Eshanai traveled along the beach with flute in hand until she found the wide river draining out into the bay. She couldn’t wait until she got some bags to carry some things with her. Some food and water would be nice, to begin with, enabling her to travel further without having to stop and hunt every time she got hungry. Food would also become a problem out at sea. She would have to stock up on things that kept well or find ways to preserve food.

Eshanai kept musing as she traveled further inland along the river. The fact that she had to rely on the goblins irked her somewhat. She would love to stay and learn how they made her bags but suspected that they would be too afraid of her to work in her presence. Maybe she could get some lessons after her reading sessions. Being favored had been great, but it had also spoiled the Naga. Being able to call forth water from thin air or raise houses out of the ground had made more mundane methods unnecessary.

The gradual incline made the river wide and slow-flowing as it winded its way to the ocean. It drained a lot of the overflow out of the great lakes. It was peaceful, strolling next to the river, listening to its calm waters, and Eshanai took the time to enjoy the little stroll. Her enjoyment was put on hold as a school of river spirits came swimming up to her out of the water. They seemed somehow smug as they spotted her flute and dove back into the river to race back to their master. Their glowing forms shone through the muddy water as they disappeared further upstream. It seemed she would be expected.

The loud booming of crashing water filled the air as Eshanai came upon the lowest of the great lakes. It was the biggest of four lakes, nicknamed the steps. They were all feeding into each other through successive waterfalls. The one responsible for all the noise stretched out like a curtain of white cascading water far on the other side of the lake. It was by far the mightiest of the three falls. The sheer amount of water being displaced boggled the mind.

Birds flew over the vast lake, their headlong dives into the water made clear by the open sky. She disturbed a pack of Mindorins as she approached the crystal clear water to warm herself in the sun shining down from the clear sky. They were no doubt doing the same, but they slunk back into the water when they spotted her, powerful tails propelling them to more private sunspots.

She enjoyed the sun on her skin for a few moments more, thinking that perhaps the lake spirit would come to her. She spotted several smaller spirits flitting about in the water around her, so news of her presence must have reached it by now. This had been one of Eshanai’s favorite spots to hunt and relax. Many animals came here to drink, and there was simply no other place on the island that was so open and let in so much sunlight, except at the coast.

”Oh great spirit of the four lakes,” Eshanai began, sticking with her polite approach. ”I have come to ask of you a favor, and I’m sure you have heard what I have to offer in return.”

”I have indeed heard of your fumbling little Naga,” a deep voice sounded as the waters churned. ”Your skill remains to be determined, however,” the voice said as a shape rose out of the lake. A face was revealed and continued to grow until it towered over Eshanai. It was a giant catfish, fishy whiskers wiggling on its cheeks. It was oddly humanoid, waiving its fins like arms as it sat in the great lake like an oversized bathtub.

”I am skilled enough,” Eshanai said with a confident smile.

”That remains to be seen,” the catfish boomed. It's too human face looking down at her with scorn as small river spirits swam around its body. ”Why don’t you play me something, and I’ll decide what it is worth to me.” Eshanai wouldn’t fall into the obvious trap. Her flute was her only bargaining chip, and she wouldn’t spend it without getting something in return.

”Don’t try to get one over on me, you overgrown bottom feeder. I haven’t even told you my request yet,” Eshanai accused with an accompanying finger pointed at the great spirit. Her words seemed to sour the catfish's mood, and Eshanai could admit that hadn’t been very polite, but she was tired of getting pushed around.

”Name your price then,” it snapped at her. ”I have my guests to get back to.” Whatever the spirit meant by that, Eshanai was sure it could be nothing good. The river spirits hadn’t said so specifically, but these guests were likely the drowned goblins unless it somehow kept them alive down there? Under the surface? Eshanai looked down at the water and couldn’t help being curious. She hadn’t asked Jiro if the bodies had ever turned up. So despite her initial apprehension, she asked a question.

“Your guests? Are you having a party down there or something?” This seemed to agitate the catfish even further, for its whiskers started wiggling furiously, and it crossed its fins in front of itself and huffed.

“Yes, a party,” it said as if Eshanai was simple. “Now get this over with already. If you do a good enough job, I might invite you to play for us.”

“Okay,” Eshanai said uncertainly, not entirely sure that was something she wanted. “But I want you to stop drowning the goblins if I play for you.”

“Pah,” the giant catfish scoffed. “That psychotic Oni has sent you, hasn’t he?” It eyed her suspiciously before continuing. “Well, it doesn’t matter. Why would I agree to such an outrageous bargain just to hear your, no doubt, inept twiddling?” Its dismissal of her skill enraged her, but Eshanai couldn’t help but note that the spirit had neither confirmed nor denied that it drowned goblins, ignoring the fact entirely. The catfish was no doubt trying to manipulate her, so she couldn’t afford to let anger cloud her judgment.

