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Description

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Intro
Pallet custom.

Once again a merry band are to go on a quest into the waters, and this time it was quite the mix. Five very different esks all called together on the same day, ready for an adventure.

The beach was bustling that day, indeed it seemed the sands were a bustling with many esks from all walks of life. Amongst them were an odd pairing, an esk with soft downy white fur and golden tipped paws and face, walking alongside a dark brown esk with white paws and dark troubled eyes. This esk, Kii, was always uneasy around water. Now the rushing of the tide filled her very being, and the fur along her spine was pricked in fright. Her companion Enchant however was daintily walking along, the sun glistening off of her whiskers. She was unbothered by the noise and the many esks about, but her tail rested gently on Kii's Back. And on the other side of the cove swam three other souls, far from the other esks for now. One was large, his body dark but rippled with brighter colors like swirls of the sky, and faint stars adorned his magnificent neck. Along his back sharp protrusions poked out, the sun shining brilliantly off of it. He had no eyes to see through, just cute little yellow flowers atop his big head. But still he could sense, and he sensed his new friend jumping into the wave besides him. A scraggly little esk named Kawa, with big eyes and a scowl built in, paddled towards the larger esk. "Watch where you're going big guy" She snips as one of his large sharp paws barely misses her body. He says nothing in reply but his paws still in the water, and she swims up to climb on his back. "Take me to shore I wanna jump in again!" She demands, her paws patting his neck impatiently. With a large heave he swims quickly to the shore, stepping up alongside a third esk, Amore. He was a solemn looking guy, with reddish brown fur and big eyebrows and a big tail. He was sitting in the water sedimentary like, staring down at the azure waves as they lapped over his dark paws. He looks up to see Kii and Enchant approaching, their paws crunching the sand softly as they trot forward. Kii is holding something up, her telepathy turning a odd shaped stone in her 'grasp' nervously as she approaches the incoming tide. "What did you find?" Amore asks, his tail curling in interest. Kii did not respond, staring at the encroaching cold waters, so Enchant took a step forward to answer; "A rock it seems! An odd little rock, round and bubbled. We have to take it home"

"Rocks have homes?" Kawa's voice is sharp like glass, and she takes another big leap into the water, almost splashing Kii and Enchant when she does. "Everything has a Home" A voice like thunder rolls through the air, and the band startle for a second before figuring out the source of the sound. The largest esk, his voice is so loud and thunderous he uses it very little. Enchant is the first to recover, shaking herself off before nodding quickly. "Yes, and we have to take this rock home" She lifts her head in importance, before leading Kii towards the water gently. "It's ok my darling" She whispers, as Kii stares at the water in fear, her pace halted to a standstill as the foam of the waves lapped the gold sands. "We will come with you" Amore adds as he stands up slowly, extending a paw towards Kii, inviting her in. Kawa watches with solemn eyes, for she seeks Kii then as a lost scared little child, but she dares not speak as to discourage her. Their newest friend watches in silence, not a hint of emotion on him at all, but he too is still in the water, his head tilted towards Kii. And she took her first step, surrounded by the closest thing to Family she could have right then, and the water seemed to pull away from her form as she stepped in, the cold just a whispering above the constant shushing sound of water and the distant bird calls. Her spirit waivers slightly but Amore and Enchant are at her side in an instant, guiding her deeper with gentle nudges of their snouts. As soon as her head submerges so too do the large esk and Kawa, and below they are all together. Kii takes a moment to get used to the suffocating feeling, being pressed in on all sides by the water was frightening after all. She tilts her head up to see the water above her, the sunlight filtered through so magically, and the sound of rushing waves from before had dulled to a low roaring sound, and she felt a slow calmness creep up her paws. "My name is Stormbringer" The thunder from before is slower this time, much more gentle, when it rolls through them all, and Kawa glances up at the large esk-now named Stormbringer-that towered over her. "That's a fitting name" Kii chides, and she lets go of her previous fear, joy kicking in as she begins to frolic in the tide with Enchant, and her companions follow in earnest, churning the waters with their kicking and dancing. The celebration is cut short when the rock Kii had been carrying, that had followed her into the water, lets out a loud chiming sound. The five esks look at the rock suspended in her grasp in wonder, and it begins to pull away from Kii slightly. Towards the darkening water it seemed to beckon, and with an understanding they begin to trot forward, where the sands of the shore melt away and lead into the deep darkness ebbing below. Kawa clings to Stormbringers neck as he surges forward, no fear in him after all. Amore follows the two into the inky dark, his tail swishing. Kii hesitates, and Enchant watches her friend carefully. "Do you want to go back?" She asks, and her pleasant voice holds a warning tone. Kii thinks for just a second, then kicks her back feet, launching into the dark.
"No. We have to move forward"

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Ch 1-
Pallet XV.

