Waterfalls and Crystal Pools (Open)

[Caehli Galesong]

Timestamp// 87th Summer, 512 AV Caehli sighed in awe and relief "Oh Gods, this will feel amazing!". Before Caehli was a crystal deep pool,her she stood at the edge of it with Din. It tempted her to dive in and succumb to the cool refreshing water. It had taken her a little bit of the morning to find it.Or rather remember it, she and a couple Akalak lads found it long ago on a hot summer day like this eleven years ago. Water ran through allparts of Riverfall and alongside the city. This little dwelling was one of the many swimming holes hidden in lethargy and wildlife.A small xanadu for travelers and warriors to soothe away the unrelenting heat. It was certainly well deserved, She and Din had been riding long and hard through Cyphrus. It was about time to relax and have some fun! While others planned to perhaps gather supplies this morning for the their quest, or maybe see the beautiful sites of Riverfall, Caehli wanted to just have some good R & R. Din snorted appreciatively before trotting only about a foot into the water. He only really got his hooves wet so he could enjoy a drink of the fresh river water.He was mostly here to accompany his dear Caehli. Caehli would join her Strider soon but she had to admire the scenery first.It was a beautiful, the pool was not too wide and not too deep, the perfect size for swimming on a hot summer day like this. Although fresh water was running through the large puddle it wasn't too fast for someone to be swept away.There were plenty smooth rocks along edge of the little oasis for people to lie out on in the sun or jump off . To top it off, at the head of the body of water was a small waterfall to complete the harmonious atmosphere Caehli removed her tunic, socks and shoes and set them aside in safe keeping.She left her riding pants on because they would dry easily, her other apparel was another case however. Due to her naive and innocent nature she had a modest tight fitting under shirt, a young woman far too shy to bear her flat stomach and fair skin. She daintly stepped into the water, a squeal escaped her lips. Joyful and amused, the water was icy cool! It brought pleasant chills all over her skin as she descended into the pool.

[I'sona]

I'sona dropped the pebble carelessly, searching for her next stone. It seemed that even though the sea connected to this river and made all its little stops not every pool of water held any sea glass. It was disappointing. Humming to herself she continued patiently, picking up stone and tossing it back. Chimes past before she began to grow bored with her fruitless hunt. Riverfall was beautiful with its strange people and constant water but she didn't like the heat. Not one bit. It made her skin itch. Flipping around to lay on her back she flapped her arms like a bird, the motion in the water and the view of the sky making her feel like she was flying. It was a tiny distraction before she noticed feet above her. Pushing herself up off the sand, I'sona began her ascent towards the body that was no longer only feet but legs as well. But they were not blue legs so she reached out a hand to grip the ankle. They had fur! Peeking her head out of the water she found it was connected to a land horse. they were such funny creatures! Four legs! Why should a horse need such a thing? I'sona realized she was much to close to the shore to be flopping around and sat up quickly. Only just having noticed the human as well and forgetting to release her grip on the horse. "Hello, you is going swimming too?"

[Caehli Galesong]

"Hello, you is going swimming too?" Caehli had never seen anything like her. At least Caehli assumed she was a "she". The girl looked feminine by her body shape and the sound of her voice. How interesting...she was very pretty too, in a way that Caehli could not describe but the creature's...gills...or was it skin...was a pretty green and her face had sweet disposition to it. However Din brought her out of her trance when cried furiously and he pulled his hoof from her grasp when reared up on his hind legs. Okay that was bad, not good at all. Before Din could bring his heavy hooves down on the girl Caehli rushed out between the girl and Din. "Okay...okay! Calm yourself you silly beast" she tried to sooth Din's surprise. Her hands stretched out as if she could catch the heavy hooves. Din whinied in indignation as though he could argue with his rider. "Er yes I know...she grabbed your hoof..." Caehli said "But since she seems nice we'll give her a chance hm?". To a stranger this must have been a odd occurence, a girl talking to her horse but Caehli would digress that Din could understand her. Although she couldn't be too sure, after all Din couldn't talk back. He snorted as though he beg to differ and brought his hooves down roughly. Picking up splish splash, before snuffling their new friend. At the same time Caehli kneeled beside the girl in the water. "Erm...sorry about that. He's not always friendly with strangers...and you have to be careful when approaching horses they get spooked easily..." she said as afterthought although unsure because the girl had approached him from underwater really.Caehli's eyes mindlessly traveled the girl's body in curiosity really. Although it was impolite to stare Caehli couldn't help but, well...stare. "And to answer your question yes...we are swimming too.Although I didn't know anyone else knew about this part of the river...Oh I forgot to mention my name is Caehli! That rude beast over there is Din...What...I mean who are you?" Caehli babbled stupidly in fascination. However Din lost interest and stalked off to drink water from the farther edge of the pool.

