Silver Waves

Nine

The group stopped once more for a breath of air. Their drenched heads popped out of the waves, and they panted, rubbing their eyes. Swimming constantly, they could stay underwater for around a half hour before needing to surface and breathe. Their infrequent breaks and powerful tails let them cover distance more quickly than even the Silver Wave had. If they had wanted to, they could have already been back to Nyct. They could have moved even faster were they not already tired and still unaccustomed to their new muscles and the pains that came with overexerting themselves.

Another taxation for their tremendous speed and strength was the hunger that gnawed at their bellies; the coldness of the water combined with the constant exertion burnt through their fat reserves quickly. Overall, though, it was astounding how easily the islanders had taken to their new forms, as if they had been designed for the water since the beginning.

Nami brushed her trailing hair from her eyes as she sucked in air, and felt a disturbance in the water beside her body. She turned, seeing Kaia and Fil rising from the ocean, breathing hard. The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon behind the group, lighting up the east. Fil smiled, fingers twined with Kaia's. "I can't believe we can move so quickly!"

They were miles and miles away from where they originally surfaced after their attempted drownings. Fil flicked her silvery tail from the water, splashing Kaia and Nami with shimmering drops. Kaia laughed, and Nami was about to splash back when Sprigg gave a short shout.

The older girls turned, their newfound paranoia putting them immediately on guard, but Sprigg was smiling and excited, pointing towards the west horizon. Just at the edge of their vision, the girls could make out the vague hump of a distant island.

"We can make that in maybe an hour or so, if we keep our breaks short!" Sprigg laughed and snatched Ren from the water, tossing her into the air, where she twisted with glee, splashing back down in a shower of morning-sun-lit spray.

Dalma sighed gladly, rubbing her stomach. "Good, I'm starving."

Raina seconded her friend. "We're all starving."

Oona nodded, adding: "And tired. I just want to get somewhere safe and sleep for days." Lena looked wistfully towards the island.

Nami let the Tribe rest for a moment before interrupting, tempering the elation of finding a possible haven with logic.

"We still have to make sure it's empty and safe before we stop there. When we get close, Kaia, Sprigg, and I will scout it out. Fil, I'd like you to stay and watch over everyone else."

Fil sobered with the responsibility, and nodded seriously, moving slightly backwards to place herself in front of her charges, who continued to buzz with anticipation, ready to rest and find something to eat.

-

The Tribe sped along through the sunlit water, keeping close to the lighter surface, but far enough below to be hidden from view if anyone was watching from the shores of the landmass ahead. The island drew rapidly closer, and the seafloor suddenly sloped upward, the water becoming shallow and very warm.

Nami grabbed the tip of Sprigg's fin, gently, as the girl tried to continue towards land. She motioned for the Tribe to gather around, and pointed to the surface.

Ten heads broke through the water, coming up just high enough to breathe through their noses. Nami hoped that anyone who might be watching them would think them to be seals, coming up for breaths of air.

Nine pairs of sparkling blue-green eyes barely concealed relief and eagerness as they watched Nami, waiting for instructions. Without anyone consciously deciding it, the older girl had become the de facto leader of the splintered Tribe. Her friends trusted her, and felt safe following her judgment, honed by years of leading the dangerous jungle-hunts on Nyct.