Brotherly Love Has Its Limits

It's slimy in Arthur's pocket, not like they remembered. It was nicer before. Soft dirty bandages, snack wrappers, pocket knives, cheese.

Baby Pierre notices first.

It's all slimy in here, says Baby Pierre.

Urrrw! says Lavender. Why is it SLIMY?

She wriggles about.

Ahch! cries Lavender. Now I can't even see!

Me neither! says Baby Pierre. ARTHUR! GET US OUT! HELP!

Arthur feels in his pocket, and hauls out Lavender, dripping with ink. Then Baby Pierre, also dripping.

What's happened? says Gaius. They're covered in ink. Is your fountain pen leaking?

No, says Arthur, remembering something. He pulls out the cuttlefish, still twitching..

What's THIS? says Victor. A cuttlefish! In a NO TAKE ZONE, too!

Everyone stares at the cuttlefish, who shouldn't be there.

The cuttlefish coughs.

My brother!  cries Ageless. Please put him down!

Arthur puts the cuttlefish down beside Ageless.

Are you alright, dear cuttlefish brother? asks Ageless, looking slyly at Gaius.

Gaius frowns, but says nothing. Perhaps some leeway is called for in this case.

Noooo! splutters the Twitcher. Not alright. Pch! Pch! I need to lie down.

You are lying down, says Bunny. What's the matter? Do you want to go back in the water?

What's the point? says the Twitcher. I'm screwed. All my kind are!

Now then, says the Copper Coast Mayor. No need to be so defeatist. We have new regulations in place.

And I'm all out of ink, have you noticed? says the Twitcher.

We know, says Lavender. Look at me. Look at Baby Pierre.

We cuttlefish only live for a year, says the Twitcher, not even bothering to look.

Is that so? says Ageless, edging away from his brother. Just a year! Hardly worth it......

Who's on my side? shouts the Twitcher.

We're all on your side, says Bunny, picking him up.

Indeed, says Gaius. Just this evening the whole town has been painted with street art depicting your plight.

WHAT! says Victor. Why didn't you tell me?

Good grief! mutters the Copper Coast Mayor. My town's reputation!

He and Victor start running towards town.