Similar Differences

Saif backtracked to the harbor’s little town. Weaving through the tight and busy streets, he hoped to find where Instinct's lead would take them. To his surprise, he bumped into the apple instead.

Literally.

It had been standing to one side of the harbor’s steps, looking terrified to take the last one down. As Saif was walking past, head down into his map like usual, a group of dockworkers pushed past him, shouting curses behind. They were carrying a large and heavy box up the stairs, six people working as one.

The apple had gotten spooked by the commotion and tried running back up to avoid them. It was too late. In their rush, the workers plowed into the apple, sending it over the railing and down into the docks-

And into Saif’s arms.

“Woah!” It exclaimed, gripping Saif tightly with both its arms and tendrils in panic. Saif set it down carefully on its feet, waiting for it to let go of him.

It did, the ruby apple face flushing even redder somehow.

“Thank you.” It stepped back. Saif nodded and walked away, focused on finding the lead again.

Saif’s silent pitter-patter steps were followed by a rustle of leaves. He turned around, knowing the apple was following. He watched as it tried to hide behind a lamp post. He sighed.

At least he knew who this stalker was this time.

Saif continued for a little longer, keeping his eye on the apple. It hid behind a crate, around the corner of a building, and behind a big guy who walked away, leaving the apple in the middle of the road staring with wide open eyes. It stood out too much, fresh green and vibrant red against the grittiness of the harbor. Saif had to intervene.

He walked up to the apple and grabbed it by the hand, dragging it with him as he continued the search.

“How could you find me? I’m impossible to spot!”

Saif gave him a long stare, blinking sarcastically. He pointed around then back to the apple.

“Oh… I don't blend in around here, do I?”

Saif shook his head.

“I was the best back on the farm… I will go back now.”

They kept walking, the apple following along by their own will now. It looked around in amazement, sparkles glimmering in their eyes. “How far away is the ocean?” It asked, “I can hear it, but I always wanted to see it up close.”

Saif pulled out his map, showing it off to the apple and pointing to the ocean not too far away, hoping it would understand.

“Ooh, what’s this?” It asked, “what’s it called?”

Yea, this isn’t going to work. Saif dragged the apple down to the sea where the humidity of the water was far more. The plant giggled, getting closer to the crowded waters to get a better look. “It's so dirty! Those big things floating like a leaf on a puddle, what are they called?”

Instinct tingled. Saif reached to grab the apple by one of its vines just as it was about to plant face first into the ocean.

Saif miscalculated his footing and nearly dropped them both into the chilly water if he hadn’t grabbed a nearby docking pole. These have been far more handy than Saif had any thought they would.

“You two alright?” It was the neon orange haired human again, still beside their long steel boat.

Saif nodded. Instinct flashed. Right. The lead. Who’s this kid?

“Yeah,I’m okay,” agreed the apple, more so to itself than to the human. “I got excited looking at the water.”

“You’re a Florian right? From up on the farms?”

“How did you know?” It asked, enamored.

“I’ve seen a few that look like you come through here. What brings you down to the harbor?”

“Huh? Um, well, I’m Yabko. I was mainly following this beetle here.” It pointed at Saif. “It dragged me to the ocean. I’m a good Florian, I’d never stray out of my designated area, hah, hah…” It swallowed.

“What about you?” The apple asked back.

“My name is Opportunity Aichtoo-Oh!” The human said with a mischievous grin, “you can call me Oppo! I’m setting off to sail the sea, take the Deadline Trench, find my parents and be the first human to ever make it back alive! I know it.”

Onlookers cheered him on, listening to his spiel fondly, like he’d done it a million times before. A dockworker came up and patted him on the back, another ruffled his neon hair.

“I’ve seen you before, from the farms.” Yabko said after the workers finally left. “You’ve been here for a really long time, haven’t you? Why haven't you set off, yet?”

Saif winced, Yabko was too blunt. Oppo stepped back, fiddling with their fingers. “Um. I just needed to make preparations. That’s all. I’ll still do it though.”

“Are you sure? The trench is not safe at all! And you seem so young and unskilled.”

“Oi, you just crossed the line, and not just your borders’. Where’s your root, huh, buddy?”

Yabko flushed in anger, clenching their vines. Oppo pulled out a hammer from their tool belt.

“I’ll eat you raw!”

“I’ll feed you to the soils!”

“You smell like old dirt!”

“And you smell like rotting fish!”

Insults were traded back and forth. Okay, enough squabbling. Saif stood between the two, pushing them apart. He pulled out the map and pointed to the trench, jamming in the human’s face.

Oppo caved, grabbing it. “A traveller’s map! It’s so cool! And for the whole capital as well. Woah, you’ve been around a lot. Where’d you get it from?”

