Aquarian shrieked--ear-splitting--perhaps laughter, or just a scream, his head tilted back to expose his many rows of white, razor-sharp fangs. "NO!" he screeched down, flipping his face forward to stare back down at the gathered creatures.

They did not know what they asked-!

He began to sink back into the water even as he spoke.

"I WILL EAT SMALL ENEMIES THAT YOU BRING. I WILL NOT FIGHT THE OTHERS-! That is a fool's errand! YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ASK!" A hiss, gurgling with swamp water. "I WOULD NOT DARE, UNLESS THEY CAME FOR ME!" Already he was drifting backward, his four stubby limbs paddling at the water, his head swivelling toward Cetus' exit as if he feared their arrival even now.

@Lamia @Septiezal (Sekith, Opal) @Merrow @Phlegethon @Khloros

lol onto the top of the recent threads we go

Phlegethon hummed back to Lamia, affirmative. I will translate for you, Pisces-child. Anything else the mermaid said, it would repeat in near-perfect copy.

But, not until it calmed down from the immense bulk launching out from the water near it. With a loud, sharp waaaaaa! the slime-beast arched its head high and flailed away. Having half of its heavy breast-bone submerged in the mud was doing it no favors as it attempted to seal-rock back into the safety of the water (but was it safe, really, when something as immense as Father Aquarian did actually exist in the depths with it?) It would have to either leave immediately or double-time providing offerings to the rot pile.

After many long cycles, Phlegethon's worries about being eaten had shifted focus.

Humming, water around it reverberating softly, the slime-beast attempted to calm itself and retain some amount of predatory dignity while Dragon spoke with Aquarian. The diva-screaming wasn't helping matters.

Well, if the black-slime sibling said that Lamia "Pisces-Child" was okay, Merrow supposed she could at least stop thinking dirty thoughts about her weird face and strange, not-quite-fishy nature. She snorted, squirming down in her mud puddle as Aquarian showed up once and for all, scarfing down their massive pile in one big gulp.

"WOOOO!" She screeched, tail and wings slapping happily in the mud. It was always an impressive display, alright.

... What was less impressive was Aquarian's response to her father's reasonable questions. Squinting, she squirmed across the mud pile (avoiding the massive trench laid by Aquarian's movements) over to Phlegethon and it's Mer-friend. "What a load of barnacles," she whispered sideways to her Dragon-sibling, tiny teeth baring ever so slightly.

They had done so much for the oversized serpent, feeding him, and taking care of his territory, and all he could offer was to eat small enemies? She could eat their small enemies! They needed Aquarian to eat the big ones with his big, dumb mouth! Holy shit. She couldn't believe what a coward the massive worm was.

@Phlegethon