Waterfalls and Crystal Pools (Open)

[Caehli Galesong]

Everything was happening so fast, the fish swam around Caehli confusing her. Then due to Caehli's lack thereof attention span I'sona brought her down. It wasn't the tug as much as the the surprise that scared her. However as they drew further into the water, Caehli couldn't help but be in complete awe. She had to remember to keep her mouth shut in case of drowning. The reflective light, the colors, shades and tones. All of the underwater world was enough of a treasure for her. However Caehli found herself running out of air. Panic set in and she tried to get I'sona's attention, however is seemed she was too clamored with excitement to notice. She tried tugging but I'sona was swimming to deep for her to pull up and away. Then all of a sudden I'sona started speaking some strange garble, was it the lack of oxygen in her brain or the water clogging her ears.That certainly didn't sound Common to Caehli! Then the little fish that were only swimming alongside her before started to bite at her. Her eyes widened and with startled gasp bubbles escaped her mouth.Maybe she was overreacting but Caehli felt that this was all too much for her to handle. I'sona's tugging alarmed her and she kicked insistently and impatiently for air.Pointing at the surface, her head already getting heavy from no oxygen.

[I'sona]

At first I’sona had not understood Caehli’s sudden urge to resurface or the way she looked frightened suddenly, her grip instinctively tightening but the other woman struggling. For a chime the Charoda only frowned, not understanding she helped tug the other to the surface. Her face turned light green as she finally understood at the woman's breathing. Her breathing of air. She paddled over to the other nervously, fluttering anxiously as she spoke, her words more broken than usual. “I is not meaning to drowning you! Really I is not! Are you being okay?” she had seen many dead things in the water, they were never pretty and haunted her eyes. Her hands fluttered helplessly in her own version of panic and she wondered if she should get a healer of some kind. “Do you is needing a healer persons?” How could she have forgotten that the young woman needed to breathe?! But she was around so many things that didn’t breath air, rarely did the water hold something that couldn’t survive in it. Then she remembered the bloated faces she had seen after the storm. Feeling a little ill herself she reached out a tentative hand to touch the others face, “Would you liking some fish guts? My mom was giving them to me to makes the headaches go away. The smell is what is being helpful not to eats it.” Swallowing thickly she trailed off, she had nearly drown someone. Drown someone. As in nearly killed them. That was…what was that? Her thoughts momentarily interrupted I’sona felt a nip at her foot, the fish had followed them up this time but they were biting. Giving them a little shake with her foot she gestured to the shore. “We go ashore then, yes?”

[Caehli Galesong]

Oh my Gods, air never tasted sweeter. Caehli wasn't too sure if she was going to make it, now glad that she did. She was also grateful for I'sona's help because she wouldn't be gasping for air without her. Her head was pounding hard, and coughing up water was not pleasant.Caehli had nearly drowned before when she was young so this was all old news to her. However she could not forget what she saw down there. It was all so surreal and beautiful, she could not wait to go down there again. Then I'sona paddled over to her all huffed and aflutter. Caehli had to piece together her broken Common and it nearly broke her heart at sound of I'sona's apology. "Don't worry, I know you weren't! " She assured laughing at the same coughing. "I'm more or less okay! Maybe just a little worn out but nothing I can't recover after a little rest!" Poor I'sona, she must've felt terrible, it wasn't her fault Caehli forgot to breathe after all. So Caehli swam near shore, just so she wade comfortably and focus on breathing. When she got herself situated, she heard I'sona say something about fish guts. Hysterical laughter followed, and more coughing. Caehli struggled to control herself. "N-No thank you...although it's appreciated. I really think I'll be fine after a breath of fresh air!" she reassured. Well at least she thought so. For the most part she felt fine, she wasn't sure if she needed a doctor or not. Well she wasn't too concerned about that now! She wanted to get down there again! There was a whole different world down there, just waiting for her to discover. I'sona's guilt was apparent, although it wasn't her fault at all. Caehli felt bad that I'sona was putting all this pressure on herself, it wasn't needed. This was just warning that they both had to be careful when down in the water. For Caehli's sake rather I'sona's.In fact Caehli felt bad that their adventure was cut short due to her irresponsibility and lack of gills. As though predicted I'sona then suggested retiring for the day and almost immeadiately Caehli started shaking her head . "No not yet! We just got started!!" she pleaded. "I'sona please don't feel bad,this certainly isn't your fault! In fact you should be mad that I'm such a useless adventurer!"She nodded trying to coerce her new friend into feeling better.She had hoped that they would have all that fun like she talked about.

[I'sona]

No matter her denials and assurances I’sona could not stop the guilt from gnawing away at her insides and a dark part of her mind saying she was aware of what she was doing. That thought alone made her feel ill. But Caehli seemed mostly fine now and the Charoda did not see her face unchanging in her mind’s eye anymore, at least not for the moment. And at the young woman’s final words her guilt lessened slightly but not much, just enough for whatever seemed to clench around her heart to loosen. Giving a shaky smile and a laugh, “You are a goodly adventurer but perhaps we is being more…watchful?” She really mean that she herself needed to be more watchful. If Caehli should push herself too hard or if I’sona held her down again… Her throat couldn’t seem to swallow but she wondered why the other woman wasn’t as worried, still if she wasn’t I’sona would not ruin their fun. They could still have fun. She would just have to watch so she could tell when the other had no more air. But how many chimes would that be? Could she even stay for a chime under water? “Maybe we is counting chimes first? To seeing how long it is taking till you need air?” she smiled, a real smile now, “Then we will be findings a pretty treasure for you to keep!” Again I’sona was distracted by a fish nibbling once more and shook it off gently, noting that the small fish were hovering just under the surface near them. They seem more agitated than before but she didn’t pay it much heed because she remembered the bigger fish hunting them earlier. Shooing it away more firmly with her hand she held out her other slowly, nervously to Caehli. “We be timing you now?”

