((Ok this is going by the picture in the first post and making a couple of assumptions. Hope it's ok. Also, sorry for the length :
sweatdrop smile )
Shaena swam up towards where she could see the castle-like school on the cliff above the sea. She thought she could make out a path leading from shore up to the school grounds. Good, that would make it easier for her to get there.
She heard some chattering and clicking behind her. Turning she saw her two faithful companions, Alu the dolphin and Luin the otter. She smiled at the two of them. "Well, Alu, it looks like we're going to have to find you a place to stay around here. You certainly can't come up tot he school with me."
The dolphin made some rather sad sounds and nudged Shaena with his beak. "I know, I'm going to miss not being with you all the time too. But I'll come see you as much as I can, I promise. And we'll have Luin to run messages back and forth if need be."
She turned back towards the school and scanned the cliff face. There, just at the surface, it appeared to be a cave. Ducking down below the water, she thought she saw the cave extend far down. "Well, that looks promising. Come on you two." She swam off towards the cliff with her friends in tow.
When they reached their destination, she found that it was indeed a cave, and a large one at that. It extended perhaps a dozen feet above the water, and well over thirty below. Along the edge there was a ledge that slanted down forming an almost ramp into the water. The cave extended far back into the cliff. "I think this looks rather nice. What do you say, Alu? You should be safe here from all but a hurricane."
Alu looked around, then gave an affirmative click. Luin frolicked around, examining every nook of the cave. After a moment, he came back by Shaena, tipped his head to the side and gave and inquisitive chatter.
"Well, you could come up to the school with me, or else you could build a nest in here. I'm sure Alu wouldn't mind the company." Swimming over to the edge, Shaena hauled herself onto the ledge. Concentrating, she turned her tail into a pair of human legs, then stood. Walking around the edge, she found a large area that looked fairly dry. "This looks like it would be a perfect place."
Looking out the cave mouth, Shaena calculated the time. "I had best be getting to the school. Machi will be wanting to see me. I promise I'll come back and see you as soon as I can, Alu." Slipping back into the water,s he swam over to the dolphin and gave her a hug. "Everything will be fine. You'll see." Then she turned to Luin. "And how about you, young man? Are you coming with me or are you going to stay here?"
By way of answer, he swam over, then crawled up on her shoulders, wrapped around her neck. Shaena giggled. "Alright. But I'll probably send you back down later to see how Alu's doing if I can't slip away."
She swam out of the cave and over to the shore. Climbing out of the water, she gave Alu one last wave goodbye as she headed up the path.
When she entered the school, she looked around. She remembered Machi telling her where her office was, but it was a bit different being there in person.Walking down the halls, Luin still draped around her, she thought she heard voices. Finding the door they seemed to be coming from, Shaena knocked on it. "Well, Luin, I hope this is the right place." She reached up and scratched his furry head.
Reply
