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Sunlight’s search had been thus far unsuccessful.
Iceberg had been gone for months, and no one else in the pod had heard anything for him. The others had tried to comfort them, telling them that he’ll find his way back eventually. After all, he had left with Nautilus and King Crab, right? They’d all be back soon, they said. They all knew it was a lie. A lost siren is a dead siren, no matter how big the group.
Sunlight wasn’t able to take it anymore. They had snuck out during the night, vowing not to return until they could bring their older brother home with them. They hadn’t told any of their pod mates before they set off. The only person they told was their land-dwelling friend, Sixer. And even Sixer tried to talk them out of it.
“But Sunny, what if your pod mates are gone when you return?” The pod would migrate soon, yes. There’s only so long a pod of sirens can hide before someone finds their dens and the hunters come.
“I’ll wait for them. We always pass by here every year, remember?” It was how they had even met Guest 666. Every year they could remember, since they were a calf, they had snuck out to this meeting spot to be with their favorite land-dweller. And every year, Sixer was always waiting. Even if it was only a week, or as long as six months, Sixer was there every single day. Besides, they would like an excuse to spend an entire year with Sixer.
“What if you get hurt? I’ve seen siren-hunting ships around here far more frequently.” Another fair point. The siren hunters had been far more numerous this year. In fact, the thing that had sent them on the journey was Sixer’s confirmation that he had heard discussion of a bidding, that was most definitely Nautilus and King Crab based on the description. If those two had been caught, then what guarantee did they have that their brother was safe? But they still needed to comfort Sixer, so they thought of a response.
“Siren-hunters are idiots! They always just leave fish out and think we’ll take the bait. I don’t have to worry about them.”
“But what if when you find Issac he’s—” Sixer caught themself before they could finish the question, but Sunlight knew what they were going to say.
“I have to try. He’s my brother, Six. He raised me.” Sunlight could hear the desperation in their own voice, and apparently Sixer could as well, judging from the way their eyes furrowed
“… I won’t stop you, Sunny. Just please, be careful.” Sixer looked away, pushing off from the rock that had been their meeting place since they were little.
Before they could though, Sunlight reached out, grabbing them into a hug just before they were out of reach.
“I promise.”
———
They should have known better than to make promises they couldn’t keep.
———
They had retraced all the pod’s movements, through storm and sun. Whenever they had to shelter in some cold cave, shivering without the warmth of their pod, they reminded themself of who this was for. Ice would do the same for them. He had already done it, so far in the past Sunlight didn’t remember anything but the relief of once again being found.
They checked crashes, coves, and coral reefs, and yet they had nothing to show for their efforts. Not even a scrap of evidence. So, when after weeks of fruitless searching, they saw the glint of a familiar crown, they could feel their heart soar. They swam closer, trying to confirm it wasn’t just a trick of the light. And it wasn’t. While it was only a fragment of the crown, it had clearly been chipped right off Ice’s. Even if this didn’t immediately help them find their brother, he would want this back when they did.
Why didn’t they think for once in their life? Why would the fragment simply be floating so low in the water? Why would there be a fragment at all?
Just as they grabbed it, they felt the movement in the water. Tied rope came up all around them, wrapping itself around their tail and arms. They held tight to the fragment as they were pulled up and out of the water, gasping as they were brought up dangling to the surface. As they blinked their blurred eyes, the panic set in. This was a hunter’s net. This was a trap. They began to flail, tearing and biting at the ropes. Despite their attempts to be as threatening as possible, the hunters aboard ignored them, too busy arguing amongst themselves. Sunlight could only hear part of the conversation, but they listened as if their life depended on it because it did.
“Damn it, got the wrong one!” “How would you know? No one’s seen the blasted thing and lived to tell the tale.” “But just take a fucking look at this one, ’s far too small! How could this be the Icecrown, ya bucket of fish sticks?!” “Isn’t it? Don’t you think…”
At that point, Sunlight checked out from the conversation. The sailors had dissolved into petty bickering, and they had already learned everything they needed to know. Iceberg was alive, and he was around here somewhere. All they needed to do was break through these ropes, and they could find their brother! And they were so close. The net was beginning to snap and tear under their continued assault, which only encouraged them to bite and claw more. But just as they could feel it rip, one of the hunters looked over and tugged on the attached rope, causing them to fall into a tank of murky water instead of the sea. They snarled, attempting to scare them off, but the sailors simply chuckled. “Even if it isn’t the Icecrown, don’t they look related? Bets that we can draw the beast out usin’ this one as bait?”
