(PRP) Unfamiliar Waters (Eira "Shimmer" and Blue Fin)

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

Shafts of cold winter light streamed down towards the sea floor as a streak of silver darted in and out of them starting and stopping in what seemed at random intervals. They weren't entirely random though, provided you realized what was going on and noticed the little bobbing traps that gently swayed in the currents.

Another flash of silver, another set of quick movements and Eira "Shimmer" Tiarnán peeked into the little trap and was pleased this time to see the little silver fish that her mother had sent her to find. Most of the traps were empty, it being the time of year when the fish weren't plentiful in these waters, or worse were full of bait stealing crabs or other fish that were of no use.

Shimmer carefully maneuvered her bag over the mouth of the trap and pulled the draw string tight with her mouth. "Shoo, get in there!" she called to the little fish, urging them into the bag she carried with the few other fish she'd managed to collect. "See you've got friends in there." she said as she waited a few moments for the fish to settle into the bottom of the bag.

Once she was fairly confident she wouldn't lose any of her catch she detached the bag from the trap and closed it tight again. She sighed and looked around. She wasn't entirely sure how many fish she was supposed to find and normally they didn't even bother trapping the current this time of year, but between a few emergencies and then some light months of trade had sent her family into their carefully stored supplies to help make up for the lack of income.

Now those stores needed to be replenished by any means necessary and that meant resorting to trapping the current. Shimmer did some quick calculation in her head, what she was carrying wouldn't help much...but at least it was something. It didn't help she couldn't carry as much as her mother or older siblings but they'd all had tasks that were keeping them close to home and while her father wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of his youngest out beyond the colony for most of the day, he'd admitted the traps needed to be checked and Shimmer was really the only one eligible to do it.

The little seathi mare glanced up towards the surface and noted the light. She most likely wasn't going to make it out to the traps furthest from the colony, a downside of her size, but she could possibly get one or two more before having to turn back. First things first though, it was high time for some air. She checked her surroundings every muscle poised to bolt, and her bubbles at the ready to mask her escape but finding everything clear, swam casually up to the surface getting a quick breath before diving back under the water.

It was then something caught the corner of her eye. She froze, something had caused a shaft of light not far from her to distort. That could only mean one of two things. She was either really luck or really unlucky...

She really hoped it was the first one.

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

Shimmer just barely stopped herself from letting out a stream of bubbles in relief as the stranger approached her and was thankfully not hostile. Her eyes darted over their appearance taking it in and noting that much like her and half of her family, he was a nixie mix. However the thing that caught her by surprise was the single horn from his forehead. Not that she'd never seen that before, she was passingly acquainted with George's kids and Eoin had a horn after all. It just wasn't something one generally expected.

"Oh, uh. No, not at all." she said lifting her head slightly, getting her braid to drift back behind her without dislodging Orea, her starfish. "Must get yourself into a lot of trouble doing that." she said without checking herself. "Or you must be incredibly lucky to not have ended up shark food." she looked him over again and looked over his shoulder to see if he was carrying anything. "Are you from around these parts?" she couldn't recall any seathi living nearby off the top of her head that weren't part of the Grail and most of the smaller reefs around weren't really big enough to house anything close to their size. "If not, maybe I'm the one who should be asking if you need help."

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

She nodded. "I was just on an errand for my mother." she said, "and nearly finished with it at that." she gently flicked her trail to adjust her height having drifted slightly below equal eye level with the male. She considered what to tell him. He was a stranger after all but didn't seem dishonest or some sort of sneak thief. Not that he'd really be anywhere near the hunter's homes if she took him back with her. They lived closer tot he outside edges of the colony and the closest hunters to them were the Irving's and at least one of them was usually around their grotto. "Well..." she started slowly. "There is the Grail." she motioned with her body back the way she'd come. "Seathi and mer colony not far from here. It's safe and as long as you follow the rules while you're within the boundaries no one will mind you being about for a time. It's where I'm from." she said.

"Well I wish you the best should your luck ever turn on you." she nodded. She knew enough that when luck went bad it often went at the worst times and in the worst ways.

She colored slightly having gotten caught at her peering. "Oh, I was just seeing if you were carrying anything since I didn't think you lived close by. Not that travelers always carry things with them but some do. If it's heavy I'd be willing to carry it for you since you've been traveling for some time."

She nodded at his explanation of what he carried then shook her head. "No, I don't require any of your items. I'm more than willing to escort you back to the Grail and let you stay in one of the empty grotto's at my home," she paused. "Provided my parents agree to it, free of charge. I don't believe they would require payment of you either as you're not a member of the colony after all."

