[WTW PART 1] | SCOUR THE BEACHES

There was a buzz of activity in Windan, and Maceo had been conspicuously absent for the past few days. A lively little skullcracker named Atlantis was on a quest through the city, fervently asking anyone who would listen if they had spotted a striking ocean mantibab with beautifully wavy hair. Those kinds of babs  weren't a common sight, so it would have been simple to recognize one; however,  Atlantis' search was proving fruitless. Anxious and uncomfortable in the bustling city, Atlantis was relentless in his quest to find his boyfriend, Maceo, a sea dweller Crederian. Despite his own unease, Atlantis couldn't help but worry about Maceo and the challenges he might be facing in the depths of the sea.

Many Crederians who found out about their relationship  thought it was unusual due to their height difference and contrasting personalities. Atlantis didn't like the ocean, while Maceo was well-acquainted with it, which was one of the main reasons he moved far from it. However, Maceo visited occasionally for the food and sweets he missed from his original land. After his last visit, Maceo didn't return home, which worried Atlantis, prompting him to come to the city. A small skullcracker worrying for a Jeweled Mantibab might seem like a joke at first, but Atlantis' serious looks dispelled any doubts.

After walking for some hours since he arrived early in the morning, he heard about the news about the sea and the celebration. Atlantis then thought that this celebration may have been one of the reasons Maceo wanted to visit the city and return with some sweets and souvenirs. If he wants to search for Maceo, he will need a vessel to ship into the Eladrian Sea.

He could create a vessel and search for Maceo if he covers the materials and helps the lumber and carpenters. This gave him shivers; his fear of the ocean was stronger, but the desire to find Maceo was even stronger and resolved; he went to a market and bought some big bags to start collecting materials near the shore first. Starting with the small materials will be easy, he thought. 

Atlantis started around noon, when the sun's heat was at its peak, a pretty lousy decision he was unaware of until hours later. "Would shells be a good idea for decorations?" - Atlantis thought while digging in the sand and finding some broken seashells - "neither of these will work; the small ones or the cone-shaped ones will be better?" - Atlantis kept doubting - "Finally!…a beautiful one.MACEO look! It looks like your pelt, pink and blue…"- Atlantis turned his head in excitement with the shells in his paws, realizing no one was there behind him. The sadness struck hard, and some tears fell from his cheeks. "Right…you are not here, what I was thinking… I'm searching for materials to create a vessel and find you…". Atlantis cleaned his tears and was more determined to dig and search when he found a fish net. "This will also help…somehow, I think. Atlantis stayed there for some hours, unprepared. He didn't bring a hat, umbrella, or cream to protect himself…he barely got some of the same water bottles and already drank most of them. 

Walking in the sand was difficult, as his paws sank into the sand with the bag of shells, net, and coconuts he found. He was missing one of the most essential materials for his vessel…WOOD! Taking down one tree would be an easy task as a Skullcracker, but he wasn't sure which one was better or which would float. Thirsty and almost with a sunstroke, Atlantis was fading…He was losing consciousness but still determined to find the perfect tree. He gave a head bump to one palm tree and collapsed.

" Maceo…I need your help," Atlantis murmured before closing his eyes. He saw a shadow approaching him, throwing him some water and giving him a bottle to drink. "Hey…  look at me, take this..". The mysterious shadow was a teal-colored mantibab that gave Atlantis some water to drink. “I need wood…Maceo..ship”. The other Crederian stopped Atlantis from talking, gave him more water, and covered him with his coat - “You better take a rest first, recover energy, and stay in the shadow for some time; that bag you are carrying seems pretty heavy, and carrying the wood will consume all your energy, I will be right back, don’t move from here.” Atlantis was tired but asserted with his head while taking some sips of water and firmly hugging all his bags with the materials.