Human Error

The Language of the Sea

As the group descended to depths beyond what they've ever travelled, bystanders and habitants' eyes followed them. They studied their every move; every flick of their foot or hand, blink if an eye, they watched it all. Squid was noticeably uncomfortably as she swam faster, making the others work harder to keep up.

Creatures of the deep swam about, though some still watched, and went about their daily lives. Most seemed to be only water dwelling creatures, but a couple looked like they could survive on land for a little bit. Most had some sort of tail like a fish, whether they had legs or not was a different story. Those who lacked that tail made up for it with webbed appendages or tentacles, though the squid/octopus-like creatures were much much smaller and circular. There was one that looked humanoid, but the rest were their own kind; different in each and every way.

Quiet chatter could be heard, though it was just as, if not more, bubbly than how Kh'Zk had spoken before. It was muffled and yet somehow clear, despite the fact everyone aside from Eyes knew nothing of the language. How their Triclops friend knew? They assumed it just came with the way he was made.

The swim took about 20 minutes, spare a couple, to get to that castle the new one called "home."

Home was a thing the kids didn't have. Not technically.

The foreign language, which they'd come to learn to be called "Xerisle," was spoken amongst the two who knew it. Eyes' was still broken and choppy as he didn't seem to know much, but Bubbles was fluent having grown up with it.

"She says there's no water inside, so she's going to get rid of the air bubbles."

A chorus of "OK's" followed and they were let in, the bubbles popping as they entered. Inside lay a place of beauty, though it was disturbingly clean. Almost as if no one lived there.

"Live alone," said the squid alien.

"Why? If you..don't mind me asking," it was Historia.

Squid went quiet, still, and tense, with her eyes trained on the tiled, sea green floor.

"Never mind, anyway, this is a nice place."

"Thank you," then a pause. "Make self home."

"What?" Guardian asked the question everyone else silently asked.

She tried again and eventually told the Triclops in Xerisle, who translated it to them. "Make yourself at home."

As awkward as they all were, they sat down on a sofa-looking-thing and talked quietly with each other and Squid. They tried teaching her more English while her and Eyes tried to teach them some Xerisle.