Citizen 562 Kiko

The morning air was cool and crisp, cold wet dew clung to the blades of grass around a pair of rexal standing along the water bank. The sun rose overhead, brightening the cloudless sky and warming all those beneath. One could not ask for better weather from within the dome, with the calm weather brought even calmer waters. Gentle waves lapped at the land’s edge, creating a soft and relaxing sound that washed over the pair.

Kiko stretched her large arms out in front of her, leaning back and getting a good stretch in. The large green female who was normally rather aloof and relaxed was more up tight and her face was painted with a slight bit of worry. She shook herself out from nose to tail tip as she tried to escape the feeling. She was about to dive down farther than she had before into the Posian trench, hoping to recover some valuables to prove her right into adulthood. But it was easier said than done. Her worry was eating her when she needed to focus, anything could go wrong that far below the surface. She needed to concentrate on her magic and the task at hand. Trying to cover up her anxiety the best she could, she looked over her shoulder at the equally as novice terra coated male behind her. “Are you ready?” She asked.

Kry smiled at her, it was plain as day to him that she was on edge. He could easily see her tight muscles twitching beneath her short fur. “As long as you are sure,” He said to her as he tried to ease her nerves. “And we will be fine, you know how many others dive down daily? I wouldn’t be surprised if we see more company while we are diving.” The large rosette spotted male chuckled before giving her a reassuring pat on her shoulder. “You remember your magic right? Just concentrate on your breathing spell, you will be more comfortable once we get down there.” He finished, and with a beaming smile slight smoke seeped through his clenched jaw, and all the apertured lining his neck, arms, and tail. 

The beefy male stepped into the water, waiting for Kiko to join him by his side. When he also saw a blue glow erupt from her he knew that she had cast an extended breathing magic upon herself that would give themselves the time to explore the depths of the trenches below. He waded farther into the water until he felt the ground fade from beneath his feet. Now treading water he did one quick loop before diving down, his magic leaving a bright glowing trail behind him. Peering under his arm, he looked back to check on how Kiko was faring behind.

Kiko wasn’t too far behind Kryo as she watched her surroundings. It didn’t take long for everything to get darker and darker around her. Her dark green coat blended in with the inky black waters around her, and soon all she could see was Kry’s blue magic drifting before her. She nudged his mind gently, sending him a message to check in. “How can you even see down here? I can’t even see my own paws anymore.” Her mind sang to his gently, waiting for a reply.

Back to her he chuckled, “If you aren’t sure where you are going, let a bubble loose to see where it goes. And you go the opposite.” He smiled even though he knew that she probably couldn’t see it. “I think we will be there soon,” He said, as he had finally caught a glimmer from the corner of his eye.

Kiko saw it too, with Kryo’s light laughter still rolling around in her head. Just below them was the twinkle of some sort of light. Kiko had of course heard all the stories, she had just never been able to witness it for herself yet. The tales of the deep trench being littered with remnants of glowing magic, that changed creatures and plants alike. Her magic illuminated around her as she got closer to the source of the glow, which appeared to be some sort of anemone type creature. She tilted her head slightly before she reached out a single claw tipped finger.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Kryo warned her. “We don’t know what any of the life is or does this far down, we don’t want to take any chances. If it looks alive I don’t think we should touch it.” But he shared in the marvel with her, the green glowing creatures swayed slightly with the movement of the water caused by the two rexals. “C’mon, let's go see what else we can find.” He said before he kicked back off and began to head even deeper. He passed by multiple caves that were littered with glowing rocks and mollusks. Strange squid looking creatures skittered between the pair, causing them both to startle and then share in laughter.

“I wonder what’s at the bottom, have you ever heard any stories?” Her voice echoed into his head gently, she was curious but she knew she couldn’t venture down that deep yet. She needed much more practice even being at this level of depth before she could dream of going down that far.

“Bones, I think.” His voice was both smooth and rough, and whenever he spoke it was pleasing to her ear. “From what I’ve heard, big ones at that. No one really knows much else. Maybe one day we can discover it for ourselves.” Kryo tossed her a wink, now that they could see more clearly than before due to all of the residual magic glow. “Do you think we could find a little souvenir while we’re down here?” He asked her as he kicked off the ground once more, bouncing slowly off the bottom instead of swimming for now.

“I’m sure we can find a little something to bring back, instead of just stories if we try hard enough.” She returned Kryo’s smile with one in return and followed in his bounding footprints. It turns out they would leave their own little mark this deep down as well, though the passing of any large fish or whale would probably disturb the sand enough to erase them completely. She then noticed something green glint from where Kryo had stepped just moments before. “Hold up a minute,” She asked him as she gently waved a bit more of the sand away. Enough to reveal the little gleaming treasure. It looked to be a small jade statuette carved in the likeness of a great wolf, its small head turned back into a howl.

Kryo circled back to look at what she had found, taking a moment to marvel as she turned it this way and that. “Well, I’d say you’ve got a good memory right there if your paws.” His voice danced around her head gently, before he carried on one last warning. “And I think it’s also about time we start to head back up, I can feel a slight strain on my breath. Are you ready to go?”

Author: Atrocias