Sailing Seas With Noodles and Bats

The early afternoon sun was sharp on the waters, reflecting directly into Rory's eyes, naturally. At least it kept him awake. He had no clue what Angel meant by 'they'll be up.' Who were 'they?' And how did she call them, exactly? Cloud twitched his ears and sent out a burst of squeaks. He sensed something coming up from the water--something large. Rory's heart started racing. "Um...I believe another hermit crab is approaching. We should leave the shore at once."

Cloud chittered in disapproval. He was quite happy in his newly-formed crater nest and would like to meet a hermit crab under these better circumstances.

Waiting in the water, tail swishing back and forth as she could feel her darling caretaker and den coming closer, she peered back at the worried Rory who figured it was just another big bug coming to cause them more trouble.

“I don’t know about that, Scylla is coming up though so even if there is another she’ll deal with it!” Becoming excited by the arrival of what speckle knew was the den, the dragon stopped spinning around in the air to rest on the ground as the ‘den’ came to them. He was of course excited to be inside but not as excited as Angel who was waiting in the water.

Slowly the water parted way, a pair of eyes coming up at first followed by large slimy looking wings that helped push the moth life creature to the surface. Heading right for Angel, she was so happy to have her darling Scylla again, even if she felt bad that she’d be a little more full then normal.

“Alright, let’s head in before we get more tired.” Nodding, Angel took a few steps back as the ‘moths’ mouth opened slowly at first, then suddenly there was a soft crack as their small mouth unhinged to be a gaping hole into the darkness.

Waiting fully for the large mouth to open the ‘doorway’ inside before Speckle headed in, shaking a little to get loose dirt off himself before he vanished into the darkness.

“Come along now, we can’t let Speckle have the good spot!” Waiting for Rory and Cloud to head inside, Angel followed after them.

The crack of the moth's horrific jaw made one of Rory's eyes twitch. Oddly enough, the melting ocean moth was a bit too much for Cloud, and the dragon hid behind his Rider and started whining. He just wanted munchy ant snacks, not eldritch horrors from the sea. Rory felt just as comfortable with the dragon behind him as he did in front, since Cloud never really protected anything. He wanted to go help Angel out of the water, but he wanted much more to be living and on the sand and nowhere closer to that thing.

A velvety tongue unfurled from the gaping hole, stretching out to the beach and flattening like a carpet. As Speckle carelessly vaulted up into the creature he felt his skin crawl. It was almost as if a thousand ants were crawling on him. Cloud gave a preliminary check and reassured him, No ants. Just imaginary feelies.

Thanks, Cloud. Rory replied sarcastically.

Cloud's ears twitched as he heard Speckle's voice echo from within the cavernous maw. "There's food in here, and water! Hurry up." The dragon's apprehension melted away in an instant. He swooped Rory onto his shoulders and sauntered into the moth without another thought. Naturally, Rory was stuck going in with him.

Once inside, the moth’s ‘mouth’ closed behind them. The tongue curling back up as there was a smaller crack as it reformed and was back under the water for now. Angel didn’t give Scylla a destination to go so under the water and just wandering in the underwater wonderland would be perfect as the air rested and Angel enjoyed some quiet time with Speckle.

Past the void of darkness that was the entrance, it opened up to a large room with a small open divider that split the kitchen area from the rest and a single closed door that more than likely was the bathroom area that was unused by the rider and dragon who resided there. The walls were no flesh like at all, if anything seemed normal in a soft blue color. The floors were stone like, only the ‘bedroom’ area having a shag carpet that Speckle was currently launching on, wrapped around a large fuzzy bean bag bed as he figured the pair would want to actually be on the end for a little rest.

“Well, welcome inside Scylla. She’s quite nice and somehow keeps the place clean as we’re away. Make yourself comfortable as I get you something to drink, and something for Cloud to snack on.” Heading off to the kitchen area, Angel could be seen rummaging around before she grabbed a pitcher along with a glass and a bowl to lay out for the guests.

Well, it seemed they weren't dead. Or, if they were dead, this was the weirdest afterlife imaginable. Rory chose to believe that a giant moth stomach was not heaven in any religion in existence, therefore they were alive. Alive, and in a very weird predicament. He felt a lot calmer now that some things returned to normalcy. Nice, wonderful walls, a kitchen, a carpet, and even something like a bed. Looking at all the things here, it was possible someone could live here, albeit without essentials like a hot spring or grand ball room or massive library. He tried to be as polite as possible as he commented on the settings. "Speckle, was it? This is a delightful hovel you have here. It's a strange atrium, but I'm sure the rest of your den looks lovely."

Cloud was much calmer now that the setting looked reasonable. He was used to more plush environs, but the shag carpet would do. He rolled around on it, enjoying the softness on his velvet scales. Once he got out his initial softness cravings, he leapt onto the large bean bag and buried his face in it. He delighted in the shapes that his body left behind and started jumping on and off, trying to see if he could imprint a bat silhouette onto it.

He saw Angel set out the glass, bowl, and pitcher for them and skittered over to them. At home, he had a water fountain that kept his water fresh and flowing and--most importantly--way more delicious than regular water. He didn't drink from anything but ponds, rivers, lakes, and his fountain, so the setup was a bit strange. But, well, surely it was for both of them! Rory drank from the cups, so Cloud could, too. He dipped his snout in the water, slurped up the whole thing, and then promptly realized his snout was snuck. Rory calmly took it off, poured himself some water from the pitcher, and pushed the bowl over to him. This one is mine, that one is yours.

"Scylla...is that the name of a portal. Or are we really...inside that beast?" The whole thing was still very confusing to the Rider. Cloud pouted, unhappy that he didn't get the same cup that his Rider got. Why did he need some sort of...baby cup? A flat cup? A cup for people who couldn't sip with their snouts properly? He was a mature dragon. Rory sighed and asked Angel, "Oh, and could you please bring another cup?"

Nodding, Speckle agreed that their den was nice. He was even dried off as he slipped through the void if they came straight from water, but thankfully that was not needed as he had been zooming around in the air long enough to dry off and the blow dry session was not needed as they entered today. It did blow off the sand that was on parts of him, so it was still a useful thing as far as he cared.

“Why thank you, I do like our den. It’s pleasant to rest in after long swims.” Resting his head on a corner of the bean bag bed, it was nice to be home after their failed treasure hunt. Unless maybe Rory and Cloud counted as treasure? Maybe to some people...

Returning with the containers and pitcher full of nice clean and cold water for the pair to drink, Angel stood there and watched Cloud struggle with the glass before pouting at the glass bowl she had grabbed. Confusion on her face as she nodded to Rory’s suggestion and was back momentarily with a cup with a larger opening so it wouldn’t get stuck again.

“Scylla is the name of the creature we are inside of, we’re very much inside the being you saw come from the water. She’s very nice though, I’ve been with her my whole life!” With the guest taken care of water wise, she did look around for something for them to eat before bed but much of the food selection was fish as that was what their usual diet was from being out in the water. All the same, she grabbed some swordfish sashimi for Rory and grabbing a tuna from the tank kept near the fridge she put the life fish in a bowl for Cloud. It would have to do as they traveled along. “Hopefully this is alright...”

With everyone pleased, and eventually the guests fed, watered, and resting, Angel snuggled into the fluffy rug with her dragon. Also content with a little rest ans Scylla took them away on new adventures. To where? Not even Angel knew, but for once she didn’t care. It was time for rest, and rest the group would.