Love Beyond Tides

Gentle Currents and Rocky Reprieves

Thassasalin gently took her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers, not wanting to lose Diana. The sinuous grace of his serpentine tail navigated through the water, a powerful force propelling them forward with an elegance that belied the depths of the ocean. Diana, now an unwitting passenger to this mesmerizing aquatic journey, clung to him, her trust placed in the enigmatic creature guiding her through the depths.

Diana, having ventured into the sea for the first time just the night before, found herself utterly unacquainted with the art of swimming. Thassasalin, ever watchful, sensed Diana's struggle with the alien currents. With a gentle squeeze of her hands, he sought to reassure her, an unspoken promise that he would not let her falter in the watery depths. Moments later, he released her hand. Amusement danced in his eyes as he observed the array of emotions playing across Diana's face. With a subtle transformation, reverted to his human form and once again, took her hand in his. Wordlessly, he fluttered his legs in a fluid motion. Diana watched for a moment. Then her eyes widened. In a display of silent understanding, she started to mimic him.

Pride glinted in Thassasalin's eyes as they practiced a rhythmic dance that Diana clumsily mirrored. In the absence of words, she grappled with a growing sense of urgency. Oblivious to the distress, Thassasalin deemed her ready and resumed their descent into the frigid depths. It was then a disconcerting realization dawned upon Diana. The rhythmic dance of the sea was not without its perils for a creature of land.

As the temperature dropped, the once-soothing waters became a biting embrace, causing Diana's muscles to protest in pain. A whimper escaped her lips, a precursor to the impending struggle. It was at that moment that her protesting lungs rebelled. She reflexively drew in a breath, only to release it in a cascade of bubbles as the stale air in her lungs rushed out. While initially startled Thassasalin, who had seen such a display time and times before, did not hesitate. He swiftly encircled her midsection with a strong grasp, his movements purposeful and swift. The watery realm became a blur as he propelled them upward.

Diana, bewildered and relinquishing herself to the current, felt the abrupt change as gravity reasserted itself. Diana found herself back on solid ground, gasping for air as the brackish taste of saltwater lingered in her mouth. Coughing violently, she expelled the intruding liquid from her lungs. The shivers that wracked her frame were not solely from the cold sea but from the shock of the underwater ordeal. Thassasalin, his concern etched on his features, approached her.

"I should have exercised greater caution," he admitted, a note of remorse in his voice. "I had forgotten the delicacy of human lungs."

Diana, still recovering, managed a weak smile through chattering teeth, appreciative of his concern. In truth, the oversight stemmed from the prolonged breath-holding capabilities of a creature not native to the ocean depths. Yet, from her expression, it became apparent that the nuances of this disparity eluded the human in question. After her heaving, she took a moment to observe her surroundings. This was not a beach.

"Where in the seven seas have we found ourselves?" Diana croaked.

Thassasalin winced at the roughness in her tone but answered patiently, "An underwater grotto. The archipelago has a few of them with breathable air."

Diana nodded, a subdued acknowledgement as she took in her surroundings. Thassasalin, seemingly unaffected by the aquatic journey, pulled himself out of the water. Averting her eyes from his naked form, Diana observed as he deftly arranged a few rocks and dropped a few pieces of seaweed in the middle. Murmuring a soft, melodious song of clicks and hums, he orchestrated an otherworldly tune that culminated in the seaweed catching fire, casting a warm glow in the subaquatic cavern.

"Pray, warm yourself," Thassasalin advised, "I will get us something to eat."

Diana nodded in gratitude, her eyes following him as he waded back into the water of the grotto. In a fluid motion, his legs transformed into fins. She watched with fascination as he swiftly became a blur, disappearing into the underwater expanse in pursuit of sustenance.

Alone in the underwater grotto, Diana surveyed her temporary sanctuary. The surreal dance of firelight and water played against the rocky walls of the grotto, casting a dreamlike ambience upon the clandestine retreat, carved by the ceaseless caress of the sea. Considering her storm-torn clothes, Diana decided to shed a few layers. In the privacy of the grotto, she stripped away the soaked garments, hanging them on a protruding edge to dry. The flickering flames reflected in the droplets clinging to her skin as she huddled by the fire, grateful for its warmth against the chill that lingered in her bones.

The pit's warmth enveloped Diana like a comforting embrace, and weariness settled in her bones like a heavy shroud. Still curled by the fire, she laid on her side, her gaze fixated on the mesmerising dance of flames but her thoughts fixed on the many hours that have passed.

Splash!

Diana jolted upright, the sudden sound echoing in the grotto, pulled her attention away from the dance of the firelight to the water. Thassasalin emerged from the water, two snapperfish in hand.

"I have caused you distress," he observed. A note of apology in his voice.

"It be fine," Diana reassured him with a nod, her heartbeat slowly returning to its normal rhythm.

As she sat up to face him, Diana watched him curiously. Thassasalin's attention shifted to the grotto's rocky surroundings. He rubbed his hand against the grotto's wall, identifying a loose section, and effortlessly snapped off a piece as if it were a twig. Her eyes widened in disbelief at the display of strength. Thassasalin, oblivious to her fascination, put the flat side up over the firepit he created.

With practised efficiency, he freed one hand and transformed his webbed fingers into bony, pointed appendages. In a swift motion, he gutted the fish, a sight that compelled Diana to turn away. The sound of his work accompanied by the visceral squelch and scrape, that made her shrink her neck. When she dared to look again, both fish lay cleaned and placed on the flat rock over the open flame. The savoury aroma wafted through the air, and the open flames licked the sides of the fish.

However, her curiosity peaked when she noticed the absence of fish guts at the water's edge, where Thassasalin remained. "Where be it vanishin' to?" she asked, a serious edge to her tone.

Thassasalin, seemingly oblivious to her concern, responded casually, "Fear not, I have cleansed it away entirely."

The scent of innards could attract dangerous predators. Colour her very worried.

Diana observed with a mix of fascination and hunger as Thassasalin expertly turned the fish on the stone slab. The meat, now white and succulent, yielded effortlessly to his touch as he picked the bones out with an almost casual grace, seemingly unfazed by the heat radiating from the makeshift cooking surface. The dance of flames played against the contours of his otherworldly features, casting an ethereal glow. Once finished, he arranged the delectable pieces on a large strip of seaweed and pushed the makeshift serving towards the human.

"Eat," he instructed, the single word carrying a quiet authority.

Diana, hunger pangs gnawing at her insides, needed no further encouragement. She reached for the seaweed-wrapped bounty, feeling alive at the warmth that filled her palms. Yet, she paused before digging in.

"What about ye, me heartie?" Diana eyed her companion with genuine concern, her gaze lingering on him.

"Me?"

"Thessa not cravin' a bite?" she pressed.

"Thessa?" Thassasalin's brows shot up, a c***k in his stoic facade.

Her concern morphed into a bemused expression. Diana, pleased with her discovery, felt subtle satisfaction.

"My name is Thassasalin," he declared, a touch of indignation colouring his words.

"Yer name be a bit of a tongue-twister, ain't it?" Diana retorted with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

He huffed in aggrieved protest, but ultimately acquiesced to the reality of his peculiar name. "I'm fine," he finally answered her initial question. Seeing her lingering hesitation, he nodded towards the food, the corner of his lips betraying a hint of amusement. "Eat."

Diana needed no further invitation. She sank her teeth into the cooked fish, the flavour, though blander than what she was accustomed to, still a delectable offering from the depths of the sea. The strange camaraderie between made up for much.