Swimming with the Dolphins

Writers: AL, Vix
Date Posted: 26th August 2008

Characters: Mahantan, Alydelle
Description: Alydelle is swimming with the dolphins and Mahantan joins her for a while.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 11, day 26 of Turn 4
Notes: This takes place before 'Not A Game'.

It was free time, a time when she could do whatever she wanted as long as she didn't break any rules. Alydelle loved those times. Sometimes she would read, perhaps get a little ahead on her classes. Once in a while she might take a nap if she had a particularly trying day. Most of the time, however, Alydelle could be found in the water, enjoying the company of the dolphins. Sora was her favourite, but she loved all of them. She loved playing with them, clinging to their fins as they pulled her along. One of the larger ones would even let her surf along his back, though it would only last for a few seconds. The highlights of her day were her times spent with the happy creatures of the sea.

Mahantan had much on his mind and had decided to approach it in a new way – a way that he should have considered long ago. He would swim, something he enjoyed, that he found relaxing, that refreshed him and allowed him to approach his problems and questions with a fresh point of view. Funny, he knew that, knew that swimming renewed him, and yet he put off his times in the water, trying to get as much work done as possible and often discovering that the day had escaped him.

However, he could see that Forrel was occupied. He shaded his eyes to see her, swimming with others of the pod and with a human. The dolphin appeared to be engaged in what she was doing so he would not call her in – but he could swim to her. He set aside his towel and dove into the water.

The sound of Mahantan entering the water was muffled by the squeals of laughter as Alydelle played with the dolphins. Sora nipped gently at Alydelle, then splashed her with his tail. Aly squealed and kicked back, only to find her movement cut short by some sort of object. She turned to see the Master of Apprentices. "Oh!" The girl quickly backed away, her cheeks bright in embarrassment, I'm sorry, Master, I didn't see you."

"It's not a problem, Alydelle." Mahantan had been surprised to see this particular girl, never having heard her laugh and accustomed to a much quieter demeanor. "Obviously the pod enjoys your company."

"I enjoy theirs." They were her friends, the only ones she really had. They didn't ignore her, and they didn't tease her. Alydelle loved the way they liked her just the way she was. "I uh...I can go if you want."

"Why?" One hand on Forrel's dorsal fin, Mahantan's other hand described a wide arc. "There's plenty of space here. Unless you don't want to swim with me?"

"Oh no, I just thought you wouldn't..." Aly flushed and looked away. Sora moved forward and playfully slapped at the water with his tail, splashing her. This brought about a small smile. "I just...didn't expect to see you here."

"I don't usually get time," the Master told her to be interrupted by Forrel.

"All-way time swim," the dolphin told him, the large dolphin face smiling at him.

"Not all of us can have the luxury of being able to live in the water all the time." Alydelle cast her own smile upon Forrel. "Not for lack of desire, though."

"Explaining to her is a lost cause," Mahantan replied, fondly scratching the dolphin's domed head. "For turns I've been trying to tell her that our bodies aren't designed to stay in the water all the time."

Sora clicked and moved over to playfully splash at both Forrel and Mahantan and Alydelle smiled wistfully. "Wouldn't it be nice if they were, though? It'd be nice to be a dolphin, I think."

"Sometimes it feels that way," the man admitted, "but we'd miss much of what's important in life if we never went ashore."

"Yeah, I guess." She'd miss Mordin, that was certain. But she certainly wouldn't miss the other apprentices! The dolphins rarely if ever seemed to pick on one another.

"And I'd certainly miss some of the conversations I have with humans," Mahantan told her. "After all, it's sometimes nice to speak about something other than where the best fish are running or what the weather will be in the next few days."

"Hm." Maybe. She didn't mind the conversations she had with her teachers, the journeymen and women, the Masters. Conversations with other apprentices...well, Alydelle wasn't very good at talking to people to begin with. After her first day there and the bullying that had started, she had gotten even more reclusive - and suspicious. Which made Mordin all the more precious to her. He didn't make fun of her. He _liked_ her. She could talk to him.

Mahantan watched the play of emotions over the girl's face and decided that whatever was troubling her, it would not be revealed to him – better to leave her with the dolphins since she obviously relaxed around them. "Well, as much as I've enjoyed that, I've a tableful of hide that need my attention. I suppose I'd better head for shore."

"Are you sure, Master?" His words abruptly brought her attention back to her companion. "If you want to stay, I can go. I don't...I don't want to run you off."

"No, I've no time right now." He started toward the dock but paused, treading water. "The pod seems to enjoy your company, so take advantage of it. Learn from them. Skip your next class and write about what they have told you instead."

"Oh!" The suggestion caught her by surprise, but it brought a smile to her face. "Yes sir!" Now that was an assignment she would truly enjoy!"

He nodded, knowing from her reaction that this was how he would truly be able to assess this apprentice's abilities. "I'll make the arrangements with your instructor. Bring me the results of your research tomorrow morning."

"Yes sir!" A grins cracked warmth into the girl's features and she immediately turned back to the creatures that milled about her. She couldn't think of a better assignment to be given.

Last updated on the August 26th 2008

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Swimming with the Dolphins