Chapter Text
“Well, all our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One . . . two . . . three!”
The whistle echoed shrilly in the cold, still air; the stands erupted with cheers and applause; without looking to see what the other champions were doing, Harry pulled off his shoes and socks, pulled the handful of gillyweed out of his pocket, stuffed it into his mouth, and waded out into the lake.
It was so cold he felt the skin on his legs searing as though this were fire, not icy water. His sodden robes weighed him down as he walked in deeper; now the water was over his knees, and his rapidly numbing feet were slipping over silt and flat, slimy stones. He was chewing the gillyweed as hard and fast as he could; it felt unpleasantly slimy and rubbery, like octopus tentacles. Waist-deep in the freezing water he stopped, swallowed, and waited for something to happen.
He could hear laughter in the crowd and knew he must look stupid, walking into the lake without showing any sign of magical power. The part of him that was still dry was covered in goose pimples; half immersed in the icy water, a cruel breeze lifting his hair, Harry started to shiver violently. He avoided looking at the stands; the laughter was becoming louder, and there were catcalls and jeering from the Slytherins. . . .
Harry dove under the water to get away from the laughter and insults coming from the silver and green students. He felt himself grow gills and his lungs filled with water.
But, the deeper that he swam, the more that something felt wrong. I hope Dobby didn't give me something that doesn't actually help, Harry thought as he started struggling to breathe a little.
All of a sudden, he was surrounded by merpeople with tridents and swords. They didn't say anything, just stared at him, waiting for something. What they were waiting around for, Harry didn't know.
In a matter of minutes, Harry James Potter is starting to drown and no one is around to know or to help him. The merpeople are still staring at him, but they are turning their backs on him for some reason. Harry starts thrashing in the water, believing to himself that he is going to die.
All at once, something snapped, something deep within his very soul, his very being. Harry started screaming and he couldn’t, wouldn’t stop. Not until they were there to save him.
His bonded. His circle.
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Mesmyr
Mesmyr sighed. He wasn’t sure why he was here, other than he was a Crimson Tide member. King Alcandor had his personal guard and Ace, Krymson, with him as well. When he had asked about the need for his presence, all he was told was that he was needed.
Mesmyr looked around the Aqua-kin’e court. It was full of pretentious lords who don’t know their tail from their arm. Luckily, he was invisible so he wasn’t going to be starting a fight because he randomly rolled his eyes in the middle of court.
“ENOUGH! I will not have my circle brought into this court. My circle is not up for debate nor will anyone have any say in who is in it! Now, do we have anything else that needs to be brought to the forefront, or are we done for the day?” King Alcandor, of the Oceanus Clan, growled out after hearing another person disparaging his Beta Queen.
“Your highness, you must understand. We are not trying to control you, we are only looking out for the well being of the Aqua-Kin’e,” one of the lords called out, very condescending, in Mesmyr’s opinion.
Apparently the King agreed, “Lord Jameson, let me remind you of something. There is no one here who cares for the future of the Aqua-kin’e more than me and my circle. We are doing everything we can for the betterment of our people and Nevarah. If you ever insinuate otherwise, I will salt and flay while leaving you for the landwalkers. Am I understood?” He was yelling by the end, standing in front of his throne.
Murmurs went around the court, some agreeing with King Alcandor, some with Lord Jameson.
“Now then, I declare this day to be done. I have better things to do than dealing with you braindead jellyfish.”
Slowly, everyone filed out of the room, some casting looks at King Alcandor. Once everyone was gone, he called out his guards.
“I need to know the patrol schedule for tonight and- Mesmyr… Are you alright?” Krymson started right in, taking his little brother in.
Mesmyr started at the sudden attention. He looked at Krym and was about to ask why, when he heard it. A scream was happening. He looked around before noticing that he was rubbing his chest, right over his heart. Oh no, he thought, I’m not ready for a circle.
“Soul scream…” he managed to rasp out before a big oval shaped portal of pure magic appeared and took him away.
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Caspian
Caspian watched over the gheyo training classes, prepared to step in if something goes wrong. He was slowly patrolling around the training area, constantly moving his head.
Caspian and his Queen, Huron, were the ones in charge of patrolling the grounds. They were the ones who tried to catch something before it went wrong or to help heal someone long enough for the healers to get there.
“Hey, Caspian. You okay?” one of the other crimson tide members asked.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” he replied, taking stock of his body. He only just noticed that he was rubbing his chest plate, just over his heart. “Oh…”
“Yes, oh. What do you think it is? A soulscream?” the crimson tide prince, Havelock, if he remembered correctly.
“I’m not sure. Do you think they’re Aqua-kin’e?” Caspian asked, turning his body towards the scream before realizing that it was in his head. He pulled his trident and prepared to shift if necessary.
“I don’t know but you need-”
“There’s been a Soul Scream! All training has been halted and a contingent of crimson tide are mobilizing to help the young submissive,” Krymson appeared. “Caspian, I’ll need you to…”
And with that Caspian was gone with the golden portal.
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Huron
Huron sighed in boredom. He hated getting assigned to the training grounds. Nothing ever happened and he didn't even get to practice his own skills.
