Page 19 of Swimming With the Sharks
Once they all left the safety of the cave, itdidn’t take Jabari long to get everyone to the arch.Before Fosterwalked through the entrance, Jabari grabbed him and gave him aquick kiss.“Be safe, my mate.We have much to discuss when Ireturn.”
“Stay safe or I’m gonna kick your ass.”Fostergrumbled.
Smiling, Jabari leaned closely to Foster’s ear,whispering, “There are many things you could do to my ass thatwould be far more pleasurable than kicking it.”
Foster shivered, saying, “Hurry the fuck upbecause I will be spending my time coming up with a list of whatexactly that is.Maybe I’ll need to look some shit up while I’m atit.”
Jabari felt his cock harden and he couldn’t holdback a small groan.“You are a mean, mean man.Now go and don’tforget to tell the guard they are needed.”
“I won’t.”Foster replied.
“They’re coming back, and fuck me I think hebrought every giant squid from his squad.”Polaris hissed out.
Jabari ordered, “All of you go.Get tosafety.”
The boys rushed through the entrance and Fosterquickly followed.Once he knew his mate was going to be okay,Jabari turned to see at least fifty of the slimy bastards headingtheir way.Within moments the Atlantis guards came rushing throughthe arch.Jabari calling out, “We fight!We defend!”
“Yes sir!”They all shouted as they beganpulling swords from their sheaths.The battle was about tobegin.
* * * *
The battle had been going on for what seemedlike forever.There were wounded and dead on both sides.If not forJabari’s strong hide, he would be as torn up as some of the othermen were.He had picked up a sword from one of the wounded decidingit was best to go this route over using his powers.Not that itwouldn’t make things easier, but it would also use a great deal ofenergy and with his speed and versatility hand to hand combat wasthe best choice.
The hippocampi didn’t have the same problem asJabari, but they had to limit the use of their bugle call.Itwouldn’t just hurt or kill the squid, but his men as well.No truehumanoid could withstand that kind of magic, which was why Jabariwas not phased by it.He wasn’t human, even if he looked it when inAtlantis.
Polaris used a stun call and then turned to usehis tail to hit the unmoving squid.It flew into a jagged coralrock and black ink started surrounding it.Seeing this gave Jabarian idea, “Polaris, I’m going to gather three groups together.Youguys use the stun effect on the squid and then my men will take thesquid out.”
Polaris nodded and went to the next piece ofshit.Jabari gathered groups of four and ordered them to each ofthe hippocampus soldiers.It didn’t take long for them to get thehang of things and finally Jabari could see they were makingheadway.He just hoped they could keep this up long enough forMarish and his pod to get here.
Just as Jabari thought they were getting a holdof things he noticed at least twenty more squid heading their way.“Shit!Polaris!Incoming!”
Polaris gave one quick glance and a sharp nod.Jabari went to him, asking, “How long until Marish gets here?”
“I don’t know.Goboli said they were pretty farout.I sure as hell hope they make it quick as the men are startingto tire.”Polaris said using his stun call once again so Jabari’smen could go in for the kill.
“I haven’t seen Formaci, yet.I think his planis to exhaust my men, then come in for the kill.”Jabari said,swimming to a squid coming at them and removing his head from hisbody with one swipe before going back to Polaris.
Polaris said, “I agree.It’s what I woulddo.”
“The second wave is almost here and it lookslike Formaci is leading them.”Jabari stated, preparing to dobattle some more.
He knew his men were tired and manpower wasdown, but damned if any of them would give up.When Formaci made asharp right, Jabari shouted, “He’s going for the arch!”
Jabari took off cutting in front of the giantsquid before he could make it to his destination.“You will not gonear the arch, Formaci.”
“I will kill you and I will tear that freak ofnature down.All Atlanteans will die and those that don’t will makea nice snack for me and the rest of my people.”Formaci snapped,bringing his long tentacle out and slapping it onto Jabari,knocking the sword from his hand and then suctioning himself toJabari’s leathery frame to draw him in.
The smaller appendages came up and Jabari hissedas the squid tried to hook those sharp ass teeth into him.Grittinghis teeth, Jabari worked one of his sharp claws out and sliced intothe tentacle holding him.The second Formaci let him go, Jabaripulled back and sliced down once more, severing the smallerappendage trying to get at him with those sharp teeth.
Formaci hissed and a dark ink began to drift outof the squid, making things difficult to see.However, Jabari knewjust what to do about that and began swimming faster and fasteraround the inky mess drawing it all into a tight circle untilJabari shot straight up drawing the ink crap with him.Slowing,Jabari allowed the ink to dissipate before quickly returning toFormaci who now was at the arch with his large tentacles suctionedon each side, pulling.Without thought to anything else, Jabaribrought his sharp claw down on the left one, but before he couldmake contact, Formaci used one of his smaller teeth-like appendagesto slap Jabari back and he flew backwards into one of the coralwalls.
Shit, that hurt.Jabari thought, racingto the arch once more, only to have three more squid blocking hisway to Formaci.“Leave it alone, Formaci.You can’t destroy thearch.”
“I can and I will.This thing holds all themagic.You know it and I know it, and I will destroy it and allthat live beyond it.”Formaci stated, grunting as he pulled evenharder.
Sediment on the top of the arch started to falldownwards, and Jabari knew that if he didn’t stop the big bastardhe would succeed where so many others had failed.
The people must have felt the disturbance ofmagic and some came to see what was happening.Jabari screaming,“No!Go back inside!”