Below the sounds of top-shore waves and foam, below the sounds of bustling coral reefs and long waving stalks of kelp and seaweeds, between long stretches of sands and rocks, roamed the five esks. They followed Kii who followed the pull of the incessant rock, eager to settle back into its rightful place in the world. It was dark and calm far below, the light no longer warmed their backs. Enchant floated along the bottom like a beautiful ghost, and right behind her Kawa bobbed through the currents effortlessly. Following behind her the heavy footsteps of Stormbringer, his dark presence comforting as it made some scarier creatures pivot away from them. Amore trailed besides the giant esk, his focus less on the current whereabouts and more on the little flashes of life that crept closer to them, like curious crustaceans and fish with brilliant scales that seemed to glow in the darkness of the world. Soon the rock brought them to a kind of cave entrance, and the five glanced at each other, gauging who would go first, not that they couldn't simply phase through the solid rock in of itself. It was more a test of wills to them it seemed. Kawa bobbed forward, zipping into the dark crevice with a flick of her scraggly tail. "Come on then" Kii murmured to the rest of the band, before stepping down into the inky dark. Behind her she feels the rest of them coming, their presence bringing her a comfort despite the pressing closeness of rock and water. As she walked forward, following the tail tip of Kawa in front of her, until the darkness seemed to widen. A cavern opens up, revealing the warmth of underwater volcanic vents, with columns of bubbles rising up intertwined within ashen clouds. The walls open up into more caves and all sorts of rocky columns, and the rock in Kii's grasp hums with an excitement. "I think we're close" Amore says into the darkness, his words stirring life into the cavern. Small fish begin to explore besides the esks, swimming around and even through their forms. Kawa swats them away, while Stormbringer stands still and observes the curious things. "I don't see any rocks like it just yet" Enchant murmurs, squinting her eyes to get a clearer view through the dark waters. Kii walks forward, eyes caught by the dimmest glow reflecting off of the rocks. The vent must have been recently active, as around it were piles of rocks similar to the one she held now. With a kick of excitement she calls to them; "Over here!" And is about to slip the rock into the perfect little dented spot for it when-hang on, what is that? Some sort of small white object rests where the humming rock once did, and Kii felt only contempt at the thing in her way. She picks it up with her paws and inspects it with a creased brow. "What is it?" Kawa growls, snatching it from Kii's grasp.

"A Bone" Stormbringers voice rolls through the cavern, and the bone seemed to pulse in response. Kawa twirls it in her paws a few times before shrugging and tossing it away, it floats through the water slowly before resting on the cavern bottom. Kii ignores the exchange, placing the rock home. It thrums so loudly that even Kawa is still, and then it becomes quiet once more. "We did it!" Enchant fluffs up, proud of their little excursion. "We can go home now!" Kii is excited to leave the water, so excited she almost missed the feeling emanating from the bone that now rested at Amore's paws. His brow was furrowed in sadness, maybe even understanding, and he holds the bone gently between his toes. "We have more to do" He says, and his voice is strong and determined, where once his tone would be apathetic at best. Kii's spirit deflates slightly, her day was seeming to drawl on instead of be easily finished it seemed. She turns to Enchant hoping the white esk would be a voice of reason, but her face held a soft empathetic look, and Kawa was sitting on Stormbringer's shoulders expectantly. "No offence but a bone is just as good as a rock!" She sneers at Kii, then turns to Amore "Go on and lead the way then you scruffy thing! I have kids waiting at home" Stormbringer turns his head to look at Amore, and he hesitates before standing up. "Come on then, let's go do more good deeds" He says, turning right back around to trot out of the cave. Stormbringer walks out with Kawa astride next, and as his tail slips out of the cave Enchant turns to look at her friend. "We don't have to go, my love" Her voice is gentle, and it pulls at Kii's heart so gently. The promise of no judgement, that they could cut the strange missions short and teleport home and lounge in the sun, the sun that Kii missed oh so much in the dark murk of waters. She stares into the beautiful blue eyes of Enchant, the currents tugging at her soft ears and whiskers. Kii searches herself quickly, a nagging in her brain that would not let up. One planted by her oldest friend, Poro, so long ago. "I-think we should keep going" Her voice is steady despite the fear, and she takes a timid step towards the cave entrance. Enchant lights up, and she brushes her tail along Kii's fluffed up spine, soothing her instantly. "Then we keep going" She whispers sweetly, before slipping through the darkness and back out into the open sea. Kii turns back to look at the rock, now looking so right in its spot in the world, and remebers the tremendous feeling of returning it, before swimming forward so fast she causes a slight stir in the ashes and fish.

"You're so slow" Kawa goads as soon as her paws hit the sand, and the rest of them chuckle quietly. Amore leads the way this time, deeper into the sea, towards a much colder spot than their previous place.
They are all swimming fast now, strength renewed by the glory of the rock's return to it's home, and forward to return another still.

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Ch 2-
Pallet XII.

Far below the light of sun now, the waters were darker than any night. Only smaller flashes of light showed up now, the little flickers of deep sea creatures blessed with bioluminescence. The five esks walked along silently, it was incredibly empty here so far below. Every now and again a rock or a small creature would enter their vision, but the bone was silent, so still they walked. Amore took up the front, his telekinesis holding the bone up like a lantern to guide their way through the inky darkness. It was quiet in the band, each esk respectful of the stillness of the world that they were in. That was until a large looming white shape, protruding from the dark sand, rose up in front of them. Kii and Kawa both let out startled squeaks, while Enchant jumped back in fright. Stormbringer was calm however, and walked forward still. "Bones" His voice boomed soothingly through the water, and after their mild panic understanding of the horror in front of them began to seep in. Bones, remains of something large rested gentle and still here in the deep. Amore walked closer, and in his grasp the bone pulled suddenly forward. "Bones is where bones rest" Kawa sniffed before skittering forward, dodging around the ribs jutting out from the disturbed sand. Stormbringer followed her, his footsteps sending sand up like puffs of smoke. Amore turned to Kii with a worried look, although with his eyebrows he always looked a little worried; "How will I know where it wants to go?" He asked her, his white eyes almost aglow in the dark. She stepped forward, placing a paw on his. "You'll know when it feels like home" She said, and her voice must have been convincing because he puffed up his chest, whirled around and walked forward through the opening of white bones. Kii turned to her love, who was anxiously pacing, her whiskers whisking through the water causing little bubbles to stir. "I don't like it here" Enchant admits, and her tail is low, wrapped around her own leg in a comforting way. Kii understood that feeling immensely, and her heart cinched in pain. She pushed her dark face into the soft ruff of Enchant's neck, nuzzling her gently. "I'll be there with you, my darling" She murmurs, and Enchant's nictitating membranes swept over her blue eyes, gaining a confidence in the embrace of her lover as she nuzzles her back. "Always with me" She responds, before pushing Kii towards the sounds of the other esks in front of them "I'm not staying here on the ground though" Enchant leaps up gracefully, landing on the tip of one of the ribs, its surface was picked clean and the ocean had carved little rivets into the structures. Kii looked up at her for a second before shaking herself as a little refresher, then turned her attention to the other esks. They were circled around an odd looking skeleton, with many tiny spines curved out of its main body in a fan-like shape. It was clear that Amore was not sure where to place the bone in his paws, and Kawa and Stormbringer were giving him advice. Or trying to, anyways.

