The bear cub was busy stuffing her face with some fish she had caught in the water. She had spent her time swimming deep below the waters of Fornax, admiring the life it held as well. The water was like her second world, and she could feel a childlike wonder as she looked beneath its surface. Polar bears were tied to the water, they always would be. What was even more surpurising is that Zelk, like all polar bears, could see clearly under the water like on land, giving her an amazing view. She had decided to get some fish to fill her stomach, before going back in the water to have fun. As a bear, Zelk loved to eat, a lot, even as a cub. Though Zelk felt a twinge of loneliness. She had Orlaith, her tiger friend, who she cared for, but she didn't have any other polar bears to hang around with. If only she could just meet one. Though on the other side, her life was alright and fun, especially when she went swimming underwater. The fish may have been a bit slimy, but she didn't care. It was sooo good.

@Aegir

Aegir wandered, as he always did, the slow, lumbering giant peacefully walking through the caves. He stayed where few would tread or below the water's waves. He had wandered, alone, for many many cycles, speaking with few other then the water. While he missed his old friends, Oliver, Heart-Song, Lucifero...he was more at peace then he had been in his youth. He had grown and matured in his time, risen above what troubles he faced as a child.

Fornax, despite its great sea of water, was not always his first place to go. No, it was usually Polaris, its fast, waving water, charged with energy from the generator and littered with magic from the Spire. The water was alive and filled with secrets, secrets he often tried to divine. Or in Pisces where the water froze and created more interesting patterns that he enjoyed reading. But today he left the algid water behind him in favor of warmer seas.

He approached the edge of the water and looked into it. The water here rippled and shifted so often that it often confused him, befuddled him. He did not know how to read this water as well as the other waters. He sighed and picked up a pebble, about to throw it in when movement distracted him.

He looked up. There, on the shore not far away, was another polar bear. It was not nearly as big as him, and, of course, not covered with the markings he had painted across his body, nor bearing great tourmaline antlers he displayed, but it was there. He wished to approach, but he hesitated. One thing he had learned was that not all creatures were gentle and peaceful as he was. And, from his own experience, bears were not exactly the calmest of beasts. So the pebble he was about to throw, its question shifted and he tossed it in differently then he would have before. A quick glance at the water confirmed his suspicions and he held himself back. He picked up another one and tossed that in as well. Yet again, the water told him to stay, be silent, do not approach. He paused. One more pebble in and the answer changed.

He closed his eyes. So. The water wished the other to decide the fate of them. A small, insignificant fate, perhaps, but one nonetheless. He did not say anything, he did not approach, but he also did not leave. He did not try to make himself hidden. If the other wished to approach, they may.

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

@Zelk

Zelk had finished stuffing her face with fish, and now she felt happy and content. Then she saw something catch her eye. She looked and her eyes widened. It was a polar bear, just like her! She was excited, happy that there was someone like her. She wasn't the only one! The white fluffball ran over to Aegir, then stopped once she was in front of him. Then she stood on her hind legs, putting her fluffy bear paws on his front leg, then looked up at him. Hi, my name is Zelk! You're a really big polar bear! I hope I get to be as big as you!" Then she looked to see his antlers on his head. Her eyes widened even more. "Hey, lower your head so I can tell ya something!" She wanted to tell him something, but she also wanted to get on his head, so he could lift her up, then she could get a good look at his antlers. The bear felt warm inside to meet Aegir. She hoped he could be friends with the large bear. They were the same species after all.

@Aegir

Aegir watched as the cub came right up to his side and planted their feet on his leg. He smiled down at the child. "Zelk." His voice cracked, as if it had not been used in a long time, but that deep smoothness, the peaceful rumbling, it was still there in the undertones. "Aegir is big because Aegir is older. Zelk shall be big when he is of Aegir's age."

The request he probably could have probably answered if he wanted to, but Aegir was not one to change the tide of fate, merely ride it. So with a flick, he cast another pebble into the water. Watching the ripples they made he chuckled softy. The water wishes for Aegir to do as he will...

He lowered his head so he was closer to the cub and so the cub could whisper something in his ear. The ornament hanging form his ear rattled softly as he moved. "What does Zelk wish to tell Aegir?"

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

@Zelk

Zelk was amazed at how deep Aegir's voice was, like a gentle giant. Then he explained to the cub that he was big because he was older, and that she would be big when she got older like him too. Though Zelk already knew that, she wanted to be a big bear really bad. So of course, she had to be remided that patience was a virtue. When the large bear lowered his head, he asked what she wanted to tell him. She quickly whispered in his ear. "The water is like my second home. It's real beautiful underneath there, but I don't think others can stay underwater like I do." That kinda made her sad, that not all creatures could experience the true beauty of water. The cub then climbed on top of Aegir's head. Now her white fluffball body was right on his head, looking at his antlers. "Wow, your gem antlers are really cool. My gem isn't as cool as that. As she was entirely on the top of his head, she asked him a few questions. "Do you like to swim? Do you like water? I love water." Then she got kinda shy and asked another question. "Hey Aegir, you wanna be friends? Maybe we can go swimming in the water?" Zelk kinda gently pawed at his antlers, amazed at how cool they were.

