I swim though the sun warmed waters in amazement. The variety of fish is spectacular.

‘Ah! There’s a clown fish... and an angel fish!’

Sadly, that’s the extent of the fish I can identify.

‘Wait, starfish! That counts as a fish right? I wonder…’

I swim some more looking for more fish I can identify.

‘An octopus! Just look at it pretending to part of that chest… Wait!? Is that a treasure chest!?’

I swim down to it and brush my wavy red hair behind my ear, so it doesn’t get in the way. Then I run my hands along the barnacle covered red wood of the chest. It seemed to be framed in a greening copper.

The lid of the chest takes some effort to open, but not too hard. As I open it, plant debris and coral float away from it. Inside is an old time copper mirror facing down. Reaching in, I pick it up and turn to face it my way.

‘!!!’

I let out wordless scream as I drop the mirror. It showed my face covered in white scales and emerald serpentine eyes.

‘Calm down!’

Something grabs my arms and legs. Looking down, I see white snakes pulling me down into a black abyss.

‘Screech!!’

I try to pull against them than something tugs my head back by my hair. The ugly green face full of razor sharp teeth smiles at me before biting down on my neck.

‘!!!’

I blink. Looking around while breathing quickly; feeling the water rush through my gills. My raging heartbeat calms as I realize I’m still in my Hallow. The white porous walls and copper mirror embedded into them gives me a feeling of calm.

‘I see. I must of fallen asleep again. So snakes can have nightmares too? Why was I human again, while human-ish? Also, why didn’t I need to breath? Well, it’s true dreams don’t make sense.’

I feel a pain in my center, than a soft rumble happens.

‘So hungry, I guess the egg shell is the only thing I have eaten. I have no clue how long it’s been. How do water snakes hunt!? ... If I had know I’d be turned into a water snake I should have taken oceanology. Well… Nothing to do now but try… maybe like normal snakes?’

I uncoil my somewhat tired body and slither my way over to the tunnel. I glide through the tunnel trying not to think about those green bastards. At last as I get closer to the exit, my body slows and my heart starts racing.

‘It’s fine, we…? We!? Great i’m going insane! Whatever. I will be fine. Those Grindylow creatures can’t always be out there. All I have to do is hide. Yeah, hide and don’t be the easiest target. I can do this!’

Onwards I swim… or not. My body doesn’t move.

‘Come On!!! I know I’m scared, but I’m also hungry! It’s not like I can eat the walls or mirror… I can't right? Or can I?’

I bite the wall…

‘Blah blah, nope can’t eat wall.’

Spitting out the rock I almost ate, I will myself forward. Slowly I succeed in slithering forward, bit by bit. After who knows how long, I reach the entrance and look out over the coral reefs. No Gindylows in sight.

‘I was Soooo scared I needed a skill!!? I don’t know if I should be proud or sad. Anyway, Info [Fear Resistance]’

‘Alright, pretty much what I expected!’

I look out over the reef and notice a small school of fish down in the coral below me. They look small enough.

‘Let’s Do This!!’

Slithering along the sand and shorter white coral, I slowly make my way towards the school of fish. I surprise myself in being able to get relatively close and began to coil my body to strike.

‘How do I even know how to do this?’

Just as I spring out to bite down on a tasty treat, the school scatters.

‘... and they’re gone! I didn’t even see where they went! Should I have gotten the stealth skill before I attacked? Maybe it gave it to me after it was canceled? But then how was it canceled if I didn’t have it in the first place? Well, now is not the time to be thinking this.’

I quickly dive back to the sand and slither away before checking the new skill.

‘Not sure why I’m checking, but might was well. Then I’ll find some food! Info [Stealth].’

ShadeByTheSea

Sorry for the long wait, I will strive for better! Also horrorish stuff will not be common. Lastly if anyone has a favorite fish, preferably reef fish, they want featured in the story, let me know.