"It's gotta be some sort of middle bone" Kawa growls as she watches Amore study the skeleton, holding the bone up in his paws to guess where it goes. "Jaw" Stormbringer goads loudly, pointing with a claw towards what must have been the head of the long gone creature. Amore murmurs something under his breath, before leaning forward and placing the bone gently down. The spot he picked seemed to be perfect, and the bone let out a joyous tone as it settled into the perfect spot, looking as if it had never left. All the esks cheered in excitement, another chapter of their journey complete! But then Kawa startles as a bright light suddenly lit up in front of her face, and it seemed attached to a long dark rope. It slithers forward slightly, and from below the strange fanned skeleton a dark creature slithered gently forward. It seemed to be some sort of eel, its face stretched out into a long v shape. Its skin was dark, and along its long body and tail little spines scraped along the sands. It looked up at the ensemble with an expression of fear, its tiny white eyes peering up waiting for their next move. "A creature!" Kawa squaks from her perch atop Stormbringers head, for the light had startled her up there. Amore looks down at the little thing in wonder, for he had never seen such an animal, let alone so close. Enchant looked down in worry from her spot high up, she was slightly scared of the odd sea animal despite the fact they could not be hurt by them. But Stormbringer and Kii were attuned to the creature, could feel its lost and scared here in the deep. "Lost Home" Stormbringer booms, but his voice crackles slightly at the end, and Kii nods her head. "I think, this is the last thing we have to help today" She looks at them all, it was obvious the journey was tiring them out being so far away from their OWN homes. But the eel was so lost in such a big world. "Take Home" Stormbringer rumbles, and he walks forward gently, extending an arm to the eel. Kawa jumps off of his head in fright, settling on top of Amore's back instead. The eel curled around his extended arm, exhausted from its journey from home. "You can't go alone" Kawa squeaks from Amore's back, and the other esks quickly agree. "We'll come with you, friend" Amore murmurs warmly, and while Stormbringer's expression is ever unchanging the flowers on his head seemed to perk up. He turns to face the deep darkness, and then nudges the eel. It seems to communicate with him somehow, because he begins to float forward.

The band follow after his large frame, walking because he is much more powerful than they were right then. Kawa settles into Amore's back, eyes looking out for any more looming creatures, while Amore simply trots on.
Enchant's tail curls around Kii's, holding it gently as they walk side by side.

WC-1050
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Ch 3-
Pallet III.

The deep dark was far behind them now, they were heading into warmer waters now. It seemed to perk them all up, the end of the journey was not far from them now. They were all paddling through the waters, spotting the odd plant life swaying in the tropical waters, and bumping into so many creatures of the deep. They would flash their little lights and their eel would flash theirs back, but each time the creatures would swim away, unfamiliar with the sequence it flashed. "Aww, he's trying to find his kind" Enchantress whispered to Kii, a sadness tinged in her voice. Kii's soul ached, she knew the feeling well. Being an esk means leaving so many behind, and she longed for her old life suddenly so, as a little cat curled up on a windowsill soaking the sunlight perfectly. "We'll Find Them" Stormbringer's voice rolls like boisterous thunder, and the eel clings closer to his leg. "Ocean's big though" Kawa's voice is sharp, but she showed no sign of being mad at the circumstance. She too knew the ache of missing family, friends, her children. Amore says nothing, but his brow is creased in concentration as he scanned the horizon. "We will find them" Kii says, and she feels it to be true. "We've been through so much today friends" A comfortable silence befalls them, as they are all busy looking out through the waving seaweeds to find the familiar lights flashing through. It's actually Kawa who spots it first, as she squints into the dark waters ahead, standing so still on the sandy floor that Kii actually steps on her in her haste. "Ack-watch it!" Kawa screeches, jumping away from under Kii's foot. Kii flinches back, apologetic. "Ah, sorry!" She barks, and the entire band turn their attention to the squabble, as Kawa fluffs up before turns back to where she was squinting. "You dope, I almost missed it!" Kawa growls, and Kii huffs before joining her in peering out through the waves. "Missed what?" Enchant asks softly, tail curled in a curious s shape. "That!" Amore cries out as two tiny dots of light flash before them, and the eel clamped to Stormbringer's leg flashes its back in response. "We found them!" Kii cried, rearing back on her hind legs in excitement. "I found them!" Kawa snapped, but there's a playful edge to her tone, and she spins around to see Stormbringer float forward, holding his paw out for the Eel to see. "I told you we'd find them!" She hissed up at the large dark esk, and a sound like laughter rumbled through their souls as Stormbringer swam forward, wanting to re-unite the creatures as fast as he could. The other four followed suit, watching as the little pinpricks of light became bigger and brighter right in front of them.

