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[Lyn'nice]

34th of Summer 514 It was getting hot. Really hot! Or at least for Lyn'nice. Decided only the sea would do the trick. Sure, lounging in the baths were great. With her destination set Lyn'nice was ready to do one of the things she did best wandering aimlessly. So began here walk barefoot and and wearing her trademark white dress. It was a pleasant stroll, or it would of been had Lyn'nice not been half way through her pregnancy and needed to stop for a breather more than she walked it felt. Thoroughly exhausted she reached the sand, the exhaustion faded as her feet touched water. She turned her attention to the water a wonderful briny escape. Not only from the heat but from the world and it's noises. She had worn a bathing suit under her dress thankfully and soon found her dress discarded as she went to see what the sea hid from Riverfall. She hoped to find something of interest for Lillian.

[Calters]

There really is nothing more relaxing than a good swim, Calters thought contentedly. He had already spent a good four bells underwater and planned to spend as many more as he could. Today was for him.

Cal splashed his tail happily and watched the bubbles float to the top of the water, grinning at the sight like a child. He couldn't be sure why he was so happy today, but he suspected the early morning ale hadn't hurt anything. Regardless of the reason, he was relaxed here in the water, and that was all that mattered.

Besides being in his favorite natural habitat, Cal also felt glad that he was able to get in the water during a quiet time. He knew there would be others coming in soon enough to try and escape the growing heat, but for now he was alone.

At least, he thought he was. When a pair of pale feet broke the surface of the water, Calters' blissful bubble burst with it. Grumpily, he wagged his tail and propelled himself towards the feet. Coming into his spot? Taking over his good day? This intruder was going to get a piece of his mind!

But when Cal reached the feet, he stopped short in his tracks. Standing before him was a female Konti. And not only that, but a visibly pregnant one. Cal drooped, knowing he couldn't argue with her with a clean conscience.

Calters ducked his head and coughed nervously.
Maybe I can sneak away if she didn't see me...
Trying his very best to sneak, the Akvatari paddled in the opposite direction of the Konti, praying that she wouldn't call out or give chase.

[Lyn'nice]

The water. How she had missed it! She glided under the water despite her large stomach. Swimming didn't tire her body like her aimless strolls did. It gave her a feeling of weightlessness, if only she could spend the rest of her pregnancy down here in the deep. It was a shame she'd have a son and never be able to share this ecstasy that was being part aquatic. Lyn'nice sunk down to the bottom and sat down on a large rock. This looked like a good place to hunt for things dropped down in the deep to be forgotten. She was about to search the sand next to her when a reddish creature swam overhead. He was of a race she had never seen, with a tail much like a seal along with delicate looking wings. Did this mean he could fly too? She had come across many different races her in Riverfall. But whatever this man was had to be one of the most fantastic. He was heading to breach the water and Lyn'nice followed him up. It seemed he had noticed her and was doing his best to avoid her and swim away, that was fine. But.."Excuse me. But before you swim away trying to avoid me, I must ask because I've never seen a person like you. What is you race called and.. can you also fly? That's all I want to know and I'll let you slip away if that's what you want." Lyn'nice smiled. "My name is Lyn'nice by the way."

[Calters]

At the sound of the Konti's soft voice, Calters stopped dead.

"Excuse me. But before you swim away trying to avoid me, I must ask because I've never seen a person like you. What is your race called and.. can you also fly? That's all I want to know and I'll let you slip away if that's what you want."

Not only had she seen him, but she had caught him trying to avoid her. Cal mentally groaned and turned to face her, preparing himself for the worst.

"My name is Lyn'nice by the way." Cal forced a smile and nodded.
As much as he hated being the freak-show around Riverfall, he really couldn't blame anyone. He was, as he had heard so many times, quite a rarity. He started his usual speech in a dull, monotone voice.

"It's nice to meet you, Lyn'nice. Don't worry, I hear questions all the time. I'm an Akvatari, Child of the Sky and Sea." Calters flexed his wings and tail as if to punctuate the fact that he existed. "And yes, I can also fly. Although walking, or any land activity really, is quite the chore. There's no gadgets or anything to help because the Akvatari aren't exactly the most common customer for gadgeteers. It gets pretty inconvenient...being so lonely."

Calters shook his head to rid himself of the negative thoughts and forced another toothy grin. "And I'm Calters. Or Cal, if you prefer."

[Lyn'nice]

"It's nice to meet a brother of the sea. Nice to meet you Calters. I have seen many different races here in Riverfall, but you have got to be the coolest of them all!" Lyn'nice smiled cheerfully. An Akvatari, they were so exotic, so beautiful. "This may sound weird seeing your a guy, but I think your race's traits are beautiful. I take it wings come in various colors? Believe it or not, Konti scales do." "Well, that's all I wanted to know. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me, Calters. I'll swim over there and let you have this area so you can swim alone without bumping into me. See you around, Cal!" Lyn'nice turned ready to swim away like she promised. It was strange to see a male swimming, growing up in Mura with her sisters the water had been filled with scaled women with no men in sight. Maybe one day she could visit where these beautiful people lived. One could only imagine what their houses looked liked.

[Calters]

Calters was hardly listening to Lyn'nice's quick, bubbly speech. Just hearing the Konti had him exhausted, but she seemed far from short on energy. Just as abruptly as she had begun, she she smiled and stopped, seeming to bring the conversation to a close.

"Well, that's all I wanted to know. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me, Calters. I'll swim over there and let you have this area so you can swim alone without bumping into me. See you around, Cal!"

