Artist’s Description
 
How long has it been now..? A month I think.. Heheh, feels like I’ve been out here for a year or so now..
 
Mako sat on the rocks by a distant beach. He didn’t recognize this part of the ocean.. Probably because he wasn’t traveling to it by boat this time. A few more weeks had gone by, making it almost over a month he had been away from Capricorn Reef. Along the way to the mating grounds, the Pod had passed by and met others along the way. Mako took great joy in meeting each and every one of them. Learning more about them, what they do, how they do things. It felt like a completely different world down here.
 
When resting on the rocks of the shore with the rest of the pod, Mako stayed awake the longest. Listening to them snooze and snore, he stared up and watched the stars… Longing for Bubble, missing his sister Lady.. As wide and open the ocean life was, it felt… lonely.. After so many years of traveling, leaving one lifetime after another, for the first time her actually felt settled into his current one. Making many friends, building a life on the island.. Nerissa had made the offer that Mako stay with the Pod, and he had declined. But the more he stayed out here, the more the other Orcas had made the same offer. It sounded very tempting, almost enough so to make Mako say yes… Should he stay in a group of his own kind.. or return to the life he’s spent some years making for himself..
 

 
The sun rose, covered by clouds as Mako and the Pods reached the mating grounds. It didn’t take very long before a slight frenzy had begun.. Males roughhousing as they attempt to impress their mates and females currently looking for another male. Mako decided it be best he stayed out of this little event. He breached and jumped onto the rocks, setting down his bag of collected items throughout his trip. Little more than 15 minutes, the surface began to bubble over from… activities taking place underneath.
 
Mako: Bloody hell, that was fast. snickers
 
Sitting on the rocks, he tried not to think about it. He knew what was going to happen when reaching the mating grounds, but he didn’t take into account exactly how long he’d be out there for without being able to show his affections to Bubble in intimate ways. He let out a groan as he rubbed his face, trying not to think about it… Don’t think about it…. DON’T THINK ABOUT–
 
???: Hello stranger.~
 
Mako’s ears perked at the new voice. Lowering his hands, he saw a pretty female with her arms crossed and resting on the rocks as she smiled at him.
 
Please don’t ask me what I think you’re gonna ask…
 
Mako: Oh hey!
 
???: Not going to take part?
 
Mako: shakes his head Nah. I have a special somepony waiting for me back home. _{I hope…..}
 
???: Heheh, that’s good to hear. Would you mind if I sat with you?
 
Mako: I don’t see why not.~
 
???: Thank you, hehehe.
 
The female turned her body and hoisted herself onto the rocks, scooting beside Mako. His ears perked up in surprise at the sight of her plump, round belly, swollen with what he can only guess was a calf growing inside.
 
Mako: O-oh..! Needed a little rest, hm?
 
???: nods her head, rubbing her belly Won’t be long now.~
 
Mako: looks around Where’s the lucky father to be?
 
???: points towards the many bubbles on the surface of the water Take a wild guess~ giggles
 
Mako: Ah. _{Guess the multiple mates thing is very common for them.. and it happens so fast…}
 
???: My name’s Pukai by the way. looks him up and down It’s nice to meet you up close… Mako, right?
 
Mako: Yep, that’s me. The Orca Hippocamp with legs!
 
Pukai: giggles It’s nice to meet you. So, where are you from?
 
Mako: Capricorn Reef. I’ve lived there for a while now.
 
Pukai: Are there any other Hippocamps like you there? lightly pokes his leg
 
Mako: Not that I’ve seen.. As far as I know I’m the only one. At least with legs anyway.. I thought I was the last Orca to be alive until I met the Pod!
 
Pukai: Heheh, well I hope you weren’t disappointed in finding us. Although, I was I was lying when saying that this majority here is only a third of those who are still in the ocean.
 
Mako’s stomach turned…
 
Mako:.. Really…?
 
Pukai: nods her head We suffered a large drop many years ago as far as I remember. But we’re doing alright, recovering from it..
 
Mako leaned forward and propped his head up on his hand, staring out at the ocean. Perhaps this is why courting was so different.. Things might be more different out here for a reason. The Orca Hippocamp population dropped drastically at some point in the past, so perhaps the quicker paced courting and vast mating was an effort to increase in numbers…
 
Pukai: So.. why aren’t you in there with the others? As small as you are, a cute, strong male like you is bound to get a few extra mates.~
 
Mako: blinks and looks at Pukai, smirking a little As tempting as that sounds, I have somepony at home. I’d rather not do anything behind her back while she’s waiting for me.. I don’t want to jeopardize our relationship.
 
Pukai: I see. smiles Nothing wrong with that. Sounds like you two are taking the Mated for Life route.
 
Mako: Hrmmm… I wouldn’t really say that.. We haven’t been together long enough to even concider–
 
He paused. His cheeks turned a little pink at the thought of marriage. That thought shouldn’t be coming up so soon like this.
 
Mako: …. Well, taking our relationship that far yet, heh..
 
Pukai: shrugs To each their own, I suppose.
 
Mako’s stomach growled louder and louder the longer he sat there with Pukai. He’d perfer not to enter the water again until after the mating had stopped.
 
Mako: Aye, I’m gettin hungry sittin here…
 
Pukai: Bored?
 
Mako: Mmhmm.. I- not that you aren’t good company, I just–
 
Pukai: giggles I’m a little bored too. And hungry.
 
Mako: Hmm.. want to get some fish to pass the time? Unless you want to wait here while I get some for us.
 
Pukai: I’ll come with you! Beats sitting here, heheh~
 
Leaving his bag on the rocks, Mako and Pukai returned under water, steering away from the mating frenzy in search of fish. Taking not of the surrounding rocks and coral on the floor, Mako made sure to remember how to get back. They swam quite a distance before finding a small group of fish. Mako circled around them before making a move towards them, catching one, then two in his jaws. Pukai clapped and squeaked in praise as Mako swam back to her and handed her a fish.
 
The two began to feast, happy dolphin like squeaks and purrs erupting from them. Almost half way done, Pukai grunted and jolted slightly.
 
Mako: )) Are you Okay?
 
Pukai: )) Yes, I just.. felt a slight kick is all. Nothing– Ahh!
 
Mako: )) Pukai..?!
 
Pukai: )) Oh goddess… Th-the calf.. it’s coming..!
 
Mako: )) We gotta get you back to the Pods!
 
Mako gently took hold of Pukai and they started swimming back. She let out groans and whimpers as she started to feel contractions,a trail of blood being left behind and floating in the water.
 
Pukai: )) Aaagh! M-mako, I can’t swim anymore.. I have to stop here…!
 
Mako: )) We’re almost there–
 
Pukai: )) I can’t, it’s coming now..!
 
Mako’s ears folded back as he looked at the ocean floor, leading Pukai to a rock with a curve in it. He grabbed seaweed and placed in under Pukai as she settled down to rest, her body tightening and trembling as she let out a distressed cry as another contraction took over her. Mako did his best to sooth her while going through labor. Soon more blood came, a small tail fin coming into view. Mako encouraged Pukai, telling her to keep pushing. A few shadows in the distance caught his attention. He looked as saw something swimming for them. It must be her mate and members of the Pod, perhaps they heard her cries!
 
………….
 
Mako’s body stiffened.
 
His eyes widened, pupils as tiny as thread.
 
…………
 
That wasn’t the mate….
 
There, following the trail of blood…
 
Mako: …. Sharks…..
 

 

 
Next: N/A