[Caehli Galesong]

I’sona seemed stubborn with guilt at first. But finally after some assurance she cracked a toothy grin and a soft laugh. Good ! Caehli was glad she didn’t spoil all the fun for today. She mirrored her Charoda friend’s smile, only it was more wide and enthusiastic. Caehli clapped her hands affirmatively “Yes, we’ll be more careful for now!” Caehli waded back into the water, her near drowning experience long forgotten. After all she didn’t actually drown so there was nothing to worry about really! Although she was very envious of I’sona’s ability to breath underwater. She wish she could explore the endless water. It seemed like there was no horizon, nor wall that could keep her from swimming as far as she wished. At suggestion of timing how long she could hold her breath underwater Caehli gasped. “I never would of thought of that” Caehli said rather ditsy like. She tapped her fist to her palm and smiled at I’sona. “Good thinking “ she praised before gasping again. For air that is, before submerging under water. Keen to spend more time with I’sona and find “pretty treasures” of her own.

[I'sona]

I’sona watched nervously for a moment as Caehli ducked her head under her mind thinking of the moment when she had looked like she would never breathe again. But they were short lived fears and the young woman seemed fine and the Charoda took a moment to reviews the clicks that had gone by. Nodding slowly she kicked away another nibbling fish and moved towards the deeper end of the water, “You is being maybe thirty ticks or little bits more but not lots!” The water began to cool, losing only some of its warmth near her toes and she wasted no more time, reminding herself doubly that Caehli did not have gills and therefore had to come up. “We is going down as far as can go. If you is seeing something you likes I can stay and get!” This way she could make sure they didn’t repeat the earlier incident. The words and Caehli’s urge to try again steadily loosening the last strands of guilt. No one was hurt and that was what was important. Forcibly putting the whole thing behind her I’sona allowed herself to sink steadily, watching with glee as the bubbles broke the surface. Turning herself she faced the floor of the pond, swimming with a slow single-minded determination. She still wanted to find her pretty glass! But it was not so easy, the tiny fish that had seemed to fun now seemed intent on nipping at her furiously. With a frown I’sona tried to make her way back towards Caehli, speaking in Char purely out of habit. “I is thinking there is something not goodly about the fishes.”

[Caehli Galesong]

To the best of her ability Caehli kept herself underwater. Constantly pushing her arms down towards her torso, to keep her body submerged. Buoyancy seemed to be a problem too, but it wasn’t like Caehli could tie a weight to ankles, that would be foolish! “You is being maybe thirty ticks or little bits more but not lots!” Only thirty ticks? Time seemed endless on Caehli, but she tried her best to keep herself underwater as long as she could. Rather reflecting on drowning she focused on the coolness of the water. It’s gentle embrace was softer than any pair of arms, smoother than any blanket. Finally Caehli felt she was at her limit. She spread her legs in large smooth strides toward the surface. When she hit the surface and regained her breath she smiled at I’sona. “How’d I do?” she asked energetically. “We is going down as far as can go. If you is seeing something you likes I can stay and get!” Caehli nodded enthusiastically “Alright! If it’s not too much trouble I’ll let you know!” Almost dying of the anxiety to explore. “Shall we go now?” she almost said forcibly. Caehli’s eagerness was almost more suffocating than the water itself. However her thoughts of adventure were interrupted on something I’sona said. It didn’t sound like Common, and confused her, maybe she didn’t hear right. “Sorry what did you say I’sona” her head cocked in curious birdlike fashion.

[I'sona]

Shaking her head as the tiny fish scattered again she shrugged and waved Caehli to follow her before sinking under the water again. It wasn’t hard and she pushed her legs leisurely in no hurry and feeling any worry for fish dissipate as she swam to the bottom. Turning towards where her partner was she did a little twirl in the water and grinned widely and pointed downwards then up. She was trying to tell Caehli to stay there and she would go farther. But she didn’t go much farther, just enough to reach the bottom and plucked up one of the sandy colored stones. Gripping it tightly she swam towards Caehli once more and held out her hand, bubbles exploding from her mouth in surprise when she felt another bite. I’sona was not sure what to say because this time the bite hurt. Rather than move she kept holding out the stone and turned towards the fishes. Reaching out her other hand she attempted to wave them away or cup one in her hands. But the pain in her finger surprised and she jerked back and watched as the tiny fish swarmed around the expanding pink in the water. Shoving herself back up she turned worriedly and felt a twinge of panic creeping up. “I is thinking we need to be out of the waters now.” As she turned to glance at the little swarm gather closer she also noted the piece of fish flesh floating within their group. They had eaten the bigger fish. The panicky feeling crept up as she felt another insistent nip at her feet and legs. “I thinks these fishes are not playing anymore.” Her eyes judged the distance between the shore, it wasn’t far, a few feet at most. But she wasn’t sure what damage something like these things could do to her let alone to her human friend. She seen the translucent fish creep towards the other young woman and pointed upwards urgently, only now realizing the other woman had no idea what she was saying.