Before Sunlight could even protest, one of the hunters, most likely the senior, based on both her coat and the fact that she had been seated with a pipe as the crew worked, finally spoke up. “I think that’s the best idea any of y’all have had yet. Tie it to the mast. If it doesn’t come immediately, it sure will when it hears the calf cryin’ to be let back in the water.”
They snarled the entire time, biting at the hands swarming them, but there were too many. They tied up their hands, forced some human food in their mouth, (they think they once heard Sixer call it an apple), and dragged them to the front of the ship.
———
How long had they been up here? The ship wasn’t facing the sun, so Sunlight was forced to guess based on the color of the sky. It had hit sunset, when it had been a clear blue sky once before. There was their answer. Far too long.
The hunters had taken to some card game, pausing only to grab another drink or taunt them. Sunlight didn’t even have the energy to curse them, because even moving their mouth was a waste of precious water. At this point, they wished they hadn’t spit the apple out as soon as they could. It at least had some water in it, maybe enough to have kept them just a bit longer. But they couldn’t last any longer than this. Maybe, if they put their dignity aside for a bit, they could ask for a cup?
So they tried, but the words didn’t come out. Working their throat hurt, and they could only manage to let out a small cough. However, they did hear a sailor’s laugh in the background. “Ah look, the siren’s lost its song!” Scraping against the floor, the sound of boots clanking against the wooden deck. “You better hope you can find it again and draw the beast in. If you can’t, no matter. We could gain a pretty penny off your head.”
Sunlight dropped their gaze, doing their best to tune out the sailor’s increasingly detailed tales of their fate. They instead looked at the blue waters ahead, closing their eyes and pretending they were swimming freely once more. But their eyes snapped open when they heard something— imagined, more likely— something that sounded like a familiar call. What would dreaming of better times do? Their gaze continued its path of loose observation, drifting across their field of vision.
Wait, what was that in the distance? There was a huge ripple in the water, heading towards the ship at a speed far too fast for a prey animal. Their eyes widened, and they began to squirm. They did not want to be on the ship if there was an attack from a sea monster, especially not tied up and incapable of swimming to safety.
The sailor seemed to take notice, looking forward in the same direction. More clanking against the deck, this time far more urgent. “Captain? Captain, INCOMI—”
He didn’t finish before the sound of cracking wood filled the air, and the ship rocked to the left. As Sunlight attempted to keep themself from getting dizzy, they noted the Captain barking out orders, and crew members scrambling around like headless chickens. Maybe they could escape in the commotion?
They continued to bite and claw at the restraints, growing increasingly frantic as they refused to budge. The boat rocked once again, and this time Sunlight could tell when the water came rushing in. They were tied to a sinking ship.
In the background, the sailors continued to panic, grabbing harpoons and shouting discordant commands. Sunlight didn’t really hear over the pounding of their heart.
Another crash, accompanied by the roar of whatever beast was causing this. It almost sounded like… no, it couldn’t be. They just needed to find a way out. They kept working, but just as they were able to snap one of the ropes, they felt a knife at their throat, and a breathless growl behind their ear.
“Don’t you try anything, you damned pest.” The sailor dug it in deeper, drawing a bit of blood. “I’ve still got my theory on your importance to that overgrown beast, and I’m ready to test it out. Maybe if it sees you, it’ll be stunned long enough to bring it down.”
Sunlight wanted to tell him how inane that idea was, but he wasn’t looking at them, eyes fixed on a spot behind the pair, and Sunlight could figure out why when they heard an agonized scream followed by a splash into water. They began to think of a taunt, but the man completely ignored them, instead turning the ropes into a lead around their head and dragging them across the deck.
