[DEPTHSTRIDERS] PROMPT 2

Several Haedians approached Ornaax while he was with Alowyn; she was taken with how open and playful this clan seemed to be. She glanced at her companions to see they had loosened up but were making their way to where she and Ornaax stood. Alowyn smiled at them before she was interrupted by another group of Haedians. 

“You guys should join us!” One of the excited Haedians exclaimed. 

“What game are you playing?” Alowyn asked.

“It’s not so much a game as it is a race!” Another Haedian added with a few splashes to accent how excited this group was. 

Garmr and Herja perked up at the idea of another contest between the three reoseans. It was obviously more than just the three, but to Herja and Garmr it would be redemption for the earlier losses they experienced. Alowyn could see the wheels turning in her companions' heads. 

“Let’s do it,” Herja spoke.

Alowyn sighed, “Lead the way.”

The group of playful Haedians guided the three strangers towards the track. Ornaax stayed nearby but was happy to see everyone getting along so well. As they moved through the water Alowyn felt doubt creep into her mind, she had definitely improved her swimming, but not well enough to race. She grimaced as they approached various tunnels because she could see the obstacles she might have to face. 

Garmr and Herja stood on a rock near the start of the race and stretched. They knew if they were going to beat the empyrian they would need to be limber. When they felt they were ready, Herja and Garmr slipped back into the water to wait near Alowyn. 

Ornaax got involved by bringing more participants to the race and explaining the rules. The rules were straightforward, the quickest to the end would win. He explained what they might encounter, but ultimately it was as simple as following the current until they reached the next large space. Ornaax gestured to the start and waited for everyone to get ready. Alowyn stretched her limbs briefly before settling near the start with Herja and Garmr at her heels. 

“Ready,” Ornaax stated loudly. 

“Set,” His voice morphed with the excitement he felt from everyone around him. 

“Go!” 

There was a huge wave and splashes as the herd took off into various tunnels. Alowyn watched as several Haedians dived out of sight and then quickly torpedoed through the water. She awkwardly pushed off the rock she was against. Her tail felt heavy, but she stayed calm and pushed through the motions. Herja and Garmr dove under the water, but stayed near the surface. No one mentioned anything about magic, so they each activated their fire magic to boost them through the rushing water. Herja and Garmr had to admit that the water was dampening the strength of their fire magic, but still, it helped and acted like jets were attached to their feet. 

Alowyn watched her companions take off with fire at their heels. She shook her head, but let them have their victory. She wasn’t going to rush and potentially hurt herself. She settled into her pace, careful not to disrupt the coral reefs she passed. Her pace was slow but efficient. 

Herja and Garmr glanced back at their empyrian companion and laughed at her struggles. They continued through the water matching the speed of some of the Haedians around them. The first obstacle they came across was a field of seaweed that wrapped around stalagmites. The pair knew they could easily get tangled in the mass of green. They ended their magic to carefully pass through the seaweed. 

“Hurry, Herja,” Garmr urged as he pushed off a rock ahead of her. 

“Now isn’t the time to rush, we have to be careful,” Herja called after her impatient partner. 

Garmr only gave a grunt to indicate he heard her, but he didn’t slow down and he made it through the seaweed patch. Herja followed behind at her slower pace, but she made it through the patch too. When the pair were reunited, they activated their magic and continued with the race. 

Alowyn focused on the path ahead of her. She took care of every hand placement and ignored all the Haedians that raced past her. She managed to take a different path than Herja and Garmr, and so her first obstacle was a small hole in the wall that she was meant to go through. With her small size, the hole was no issue. She crawled through the hole and ended up between two walls like she was in a stone cage. Her first reaction was to panic, but she took a deep breath and started to hum as she looked for a way out. 

It wasn’t long before she found another hole in the wall further under the surface. Alowyn cringed but pushed her fears aside as she submerged her body. Thankfully, the hole was a little larger than the first, and Alowyn passed through it with ease. The pattern continued in what felt like a straight line. 

Herja and Garmr were being carried by a current when they noticed Alowyn climb out of a hole in a stone wall ahead of them. Their competitive natures raged and they tried to swim harder to reach the end before their companion. Alowyn didn’t notice her companions coming up behind her, she assumed they were miles ahead of her. It was only when they splashed her as they passed that she reached she was doing fairly well in the race. 

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