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"That would be a lot of people needing saving, if everyone got one," Ura frowned. "I mean ... Rhea said that they don't have all that large a population, but ... still ..."

He sat up and looked around. "Doggone it, now I'm curious. Where is Kelirahc, I want to talk to him about this now."

Earendil looked around as well. "In the water with Leyenda," he pointed at the ocean. "Quite far out ... I won't be able to get them, I can't swim."

Ura frowned. "I don't like to ... Lin, could you fly out?"

Leyenda and Kelirahc were about halfway out to the ship, playing in the water with a ball made of leaves sewn together and stuffed. It floated rather nicely, and they were tossing it back and forth as they swam.

"Oh, Lin!" Leyenda waved as Lin approached them. "I would say join us for a swim, but I would imagine that wet feathers must be heavy. What brings you out here?"

She giggled as Kelirahc splashed some water at her.

Kelirahc blinked up at Lin, his golden eyes filled with surprise. "Question for me?" he repeated. "What kind question?"

Leyenda laughed and grabbed him around the shoulders from behind, making him squawk in surprise. "Let's go and find out, silly!" she exclaimed. "Come on, I'll race you!"

And without a warning, she disappeared beneath the water's surface.

Kelirahc chuckled and grinned up at Lin. "See you at beach, yes?"

Earendil and Ura watched as Lin came closer, and Earendil couldn't help but admire Kelirahc as he swam. He was swift and smooth in his movements, as if he had been born for the water.

"Where did Leyenda go?" he asked Lin curiously. "She disappeared ..."

Leyenda had indeed had quite the head start, but she was under the water and had more resistance, while he was on the surface and could go much faster. His strong arms pulled him forward with ease, and very soon he was right above Leyenda.

"Well?" Earendil called out to Lin, eager to find out how the race was going.

Kelirahc continued to pull ahead steadily, but as the water grew shallower Leyenda was also forced to the surface. She came up directly behind Kelirahc, but rather than moving to one side to swim next to him, she reached out and grabbed hold of his ankle. He cried out in surprise, and his stroke faltered, which allowed Leyenda to come up alongside him and then pull ahead. She was just as good a swimmer as he was - but having grown up on a river, how could she not be?

"Come on, Leyenda, you can beat him!" Ura shouted suddenly, jumping to his feet. "Faster!"

Earendil looked a little bewildered at all of the shouting, but it attracted the attention of some of the others, who also came to watch: some of the crew, Rhea, Kaito, and Arwen among them. And as the two drew ever nearer the shore, some of the crew began murmuring amongst themselves, placing small bets as to who would make it back to the beach first. Within moments, many of them were shouting as well, some for Kelirahc and some for Leyenda.

Earendil was a little lost in all of it. This was a new experience for him - he had never been anywhere so loud, nor so rowdy. But he couldn't help but think ... this was fun. And soon he was shouting along with them, cheering for both of them in turn.

Arwen was positively glowing with pride. "She's been training herself since we let her learn to swim," she said proudly. "And she has finally met her match."

The water was too shallow for them to swim by this time and they were both on their feet, splashing through the surf as they raced for the sand. The cheers grew louder as they matched each other step for step - until Leyenda stumbled in the sand and Kelirahc got the slightest edge on her. With a final leap, he landed in the sand, and he threw both fists into the air and gave a loud victory cry.

Leyenda was right behind him, and, grinning mischievously, she jumped on his back, knocking him over into the sand. Immediately the two of them were surrounded by the others who wanted to congratulate them or simply laugh at them.

"So who's the winner?" Earendil chuckled, right in the thick of things.

"Kelirahc!" Galion grinned. "He was the first one here!"

"Aye, but she got the final victory," another crewman laughed. "I say she wins!"