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 Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:10 pm
Caspian's head broke the surface of the water, but did not rise high above it. The waves were too large for him to stabilize himself. He drew in a lungful of air but took in some water with it. He spluttered briefly before he cleared his throat of the brine, then ducking back under. The water churned dizzyingly even under the water. The storm was passing by in the distance, but it was fierce enough to toss the waters about even where he swam. He hadn't expected that, nor had he expected a lot of things that had happened to him.
The current was one of those things he hadn't expected. He had been under the water when it caught him. Without the reference of the land, he didn't realize how far he was being swept out until it was too late. By the time he realize he had been pulled far away, the land was barely visible off in the distance. Now with the storm dropping its misty haze, he couldn't see it at all. As if this wasn't stressful enough, he was tiring. Normally he was a freshwater kelpi, staying in calm and much shallower waters. He had never spent a night at sea before, and didn't know what would happen to him if he tried...
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:17 pm
 Federico's mood was drastically different than Caspian's. Rather than being frightened by the strong storm surges, he loved it. He skimmed along the top of the water, briefly ducking down only to come leaping out in a sparkling arc. Every time he splashed back into the water again he laughed delightedly. When he crashed sideways into a sudden wave that cut him off, he laughed all the more. The ocean was so alive!
In a brief moment of stillness, he squinted into the distance where the dark clouds rolled. He could make out darkness and brief flashes of light, but that was all. His vision above the water was too poor to tell anything else. He could see much better below, and he blinked curiously when he next ducked his head under. There was something rather larger than normal not too far off. It was completely the wrong shape to be any of the big sea creatures he was used to encountering. Could it be....? Lighting up at the possibility of a companionable encounter, he sped up towards what he expected would be a new friend.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:18 pm
When Caspian first saw the dark shadow approaching, his first instinct was to panic. With a shrill underwater whinny, he whirled about in the water and started pumping his tail furiously to take him away from the danger. Was it a shark?! He'd heard horror stories about the behemoths that lurked beneath the waves, just waiting to take a bite out of an unsuspecting swimmer.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:22 pm
Federico frowned a little when the kelpi started swimming away. He wondered if the kelpi had even seen him to begin with. They must not have noticed him, otherwise, why would they flee? Everyone knew that mers were herbivorous, or so he thought. Confused, he increased his own pace. He was much more rested than Caspian and had little trouble catching up with him.
"Hello there?" he asked hopefully as he drew up along side.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:35 pm
Caspian was so surprised by the voice that he sucked in a gasp. Unfortunately for him, it was not the opportune time for such a gesture. His throat filled up with water and he suddenly was choking. Thrashing for the surface, he lifted his head above the waves and coughed, spitting out seawater.
He had caught a glimpse of a face before he lunged upwards. It hadn't seemed frightening, just surprising. Still, he couldn't help but fearfully wonder if the stranger was friendly. He was so tired, he didn't think he'd be able to fight off an enemy if he had to. He didn't even think he'd be able to out-swim them. "Hello?" he asked in a hoarse splutter, voice still raw from seawater. "Who's there?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:38 pm
Federico frowned with puzzled guilt. The kelpi spooked as soon as he spoke for him, and now he could see him splashing around at the surface. That hadn't been what he had expected or hoped for. He swam up to join him, but moved more slowly this time. He didn't want to frighten the stallion even more than he already apparently was.
Through the water, he heard the distorted queries of the stallion. He lifted his own head out of the water to answer. "It's only me," he said with a lightly teasing smile. "Federico. I'm sorry if I frightened you, just coming by to say hello." His easy charm usually won friends over quickly, but he didn't usually scare them beforehand.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:43 pm
Finally Caspian got a better look at his pursuer. He was a mer stallion in shades of rich browns. Mers weren't usually dangerous, but he had met a few that had proven otherwise. He'd learned in life not to take anything for granted, but Federico hadn't given him any reason to mistrust... just greeted him, really.
"I'm Caspian." His voice was still raw from coughing, but he managed to get the words out without faltering. He didn't have time to say more before a large wave rolled over. He kicked with his legs to bring him over the crest, but his head dipped dangerously low on the decline. He was growing dangerously tired, and it was obvious. The mer followed with much less effort, and he could sense the concern in his gaze.
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Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 7:55 pm
Ordinarily Federico would have ducked under the wave, but he followed the kelpi over, seeking to continue their interaction. He blinked as he saw the kelpi floundering a little after cresting the wave. He looked like he was having some sort of trouble, like he might be tired or hurt. That could be a problem. Even for experienced swimmers and those that lived their whole lives underwater like him, fatigue could kill faster than blood loss. Mers could hold their breath for a long time to rest on the sea floor, but he knew it was not the same for kelpis.
"Are you all right?" He asked between waves. "Are you hurt or sick? Lost, perhaps?" If you were tired, he imagined it would be very easy to get turned around in the wide open ocean.
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