Fins

Chapter 3

AN: Hey guys! So this is a bigger chapter in both length and the moving forward of things happening, please let me know what you think of the story so far by way of comments or voting with that lovely star button on the bottom!! Thanks and enjoy as always!! - Raven

Chapter 3

The days soon turned into weeks and life passed as usual for me. I helped around the cave, ran any errands my father had laid out for me the previous night and attended a few classes with the other girls that were nearly adults in the azinzan culture just as I was. My free time consisted of swimming towards the outskirts of town, careful to keep to the deeper parts so that I could sneak away effectively enough to my favorite place. The sunken boulders at the base of which I liked to loiter were known to attract a lot of goods that had fallen from passing ships as the structures were tall enough to stand high above even the surface and thus, sometimes causing ship wrecks during the rage season of the ocean. There was a sunken ship just over three clicks from where I liked to spend my free time. The ship was out of bounds for citizens, and even though I was technically still within the limits set for those of lower birth status such as myself, it wasn't looked on highly to find anyone so far out from the Palace center where all intelligent life in the empire resided. Especially if it was just a sole female.

I made my usual rounds, looking in all the best crevices. The ocean had been peaceable enough recently so I didn't actually think there would be anything to find. It was more of a way to relax and keep myself busy than anything else, so when my eyes passed over the thin strip of metal, I almost swam past without another thought. I stopped in my path and flipped over to retreat back to where I had seen the shine amongst the dull rocks. Nestled between two large rock faces was a gold band about a fingers width length wise. Edging close to the stones, I reached a slender arm in to grab at the object curiously. It came out easily enough and I brought the ring to my face for better inspection. It didn't look too beaten up at all, in fact it looked as though it had only just recently been deposited in the niche where I had found it. The center looked big enough to fit my arm through which I did carefully, bringing it all the way up past my arm fin and almost to my armpit where it was finally stopped by my flesh. Spreading out my arm to get a better look at my new treasure, I admired the way it looked up against my skin, twisting and turning the article so that it would better catch what little light there was around. With a last minute decision, I took the jewelry off of my arm and keeping it as concealed as I could in the cusp of my hands, swam off towards home where I could better keep it from harm and other prying eyes.

At the cave entrance, I peered inside and sent out an inquiring greeting that was met with silence. Swimming over to my little corner, I pried open my fingers to reveal the shining object. I slipped the band around the top of my bicep again and continued to admire its beauty. It wasn't often that jewelry was allowed in His Deepness's Realm. Only those who lived in the palace, the imperial family and their personal assistants of all sorts, or those about to be wed.

Not sure where else to place my new find without my sisters finding it, or worse my father, I kept it on but plucked a decently sized blade of sea grass and wrapped it around the band and my arm as though I had gotten injured. Making sure that the wrappings were secured, I patted it down and was just about to exit again when I felt the approach of someone not too far off. I waited to the side of the entrance, curious as to who was returning at such an odd time.

Tycho burst through the opening in the cave and came to an abrupt stop when he saw me waiting just off to the side.

Echo, I'm glad you're here. You need to come with me.