Arialla
The encantados didn't have a place in mind to show Ray, as it turned out, but a game: the pod spread out into a more irregular group, some encantados clustering together and some leaving more space around them. Arialla, not really one of them, lingered on the outside of the group, keeping an eye on Ray.
Then the encantados began to pass Ray's bubble from one little group or single dolphin to the next, bouncing her through the air. They weren't perfect at it -- the bubble would lose some water here or there, dip almost to the surface of the water, even get hit by a wave. And they seemed to be spreading out more as they went, as if challenging each other to throw the bubble further and further.
Arialla doubted it was a smooth ride for the woman up in the bubble, but their game didn't seem dangerous -- if the encantados didn't catch her, Ray would just end up in the ocean, and she was already wet. Still, she said, If you're too uncomfortable up there, I can try to spoil their game.
Then the encantados began to pass Ray's bubble from one little group or single dolphin to the next, bouncing her through the air. They weren't perfect at it -- the bubble would lose some water here or there, dip almost to the surface of the water, even get hit by a wave. And they seemed to be spreading out more as they went, as if challenging each other to throw the bubble further and further.
Arialla doubted it was a smooth ride for the woman up in the bubble, but their game didn't seem dangerous -- if the encantados didn't catch her, Ray would just end up in the ocean, and she was already wet. Still, she said, If you're too uncomfortable up there, I can try to spoil their game.
"Bottlenose dolphin" by WIlly Volk is licensed with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