[I'sona]

I’sona back-peddled quickly, allowing room for the young woman to get between her and the angry land horse. She only wanted to know what it was. No need for it to attack her. She made sure to keep herself behind the other young woman, who wasn’t much taller than her. It was a nice change compared to all the enormous blue riverians. Well, almost nice, the land horse wasn’t nice at all, it had tried to squish her! But at least the horse knew people talk because it stopped after a few short words. “Your land horse speaks people talk—oh! I meaning Common?” The staring was new. Most people here didn’t really stare at her so much but she didn’t really understand the curiosity. She was human shaped and everyone else here was colorful too although they did have hair. Such a useless thing, getting all tangled while you swam. “Land horses must be guppies.” she said softly with a light smile, “We like water so I always search. Water is my home. So I try find it everywhere!” Her words grew slower and slower as she tried to work through the fast thrown words. They were both speaking the same language but hearing it from someone else it always sound different. Just a little. She knew now she had said her first question wrong but couldn’t place it exactly. “Caehli is a nice name, my name is I’sona.” she had entirely missed the 'what' in the question. Now that she knew both the land horses name and this girls they were friends. And friends went swimming. “You was swimming too so we swim together, yes? We find lots of things way at bottom. Come.” Her excitement grew as she spoke about the swimming with the other girl. She began to bounce on the spot reaching for Caehli’s wrist and trying to pull her down under the water. "We will swim now. Is too hot in the sun and water will be warm!" The tiny pond was nice with is sand covering her toes but the drop was only a foot away. With her new partner in tow I’sona was ready to go back to her hunt, or play tag or something of the sort. But she waited patiently, continuing her little jig with growing excitement. It had been awhile since she had a playmate in the water.

[Caehli Galesong]

"Erm...well I can't say for sure...but we've been together for a long time.That must count for something". Caehli shrugged sheepishly when I'sona mentioned that Din could possibly be a guppie she laughed heartily. "I think the brute would beg to differ he finds himself a strong manly stallion" She mocked her Strider good naturedly. "It must be like a different world down there" she mused her eyes gazing at the water. What was it like fathoms below she wondered deeply? It was interesting to watch I'sona. Her broken Common language was endearing and it gave her great pleasure to listen to her speak. "Your name is pretty too! I'sona...it rolls off the tongue!"she chirped happily. When I'sona suggested that they swam together it brought a smile to her face. It was a long time since she played with someone like this. This childlike nostalgia was so comforting and uplifting."I'd love to go swimming with you! Yes let's find some treasure" she declared spiritedly. "Although I do not think that I am as a savvy swimmer as you!" she admitted shyly. Nonetheless she followed I'sona into the water.She was far too excited to back down anyways, she and I'sona would figure it out somehow.

[I'sona]

“It being very different. More secret,” I’sona waved her hands a bit, “But same too. There lots of different things like the different peoples. You will see. Land and sea not so very different.” Her smile was excited though a little awkward looking, her pointed teeth flashing as she laughed. This girl would be fun. They would swim and look for shiny things and pretty sea glass. The bottom was not very far down either, at least not to her, “Swimming is good swimming even if slow, better than no swim at all.” I’sona walked quickly, her feet kicking up the sand and water in her sudden hurry to be out of the parching sun and back into the cool liquid. The drop in the pool being sudden she allowed her to fall on the edge, her body sinking with a muted splash and holding out her hand for the other. “I can helping you swim?” she floated with ease, her feet kicking lazily, her body and mind ready to play. Maybe if the Caehli was a good swimmer they could play tag. The fishes never really like to play tag anymore. At least not the fishes here.