Indeed they had been found, two eels just like the one they carried now. They are cautious of the approaching esks at first, but seeing their companion guided so gently by their leader made the eels twirl in what could only be described as appreciation. The once timid eel slipped off of Stormbringers paw, and twirled alongside its companions, flashing their lights together in unison. The band watch this with a swell of pride, dancing alongside the ribbon like eels. Their excitement is palpable as they stir up columns of bubbles and sweeps of sand, and for a second it was all wonder. Then a flash of light, brighter than their eel friends, suddenly arose in front of them. A spark, yellow and brilliant, whizzed around them, to their confusion. "What magic is this?" Kawa bristles, swiping her paw at the spark. Amore leans towards it, feeling a warmth in his fur. "It's time to go" he says simply, and the spark whirls around him before beginning to rise, heading towards the surface quickly. "Goodbye" Stormbringer booms to the eels, who were now swimming away from them, and then he began to follow the spark. "Yeah, that's enough for today" Kawa crackled, also begining to rise "Get someone else to do your work next time, ocean" Amore chuckles before lifting his paws from the rocky sandy earth, rising through the water like a leaf. Enchantress twirls in the water a little, happy to finally make her way back towards the sun. She turns to see Kii, watching the retreating eels disappear into the deep. The eel they had led home looks back at them, flashing its tail one more time, before, slipping through some kelp and leaving her view. She hesitates, three paws still anchoring her to the sandy bottom of the sea. Where once she had been too scared to even jump in puddles, now the sun called for her and she hesitated? She had gotten so used to the pressing, the dark and the cold, that it seemed almost scary to leave now. Enchantress calls to her, already rising through the water. "Are you ready?" Her voice is soft, so soft, and it pulls Kii away from her deep thoughts. She lifts a second paw, and then the other two, beginning to float upwards slowly. She felt adrift, alone with no purpose, but then she turned to look at the esks that had come with her to the deep. Stormbringer, once a stone cold esk now soft and safe in her eyes. Amore, a gentle coward now a brave herald. Kawa, her voice so cutting yet always able to push them just a little further. And Enchantress, her sweet soft friend, staying by her side through the deep and the dark just as sweetly as she did in the warm and the sunlight. It pained her heart the love they shared, and she wriggled forward to press her snout into Enchant's warm orange-kissed face. "You were so brave" She murmurs into Kii's dark fur, for only her to hear. She knew what the soft esk meant, not the journey being scary, but the biter sweetness of the goodbyes at the end. She hated change, yet it was a part of her world always.

When they burst onto the surface the sun was indeed warm and welcoming,
and the band immediately turn their eyes up towards the light. The waters were calm and gentle.

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When their tired paws reach the shore it bustles once again with the mingling of many esks, all tired yet abuzz with the journeys they had all been on. A bright spark hung in the sky, and below it stands the large and proud frame of Makoa. His laughter booms louder and brighter than any other sounds, rising above the rabble of the esks clustered around him. Kawa looks up at him in awe, for it was rare to see a wanderer after all. He looks down at her and tilts his head, glee sparkling in his eyes. "How was it" He asks her, just her, and she leans back to take in all of his form. "It was hard, the journey" She whispers, but Makoa hears it anyways. He laughs, leaning down to inspect her. "It may have been, but here you are! Strong, and loved" His words wash over her like a wave, and he gives her one more look before turning away to address some other curious and accusing souls. Stormbringer settles down by a tidepool, while Kawa and her son re-unite on the sands, and she holds him close in her grasp. Amore looks lost, looking out to sea, but the kind of lost where you know the next step they take will be a powerful one. Kii turns to Enchantress who was leaning against her tiredly, but her azure eyes twinkled with pride. "It wasn't hard" Her voice is playful, ringing through the air like a bell. Kii's fur prickled in surprise, and she turns to look at her love with dark questioning eyes.

Before she can speak small legs grab hers, and she looks down to see Poro clinging to her leg, his voice a jumble of happy sounds. Pikopiko is atop his back, squinting at her but not unkindly. "I thought you would be here!" She laughs before embracing Poro with her free paw, holding her friend close. Poro looks up at her, a question in his little tone. "Was it hard?" She repeats, leaning back to consider the question. Her paws ached but her heart was full, and there was a longing there new now, different than how she felt before. Indeed she had changed, in a deep way it seemed. Just like her many companions who were all looking at her expectantly.

"It wasn't, really. The hardest part was saying goodbye"

WC-400
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Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)

+5 AP (Full Body)

+30 AP (Full/Scenic Background)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)

Total AP per submission: 113

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body)

+10 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

Total GP per esk: 26

(Top image score! I have already scored my first intro)

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Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body)

+10 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)

+2 GP (Color Pallete Bonus)

+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

Total GP per prompt: 28

Panel 2-3-4, 28x3=84

Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)
+5 AP (Full Body)
+30 AP (Full/Scenic Background)
+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+5 AP (Color Pallete Bonus)
+15 AP (Quest Bonus)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)
Total AP per submission: 125
Panel 2-3-4, 125x3=375

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Base Score: 92 AP (Writing: 4600 words)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)
+40 AP (Storyteller Bonus: 8 AP * 5)
Total AP per submission: 192

Base Score: 46 GP (Writing: 4600 words)
+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+30 GP (Storyteller Bonus: 6 GP * 5)
Total GP per submission: 78

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-Running TOTAL AP-
113+375+192=
672

-Running TOTAL GP-
18+84+78=
180

Description

=====================================
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Intro
Pallet custom.

Once again a merry band are to go on a quest into the waters, and this time it was quite the mix. Five very different esks all called together on the same day, ready for an adventure.

