Beginnings and Endings

[Desert]

I have an idea! Why don't we go to the beach, K'dran?[/b][/color] Dharth suggested in an uncharacteristically light-hearted tone. K'dran quirked an eyebrow from where he was spread out on one of the limbs of the tree in which his weyr resided; it was surprisingly comfortable on some of the thicker limbs, and the dappled leaf-shadows kept him from overheating in the late spring sun.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" the blackrider inquired, perplexed by his dragon's mood. Not that Dharth wasn't prone to abrupt changes in his temper, but usually those were not for the better. K'dran didn't object to the jovial tone of the big black's mind-voice, since it meant that he might escape from the torment, at least for a while. It just confused him; but no good ever came from looking a gift-runner in the mouth.

Nothing in particular, I merely crave a change in scenery.[/b][/color] A teal-swirling eye peered down at K'dran through the foliage. Come come, K'dran, or I shall leave you behind. If you wish you can even bring your two brats.[/b][/color] Dharth tilted his head down to fix his gaze on Adria, who was lounging in a bough just above her father's head.

Adria stuck her tongue out impudently at Dharth for calling her a brat, then leaned over her perch to shoot K'dran a pleading glance. "C'mon, Daddy, let's go! We haven't been to the beach in ages! Pleeeaaaase?" She bounced up and down impatiently on the branch, causing it to sway. At the bough bounced, it dipped lower and lower, and soon Adria lost her balance and slipped off. K'dran barely kept his own balance enough not to fall as he lurched to his feet, eyes wide in alarm, and held out his arms to try and catch Adria.

Luckily, the quick-witted girl caught herself on a branch just above K'dran's eye level and wrapped her arms securely around it. She grinned apologetically at her father, while Dharth roared in laughter at K'dran. The blackrider took a moment to breathe deeply and slow his heartbeat, then glared up at Adria. "You are going to be the death of me, child. Between you, your sister and Dharth I'll be gray before I'm much older."

Adria dropped into K'dran's waiting arms and was lowered safely to the limb. "Sorry Dad. It's not like I meant to fall! These things just happen."

K'dran jumped from the limb over to the narrow porch of his weyr, then gave Adria a hand over the gap between branches, and with a fond smile ruffled the girl's inky hair. "I know. C'mon, then, if you want to go to the beach then let's get ready. Juno, can you go invite Accalia and Kali?" The spring cheeped an affirmative from her perch on one of the slimmer branches that neither human had any hope of using and leaped off, winging her way toward the jaderider's weyr to summon Accalia and Kaliara.

Dharth waited impatiently for the others to ready themselves; for once, he was fairly cooperative as K'dran fitted the fighting straps around his muscular girth, since it made things go faster. Juno soon reappeared with the tidings that the jadepair and Kali would meet them in the Weyrbowl.

Adria scooped Morpheus up from where the serpentine creature was dozing in a shaft of sunlight and draped him loosely over her shoulders. The cion hissed lazily and yawned before dropping right back off to sleep. Adria smiled: he'd likely protest, once they were done with the transfer. Being more reptilian than dragons, cions had a tougher time keeping their internal body temperatures stable, and thus dislike intense cold.

Adria clambered onto Dharth's withers with K'dran's aid, and gripped the straps excitedly as her father hauled himself up behind her. Dharth leaped, hard enough that Adria's head snapped back, since the girl was less used to riding a dragon than K'dran, who had leaned forward in preparation for the leap. It was only a short glide on Dharth's massive wings to the Weyrbowl, where Accalia and Kali waited with Rownith. Juno spiralled agilely into the air and blinked out before them, chirping perkily; K'dran chuckled. "She's going to scout us out a nice place," he told Adria.

K'dran waved to the jade and passengers with a grin, then had to hang on as Dharth once more took to the air. Juno has found us a pleasant little cove to the southwest,[/b][/color] Dharth told Rownith. Here are the coordinates. I shall meet you there.[/b][/color] He transferred Juno's image to the jade, and once he had gained sufficient altitude, blinked between to the spot.

Morpheus hissed indignantly and tightened himself momentarily around Adria's neck once they had apparated back into the warm sunlight. The girl chuckled and stroked her cion's scaled back soothingly until he settled down. "Oh hush, you, it's plenty warm here, so don't sweat it," she murmured.

Dharth circled down to land so Rownith could have some space when she came from between. You did well, Juno, this truly is a fine place.[/b][/color] Unaccustomed to praise from the big black, Juno creeled in delight, gaping her maw open in a huge, silly grin. K'dran chuckled at the spring.

Dharth landed -- even lowering himself onto his belly to assist his two passengers' dismount -- and looked out over the glittering waters of the cove Juno had discovered for them. K'dran hauled the small amount of gear from his black's fighting straps, and swiftly removed the tack from Dharth's body so the behemoth was free to soak.

"This was a good idea!" Adria cried as she threw herself down onto the sun-warmed sand. Morpheus slithered onto the grit and half buried himself in it, much to Adria's amusement at the bliss she could almost see on his reptilian face. K'dran tossed a fur onto her back and spread one out for himself, chuckling at the way Juno had dunked herself in the ocean and then rolled in the sand. The little spring, who was a fairly uniform tawny color by now from the sand, minced over to where Adria and Morpheus were and plunked herself down next to the cion, then spread her sand-crusted wings to bask.
[/size]

[elainsie]

Kaliara’s slender fingers wielded the brush quite masterfully, the strokes on the piece of parchment a testament to the girl’s skill. She paused to swivel the brush in the jug of water by her left elbow, the red paint lending a pinkish hue to it, before selecting another color from the pallet in front of her. As she worked, head craned over her art, lips pursed in a study of concentration, her mother, Accalia, was outside the weyr giving her vain Jade a good oiling.

Ah that’s better! Rownith almost crooned with delight as the lanky woman worked a spot on the dragon’s left flank. Now move a little to the left…no not so far…yes, yes, stop there! The Jade instructed bossily, Accalia’s lips twitching at her dragon’s manner. Still she held her tongue, as she massaged the warm oil as instructed into Rownith’s hide, the motion rather soothing.

