You fall onto the beach in total exhaustion; a swim that fast and far is not normal for Swall your age and very taxing. You break through the last wave hearing the laughter and conversation of people on the beach; and suddenly realize you can't breathe. The suffocation makes you panic until you realize you're still trying to use your gills on dry land; your neck hurts from them stretching and trying to push water thru them uselessly. You open your mouth and use your lungs instead; its hurt to inflate them so quickly when you haven't used them in over a day, but you can finally breathe again and fall onto the sand with an exhausted slump.

After a second, with the sun in your eyes, you reach down and pat your special kelp from the grotto, still on your belt. You dropped or threw off most of your other supplies to reduce drag and escape faster; but this one made it. If this thing actually can cure the protein collapse... those monkeys better freaking appreciate it!

You laugh in triumph after a moment more of rest. You actually did it! You faced a Zhark; no guns, no submersible craft, no travelling in a goup of 20 plus to watch all possible angles and scare it away with sonar pings; but with a spear! And all by yourself! It was stupid, yeah, but you still feel amazing. Who are you going to tell?

>Brag about it even if you get in trouble
>Tell your parents and accept their punishment
>Only your closest friends and become the coolest Scout
>Keep it your own secret