Chapter 31: Bridging

                                    

                                          
(Image is of a Kline. Enjoy!)
For the next few weeks, the tensions among our people grew worse. We did not stop in trying to ease or decrease tensions and unrest but the people started to avoid us and become increasingly secretive with their fights. It was becoming an act of defiance against the decree of the royals and it made Hippolyta and Vulko pressured to do more actions that incite cooperation and civility among our peoples.
"There is enough food for everybody on the island, there is no need to panic!" Nubia announces amidst an angry and chaotic crowd. The crowd started to complain because hundreds of sea food produce went missing a few weeks ago, now there is a scarcity of fish food in the city. This became a problem because the Atlantean visitors needed marine food for the reason that surface food was not compatible with their stomachs.
"They threw away the marine food deliberately!" One of the Atlanteans shouted at Nubia.
"We did not!" shouted back an Amazon. "How dare you accuse us?!"
"Why are they denying us our basic rights to fish?! I thought we were visitors!" Another shouted at Nubia and streams of 'yeah' and agreements were chanted around her. Another replied, "It's not our problem your kind can't appreciate another's delicacies!" And another chant of agreements came afterward.
"It's not our problem that we can't physically digest your food! How-"
"Oh yeah? Well, it's not our problem you can't keep taking the aquatic food for yourself!"
Debates and arguments came one after the other and the crowd continued to banter and fight against each other. Nubia was doing her best to calm and address the rowdy group. "People, please, listen! We will address your problem with the fish but first you must cease fire or-"
Somebody shot at an arrow at Nubia but she was quick to deflect with her bracers. She searched the crowd for the shooter and found someone running away from her. "If you will not listen, then I shall make you!"
Nubia went out of the platform and chased the attacker and this initiated more chaos from the crowd. I was about to try to step up and subdue them, but Queen Hippolyta came to the pedestal and an Amazon with her banged a gong so loud that it halted the fight within the mob and they became quiet.
"Sisters and visitors from Atlantis, lend me your ears!" She spoke from the top of her voice. "I, Queen Hippolyta, hear your issue with the marine food and have brought you multitudes from the unsold fisheries of the market." Several Amazons came and brought out tens of baskets filled with marine delicacies and put them in front of the crowd.
"Rest assured," She continued. "We will not let our visitors starve." She looked at her fellow Amazons and glared at them with an eye so cold it almost gave me chills myself. "And also, rest assured, that we will solve this dilemma. All we ask in return is your kindness, cooperation and patience with our people as we deal with this matter." She bowed to the people and a fair amount returned her curtsy.
"I hope we can avert more crises such as this." She turned and left, but not before calling Nubia to come with her to the castle. I looked around and scouted, trying to find more fights but so far, they have receded when Queen Hippolyta addressed the crowd.
Chazen briefly returned to Atlantis to address his people, so I was left with Flounder and Grel, who I visit after my usual rounds of policing, and Helena who always accompanied me while I was out breaking fights and easing tensions among our people. 
"They did not throw the food," Helena chatted as we were doing our rounds through the city at sunset. "I saw our sisters huddle them together and keep them in the storage facility. The guards who were up all night had evidence and alibis that they never left their posts and did not do anything to the products. Their accusations are crazy!"