A Dolphineer

Writers: Jane
Date Posted: 17th October 2008

Characters: Leisenn
Description: Leisenn takes a morning off to explore.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 12, day 11 of Turn 4

The tide was right, the morning cool enough to not put her off, and the Hallmaster creased the piece of paper firmly, making it stand on her desk to display her message.

"Gone swimming. Back by midday. Leave a note."

The elderly woman smiled. The Hall should be able to look after itself for a few candlemarks and if it couldn't she would change things until it could.

In the meantime she was going out with Tu and the local pod - his acceptance by them appeared to still be in the tentative stages, and he regarded the invitation to swim with them as an honour for both of them.

Leisenn was happy to support her dolphin partner in his quest for acceptance, though as a young male from half a continent away he might never become one of them. Time would tell. And then there was another motive for Leisenn and her plans for the morning.

Although she had been at the Hall – _Her_ Hall, she corrected herself with a pride she hoped wouldn't prove to be misplaced.

Although she had been at her Hall for almost a month she had spent very little time learning the geography of the place. The bay that held the old SeaHold they now used as the Dolphin Hall, the coastline and currents of the larger cove that took its name from the dolphins that had always frolicked there. If she was going to be able to make credible decisions then she needed to know the area as well as the locals did.

She left her office and headed along the warren of corridors. Whoever had carved the Hold in the cliffs in such a traditional style hadn't bothered with too much with design. Corridors went off in all directions into and along the cliff, as if every time expansion had been needed they had just started tunnelling. Despite the rambling route she eventually reached the equipment storage room, a long, narrow room, not very far from the water.

She cast an eye over her tanks but left them where they lay, taking only her flippers, mask, and snorkel. Like most dolphineers she could easily spend half a day in the water with only those aids, and anything she wanted a closer look at – the sort of look that needed breathing equipment – she would visit another day. That was one thing getting older had almost cured her of – impatience.

She grinned to herself. Almost.

"Readee?"

Even as she sat on the smoothed rock of the steps down into the deep water that came within the boundaries of the Hall Tu had found her.

"Nearly."

She fastened the flipper around her heel, rotating her ankle to check the fit. Her mask was around her neck and the snorkel tied to the strap. With a nod she got to her feet.

"Is it safe, Tu?"

"Jump there!" the young dolphin ordered and was delighted to find his partner did exactly that, landing beside him with a splash.

Leisenn took a moment to check her flippers (both secure) and place her mask on. "Turn around, Tu," she suggested, not wanting her partner to have to make the turn in the confined space with her dragging alongside him.

Being young and male he rose into the air and turned on his tail.

"Readee? Hold on!"

Leisenn took a hold on his fin, settling against him as she had so often settled against his grandmother, her former dolphin partner.

When they left the caverns and surfaced in the sun-sparkling water of the bay Leisenn signalled Tu to slow and circle. She lifted her head out of the water and looked back at the Hall, getting her bearings and admiring her domain.

She had the morning to explore and a friend to show her around. The old dolphineer grinned.

Hallmaster or not, this was just like old times.

Last updated on the October 18th 2008

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A Dolphineer