“So it’s called a map,” Yabko mumbled under its breath. Looking at the map from over Oppo’s.

Oppo raised an eyebrow at Yabko, curious rather than judgemental. “You don’t know what a map is?”

“It’s none of your business… Florians have no use for them.”

Saif grabbed their attention, smacking the map loudly a few times. He pointed to the ocean, gesturing wildly.

“The Deadline is zone over here,” Oppo pointed, tapping the parchment a few times. “Not the deepest in the world, that one’s to the east, and deep enough to fit the tallest mountain in the world. Not the saltiest either. But Deadline is named for a reason. Many a sailor headed out to claim its waters, but none lived to tell the tale.”

Oppo handed him back the map as Saif nodded, hopping onto the long steel boat, sending gentle ripples into the water.

“Woah there, buddy. You have business in the Deadline too?”

Duh, Saif wished he could say. He patted the floor beside him, encouraging Oppo to get a move on.

“I can’t navigate there without the right map. I’ll need the latitude, longitude and depth.” Saif waved his open map, swiping to show the depth map that Mr. Ographer insisted on purchasing. Oppo smiled wide, eyes lighting up as he took it all in.

“YES! Oh my stars, I can do it! Finally! You’re a Great-sent, beetle.” Oppo hopped aboard without a care, rocking the boat back and forth. “Finally! I can put this boat to good use.”

“You’re leaving?” Asked Yabko, looking antsy as it paced from side to side. “Really? Just like that?”

Saif nodded.

“You don’t need permission do you?”

Saif felt for him, patting the other side of the floor in invitation.

“I-I’m not coming. There’s no way a Florian could make it all the way out to the trench-”

“-Okay, suit yourself.” Oppo interrupted, kicking their boat into gear, a whir of engines kicking on. “Let’s go!”

“WAIT!” Oppo glared at Yabko.

“Can I come too?”

“Why should I bring you along? You’re a meanie.”

“I am not!”

“Are too!”

“I am not!”

Saif patted Oppo’s arm, cutting that ordeal short. He rubbed his pincers together while pulling out his wallet, trying to explain.

“Oh yea! You’re a smart beetle.”

Oppo turned to the apple still on the docks. “Fine. I’ll take you with us if you pay. Three hundred for a round trip.”

Either Oppo had no sense of cash or he really underestimated Yabko’s understanding of the world. No wonder he didn’t have a map of his own.

“Deal.” Slowly and carefully, Yabko boarded.

The residents of Queen’s Bay harbor gathered around to watch Oppo finally set sail. They cheered, waving handkerchiefs and flags in his honor. It all seemed so fond and genuine.

“GOODBYE!” Oppo screamed, waving back to them. “Don’t miss me too much! I’ll be back soon!”

About a third of the way to the trench, they finally settled into light conversation.

“So, what makes the trench so dangerous?”

Oppo scoffed, not taking his eyes off the water ahead, “probably the monsters.”

“Monsters? I thought monsters were land creatures.”

“Actually, monsters can live anywhere on the planet! It's only in recent history that they started disappearing and reappearing in communities.”

“B-but won't that mean that everywhere is dangerous?”

“Nope!” Oppo smiled, popping his lips. “The term ‘monster’ is an umbrella term used for any sort of beastfolk, demon or evil being. It used to be only used for beings with no intellect like slimes that would attack at random. Certain biases grew, the word expanded to cover them all under one category.”

Yabko pondered, “huh. I never knew. You’re quite well educated.”

Oppo blushed, fiddling with the steering wheel in their hands. “That’s all thanks to my sister. She worked hard to raise my siblings and I after my parents disappeared. She’s sick now, has been for some time, but she refuses to take a break. I wanted to bring them back so she can rest easy.”

Yabko teared up, eyes moistened with syrupy nectar that dripped down their apple cheeks. “I'm sorry. Your sister sounds like a strong woman.”

“She is. I wouldn’t be the man I am without her.”

“... I lied. Earlier. I did leave my borders.”

“It’s kind of obvious. You don’t see many Florians on the harbor, or anywhere aside from green land.”

“... it's my own fault. I was an ordinary apple tree, rooted to my lines of kin beside me, but I grew too curious. I wanted to know more than a tree should bother learning. I stared out to the sea for too long. Yearned for more than I was. Next thing I knew, I was uprooted by a follower of Greater Earth, changed into this form and set to grow. I’m scared. I don’t know what to do.”

Silence fell onto the boat, almost comfortable, Saif thought. It looks like they had nothing to worry about.

A boisterous cry rippled out from the distance. The monsters have arrived.