"Daisy, hold tight to my dorsal fin. No! Not my fluke! The dorsal! That tall fin sticking out of the middle of my back. There, that's right. Now lay close to my body, and try not to get in the way of my tail."
Birdie wondered if the small hobbit would even survive the journey to the caves. The water was cold, and the dead weight of Daisy in the water would slow Bird's movement. To carry her in dragon form, or tow her in a skiff would have been easier on all of them, but infinitely more dangerous. The small form of a dolphin might pass unnoticed by any spies on shore or on ship. This was the only way they could get close to the caves of the prison.
Bird struggled on the surface, doggedly towing Daisy, when suddenly Levanto came up on the other side of the hobbit, bracing her body with his, and wrapping his arm around her to support her and take some of her weight off of Birdie. He synchronized his swimming with Bird's, and suddenly Daisy felt herself supported above the water and warmed by the presence of the dolphin's and Merman's bodies. She was wet, but she was warm, and her head was above water. Their speed increased.
"Hold on, Daisy", said Levanto, "It's won't be that long, and the Elders will give you warm food and drink, and dry clothes, as soon as we get there. In the meantime, chew on this." Levanto handed Daisy something that looked like some type of root. "It will warm you, and give you energy."
Daisy took the small piece of "root", and chewed slowly on it. It's effect was immediate, and very similar to miruvor. Daisy looked up at the stars above her, marveling anew at the wash of light that could only truly be appreciated at sea. She felt that she could have swum the distance to the caves on her own. But instead she clung to Bird's fluke more tightly, and gave herself over to the sea and her friends.
Levanto gave small pieces to himself and Bird as well, and their speed increased even more. And so the three continued their journey with renewed heart and hope.
The crew and passengers of the Lonely Star watched the three until the sea and the night swallowed them. Then they returned to their own tasks, and the long wait for the final rescue.
[ October 05, 2002: Message edited by: Birdland ]
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