Artist’s Description

Thanks for coming to the stream of making this piece for those who showed! It was a fun first stream for me! :heart: (labeled mature because Nerissa isn’t wearing a breast cover)

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It’s been a long couple weeks since Mako left on a personal trip with the orca Hippocampus pod. For days he swam and swam, resting on the coastline on beds of seaweed and kelp. The pod was kind and sweet company, showing and teaching Mako different things about himself… Like echo location. Even though he already knew how to use it, he did NOT know that he could communicate with the pod with it without having to actually speak.

Mako: )) This is amazing Nerissa!!! I’ve never been this far out in the water before! pauses Well, I have but… on a boat, heheh.. ^;

Nerissa: )) giggles This is the way to travel, Mako.~ I’m so glad you decided to join us.

Mako: )) ears perk up I wouldn’t pass this up! After all this time I finally get to see how my parents lived under the water. I can’t wait to tell Bubble about this when I get back!

Nerissa: )) pauses Ah, right, heheh.. I’m sure you’re mate will love to hear about it… looks off to the side as she swims

Mako: )) ……Are you okay?

Nerissa: )) Mmhmm! Just a little hungry is all, heheh. calls up ahead to the rest of the pod Wait up you guys! I need a quick snack!

The orcas up ahead turned to look back and nodded, going up for a breath of air. Nerissa and Mako breached as well, releasing water from their blow holes and taking breathes.

Nerissa: Phew! Heheh. Mako? Go on a hunt with me..?

Mako: moves the hair from his face Sure! I could use some fish right about now too.

Breaking away from the group, the two tracked down a school of fish. Not very big, but it should be enough til they find larger prey. Circling around them, Nerissa and Mako caught quite a lot of them, swallowing the fish with ease. While catching a few more, Mako caught sight of a distant object resting on the ocean floor. Looking closer it was….a sunken ship..! Even though Mako wasn’t exactly working, he couldn’t help but start swimming towards the ship. Just imagining all the treasures he could find was enough to pull him in.

Mako: )) Hey Nerissa! Follow me, let’s check this out!

Nerissa: )) Hm? But the pod is waiting. swims after him

Mako: )) This will only take a few minutes, I just want to look into this.

Getting closer, Mako could see it looked like a trading vessel… Sunk down to the bottom of the ocean who knows how long ago. Crates and barrels scattered about the sand were busted open, either from age or from the damage of what caused the ship to sink. Mako peered into a crate and reached inside, pulling out a ages old bottle covered in moss.

Mako: )) Hrmm.. probably ale of some sort.. swims up to the surface to open it and take a swig… His eyes open wide as he lets out a squeak Bloody hell, whiskey!!! pulls away the moss to read the bottle …. This came from Trotland… This was a Trotland ship!

Mako quickly closed to bottle and swam back down. His curiosity getting the better of him seeing as the ship came from the place he called home for many years. Finding a old burlap bag, he emptied it of rocks and pebbles to search for valuables. He wanted to bring things home with him. Nerissa followed Mako through the wreckage as he collected old bits and more bottles of whiskey that were scattered about. He really needed a drink…

Nerissa: )) Is this what you got your mark for?

Mako: )) Ye! I mean, I collected other things, but this is essentially what I do, heheh.

Nerissa: )) It sure is an interesting way of living… pauses …. You know Mako… If you stayed out here with us.. You could find more.

Mako: )) ……

Nerissa: )) There’s many more sunken ships, more treasures to find.. and you’d be with ponies of your kind! I know how much it means to you to be with us..

Mako: ))…. A lot, really.. Heheh.. stands on the ocean floor on his paws

Nerissa: )) Then why not stay..?! You won’t have to work another day of your life, and maybe even… build a life down here.. lightly touches his hand …. Maybe even… a family…?

Mako: ears perk up and feels she’s touching him U-Uh…. I know.. But uhm….

Nerissa: )) But..?

Mako: )) nervously chuckles and takes a few steps away Nerissa.. I’m flattered, really I am.. And, maybe in another life, Yes, I’d have loved to stay here! But… I can’t just leave the life I have on the surface..! I have friends, family up there…! I can’t leave that behind for- stops himself

Nerissa: )) …. For me? For us?

Mako: )) gulps, thinking to himself: Wow, relations must move quickly down here… I-I’ve barely known you for a few weeks..! And, you’re very sweet, but….

Nerissa: )) looks to the side … I know.. You care for her more..

In that instant, the image of his marefriend Bubble Lee came to his mind.. Although it had only been some months that they started dating, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing to be by her side again.

Mako: )) I do.. very much so..

Nerissa: )) sigh I figured.. smiles I can tell she really cares for you too.

Mako: )) blushes and chuckles

Nerissa: )) ….. Can we just forget I asked..? You know… to have you as a mate and, make pups with you. ^;

Mako: )) face turns beet red Yes, that sounds like a good idea! ^; ….You’ll find another male, Nerissa. And I’m sure you’ll have beautiful pups soon.

Nerissa: )) blushes I’m sure you and Bubble will have adorable pups too.

Mako: )) SQUEAK Aaahahaha! HA! A bit too soon to think of that!

Nerissa: Oh! I’m sorry, I guess relationships are slower paced up there, huh..?

Mako: You could say that, yeah.. thinking in his head: They do things a WHOLE lot differently it seems… must be a deep impulse or something…

Orca male 1: )) Hey! You two around here!? We gotta get going!

Nerissa: )) looks and sees two of the pod members Oh! Sorry about the wait!

Orca female 1: )) Come on you two lovers, you can make pups at the breeding grounds!~

Mako: )) scrunches up his muzzle Hrmmmm! Not likely…

As Mako was about to launch off the ground, he saw something just barely shining from under a layer of moss and seaweed. He knelt down and picked up a box like object. It didn’t take much effort for the lid to open and break by the hinges. Inside was muck covered jewelry. “Shame i don’t have a bigger bag, I could take more of this stuff with me.”

From under a few dirty pearls and chains, up floated a single object… It had an unusual shape to it as it got eye level with Mako. He reached up and and held it in his claws before it floated to the top and looked closer at it. It appeared to be a small hair comb. The bristles of it were rusted and breaking away. A few gems missing from it but the main piece well held together and in pretty good. Judging by the shape… it was a butterfly comb….

Nerissa: )) Mako? Hurry up, the pod is leaving!

Mako: )) Huh? Oh right… puts the comb in his small bag I’m coming!

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Wanted to get a storyboard done! This was also to help me get into the drive to draw ^{^}