@Aegir

Aegir wasn't sure why the little polar bear needed his hear so close to say that but then he realized it was just to get his head down as they began to climped onto his head. As she grabbed at his antlers he cringed a bit, her weight tuggling on the sensitive gem pieces. "Be careful..." But she was already on top of him and, a moment later, the pulling sensation stopped.

He shifted his head and moved his neck and shoulders so the Zelk would not be able to stay sitting comfortable on top of his head and would instead find herself moving back to his shoulders. "Zelk...Zelk has hurt Aegir. Gems are precious, sensitive, fragile. One wrong pull or tug could rip Aegir's gem from his head...and Aegir would die. If Zelk wish to climb on Aegir again, please ask. Aegir will let Zelk sit on shoulders but not on head." While he spoke sternly, he was still gentle, ever calm. He was not angry at the young polar bear - perhaps she knew no better, but he hoped she would heed his lesson.

There was a deep base rumbling in his chest, almost like a small chuckle. "Does Aegir like water? Aegir is the water. The water is Aegir. Aegir has spent many cycles listening to its voice, reading its many forms. Aegir was born in water and Aegir will die without it." He considered for a moment. "Aegir will swim with Zelk but if Zelk wishes...Aegir will ask what the water knows of Zelk. What the future holds within the waves and ripples."

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

@Zelk

Uh oh, Zelk didn't mean to hurt Aegir, let alone kill him! The bear cub felt really bad, and she felt like a scolded child who was about to get put in the corner. As she sat on his shoulders, she apologized quickly. "I'm sorry Aegir! I didn't mean to hurt ya or kill you! I promise I'll never touch your gem or any other gembound's gem again! Oh, and next time I'll ask to climb on ya." She smiled sheepishly at him Yes, sometimes the polar bear cub's curiosity could be a bit too much, and the fluffball sometimes didn't understand personal space. But she would heed Aegir's lesson, and lock it in her brain. Though when she reached 4 cycles, she would not be like this. She will be mature, and know better like an adult should. Though for now, she was just a small cub who was still learning, and boy did she have a lot to learn, like most gembound children. Her sheepish smile disappeared and her eyes lit up as he spoke of his connection with water. The child spoke with excitement in her voice, happy that she got to swim with him, plus, she wanted to hear what the water had to say about her. "Sure, I want to hear what the water has to say about me!" The cub listened in anticipation, like an storyteller was about to read her a story.

@Aegir

Aegir rumbled another deep chuckle. "It is alright, young one. Zelk will learn, many things to learn. Some gem are strong some are weak. Zelk will learn difference. But it is always good to ask." He shifted himself yet again, although he was not trying to push Zelk off his body. He was simply slipping down so he could lean over the water, as he did when he did his water readings. He was silent and still for a moment, preparing, before opening his jaws to let lose a small stream of water.

Except nothing came. Magic within him was not working at the moment and he closed his jaws, unperturbed. These things just happened. Instead, he reached forward and dipped his head into the waves, sucking up as much water as he could, cringing a bit at the salty taste. He waited until the water was as clear as it would be before letting loose three small streams of water. As soon as the water touched the ocean, he leaned forward, going perfectly still, save for his eyes, which darted across the ripples, every movement, every tiny wave it made, until the water was clear again. Even then, he was still, silent. He stayed like this for over a minute before he leaned back.

"The water is confusing Aegir. Many things could be said for Zelk from the way the water moves. There are many different ways for Aegir to read the water, many ways for the answers to come across. Sometimes they are clear, other times, like now, they are not. The water says that there is conflict. Zelk will be in competition, or has been, or is now. It is not clear. Sometime in Zelk's life, Zelk will experience some disagreement. There will be luck at play, destiny, whether it is the cause of this disagreement, or whether it is what will happen to solve this competition. Again, it is unclear. But one thing is for sure - no matter what happens, the answer for Zelk, the solution, the future, is perseverance. Zelk's eyes will look at things in the long-term, not the short. It is what will be the end of Zelk's disagreement, the end of Zelk's strife. How Aegir reads this...how Aegir may interpret these things, may be different from how Zelk may. Take these things as they will, but the water says these three things: Through the courses of luck and karma, Zelk will fall into competition and disagreement. These things will be hard for Zelk, although he will not be defeated, and only through the long term, commitment, through investment will Zelk overcome. This is what the water says of Zelk."

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

@Zelk

Zelk spoke after Aegir told of her future. A big smile formed on her face. "Wow! Perseverance and commitment are really good things to have, they help you a lot. Nice to hear I won't be defeated, if I commit. I can't wait till I'm older, then I can do a lot more and help others." Then she glanced at the water as she was on Aegir's shoulders. "Hey Aegir, you want to go swimming now?" The cub was excited to swim with someone of her own kind. She wondered how Aegir's antlers would look underwater. They would probably look more awesome than they did now. Well, only one way to find out. Zelk waited for the male, as the fluffball was on his shoulders. Though in 3 cycles, Zelk would be to big to be on his shoulders. She would be a polar bear, not a polar bear cub.

@Aegir