I think you are done now, Accalia bespoke Rownith as she took a step back from the Jade and surveyed her work, wiping her hands on a cloth she had had by the pot of oil. The Jade gleamed magnificently as the sunlight struck her hide, however this was not wholly a result of the oiling. Accalia had been bonded to Rownith for enough Turns to recognize the signs that the dragon was about to Rise.Normally a very vain dragon, this would intensify ten-fold when Rownith prepared to take to the skies, and she was really quite insufferable should she hear any male dragon compliment a female other than herself. Still, Accalia loved Rownith, the bond they had shared not having lessened in intensity whatsoever throughout the Turns, not even with the birth of Accalia’s daughters. For that was a different love altogether, something incomparable to the bond Accalia shared with her dragon.

The Jade had wondered off to find a nice rock to sun herself upon, her eyelids half closed indolently as Accalia returned to their weyr to put the various objects of oiling away, when the Spring flit came to perch on the end of her maw. Annoyed by the interruption she exhaled throughout her nostrils, the blast of air sending the firelizard toppling over and backwards, before deciding that perhaps Accalia was the better to pass the news too.

Duty done the flit returned to her owner, Accalia having assured Juno that Kaliara, Rownith and herself would join the others on this little expedition to the beach.

“Kali,” Accalia approached the youngest of the twins where she sat by the little window, sheets of parchment, both blank and filled, strewn around her. “Kali,” this time Accalia spoke louder, but she may as well have shouted the girl’s name for all that her words were getting through as caught up in her work as she was. The Jade rider laid a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, and that gesture was enough to get Kaliara’s attention, though she did stop painting as she spoke. “I’m nearly finished, I promise I will do those chores as soon as I do this one. Please?” Her hand worked furiously, adding neat brush stroke after another to the picture starting to form in front of her,

Accalia’s lips pulled into a grin, “You mean you stillhave not completed what I asked you to do this morning? Perhaps I should have you finish up those jobs then while the rest of us go swimming.”

Kaliara cursed herself silently for mentioning her errands, if she had kept her mouth shut her mother would have been none the wiser, at least until she thought to check on her. Placing her paint brush back into the jug of water she twisted around to meet Accalia. “Oh mum, you can’t expect me to stay here while you all have fun at the beach. Just look how nice it is outside,” she waved a hand rather dramatically towards the window. “Plus if you leave me here alone, who knows what may happen. Seth may come and eat me, it happened to B’tok,” the girl reminded her mother of the incident and was rewarded a grimace for it.

“I doubt Seth would care overly much for one opinionated, energetic, young girl. However I will let you join us on one condition,” Accalia held up her index finger as she spoke, ”The moment we get back you are to finish everything I asked you to, ah, wait a minute,” Accalia added as Kaliara rushed in to speak. “And I want no excuses whatsoever. Not one. If so, then you won’t be swimming for the whole of Summer. Ok?”

“But…!” Kaliara started to protest and then realized the wisdom of holding her tongue. Instead she nodded her head sharply, “Ok. Can we go now?” She pushed herself off the seat in one fluid movement, grabbing hold of her mother’s hand as she rushed out of the weyr. Accalia managed to grab the riding straps on the way out, despite the pace in which Kali attempted to haul her from the weyr.

“Come on lazy, we need you to take us to the beach!” Kaliara cried as she approached the almost slumbering Rownith, gthrowing her arms affectionately around the Jade’s neck. The dragon huffed and sulked to have been bestirred yet again, but Accalia reassured the Jade once they were at the beach she could remain undisturbed until they needed to return.

Receiving the coordinates from Dharth upon arriving at the Weyrbowl, Rownith followed the large Black between, emerging into the brilliant light that bathed the cove. Kaliara scrambled down Rownith’s back landing heavily upon the sand while Accalia followed at a more sedate pace. With her passengers disembarked the Jade flew a short distance away from the noisy humans resuming her basking, sending a clear message to all those in the vicinity that she was not to be disturbed.

Kaliara pulled off her sandals quickly, chucking them from her, as she wiggled her toes through the fine sand. The delicious, gritty feeling between her toes brought a grin to her face as she raced over to her sister’s side, flopping down on the sand next to her, sending a spray of it to fall over Adria and Juno. “Oops, sorry.” She reached out to dust some of the granules off the firelizards back, giving Juno a rub as she did so. “When do you want to go swimming? I reckon I could beat you this time.” Kali asked of her twin, as she lay stomach on the ground, head propped up by her left arm. “We could try going to that rock over there,” Kaliara pointed to some distant object quite far from shore. It was ambitious, even for Kaliara who, liker her twin sister, had been taught to swim by their mother.

[Onyxaeon]

Kaliara's finger pointed out the respective, sole spire, to her sibling, yes, but not what lay underneath the water's surface. Swimming all about the makeshift haven were all manners of various species of fish, each remaining close to the towering rock like mass for their own protection as well as to feed. Far more dangerous beasts swam that waters than the creatures dolphins had to chase away when blood dripped into the water, though none of those surface dwellers would know this. After all, centuries had been spent in keeping the inhabitants of Atlanopolis Weyr a closely guarded secret, and only legends ever made it back to the land walkers. It was often told how silver tongued creatures that were born under the Red Star would steal your children away in the dead of night, and their gruesome guardians, large enough to collapse even the greatest vessel and bring airborne dragons down to their deaths in the seas, would watch over those theives. They did not steal, though; that was myth. No, the candidates for the clutches came of their own free will, but that never stopped a biased individual from spreading rumors now did it? There would always be those who thought without knowing and those who listened without understanding, blindly following whatever was said. This Search would not run into such problems, with any luck.

In the steep drop-off several yards away from the lonely rock spire, a "gruesome guardian" exercised his patience, large fins stretched out wide across the sea floor to hold himself in place, though his sheer size all but assured he would not be moved from his location without a great deal of effort on the ocean's part. A thick column of sinew and slick flesh cranned around, eyes wandering to the Siryn he was to be watching over today, and a faint smile alomst crept onto his other wise calm exterior. The Megalaodin crooned faintly, his voice a low, vibrating rumble that echoed underneath the sound of the waves breaking above. Skailaranth, are you certain this is the beach you wish to visit first? You have barely given me time to check the surrounding waters to make sure you would be safe, dear sea spirit. Perhaps we would find candidates closer to sea holds? He suggested gently, the dark reddish hues to his neck a slight contrast to the sea around him, though only faintly as there were too many splotches of gray-black, true black, and a very pure beige to give him a disguise matching the sea's carpet effortlessly. He would not go against what she wished, for that was his way, but he would step in if need be for her safety. Until then, he was only here to keep her company and to make sure she enjoyed herself above all, regardless of whether or not they found candidates for future hatchings. Besides, it was always good to be in the good graces of the lovely sea beauties. You never quite knew if one might favor you, and then you would have a gorgeous sea jewel all to yourself because you wouldn't want any other flipper or claw to touch your treasure and tarish its glory. I have the whole day just for you, Skailaranth. If we do not find candidates from the first three places, we can take a break and find some beautiful shells or perhaps hunt a bit. I know for a fact your favorite fish are pooling about in schools now. Yes, he did make it a point to know those things about every female he looked after, but that was only because it was easier to take of something when you knew its likes and dislikes, and Siryns were no different from that. Well, perhaps in the fact that they deserved all their wonderful treatment, but then again he was biased and hat didn't much help at all.

