Deneli had a thrill going through, the kind that often kept her up at night. She just wanted to swim forever, though she knew she'd regret it later during the day. Something about the water seemed unsettling today though. Deneli wouldn't be able to sleep through it.

It was then Deneli took a moment to resurface, and a large bolt of lightening cut through the sky. She made a face of awe then remembered something. Prince Eric! His Ship crashed. During a storm! Deneli felt like singing, just like the little mermaid. Immediately she directed herself to go towards the general area where the lighting had come from, even though she'd always been told not to do that. She couldn't resist though! What if there really was a prince who'd fallen of his ship??

It became difficult to swim the closer she got. The water seemed to be going wild. For a moment she wondered if Emphadon was angry, but the thought only brought her a laugh. She swam around the unsettled waters, not actually expecting to find anyone but, for the moment, allowing herself to be completely immersed in the fantasy.

She saw something that she thought may have just been a piece of garbage floating through the water. It was so small. She always took it as her responsibility to keep the ocean clean. As she swam closer, though she still wasn't able to identify what it was. Was it some kind of fish.

Once Deneli closed the distance between herself and the object she realized it had a face! Still she wondered if it was some kind of sea creature. What else would he be doing in the water? "Helloooooo~?" She fully expected the creature to either turn tail and run or otherwise turn towards her and answer her. Maybe he was a student at the academy! Or.. Or maybe he was the prince!

Luppa didn't want to give up hope of his masters returning, but as the time passed, he was really starting to believe that they'd never come back. He splashed around, his strength ebbing away. He was all alone... in the middle of the ocean. He looked around, the moon barely reflecting off an island in the distance. Could he reach it...?

He sensed another presence in the water, and he immediately froze, his first instincts flying to SHARK. His little legs kicked lamely, hardly propelling himself in any direction. He had to get away - true, his very purpose in life was to serve others... but he loved the world too much to go yet!

The greeting startled him. The shark said hello? Usually, he had every greeting ready at the tip of his tongue, but right now, he only had salt water. "Blaaahhh...!" he spluttered, reaching out pathetically to hold this creature, disorientated. Right near, it appeared to be his only source of safety.

Aha! He wasn't sea creature. She knew it! Deneli noticed the odd appendage hanging limply from his back. A flier? But he was a missing a wing! She felt a pang of pity, imagining it to be like trying to swim with only one fin.

Deneli tilted her head to one side, as though trying to look at him from a different angle. Then she giggled. "You're a funny prince!" She turned over on her back and took Luppa in her arms, swimming specifically so that most of his body would remain above the surface of the water. Essentially, she was swimming backwards in the direction of the island.

Funny? He was being funny? The servant instinct inside him was glad to be of use to someone, even if it was merely being an entertainment. But his mind was still whirling from his recent events, he couldn't be quite sure what was even going on, or if he was even awake. He was feeling a little drowsy...

As he was taken into the arms of something loving, a dozy smile crept on his face. Rescue... was this rescue? Had a master returned? He returned the cling, albeit with confusion.

An old habit returned to him, a tongue that slithered out of his open mouth, just wanting a taste, a small taste of his rescuer, just to see if he recognised them... But before he had the chance, the sea water gushed into his mouth, causing him to uncomfortably hack and squirm - hardly the elegance one might expect from supposed royalty.

A delirious whine slipped from his throat. "I...nnnah... is... is... m-master?" Was he even forming a sentence? He couldn't even tell.

((Ambrose and Disaster continue to: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and Deneli and Luppa continue to: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

.......♪