Life has always been shaped and molded by its surroundings. From the sunken fathoms of the sea, the moaning abyss where monster lay deep; to the soaring expanse of the sky, the triumphant haunt of the truly free. The peoples and beasts that live within their confines adapt or conform accordingly.

Perhaps too well at times.

That went doubly so for the inhabitants of Zalintharr, a continent of extremes. Though to call it a continent was... problematic at best. It was more like two L shaped land masses bisected by an inner sea, complete with an archipelago that lay between.

Imdarr the frozen landmass to the north, the sub-tropical Isles of Muxon, and sweltering southern shores of Luridae. All different, containing a vast array of biomes, cultures, and beasts. Of sights, smells, and experiences of which she had only dreamed...

Most of which she would never actually see.

Xeri hung over the side of the railing, her eyes vacant as she stared into the waters below. Into the rotting, damned pools of the Snarehorn Basin, a literal backwater of Luridae and the only place she would ever know.

She was careful to at least keep a minimal sheen as she felt the frozen rain sink into her skin, her body greedily replacing what water it had lost from a near infinite font. For herself and her kind it was never enough.

And therein lay the issue. The slimes rose out of the swamps of Snarehorn, it was their home in every sense of the word... but so too were they dependent on it.

She could never handle the drier areas of Luridae. The endless, sand swept deserts were something out of her worst nightmares. A place where spending just an hour under the raging sun atop the smoldering dunes would turn her into naught but steam and shrunken husk. That was just the extreme, even the shaded savannahs of the imperium or the buzzing jungles of the beastfolk would be too dry to sustain herself indefinitely.

And the other subcontinents?

The Isles of Muxon would have much of the same issues, with the added bonus of trying to avoid detection from the human inhabitants. She would have to be perfect with her form in every waking moment, all while rapidly losing body mass.

Then there was Imdarr. Xeri broke out into a mirthless smirk as she thought what a clusterfuck that would be. While she might be able to live within the misty fjords and evergreen forests of its coasts for a time... when winter came? She shuddered. No, and that was just the coast, anywhere else on that continent was practically suicide for her. She paled at the thought of freezing solid upon a glacier; Of steaming away in a valley full of lava and ash.

So thus she was stuck. Surrounded by a species that wanted nothing more than to see her dead, with those of her kind wishing much of the same. There was one who didn't, who had taken her in despite the risk. But now? Xeri shook her head. She dreamed of leaving this gods forsaken swamp behind. To run to where she wouldn't be hunted, to where she didn't have to grovel and beg just to survive... but she couldn't and therefore it would always remain just that. A dream.

So she had to make do.

She leaned further forward, letting her center of gravity pass over the edge. She did nothing to correct it as it began to run away and let gravity take over as it tilted her further over the edge. She flipped over the side, free falling a hundred plus feet into the depths below.

She landed flat on her back with a thunderous splash, relishing in the pain that took her thoughts away. Her entire body vibrated with the aftershock and she felt herself begin to 'breathe' water in place of air as the curtain of bubbles cleared, revealing what lay beyond. A bright, seemingly bottomless trench, alit with the glow of an entire shanty town of improvised engineering, clinging to the sides of massive pillars that supported the city above.

She began to sink, her gear dragging her down as she gazed around at the buildings stacked atop each other in a desperate attempt to squeak out as much space as they could. Throngs of freshwater merfolk swam through the narrow confines, their 'streets' a fraction of the width of the canal above. It would've been impossible to navigate if this were a land based street filled with this much traffic... but of course they weren't limited by the confines of two dimensions.

Down Xeri sank, watching as a school of children screamed in delight, either diving or rising out of the path of a wheel-less, buoyant cart. Its driver cursed at the children as they scattered, grumbling as he beckoned the two massive koi-like fish lashed to the cart to continue their journey.

Xeri spotted her destination as she turned away and guided her descent to a little outcove, an unassuming courtyard filled with the underwater equivalent of gardening. She touched down into a tranquil seating area, lit by nothing but the diffuse light from the sun above. As soon as her boots touched the sunken masonry a door—nestled amongst stone and creeping vine—was thrown open, accompanied by an aged yet boisterous voice.