[Desert]

Had not the group from Eden been so far away, they might have noticed a dark shape lifting from the water; the figure turned an agile flip in mid-air, then arced back into the waves. Skaila frisked about in the surf that crashed against the rocky spire, behaving for all the world like a large, odd-colored dolphin with her acrobatics. Hearing her companion begin to speak, Skai dove down below the turbulence and approached the leviathon. Playfully, the siryn swam up so that she rested her hind paws on Poseidonth's shoulders, and braced her knuckles against the sleek sides of his neck.

If you weren't so big, Poseidonth, anyone would take you for a siryn with your silver tongue. And how many times have I told you to just call me Skai?[/b][/color] She reached out and cuffed him lightly with one wing. And as a matter of fact, my intuition tells me we might find something along this coast. If we don't, then your idea can be plan B -- you know my weaknesses too well.[/b][/color]

Skaila launched herself from the megalaodin's shoulders with an artful swirl, then hovered not far away to wait for him to stir. Come on then, slow poke! You wouldn't want a sea monster to steal me away, would you?[/b][/color] she joked, grinning at her companion. Sometimes these males took their jobs as protectors far too seriously -- that was why she had recruited Poseidonth, and not the sevrills she often did, for the smaller males were far more uptight than laid back megalaodin. And if there was one thing that Skai couldn't stand, it was someone with a stick up their rear ends.


On the beach, Adria narrowed her eyes contemplatively as she regarded the spire Kali had pointed out. It was quite a fair distance away, but her twin had all but dared her; that challenge couldn't go unmet. She grinned wolfishly at Kali and heaved herself up off the sand. "You wanna bet?" she called over her shoulder as she took off running for the breakers lapping at the sand.

K'dran glanced up from his sunbathing at the antics of his daughters. "Adria, Kali, don't do anything stupid out there!" He rolled his eyes in exasperation. He knew they had been taught how to spot and escape riptides and they were both strong swimmers, but he also knew that sometimes juvenile confidence overthrew common sense. It would be a hassle to swim out to them if they needed help -- he knew he wouldn't be able to count on Dharth, though the big black was languishing beyond the breakers in water deep enough that his paws barely touched bottom.

Adria forged into the breakers and dove, striking out energetically out to sea. She glanced back at her twin every now and then to check on Kali's progress; they were physically evenly matched, so their races almost always came down to determination. She was concentrating so hard on the race that she nearly swam into Dharth; thankfully, seeing the sudden patch of black in her peripheral vision alerted her in time to chart a new course around the soaking dragon. As Adria navigated past his head, the big black snorted, which sent a spray of water into the air that rained down on the swimmers.

ooc; gah. e_e sorry for the Muselessness, guys.[/size]

[elainsie]

"Oh dad, when do we ever do anything stupid?" Kaliara's roll of the eyes was one to rival her father's, as a cheeky smile crept over her lips. She never meant to put herself in dangerous situations, they just somehow...well happened, as they well would when you were an adventorus, gregarious adolscent.

Accalia smothered the laugh that bubbled up at K'dran's obvious concern for his daughters. Even now the jaderider found it amusing to observe the blackrider in father mode. It was something she would never have predicted, would never have placed marks on no matter how good the odds. "I'm sure they'll be fine K'dran, I'll have Rownith keep an eye out just in case, but the waters are reasonably calm today and both Adria and Kali have spent the majority of Summer swimming that they are probably stronger at it now then I am."

Accalia ignored Rownith's disgruntlement over the intrusion to her peace, I'm not asking you to actively hover by them, just watch out for them, listen out to any thoughts of distress. Please? To which the Jade rumbled an assent, her faceted eyes lazily opening as she gazed out over the ocean.

"Hey, that's cheating, we were to start at the same time," Kali complained, her lithe, brown legs propelling her to the edge of the water as she gained ground on her twin. Kali just HAD to win this time. Adria had won the last and their usual pattern, by no design, was alternating. If Adria won two in a row, Kali would not hear the end of it for a week!

With minimal disturbance of the calm sea, Kali followed her sister down beneath the surface of the ocean, her strong arms and legs pushing her forwards amongst the cool embrace of the water. There was something so glorious about being submerged under water, Kali thought to herself, the feel of it against her skin, the way it made her dark hair fly out behind her. With a kick, Kali rose to the surface, taking a few deep breaths before resuming her freestyle stroke just below the surface. Adria was still ahead, but only by half a body length.

Kali had almost caught up to Adria by the time the twins reached Dharth, was so focussed she had not even noticed the black dragon and had wondered why Adria had started to take a longer route until the plume of water from the dragon washed over her. Eyes flicking only momentarily to Dharth, after all this was a race and she could not lose sight of the goal, she continued on unfaltering.

The pale sole of Adria's left foot danced in front of Kali and reaching out a hand, Kali tickled the exposed skin. "Ha! I caught up to you even though you had a head start." However there was still half the race to go, the spire quite some distance away.

[Onyxaeon]

Indeed, no matter how many times he was reprimanded by the Siryn to use her shortened name, he couldn't help but still let the full calling slip by. It was simply so lovely. Why not use it? The megalaodin's fins stretched wider across the sandy floor, stirring up clouds of the gritty material under the female's ministrations. Okay, so he was a sucker for being touched, about as much so as a canine pup loving to be pet or a feline purring when their favorite itching spot was attended to. It just...felt good. What could he say, he was a simple beast and didn't need much to get by. I could not count the times, but I cannot help myself. It is such a beautiful name. Why not let it grace the waters when spoken? The male simply allowed his eyes to follow the female as she darted off just a ways, never straying far from his sight. True, the Sevrills did take their job a bit too seriously at times, and even a Makois could do the same, but it was only because of what they had descended from. Sevrills from airborne Blues, the dragons who felt they had to prove themselves most as the smallest males of the Weyr. It was just a leftover personality trait that had not vanished when the mutations came about.