[Caehli Galesong]

"Different but the same...sounds fun" she crowed happily.I'sona's own grin made her smile, her own bubbly laugh made Caehli laugh as well. Her joy was infectious and warmed Caehli up deep in her soul. "Well then I guess we should get to it then!" Caehli said affirmatively before sliding into the cool water.It was ailment from the burning sun and soothed her .She grabbed her I'sona's hand and started kicking slowly. She treaded water easily and she smiled warmly at I'sona again. "Alright then where to?" she asked curious to what hidden secrets I'sona could find. What were the secrets lying in wake in the waters below.I'sona gave her a new companionship and the chance to figure what lurked underwater, what else could a girl ask for??

[I'sona]

I’sona curled her fingers tighter around the Caehli’s as she sank lower into the water, her words bubbling as she spoke. “When swim you kick legs and arms. I letting go now.” The Charoda waited a few moments to ensure that the other girl could continue to hold herself above water properly and there was no problems before she nodded and waved her arms below her. “We is going to see the shiny things under water and play with fishes. You play fish tag?” Once she realized the other could tread she let herself sink beneath the waves completely, pin-dropping her body down and using her hands to push herself down farther. Her hands reaching up to playfully tug at Caehli’s ankles, her laughter sending bubbles to the top. Already her eyes were searching the waters, looking for the tiny translucent fish that swam in this pond. They were not big enough for peoples to eat but the swarmed and tickled her playfully. No doubt they would play with her new friend too! I’sona wasn’t thinking too much when she reached her hand above the water again, her other arm waving to the fishes that swam up to greet them. Her dialect switching from broken Common to straight Char. “They will play tag with us!” she smiled widely at the fish, “ and they help find shiny things at bottom. Like sea glass!”

[Caehli Galesong]

Caehli did as instructed not minding that I'sona let go. She marveled as she disappeared under water like it was some sort of magic act. Deep down I'sona went into the blue pool. All of a sudden Caehli was pulled under, she could barely get out a yelp before underwater.It was afterall I'sona but is scared the shyke out of her nonetheless.In reply to I'sona's tease Caehli stuck her tongue out at her childishly. She wondered what shiny things I'sona spoke of. Was it really treasure perhaps? Caehli marveled at the thought of it, as she swam down towards I'sona.She was just about to catch up with I'sona when these small little fish, started brushing up against her. What were they ? Caehli wondered. She swam in for a closer look.

[I'sona]

The fish swam in closer, curling around them and coming from all ends of the pond. I’sona laughed happily and waved her hand through them, scattering them between the two, her hand reaching over to tug at Caehli again. She wanted to show her new friend the treasures that were everywhere. And they were truly everywhere. The translucent fish glinted with the sun, making rainbows on their scales the dim, fractured light bounced off stones at the not too distant bottom and reflected back at them. From far away they tricked I’sona, masking themselves as sea glass but she already knew that they were not. Trying to hold Caehli’s hand with one her other pulled through the water, her gaze drifting back so she could try and match her kicks with the kicks of the other and pull them down faster. The fish swam with them still, fleeing only when they reached closer to the ponds bottom. It was mostly sandy, smooth stones covering the bottom. Together the swam to the bottom at decent pace or so the Charoda thought, her mind already on trying to figure out what else was in the pond that they could play with. For a few moments she let the fish cluster around them, waving at them and watching them dart to and fro. Probably not enjoying the game as much as I'sona but not swimming away either. They seemed to enjoy swimming through Caehli's hair as well and rubbing against the Charoda's ears. Maybe they would find those shiny rocks that humans liked too! Without turning I’sona called over her shoulder, forgetting to switch to Common yet again, “Oh, look there! See that bigger fish. Its black like the stone it…” She trailed off as the fish that had been happily nipping at them scattered, fleeing to the most remote crevasses in the waters to hide from the fish. It ignored them, slapping around them to get at the smaller fish, tangling it between them. Trying to tug Caehli after her I’sona turned to follow the larger fishes path, it had hidden a small pocket where they could probably find something. “We can go into the little cave over there.”