OOCApologies for the delay! Work is keeping me busy.
Estrellir sighed. At least they weren’t in danger if they stuck around the area. No Shinya were in sight, but just the knowledge of being within the city they were responsible for helped. Lhavit was lucky, citizens trusted the guard because it worked for all of them. No factions, no divide between castes.
The Konti watched, hands in pockets, as her companion prepared for the water. When Izuyanai waded in, she wondered why she was hesitating. Built on top of a giant swamp, Kenash had been wet through and through, a water city divided by canals, connected by bridges. She was used to being around water, both as a Konti and a Kenashian. Compared to the murky depths of the Gyvaka, lakes and mountain streams in the Unforgiving provided much clearer and fresher liquid. Perhaps she had gotten used to living on rocky dry ground… a little too much.
When the other woman looked back, however, she threw the towel. Rolling up her pants and sleeves, discarding cloak and boots, she took a step into the water and shivered. The vibrant green of her skin accentuated patches of scales as well as webbing between her fingers and toes. For spring, the sun shone bright and warm, yet the water was barely above freezing.
With a faint smile – the tug of running water on skin, how long had it been? – Estrellir waded in after Izuyanai. Her webbed feet had better grip and after a moment of adjustment, she plodded through the shallow water easily. It tickled against her scales, cold cold, but also refreshing.
Izuyanai stopped and picked something up. It shone from afar, coming closer, Estrellir got a glimpse of pink veins in the stone. “Pretty,” she commented and scanned the riverbed more intently, spurred on by the first find. Soon her toes slid down a steep slope, however, she had reached the deep end. The water was lapping at her pants, so she rolled them up higher, tighter. “This looks like a treasure trove. I wonder if it’s warm enough to swim?”
Then again, she was feeling dangerously bold today. With a grin she shrugged out of her blouse and tossed it at her companion, leaving an almost transparent undershirt. Another breath, then duck. The water was icy, but after a few strokes, her body relaxed, gills flapped. It felt thrilling to move her limbs, stretch muscles and push deeper. Her eyes scanned the ground, the shadows between pebbles and underwater weeds. Tiny silver fish darted out of her way. They glittered, and then there was something else.
Stretching out her hands, she noticed her green skin looked almost translucent underwater. Fingers parted the sea of green to reveal a slightly darker stone, round and polished, that reflected the murky sunlight in places. She wedged it between her belt and pants, then continued towards the opposite bank.
Estrellir sighed. At least they weren’t in danger if they stuck around the area. No Shinya were in sight, but just the knowledge of being within the city they were responsible for helped. Lhavit was lucky, citizens trusted the guard because it worked for all of them. No factions, no divide between castes.
The Konti watched, hands in pockets, as her companion prepared for the water. When Izuyanai waded in, she wondered why she was hesitating. Built on top of a giant swamp, Kenash had been wet through and through, a water city divided by canals, connected by bridges. She was used to being around water, both as a Konti and a Kenashian. Compared to the murky depths of the Gyvaka, lakes and mountain streams in the Unforgiving provided much clearer and fresher liquid. Perhaps she had gotten used to living on rocky dry ground… a little too much.
When the other woman looked back, however, she threw the towel. Rolling up her pants and sleeves, discarding cloak and boots, she took a step into the water and shivered. The vibrant green of her skin accentuated patches of scales as well as webbing between her fingers and toes. For spring, the sun shone bright and warm, yet the water was barely above freezing.
With a faint smile – the tug of running water on skin, how long had it been? – Estrellir waded in after Izuyanai. Her webbed feet had better grip and after a moment of adjustment, she plodded through the shallow water easily. It tickled against her scales, cold cold, but also refreshing.
Izuyanai stopped and picked something up. It shone from afar, coming closer, Estrellir got a glimpse of pink veins in the stone. “Pretty,” she commented and scanned the riverbed more intently, spurred on by the first find. Soon her toes slid down a steep slope, however, she had reached the deep end. The water was lapping at her pants, so she rolled them up higher, tighter. “This looks like a treasure trove. I wonder if it’s warm enough to swim?”
Then again, she was feeling dangerously bold today. With a grin she shrugged out of her blouse and tossed it at her companion, leaving an almost transparent undershirt. Another breath, then duck. The water was icy, but after a few strokes, her body relaxed, gills flapped. It felt thrilling to move her limbs, stretch muscles and push deeper. Her eyes scanned the ground, the shadows between pebbles and underwater weeds. Tiny silver fish darted out of her way. They glittered, and then there was something else.
Stretching out her hands, she noticed her green skin looked almost translucent underwater. Fingers parted the sea of green to reveal a slightly darker stone, round and polished, that reflected the murky sunlight in places. She wedged it between her belt and pants, then continued towards the opposite bank.