Levanto was waiting, and caught Phura in his arms as the Halfling flew over the rail hand-in-hand with Kali. The shock of the cold sea-water made Phura gasp, but as he exhaled, the weight of the tunnels and all that had happened to him there left his body. He flung his arms around the neck of Levanto and watched the antics of Kali and Birdie frolicking about them.
“So, Little One, how do you like my home?” the Mer-Man grinned. Phura gazed around him, seeing the flat expanse of the sea, feeling its buoyancy, and watched as a kittiwake made its way to the small island that had suddenly appeared on it route. The seabirds had soon discovered this new islet in the sea, and were inspecting it as a possible site for future nesting.
But it was not enough. “This is only the roof of your house, Levanto,” Phura smiled back. “I want to see more. I want to go where they go.” Kali and Bird bobbed up in front of the Hobbit, Kali handing him a small conch shell that he had found below. Phura took it, holding it to his ear as he had read in old poems, and heard the echo of the waves on imaginary shores. He looked down at the beautiful remains of the conch, and thought of one who would have loved the feel and the sound as much as he. “Please, I want to see what you see. Take me down there. Take me to the Abyss. “
Bird and Kali looked at each other, then at Phura. The Halfling had not been wounded or ill, except by cares and loss, but the tunnels had stunted his growth and prevented his limbs from finding their full, youthful strength. Phura, like many of the Children of the Caves, looked so fragile. And yet his eyes gleamed with such life and purpose, the first sign of the healing to come. It would be wrong to deny him his wish.
“Very well,” said Bird, “Grab hold of the fin on my back, as tight as you can. Take three deep breaths. Then close you mouth tight, and open your eyes.” Phura held tight to the gray, upright fin as Birdie swam in slow circles around Levanto. Then counting “one…two…three…hold your breath!” she dived beneath the waves, taking Phura with her.
They swam just a little ways below the surface, and the green glass glow of the water dazzled Phura. Birdie circled down a little farther, pulling the Halfling along with Levanto and Kali swimming escort. They flew past the fat, short face of a curious Grouper, who turned and cast a wide eye on the strange procession as it sped by. A school of silver sardines scattered as it saw the dolphin heading its way, turning in time and flashing like chain mail. And deep within Phura’s body, he felt the low vibrating calls of a school of whales a mile away.
Then t was over. The four broke the surface by the ship, and the crowd hanging over the rail laughed and applauded the return of the adventurers. Phura laughed aloud and waved to his brother far above. “I saw it, Gamba! I saw the Abyss! It was beautiful!“
Loremaster smiled through his tears and placed a comforting arm around Cami, also in tears beside him.
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