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After just a few days of observation, you do manage to pick up some really useful patterns though. You don't really see any individual animals with the signs of the protein collapse; but you do see some shed shells. They look a bit melted. You take a few as examples and for further study. Even these spots of disease seem to concentrated and intense for most cases of protein collapse in nature; you think maybe they're concentrating the "bad" proteins in their body to shed them? An evolved defense against it?
Eventually, you do find a few living members of the crabs with the condition. Big purple splotches, slow movement, and large sizes indicate advanced age. But they aren't laying around dying, they all seem to be moving in one direction... towards <span class="mu-i">open water</span>. Yikes!
While it's not that you can't go to the open water, just the idea fills you with apprehension. To the Swall, <span class="mu-s">open ocean</span> is to be avoided. All Swall are naturally agoraphobic to an extend; preferring plant cover or artificial hideouts, to avoid predators. For a diurnal surface dwelling creature, you suppose the closest equivalent would be like going into a dark forest in the middle of the night. Not an instant death sentence or anything but just simply... not done flippantly. Swall did cross open ocean many times throughout their history; in big migrations or even in wars as a way to surprise their foes by going around their defenses set up along coastlines and shallows. Seldom few Swall cultures lived in open ocean for long; the caloric density of the open ocean is like a tundra or a desert, as opposed to the reefs and bays exploding with life. You <span class="mu-i">really</span> need to follow the sick crustaceans and see where they are headed, but you can't just go swimming out there unprepared. And you can't exactly ask a grown up for help, as they aren't likely to say yes. Even going out there by itself could get you in trouble; but it's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission, or so they say.
>Steal your dad's harpoon gun so you feel a little safer
>Bring some camping supplies with you
>Try to get at least one fellow Scout to come with you
>Other (Write-In)
