Something had decidedly gone wrong over the past cycles, that much was certain to Fahl. It'd first not occurred to him, the warmer weather a pleasant change for Pisces, reprieve from having to constantly maintain heating spell casts so limbs didn't stiffen from the numbing cold welcome due to the effort and energy it saved. But every visit to the cave as the temperature had gradually risen brought worsening conditions; primarily his way of life here grew more difficult to keep rolling along the same routine, fishing prospects more difficult than they'd ever been before.
The trouble was while he had no issues or discomfort with the lessened chill, the finned denizens of the waterfall cave were far less thrilled by the difference. In fact, it repulsed them so much they preferred spending time hidden in the deepest, darkest crannies of submerged rock over swimming visible and gleaming on the surface of the many ponds scattered about the area. No doubt the cool shade appealed to them more now than bothering to be seen with slick scales dazzling in the light. Unfortunately this meant he spent more time holding his breath and trying to startle any potential morsels out from their lairs when ordinarily the meal would've already been chased and handily caught by his truly.
To hunt required some measure of patience, an aspect of the task long accepted as necessary despite how annoying it was to cultivate, but the current modification to procedure took that too far. It tested the strength of his lungs, how long they would last before the lack of air burned them. Despite proving their durability both instances he'd braved the Black City, Fahl lacked enjoyment in doing so on a frequent basis, a fact readable in his bearing every time he found himself in the midst of what'd once been a more entertaining pastime.
Discontent could be witnessed at this very moment as he clambered out of the latest in a series of ponds swam into, his shoulders tensed and steps more aptly described as stomps before pausing to shake off the numerous droplets collected upon his crimson hide. Gaze dragged downward to listlessly sweep the slippery cave floor, signs of someone else didn't immediately elicit attention—the previous cracking of an opening chrysalis, what would've made the other's presence unmistakable, had been too distorted by underwater activities to be recognized for what it was.
The sound of a splash jerked Fahl's head up to see the unfamiliar, rotund creature. His scales became less uniform in hue: splotchy patterns of white and yellow, orange and red, green and blue played across them before settling upon mottled black and violet.
"Huh?" he echoed, more confused than her exhale had been.
The caves hosted all manner of shapes. Whether there was any reason to which emerged where, he had no clue. According to limited experience, Pisces seemed to spawn reptiles and hoofed animals, but this child—as the suddenly noticed shards of gemstone nearby indicated her age—was neither. If anything, she resembled someone he hadn't encountered in quite a while, similarly flippered but all blubber and no fluff.
"Hello?" Unlike the last time he'd encountered someone younger than himself in Pisces, he found no reason to be scared or defensive, long grown out of the childish concerns that'd brought on those emotions. Instead he tilted his own head in return, curious of whom he'd stumbled upon. "Can you... speak?"
Fault of his stone, he'd struggled a fair amount to start with despite the ease the knowledge of language had come to him. For a good deal of his youth, mumbled or shouted broken sentences had been the best he was capable of. But maybe she'd fare better.
Worse in other ways, he mused, eyeing up the blue spikes protruding from one socket.