"Xeri!"

"Shasi!"

Xeri whirled, her troubles momentarily forgotten and a smile upon her face as she swam towards the merfolk as fast as the water would allow. The merwoman let off a deep rolling laugh as Xeri launched herself at the portly catfish woman, giving her a furious hug as she patted Xeri gently on the head.

"It's good to see you Xeri, it's been ages! You never have time to come down to the trenches lately. Do you finally have a day off?"

Xeri pulled away from the merwoman, shaking her head as her smile became strained.

"No. Actually, I'm supposed to be with 'Smokey right now but... something happened with Zasil and I—"

A jingle rang out as Shasi shifted, her jewelry clinking atop her silken robes as she scanned the waters above.

"I see. Come inside then, this is not a conversation for prying ears."

Xeri nodded weakly as the elderly merwoman swept her inside the luxurious yet humble estate. Light filtered through glass skylights, casting rays through the water down upon a cozy setting area, furnished with a low table and a set of sack-like stuffed chairs the merfolk so often used. Surrounding the space was a variety of sculptures and art pieces, tastefully arranged so as to blend with the minimalist atmosphere.

Xeri meandered her way over, sinking into the heavenly plush seat as the merwoman shut the door and muttered a trigger. Xeri rolled her eyes as the enchantment activated and the walls flashed, the already deadened sounds of the underwater metropolis cutting off into complete silence.

"I keep telling you you're paranoid. As if your people will break the pact."

"It's not my people I'm concerned with."

Shasi turned, her toothless maw opening in a serene and comforting smile.

"Alright, you must tell me what happened, but first..."

She swam over to a large set of sliding double doors, moving them aside to reveal a spacious kitchen... if you knew what a merfolk kitchen even was to begin with. To the casual observer it was just a set of odd counters lined with sets of strange metallic drawers. Shasi floated up to one of the drawers before sliding it open, provoking a deluge of superheated bubbles. She donned a leather mitt before retrieving a large copper skillet, adorned with heaps of humongous shrimp resting upon the scalding metal.

She hurried into the sitting room, the water cavitating behind her as she set the skillet on a likewise copper holder. Xeri watched the steam filled bubbles continue to rise, a fixture of chimes ringing from the tumultuous currents as the merwoman shook out her webbed-hand and chuckled.

"Luckily for you, you came just in time! Food! The cure for all ails... at least for one gluttonous slime! Don't worry, take as much as you like. I can always make more!"

Shasi plopped onto the seat and took a bowl from a stack placed to one side to scoop up a large portion of shrimp. Xeri felt nauseous as she stared at the pile of golden-red prawns and shook her head.

"No, I'm... fine. I'm not that hungry."

The merwoman paused, her eyes snapping up to Xeri in shock.

"Not hungry? You?! Hells, even when you were kicked out you managed to raid my entire pantry... what happened girl?"

Xeri drew her legs into her chest, her eyes flickering as she replied.

"Well I might be out of a home again, and this time Zasil, he—he's never acted like that. He transformed into this thing and I—"

Shasi sat intent, food forgotten as Xeri recounted this morning as best as she could, omitting any specifics on the dream and only speaking of it in abstract terms. The merwoman shook her head, her face clouded as Xeri described Zasil's transformation and trailed off.

"He used it? In front of you? That idiot! I swear if I ever get my fins on him—"

Xeri curled up further, closing her eyes as she contemplated shrinking back into a ball and worming herself into some crevice to wither away. She spoke, cutting off the merwoman from her litany of curses and threats.

"What am I going to do Shasi? I—think he lost control for a second. I felt his anger, his fear. He's scared of me. Or if not of me, then of what it brings... But if that's what Zasil really thinks of me, then I'll have no one. I—ack!"

Xeri jumped, her eyes shooting open with surprise as her cheek was caught in a vice grip. She tried to pull away from the pinch, only affecting to stretch her flesh to impossible levels for anything else but a slime.

