' struggle, quickly pulling away from her to alleviate pressure from the girl.

"Sorry!" she gasped. "Are you okay, Weiss?"

"I'm fine!" she panted, lifting herself up to kiss Blake's nose. "It was a good workout!"

Blake's concerned expression melted into another smile. She leaned in to kiss Weiss' cheek.

"Come on. Let's head back."

Hand-in-hand, they started off the way they had come.

There was silence in the water, save from the swishing of their tails and a light patter of rain from high above.

It was when they started hearing the rumbles of angry thunder when they shared a frightened glance and picked up the pace.

The Reef wasn't in sight yet, and Weiss was already tired from supporting Blake for so long. Likewise, the mer-Faunus was exhausted after the long swim to watch the whales, and she couldn't afford to carry Weiss back.

They came to a silent agreement to just push on until they reached the Coral; once there, they could ask a local family of mer-folk if they could spend the night, or simply take their time returning to the Middle District.

But they never even caught sight of the Reef again.

Strong currents had been stirred up by the storm overhead, and a sudden powerful rush of water sent the two of them tumbling backward dozens of yards, carried by the sheer strength of the tide.

Blake battled against the push of the dark water, barely managing to grab Weiss' hand and keep her close. Their hair tangled around their shoulders as they struggled to best the current together, panting with effort.

Exhausted as they were, adrenaline kicked in and pumped quickly through their veins, making their blood burn. It was a desperate struggle that might've been doomed from the start, but they persisted.

A break in the current gave some leeway, and they hurried as much as they could before it picked up again.

Another particularly strong rush hit them head-on, and they lost hold of one another.

Blake's ears rang as harsh water slammed against them, but she forced her eyes open when she realized Weiss was gone. Her vision was better in these darker waters than Weiss' was, and Blake knew it was up to her to find her first.

Thankfully, she wasn't far off, and Blake hurried to her side, putting a hand to her back to hold her up.

"Weiss! Are you okay?"

Weiss looked up at her swiftly, and she breathed a small sigh of relief. But her eyes instantly refilled with dread, her voice chopped and panicked.

"I-I'm fine, but..."

The mermaid lifted a hand to her chest.

Blake looked down, instantly taking note of Weiss' bare collar.

Her voice was thin.

"Your mother's necklace..."

Weiss had tears in her eyes already, and Blake could only hug her tightly.

"I'm sorry. I-"

She cut off suddenly when a small flash of white caught her eye. It was the white pearls Weiss' necklace, being stolen away by the stormy waters.

Blake knew she'd never see it again. This was her only chance.

She pulled back from Weiss and swam after it, never tearing her gaze from the jewelry as she called back to her girlfriend.

"Stay in calmer water!"

Weiss looked up worriedly when she realized what was happening. She could see her necklace being carried toward the surface by the disturbed water.

And Blake was pelting after it.

"No!" Weiss cried. "Don't-! Blake, come back!" she screamed.

They both knew the waters were only more dangerous closer to the surface.

But Blake was so close; she couldn't stop now.

The waters were pushing her further and further away from Weiss, but Blake rode the current, twisting like a porpoise as she reached for the precious necklace. She could hear Weiss' cries for her to come back, but that familiar voice was soon torn away, shredded between the sounds of the furious ocean.

Tumultuous waves broke and crashed just a few yards above her head now, and she could feel every impact, every shockwave reverberating through the water as they smashed down.

But still, Blake hadn't lost sight of the necklace – Weiss' treasure. She refused to give up until she was certain this was absolutely impossible.

Another rush of water sent her forward, but her hand missed the trinket by inches. Blake angled herself and brushed the tip of her tail against the pearls, scooping it closer toward herself until at last-

Her fingers closed around the necklace, gentle and soft despite the sheer ferocity of the raging storm all around her.

But now she faced an even greater challenge.

She had no idea how far she'd swam, how far from the Reef she was, or how far from Weiss. Most terrifying of all was that she had no way to tell whether Weiss was alright or if she'd been swept away in the turbulent waters.

Blake cursed at herself for ever leaving her side, but she had faith Weiss would be alright until she got back to her.