The beach was bustling that day, indeed it seemed the sands were a bustling with many esks from all walks of life. Amongst them were an odd pairing, an esk with soft downy white fur and golden tipped paws and face, walking alongside a dark brown esk with white paws and dark troubled eyes. This esk, Kii, was always uneasy around water. Now the rushing of the tide filled her very being, and the fur along her spine was pricked in fright. Her companion Enchant however was daintily walking along, the sun glistening off of her whiskers. She was unbothered by the noise and the many esks about, but her tail rested gently on Kii's Back. And on the other side of the cove swam three other souls, far from the other esks for now. One was large, his body dark but rippled with brighter colors like swirls of the sky, and faint stars adorned his magnificent neck. Along his back sharp protrusions poked out, the sun shining brilliantly off of it. He had no eyes to see through, just cute little yellow flowers atop his big head. But still he could sense, and he sensed his new friend jumping into the wave besides him. A scraggly little esk named Kawa, with big eyes and a scowl built in, paddled towards the larger esk. "Watch where you're going big guy" She snips as one of his large sharp paws barely misses her body. He says nothing in reply but his paws still in the water, and she swims up to climb on his back. "Take me to shore I wanna jump in again!" She demands, her paws patting his neck impatiently. With a large heave he swims quickly to the shore, stepping up alongside a third esk, Amore. He was a solemn looking guy, with reddish brown fur and big eyebrows and a big tail. He was sitting in the water sedimentary like, staring down at the azure waves as they lapped over his dark paws. He looks up to see Kii and Enchant approaching, their paws crunching the sand softly as they trot forward. Kii is holding something up, her telepathy turning a odd shaped stone in her 'grasp' nervously as she approaches the incoming tide. "What did you find?" Amore asks, his tail curling in interest. Kii did not respond, staring at the encroaching cold waters, so Enchant took a step forward to answer; "A rock it seems! An odd little rock, round and bubbled. We have to take it home"

"Rocks have homes?" Kawa's voice is sharp like glass, and she takes another big leap into the water, almost splashing Kii and Enchant when she does. "Everything has a Home" A voice like thunder rolls through the air, and the band startle for a second before figuring out the source of the sound. The largest esk, his voice is so loud and thunderous he uses it very little. Enchant is the first to recover, shaking herself off before nodding quickly. "Yes, and we have to take this rock home" She lifts her head in importance, before leading Kii towards the water gently. "It's ok my darling" She whispers, as Kii stares at the water in fear, her pace halted to a standstill as the foam of the waves lapped the gold sands. "We will come with you" Amore adds as he stands up slowly, extending a paw towards Kii, inviting her in. Kawa watches with solemn eyes, for she seeks Kii then as a lost scared little child, but she dares not speak as to discourage her. Their newest friend watches in silence, not a hint of emotion on him at all, but he too is still in the water, his head tilted towards Kii. And she took her first step, surrounded by the closest thing to Family she could have right then, and the water seemed to pull away from her form as she stepped in, the cold just a whispering above the constant shushing sound of water and the distant bird calls. Her spirit waivers slightly but Amore and Enchant are at her side in an instant, guiding her deeper with gentle nudges of their snouts. As soon as her head submerges so too do the large esk and Kawa, and below they are all together. Kii takes a moment to get used to the suffocating feeling, being pressed in on all sides by the water was frightening after all. She tilts her head up to see the water above her, the sunlight filtered through so magically, and the sound of rushing waves from before had dulled to a low roaring sound, and she felt a slow calmness creep up her paws. "My name is Stormbringer" The thunder from before is slower this time, much more gentle, when it rolls through them all, and Kawa glances up at the large esk-now named Stormbringer-that towered over her. "That's a fitting name" Kii chides, and she lets go of her previous fear, joy kicking in as she begins to frolic in the tide with Enchant, and her companions follow in earnest, churning the waters with their kicking and dancing. The celebration is cut short when the rock Kii had been carrying, that had followed her into the water, lets out a loud chiming sound. The five esks look at the rock suspended in her grasp in wonder, and it begins to pull away from Kii slightly. Towards the darkening water it seemed to beckon, and with an understanding they begin to trot forward, where the sands of the shore melt away and lead into the deep darkness ebbing below. Kawa clings to Stormbringers neck as he surges forward, no fear in him after all. Amore follows the two into the inky dark, his tail swishing. Kii hesitates, and Enchant watches her friend carefully. "Do you want to go back?" She asks, and her pleasant voice holds a warning tone. Kii thinks for just a second, then kicks her back feet, launching into the dark.
"No. We have to move forward"

WC-1050
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Ch 1-
Pallet XV.