When Skai called to him to join her, Poseidonth took a moment with this, appearing slow in the mouth and tongue, for he responded to something that had been said earlier. Truth be told, he wasn't a slow minded creature, just easy natured. There was no sense to be speedy, as he saw it. I make it a point to know your weaknesses, Skai, so that I may make up for them and keep you well without being overbearing when you can do things for yourself.

His fins propped him up carefully, head swinging around to study the area all amongst his body before he pushed off, another puff of sandy clouds swirling into the ocean as his mass was brought up. The length of his rudder like tail swayed absently back and forth, almost lazy movements carrying him forward with the occasional help of his four, flipper like arms and legs. He glided up to the younger female, limbs carrying him past her, though only minorly as he didn't need to be far away from her this close to shore. The marine dragon made certain to keep his tail to himself, even cautious of accidentally smacking her with his appendages, that he barely noticed the water level lowering. He did, however, take notice of the sound vibrations tearing through the water from up above, and fainter, more distant ones that resembled sounds another of his kin would make. Poseidonth's eyes narrowed in thought, himself still pressing forward, though relaxed in his pace still, and climbing higher through the water, his body checking the pressure without thought anymore as it was second nature.

About half way up, he stopped Skailaranth, one large fin curling around the angular surface that formed her torso and chest. The hold was neither possessive nor made out of aggression, but simple instinct. She was far smaller than he; she could be easily broken and harm would find her swifter for her size and nature. I hear splashing. Someone-perhaps two someones since it is out of rhythm for just one-is swimming above us. Humans are small and we can get by without being seen easily enough, but I can hear one dragon. Two splashing means another is near, but not in the water. If he or she is overhead, we need to be deeper to avoid being seen. You can swim below me because my hide blends in better than your far more colorful one. When the Siryn did not move, he hummed a slow sigh, water passing through his gills slower than usual as he dragged on the process like taking a deep breath to calm oneself, though he was by now means out of control of losing his temper. Alright, we can stay as you wished. Humans aren't a threat, but we need to avoid their dragons. Please? The megalaodin looked on, eyes catching the foam from the surface dwellers' paddling as it was pushed underwater, the bubbles writhing back to the surface just as quickly as they had come down. The black beast beyond was vaguely in focus now for the light filtering down from above, closer to the water's surface than they had been before. Even for a dragon's keen eye, he was a ways, which meant they were deeper than he had originally thought and probably safer since dragons rarely swam out father than they could stand. With that in mind, his flipper released his loss hold on Skai, the megalaodin crooning a low, almost apologetic note for his behavior. They are only littles ones, Skai. I see that now. I suppose I should have better trusted your intuition.

[Desert]

K'dran looked over at Accalia, noting her half-smile, and shrugged. "I'm sure they'll be fine, it's just an instinct." K'dran knew that when he went into papa-bear mode it was a nearly comical juxtaposition from his usual behavior, but it didn't bother him. Very few people even saw it: the twins, who hadn't seen him before the change came about and thus didn't know anything was different or strange, and Accalia; he'd noticed the jaderider sometimes having to suppress chuckles. Dharth thought him a fool for it, but then again Dharth thought along similar lines to matter what. Everyone else in the Weyr wasn't aware of the magnitude of his change, only that he'd begun stepping up to the plate in his role as a Wingleader.


Adria's foot twitched when she felt Kaliara's fingers grazing over the sole. She glanced back momentarily, when taking a breath of air, to see precisely where her twin was, and was dismayed to notice Kali had indeed gained considerably on her. She put even more energy into her strokes then, staying focused on the tall spire ahead. She judged them to be about a third of the way there; it had been farther out than she'd thought.

That was when she heard something. It was a dragon-voice, slightly faint but still there. It wasn't Dharth or Rownith, that was certain, and she could've sworn it came from underwater. What dragon swam underwater? The puzzle gave her pause, and Adria suddenly stopped short so she could concentrate. As Kali passed she grabbed her twin's arm. "Kali! I think I hear something down there," she said, pointing into the water.


In fact, she heard Skailaranth. The young siryn was disgruntled that Poseidonth had arrested her progress with one broad fin, and turned to scold him. Some trust please, Poseidonth. I'm not reckless, if there is danger I will stay away from it. We are still quite a distance from the shore.[/b][/color] When they both noticed Adria and Kali floundering by overhead and Skai was released, she nodded at the big megalaodin. You see? This one's Mine must be up on the beach.[/b][/color] She turned toward where Dharth's dark bulk was visible through the water and sent out a stream of sound toward him. As the echoes bounced back into her horns, Skaila's eyes widened in shock.

By the Egg, he's a monster! Look at that fellow, Poseidonth! I think he's big enough to eat me in one gulp![/b][/color] At that point, as much from wariness as obliging her escort's protectiveness, Skai decided to keep close to Poseidonth. Instead, she floated closer to the surface to investigate the two young swimmers.

Adria, having heard Skai's surprised outburst, grinned. She must be talking about Dharth. She reached out a mental hand to the speaker. Hello? Who's down there? If I were you I'd keep my distance from that big monster -- if I know him, he wouldn't think twice about eating you.

Skai's head snapped up toward Adria. One of the swimmers heard her? The siryn's eyes picked up speed in excitement. Intuition struck again! Hello there! I am Skailaranth, and my companion is Poseidonth. We come from Atlanopolis and are on Search. How is it you can hear me, little one?[/b][/color]

Adria plunged her head into the water and looked vainly for Skai. I've been able to hear dragons since before I can remember, Skailaranth. You are a dragon, aren't you? Where are you?

Skai chuckled and paddled closer, until the dark silhouette of her body was visible to the two girls. Yes, I am a dragon. We of Atlanopolis are swimmers rather than fliers. And please, call me Skaila or Skai. I'm only called Skailaranth when I'm being told off.[/b][/color]

Adria pulled her head out of the water and faced her sister excitedly. "Kali, there are dragons down there! Swimmers, and they're from a Weyr I've never heard of."

