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Seth was leading a cart toward the market, making sure the new pack animal was behaving moreso than focusing on the path ahead. This Quhar was a recent import across the ships that finally could travel between Belrea and Tendaji. It was the top pack animal of the 'mainland', known for it's strength and dependability. Seth was hesitant, as always with change, so he made sure that it did well with the heavier than normal delivery to one of the vendors Valmon.

As he successfully delivered all of the orders on behalf of his family, he took a small break to allow the creature to get water and food. Unfortunately, the stable he choose to stop in was near the marketplace, and so many other travelers were sitting around gosspiing about the latest state of Tendaji. Seth rolled his eyes and focused on tending to the animal.

"I hear there's one of those water breathers here...first time they made it across the sea." Someone was speaking loudly about as they cleaned a stall.

"What do you mean?" Another asked, and Seth shook his head. It was pretty obvious what he meant.

"Idiot...I mean that a water breather took the ship from Kahikina and is checking out the city. Using some sort of spell or something to stay hydrated...but has been sleeping in tubs or something like that..."

Seth snorted. Water breathers needing to sleep underwater, who would have thought? The Quhar seemed keen and content, and so Seth stepped back and left the stables for the evening. He paid enough to trust his creature would be there in the morning, and so he walked ahead toward his inn. He needed to sleep and rest, traveling tired and with commissions was not ideal even in the peaceful Belrea.

Ahead, he saw a crowd of younglings pointing toward one of the many fountains. There, in the sunlight seemed to shine a creature with scales and finned ears. At first, he thought it might be one of those Matori, but soon enough he realized why so many people were studying the creature. It was a water breather.

The younglings were giggling and gaping, whereas many of the academy-hopefuls were watching and studying the creature's movements and actions. Seth leaned against the wall, knowing that with the density of the crowd he wouldn't make it across the clearing without a struggle. He wasn't feeling like human interaction, so he just watched and let the scene unfold. It's not like he was interested, or so he told himself in his mind.

The Kahikinan was smiling at the younglings, beckoning them closer before stepping into the fountain. It's skin was covered in a layer of water so the scale and texture looked like a wet fish. It's hair flattened and the ombre became more apparent. And finally, it moved into the water fully and seemed to speak and breath to the children while submerged. The younglings laughed and giggled at the scene, moving to the edge of the fountain and looking in, some reaching out to the water as if they wanted to touch it.

Eventually, Academy Members arrived and rushed forward to speak with the Kahikinan, no doubt to offer it a place to stay so they could learn more first hand. The sight of their coats rushing through the crowd caused many of the viewers to finally move away, realizing the show was over. The younglings whined and pouted but were eventually led away, accepting that the fun was over and it was time to go home. Seth finally saw the opening he needed and moved through the thinning crowd toward the inn. He knew he'd have to talk about this experience with his family. His mother would want to know more about it, and his father would wonder what types of items the creature carried so he could sell them weapons. Seth simply wanted to get some rest before heading back home.

As he prepared for bed, Seth thought back to the sight of the Kahikinan. Tall, willowy, submerged in water it looked like a statue. He shook his head, uninterested in it and not wanting to think any more. He had a long trip ahead of him, and keeping himself awake wondering how a creature could breathe underwater was no way to get well rested. Beside, if one was here, it meant more were coming. Eventually, one would find its way to their blacksmith and his family would be able to ask all the questions they had.