Below the sounds of top-shore waves and foam, below the sounds of bustling coral reefs and long waving stalks of kelp and seaweeds, between long stretches of sands and rocks, roamed the five esks. They followed Kii who followed the pull of the incessant rock, eager to settle back into its rightful place in the world. It was dark and calm far below, the light no longer warmed their backs. Enchant floated along the bottom like a beautiful ghost, and right behind her Kawa bobbed through the currents effortlessly. Following behind her the heavy footsteps of Stormbringer, his dark presence comforting as it made some scarier creatures pivot away from them. Amore trailed besides the giant esk, his focus less on the current whereabouts and more on the little flashes of life that crept closer to them, like curious crustaceans and fish with brilliant scales that seemed to glow in the darkness of the world. Soon the rock brought them to a kind of cave entrance, and the five glanced at each other, gauging who would go first, not that they couldn't simply phase through the solid rock in of itself. It was more a test of wills to them it seemed. Kawa bobbed forward, zipping into the dark crevice with a flick of her scraggly tail. "Come on then" Kii murmured to the rest of the band, before stepping down into the inky dark. Behind her she feels the rest of them coming, their presence bringing her a comfort despite the pressing closeness of rock and water. As she walked forward, following the tail tip of Kawa in front of her, until the darkness seemed to widen. A cavern opens up, revealing the warmth of underwater volcanic vents, with columns of bubbles rising up intertwined within ashen clouds. The walls open up into more caves and all sorts of rocky columns, and the rock in Kii's grasp hums with an excitement. "I think we're close" Amore says into the darkness, his words stirring life into the cavern. Small fish begin to explore besides the esks, swimming around and even through their forms. Kawa swats them away, while Stormbringer stands still and observes the curious things. "I don't see any rocks like it just yet" Enchant murmurs, squinting her eyes to get a clearer view through the dark waters. Kii walks forward, eyes caught by the dimmest glow reflecting off of the rocks. The vent must have been recently active, as around it were piles of rocks similar to the one she held now. With a kick of excitement she calls to them; "Over here!" And is about to slip the rock into the perfect little dented spot for it when-hang on, what is that? Some sort of small white object rests where the humming rock once did, and Kii felt only contempt at the thing in her way. She picks it up with her paws and inspects it with a creased brow. "What is it?" Kawa growls, snatching it from Kii's grasp.

"A Bone" Stormbringers voice rolls through the cavern, and the bone seemed to pulse in response. Kawa twirls it in her paws a few times before shrugging and tossing it away, it floats through the water slowly before resting on the cavern bottom. Kii ignores the exchange, placing the rock home. It thrums so loudly that even Kawa is still, and then it becomes quiet once more. "We did it!" Enchant fluffs up, proud of their little excursion. "We can go home now!" Kii is excited to leave the water, so excited she almost missed the feeling emanating from the bone that now rested at Amore's paws. His brow was furrowed in sadness, maybe even understanding, and he holds the bone gently between his toes. "We have more to do" He says, and his voice is strong and determined, where once his tone would be apathetic at best. Kii's spirit deflates slightly, her day was seeming to drawl on instead of be easily finished it seemed. She turns to Enchant hoping the white esk would be a voice of reason, but her face held a soft empathetic look, and Kawa was sitting on Stormbringer's shoulders expectantly. "No offence but a bone is just as good as a rock!" She sneers at Kii, then turns to Amore "Go on and lead the way then you scruffy thing! I have kids waiting at home" Stormbringer turns his head to look at Amore, and he hesitates before standing up. "Come on then, let's go do more good deeds" He says, turning right back around to trot out of the cave. Stormbringer walks out with Kawa astride next, and as his tail slips out of the cave Enchant turns to look at her friend. "We don't have to go, my love" Her voice is gentle, and it pulls at Kii's heart so gently. The promise of no judgement, that they could cut the strange missions short and teleport home and lounge in the sun, the sun that Kii missed oh so much in the dark murk of waters. She stares into the beautiful blue eyes of Enchant, the currents tugging at her soft ears and whiskers. Kii searches herself quickly, a nagging in her brain that would not let up. One planted by her oldest friend, Poro, so long ago. "I-think we should keep going" Her voice is steady despite the fear, and she takes a timid step towards the cave entrance. Enchant lights up, and she brushes her tail along Kii's fluffed up spine, soothing her instantly. "Then we keep going" She whispers sweetly, before slipping through the darkness and back out into the open sea. Kii turns back to look at the rock, now looking so right in its spot in the world, and remebers the tremendous feeling of returning it, before swimming forward so fast she causes a slight stir in the ashes and fish.

"You're so slow" Kawa goads as soon as her paws hit the sand, and the rest of them chuckle quietly. Amore leads the way this time, deeper into the sea, towards a much colder spot than their previous place.
They are all swimming fast now, strength renewed by the glory of the rock's return to it's home, and forward to return another still.

WC-1050
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Ch 2-
Pallet XII.

Far below the light of sun now, the waters were darker than any night. Only smaller flashes of light showed up now, the little flickers of deep sea creatures blessed with bioluminescence. The five esks walked along silently, it was incredibly empty here so far below. Every now and again a rock or a small creature would enter their vision, but the bone was silent, so still they walked. Amore took up the front, his telekinesis holding the bone up like a lantern to guide their way through the inky darkness. It was quiet in the band, each esk respectful of the stillness of the world that they were in. That was until a large looming white shape, protruding from the dark sand, rose up in front of them. Kii and Kawa both let out startled squeaks, while Enchant jumped back in fright. Stormbringer was calm however, and walked forward still. "Bones" His voice boomed soothingly through the water, and after their mild panic understanding of the horror in front of them began to seep in. Bones, remains of something large rested gentle and still here in the deep. Amore walked closer, and in his grasp the bone pulled suddenly forward. "Bones is where bones rest" Kawa sniffed before skittering forward, dodging around the ribs jutting out from the disturbed sand. Stormbringer followed her, his footsteps sending sand up like puffs of smoke. Amore turned to Kii with a worried look, although with his eyebrows he always looked a little worried; "How will I know where it wants to go?" He asked her, his white eyes almost aglow in the dark. She stepped forward, placing a paw on his. "You'll know when it feels like home" She said, and her voice must have been convincing because he puffed up his chest, whirled around and walked forward through the opening of white bones. Kii turned to her love, who was anxiously pacing, her whiskers whisking through the water causing little bubbles to stir. "I don't like it here" Enchant admits, and her tail is low, wrapped around her own leg in a comforting way. Kii understood that feeling immensely, and her heart cinched in pain. She pushed her dark face into the soft ruff of Enchant's neck, nuzzling her gently. "I'll be there with you, my darling" She murmurs, and Enchant's nictitating membranes swept over her blue eyes, gaining a confidence in the embrace of her lover as she nuzzles her back. "Always with me" She responds, before pushing Kii towards the sounds of the other esks in front of them "I'm not staying here on the ground though" Enchant leaps up gracefully, landing on the tip of one of the ribs, its surface was picked clean and the ocean had carved little rivets into the structures. Kii looked up at her for a second before shaking herself as a little refresher, then turned her attention to the other esks. They were circled around an odd looking skeleton, with many tiny spines curved out of its main body in a fan-like shape. It was clear that Amore was not sure where to place the bone in his paws, and Kawa and Stormbringer were giving him advice. Or trying to, anyways.

