Phlegethon was vacant and expressionless, though it felt a little upset by its inability to not cause some waves every time it moved. Perhaps it wasn't being slow enough as it spooked. There were times where it could lay at the surface, much like an alligator, and swim silently without detection. Yet, compared to something so small and nervous, any movement was enough. The monstrosity murmured, quietly, sorry. You are very small. Thanks, captain obvious.

To be fair, though, Lamia was actually rather large compared to the fish in these swamps, especially to the cave deer. Perhaps size came with sentience. Most fish weren't this conversational and curious. Upon seeing a giant red eye in the dark, they tended to flee.

As air touched the top of Phlegethon's head, it tilted downward slightly. Snapping its jaw shut, it sent up a huge plume of slime and swamp water, scattering all over the surface of the mire --- and, more likely than not, Lamia. Who knew if that had been intentional or not. This is Cetus, home of the Children of the Rot. We seek to survive and learn about the caves and the Elders. Jaw opening, eye staring out at the creature, it took a good look. Phlegethon's eyesight wasn't the greatest, but it was curious nonetheless. Indeed, Lamia was very fishlike, sans the odd tendrils growing from the head and the hands.

The creature murmured sympathetically at the smaller one's mournful hiss, rasping about how her voice was so different. "Air is different from water. You will learn to speak above, in time, Lamia; it is like learning to cast magic." With an adequate breath of air in its lungs, Phlegethon's head disappeared back beneath the water. If its companion came down, as well, it would hum curiously, tell me about the Tenzin.
@Lamia

Lamia watched with wonder as the slime and water went spewing into the air. That was incredible! Was there a vent on its back that allowed it to do such things? She didn't mind when much of it splattered onto her. She dipped herself back into the water to get off the slime but she didn't really mind.

She wanted to try speaking, though, since it saddened her that her own echoing voice was little more then a hiss in the air. She opened her mouth again and let out another rasping sound before trying to replicate one of the words that Phlegethon had used. She played with the shape of her mouth, the tones of her voice, the way her tongue was positioned and how the air came out until she finally managed to say her first word, although it was distorted and strange. "Wwwaaaawwwteeeer."

That was totally correct.

Pleased with herself, she followed the slime beast back into the water. It wanted to talk about Tenzin and she was perfectly happy to tell it about the phoenix. Tenzin is a big bird. He lives under a bunch of ice and water. He taught me about the caves and about my magic. He gave me lessons in the dangers I'll face and how to breath above water. I don't know why I would have done without him guiding me.

@Phlegethon

The hissing sound tumbled over Phlegethon's skin, an interesting mix of vibrations that didn't at all seem appalling to it. Very good, it rumbled softly, head bobbing in the half-light of the shallows, practice will make it easier. That was totally how that phrase went. No perfection here — that was impossible to reach for, with or without actual arms to speak of. The air-words will come in time. Listen for them and do not fear asking what they mean.

It fell silent, though, attentive as Lamia sang. Tenzin was perhaps one of the Elders, the old Gembound that seemed to preside over the caves themselves. Phlegethon would've furrowed a brow or narrowed an eye, if either were possible. Sociable as this bird appeared to be, there was no way his existence was new to the Caves. Next time it saw Dragon, though, the monstrosity would pass along this information; such was the purpose of a rot-child. Speaking of—

Where is this Tenzin? Does he live here with Father Aquarian? I have not seen him. Then, with a tilted head and further explanation, there are rot-children here, who seek to survive. I am one. We seek knowledge about the caves and the Elders, like this Tenzin may be.
@Lamia

Lamia did not at all know about the Children's mistrust for the Elders. If she did, perhaps she would not have told Phlegethon so much about Tenzin. But her ignorance allowed her to continue speaking. Tenzin is an Elder, he told me. He said there are twelve Elders from the beginning of the world. I didn't know there was a beginning or that you could even live so long. He is in the cold-water-cave Pisces where I hatched.
Her tail twisted with pride and she held herself in the water more strongly. He called me a child of Pisces! I don't know what that means but it sounds cool!

