Post by Quack on Aug 7, 2023 11:16:25 GMT -5
"DUCKY! I'm so glad to see you! MA! COUSIN DUCKY IS HERE!"
A tweenage kid ran around Quack while calling at their mother. A middle aged woman burst through the door and wrapped Duck in a bear hug. Grinning ear to ear the merfolk returned the hug.
"LIL' MADDIE!"
"I'M NOT LITTLE ANYMORE COUSIN DUCK!"
The woman pulled away and lightly punched Quack's shoulder, causing our lovable Duck to laugh. As she was over 200 years old she'd seen maybe people come and go. Though she didn't want to miss her family waning and growing over in the free territories so often they would make the trek back. She'd seen generations of Maddie's family come and go that didn't mean they meant any less to her. This whole little village was her family and she treated them as such.
"I got cousin Bud's letter. I couldn't possibly say no to my cutest cousin, so I'm here to help, point me to the problem."
Maddie laughed and covered her cheeks as she knew Quack would try and pinch them. Ushering Duck over to the shore she pointed at the water.
"Ma's treasure sunk. We tried all of the other merfolk in the village but no one was able to lift it."
"Ever brother Larry?!"
"Yeah! Larry is the one that ended up saying we should send for you."
With a serious look of their face Ducky pondered how heavy it could be if even brother Larry couldn't handle it. Nodding they reached up to ruffle their little cousin's hair.
"Alright, don't look so worried Maddie. I'll get Aunt Eve's treasures for you. No matter what, I promise."
Small tears of relief popped up causing the woman to pat them away.
"Thank you big cousin Ducky."
Smiling brightly seeing her family so happy Ducky wasted no time figuring out where to look for the treasures. Aunt Eve had gone traveling later in life causing her treasures needing to be shipped back home. The ship transporting it had a run in with pirates and decided to push water safe cargo into the ocean in an effort to prevent it from being stolen. They figured they could contact merfolk mercenaries to retrieve it but no luck. As Duck found out no one from the village was able to bring it up. Shedding her extra clothing our Duck dove in.
They found the crate quickly. It wasn't overly large which threw them off. If no one had been after to lift it she expected it to be a least a little bigger. However as Quack tried to lift it their face would contort with further confusion. What were Aunt Eve's treasures? Iron bars? Taking a deep breath letting the salt water cool her off. Then she wiggled her fingers under the box and heaved. The box minimally wiggled under them but Quack felt triumphant. It was proof that they could indeed move the box. So move the box they did. For a while they looked like a looney toon character trying to lift something that had been superglued down. However every time they thought about quitting they remembered Maddie's face and her thanks that sounded just like she was a kid again. Desperately she held the box to her chest and vigorously kicked her feet while using her tail as a rutter.
"AHHHHHH!"
Yelling with effort she broke the surface of the water. Moving their focus to just trying to get the box above water. Maddie started yelling on the shore and people started to scramble over to the docks to help Ducky. As they saw people jump into the water they activated their skill so they could stand on water. With a group of 4 people they finally got the box to sit atop the water.
"I knew you'd be able to get it Duck!"
Larry crushed them with a bone crunching hug. A weak laugh escaped them and Ducky pinched Larry's bicep.
"Look like you've been slacking on your work out!"
Grinning at one another the group carefully shuffled the box back to shore where a weeping Maddie waited. Maddie dried her face and went over to give each of the for and squeeze and kisses on each cheek.
"Oh I'm making a huge dinner for everyone tonight! Kids go tell your mums!"
The kids scattered and the people gathered hollered in excitement. Maddie went over to the crate and opened it with help from Duck. Within they found a variety of items even including... rocks? Quack rubbed their eyes and sighed. Aunt Eve always found beauty in everything. Maddie continued to dig through the box before pulling back and offering Quack a small pendant with a blueish stone at the center.
"She said this was for her precious Ducky in a later she sent shortly before the end."
Kneeling down they let Maddie put it on them. It was cute and small and someone made Duck feel warm on the inside. They really did love their family from to the bottom of the ocean straight up to the moon. Smiling warmly Quack stood again and wrapped and arm around Maddie.
