Tales from the winter solstice: How did a fluke get there?

Collab with https://www.paperdemon.com/app/u/Shralen

[Raptra 210 WC] Nendo had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the fluke singers after the past few days of hard work. When he saw the large aqrion pass through the town, his eyes were full of childlike wonder, something that hadn’t been seen since he was a pup. The giant aqrion’s greeting was full of a gentle excitement. “Hello there! I’m glad to see you guys made it here safe and sound, was it a long trip?” The shale fluke singer, Min-Min, gave a laugh and gently nudged Nendo with his head “Yes, it was quite the journey! We kept getting sidetracked by any new critter that Kiko happened to see.” The much smaller male laughed gently, his fins high from excitement. “I can imagine! Raising two pups myself, we could never get anywhere on time. I recall Monte telling me that Kiko was a koi patterned fluke…Is she coming soon?” After a tense pause panic crosses both Nendo and Monte, who had come to greet the flukes as well. Monte squeaks “Ah crud, we need to go find her! Is there anyone you know who would be willing to help? She could be anywhere!” Nendo was carefully darting through the group to see if anyone would help in his search.

[Shralen 200 WC] When Vaughn heard that other fluke singers would come, he became excited, and curious. What did the other fluke look like? Were they big or small? Did they have spikes, or were they smooth as a pearl? The little topaz fluke was full of questions, and so he swam toward the stage. Being small had its advantage, Vaughn could easily swim around other aqrion, and get himself a nice spot. When the group passed by, his eyes were drawn toward a slate fluke singer that had a ruby tail like him. The young fluke singer could not help himself, but to wonder, could this be his father? He couldn’t recall what he looked like, as he was separated from his pod after a nasty storm. He was dragged out of his reverie when he heard a giant asking for help in the distance. He asked aqrion if they could help him find a certain Kiko. Vaughn thought to himself that maybe he could be of some use to this stranger. He decided to swim toward him, and once he was close to the giant he addressed him. “I heard you were looking for help. Maybe I could be of assistance?”

[Raptra 220 WC] Nendo had paused seeing the small fluke approach him, relief flooding his features “Ah, yes! We just realized that one of the fluke singers is missing, Min-Min says that her name is Kiko and she's a koi patterned fluke, wanna give us a hand?” The giant tilts his head in question, taking in the small fluke. Maybe this smaller aqrion could help in their search. Monte had been asking about the last time Kiko was seen, coming over to them with a plan. “They last saw her when they entered the city, so she must be somewhere inside. Let's start looking toward the shopping district” Nendo gave a curt nod and turned to follow Monte, before glancing at Vaughn to see if he was coming with them. The duo had been working together for the past few days to make sure the concert hall was ready for the fluke singers, little did they expect to be rounding up a lost performer. Nendo was thinking to himself as he looked out at the city “I really hope that she's okay… The city is so big. How did she get separated from her group?? This is why I don't travel much…” Monte nudges him out of his daze and nods toward the path, trying to get him to follow the small search party forming.

[Shralen 223 WC] It looked like the giant was looking for a koi patterned fluke, and Vaughn couldn’t help to wonder; what kind of colour could she have? As he has never seen a koi aqrion before. He listened to Monte's plan, at the words ‘shopping district’ his eyes lit up, he may have no idea what it was, but it sounded like an interesting place. He then followed the two aqrion once they started moving. Vaughn preferred to follow others from behind, he was still new to the place and didn’t want to get lost. The topaz fluke kept wondering to himself; how could a group of flukes lose sight on one of their own? His kind was huge and hard to miss. Maybe she was like him, preferring to be behind everyone? He could have kept guessing, but it wouldn’t help them in their search. Vaughn decided to call for the lost fluke, with his echolocation. “Kiii-ko?” he took a small pause listening to any answer and when none came he called again. “Kiiiii-kooo?” He called a few more times before an answer was heard. “I’m here.” Hearing those few words made Vaughn happy, they now had a direction to follow. Her following words made him feel nervous. “But... I’m stuck....” He looked at the other aqrion. “I think we have to swim faster.”

[Raptra 210 WC] Nendo and Monte gasp when the small fluke gives them a direction to go. “Let’s go! She must be close!” The group follows where Vaughn had heard her before finding Kiko wedged between two rocks, she looks embarrassed. “Hey guys... A little help?” Nendo gives a low snort while Monte howls with laughter. The phin is whapped with a flipper as Nendo shoots him a glare. “Don’t be rude, come help me.” The duo followed by a few stragglers get up under Kiko, pushing her upwards to free her. With a startled noise she comes free, swimming up and around to face the group now that she’s free. Nendo and Monte breathe a sigh of relief as they smile at her. “Glad to see you’re okay, we were worried sick!” She gives a nod, turning to head back to the concert hall before glancing at Vaughn with a curious expression. Nendo nudges Monte’s flank and motions toward the concert hall, mumbling “Come on, let’s go, it looks like the little fluke needs a few minutes.” Monte looked for a long second before nodding and following Nendo, the two were heading back to the concert hall to do final preparations for the concert. The giant hoped to see the small fluke there, maybe he would find what he was looking for after all.

[Shralen 202 WC] The blue-eyed fluke followed the group, happy he could be of some help. He was surprised to see Kiko stuck between rocks, he wondered how she managed that. Her body was mostly a cream colour with an orange and black pattern. So that's how a koi pattern looked, Vaughn wondered if all koi aqrion looked the same. Since he was too small to be of any help in freeing the spined fluke, he looked at Nendo and Monte doing their best to free her. Once she was free she glanced at him, he waved a flipper as replays, not sure what else to do. When the two were alone, she said “You look so small.” Yeah… Some flukes from my old pod keep telling me that. I was always growing slower than the rest of the children. I don’t really mind.” He said as he followed her back to the hall, the two flukes were swimming slower than usual. “Ah! You might be one of those aqiron that have dwarfism.” “Dwarfism?” “A mutation that makes a dragon grow slower, and reach about half the size of a regular dragon.” “Oh!... I see.” The two kept talking until they reached the hall.