Skai sank back down to where Poseidonth hovered. One of those young ones can hear us, Poseidonth. This is very promising, if I can convince them to come with us. What did I tell you? My intuition never fails. We'll have to be careful around the big one over there -- the little one I spoke to is of the opinion that the big one is not good to cross.[/b][/color] She looked up in the twins' direction. Little one, how many are with you?[/b][/color]

In the water it's me and my sister Kali, and Dharth over there. My parents K'dran and Accalia are on the shore, and Ma's Rownith is sunning up there too. Adria pondered over Skai's words. So she was on Search? Did that mean she would want to take them away to her Weyr? It was an intriguing idea, but as Adria glanced back toward the shore, she wasn't entirely certain she wanted to up and leave her parents. They would worry -- and what about Kali? Would Skai take her sister as well?
[/size]

[elainsie]

Kali grinned up at her sister as Adria turned round, using her twin's momentary lapse in concentration to become level with her. She had been prepared to make a burst of speed, and ensure first place for the first time in the race when her arm, halfway towards the water beneath, was yanked and her pace disrupted. "Wh-," was all that got out of her mouth before Adria's words cut across her.

"Something where?" Kali's head looked to both sides and then up into the sky, but aside form Dharth, and her twin, she could spot nothing else in the water. "What down there?" Kali pointed to the water, and then dived down, pulling her arm free of Adria's loose grip. She descended until her lungs were burning from the need of oxygen, eyes scanning the area for the sign of someone, or something, and quickly kicked back up, bursting through the surface, as she took great mouthfuls of air.

"I didn't hear anything, didn't see anything either, are you sure?" And then she took in the glazed look in her sister's eyes and realised her words were falling on deaf ears at that moment. Kali had spent enough time around riders and a sister who could talk to dragons to understand what that particular far-away look meant. However it also meant she would have to be patient to receive an explanation, and that was something Kali was not too good at.

Kali swam lazy circles around Adria, waiting for her twin to come back form whichever dragon she was talking to this time, when the younger twin glanced down at the water and took in the approaching shadow. Kali ducked under once again and this time was awarded a sight of the....dragon? Was it a dragon? And yet if Adria could hear it, surely it must be, right? Kali noticed her twin rise to the surface and followed, a number of questions bubbling up inside her. "What was it, Adria? What did it say? Are there more? Why is it so deep in the water? Where...." her tirade fell short as her twin spoke, Kali clamping her lips shut with some degree of effort.

Her pale eyes grew wide, "So it is a dragon! A Weyr you never heard of? What Weyr is that? And why is she hiding in the water, why have we never heard of these water dragons before. Oh please ask Adria, I want to know!" The stream of questions resuming. Had she had been on land Kali would have been jiggling such was her excitement over this 'new' dragon.

[Onyxaeon]

I do trust you, Skai. It is others I do not trust. The megalaodin hissed in mild anger, though not toward the lovely little Siyrn beside him when the dear turned to the beast in the distance and used her echolocation to decipher his size. With a low, rumbling growl, Poseidonth allowed a short burst of sonar to locate the black, bouncing off of the large male without so much as a prick to register the action as it came back swiftly to the feelers along his jaw and the top of his maw. The megalaodin did not flinch, for he was in his element and there was nothing the massive brute could do for that unless he were to heave his bulk from the sea and onto the shore, which Poseidonth heavily doubted were in the beast's capabilities, even for his girth. I could take him. If he dares to harm you or even threaten to, I'll drag him down and let the oceans crush his miserable frame. I'm big enough to be a threat, or at least long enough so. You should-will-be perfectly fine. Such violent words never came from the peaceful dragon, and so it went without question that it would raise an eyebrow if heard, as it did with his Mine whom the dragon rushed to assure. He did not want His to worry, but he also didn't want to be "out sized" when it came to protecting his-the Weyr's-females. If push came to shove, he'd ripe him apart.

Skai! Don't do that without- Before the megalaodin could stop the purple female, she had taken off to floating to greet these small human children. He gave a soft sigh. Well, she wouldn't be true to her nature if she didn't drive him out of his wits with worry and tease his patience at every bend. He could only wait as she introduced first herself and than he, going close enough to allow one to see her frame before dipping back down a touch and telling of their purpose for being here in the first place. Her friendly personality was going to be the death of him, he was certain. Not wanting to seem rude, the megalaodin's fins stroked through the waters, pulling his mass up a few several feet with the greater portion of his body still far from view of the two young girls. As he was not as graceful as Skai, this took him a moment to pull up enough so that he could stretch his neck out, his skull hovering several meters beneath the two's feet, but well within their sight. I am Poseidonth, as Skai has told you already. As for your big brute not far away, I can deter him, I am certain. The male's neck remain relatively outstretched, for the most part, as his skull turned slightly to direct his words to the Siyrn below him. Good to cros or not, we will have to show our faces soon. They are Search material, fine at that. I would be ashamed to not show them our home. They would love it, I am certain. Turning his skull back to the one whom he assumed could hear him, Poseidonth directed his next words, extending one bioluminescent feeler to stroke her underbelly, or was it called a stomach? Little one, tell me, how would you like to find a dragon like myself of Skai as your bonded? You seem to love to swim; that is our element. You couldn't be more at home than in the sea with us.

[Desert]

Kaliara's excited barrage of questions assaulted her ears, almost at the same time as Poseidonth drifted up to address her. She clamped her hands over her ears and shut her eyes tightly, crying, "Too many people talking to me at once! Kali, shut up for a sec, okay? Let me talk to Skai and Poseidonth, then I'll be able to tell you what's going on." She proceeded to ignore her twin by simply plunging herself back into the water, the better to focus on the water-bound dragons.

Skai swam closer so that Adria could see her, and gaped a grin at the girl. Adria was struck by how entrancingly beautiful this creature was; an appropriate exterior for the seductive voice she'd heard. By the way, you two, my name is Adria. Not little one. And are you serious? She glanced down to where she could dimly see Poseidonth's outline -- he was a huge beast, intimidating since she couldn't really see him, but nowhere near the size of Dharth.

Skai was about to reply, when Adria suddenly tensed and jerked up so that her head broke the surface again. She was looking in the direction of the black in the distance, so Skaila assumed she was being spoken to by him. The siryn swam backwards, closer to Poseidonth.

Adria, whomever are you speaking to? I see no one other than the two of you,[/b][/color] Dharth demanded irritably. He had been peacefully soaking, his mind closed off to everyone but K'dran -- a vacation from the Weyr and the inevitable telepathic chatter of dragons in large groups. Kaliara's speech had roused him from a light doze, but he'd ignored it, until Adria had exclaimed in frustration.