Cal blinked in confusion as he watched her turn away. He wasn't against her leaving, it had just surprised him. She seemed content simply to meet him and learn. Calters tilted his head and nibbled his lip as he thought.
So positive. Naive! That's what she is. She doesn't know what the world is really like. Calters tried to find something he could dislike about her, but found very little. Bitterly, he mumbled into the water.

"I am not your brother. Just because we both swim..." He snorted derisively. And yet, he continued to watch the woman swim until he could no longer hold his breath. He had to admit, she did seem just as at home as him. Surely they couldn't be so similar as she assumed, but possibly not as different as he thought. Somewhere in the middle, there was common ground for a Konti and an Akvatari. Could he be less lonely than he imagined?

But before he knew it, the melancholy feelings returned, and he surfaced for air with nearly the same viewpoints as he had come with. Although he didn't notice, his beliefs were just a tad weaker than before he had met the Konti, and it is the small changes that eventually make a difference.

He waited on the beach for awhile, singing a soft song to himself. He would never acknowledge it- not even to himself- but he was waiting to see the Konti woman again. Even his voice sounded lonely as it echoed his sad song out over the water. He hadn't thought about the song he was singing and wasn't really listening to himself, but he could have sworn he heard a strange, off-key phrase bounce back at him. "A tail, some wings, some scales, they're just things. And aren't we all dust when we're dead?"

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn'nice swam to the area she had told Cal she would. He seemed to only be tolerating her when she had spoke to him. A feeling simply being tolerated that she tied to Mura. She let these ill feelings go through her gills with everything else. They only cluttered the mind. She dove deeper into the endless blue. Looking for lost relics, strange shells, and anything Caelum might be able to make use of. She began to dust the sea floor which agitated a crab. Lyn'nice smiled a snack! Where there was one there was more. She sifted though the sand faster driving out a few more. She surfaced spotting Calters on the beach, "Hey Cal, up for some lunch? I found some crabs and who knows what else I could find! Do you see anything I could put them in? If not I can run a grab us a pot. You know, I think I will. Can you get a fire started? Lyn'nice put on her dress, and smiled at him, "Be right back!" Ledger2gallon cooking pot=5sm

[Calters]

The Akvatari found himself not at all surprised when the Konti found him up on the beach. She held up what looked like an irritated sea creature and grinned enthusiastically.

"Hey Cal, up for some lunch? I found some crabs and who knows what else I could find! Do you see anything I could put them in? If not I can run a grab us a pot. You know, I think I will. Can you get a fire started?"

Without ever waiting for an answer, the woman was off. "Be right back!" She bubbled.

Cal stood slowly, looking around as he did so. It didn't look like there was anything around to start a fire with. It was the beach for crying out loud! He had left even his backpack at home in the thinking that he wouldn't be going anywhere else today.

After a short search, he was able to drag a few old logs and some driftwood over, but the majority of it was wet. He spent some time trying to rub two of the smaller logs together as he had seen others do, but all he succeeded in doing was flaking off the bark and getting a piece in his eye. He tossed the wood back on the pile and rubbed his eye furiously. There has to be a better way to do this! He blinked rapidly until his eye was clear. It felt better, but he was still in need of a fire.

Calters' gaze wandered in the direction that Lyn'nice had disappeared. What chance do I have that she knows how to start a fire? We're both part aquatic, we don't need fire in the water! Or will she bring a flint and steel?

Cal flapped his wings in agitation. Determined to find a way, he sat down in the sand and picked up two small rocks. What's the difference between this and flint? He reasoned. It's all just rocks...right? Gripping the stones tightly, Calters skimmed one against the other as he would do with flint and steel.

There was warmth! But then nothing.

Discouraged, he flopped onto his back. All he could do was pray that Lyn'nice returned with a flint and steel.

[Lyn'nice]

Lyn returned with a large pot in hand, there was no better way to make friends than over food. She picked up the two stingy crabs and tossed them in the pot, "Awesome! You found some wood!" She began to arrange it and with a flint and steel she lit it. "There, sorry but I find the best way to get to know someone is over food and what's better than a beach side crab boil!" She took the pot filling it with water and bringing it back to Cal, "I'll go catch some more crabs. Pulling off her dress again she was off. Excitement filled her eyes she was on the hunt, "Hey Cal, wanna come catch some? You don't have too. But I thought you might want to." Once again deep under the waves, she returned to where she had found the crabs, kicking and sifting sand she found some more unwilling victims for their picnic lunch. That made four. Running ashore she tossed the crabs in with the other two and stoked the fire and headed back to the waves. She wanted at least two more. After a bit of searching her quarry was met. The crabs made a 'plip' noise as they joined the others. Finding a dried piece of seaweed she added it to the pot for flavor. Lyn'nice returned to tending the fire. It had to be just right. When it was ready she waited before putting the pot over the fire, giving Calters time to put in any goodies he had found.

[Calters]

Calters sat up when he saw that Lyn had brought a flint and steel with her. Not only that, but she had managed to light the damp wood.
Thank Rhaus!

At her invitation, Cal went on the hunt for something to add to their makeshift picnic. He wasn't a great hunter, never having been taught, but he was able to snag some small shelled sea creatures- those couldn't run away.

The more time Calters spent out on the beach, the more he realized he didn't know. He was ignorant about so much of nature. Silently, he promised to get out more but it was to be determined whether or not his promise would be fulfilled.

Bringing back his prize, Cal held them up for Lyn'nice to see. Carefully, he pried open the shells and retrieved the soft inner meat. At the sight of the food, Calters' stomach jumped to life and growled. Without thinking, he picked up a few of the tiny meaty strips and popped them in his mouth. With his other hand, he tossed the remaining ones into the pot for Lyn.

"Not much, but it's all I could get. Hope you don't mind," He mumbled around his full mouth.