Egress Unveiled - The Dephstriders ft Ga’Morkt n Oremizume

Perhaps this task will prove less painful and embarrassing than his performance for the Watchers.

Mort hesitates at the edge of the cool water, watching the vibrantly-colored haedian known as Ornaax gracefully treading the surface. He notices the way Ornaax uses gentle movements of wings, tail, and limbs to alter his course, and wonders if he can do the same with his big, awkward wings.

Mort slowly steps in, feeling his weight held by the crisp pool, and tries gently moving his frilled limbs. The large membranes create quite a bit of movement in the water, and he nearly flails to correct.

"Easy," Ornaax coaches, "Do not fight the water. Breathe, be calm, and move slowly at first."

Mort sneers at being spoken to like a pup, but he does as he is told. He takes a deep breath, settles himself into the water, and tries gentle strokes with his tail. He can feel the way the appendage propels him forward, and the way the gentle current passes over his wings almost reminds him of the wind..

Feeling more confident, Mort draws in a lungful of air and ducks his head into the water. His nostrils instinctively squeeze shut, and he peers into the dim deluge. He tries his legs and tail again, this time driving himself deeper, keeping an eye out for Ornaax and his companion before he slowly brings his head up just enough to bring eyes and nose above the surface. 

"See? You're a natural!" the bright haedian smiles.

Oremizume stares at the water with a dead expression. 

'Splendid. Just splendid. What possessed me to say yes to this exploration? Me, A DESERT DWELLER?! Down here, with no sun, no sand, very little warmt and TONS of water!'

The vayron screamed in his own mind, forcing a small, fake smile on his curled lips. He didn't know how to swim that well, since he was used to shallow ponds and lakes where he could walk in and out the water. It was embarrassing, to be a full-grown adult and be unable to swim, but... It's not like there is that much water in Thedale! And usually, Oremizume avoided swimming in the oasis, since people used the same water to drink or cook. And that pool was DEEP. He bet that swimming in that would make him sick, as if he was standing on the highest mountain in Thedale and looking down.

"...Is there another way to reach the Keepers? Without getting... Wet."

He says, shaking his left foot, where there is a small cut in the inside of the leg, as if to say "better to not wet this wound!"

Though, it was only a pathetic excuse.

Gå’Mørkt lifts his jaws over the surface with a grin. "Don't tell me you're afraid, Zuzu," he taunts. "Come on, let's see how well you float."

Elysion has chosen to keep hidden in the shadows, already having swum ahead of the group. Despite his nature he is still Forgotten, and his clan has a certain reputation.

"...I don't. That's how well I float!"

He nearly screams, not even inching forward at the taunt. He can see a couple of Depthstriders down there, with their bright colors, that look up to the Vayron and the Empyrian. Their faces aren't really visible because of the ripples in the water's surface, but Oremizume can imagine they are at least making fun of him. 

He grumbles, unhappy, and sits on the shore.

"Nope. I'm not going in. That's final, you'll have to drag me."

He growls, curling his lips in a snarl. He looks like a dirty cat that wants to avoid water at all costs, and his fur is bristling all over his body. 

He is a bit ashamed at his behavior, but he really hates deep water. 

'I wonder if I could dig a path to the Keepers...'

He muses, even knowing that it is impossible. 

Now, sitting in silence on the shore, he truly looks like a grumbly pup that doesn't want to take a bath.

Gå’Mørkt rolls his eyes before slowly creeping back toward the shore.

"Very well," he growls menacingly, "You wanna act like a pup, then I'll treat you like one. C'mere..."

As he comes close, he bares his teeth and prepares to grab Oremizume by the scruff like a parent would to their young.

"...You wouldn't dare-"

Ga'Morkt dares, and grabs Oremizume by the neck like a kitten. The Vayron lets out a scream, as the Empyrian drags him in the water.

"I'm gonna die! I'M GONNA DIEEEEE!"

He screams so loudly that more Depthstriders appear, taking a peak from some underwater caves. Oremizume keeps flailing his paws, splashing water everywhere as if he is really drowning, to the point that the Depthstrider Ornaax looks at him a bit concerned.

In the end he calms down a bit, panting heavily, with his tongue so out of his mouth that it touches the water. 

Oremizume coughs twice, but doesn't ask Ga'Morkt to release him, preferring to be held like a pup instead of sinking.

"Now," Ornaax continues once calm is restored, "let's breathe deep. In and out, filling your lungs more and more with each pull... and when you can take in no more, we dive."

"Don'th mesth sthiss up f'r me," Mort warns his companion through his teeth, before he starts breathing deep, preparing his body for the long swim. 

He feels Oremizume's body near him, and when he thinks they are both ready, he takes him under. 

Surprisingly, he takes to the water quite well! He can use his wing arms to pull himself along the rocks, and his tail and leg membranes make excellent propellers. 

Ornaax guides them along through the depths, quickly so Oremizume doesn't have to stay under long, and they make sure to stop at air pockets for breaks.

It takes a long time before Oremizume is ready, but then he let's himself be dragged underwater by Ga'Morkt, in the depth of that water-cave.

He looks around, in the dark, with a loud heartbeat. It feels so loud that his ears might pop just for its noise, the only one he hears in those submerged caves. Only he can hear his own heart but still,   every time they find an air Pocket, he feels a bit hot on the cheeks (as if his pup-like display was already forgotten).

When finally they reach the Depthstriders home, he feels a bit better, if not a little cold. He looks at some youngsters play with corals and underwater weeds, wondering if he would have been this comfortable with water, had he lived next to it since birth.

Gå’Mørkt releases Oremizume once they have reached their destination, and stretches his jaw open and shut a few times to work out the soreness as he crawls onto a rock. 

It appears the two of them will have many memories from this trip that they'd rather forget. 

Ornaax turns to the pair with a proud smile. "Your two did well! Welcome, outsiders, to our home."