@Phlegethon

Tenzin was an Elder, then. Phlegethon had little context to go off of regarding the rot-children's general mistrust of them, and resorted only to further explanation, the Elders are very old and very powerful. I have been told to be wary of them. I do not know entirely why. Its head tilted slightly again, I did not know that there were twelve. Aquarian was one of the Elders, too. As was the Betrayer and perhaps the black dragon the leader of the rot-children had spoken of. If you meet another rot-child, I would be wary of mentioning your being with Tenzin, Phlegethon rumbled, warning, they do not trust Elders --- except for Father Aquarian --- very well.
@Lamia

Lamia frowned now, her bulbous eyes twitching with confusion. What was there to be wary about Tenzin? He was nice. He'd told her about the caves. And she had assumed that the other Elders were just as helpful. After all, they had been alive for centuries so surely they would have learned to be nice. "That is strange. Tenzin is trustworthy. He is gentle and kind. I asked him who the other eleven were but he did not say. Maybe some of them are bad and others are good." Lamia was sure that the world worked this way - there were bad things and there were good things. What could even be in between those two extremes?

Her tail twitched again and she crossed her arms across her chest. Would they hurt me if I mentioned? Would they try to force me out of the water? Would they eat me? The last thought scared her a little. She had seen creatures eating fish before. She had eaten fish herself. Phlegethon, whom she now realized was not, in fact, an Elder, was definitely big enough to eat her but it chose not to. But what if there were other "rot children" that had a taste for fish?

@Phlegethon

I have been told that there are a number of, Phlegethon rumbled, but paused, grasping for a word before settling, bad Elders. One has betrayed Father. Her name is Nemean, I believe. The leader of the rot-children calls her the Betrayer. Dull as the monstrosity was at times, it did not miss Lamia's concerned tone or the way it lilted with bewilderment. The idea of ill-intentioned elders seemed new to the fish-creature; it could forgive this, for she was, yes, new and very small.

The monstrosity relied on patience, after all.

Its head swayed, a slight shaking motion denoting that Phlegethon disagreed with the notion of being eaten just for aligning with an Elder. No, I do not believe so. The rot-children trust Aquarian. You trust Tenzin. They may simply keep secrets and knowledge from you, it reassured, a low hum. Phlegethon paused for a moment, jaw cracking open slightly to peer at Lamia. It added, briefly, they do not eat greaters. Speak, and they will listen.
@Lamia

Lamia twitched in the water, suddenly nervous again. The more and more she learned about the surface world the less she liked it. She liked Tenzin, he was a nice Elder but here there were Bad Elders and betrayers and people that did not trust the Elders and would not like her if she said she did trust them. She didn't like that. She didn't like that they would keep things from her. She rather things be truthful and honest. She loathed the thought that many people kept things behind masks and lies. Cetus seemed like a very less welcoming place.

And if I speak to them they will tell me lies and leave me in the dark because of who I have spoken to. Who I have judged worthy of trust. That does not seem right to me. Why can they not simply be truthful. Why so much secrecy?

@Phlegethon

The monstrosity's stomach churned --- and it was not from the digestive processes of its previous meal filling it to the brim with thick slime that'd essentially have to be spat up in some inconspicuous place (see: the Heart of Cetus.) Insects seemed to enjoy scavenging from the indigestible scraps of whatever had gone through Phlegethon. It pressed its tongue against the roof of its mouth, then recoiled sharply as it made contact with bristly baleen. Gross.

They will not tell you lies, it rumbled without a stutter, a note of uncertainty somehow in the bass tones, but, they will not tell you what knowledge they hold about the Elders. Phlegethon lowered its head, sinking into the mire slightly as it settled down. I do not think the rot-children know much of Tenzin, but you trust him. There was, of course, an unspoken that's what really matters there, but the monstrosity did not articulate such a thing.

They seek to survive, and believe that they may through knowledge-gathering and choosing to trust only a few of the Elders: only those they know. It paused, humming to itself for a moment. You do not have to tell them anything. They will not force words from you --- the rot-children are not cruel.
@Lamia

Notes of confusion rang from Lamia as she tried to understand what on earth these "rot-children" wanted. They didn't like the Elders but they called one father. They wouldn't like her if she spoke of Tenzin but they didn't even know him. They sought to survive...by finding mysteries and secrets? Going hunting for answer. This sounds like a dangerous task. If they wished to survive why do they try to get all the knowledge? It didn't make sense to her, especially if there were some things in the world that were truly dangerous.

She shook her head. I don't understand. Tenzin told me to live, not survive. Surviving is easy. Eat food and sleep. Keep safe and hidden. That it how to survive. I would rather sing and explore. I do not understand these rot-children.

@Phlegethon