Eclipsis: Water

Chapter 25

A gentle nudge to the side of her face made Alara wake up with a start, memories of the vodyanoy flashing across her mind, but an alarmed huff made her realise it was only Cetus. He shook his head, huffing more, and Alara apologised as her heart beat returned to normal, realising she must've gotten water up his nose from her panicked splashing.

Kōri was already out of the swamp, putting his cloak back on. He watched her as he pushed his snow-white wings through the slits in the back of the material, adjusting the hood on his damp hair.

Alara, embarrassed at how she had woken up, looked away quickly, and shook her head at Cetus' offer to help her out of the water. The light was still soft, the sun not yet risen, but she still squinted. She had not slept nearly long enough, though of course she did not want to mention it. She decided to turn the attention away from her in case the other two were still looking.

"How are you feeling?" She asked the dragon.

A little groggy from whatever that disgusting creature dosed me with, but otherwise fine, Cetus responded. The Moon said he helped me, apparently.

"He did, yes."

Cetus looked reluctant to, but turned to Kōri and lowered his head in a slight bow.

"That's his attempt thanking you, by the way." Alara explained amusedly at Kōri's look of confusion.

"Oh, right." Kōri imitated the bow, which made Cetus exhale in a way that sounded awfully like a scoff.

Alara couldn't help but smile at this.

And how are you, Al? I'm so sorry that I wasn't conscious to help you.

She felt her smile drop and automatically bit down on the inside of her cheek. Kōri must've told Cetus what had happened before she woke up.

She plastered an expression of indifference on her face and shrugged. "I'm fine. We should get going."

Cetus knew that this dismissal meant not to push her any more.

+

Breakfast was a meal of banded water snakes, and the remainder of the ramshorn snails and lemon bacopa Alara had collected the day before. She avoided looking at how much Kōri towered over her when he applied the ointment to the front of her wing, confused as to why she was listening to the sound of his near-silent breathing. Both fairies were back on Cetus' back not longer after.

The air was starting to get colder now, and Alara swore that it tasted like salt, but didn't say this aloud in case she sounded like she was crazy.

"You'll be able to see the ocean soon." Kōri announced a couple of minutes later.

He had to raise his voice louder than usual due to the wind's intensity. Alara was starting to regret making fun of Kōri's outfit choice, for it was starting to feel like little needles were peppering her bare arms, neck and face. She tried to lower herself a little behind him so that he took the brunt of the wind, clamping her teeth together so they wouldn't chatter.

"You okay back there, Sun?" Kōri asked with a half-laugh, turning his face to the side a little.

She felt herself sigh in annoyance. Did he have eyes in the back of his head?