Adria looked nervously at the big black, who had one red-streaked eye turned to her, and desperately tried to think of what to say. She didn't know how Dharth would react to knowing there were aquatic dragons just beneath -- and with the behemoth, if in doubt don't tell him. Dharth was prone to aggressive reactions and Adria didn't want the two swimmers to get into a confrontation if at all possible. "Um..."

Who are Skai and Poseidonth, then?[/b][/color] the big black growled, yet more red tingeing his eyes. Adria cursed under her breath and cast an apologetic thought to the Atlanopolis dragons floating beneath the waves.

Shells, he's on to you. Sorry Skai! She could tell, even if Poseidonth and Skai were far smaller than her father's black, that the two swimmers would easily be able to overpower Dharth since they were in their element and Dharth was not; but he would certainly be able to inflict damage; or what if they killed him? She didn't want K'dran to be hurt that way, even if Dharth was a sadistic monster.

Skaila turned to Poseidonth; she may have preferred not being restricted by an overprotective guardian, but this was the megalaodin's territory more than hers. She was the Searcher, he was the Protector. Looks like we've been found out, Poseidonth. The reins are yours, my friend, you deal with yon leviathon. He's too big for me to want to tangle with and Adria seems to think he's quite angry.[/b][/color]

ooc; GRAR no Muse. sorry Onyx, i don't think Aeon likes me. at least, no more than Melpomene does at this point.
[/size]

[elainsie]

Kali pouted as Adria chided her, and watched as her sister once again ducked down under the water. It was just so...boring...waiting for her sister to have all the fun and talk to the other dragons, not being able to ask the questions she wanted to outright. Maybe....the idea popped into head bringing a huge grin to her face, maybe if she tried to talk to them, they might respond? It was worth a shot surely? But how did one try and get a dragon to talk to you?

Kali's face screwed up as she thought about what happened when Rownith, or on the odd occassion, Dharth, spoke to her. Usually the dragon's voice popped into her head with no voluntary control of hers. But what if she thought the names of these dragons? Would they pick up on her thoughts like they did Adria's? Was that how the whole dragon speaking process worked?

The young girl bobbed under the water, trying to keep her eyes open wide enough to discern the image of the two blobbish shapes. What had Adria said their names were...Skai and Posi-something" Posineth, no Poseidonth! That was it. Skai, Poseidonth, Kali let her eyes become unfocussed, well that's what happened when people spoke to dragons right? She held her index finger crossed over with her middle one on both hands as she waited, hoped, for some sort of response. But would they talk? Even if they did hear her?

OOC:It's very short and blah but I needed to write something as a) I can't stay away b)get's my mind off things

[Onyxaeon]

Poseidonth growled lowly in the back of his throat, eyes swirling from shades of blue-green to yellow with strains of orange, flecks of white spattered here and there. He would not have much time to check back on the Siryn or the two human children once the airborne dragon became alerted to his presence and, though he doubted the beast would bring harm to the small offspring of his rider and mate's Mine, he still could not afford to lose them for candidates. Not to mention Skailaranth would be in harm's way, and losing her on this Search was not an option. As the female paddled back, closer to his side, the megalaodin hummed a sigh of relief-at least she wasn’t planning on rebelling and creating a bigger situation for himself. He did not know this male-nor did he rightly care to, really-but a confrontation was inevitable, and she needed to be safely away so he could do his job. The males fins rowed through the water, the muscles flexing heavily to bring him fully around without bringing any portion of his body closer to the surface of the water, ever careful of accidentally hitting the human girls and the Siryn with his tail. As he moved closer toward the ocean’s floor, he called back up to Skai.

Please take the two little ones to that Spire-it is far enough away that he will not follow after you in the water, and you can easily dive down deep enough to be out of his reach if he passes overhead. Besides, the airborne dragons tend to not stray out past where their feet can touch the bottom. You should try to convince them quickly, dear one; they may not decide to join us if they believe their parents will not allow them to go.

The darkly shaded male touched the sandy surface, stirring up a cloud that settled almost as swiftly as it had come about, several shelled animals cursing him for disturbing their slumber. Hmm. How to go about this? He could not attack the male just out of the blue but, then again, he couldn’t let him get any closer to Skai, especially not with her trying to persuade Adria and her sibling…He was on his way to something that did not feel right, and he knew some bad blood would exist between himself and another being on this day. That was fine; he could take it. That was his job, and he would never see these creatures again with any luck given by Faranth. He would find a way around the brute, or he would go through him. I can‘t be beat, and that‘s a fact. He was murmuring to himself, though he dearly hoped his soon to be met contender heard him. It was one thing to have surprise and your element on your side, but it was entirely another to have fear. Because wars were won with fear, and enemies fell to their knees before even firing a single shot for they cowered in their silent corners waiting for the demons to go away, to slip back into the abyss they crawled free from. He was the demon this time, and he held all the cards. How fair would his opponent fair never being able to have the upper hand for once?

Gradually, Poseidonth crept closer, his fins pulling him along the surface of the ocean floor gingerly, keeping silent in his movements as Dharth came more in focus, a hide stained in black and dark red entering the megalaodin’s vision. He was far enough off and deep enough down that, from the surface with the gift of his hide coloring, even to dragon vision, if he did not move he would not be seen. But that wasn’t intention. No, he wanted Dharth’s attention on only him. He wanted the male to spook, though that was not likely, and retreat from the water’s for his next action. He drifted closer to the surface of the water, pausing ever so often so as to not be detected, before continuing. No doubt Dharth, if he were focused on the area around him instead of the twins he had been conversing with, he would see the sea monster just before him. The full impact of the warning blow had to wait.

Not yet…Closer. Almost…The megalaodin’s tail pulled back, the tension winding like it would in the coils of a spring as it was pushed down, ready to release the pent up strength at a moment‘s notice. The wide, lengthy expanse of Poseidonth’s tail surged upward through the water, breaking the surface and sending a wall of water that would not quite cover the black, but it would certainly spray him about and make him question what had done that, and that was if he did not see the rudder of a tail sliding back into the waters. After all, he was past the breaking surf. What else could have sent the warning aside from mother nature? His intentions were made then and there; if Dharth edged closer, he would not be met with fond feelings of welcome.