She glanced up towards the surface and judged the light. "We can go now if you like and we should get in just before darkness falls." she slowly started to let herself sink back towards the sea floor where her coloration would better hide her from unfriendly eyes from above. "Oh...!" she shot back up to his level for a moment. "I'm Shimmer by the way. Nice to meet you Blue." she then sank back down towards the sea floor again.

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

Shimmer only barely caught Blue's freak out. She frowned slightly, she hadn't thought she'd been that startling. A bit sudden yes, but it's not like she'd emerged out of no where. Oh, well she'd apologize as soon as he stopped swimming about so frantically. She was about to open her mouth when the strange creature emerged from the shadows. It looked similar in size to a dolphin but it had a horn much like Blue. She noted the two were similarly colored as well. Almost as if they were made for each other. She'd heard of such things of course. Fate brought a seathi or a mer to just the right companion at just the right time. Was this Blue's right time? Evidently it was otherwise the horned dolphin wouldn't be here. Considering all the problems he'd been through lately, seemed like a bit of good luck for the seathi. Good she was glad for him and smiled a bit. Maybe someday her right companion would come along, until then she was content to wait. Although she wasn't entirely sure she wanted one, Orea was really enough for her. She smiled a bit as she felt the starfish shift slightly in her hair and adjust his grip. He may never say much but his constant presence was more than enough for her. She assumed individuals with jellyfish felt much the same way.

She bobbed gently in the water watching the pair interact. Seemed they'd hit it off as well. Good for them. She smiled when he glanced over at her and waited for them to get closer. She frowned slightly at him mentioning his parents were passed beyond the veil. "I'm sorry for your loss." she said bowing her head in reverence for the stallion's parents.

After a moment of silence she then glanced over at the now named creature and considered. She was already bringing home one individual...well she guessed two wouldn't hurt. "I don't see that being a problem." she nodded. "As long as rules are followed anyone and everyone is welcome after all." she smiled at the narwhal and bobbed her head. "Nice to meet you."

"If you're sure you're fine." she said in regard to his bag and carefully adjusted her own. "And it's nice to be all properly introduced." she said with another smile.

She glanced up again and then in the direction they had to go. "Well if we don't want it to be dark, we'd best be on our way." she said. "Stay close and follow me. We'll be there before you know it." she turned and started off towards the direction of the Grail at a steady pace. They'd just barely make it back before dark, just enough time to get everyone all introduced.

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

Shimmer bobbed slightly as she swam towards home. She occasionally darted around stray strands of seaweed and rocks but for the most part it was a straight shot back towards the colony. So he'd lost his family and that was in part the reason for his current wandering. She frowned a bit to herself. What would she do if her parents were suddenly gone along with all her siblings. She honestly couldn't imagine really...they were all so integral to her life that them not being there just created a void. Besides if they were gone would that mean The Grail would be gone too? Neither of her parents ventured out very often outside of supply runs so if something happened to them it would happen at home and if The Grail was gone! It was all just too big to imagine. Her whole world being gone. Granted that was taking things to the extreme but that's where trying to think about the lack of her parents firm but warm and loving home went.

Thinking about her parents she wondered what her parents would think of her bringing someone home. She hoped her father wouldn't panic or freak out too much, or get the wrong idea...She at least trusted her mother would wait to hear her daughter's side before jumping to conclusions. At least she could take comfort that she wasn't the first one "bringing someone home," Lapis had long since taken up with a Kelpi.

Besides, Blue was just an out of luck seathi and she was being kind and offering him a helping hoof. She glanced back as she swam and give him another once over. Well...she supposed if she had to say something about his looks, he was handsome and he certainly cut a dashing figure with that horn. She looked back forward and just barely managed to dart around a strand of seaweed before she ran into it. Mind on the matter at hand: swimming and getting home before it was pitch black.

She'd been so lost in thought she didn't hear the exchange between the narwhal and Blue and that it was in part directed at her. "Oh! Well, to be fair we won't be in The Grail proper so there wouldn't be many opportunities for you to get into real trouble anyway. We're outsiders so to speak because my parents aren't treasure hunters." she said it casually and without hesitation or shame. While it did make them second class citizens and she'd toyed with the thought of becoming a huntress it was just not for her. She was much better off learning the trade of her parents and securing their place for another generation.

She smiled a bit and glanced back again. "Well I can't think of anything I'd need help with at the moment but I'll keep that in mind." she laughed a bit and darted around a rock. "And if you ever get into a spot where you're sick or injured well, that's what my family does. Help those in tight spots when they can't help themselves." she gave a firm nod.