"Let me dry off and I'll help you with dinner."
A tweenage kid ran around Quack while calling at their mother. A middle aged woman burst through the door and wrapped Duck in a bear hug. Grinning ear to ear the merfolk returned the hug.
"LIL' MADDIE!"
"I'M NOT LITTLE ANYMORE COUSIN DUCK!"
The woman pulled away and lightly punched Quack's shoulder, causing our lovable Duck to laugh. As she was over 200 years old she'd seen maybe people come and go. Though she didn't want to miss her family waning and growing over in the free territories so often they would make the trek back. She'd seen generations of Maddie's family come and go that didn't mean they meant any less to her. This whole little village was her family and she treated them as such.
"I got cousin Bud's letter. I couldn't possibly say no to my cutest cousin, so I'm here to help, point me to the problem."
Maddie laughed and covered her cheeks as she knew Quack would try and pinch them. Ushering Duck over to the shore she pointed at the water.
"Ma's treasure sunk. We tried all of the other merfolk in the village but no one was able to lift it."
"Ever brother Larry?!"
"Yeah! Larry is the one that ended up saying we should send for you."
With a serious look of their face Ducky pondered how heavy it could be if even brother Larry couldn't handle it. Nodding they reached up to ruffle their little cousin's hair.
"Alright, don't look so worried Maddie. I'll get Aunt Eve's treasures for you. No matter what, I promise."
Small tears of relief popped up causing the woman to pat them away.
"Thank you big cousin Ducky."
Smiling brightly seeing her family so happy Ducky wasted no time figuring out where to look for the treasures. Aunt Eve had gone traveling later in life causing her treasures needing to be shipped back home. The ship transporting it had a run in with pirates and decided to push water safe cargo into the ocean in an effort to prevent it from being stolen. They figured they could contact merfolk mercenaries to retrieve it but no luck. As Duck found out no one from the village was able to bring it up. Shedding her extra clothing our Duck dove in.
They found the crate quickly. It wasn't overly large which threw them off. If no one had been after to lift it she expected it to be a least a little bigger. However as Quack tried to lift it their face would contort with further confusion. What were Aunt Eve's treasures? Iron bars? Taking a deep breath letting the salt water cool her off. Then she wiggled her fingers under the box and heaved. The box minimally wiggled under them but Quack felt triumphant. It was proof that they could indeed move the box. So move the box they did. For a while they looked like a looney toon character trying to lift something that had been superglued down. However every time they thought about quitting they remembered Maddie's face and her thanks that sounded just like she was a kid again. Desperately she held the box to her chest and vigorously kicked her feet while using her tail as a rutter.
"AHHHHHH!"
Yelling with effort she broke the surface of the water. Moving their focus to just trying to get the box above water. Maddie started yelling on the shore and people started to scramble over to the docks to help Ducky. As they saw people jump into the water they activated their skill so they could stand on water. With a group of 4 people they finally got the box to sit atop the water.
"I knew you'd be able to get it Duck!"
Larry crushed them with a bone crunching hug. A weak laugh escaped them and Ducky pinched Larry's bicep.
"Look like you've been slacking on your work out!"
Grinning at one another the group carefully shuffled the box back to shore where a weeping Maddie waited. Maddie dried her face and went over to give each of the for and squeeze and kisses on each cheek.
"Oh I'm making a huge dinner for everyone tonight! Kids go tell your mums!"
The kids scattered and the people gathered hollered in excitement. Maddie went over to the crate and opened it with help from Duck. Within they found a variety of items even including... rocks? Quack rubbed their eyes and sighed. Aunt Eve always found beauty in everything. Maddie continued to dig through the box before pulling back and offering Quack a small pendant with a blueish stone at the center.
"She said this was for her precious Ducky in a later she sent shortly before the end."
Kneeling down they let Maddie put it on them. It was cute and small and someone made Duck feel warm on the inside. They really did love their family from to the bottom of the ocean straight up to the moon. Smiling warmly Quack stood again and wrapped and arm around Maddie.
"Let me dry off and I'll help you with dinner."