[Desert]

Skai risked poking her muzzle out of the water so that the two girls -- even the one who couldn't hear her -- would know where she was. Poseidonth will try to keep the big one from causing any harm, but if he reacts like we think he will, I want to get the two of you out of harm's way. Come, little ones, on my back. I will take you a safe distance away. A flier can't hurt anything under the ocean unless he goes in himself, and if he does Poseidonth and I are far better suited to it than he.[/b][/color] The siryn addressed both swimmers and leveled out so that she was only a foot or two from the surface, and the girls would find it easy to climb aboard.

Adria, knowing Dharth's ways far better than either of the marine dragons, couldn't agree more with this strategy. She slid one leg over Skaila's neck, like she would mount any other dragon, and motioned impatiently for Kali to follow suit. "Good idea. As soon as Dharth realizes there's something else in the water he'll probably flip his lid, and I don't wanna be around for that," she remarked, half to herself and half to Skai.

She felt something brush her elbow and to Adria's surprise Morpheus had swim the distance out to them. The black cion scampered onto her shoulders and wound himself firmly around her neck, giving off a baleful hiss at the water he'd just navigated. She smiled at his discomfiture and stroked his headknob until the young beta settled down, but still his grip never relaxed. It was as if the serpentine creature knew something significant was about to happen, and didn't want to be separated from his human.

When Poseidonth's broad tail kicked up a huge spray of water that rained down on his head and shoulders, Dharth's eyes erupted into blazing red. The behemoth roared in shock outrage, and surged upward. Even when he'd questioned Adria, the big black had been backing up until all four paws were firmly on sand, and had held his wings out of the water for as quick an exit as possible. Even though he hadn't known where the strangers were, he could tell that the girl was bespeaking other dragons; not knowing their location, numbers or anything except two names immediately set off warning klaxons in the black's suspicious mind, so he'd prepared himself to take the offensive.

Poseidonth's warning splash released all that coiling tension, and Dharth sprang into action. A mighty heave from every muscle in the behemoth's massive body lifted him out of the water, though his deep chest barely cleared the surface and left all four legs still submerged. Then, huge downsweeps of his wings picked up where that momentum petered out, and the big black labored into the air. It wasn't as speedy or graceful a takeoff as he normally executed, but considering he'd been up to his chest in sea-water it was an impressive feat.

Now airborne and very angry that he'd been caught unawares by this denizen of the ocean, the big black's reddened gaze raked the sea's undulating surface for signs of the strangers. A few tongues of flame licked eagerly at his maw as another bellow, this one full of malice and rage, tore its way free.

On the beach, K'dran leaped upright in consternation at his dragon's unexpected outburst. "Dharth! What in Faranth's name happened?" he yelled, then looked in concern at Accalia. The twins weren't far from where Dharth had been wallowing, and if the big black went on a rampage, it boded ill for anything nearby. Juno was up and weaving agitated patterns in the air around his head, chittering in alarm and anxiety that equaled her human's.

There are dragons in the water. I know not why or how, or from where they came, but they are here and one just made itself known to me. Your daughter seems to have bespoken them. I will not tolerate these strangers lurking about, they may be the cause of all these ridiculous stories about sea monsters and such nonsense. If they are, then they will have cause to not bother us ever again if I can get to them,[/b][/color] Dharth growled tersely. Even though this stretch of beach was unclaimed by any Hold, and thus under the jurisdiction of no Weyr, the mere fact that these strangers had shown up where he happened to be relaxing and violated his personal space was reason enough in the black's mind to warrant an attack.

K'dran cursed, fluently and loudly. With Dharth in his current state of mind, he wouldn't give any thought to flaming anything that showed itself above the water, and that included his rider's offspring. He might just decide that Adria and Kali were the cause for the intrusion, since Adria had been in contact with them, and punish the girls for their involvement. "Dharth, you do realize that while they're in the water, whoever they are, nothing you do will touch them?" K'dran asked pointedly.

Then I shall keep them pinned underwater and drive them away. If they are air-breathers this will hasten their retreat. If they are not, they will still not be able to get too close to the surface or I will be able to attack them.[/b][/color] The behemoth was circling around where the disturbance had been, just far enough away from the surface that he gauged he would be safe if the marine dragon launched itself out of the water and tried to attack.

K'dran stood, now with the breakers lapping at his feet, and glared fiercely toward the action. "Fine, do whatever you like, just don't hurt the twins!" he pleaded.

I see them not, K'dran. Perhaps the "sea monsters" came to steal them away, and that attack on me was a diversion. Even if they do reappear, I promise nothing. If they get between me and my target that is their misfortune.[/b][/color]

The Wingleader's face emptied of blood. If the situation hadn't been what it was, Dharth would have laughed in scorn at the intense dread that manifested in his rider's mind as his words filtered through K'dran's thoughts. He turned to Accalia, eyes wide and wild with fear. "Accalia, Dharth says there are dragons in the water out there, and he can't see either of the girls." If the gesture hadn't had the risk of being attacked by the strangers -- or by Dharth himself -- K'dran would have already thrown himself into the water and swum out to look for his daughters.

Meanwhile, Skai had waited just long enough for both twins to situate themselves securely onto her back, warned them to take a deep breath, and dove. She went deep enough that nothing going on at the surface would bother them, but still without going down to the depths she would were she alone, to avoid subjecting Adria and Kali to the overwhelming pressure. Good, little ones, we'll be safer down here. I'm taking you out to that spire, all right? It will hopefully be far enough out that the big one won't notice while Poseidonth deals with him. Keep holding your breaths, it won't be much longer now.[/b][/color] Her voice was a soothing purr, reassuring and warm, for she knew that diving deep down and staying under for extended periods tended to frighten some landwalkers. She proceeded, once at an acceptable depth, to race at her fastes toward the rocky spire. Time was of the essence to keep her charges from drowning. She didn't want to have to surface before getting to the Spire.

ooc; that's way more than i expected from Melpomene. [/size]

[elainsie]

A grin wide enough to split her face into two graced Kali's features. It had worked, the dragon had bespoke her! The lilting, musical voice of Skai filled her head; was it any wonder such stories circulated about the beautiful voices that could tempt mere mortals into the ocean? In that instant Kali realised how hard resisting any command made by the sea-dragon would be; how she had no inclination to do anything but follow the Siryn's orders.

Kali did not need to ask for clarification over Skai's mention of the big one, the way she spoke made it evident enough she alluded to her father's black dragon; Dharth. And even if Kali had been in a positon to protest, the girl was not stupid. Both her parents had warned the twins time and again about evoking Dharth's ire; had often come rather close to an ugly encounter in their earlier years when they had not heeded such warnings.

