Depthstriders Clan: 1

Griffith and Aule followed behind Oeric as they left the Watchers clan. They didn’t have much to go off, but the three had a good sense of direction and knew they were heading in the right direction. The further they moved through the tunnels the more they noticed a change in their environment. It started fairly subtle, with a few new plants sprouting between blue rocks. However, the closer they got to the new territory, the more plants grew exponentially until they reached an opening with blue light spilling out. 

The three friends walked into the light one at a time, starting with Oeric. The orange empyrian stepped into the large space and immediately noticed the water. Aule and Griffith stepped in behind Oeric to take in the new cavern. There was more water here in this cavern than they had seen during their whole journey this far. 

“This is wild,” Griffith exclaimed quietly. Oeric and Aule nodded in agreement as they silently took in the space. 

The group was so taken with the new plants and bioluminescent water that they failed to notice the Haedian emerging from the water. The Haedian quietly made his way toward the newcomers until he was within range to mess with them a bit. He shifted down, close to the ground, and got a little closer as he watched the group examine his domain. 

“Hi!” The Haedian exclaimed loudly and grinned ear to ear as the three empyrians jumped to the ceiling. He had successfully scared them. 

Griffith and Aule felt their hearts racing. The Haedian had surprised them and while they waited for their hearts to settle the Haedian was rolling on the ground laughing. Oeric settled from the surprise quicker than his companions and glared at the laughing Haedian.

“What was that for?” Oeric growled.

“It was fun!” The Haedian laughed, wiping tears from his eyes. 

Before anyone could respond to the Haedian, the Haedian continued, “But, anyway, I’m Ornaax”

He further explained that he would help them into the water so they could see more of the Depthstriders clan. Oeric was still glaring at Ornaax, but Griffith and Aule quickly let the trick go as they realized Ornaax was a fun-loving Haedian who meant no harm. Ornaax silently led the trio closer to the edge of the water as he explained the basics of swimming. 

None of the empyrians were excited about this clan. Oeric, whose magic was fire-based, hated the water. The only positive about this clan might be when he got out of control the water would dampen the fire. With that thought in mind, Oeric stepped into the water with Ornaax by his side in case anything went wrong. Oeric felt the reach of his chest and flow around him as he ventured further into the water. With his feet still on the ground, he looked at Ornaax and nodded, signaling he was okay. 

Ornaax moved away from Oeric once he was settled. Once he was on the shore again he asked which of the two would go next. Neither Griffith nor Aule wanted to get into the water. They looked at each other and then out to where Oeric stood waiting. 

“If I can do it, you guys can,” Oeric called when he noticed his friends staring at him. 

Griffith and Aule grumbled to themselves before deciding Griffith would go first. Griffith inched towards the waiting Haedian. Ornaax assured him that it would be alright. Despite the reassurances, Griffith was uncertain because of all the thick fur that covered him. He was concerned he would be too heavy once he got wet. 

Griffith walked into the water slowly, so slowly that his friends, both Oeric and Aule, would chastise him. They made fun of him, but they all knew it was nothing serious and Ornaax enjoyed watching the friends tease each other. It helped Griffith move through the water without thinking too hard about some of his fears. When he reached Oeric, his feet were still on the ground and it helped make him feel secure. 

“Wait here, I’ll help Aule out this far before we continue,” Ornaax told the pair before he sped back to the shore where Aule was waiting. 

Aule had already walked out a bit while he was waiting, but he had the same fears as Griffith. With his angora fur, he was afraid more than anything that he would sink. Unlike Griffith, who had never been in the water, Aule had been swimming when he was young. So his only fears were with his longer hair now that he was older. Ornaax gave him the same reassurances as he told Griffith. Aule moved smoothly through the water and in no time he was standing with his companions. 

When everyone was together Ornaax led them deeper into his territory. They passed through coral reefs and thick seaweed. The group watched as Haedians dove in and out of the water in a game that looked sort of like tag. The Haedians moved with grace in the water as they twisted around the coral and raced through the water. Ornaax explained his clan and his philosophies with a smile on his face. The clan was very welcoming when they came close enough to interact with the empyrians. 

Aule and Griffith moved through the water with clumsy strokes, but their fur didn’t weigh them down quite like they were expecting. Oeric became more comfortable in the water when he was antagonized into playing a game of tag. The group was happy to meet such an easy-going clan. 

[931]