Each scrape against the wooden planks sanded their skin, and they gritted their teeth to avoid making a sound. When they reached the middle of the chaos, he yanked them up, grasping them by the neck. At least from this position, they could actually see what was going on, and it was only more evident that this ship was sinking, what with the slowly tilting view. There was also the sailors pinned to the cabin wall, looking desperately for a means of escape. The only reason the man holding them captive hadn’t joined them was his dramatic hold of one of the ropes on the mast.
“OI! ICECROWN!” He barked, holding Sunlight out a little higher. They couldn’t breathe with the way he was choking them, and they couldn’t even reach close enough to claw him and force him to let them go. He let go of the hand holding the rope, stumbling a bit, but regaining his footing so he could once again hold the knife against their throat.
It seemed he had gotten the monster’s attention, based on the ripples they could see under the water. It got closer and closer, until it surfaced with a splash. It did appear to be a siren, but larger than even the scariest pod leaders. They were covered in black cracks along their skin and tail, all leading back to the same upside down heart symbol, and their face was obscured by pure darkness. But the thing that caused Sunlight’s eyes to widen and their heart to beat in sheer terror was the crown upon his head. They knew that crown. They made it with their own hands, for only a single person.
“Iceberg?”
Whatever it was that covered his face prevented any view of his expression, but Sunlight could tell exactly when he saw them, because he paused before continuing the assault. Maybe, despite everything, he still remembered them? Of course he did. He couldn’t have forgotten them, right? He’d save them, and then they could go back to their pod.
Sunlight let themself hope.
They shouldn’t have.
He had no mercy. Not even on them.
———
The ship had been torn apart. The mast had cracked at the base, letting them plummet into the water below. This would have been the perfect time to escape, to chase after Iceberg (Was that even Iceberg?) who was leaving in the distance, but the man had managed to tie their hand to the mast, leaving them to sink with it. They couldn’t swim. Their freedom was finally visible, but instead they were going to drown. They had accepted their fate, mentally apologizing to Sixer and to their pod, for breaking their promise. But instead of the cold embrace of the abyss, a warm hand untied theirs, dragging them up. They were so confused at first that they didn’t even think to escape. Surely that sailor knew they were not of this crew? But when they tried to swim away, their hand was only clutched tighter. When they looked up, it was that same damn sailor. Despite their best efforts, someone tossed the man a rope, and they were once again dragged onto that damn ship.
———
They were unceremoniously dropped back onto the deck, coughing as their lungs began to work. However, they were ignored by the sailors, who appeared to have figured out a way to get the ship stable again, (why are they always the most annoyingly crafty?) and were now finding their fellow crewmates, led by the man who had dragged them up, who they were now very convinced was first mate.
“Cap’n, we’ve got to go after it! It’s getting away!” He shouted, running over to help the fallen captain up.
She, however, refused to take his hand. “Are…” She pushed herself back onto her feet, chest heaving. “You…” She stumbled forward, swatting away the hand of another crew mate who attempted to keep her steady. “MAD!?” She finally barked out. “Capturing that thing ain’t worth it. We’re barely able as is to keep the ship from becoming a wreck, much less continue to chase the thing that downed five men!” She panted, trying to regain breath before continuing her scolding, before looking over at them. “We’ll sell this one to the highest bidder. That’ll cover the costs.”
Sunlight began to scramble away, but she put her boot down on their tail fin, holding them in place. As they stared up at her, they saw the hatred in their own eyes reflected. “It’s unruly. We bought some tranquilizers off that one alley merchant, right? You! Go find it.”
Sunlight only thrashed more, but the crew mate she sent was very fast, putting the (syringe? What even was that?) into her hand. She leaned down, looking Sunlight in the eyes once more, with nothing but contempt. As she shot it in Sunlight’s neck, they clawed for hers. But their limbs and eyes began to feel far too heavy, and they almost expected to pass out. She picked them up and tossed them in the tank. Far worse than unconsciousness, they were able to see everything as the ship set off in the opposite direction from their brother, in the opposite direction of their pod, of Sixer. They just couldn’t lift their limbs, couldn’t bite, couldn’t move.
They couldn’t take the heartbreak. If this human invention wasn’t able to put them to sleep, they’d close their own eyes and remind themself of better times. The times with their brother, The times with Sixer. As they finally fell to sleep, they had only one thought remaining
“I’m sorry, Iceberg.”