"Torch works," Tal agreed, surprising himself a little with how easy it was to go along with Soh's suggestion. A year ago he'd grumbled every time he'd set foot on the beach, beaten down by the heat of the coast and longing for the cool comfort of Halo...
But he definitely didn't want to take swimming lessons in Svaturis Bay!
He was more than happy to stay flopped on the grass, though he watched Soh with his prized Goggles a little anxiously. Still, he'd made the offer and he wasn't a man to go back on his word. He swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," he assured her. "I've got it..." He took the rope and wrapped it firmly around his arm a few times, making sure it was secure as she dived fearlessly back into the water.
The wait wasn't an easy one. He had no trouble coming up with dangerous scenarios that Soh could have run into beneath the waves and he eventually sat up to peer into the river, and then stood up to pace, gripping the rope tightly as he stayed withing a few feet of the bank. It felt like she was gone for hours (though it wasn't nearly so long) before she resurfaced and he hurried to help her back onto dry land. The relief was palpable and visible in his face as she chattered excitedly, and he grinned as he accepted his Goggles back - only barely managing to stop himself from snatching at them.
"Plenty o' things bigger than they are," he laughed. "But they're the biggest fish I've ever seen, yeah. An'... you're welcome. Thanks for takin' me t'see them first," he added, a little more shyly and awkwardly as he returned the Goggles to their accustomed place around his neck.
"C'mon, we should be gettin' back to the ship..."
~Fin~
But he definitely didn't want to take swimming lessons in Svaturis Bay!
He was more than happy to stay flopped on the grass, though he watched Soh with his prized Goggles a little anxiously. Still, he'd made the offer and he wasn't a man to go back on his word. He swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," he assured her. "I've got it..." He took the rope and wrapped it firmly around his arm a few times, making sure it was secure as she dived fearlessly back into the water.
The wait wasn't an easy one. He had no trouble coming up with dangerous scenarios that Soh could have run into beneath the waves and he eventually sat up to peer into the river, and then stood up to pace, gripping the rope tightly as he stayed withing a few feet of the bank. It felt like she was gone for hours (though it wasn't nearly so long) before she resurfaced and he hurried to help her back onto dry land. The relief was palpable and visible in his face as she chattered excitedly, and he grinned as he accepted his Goggles back - only barely managing to stop himself from snatching at them.
"Plenty o' things bigger than they are," he laughed. "But they're the biggest fish I've ever seen, yeah. An'... you're welcome. Thanks for takin' me t'see them first," he added, a little more shyly and awkwardly as he returned the Goggles to their accustomed place around his neck.
"C'mon, we should be gettin' back to the ship..."
~Fin~
