Terry waited at the edge of the cave for Toby to return. He was swimming funny, kind of lob-sided. As he got closer Terry could make out the dark trail or blood that drifted behind him.

"Toby! Oh God, not again. Toby what happened? Was it him?"

Toby said nothing just continued his awkward journey to the mouth of the cave, he was clearly exhausted. He swam well into the back of the sanctuary and then just stopped, slowly floating to the bottom. Half of his left flipper was missing, the blood clouded lazily around him. Terry swam to his side. "Oh, Toby, tell me, tell me! How many this time Toby? Oh God, how many?"

Toby said nothing, he just last in the darkness of the cave unmoving.

"It was him, wasn't it. Oh God, what can we do against him? Please Toby, you have to talk to me. I'm frightened, I can't do this alone. Toby, please."

"Gone," whispered Toby. "They're all gone."

A wail crawled from Terry's throat and filled the cave. And for a time, that was how it was. Toby unmoving, blood drifting aimlessly about him, and Terry wailing beside him. Then, there was silence.

"We have to wake him," said Toby, his voice faint. "We have no other choice."

"The old one? Does he still live?"

"We can only hope. My father told me of the last scourge, the old one woke then too. We... we have no choice but to try."

"Oh,Toby I'm scared," wept Terry.

"Me, too, Terry. Me too."

The old one swam slowly toward the sea tiger. The tiger had spotted him and began to circle with interest. The old one paid him no mind.

"Do you know what I am old one? Do you know where you swim?" Hissed the sea tiger.

"I know your kind," spoke the old one.

"Then you know your mistake?"

"The mistake is yours, sea tiger. Your race was ever arrogant, and that is your down fall."

"Enough!" The sea tiger lunged forth and closed his jaws around the old ones shell. What happened next took the sea tiger a moment to process. Instead of crunch, he heard crack. Instead of turtle blood filling his mouth it was... it his. His teeth shattered, his jaw broken. How could that be?

"Fool," said the old one. "I've spend over 300 years growing this shell, you think a pup like you could crack it? Now begone, lest I tell your brothers of your weakness."

The Sea Tiger left as fast as he could swim, and did not return to bother the tribe again. Satisfied, the old one made his way back, slowly, ever so slowly to his resting place. He would sleep now. But would he ever wake again? Only time would tell.