"It's gotta be some sort of middle bone" Kawa growls as she watches Amore study the skeleton, holding the bone up in his paws to guess where it goes. "Jaw" Stormbringer goads loudly, pointing with a claw towards what must have been the head of the long gone creature. Amore murmurs something under his breath, before leaning forward and placing the bone gently down. The spot he picked seemed to be perfect, and the bone let out a joyous tone as it settled into the perfect spot, looking as if it had never left. All the esks cheered in excitement, another chapter of their journey complete! But then Kawa startles as a bright light suddenly lit up in front of her face, and it seemed attached to a long dark rope. It slithers forward slightly, and from below the strange fanned skeleton a dark creature slithered gently forward. It seemed to be some sort of eel, its face stretched out into a long v shape. Its skin was dark, and along its long body and tail little spines scraped along the sands. It looked up at the ensemble with an expression of fear, its tiny white eyes peering up waiting for their next move. "A creature!" Kawa squaks from her perch atop Stormbringers head, for the light had startled her up there. Amore looks down at the little thing in wonder, for he had never seen such an animal, let alone so close. Enchant looked down in worry from her spot high up, she was slightly scared of the odd sea animal despite the fact they could not be hurt by them. But Stormbringer and Kii were attuned to the creature, could feel its lost and scared here in the deep. "Lost Home" Stormbringer booms, but his voice crackles slightly at the end, and Kii nods her head. "I think, this is the last thing we have to help today" She looks at them all, it was obvious the journey was tiring them out being so far away from their OWN homes. But the eel was so lost in such a big world. "Take Home" Stormbringer rumbles, and he walks forward gently, extending an arm to the eel. Kawa jumps off of his head in fright, settling on top of Amore's back instead. The eel curled around his extended arm, exhausted from its journey from home. "You can't go alone" Kawa squeaks from Amore's back, and the other esks quickly agree. "We'll come with you, friend" Amore murmurs warmly, and while Stormbringer's expression is ever unchanging the flowers on his head seemed to perk up. He turns to face the deep darkness, and then nudges the eel. It seems to communicate with him somehow, because he begins to float forward.

The band follow after his large frame, walking because he is much more powerful than they were right then. Kawa settles into Amore's back, eyes looking out for any more looming creatures, while Amore simply trots on.
Enchant's tail curls around Kii's, holding it gently as they walk side by side.

WC-1050
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Ch 3-
Pallet III.

The deep dark was far behind them now, they were heading into warmer waters now. It seemed to perk them all up, the end of the journey was not far from them now. They were all paddling through the waters, spotting the odd plant life swaying in the tropical waters, and bumping into so many creatures of the deep. They would flash their little lights and their eel would flash theirs back, but each time the creatures would swim away, unfamiliar with the sequence it flashed. "Aww, he's trying to find his kind" Enchantress whispered to Kii, a sadness tinged in her voice. Kii's soul ached, she knew the feeling well. Being an esk means leaving so many behind, and she longed for her old life suddenly so, as a little cat curled up on a windowsill soaking the sunlight perfectly. "We'll Find Them" Stormbringer's voice rolls like boisterous thunder, and the eel clings closer to his leg. "Ocean's big though" Kawa's voice is sharp, but she showed no sign of being mad at the circumstance. She too knew the ache of missing family, friends, her children. Amore says nothing, but his brow is creased in concentration as he scanned the horizon. "We will find them" Kii says, and she feels it to be true. "We've been through so much today friends" A comfortable silence befalls them, as they are all busy looking out through the waving seaweeds to find the familiar lights flashing through. It's actually Kawa who spots it first, as she squints into the dark waters ahead, standing so still on the sandy floor that Kii actually steps on her in her haste. "Ack-watch it!" Kawa screeches, jumping away from under Kii's foot. Kii flinches back, apologetic. "Ah, sorry!" She barks, and the entire band turn their attention to the squabble, as Kawa fluffs up before turns back to where she was squinting. "You dope, I almost missed it!" Kawa growls, and Kii huffs before joining her in peering out through the waves. "Missed what?" Enchant asks softly, tail curled in a curious s shape. "That!" Amore cries out as two tiny dots of light flash before them, and the eel clamped to Stormbringer's leg flashes its back in response. "We found them!" Kii cried, rearing back on her hind legs in excitement. "I found them!" Kawa snapped, but there's a playful edge to her tone, and she spins around to see Stormbringer float forward, holding his paw out for the Eel to see. "I told you we'd find them!" She hissed up at the large dark esk, and a sound like laughter rumbled through their souls as Stormbringer swam forward, wanting to re-unite the creatures as fast as he could. The other four followed suit, watching as the little pinpricks of light became bigger and brighter right in front of them.

