ORIGIN

The boy gazed at Eeya, wide eyed. He was to see underwater? The lion did not think that he could do that. Treading the water with his nose and ears kept above the water seemed to be the most that he could do and here, his mentor wanted him to swim underwater! Usui gulped involuntarily. “Umm…I can?” he smiled weakly. Momentarily distracted, he forgot to paddle properly and went down, spluttering. Immediately, he shut his eyes and instinctively thrashed hard till he got to the surface. “Ack!” he coughed and spluttered, paws flailing till he remembered that water was not worth fighting. It was meant to be accepted like a wash of calm. The boy forced himself to calm down, and started to pedal his paws mechanically. Slowly the water stilled and swirled around him like a tame beast! There, that did it. By this time, he was entirely soaked.

Once more back into a state of calm, Usui looked to Eeya and realized that his dolphin friend was doing his utmost best to take care of him and teach him. The sea boy was so kind! Usui felt bad then, if he just gave up halfway when Eeya was so enthusiastic about teaching him. “I’ll try, Eeya”!” he replied in firm, boyish tones. He had got himself into this mess and he would overcome his distrust of the water! Following the dolphin’s instructions, Usui first exhaled all the remaining air in his lungs, then he slowly took in a huge lungful. The intellectual lion knew that he could last longer in water if he first lowers his heartbeat so that his body would use less oxygen per second. After 2 minutes of slow ins and outs, Usui drew in a huge breath and nodded to Eeya that he was ready to go under. He plunged his head down – the water looked extremely blurry to him as he didn’t have sea critter eyes – but he could last for a while. Dull irritation rose around his eyes but it wasn’t too bad. He turned to look at the silver-grey dolphin and swam closer to him, all the while paddling deeper. Usui was determined to master this task within as short a time as possible.

~EEYA~

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The dolphin giggled when he asked if he could swim underwater. "Of course of course! All things can swim underwaters!" He said happily. Well, he wasn't sure if all things could but most things, yes! Usui was certainly part of "most things". "Just hold breath and no letting airs in!" He informed the little creature. The dolphin rolled a fin underneath the lion cub to help him back to the surface when he faltered for a moment.

"Yay! Try try! If you no get it today is fine. We can try on other day!" Eeya had no trouble with coming out on another day to finish the lessons. It was fun doing so! However, with how quickly Usui was learning he doubted he'd need another day. He was sure that he could finish his lessons today. However, the cub calmed himself and after a moment of breathing and a nod ducked under water. Eeya slid in right after him, keeping pace easily as the lion swam. If he wanted to speed up then Eeya would do so or slow down when needed and if an emergence surfacing was needed he'd get up under the boy and push him back up. He was here for support and teaching that was all. "Is fun, yes? Is pretty too, yes?" He didn't know how well Usui could see underwater but with all the colorful fish, glowing gems, and sea plants it was like a whole new world. He hoped the cub could appreciate it all.

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His lungs were still strong with oxygen, and so the lion paddled down. It wasn’t too deep – he headed to the portion where he could see the lovely sea critters that Eeya pointed out to him, but not at jeopardy of his oxygen limitations. Should he feel out of breath, he would be able to burst out of the water with quick strokes. The lion was awed by the burst of colour that greeted him. A large variety of coral outcrop greeted his eyes and they were of a wide spectrum of shades. Fish scurried out of his path as well. They were so glittery and sleek, and occasionally when their scaly bodies caught the light they’d give off an almost blinding shine. They were beautiful to the young scholar. In his mind, the lion thanked his dolphin friend. The water was blurry to him, but he could roughly make out what he was supposed to look at, especially when he got closer to the objects of interest like plants and the like. Very much different from above-ground, underwater Origin was a whole new world that allowed Usui’s amazement with existence to grow.

Eventually, the cub felt his breath running out. However, he was not done. The boy paddled towards the river bed and scooped up a pebble between his teeth. Then, he nodded to Eeya and headed to the surface. Once he broke through, Usui swam from the center to the edge and hoisted himself onto solid ground once again, fur sodden and dripping. The world swam under his paws although he was still on solid ground, reinforcing the swimming lesson that he had just received (but of course, didn’t stop him from feeling dizzy for a moment or so). Here, he dropped the pebble gently and took huge lungful of breaths. He wanted to gift Eeya with something. Without hesitation, he scraped out the two recent symbols he head learnt onto it – water and a fish. He had seen these two symbols in the cave and just maybe they were a foretelling of his encounter with this beloved dolphin.

Once he was done, the boy turned to face the water and his dolphin friend and gently pushed the pebble to the edge. He smiled, and nodded his head for Eeya to take it. The boy was still rather out of breath, so his thanks was written in his bright gaze instead, and also, he attempted to lean in and snuggle Eeya on the snout, all the while taking deep gulps of breath to get used to being on land again. ”Thank you, my friend.”

He swam and swam with the lion boy. Exploring the underwater depths and being there if he was needed. It was pretty easy since the lion was doing most of the work on his own. Taking to the water like a fish! Or rather, an honorary dolphin! Speaking of... He needed to get a present for his new official-dolphin friend! Mawra had gotten a present so he needed a little something too so he could always remember the water!

After the dolphin and the lion swam back to shore Eeya allowed the fuzzy critter to snuggle onto his beak. The dolphin gave a giggle of joy as he bumped the lion back fondly. The dolphin gazed into his eyes for a moment, saying nothing and only letting his gaze speak for him, "anytime", it said. Of course, the dolphin would swim with him whenever he wanted! Anytime, anywhere!

For a moment he stayed like this with the lion against his snout but then he back-swam and ducked underwater. It might have seemed like he was gone but he wasn't. The young dolphin dove underwater and easily found a colorful seashell. He grabbed it up in his mouth then swiftly swam back up to the surface where he tossed the shell to Usui. "Usui official dolphin! Take shell and remember!" He whistled joyfully to the lion.

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Eeya took his gift, and the two friends embraced for a while more, revelling in comfort. Then, Eeya shifted back into the water. Usui was on his paws the next moment peering anxiously into the water. Then, the dolphin suddenly burst back out with a shell. It was very very colourful and reflected a dozen colours, something which the land did not offer. Usui was extremely touched by the gesture and purred, a deep rumbling sound stemming from his chest to throat (at least as deep as a cub could master). He did not want to speak, for he did not want this to be farewell. With a sweep of his tail indicating goodbye, Usui picked up the shell gingerly and walked away.

-exit Usui-

Eeya did not notice the rock at first but when Usui turned to leave he looked downwards and saw it. It had strange symbols carved in it that for some reason reminded him of the water and of himself. He himself felt a movement of emotion in his heart and very carefully he picked up the rock and headed back towards Pisces. He would find somewhere special to store this and remember this wonderful day.

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