Quinn was relieved when she was alone once more - other than Jack, who was asleep. She couldn't help but wonder how much freedom there would be for her, once the whole... being a Met... and having tentacles... really sunk in.

Due to the fact that she looked like the enemy, Quinn imagined it would be limited.

Kiache didn't have her same stamina as before, and didn't make it as far as she would have liked before stopping to rest. She did indeed go East, towards the large kept forest. Kiache remembered the little open area towards the center that she used to play in as a child with Ripley and Fy.

Speaking is which... the Mer had disappeared once they got back. Knowing Fy, they left to give Kiache time to readjust and be with family. They would be back soon, though... and maybe with the Mer they had fallen for. There was a small pang in Kiache's heart, but not nearly as bad as what was expected. As time passed, and the Mate-Bond between the two faded, Kiache's image of them faded from their dark, dark hair, to some... lighter... and... more colorful.

Kiache shook the thought out of her head.

This was not the time.

Jack slept a lot now, though no one was quite sure why. Even Jack was quite confused, he'd sleep for twelve hours straight and wake up only to still be tired. His lessons with Kiache and Quinn took a lot out of him. Just moving made him tired. So currently he was still in a deep sleep, in fact, no one could actually wake him up anymore. It was like he just..died while he slept.

Ripley sighed as they headed towards Kiache, or the place where she was supposed to be. They hoped Kiache wouldn't say anything about their bleeding injury, they didn't want her to worry. Especially when Kiache already had so many other issues to worry about other than Ripley's harsh training.

Kiache floated in the open area of the kelp forest. It was quiet and peaceful, and for once, Kiache could let her guard down. While she acted as though everything was fine, Kiache didn't know what to do about her mother and youngest sibling being taken by humans, the war with the other Mer group, Jack and Quinn being Mer, and feeling like a stranger in her own home. She'd have to find a way to protect her two friends, feed them, and make sure they felt comfortable in the ocean. It was a lot - way more than any 16 year old would normally have to face.

It had been eating away at Kiache, but she refused to let her mask fall. Now that she was alone, Kiache could let the walls she'd carefully constructed down.

Ripley eventually figured out that they were close when they felt Kiache's mind, close enough to speak to. They followed the signal and found Kiache floating in the of the kelp forest. "Kiache, hi." Ripley revealed themselves as they spoke, concern etched on their face.

Ripley had been Kiache's friend for a long time and they knew something was wrong. They didn't know what it exactly was but they knew that something was wrong. And that was enough to make Ripley concerned.

At Ripley's presence, Kiache quickly pulled herself together, "Hey Ripley! What are you doing way out here?" Kiache knew Ripley wouldn't be fooled, but it helped to at least try and hide it.

Deep down, Kiache knew she just wanted to talk to someone, but the idea of unloading her problems onto someone else didn't come easy. It made her feel guilty, and wonder why she couldn't just solve it on her own.

Ripley glared at Kiache, a soft exasperation on their face. "I was here to say hi, and to check on you, and its a good thing I did. What's wrong Kiache? And don't you even try to tell me everything is okay. Because its not." Ripley looked stern yet concerned, their eyes reaching for Kiache, their dear friend who'd returned from the dead to join them again.

Yet she was still overwhelmed, poor Kiache.

Kiache let herself sink to the bottom, resting in the sandy floor of the ocean. She patted the spot next to her with her tail, "You were always so good at reading me. I could never hide anything from you," Kiache smiled, but it was strained, "You really don't mind if I talk about my problems?"

Ripley slid over to Kiache with a soft sigh, sitting next to the pretty Mer with sharp eyes. Doing their best to keep the injury out of Kiache's sight. This was about Kiache. Not them at all. "Kiache, I have always been the one to talk to you about your problems. That is one thing that has never changed about me. So go ahead, I am listening." Ripley's scales drifted around and appeared again as a spot around their left eye.

"Well. I guess everything is just too much. If it was happening one at a time I could deal with it, you know? I never even got to meet my littlest sibling, and now their gone, same with my Mater. And Pater has a new wife, and I haven't even met them! And their having a child. While this isn't new to them, it is to

me, and..." Kiache sighed, "Then there is Jack and Quinn. They are like newborn whales - don't know which flipper is which. I'm still not back to normal weight and stamina, so it's been difficult, especially since they aren't used to fish yet." Kiache sat up, and her casual talk got more serious as she held Ripley's gaze, "And our relations with the Tenti-Mer are worse than ever. We are at war, yet many people seem oblivious to the danger. The Tenti-Mer always had the best and largest army, while we are more of a peaceful kind. My Mer are getting hurt, yet I sit idle. I saw your arm, Ripley - I am not blind. You are getting hurt, and that's not okay." Kiache turned away, and it was more of a personal afterthought than conversation, "I have to fix this."

Ripley sighed, bubbles floating to the surface from their breathe. They knew how Kiache was, how she would put the weight of the world on herself even if she had other people available to help her. She took on so much stress and Ripley knew that she would have to help. "I cannot help with your family, though I am training to protect our remaining loved ones from more harm. The war is getting out of hand, though it has yet to truly hit our people, which is why they choose to remain blind until they no longer can. It is the way of our people Kiache. Soon, we will have no choice but to try and recruit more of the people to our cause. It is very stressful, and I understand why you worry so." Ripley paused, their eyes closing for a moment.

"As for me, I will be fine, this is a simple imjury Kiache, one that will hardly affect me in any way. Your friends seem to be the last remaining topic, and your comparisons are very correct, especially with your mate Jack, he is always sleeping. Always. It is obvious you need help with them, both of them. I will help you. After training I have nothing to do most of the time, I can help you with them.. if you want of course." Ripley gently touched Kiache's arm, a small, sad smile on their face. "You are not alone Kiache."