Quanil looks up suddenly at the cry of a spotted herald - does the herald have spots? or stripes? or dots? Is there a difference between a dot and a spot? - and looks to the water.
They hesitate, remembering Maea's warning that the ocean, while breathtakingly beautiful, might literally take their breath and, well, that's the end of things. They're a strong enough swimmer in calm Oasis waters, but...
Honestly, if it were any herald other than Ludo, Quanil might've jumped in to try their hand at swimming anyway. But the reminder of who they're searching for also reminds them of the possibility of their own mortality.
They sit on the sandbar to remove their boots. Next, they untie the rope that acts as a belt for them, tie one end around one boot, the other around the other, and drape the rope around their neck, so that the boots hang just in front of their chest.
And, cautiously, they wade into the water. Quanil has no intention of going far out, but they're enjoying the sun and the sand and the sea, at least. They squidge their toes into the wet sand and grin a bit.
This is fun.
They hesitate, remembering Maea's warning that the ocean, while breathtakingly beautiful, might literally take their breath and, well, that's the end of things. They're a strong enough swimmer in calm Oasis waters, but...
Honestly, if it were any herald other than Ludo, Quanil might've jumped in to try their hand at swimming anyway. But the reminder of who they're searching for also reminds them of the possibility of their own mortality.
They sit on the sandbar to remove their boots. Next, they untie the rope that acts as a belt for them, tie one end around one boot, the other around the other, and drape the rope around their neck, so that the boots hang just in front of their chest.
And, cautiously, they wade into the water. Quanil has no intention of going far out, but they're enjoying the sun and the sand and the sea, at least. They squidge their toes into the wet sand and grin a bit.
This is fun.
