Even in Torchline it was a bit brisk for a swim these days, but Kel hadn’t quite finished constructing the tank for the tree house’s shower yet and it was easier to take a dip in the ocean than any other option. The waves off the nearest beach could be intimidating at times, though, which was why Kellan had come to the Miana Pool today with a rough cloth towel and a clean set of clothes, along with a bar of cheap lye soap.
No one else seemed to be around, so he stripped and hopped into the water, scrubbing vigorously to remove the sweat and grime from the past few days of working on his new house. The sun shone wanly down on his dark skin, turning the shortened fall of his hair to a spill of black ink down his shoulders as he rinsed the lather away. Finally, he put the soap safely up on a rock and dunked himself, kicking strongly through the water as he sluiced himself clean in the brisk, protected tide pool. When he rose to the surface again an unfamiliar laugh spilled quietly from his lips and he pushed his hair back—
Only to freeze, eyes widening as he saw a pair of cloud mantas flying lazily nearby, a mother crooning softly to a smaller pup as they foraged across the tidal stones. He’d heard of them, but this was his first time seeing them and he was caught breathless by their graceful beauty.
No one else seemed to be around, so he stripped and hopped into the water, scrubbing vigorously to remove the sweat and grime from the past few days of working on his new house. The sun shone wanly down on his dark skin, turning the shortened fall of his hair to a spill of black ink down his shoulders as he rinsed the lather away. Finally, he put the soap safely up on a rock and dunked himself, kicking strongly through the water as he sluiced himself clean in the brisk, protected tide pool. When he rose to the surface again an unfamiliar laugh spilled quietly from his lips and he pushed his hair back—
Only to freeze, eyes widening as he saw a pair of cloud mantas flying lazily nearby, a mother crooning softly to a smaller pup as they foraged across the tidal stones. He’d heard of them, but this was his first time seeing them and he was caught breathless by their graceful beauty.
