Welcome to Gaia! ::

“Drink what?” Nanami peered around Noelani’s shoulder, the young mage dressed for a long swim since her friend had promised that they could go on an adventure today. In the shadows of the mangrove the kawena’s markings had a faint glow, her gaze almost gleaming whenever the light from her cheek markings lit up. Curiosity had her holding out a hand, a slight tilt of her head and a purse of her lips a habit while she studied the weird brew. “What did you pick up, Noel?”

[Nanami 1]

“A-ah.” Nanami turned her head to the side to cough, avoiding Noelani’s gaze so that she didn’t see the flush on her own cheeks. Swimming, definitely just meant swimming and nothing more ! “I’ve seen potions of breathing on occasion and this does seem like a legit brew. It’s become more common to try to sell them to foreigners who can’t see some of our world without a bit of help.” She handed the potion back over to Noelani, trying to ignore how warm her cheeks still felt even as she walked towards the edge of the cove so that she could stick her bare feet into the cooler waters there. “So I guess it’s safe to drink now. If you’re ready?”

[Nanami 2]

“Slowly.” Nanami winced as she watched Noelani drink the full potion. “Just don’t panic…” Ah, there it was. Ami had seen others taking potions before, her studies as a potential healer and leader coming into play as she reached out to take Noelani’s hands. “Just take a moment, you’ll be alright. Let’s go ahead and get in the water so you can breathe better.” It would be strange to have your lungs wanting to gasp water instead of air, but that was how the potion worked. Based on everything, the total amount of what Noelani drank they would have a good hour or so to swim to the destination. It was plenty of time and Noelani would wait until their return to help summon bubbles to keep Noelani refreshed whenever the potion’s effects wore off. For now though she assisted the hybrid into entering the water with her, Nanami giving her a comforting smile before ducking her head beneath the water’s surface.

[Nanami 3]

A smile crossed Nanami’s lips as she nodded her head encouragingly towards Noelani. Now that they were in the water, the Kawena was darting about like a fish to guide Noelani further and further into the depths. Unlike the bright areas of coral reefs along the coast this place was darker, the undersea caverns covering everything with a darkness that would soon glimmer with glowing formations as they continued along. For now though the mage twisted her fingers playfully in front of Noelani, orbs of spinning lights floating from her fingertips to help guide their path into the caverns.

[Nanami 4]

Nanami couldn’t help the smile that crossed her lips as she felt Noelani squeeze her fingers. She shared the same excitement since it had been months since she last explored deep caves like this. Ever since wandering Kahi to help others the Kawena had been focused on wandering the upper islands and not those of her homeland with the deep caves that she adored. It had been a pleasant surprise to find these caverns tucked away closer to the hapuna and it was especially exciting that she could share their beauty with Noelani. To think that her younger self would have been far too shy and reserved to even think of making a friend with a foreigner let alone taking her through an adventure like this! Eventually though the darkness of the caverns enveloped them and Nanami found herself tugging Noelani closer, her orbs shimmering some faint light to keep them on a safe path before the glowing formations started to take over as they twisted along. Thankful for the darkness that covered her features, Nanami couldn’t help the slight flush that decorated her cheeks as she felt Noelani’s arms brushing against her as she tugged her closer in almost an embracing motion as they continued along and avoided some formations that had been jutting out along the sides.

[Nanami 5]

Now that they were out of the water Nanami moved away from Noelani so that they could both get their bearings. “Mmhmm.” Though Nanami wasn’t looking at the cavern at the moment, her gaze was solely on Noelani. “Very lovely.” A soft smile crossed her lips before she glanced away towards the ceiling of the cavern, a hand gesturing upwards towards the ceiling. “You should look up, I’m going to get rid of my floating lights.” She warned before snapping her fingers, the magic fading around them. Even though Nanami’s markings held a subtle glow there was something else on the ceiling that took their attention soon enough.

[Nanami 6]

“Well you may not like the answer.” Nanami replied quietly, a gentle expression on her face as she watched her companion dancing beneath the cavern’s night sky. “It’s glow worms, hundreds of them are along the ceiling and they have their own glow since it's so dark down here.” She let out a soft sigh. “I loved to find areas like these when I was growing up in the deeper caverns, the glow made me imagine the actual night sky that we saw whenever we traveled between settlements.” In a way it was much more lovely down here for Ami since everything was so tranquil, the only noise was their breathing and the slight movement of water as it dripped down the walls and also lapped at the edge of the cavern’s entrance.

[Nanami 7]