Indeed they had been found, two eels just like the one they carried now. They are cautious of the approaching esks at first, but seeing their companion guided so gently by their leader made the eels twirl in what could only be described as appreciation. The once timid eel slipped off of Stormbringers paw, and twirled alongside its companions, flashing their lights together in unison. The band watch this with a swell of pride, dancing alongside the ribbon like eels. Their excitement is palpable as they stir up columns of bubbles and sweeps of sand, and for a second it was all wonder. Then a flash of light, brighter than their eel friends, suddenly arose in front of them. A spark, yellow and brilliant, whizzed around them, to their confusion. "What magic is this?" Kawa bristles, swiping her paw at the spark. Amore leans towards it, feeling a warmth in his fur. "It's time to go" he says simply, and the spark whirls around him before beginning to rise, heading towards the surface quickly. "Goodbye" Stormbringer booms to the eels, who were now swimming away from them, and then he began to follow the spark. "Yeah, that's enough for today" Kawa crackled, also begining to rise "Get someone else to do your work next time, ocean" Amore chuckles before lifting his paws from the rocky sandy earth, rising through the water like a leaf. Enchantress twirls in the water a little, happy to finally make her way back towards the sun. She turns to see Kii, watching the retreating eels disappear into the deep. The eel they had led home looks back at them, flashing its tail one more time, before, slipping through some kelp and leaving her view. She hesitates, three paws still anchoring her to the sandy bottom of the sea. Where once she had been too scared to even jump in puddles, now the sun called for her and she hesitated? She had gotten so used to the pressing, the dark and the cold, that it seemed almost scary to leave now. Enchantress calls to her, already rising through the water. "Are you ready?" Her voice is soft, so soft, and it pulls Kii away from her deep thoughts. She lifts a second paw, and then the other two, beginning to float upwards slowly. She felt adrift, alone with no purpose, but then she turned to look at the esks that had come with her to the deep. Stormbringer, once a stone cold esk now soft and safe in her eyes. Amore, a gentle coward now a brave herald. Kawa, her voice so cutting yet always able to push them just a little further. And Enchantress, her sweet soft friend, staying by her side through the deep and the dark just as sweetly as she did in the warm and the sunlight. It pained her heart the love they shared, and she wriggled forward to press her snout into Enchant's warm orange-kissed face. "You were so brave" She murmurs into Kii's dark fur, for only her to hear. She knew what the soft esk meant, not the journey being scary, but the biter sweetness of the goodbyes at the end. She hated change, yet it was a part of her world always.

When they burst onto the surface the sun was indeed warm and welcoming,
and the band immediately turn their eyes up towards the light. The waters were calm and gentle.

WC-1050
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When their tired paws reach the shore it bustles once again with the mingling of many esks, all tired yet abuzz with the journeys they had all been on. A bright spark hung in the sky, and below it stands the large and proud frame of Makoa. His laughter booms louder and brighter than any other sounds, rising above the rabble of the esks clustered around him. Kawa looks up at him in awe, for it was rare to see a wanderer after all. He looks down at her and tilts his head, glee sparkling in his eyes. "How was it" He asks her, just her, and she leans back to take in all of his form. "It was hard, the journey" She whispers, but Makoa hears it anyways. He laughs, leaning down to inspect her. "It may have been, but here you are! Strong, and loved" His words wash over her like a wave, and he gives her one more look before turning away to address some other curious and accusing souls. Stormbringer settles down by a tidepool, while Kawa and her son re-unite on the sands, and she holds him close in her grasp. Amore looks lost, looking out to sea, but the kind of lost where you know the next step they take will be a powerful one. Kii turns to Enchantress who was leaning against her tiredly, but her azure eyes twinkled with pride. "It wasn't hard" Her voice is playful, ringing through the air like a bell. Kii's fur prickled in surprise, and she turns to look at her love with dark questioning eyes.

Before she can speak small legs grab hers, and she looks down to see Poro clinging to her leg, his voice a jumble of happy sounds. Pikopiko is atop his back, squinting at her but not unkindly. "I thought you would be here!" She laughs before embracing Poro with her free paw, holding her friend close. Poro looks up at her, a question in his little tone. "Was it hard?" She repeats, leaning back to consider the question. Her paws ached but her heart was full, and there was a longing there new now, different than how she felt before. Indeed she had changed, in a deep way it seemed. Just like her many companions who were all looking at her expectantly.

"It wasn't, really. The hardest part was saying goodbye"

WC-400
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Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)

+5 AP (Full Body)

+30 AP (Full/Scenic Background)

+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)

+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)

Total AP per submission: 113

Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body)

+10 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

Total GP per esk: 26

(Top image score! I have already scored my first intro)

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Base Score: 4 GP (Shaded Illustration)

+2 GP (Full Body)

+10 GP (Full/Scenic Background)

+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)

+2 GP (Color Pallete Bonus)

+8 GP (Quest Bonus)

Total GP per prompt: 28

Panel 2-3-4, 28x3=84

Base Score: 10 AP (Shaded Illustration)
+5 AP (Full Body)
+30 AP (Full/Scenic Background)
+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+5 AP (Color Pallete Bonus)
+15 AP (Quest Bonus)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)
Total AP per submission: 125
Panel 2-3-4, 125x3=375

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Base Score: 92 AP (Writing: 4600 words)
+5 AP (Personal Work Bonus)
+5 AP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+50 AP (Esk Interaction Bonus: 10 AP * 5)
+40 AP (Storyteller Bonus: 8 AP * 5)
Total AP per submission: 192

Base Score: 46 GP (Writing: 4600 words)
+2 GP (Marine Biome Bonus)
+30 GP (Storyteller Bonus: 6 GP * 5)
Total GP per submission: 78

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-Running TOTAL AP-
113+375+192=
672

-Running TOTAL GP-
18+84+78=
180