Thalassa
I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell.
I wanted to shout about it.
I wanted to shout about it.
Thal didn't remember ever visiting the Underwater City, but as she followed Hadama down into the sunken metropolis, things felt... familiar. It was like an itch on her brain, nagging as she tried to take in the marvelous sights of merfolk filtering through the coral archways and around floating kelp curtains. Despite the depth of the water and general blue hue of her vision, she could still see the vibrant colors of the world below. The corals were bright shades of pinks, oranges, purples, and every other color. Sealife were scattered amongst the stoney plants, starfish, crabs, scaled fish, and small leathery skinned mammals. It had her mouth coming open in awe before she almost panicked instinctually at the movement. However, the magic of the Cloud Manta crystal on her neck had yet to fail, magically keeping her lungs clear of water.
She looked to the Mer King, grateful that he'd been willing to let her tag along on his journey home. Returning to the ship after such an emotionally draining day hadn't appealed to her. Her heart still felt too raw to put on any kind of brave face, and she wouldn't have her crew seeing her in such a state. They were loyal in part due to her intimidation. The tear-puffy face of their downtrodden captain wouldn't exactly inspire confidence in her leadership. Maybe some would argue that clinging to Hadama was just a way for her to hide, but how was she supposed to explain that being near him just felt right? How was she supposed to describe the lift of her heart as the idea had surface? The singing that had harmonized with her soul as she dove deeper into the ocean's grasp? The loosening of the hook that had tugged at her heart for the last two years?
The truth was, she couldn't justify the reasoning. She'd finally decided to take hold of a new purpose, and like a prophetic dream, the call in her mind seemed to finally make sense. It wasn't just a preference for the water, or a curse of longing. It was an internal compass, trying to lead her somewhere. And as she drifted down to the center of the Underwater City, it just seemed to click. None of her questions had been answered, but a piece of the puzzle had fit snuggly into place.
These were her thoughts as she silently trailed the Mer King, soaking in the sights and revelations like a dying woman.
She looked to the Mer King, grateful that he'd been willing to let her tag along on his journey home. Returning to the ship after such an emotionally draining day hadn't appealed to her. Her heart still felt too raw to put on any kind of brave face, and she wouldn't have her crew seeing her in such a state. They were loyal in part due to her intimidation. The tear-puffy face of their downtrodden captain wouldn't exactly inspire confidence in her leadership. Maybe some would argue that clinging to Hadama was just a way for her to hide, but how was she supposed to explain that being near him just felt right? How was she supposed to describe the lift of her heart as the idea had surface? The singing that had harmonized with her soul as she dove deeper into the ocean's grasp? The loosening of the hook that had tugged at her heart for the last two years?
The truth was, she couldn't justify the reasoning. She'd finally decided to take hold of a new purpose, and like a prophetic dream, the call in her mind seemed to finally make sense. It wasn't just a preference for the water, or a curse of longing. It was an internal compass, trying to lead her somewhere. And as she drifted down to the center of the Underwater City, it just seemed to click. None of her questions had been answered, but a piece of the puzzle had fit snuggly into place.
These were her thoughts as she silently trailed the Mer King, soaking in the sights and revelations like a dying woman.
But all I could do was whipser,
"I'm fine."
"I'm fine."
