Hours later, when the sun turned the skies pink, Atrif's ship arrived by the docks after a long day of fishing. He ordered his crew to bring crates to the markets that needed them.
Like a row of well-disciplined warriors, they marched in a neat line. Making their way off board, towards the markets, and inside. The shop-owners thanked them by giving them meals made from the previous catch.
Such as Softscale belly with gently baked sea-salt bread, boiled Blackback with cut up lime on the sides, and a mixture of both meals. With each meal given, the lively energy within the port died down.
Until all who remained outside were captains and the Infinus group. Atrif brought them all meals from the markets, bowls steaming their appetizing scents.
"Eat up, everyone!" his raspy voice notified.
Krim panted while reaching up for a bowl, arms exhausted from all the swimming. "At long last!"
Reveria stared down at her own bowl. The Softscale's belly was a perfect tan color, continued to bubble even after the baking was done. Its juices flowed into the four slices of bread beneath it.
It smelled good, she thought. However, it did not feel right. It seemed like the meal was supposed to be eaten by making a sandwich out of it, two of them. One for her and another for... her.
She relaxed her arms, frowning deeply into the bowl. If Ukaley was there, one would have been for her. Like always. They shared everything together, even her partner's final fight.
Tinzor sat on a crate beside her's. It groaned, demanding whoever was on top to get off. But he didn't, instead, he placed his bowl on his lap.
Right over Silsa's bedsheet. He still wished his former leader was there to enjoy the meal with him, maybe he would have enjoyed it enough to devour another bowl down on his own.
"Do you not like your food?" Tinzor's mouth moved on its own.
Reveria placed one hand beneath the bowl, and the other reached in for some fish. "I haven't tried it yet. I was just thinking about... nevermind. You won't understand it."
She broke a piece off from the main belly, then slowly dragged it over into her mouth. The flavors erupted inside like a volcanic eruption, putting her at ease from reality.
"You still have flashbacks to that fight, hmm?" Tinzor said while chewing on some bread. "We all have a period that haunts us. One still digs its claws into me every time I look down."
A bitter taste filled Reveria's tongue, she did not like what Tinzor said. To her, she thought it was a challenge for something. Maybe mocking her for the dramatic change in character.
"What do you know about losing someone you loved?" she replied in a deep voice. "I have honored my partner ever since that siege, what have you done for whoever you lost?"
Tinzor nodded, almost agreeing with what she said. Which bewildered her. She didn't say a thing that needed agreement to. However, Tinzor did it anyway.
Head gently moved with each chew, showing he was taking his time before responding. Both eyes stared dead into his dish.
"I have lost a valuable ally. Maybe not valuable in terms of what they could do for me, but he was more like a pet. And I liked him like one," Tinzor replied in an understanding tone.
Reveria glanced down at her lap, trying to avoid hearing what he was going to say next. But it did nothing, only bring his voice closer into her mental spotlight.
"Even if you believe your pain is yours alone, others can relate to it. Loss is tragic. You and I are dictated by this curse, and we understand it. However Let's not argue, but instead share a meal together?"
An offering. Sharing a meal inside Ophus symbolized the willingness to grow closer to someone else. Sometimes Enoptes encouraged this, so they could harmonize better out on the field.
To this offering, she directed her attention to the foreign face. Upon gazing up at him, she was taken back by his gift to her. In his hands, he held a sandwich made from the Softscale and bread slices.
It was not for him and himself, now it was for him and her. The issue Reveria saw from earlier. So she quickly made one for Tinzor.
He carefully watched as her hands quickly put everything together, then hand it back to him. Almost like a trade where neither side gained or lost. It was like they never traded at all.
They chewed in unison, making sure to make no noise as they consumed their meals. Reveria glanced over her side to see Ukaley standing next to the crate she sat on.
By what she could tell, her eyes were looking down at the remaining pieces in her bowl. Which caused Reveria to quickly make Ukaley one, and hand it to her. But when she picked it up, it fell down.
It splattered on the dock, going to waste. Leaving Reveria alone beside Tinzor. Which broke her. She was not alone beside Tinzor and her group; she was just alone.
Krim watched her ball up, then put her down inside her lap. Just like that, she began to weep. She was foolish, she thought. It was just another vision, Ukaley would never come back.
Especially since her remains were never found. Krim stopped eating, a sense of sympathy washed down his raw back. It touched every muscle as it flowed through like water.
"Who does that one belong to?" Krim whispered to a nearby warrior.
He took a moment to examine the destroyed elite before turning his attention back to Krim. "Ophus. Enoptes is the leader."
"Enoptes..." Krim echoed.
Like a mountain, he repeated it a couple more times. Thoroughly enjoying the name. By the fourth time, he finally decided what he was going to do.
But he kept it to himself, not wanting anyone to know. After all, his plan was just made. He needed a little more time to plan his approach to the situation, just like an ambush predator needed.
Sunlight grew dimmer by the minute, soon it was dusk. The first moon quickly rose over the horizon, telling them they had to return the next day. So they could make it back to Krugi during sunlight hours.
However, some minds continued to turn like a cog in a machine.