Blake kept a tight grip on the necklace as she lifted her tail. She tied the string of the jewelry around the thinnest part of her tail, just beneath her fins so it couldn't slide off. The string was taut and secure, catching beneath her scales to ensure it didn't slip.

Satisfied with her work, Blake started swimming once more, pushing with all her might to swim back toward Weiss. The waves overhead sounded louder than before, and Blake glanced up through the dark water and gasped.

She was much closer to the surface than she'd thought she was.

Desperately, she made an attempt to dive downward, but another rush of water thwarted her, flipping her over backward and shoving her higher up.

Discombobulated, Blake's ears swiveled as she tried to determine which way was up, but every sound was painfully loud, enough to disorient her. Her body curled as she chose a direction and tried to swim, unable to tell which direction it was.

But more water pushed her farther and farther back, and she was soon suspended, entirely helpless. She could feel the violent tug of the undertow now, sucking her up higher and higher toward the surface of writhing waves.

Blake screamed as she felt the current pummel her relentlessly, knocking the breath from her lungs. She spiraled beneath the tumbles of the waves, her tail breaking the surface momentarily only to be forced back under by another wave.

Her heart felt like it might burst form her chest, and she couldn't even keep her eyes open any longer. She was trapped in a constant push and pull of raging water.

Her entire body was thrown from the ocean this time, and seconds later, she crashed painfully back down through the surface, stunned and numb as the heaving waves carried her farther and farther from home.

Blake moaned, her eyes fluttering open weakly to try and find her tail, the only bit of relief being from seeing the pearls still there.

But another crash of water blinded her, flinging her into the air once more, her tail useless to help her.

She couldn't fight anymore.

Blake let the waters take her, forced to accept every assault of each wave crushing her, tossing her about like a plaything.

She decided to let the waves take her into unknown waters; at least when the storm passed, she could find someplace to rest and hopefully find a course to home.

If she survived the storm, that was.

She couldn't even be certain if she was breathing or not anymore. She couldn't feel her own body nor did she have a shred of control over it. The water wouldn't even allow her to open her eyes.

More raw air flew at her as she breached the surface again, harsh rain pelting down on her before the waves swallowed her once more.

Minutes of torture passed her by with agonizing slowness despite the chaos surrounding her, and she had to wonder if it would ever end.

Little did she knew this was only the beginning of her torment.

For almost fifteen prolonged minutes, she remained conscious as the process repeated itself endlessly.

But even then, Blake wasn't spared a second without pain.

The next wave carried her high up, and Blake managed to open her eyes above-water. The seas and skies were dark and angry, but that wasn't the most unsettling part any longer.

Not far off, Blake could make out land, pale beaches leading into shallow water, dozens of human houses not far beyond that. The wave took her down, plunging Blake deep into the depths before the undertow dragged her back up.

The waves were taking her directly to shore.

Panic flared within her even more than the pain now, but she could do nothing to help herself anymore.

Again and again she was pulled up out of the water and slammed back down, each wave bringing her closer to shore. Blake whimpered, begging hopelessly for help that would never come.

And still her torment wasn't over.

There was a long strip of land leading out into the ocean, every inch of which was lined with rocks.

The waves took her there first.

Blake was crushed against the hard boulders, a much more solid, crippling agony than the pressure of the water. It was all she could do to curl up in an effort to protect her head, but her back and shoulders cut easily against the sharp edges.

Limply, but still conscious to feel the pain, she rolled down the rocks, dropping back into the water only to meet with the boulders once more seconds later. Her scales scraped painfully against them, and Blake cried out repeatedly, feeling warm blood on her back for an instant before the water took her again.

Three more times she hit the rocks, and Blake was certain every bone in her body must have been broken. When the water yanked her back under, she could taste sand in her mouth, telling her she'd been brought into the shallows.

And then one final wave.

It carried her high and reached far along the beach, dropping her down onto solid ground, sand spraying up all around her. The water dragged at her tail as it receded, and for the first time since she'd swam off, Blake was still.

The world was still spiraling around her, her body numb.

And yet, dull pulses of pain still throbbed all throughout her veins, making them boil, surging with torrid ache.

