[ OSAS: Stage 2 - Cavendish/Dragonfruit ]

Ram and Mudfish had headed back home to try and find somewhere to restock their vials after their last encounter with corrupted rayfins. The duo were completely out of the cleansing vials and neither of them felt particularly confident in traversing the depths without something to potentially combat the corrupted rayfins and spreading infection. It made the two young rayfins nervous to be out and about alone these days with all the chaos going on, so they had made a deal to stick by each other's side until all of this had blown over and it was safe, or well safer at least, in the depths again.

The duo were stopped in their tracks however as they noticed a fuss up ahead, a few other rayfins had gathered around something. There was a huge variety of sizes and ages, some huge adults that were at their full sizes, some youngsters like Ram and Mudfish who were small adults, and even some whelps and hatchlings. Yet, despite the age and size every one of the rayfins were focused on something in the middle of the cluster of them.

Shooting each other glances, Mudfish and Ram would move towards the group of rayfins to see what could be going on. As they got closer they even noticed some outsider dragons, strange small creatures with large wings and strangely shaped legs, well strangely shaped to the two rayfins who had never left the depths that is. What could be happening that would gain such a diverse crowd? A crowd that had a weird feeling of tension and worry rippling through it at that as well.

As Ram and Mudfish slowly squirmed their way to the front they finally saw what the commotion was about, a pair of adult rayfins were laying on their sides against the sandy seafloor. Each deep rumbling breath shifted the sand around their scales and there was a weird gooey like substance leaking from gashes down the two’s sides. One was a striking pink and white colouration with lime green accents while the other was much less bold with brown and yellow tones and a dappling of spots. Both were much larger than Ram and Mudfish who couldn’t help but float even closer curiously.

It definitely seemed like these two rayfins were also struggling from corruption, though it seems they were found and grew an audience before it could fully take them and their minds. Instead they heaved and groaned seemingly completely unaware of the others around them as their bodies shivered fighting against the magical infection. It seemed like a horrid way to be and sent a shudder through both Ram and Mudfish, now if only they had some of that weird cleansing stuff they had been given before to help.

Seemingly just as the two young rayfins thought that an outsider dragon shoved their way to the front of the crowd, they were a brown coloured dragon lacking wings unlike the others and a weird feline with sparkling eyes wrapped around their neck. They had a lithe long body with fur running down their back and a satchel clinging close to their chest. Introducing themself as Tew an ‘emperor’ the dragon would start rummaging through its leather satchel only to pull out a familiar vial, a corruption cleanser just like what Mudfish and Ram had used before.

Tew would dip their head to the rayfins gathered around them and move closer to the two rayfins suffering from the affections of corruption, the emperor would take a few moments to run their talons gently across the gashes that were leaking that weird corruption energy seemingly investigating how badly the two were afflicted. Glancing towards the first rayfin Tew would gesture towards its pink and white maw, the small emperor definitely couldn't pry the jaws of a large leviathan open.

Mudfish was quick to rush forwards and cradle the afflicted rayfin’s head within her fins, she couldn’t help but flinch at the way it twitched and growled in her grip but at least for now it seemed as though clashing with the affliction was its only goal. Ram letting out a slight huff leaving behind some bubbles would also move forwards, the silver leviathan would hook his claws between the lips of the pink rayfin and begin prying its large jaws open exposing rows of wickedly sharp thin teeth.

Tew would give off a slight shudder before gripping the vial that they had and popping the cork off, the thick liquid in the vial reacted oddly to the water that rushed into the vial, it was oddly heavy and swirled within the vial with the water for a moment before settling at the bottom as if the water wasn’t even there. Tew would carefully pour the vial’s contents into the mouth of the pink leviathan. Suddenly its jaws would snap close causing Ram, Mudfish, and Tew to jump back and the celestial feline around their neck to hiss. A ripple went through the rayfins body as it writhed and snarled before seemingly settling down.

With a slight nod Tew would then gesture towards the other rayfin, the more yellow and brown one, Mudfish once again moved forwards nestling herself behind the spotted leviathan’s head and cradling it much like she had done with the pink rayfin. Ram also took the same spot prying this levithan’s jaws open so that the emperor could once again pour the viscous thick liquid into its gaping mouth. Once again jaws snapped closed at the larger leviathan writhed and thrashed for a few moments before settling down.

Tew shot the two youngsters an appreciative smile before heading to patch up the wounds themselves with some nice bandages, bandaging two large rayfins underwater was definitely tricky but the emperor did their best. The feline that seemed stuck to the emperor merely watched over them as they did their work letting out a soft rumble anytime someone tried to get too close. Deciding to give Tew space Ram and Mudfish would move away from the emperor and the two afflicted rayfins ushering the other gathered rayfins away as well.

Once Tew had finished their treatment they were on their way along with the rest of the crowd that had gathered. As the dragons all dispersed Ram and Mudfish would hang around watching the two formerly corrupted rayfins in their odd slumber. Their chests rose and fell shallowly just enough to show they were slumbering. Ram and Mudfish would take a moment to bring some plant life towards the two of them however, nestling glowing plants around the two they thought it’d be best if they were a bit hidden and comforted.

Smooth white sand was packed up against their sides and glowing plants bunched up around them with large fronds covering them from above. The soft glow of the bioluminescent plants reflected off the smooth scales of the two rayfins and their stillness attracted small fish to nestle into the foliage with them. Satisfied with their work Mudfish and Ram would nod and move away, they really needed to head home and get some rest now after everything.