The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,106
about this, for I didn’t know of it, and he said this is why we understand the beasts of the sea, something the Mer are as well, for we have the ability to listen and understand underwater.”
This was important to know.
And I wondered, if this hearing underwater had something to do with why I could hear so well out of it.
“Silence,” she called.
“Yes,” I answered, I thought unnecessarily, as I was right there.
“My friend…” she let me go, “swim.”
For a moment, I was suspended. Uncertain.
Then I looked around.
The water was very blue.
The depths below seemed very gray.
And I saw a vast school of tiny, shimmering, silvery fish swimming some distance away.
This was before I felt a whisper of something against my fin, another, and I flipped it automatically as all about me another school of glistening fish swept by me, causing what felt like an all-over tickle.
I laughed and pushed after them, feeling Jorie and Ha-Lah swimming at my sides, but behind me, and I looked over my shoulders in turn to send them grins.
A sentiment they both reciprocated.
The school as one suddenly darted to the left, and I messed the turn, going wide, but I watched as Ha-lah looped her head, dipped a shoulder, and spiraled into her turn in an elegant manner I made mental note to try myself.
We followed the school for some time, striking ever deeper, though it was probably only me doing it in wonder.
I could see fish, floating bits of detached seaweed.
But mostly, I sensed the vastness around me.
It went so far down, and so wide in all directions, it felt like I could swim for years and years and then keep swimming.
However, this was not overwhelming.
No.
Instead, I felt…
Free.
Of a sudden, Jorie powered ahead of us, before he swam in front of me, cutting me off, helixing up, and Ha-Lah and I followed him.
And when Ha-Lah passed me, smiling back my way, she did this exclaiming, “Oh, Silence! You’re in for a treat!”
We both chased after Jorie’s powerful tail, me doing so pleased that I had found my pacing with my fin, and it wasn’t long before I saw them.
And begorrah.
What marvel!
I kicked my fin faster as Ha-Lah and Jorie pursued them.
This was when I felt a tickle in my throat, the emotion sting my eyes, as I watched Jorie, then Ha-Lah, join a large pod of dolphins.
There had to be thirty of them, maybe forty, even babies!
They were glorious.
Jorie’s big body and long fin curled around one, then another, and they began to butt him with their bottle noses, and I would swear to the gods, they were smiling at him.
Come play.
When these words came to me, I stopped swimming abruptly.
Jorie, Ha-Lah and the dolphins were swirling on, distance forming between us, but three dolphins at the end of the school broke off, swum to me, beyond me…
They then turned, surged up all about me, causing the waters to churn and bubble and propel me with them, and I heard it again.
Come play.
By the gods!
Just as Ha-Lah said!
They could speak to me!
I kicked and struck out with my arms as one dashed over the top of me from one side to the other, one doing the same below, and then another over me, then one raced in front of me.
I liked this “play.”
I liked it very much.
Thus, I laughed, joined in and swam with the dolphins.
Jorie made his way back, curved around, took position beside me and guided me deeper into the pod.
Some of the dolphins rose up, breaking the surface, only to dive back down, causing effervescent white foam and bubbles to form around us that tingled as you swam through them and just felt…
Happy.
My brother and I swam side by side, skimming through it.
“How do you feel, my little sister?” Jorie asked.
I turned my head to my handsome brother.
And answered with complete honesty, “Like I’ve finally come home.”
His smile could light up the sea.
Then we both struck forward.
And we played with the dolphins.
I held the rope tight in my hands as they heaved me up.
When I made the deck, Mars caught me in his arms in the cocoon of a large sheet of toweling and pulled me aboard, dropping to his behind on the deck and holding me against the warmth of his chest.
My tail flipped and flopped on the wood as I looked up at my husband to see his eyes locked on my fin.