He liked being part of the Crimson Tide, but he was excited to have a circle of his own. He had finally ranked up to Queen during the last hunt and has been continuously training his skills to be the best Queen for his future suite and circle.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by a tightening in his chest, just over his heart.
He started. Was he truly ready to be in a suite circle?
Yes, yes he was. He pulled his trident and prepared to let the soul magic take him away to his new submissive and circle. And towards his new life.
He vaguely heard Krym come and shut down the training for the day before he was gone in the blink of a golden eye.
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Lachlan
Ducking into a random room, he listens to his mera continue on, looking for him. Lachlan breathed a sigh of relief before hearing a soft chuckle. Lachlan spun around, tense, before relaxing.
“Why are you avoiding Mera, Lachlan?” his oldest brother, Morgan, asked, coming around the desk he was seated at.
“No reason…” Lachlan started. Upon seeing the look on Morgan’s face, he cracked. “She keeps pestering me about hunting this season. I just don’t think I am ready. I just ranked up to prince and I have dreams that I haven’t been able to put into practice yet.”
“You know she is only going to keep ‘pestering’ you, right? She just wants you to be settled in a circle and happy. Hiding out isn’t going to change anything,” Morgan said, trailing off towards the end as he took his brother in. “Are you feeling okay, Lachlan?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, just a little annoyed. Why?” he asked, not understanding the question.
“I think Mera might be getting her wish sooner than she thought,” he mumbled, going over to his desk to send a message.
“What are you talking about? I just said I’m not hunting this season! Does anyone listen-” he abruptly stopped when he heard the screaming. “Do you hear that Morgan? I think someone is in trouble.”
“I think that would be your submissive, little brother,” he smiled, sending off the bubble message to the alpha of their parental circle.
“My submissive? But I don't hav… Do you think this is a soul scream?” he screeched, finally realizing that he was rubbing his chest, right over his heart.
“Yes, I do. And I have already warned dera that I will be following you. Don’t worry, little brother, everything is going to be okay. Draw your weapon, and be prepared to shift,” Morgan replied, pulling out his own weapons and preparing to follow his youngest brother.
Before Lachlan could freak out anymore, he was gone with the flash of golden soul magic.
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Zephyr
Zephyr grinned as the clanging of the swords reverberated around the trench. He had the other princess on the ropes and was just waiting for them to make a mistake. They were circling each other taking little jabs and such.
Suddenly, the other princess lunged and left an opening for Zephyr to pin them to the sandy floor. He held the princess until he yielded and was announced the winner. Zephyr swam to the sidelines and to the one person that he couldn’t seem to impress. His parental circle’s Ace.
“You could have had them so much sooner than that? Why do you like to play with your food?” Ace Maris demanded.
Zephyr frowned, ”I didn’t see any openings before that final one when I took them down.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Maris hissed. “This is why you’ll never rank up to Ace. It’s these barnacle mistakes that you keep making. Do you want to rank up or not?”
“I don’t know if I do or not…” he trailed off at the look on his face, a look somewhere between royally pissed off and amazed.
“We will talk about that later. You are about to be called for a soulscream. I will not be following. You will have to take care of your circle yourself. Now, draw your weapon.”
Zephyr was confused, but pulled his weapon out. It was then that he noticed the screaming in the distance. He prepared himself and was gone with the golden light.
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Brishen
Wake, my guardian. I have need for you… a voice echoed through the mindscape.
It was much too early to wake so Brishen entered his mindscape to converse with his Lady
“My Lady, I am your voice and your hands, may they be open for friendship or closed for a fight. What use do you require of me?” Brishen rumbled, kneeling before Lady Fate, the Immortal in charge of the fate of the Universe.
My favored one is in trouble. He is dying and you are fated to be his. I need you to go and protect him. He is needed for the fate of Nevarah.
“My Lady, I am not supposed to wake until you and the other Immortals wake. Is this submissive really so important that we need to disturb the natural order of the world?”
Yes, Brishen. He is favored by my sisters and is to play a large part in actions that will dictate the fate of Nevarah. I need you to go to him.
As you wish, My Lady. Is there anything that I need to know before I answer his call?
No, Brishen. You had better hurry. Your guards have noticed your subtle movements and are calling for reinforcements. If Brishen didn't know better, he would think that his Lady was amused by his circumstances.
Brishen opened his eyes for the first time in the better part of a millinea. He shot up in the bed that he was laying in and frantically looked around for a weapon to protect his submissive with.
“Guardian, it is not time for you to wake,” one of his guards said with a weary voice. Brishen understood why he was wary. If he, one of the sleeping guardians of the Immortals was awake, then the Immortals must be waking early. Not a good sign for anyone.
Brishen didn't answer; instead, he rushed the guard and took his trident before the golden light took him away. The last thing he saw was the shocked face of the guard he took the trident from, his hands still outstretched.
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Harry Potter
Harry choked as the screaming finally stopped and he faintly heard popping sounds around him. As the dark spots started swimming in his vision, he saw something blue enter his vision. It looked like a person, but that can't be right. People aren't blue.