“That’s just it, isn’t it? You don’t know anything about my skill. And unless you agree to let the goblins be, your ignorance will remain.” Eshanai didn’t know why the spirit seemed to value music so much, but her first interaction with the river had told her as much. The spirits of the river had seemed ecstatic to bring the news of Eshanai’s playing to their master. And sure enough, after staring her down, the catfish’s front cracked.

“Fine, fine, you win,” it exclaimed in its booming voice. The smaller spirits moved around it in irregular, fast patterns as if sensing their master’s distress.

“Say it,” Eshanai demanded, not about to let anything up to chance. The catfish looked at her horrified but then sighed as Eshanai only gave it a flat stare.

“I promise not to drag any more goblins down to my domain as long as you play me a song, this I swear with the mountain as my witness,” it still avoided any mention of killing goblins, but the words were good enough, and Eshanai nodded in acceptance. As soon as she did, a clear tone could be heard ringing out from somewhere, and a pressure settled on Eshanai’s shoulders.

“The deal has been struck, Naga,” the lake spirit said scornfully. “Uphold your end of the bargain.” Eshanai didn’t know what was happening, but she had a feeling that if she didn’t, there would be consequences. So putting her flute to her lips, Eshanai started playing. The terrible pressure lifted as she closed her eyes, using her usual method to get the melody just right.

This time she imagined herself as a bird, looking down on endless landscapes far below. The tune started with a whimsical wonder as she flew through clouds, chasing other birds in dizzying displays of agility. A storm suddenly arrived, and the melody had a desperation to it as the wind tossed her around like a leaf. She was just about to get to safety when the big catfish interrupted her.

“Terrible, absolutely dreadful,” it said as if the music physically pained it. Then it got a look of fear in its eyes, swiveling its head from side to side. “Yes, yes, a promise is a promise. No need to be so forceful.”

“I thought it was great,” Eshanai said in her defense. She had never played for anyone else before, and having her music berated was a bit humiliating. Although she suspected that the ancient spirit had very high standards.

“Don’t make me laugh,” the spirit jeered. “I should kill you now to stop you from playing that filth.” It put a fin over its face as if it couldn’t bear the sight of her.

“That would be dumb, as I am the only source of music you have,” Eshanai pointed out, not at all intimidated by the spirits blustering. “I could get better, you know.”

“Oh, then I’d like to invite you into my domain,” it sounded way too pleased about itself, as if this was what the spirit had been angling for all along.

“No thanks, think I’ll keep practicing on my own,” she said and started to back away from the water.

“Are you sure about that? Some of my guests have been talking about you,” that stopped Eshanai, and she turned back to the catfish, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Flat, shining white teeth were displayed in a triumphant smile as the great spirit waved a fin over the water in front of her, and an image appeared. It was that of a young Naga, one Eshanai immediately recognized.

Sikhez was lying suspended in dark waters, apparently unconscious. She still breathed somehow even though she was completely submerged. Eshanai could see her chest moving slowly up and down, but her eyes were closed as if sleeping. The Image dissipated as Eshanai lunged into the water, thinking that this was another portal. Her hands came up, clutching only dripping mud from the lake bed as she glared at the smug catfish.

“What have you done to her?!” Eshanai shouted in frustrated anger. They were supposed to protect the newly spawned, dammit, and the sinking feeling in her stomach only grew as, for the first time in a long time, Eshanai thought about how her sisters must be doing. The older ones like her were likely fine, having done this before and following the elders’ decrees. But some of the younger Naga, those who hadn’t yet passed their first century, would be struggling. Scattering their tribe and self-isolation was doing more harm than good this time around.

They had been up against incredible forces before, where spreading out and hiding until things died down made sense. Now things were different, this disaster hadn’t been immediately deadly, but for a newly spawned Naga so dependent on the spirits and now isolated from her tribe, it would be.

“Oh, nothing much,” the spirit answered, beady eyes boring into Eshanai. “She refused to accept my invitation, so I had to be a little forceful. Naga are such rude guests I have come to find, better to use her as bait.” The catfish leaned over her then, casting its shadow over her. “Tell me, little snake, is it working? Will you bite?” Eshanai was sorely tempted to simply punch the big fish in its big dumb face, but that wouldn’t end well for Sikhez. However, she was being kept alive under all that water it was the catfish’s doing.

“Let her go right now!” Eshanai demanded as her anger rose. She wouldn’t let one of her sisters suffer if she could help it. And if this overgrown silt sucker thought it could bully her, it had another thing coming. They may be unfavoured, but the Naga were still the apex predators of the island.