Blake panted for breath, but the oxygen here was raw and unfiltered by water. Her lungs burned as she spat sand from her mouth, chest heaving shallowly. She could only managed to lift her head enough to glance over her shoulder.

There was blood smeared along her back, and her tail was matted, several scales having been ripped off by the rocks.

But she could just make out the pearls on her fins.

Blake tried to move her tail, but it didn't budge. She feared it was paralyzed.

If that was the case, she'd never be able to swim again, even if she made it back to the water by some miracle.

But she knew that wasn't going to happen.

The tide had washed her far up the deserted beach, the distance between her and the shoreline now about the length of a full-grown whale.

Night shrouded her as the rain continued to fall; she had to savor the water it provided, knowing she'd need it. Without water, a mermaid's skin would shrivel and crack until they dried up and perished from dehydration and insufficient oxygen levels. Without water to fill her lungs, every breath was ragged, like swallowing tiny pebbles.

She could only pray the rain would last into the next day; if she survived that long, at least poor weather would keep humans off the beach.

When they eventually discovered her, Blake hoped she'd have been long-since dead.

Blake was forced to lie there on her stomach, feeling the rain wash the blood off her back. There were cuts all along her arms, but the pain was feeling and that was better than numbness.

She pushed herself up, coughing away more sand, eyes still trained on her tail.

The tide was still sending waves up onto the sand. The beach was level, so she had no hopes of rolling herself down back to the water.

But every few moments, a wave would come up to slip water beneath her tail, leaving the sand wet for a few heartbeats. She tried moving her tail again, and this time it twitched.

Blake's ears perked slightly as she focused on moving her tail, her fingers fighting for a grip in the sand.

With effort, she swished her fins from side to side, trying to clear away a patch of sand. She pushed herself with her arms, sliding down along her belly to try and get closer to the water. The moon was overhead, and she knew the tides wouldn't reach this high up for long.

Blake worked past the soreness in her arms, ignoring when every muscle in her body screamed for her to stop. If the pain didn't kill her, keeping still would.

She felt the water touch her fins again, but she had to stop shortly afterward to rest. Her breath came hard, and she reached out with both hands to cup rainwater in her palms, gulping down a measly mouthful. It soothed her lungs for only a second before the next breath brought more scratching dryness.

The rain would hydrate her skin as long as it was falling, but she couldn't be certain how long that would be for.

She had to keep trying to reach the water.

For several moments, she struggled, writhing and thrashing her body from side to side as she tried to push herself toward the water.

The tide touched her tail one last time, but never again.

Blake felt her heart seize, lifting herself to look over her shoulder once more.

The water was receding, and her tail had sunk down into the sand. When she moved it, more sand piled up around her fins; the more she pushed, the more she was trapping herself.

She was too exhausted, in too much pain to move her arms any more. There was no hope of using her hands to dig herself out of the sand. She would have to wait until the next high tide tomorrow night if she wanted the sand washed away, and Blake didn't think she would last that long.

She tried stretching her tail toward herself instead, fingers outstretched toward her fins.

More straining, more agony, and she stopped again, wheezing for breath until at last her nails grabbed the necklace. She untied the string before bringing the precious pearls up to her face and collapsing back into the sand.

If there was anything beneficial to come from all this, it was the realization that her tears were much more liberating on land.

The ocean waters didn't dissolve them here, and they ran all down her cheeks and neck alongside the raindrops before seeping into the sand.

Blake's vision blurred in and out of focus, trained on the pearls.

They smelled like Weiss.

Blake imagined she could feel her lover beside her now, waking her from a bad dream to embrace her softly, chasing away the pain.

She welcomed the illusion as her head dropped down into the sand, clutching the trinket to her neck, those pearls that always rested just above Weiss' heartbeat...

She'd just listened to that wonderful rhythm an hour or so ago, and Blake imagined she could still hear it now.

It felt like Weiss was right beside her...

In the end, lying to herself was what brought the greatest comfort.

Darkness dragged at her conscious like the tide, and before very much longer, she succumbed to a silent realm.

She couldn't be certain she'd ever wake.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed(?) this chapter as much as people seemed to enjoy the first one.