It was getting harder to breathe with each passing moment, Dustin realised, and he had about five minutes at best before he lost his lungs at this rate. Furthermore, he only knew for sure that Sharks were Ocean Fish, in Salty Waters and didn’t know what a Freshwater Environment would do to him after he went all the way. And given that the pool was quite small, there was only one option open to him.
Holding the box under a changing arm, he raced outside to where his car was as an ache formed at the base of his spine. It took him a precious moment to open it given that his hands were still melding into fins as he tore the backrest off while dumping the box on the other seat before jumping in. It took a while for Dustin to work the keys to fire up the engine but once he had, he slid it straight into drive and tore off down the street.
It now came to Dustin’s attention that he had not been the only one to receive such a package, since he saw a bear emerge from Ms Park’s home tearing off the remnants of a Summer dress, and a bipedal crocodile-thing was leaving the home of Jeremy. He didn’t have the time to ponder this though as he was breathing far faster now to get enough oxygen into him from his diminishing lungs.
On top of that, his top had been ripped to shreds now, scraps of it either clinging on or sloughing off. Additionally the tail emerging from his spine had ruined his pants and with some wiggling he managed to slip it past his knees before kicking them off along with his sneakers.
All the while his arms were still shifting, now more fin than arm and hand as he kept on growing, his head brushing the roof slightly now. He could tell that his legs were still normal for now, but they were beginning to feel weaker, perhaps receding into him now.
After what felt like far too long, the beach came into view, and a dread came into Dustin’s mind. He hadn’t checked to see what the Tide was right now, not having the time to do so. And here, it moved a LOT. If it were out at this moment, he could well be finished.