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

She glanced back again. "I'm sure they're okay. You are after all." she gave him an encouraging smile although she had to wonder how he'd forgotten about them. It was near impossible to forget or miss her elder siblings both literally and figuratively. "Well things slip from our minds from time to time. Usually to come back when they're needed most." she turned back to swimming and nearly missed his question about her parents.

"No, it's not a blunt question at all. It's a treasure hunting colony so what good are individuals who don't hunt treasure? Well--" she heard something collide with the rock that she'd just managed to dart around. "Oops!" she quickly swam back. "Oh, Blue! I'm sorry, I should have called out the rock instead of just darting around it. Are you alright?" she peered at his head with a critical eye. "Seems alright...might get a little swelling...think we've got a poultice at home for that. I'm sorry again..."

She almost had to laugh as he figured it out himself. "Yes, they are and I'm in training. My dad used to be the only healer for the colony until my mom kind of drifted in." She shook her head a bit at remembered antics of her parents. No matter what anyone thought, those two were made for each other.

Thinking on that..."Um, there's something I need to mention about my parents before we get there." she said as she turned to continue onwards.

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

She had to color herself when he said he was only paying attention to her. She was sure he didn't mean it in any other way than just being able to find his way to the place he had no idea the location of, but still it caused a rise in color. No one had even passingly ever mentioned that she was worth paying that much attention to. "Ah, umm," she coughed. "I'm sorry I was so distracting!" oh, that sounded silly but there it was and she couldn't take it back now and decided to focus on his minor injuries. "At least you seem to be in one piece and no harm done!" she nodded firmly and tried to get her embarrassment under control.

"You want to be a healer?" she latched onto the new subject like a limpet. "It's no easy task!" she said with a bit of a laugh. "There are so many things to remember like what combination of pants and animal parts will get a desired effect, what topside plants can be used underwater and what underwater things will work above. You don't want to give someone something that doesn't work after all and since we do some topside trade it's quite the challenge to figure all that out." she nodded. "Do you handle blood and injuries well? You won't get far if you can't. I have a sister who's a bit squeamish and she didn't get far in her training. It's not all bumps and bruises after all." she knew the truth of that all too well. Her own mother was living testament to the extent a healer needed to go to save a patient sometimes.

She nodded in understanding. "Oh, I've heard of that before. Sometimes when the mind goes through something traumatic it blocks the memories that may trigger a flashback to the event and in order to save the individual the stress of thinking about the event again." that made more sense as to why his memory was foggy considering his family. If thoughts of them made him think of other tragic events his own mind was just doing it's job to protect him, even if it did make him seem a bit scatterbrained.

She paused as they finally got around to talking about her parents again. "Ah, well the thing is." she paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "Well, um," she glanced over and watched the narwhal frisk about. She shook herself letting her braid sway in the water. She needed to get this out because she didn't want any awkwardness later. "My father is a seathi." she said. That was the easy part, the expected part since it was obvious she was one after all. "My mother however," deep breath. "Is a mer. You know...a fullsize. So are four of my five siblings. Two are adopted and then my parents were blessed twice, once with my eldest set of siblings, who took after my mother size wise and then my brother and I and we took after Dad." she knew she was babbling and she glanced over at him to gauge his reaction. While unusual relationships weren't weird around the colony, she knew that to outsiders it could seem strange and possibly indecent. She refused to believe that though. Her parents loved each other more than anything so how could it be wrong?

Blue_Sparkle27

 

[Lady Argentum Draconis]

She colored again at his compliment and then listened to him explain his position. "Yes, I suppose when the injury is happening to you it's far different than when it belongs to someone else. Panic usually just makes everything worse though, a little injury turns into a big problem." she gave a firm nod. "It's why we always try to tell patients not to move and to stay as still and calm as possible. Don't want further accident after all."

Her relief was palpable when he didn't react badly to her mixed family. While no one ever said anything in her earshot she knew some of the traders that passed through weren't entirely open to her parents relationship. "Thank you, for understanding and open minded." she bowed her head a bit and then continued towards the colony.

It wasn't long before the Grail became visible and Shimmer detoured away from going directly into the center of the area and instead headed toward a small outcropping on the outskirts of the zone. "Almost there." she said glancing back at him. "There's an air pocket in the back of the grotto and in the storage cave so you won't have to surface in the middle of the night for air and risk getting lost in the dark." she gave him a little smile and then got him and the narwhal to stop just short of the cave entrance. "Give me just a second and let my parents know I'm back and tell them you're with me. Probably be back out in just a second with one of them." she nodded and darted inside.

Blue_Sparkle27