"Oh yeah..." Tal swallowed hard at realizing that they might have gotten lost underwater but thankfully Sohalia was planning ahead for both of them. Her shoulder landed on his shoulder and startled a wan smile from him, drawing him out of his fear and he reached up to squeeze her hand gratefully. Words would only screw things up, he was sure, so he didn't try to say more, just nodded in weak agreement that this adventure would be 'fun.' Still, it was what he'd chosen and he squared his shoulders and put on a brave face as he followed Soh into the water.
The current of the deeper river gave him a bad few minutes after the smooth flow of their little training bow. Panic threatened the courier's recent lessons but the rope that connected him to Soh was a tether to his own courage and he steadied at the sight of her ahead of him. He took a gulp of air and dove after her, his inefficient kicking nevertheless propelling him after her, down into the swirling water and away from the light...
His Goggles protected his eyes and his sight and he saw her gesture clearly. His lungs burned with the unaccustomed effort and he flailed his way hurriedly towards one of the bubbles, pushing his face into it without hesitation and taking a grateful gasp of air even before the whole bubble was over his head. He took a long moment to just breathe and float until the rope drew taut and he frantically doggy paddled his way to catch up with Soh.
Tal glared at the fish, suspecting that they were judging him for his poor form, and kept looking over his shoulder at them until they were out of sight. The ringing in his ears was starting to get annoying but he'd dealt with worse at high altitudes and he gamely followed his friend until she found a cavern filled with shadows. He paused, but his confidence was returning as the algae bubble held firm and the air remained sweet and easy to breathe and he flashed her a reassuring grin as he took the lead, pulling himself along the walls of the cave more easily than he swam through the water.
The light faded quickly from the entrance but he could see far enough ahead to spy gleaming scales along the bottom of the dark cavern and he flailed back until he could grab Soh's hand, squeezing it excitedly as he tugged her further in - forgetting that she couldn't see. The goldfish gathered here were large - nearly as big as his thigh - and appeared to be hibernating away the last of the Deepfrost chill. The sleeping school stretched as far as his magical vision could see, their scales like scattered treasure on the ground.
Tal swam (badly) above them for a few minutes, taking in the sight before he turned to Soh--
And then realized she couldn't see. Definitely-sheepishly he led the way back towards the cavern entrance and the light until she could see enough to lead the way back again.
The current of the deeper river gave him a bad few minutes after the smooth flow of their little training bow. Panic threatened the courier's recent lessons but the rope that connected him to Soh was a tether to his own courage and he steadied at the sight of her ahead of him. He took a gulp of air and dove after her, his inefficient kicking nevertheless propelling him after her, down into the swirling water and away from the light...
His Goggles protected his eyes and his sight and he saw her gesture clearly. His lungs burned with the unaccustomed effort and he flailed his way hurriedly towards one of the bubbles, pushing his face into it without hesitation and taking a grateful gasp of air even before the whole bubble was over his head. He took a long moment to just breathe and float until the rope drew taut and he frantically doggy paddled his way to catch up with Soh.
Tal glared at the fish, suspecting that they were judging him for his poor form, and kept looking over his shoulder at them until they were out of sight. The ringing in his ears was starting to get annoying but he'd dealt with worse at high altitudes and he gamely followed his friend until she found a cavern filled with shadows. He paused, but his confidence was returning as the algae bubble held firm and the air remained sweet and easy to breathe and he flashed her a reassuring grin as he took the lead, pulling himself along the walls of the cave more easily than he swam through the water.
The light faded quickly from the entrance but he could see far enough ahead to spy gleaming scales along the bottom of the dark cavern and he flailed back until he could grab Soh's hand, squeezing it excitedly as he tugged her further in - forgetting that she couldn't see. The goldfish gathered here were large - nearly as big as his thigh - and appeared to be hibernating away the last of the Deepfrost chill. The sleeping school stretched as far as his magical vision could see, their scales like scattered treasure on the ground.
Tal swam (badly) above them for a few minutes, taking in the sight before he turned to Soh--
And then realized she couldn't see. Definitely-sheepishly he led the way back towards the cavern entrance and the light until she could see enough to lead the way back again.