“That isn’t how things work now, little snake. You have no right to demand anything from us anymore.” The catfish said with a laugh and poked her in the chest with one of its fins. Eshanai’s anger had been steadily rising and was now at the boiling point. This spirit was just one more fool in a long line seeking to take advantage of the Naga’s perceived weakness. Well, he had chosen the wrong method and wouldn’t be shown any mercy.

Quick as a flash, Eshanai grabbed the fin and, with a yank, ripped it from the spirit's body. Blood and viscera splashed into the water as the severed appendage wiggled back and forth on its own. The catfish’s eyes widened in shock and pain as it screamed and fell back to writhe and contort itself around the grievous wound. Eshanai jumped after it and landed on its neck so she could look the spirit in the eyes, her flute forgotten by the lakeside.

“Things might not work as they used to, but you best heed my demands nonetheless.” Eshanai hissed in a threatening whisper. The spirit looked bewildered, and fear shone through its eyes as it tried to lean away from her as much as possible. “If you don’t release my sister right now, I’ll pluck the scales from your body, one, by, one. Throw you on an anthill and let them have their way with you. Big fish like you are useless on land.” The catfish looked like it would comply for a moment before a thought seemed to strike, and it regained some of its courage as its face suddenly hardened.

“Fool!” It spat at her. “Your friend is as good as dead.” With that, it leaped into the air to dive back into the water, Eshanai in tow. Her tail wrapped around the spirit as best she could, trying to hold on, its injury barely seeming to slow it down. It sliced through the water so quickly that Eshanai didn’t notice the light fading at first. By the time she did, it was completely pitch black around them. She barely saw her arms in front of her and could only feel the catfish she was wrapped around.

She was getting tired from holding on for dear life as the water tried to rip her off, but she wasn’t holding on for her own sake. If she lost her grip now, she would have no way to find Sikhez in this darkness, and the catfish could kill her without Eshanai being able to stop it. Her tremor sense was useless down here, after all. She couldn’t see or smell anything, and she wasn’t sure she could make it back to the surface without running out of air.

There was suddenly a faint light in the distance, getting bigger and brighter as it got closer. It was an immense shoal of river spirits, their light shining through the darkness. Eshanai supposed calling them river spirits was wrong, but her ponderings were soon forgotten as the catfish swam right through the smaller spirits. The dark waters turned blinding as Eshanai was dragged through the shoal. The confusing kaleidoscope of colors somehow pierced through Eshanai’s tightly shut eyelids, turning her dizzy. The shoal also somehow made the water around Eshanai push even harder against her, and she was finally forced to let go as she couldn’t hold on anymore.

She was flung off only to watch as the catfish disappeared in the dark waters, leaving a trail of blood behind it. Darkness soon engulfed Eshanai as the shoal of glowing spirit fish also swam away. She floated there for a moment, in the sudden stillness, unsure of what to do. The greatest of the four lakes was deep, Eshanai knew, but this was plainly ridiculous. She would die long before managing to swim up to the surface. She could only hope that the little tree in her stomach would help her.

Bah, what do I have to lose? Eshanai thought as she started to swim down, if she was going to die down here, she might as well try to reach her sister. The thought of leaving Sikhez to fend for herself physically hurt.

Besides, if her death went against the tree’s plans, well, it would just have to help her now, wouldn’t it? At least she would know for sure if the thing wanted her alive or not before she died.

Sure, she would never get to see the mainland like she had hoped. But Eshanai didn’t want to see her dreams fulfilled to the direct detriment of her people. She would try to save Sikhez or die trying, literally.

It was hard to navigate through the quiet darkness. Simply finding which way was up or down was troubling. Eshanai would pick one direction and then start to doubt herself. She finally had to release some air to feel where the bubbles went to get it right. It wasted precious breath, but swimming in the wrong direction would waste even more.

Eshanai’s eyes widened in pain, and she struggled to not gasp as something big impacted her side, sharp teeth tearing away at her flesh. It came again from behind, latching on to her back. Eshanai couldn’t help the grunt of pain that escaped her as she lashed out at the thing that had attacked her in the still darkness. She caught only water as the thing tore a chunk of flesh out of her back and quickly darted away before she could connect.

Eshanai looked around frantically, trying to predict where the next strike would come from, but she was too slow. They came more quickly as if the first success had given whatever it was confidence. Bereft of her sharp senses, Eshanai could do little to avoid the attacks but keep swimming. She was losing air at an alarming rate, and her multiple wounds bled freely into the water.

With her head swimming and vision dark, lungs aching to take a breath, Eshanai didn’t notice the massive jaws that closed down around her.