"Stawp! Stawp! Id hurts, id—"

The merwoman complied, letting go of the gelatinous flesh which flew back into place with all the force of a slap. Xeri reeled back, her cheek unconsciously turning red as she pushed herself up with a scowl.

"What was that for! I'm trying to tell you that—"

The merwoman gave Xeri a 'soft' bonk on the head... for a slime that was. Xeri clutched at her head as it jiggled, vibrating from the blow with enough force to cave in a human skull. The elderly merwoman looked at her with gentle yet firm eyes.

"And you're spiraling. For no reason at all. Let's see, you've known Zasil for... what? Round about two decades, yes?"

Xeri frowned in thought, answering with a shuddering voice.

"I guess? More like nineteen since I don't remember—but I don't see what—"

The merwoman nodded sagely.

"Same thing. My point is that you have known him for two, but I have known him for five decades; thirty years of which we were adventuring. Believe me, I've had it up to my gills dealing with your uncle's shit but I would say I know him fairly well."

She bent, grabbing Xeri's limp hand as she looked straight into her eyes with infallible knowledge.

"That man is all kind of trouble. I know you know that, but despite his all consuming arrogance, his perpetual petulance, and a whole host of flaws... he always loved his brother first, his family first."

Xeri felt tears welling, the surrounding water whisking them away as Shasi pulled her into a light hug, giving soothing whispers as she rocked her back and forth.

"So don't you worry about a thing you silly child. Knowing that fool he got mad and fearful for you, but never at you. So go ahead and go back when you can. Understand that he had to tell you to leave then, he has no control when he takes that form."

Xeri broke off the hug, looking up to the merwoman who was the closest thing to a grandmother she ever had. She had to ask, even if she knew she wouldn't get a straight answer.

"What was it? You know, don't you? I didn't even think we could transform into anything other than—"

The merwoman shifted with discomfort.

"It's not my place to tell you Xeri. If you really want to know more ask Zasil."

Xeri sighed, breaking out into a resigned smile from the typical answer as her mood began to clear. Yet the merwoman had not finished, she looked at the small slime with worry and trepidation upon her face.

"Though I have to say Xeri, it might be for the best if you just... forget everything about this."

That was new. Xeri's eyes snapped to the fishwoman who was stroking her whiskers with nerves. Xeri opened her mouth to ask when a sharp glare cut her off before she even began. Her mouth closed, deciding to heed the Shasi's advice for now as the merwoman sat once again and shifted her gaze to the side. She eyed the time crystal atop an obsidian stand, the colors shifting between indigo and cyan as the merwoman turned back to Xeri in concern.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay? I know how that monkey gets when—"

Xeri furiously shook her head.

"No it's fine, he can wait. Besides, I think if I had to deal with my job right now I would actually implode so... can I stay? Just for a bit?"

The merwoman chuckled, leaning over to ruffle her hair.

"Do you even have to ask? Of course! Now, how have you been? It's been ages since we—"

Xeri pulled away, her face scowling but her eyes smiling as her form shifted to escape the merwoman's grasp. She stuck out her tongue, giggling as she began to relax and they fell into inconsequential small talk. That was all she needed. For a brief moment to just forget... to live and be silly with someone who accepted her for who she was. Sometimes the little things made a world of a difference.

. . .

A gondola glode across the turbulent channels, the orc gondolier humming with content as he ferried his goods across the city. It was a nice job being a gondolier. Even if it didn't pay much it was safe and serene. The life of a gondolier had little surprise... until it did.

The orc gondolier screamed as a short teal haired girl shot out of the water, flying a full thirty feet into the air as she clung to an air filled bladder. The orc lost his balance, tumbling over as Xeri dove back into the water with a tremendous splash.

Xeri surfaced to a flurry of curses and sheepishly waved an apology before paddling over to dry land. She pulled herself up as she reached the wooden docks, a few dockworkers watching perplexed as she sat on the water's edge and deflated the leather float.

