Submission (#8135) Approved

The small white and black kittom with the red and orange magma markings stood on the docks overlooking the sea, watching the waves as they crashed against the rocky shores. Vast, puffy clouds painted the sky until they met the horizon where the waves rose to meet them. It wasn't quite stormy, but the waves were easily studied at a distance. Below the waves that hit the shore were the mangroves of the trees that climbed around the rocks and island, with larger roots hanging around from the manatree far, far above. More often than not, Ice found herself here.

While most of her needs were taken care of by her host where she stayed with a lovely caretaker in the tree cities, Ice had plenty of desires that needed funding. That's where this spot came in handy. There was always a need for manaberries, and that's where Ice's side hustle, or main hustle while on Ealei, came to play. She spent some time each day collecting the fallen mana berries that collected at the base of the island's shore. She had a net that she used to collect the berries as well as a basket that she used to carry them afterward. It fetched her enough to be able to buy art supplies when she needed them or wanted them.

She considered making her own paint out of them for a special piece though. Maybe that's something she'd do soon.

Of course, with her net in hand, Ice noticed something nibbling on the manaberries beside the docks. It wasn't a fish, although it was swimming. It didn't have a tail, or at least nothing as noticable as a finned tail. It looked like it was wide or was hiding under a rock. She didn't know what it was. It was not something she had seen before and quickly she found herself digging through her saddlebag to find a small book that had been gifted to her about the creatures of Ealei. She scanned it until she finally found it, her eyes highlighting it as she read it.

Ealei Turtle

It was a lizard looking creature that was amphibious, that was capable of going on both land and sea. It had a hard shell that protected it, and unlike turtles in other regions, the turtle of Ealei had a shell that was teal blue and in the shape of the manaberry. In the middle of the shell were colours very similar to the star yellow that adorned manaberries. The book said that Ealei Turtles loved to eat manaberries, commonly coming into the shallows of Ealei to feast upon the fruit.

Of course, this is where she got her brilliant idea. She would catch it in her net and then have a pet! She had so many manaberries she could feed it.

With some manaberries still in the net, Ice found herself lowering the net toward the turtle as it nibbled on the berries.

"Just a little closer," she thought as she edged the net closer so it could get under the belly of the turtle.

"Ah ha!" She cried out as she caught the turtle in the net and pulled it up to the docks. She released the turtle from the net and grinned proudly, holding out one of the manaberries to the turtle. It looked into the water, further away now, and then looked at Ice's paws as she extended outward to the beast. One option was a lot closer.

It took a nibble. Then another. And another. It feasted until the berry quickly disappeared.

Not having another berry in hand, Ice went over to the basket where she kept more and as she turned to speak to the turtle, she witnessed as the turtle dove back into the water.

"No!" She cried out but the turtle was gone. Well, I guess it was better that way.