Bird shot down the river, bow-riding in front of "The Lonely Star", glad to be away from the drudgery of deck-hand work by volunteering to "guide" the ship out to sea.
She looked around for Levanto, surprised that he was missing the opportunity to ride the wash of the ship. Suddenly, the Mer-Man swam in front of her, almost bumping her into the bow.
"Who is yon gentleman standing on the deck?" he asked in a huffy tone.
Bird slipped out of the wake of the ship, and started pacing beside the hull of the vessel, lifting her head to spy who was on deck. She saw the new "crew member" watching as Pio and Veritas went about their duties. He stood watching the two, looking as if he would like to help, but having no clue as to what he should do. Bird turned her head towards the hovering Levanto.
"That, is Khelek. An Elf Lord of Mirkwood. He has been researching the same Age as we. Pio and he have been working trying to figure out where in the First Age we should go to look for Kali's ancestors."
"Oh, has he!" sniffed Levanto. "He hardly looks the type to know anything about the Sea Races. Why is he standing so close to her?" Levanto fumed.
Birdie could not resist. It was just too good an opportunity. Besides, Levanto might need some extra "incentive" to come on their next adventure.
"They look a handsome couple, don't they?" she observed casually. "Perhaps they are discussing their mutual interests, both being Elves and all. I noticed they stayed up quite late talking."
Levanto slapped his tail and glared upward at the dark-haired Elf-Lord, his emerald green skin flushing almost black. Then he turned and dived back under the ship and away up river.
Bird spent the day swimming by the Lonely Star, feeling the water turn more brackish around her, the feel of the returning salt water soothing her skin. She was enjoying herself throughly, and had even chased down a few fish as she had gotten hungry in her travels. Her doubts about their future journey, and her worries about the fate of Kali were receding from her mind, as she became more and more in tune with the rhythms and flows of the Water World.
Suddenly, a small voice in the back of her mind was saying "Too long. Go back". She shook her head in irritation. She was fine! She would go back on board in a little while.
The sea was rough as they left the shelter of the bay and entered the open water. Looking up, she spied Kali, standing by the rail, hand on a line, facing towards the far horizon. His face was lifted to the forceful wind, and his eyes were closed.
Birdie started to call to him to come over the side and join her, come back to his true environment, which he had been away from for so long.
But suddenly, a loud cry of surprise and dismay reverberated through the hull of the ship! Bird lifted her head again and heard the others on board running and shouting. Racing to the side of the ship, she leapt for the deck.
[ July 15, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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