Arrh swam up to breath and for a second, Kreool was disappointed and confused. Oh. Right. Air. He'd forgotten that part. The little newborn shivered, noticing its own lack of breath, then shot up after Arrh to do the same. A quick nose above the surface, exhale, inhale, and back down they sank, then it was time to play. Dare.
{Kreool dare for Arrh to...} She hesitated, placing a thoughtful claw on her chin, squinting her odd gaze at the black and white friend as she thought. An adventure. What's an adventure? Like swimming fast or going really deep. What about really up? Could Arrh swim really up? {Kreool dare for Arrh to swim up! Up! Up! Swim up high, in air, then back here, with Kreool, for Arrh's turn next!}
@Arrh
Oh, Arrh was gonna do it! Kreool swam back a bit to give him plenty of space, then watched with a gleeful expression as he shot past the little blue babe and up out of the water. The wave that came from his crashing back down again sent Kreool into a giggling spin, riding the current as it swirled back to normal. Still laughing, a girlish sound, Kreool swam back to bump noses with Arrh approvingly.
{Arrh good at swim high! Good!} She praised, adoringly. Next it was her turn. Kreool backpedaled again and grinned. {Kreool want dare now! Dare Kreool!} Yes, she hoped he'd send her flying into the air or off on some deep adventure! It all sounded fun and now she got to try something! She hoped Arrh had just the right first dare in mind for her! It! Them!
@Arrh
Kreool was happy to oblidge and followed Arrh up to the surface, curving from side to side above and beside Arrh, not unlike a fish might, riding the current he made. The pair popped out of the water and as Kreool did, he sucked in a deep breath of air. Here above the surface, his eyes had to adjust and the world was blurry. He wasn't ready for the land, but this wasn't about leaving the water. Arrh told him to jump over the rock nearby. Kreool examined it thoughtfully, then grinned. She could do that.
{This one will jump over rock! Watch! See! Stay here!} The little blue dove back under the surface, spiraling down around the rock until it reached the river bed. There, she grasped at the pebbly floor and adjusted to face the surface. Just like Arrh. Just like Arrh.
She shot upward like a bolt, flexing new muscles, aiming for the sky...
..and she felt the air blast against her face as she left the water and Arrh behind and shot into the air. Problem was, breaching was a skill little sea creatures had to learn. So, when he broke the surface, Kreool's tail caught on the downstroke, halting his momentum and swinging him awkwardly forward with the curling of his body. He shrieked, a glass-shattering sound that echoed through the cave at an alarming pitch. The sound cut short, its counterpoint a sickening crack, as Kreool's head made contact with the rock he'd been trying to scale. He sank back into the water, dazed, bleeding from his forehead and seemingly lifeless.
@Arrh
The world had become a muted, ringing whiteness. As the river carried Kreool away from the rock and his new friend, the little creature drifted in and out of focus. Briefly, he noticed the high pitched squealing, getting further and further away. It faded into silence and then, Kreool heard only the rushing of water past his ears. He felt the sensation of movement. A rock brushed his scales and suddenly, his head was above water. Instinctively, he sucked in air and opened his eyes. The world was swimming, doubled up, but he could tell that he was moving- and fast.
A churning sound up ahead woke him further. He twisted in the water to see what it was, and felt his stomach lurch at the sight of a massive turbine up ahead- the generator, though he'd learn that name later. He felt the current pick up around him and he was forced under again, into twisting waters. He turned and paddled, trying in his dizzy state to fight the force of water pushing him towards that dangerous wheel...
...and with a powerful thrust of his tail, he found a slip stream and followed it, back up-river, towards the worried orca he'd left behind. Spotting the black and white shape, he grinned despite his bump and dizziness.
{Arrh! Arrh! Here I am! Stop crying!} He squealed upon hearing his friend's distressing song. {I'm okay, see? I'm okay! I'm here! Kreool is here!}
@Arrh
The little blue winced and even let out a sing-song giggle of sorts when Arrh licked the bump. It helped. She spun in a circle around the whale and came to rest atop his back, clinging to the smooth skin with barbed claws- though she was certain such tiny pricks wouldn't hurt her new friend. She was careful.
{Kreool wants to play something else now, Arrh.} She figured it was a reasonable request. {Kreool's head is spinny and hurt. Loves Arrh, but not feel so good now.} It didn't help matters that the little tyke hadn't eaten yet- like, ever. He wasn't sure what to make of his twisted stomach and pounding headache. Resting his chin on his friend's head, she closed her eyes and flared her gills, sighing with secondary lungs as if to prove her point.
{We find something, make Kreool feel better. Arrh knows the water better, right?} Arrh would take care of her. She was certain.
@Arrh