The strange blue man was saying something but his voice was foggy and far away. He whined and relaxed at the answering rumbles he received. Then, a hand was massaging his neck and all of a sudden he could breathe! But they were still under water.
Harry was confused but happy as his vision cleared and he was the blue man more clearly. He trilled and went into the man’s arms to thank him. He couldn't understand why he felt so safe or why they were able to breathe under water or why the man was blue…
The man’s chest started rumbling when he noticed that Harry was beginning to panic. “Hello, submissive mine. It’s okay, there is no reason to panic. We are here and we will protect you.” The man had such a nice voice. And he was so caring and attuned to his needs. He whines again as something in his mouth starts to hurt.
He was passed to another man very quickly and he panicked. He fought against him to get back to the first blue man. Then, the new man rumbled and, somehow, he knew he was safe. He cuddled up the new blue man with the red markings. He smelled his neck and his mouth started watering. He smelled like home and safety.
His gums hurt and he tasted blood. He panicked, yet again, and couldn't understand.
“It’s okay, little guppy. You can bite, it’s okay,” the safe blue man rumbled, pulling his head closer to the man’s neck. He smelled around the area, and decided on the top of his shoulder. So it can be protected, something within him said and agreed with the position. He kissed his chosen spot and hesitantly bit down. A flavor unlike any other filled his mouth. It was like home and safety and protection all rolled into one salty taste. He would be able to drink this every day for the rest of his life and never tire of it.
The safe man gently placed his hand in his hair and tugged lightly. “Alright, little guppy. Lick the wound closed. That’s enough,” he reprimanded.
Harry released, gently licking over his bite, with a whine and looked at him sadly.
“May I mark you, little guppy?” the man asked, rubbing his right arm as he was held.
Harry nodded, eyes going wide as the man repeated the process that Harry had just done to the man. He kissed him on the base of his throat, trilling questioningly. Harry trilled happily back to him. He winced as sharp teeth pierced his skin. And, as quickly as it started it was over. The man licked over the bite to close it. The man cuddled him close and Harry felt some shift within him.
Shift.
Twist.
Click.
Harry purred the loudest that he had purred yet. This man was one of his. This man would protect him and cherish him. Harry teared up, overwhelmed by the amount of love that he felt from this man.
“Guppy, can I pass you to Caspian? He wants to mark you, too,” the man said, gesturing to another.
Harry nodded, sadly, and allowed for the other man to take him back into his arms.
“Hello, Little One. I’m Caspian, I was called to you. We do, unfortunately, need to hurry. So, wherever you want your mark is fine with me,” he said, adjusting Harry to position him closer to his neck area.
Harry sniffed and quickly bit down on Caspian’s neck and felt the pinpricks of another mouth biting his left bicep. Caspian tasted like what he imagined the ocean to be like with love sprinkled in. He purred and let go when Caspian did, knowing that this man was his as well.
He was cuddled into Caspian’s chest where Caspian rumbled at him.
Shift.
Twist.
Click.
He was then passed to another man, who was a little teary eyed. Harry touched his cheeks and trilled questioningly.
“You have no idea how much this means to me, little love. I have waited so long and would have waited a lifetime for you. Please, bless me with your mark,” the man said, tilting his head and exposing his neck.
Harry carefully bit down, crying a small bit as well. This man tasted like sugar and chocolate and treacle tart. He licked the wound closed and whined for his mark in return.
The man carefully placed his mark on his shoulder, careful not to take too much from his little love.
Then he was passed on to two people. They were both blue, like everyone else, and they seemed younger than the others.
“Hello, dear. We don't have much time. Please, mark us quickly,” the man holding him urged.
Harry didn't quite understand the urgency but he felt that instinct that told him that they were in danger. He bit down on his neck and he tasted like sunshine and playfulness. He closed the wound as pinpricks were felt in one of his shoulders.
Shift.
Twist.
Click.
Then he was passed on and the man didn't say anything before offering his neck up for Harry’s mark. Harry bit and he tasted nighttime and darkness. He sighed as the man placed his mark.
Shift.
Twist.
Click.
“Just one more, lovely. Let’s go find Brishen before we portal home,” the man finally spoke, swimming towards a man that was a light blue with feathers all in his hair.
Upon seeing Harry, the man’s face lit up and he accepted him like he was something precious.
“Hello, lovely. I’m your last one, you just need to bite then you can rest,” the bird man, Brishen he remembered, said before offering up his neck.
Harry bit down and tasted cinnamon and flight, almost like he was on his broom. He licked the wound clean and trilled at him in question.
“I cannot bite you, lovely. But,” he stopped at Harry’s sad expression, “I will be giving you one of my feathers. For my people, it is the same as a bite.” He plucked one of his feathers out and gifted it to his young submissive, sticking it to his bicep for now. Harry cuddle up to him and nuzzled his mark.
Shift.
Twist.
Click.
“Alright everyone, circle up! It’s time to go to Nevarah,” the safe blue man called. Harry was carried over to him by Brishen and he felt his eyes drooping. He fought against the sleepiness, wishing to see what was happening.
“Shh, my love. It’s okay. You can sleep. We’ll protect you from now on,” Brishen was saying as Harry lost the battle against the sandman just as the portal was taking off.