Following her sister's example Kali made her wide-eyed way to the purple dragon, wondering if at any stage she might wake up and realise this was just some fanciful dream. Placing a hand gently on the dragon as she levered herself over Skai's back, settling behind Adira, and held her hand perhaps longer than necessary against the dragon's flank. "You're so beautiful," she whispered softly, though whether her voice carried towards the creature her words were directed towards was doubtful.

Accalia's eyes, despite her best efforts, had been slowly closing as she lay stretched out in the sun, her hands propping her head up on the Sand. The Jade rider trusted Rownith to alert her to anything concerning the twins, and she felt it was a rare moment to relax; after all they were away from most of the dangers of Eden and her daughters were of an age when they could look after themselves, at least for the better part.

However K'dran's outcry startled her from her reverie, her eyes snapping open, the adrenaline surging. Little could so perturb K'dran, it had to be something to do with the twins. She jumped off from her spot, shielding her eyes from Rukbhat, as she gazed across the expanse of water and saw....no sign of Adria or Kaliara. Pupils dialted to such an extreme her eyes appeared nearly entirely black, she turned back to K'dran. "What happened? Where are the girls?"

But before waiting to hear a reply from the blackrider her eyes became unfocussed as she addressed Rownith. Why did you not alert me? You were meant to be watching them! Accalia's heart hammered in her chest, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes strayed back to the water, searching hungrily for a sign to indicate where the twins may have disappeared to.

You nearly fell asleep, how could you have expected me to stay awake, the Jade grumbled but underneath the tone was a tinge of guilt. Rownith knew how much Accalia cared for her children, how scared she was at that very moment, and Rownith knew that some of the blame lay with herself.

K'dran's words broke through her conversation with Rownith and Accalia's attention returned to K'dran. "What dragons? Surely we would have seen if anyone else was here, and what would they have to do with Kali and Adria; they are only young girls. Where are they now?" She wanted to ask K'dran to call Dharth off, so she could get Rownith to take her over the area where the twins had been swimming, but through her Turns of association with both rider and dragon knew that was as futile as trying to stop a stampede of runner beasts.

However Rownith sensed the idea held by Accalia and in a rare, courageous moment, perhaps in a chance to redeem herself, she lifted her lithe frame from her perch and flew out over the water, careful to keep outside of Dharth's flaming range.

Accalia did not notice Rownith leave until it was too late to do anything about it and she felt both relief and concern over her dragons actions. It was true Rownith could do little to dissuade Dharth from his antics but perhaps she could get the twins away before anything untoward happened. If she could find them.

Rownith, what do you see? Are Kali and Adria there?

Rownith dived into the water, twisting her body into the cool embrace of the ocean, and not far from the surface spotted the Siryn with her passengers.

The twins are beneth the water, on what may or may not be another dragon. Do you want me to go after her? It looks as if whatever it is, is taking the twins to that spire you can see far out in the water. Rownith pulled herself from the water, allowing her lungs time to replenish, before diving back down again.

K'dran says there are other dragons there, please follow the twins, and if you see any chance to rescue them, do so. Accalia paced anxiously on the shore, as she kept her eyes glued to the place where her Jade had reentered the water.

Adria, Kaliara, Rownith bespoke the two girls seated upon the Siryn, You're mother is worried about the pair of you. What is this creature you ride upon, and where are you going? Are you able to escape from her? I am not that far away that I could bring you both safely back to shore but I need you to swim a little closer to the surface, I can't hold my breath for long enough under the water. The Jade once again returned to the surface, as she awaited for a response.

[Onyxaeon]

Poseidonth lingered closely to the surface after Dharth had roughly pulled himself from the waters,m the megalaodin's muzzle tip barely breeching the water's surface. As the waves created from the black's departure washed over his maw, Poseidonth's nostrils closed to prevent water from getting into the special set of lungs he bore that allowed the air to reach him from the surface. Before the last wave poured over his face, Poseidonth's ears were greeted with Dharth's furious roar of warning, the airborne dragon crying out his startled, aggravated defiance of the megalaodin's attack. To this, a king of Atlanopolis could not back down. His very authority and the lovely Siryn in the distance had been threatened! Why, that was a death sentence!

Poseidonth once more slipped away from view, the red-beige coloration of his hide guarding him from sight for the grainy sands below bore his hues. He did not hesitate to turn about, gravity and the water pressure dragging his mass to the ocean floor without any effort on his part. For the first time since the Searchingpair had left the Weyr, the lazy, half hearted strokes of the male's fins rowed violently through the surrounding water, the megalaodin's body spinning as he shot toward the sky with full intentions of breeching. His angle was that of one that would place him a distance from the black circling overhead but, if he was quick in the air and none too cowardly a creature, he may be able to target the sea dragon.

As Poseidonth broke the surface, his fins tucked against his sides, himself uttering a echoing bellow of malice directly solely for the black behemoth who dared to threaten an Atlanopolis female. You're in my way. Dare me to drag you down to you grave. The acid dripped from his parted jaws, the rows upon rows of fangs glistening as Rukbat caught the ivory spears before the megaloadin's skull, neck, and torso slipped beneath to find shelter from the flames that would come. His rudder of a tail, however, would take longer, and just the middle was sliding below by the time Poseidonth had set his sights to the Jade who had come far too close for comfort to the Searching female and her cargo for his liking.

I'll tear you apart and let the fish feed on your remains. Move or suffer. Of course, he could not very well give her the chance to leave; she was a threat, and all threats must be eliminated unless it was impossible to do so at that time. She was smaller than the ebony beast flying overhead, and she was also far more vulnerable sitting like a waiting foul in his territory. In his fury, the bio-luminescent bulbs along his maw and the length of his body radiated an icy blue fog of light that, even for his depth, Dharth would see if he searched for their brightness. Another bellow, this one more leaning toward a roar, strained his vocal chords, pouring all the anger and hatred a generally peaceful creature could muster in order to frighten the female as he corkscrewed toward the bottom, angling upward as he neared the female. He intended to kill, and even if she managed to lift herself up into the air, his mass would surely crush her wings and pull her under before she could even register what had happened. No, escape was futile, and even the riders so far from the coming bloodbath could see that if she did not move soon, Rownith would be taken down by the supposedly fictional sea monster. The ocean's guardians were in it to win, and defeat was not a term they accepted.