She shook off the excess water, shaking her head like a dog as she watched the busy docks in motion, the hoards of workers loading or unloading goods from ships of all sizes. She even saw a full sized caravel in dock, most likely cutting through Snarehorn to get to the Isles judging by the all human crew on its deck.

She pressed the leather flat as the last of the air vacated its confines and folded it, placing it into her pouch as she got up to speed towards a nearby set of stairs. After all, even if she was already late, the more she kept him waiting the worse it would be.

Thankfully it wasn't far. She bounced up the steps three at a time, leaving the docks behind as she ascended back into the heights of the city. She passed the barred and chained pathways to the second and third floors to find herself in the sweltering, murky tunnels of the steamwarrens.

Xeri placed one hand on the hilt of a dagger, setting off on a quick yet cautious pace as she scanned around the unresolvable gloom—for most species that was. Xeri cast around, her magical stand in for biological eyesight resolving the tunnels with near perfect sight... for all of about fifteen feet. Even magic could only do so much.

Even then, Xeri could see how someone could get hopelessly lost down here. Even without the total pitch black and hazy steam, it was a literal maze. Paths branched irregularly with no set system, leading to junctions that split yet again into a litany of possibilities or corridors that continued on with no escape for miles.

There was no memorizing something like this. You could live your entire life in this hell of architectural planning and still lose your way... but thankfully there was still a way to know where you were, you just had to know where to look. Xeri passed a junction, looking up to read a series of engraved numbers on the soaked wood.

"06—023—015, okay so..."

Xeri frowned, looking around as she came to the next junction.

"Where are they? They said to meet—"

"You're late."

Xeri tensed and whirled, crouching as she half-drew her knife before seeing the thunderous atelin and the gorillo standing in his shadow. She let her knife drop back into its sheath as she let out a breath, her body still tense as she glared at Bosbie.

"Don't do that! Not here! Look, I'm sorry about being late but I—"

She took a tail to the face and reeled back in pain as the monkey man hissed.

"An hour! A full fucking hour Xeri! That's how much time I've lost because of you. Stow it and save your excuses for later because we're getting this done now. Come."

The monkey man spun and stormed off, his tail lashing wildly upon the floor as he stalked through the mists. Xeri and Hass followed, the slime rubbing at her face as the gorillo grunted.

" 'Morning. I assume everything went okay after I crashed your little party? "

Xeri paused, ignoring his snarky quip as she looked up at the gorillo with a scowl.

"Hass. That girl wasn't in Zasil's place by coincidence. You used Mislead on her didn't you?"

The gorillo shrugged as Bosbie came to a door and stepped up to the threshold.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Regardless, it was rather fortuitous wasn't it?"

A knock echoed down the corridor as they stopped and Xeri debated punching the overgrown ape.

"Don't use mind altering Skills for frivolous shit like that! What would you have done if it scrambled her?!"

"It didn't though."

Xeri snarled, lashing out at the slab of useless meat as Bosbie frowned knocking at the door yet again. There was no response. He pulled back, looking towards them with a frown.

"Should we let ourselves in? I respect her privacy but what if something—"

Xeri rolled her eyes.

"Maybe she just isn't here?"

The atelin shook his head.

"No she should be. Unless she climbed out the—"

The door at last opened and the three jumped, turning to the woman who stood in the dark. She was on the taller side for a human woman, around 5'9 with a slight athletic build. Her hair was long, practically down to her waist and tied in a ponytail just like she had it last night. Her auburn eyes blinked in surprise, her freckled face pale as she stared at the three visitors. Bosbie grinned, putting on his usual fake smile.

"Yo, I'm back! Why don't we head inside to have a little chat! I'm sure you'll—love..."

The three stared at the completely soaked girl, her blank eyes filled with shock. She was an absolute mess, covered in mud and moss as her hand loosely gripped a hammer and she swayed in a trance. Bosbie waved a hand in front of her face, his eyes alit with concern.

"Dawn, what's wrong? Can you tell us—"

"It's loose."

"What?"

Dawn slowly turned, focusing on the atelin as if to gaze into his very soul.

"The crab is loose."