Deadly Rivals

Terence stares into the water.

It is clear. There are no botanists there.

Never mind, says Faith. It may be for the best. 

Not for me, says Terence.

Cuttlefish aren't cut out to be botanists, says Faith. 

They're underwater botomists, says Terence. 

But they weren't eating, says Faith. I wonder if they've figured out how to hunt yet.

What if they haven't? asks Terence.

Then they'll die, says Faith. 

Ageless appears behind them.

Seen them? asks Ageless.

No! says Terence. And now they might die.

Want me to go and make sure? asks Ageless.

Yes! says Terence. I mean no.

You mean yes, says Ageless. If they haven't died yet, I'll teach them how to do killing.

Good for you, says Faith. 

Ageless makes his way into the water.

What about your sunnies? asks Faith.

Ageless adjusts his sunglasses to be more like goggles, using the strap.

Clik. Now he can't see anything. But he looks good.

He swims away in the direction of.... anywhere.

He still can't see a thing.

He stops to adjust his sunnies. 

That's better.

Where is he?

The water looks murky.

Jean-Botanist swims by.

Ageless! says Jean-Botanist. Guess what?

You sound like Terence, says Ageless.

How is Terence? asks Jean-Botanist. 

He's waiting for you, says Ageless. 

Perhaps you could give him a message, says Jean-Botanist.

What message? asks Ageless.

We plan to live the rest of our lives as hunters, says Jean-Botanist. We're not coming back.

Not even for the Nachoos? asks Ageless.

Not even for them, says Jean-Botanist.

Carl-Botanist appears in the gloom.

Did you tell him? asks Carl-Botanist.

I told him, says Jean-Botanist.

Fine, says Ageless. Do you know how to hunt though?

Sure we do, says Carl-Botanist. We caught a leatherjacket just now.

And shared it, says Jean-Botanist.

Cuttlefish don't normally cooperate, says Ageless. Just saying.

Meaning what? asks Carl-Botanist.

Meaning you're doing it wrong, says Ageless. There'll come a time when you'll be deadly rivals. Then what?

We will never be deadly rivals, says Carl-Botanist.

Wait till a curvaceous rainbow-tinted beauty catches your eye, says Ageless.

Ha! scoff the botanists.

All right, says Ageless. I'll go and tell Terence you've died.

Why? asks Jean-Botanist. 

Then he'll forget you, says Ageless. 

He won't forget us, says Jean-Botanist.

Won't he? says Ageless.

The botanists look rattled.

Ageless readjusts his goggles and swims away from them.

Serves them right.