Chapter 36 - Thirty-Four

The only good part was that because of my swimming skill my first reaction was to close my mouth and hold my breath, otherwise I would have swallowed it all in a go right down my throat.

But the sudden darkness and pressure from the water were unnerving, even more without knowing where I was and how deep; so before I started to panic for the lack of air I quickly searched my surroundings between half-open eyelashes, and saw I distant bluish light coming from above.

I start pushing the water down with my hands, putting my muscles to work as I feel the air escaping from my nostrils faster than I would like. Once I reached my limits I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes, totally focusing in putting more strength in my movements, and finally broke the surface of the water while I took scr.a.p.es and uneven short yet deep breaths, swallowing some water in the process.

While I was coughing it away, working myself off to keep floating, I looked around for Leonel only to see him emerge afterward, with no problems breathing as he held an air bubble on his face.

I could have used one of that you know?

Still mad at you though.

Once I see he is ok, I turn around, taking in my surroundings.

…

Dungeons don't make any sense, now I'm sure of it.

What-the-hell-is-a-freaking-tropical-island doing in the middle of the ocean underneath the earth?!

Like, is night and all, without a moon, but there it is, a piece of land surrounded by water; not salty though, not that it matters.

I won't- I don't even- sigh, I will just accept that we are now on an island surrounded by water and hope and pray deeply that the next door in on land.

Though I doubt, with my luck, sigh.

After my moment of self-doubt I start swimming to the island, getting more tired by the minute. I plop down the sand once I reach it, not very keen on moving right now. As I wait for my soul to return my body, Leonel simply walks off the water and goes into the palm forest, and says while he passes:

"I will gather some wood, encounter me there"

"Uhm" I responded faintly, shushing him away with my hand.

I stay still for a while, hearing the sound of the waves shocking themselves against the shore, a constant sound yet different every wave, rocking back and forth, filled with the rustling of leaves and the nocturne animals, and if it wasn't from the sand entering the crevices of my clothing's and rasping annoyingly all over my skin I might as well had fallen asleep here and there.

I stand, already feeling how swore my muscles will be tomorrow, and look around once more, taking in the details this time.

The water was crystal clear, and I could see the coral underneath the shallow parts, some of its plants shining in a white-blue light, giving a very peaceful image. I could even see some fishes going around, some white like ghosts close to the surface, but some colored ones were hidden in the corals.

It was quite the image.

There was even some wood in the more shallow part holding up white hammocks that were slightly dipping into the water. Frowning I turn around to the tropical island, seen some green hills and a lot of foliage, palm trees, and plants everywhere; the only part without it opened to a path made of stones and wooden railing.

There were some torches around, following the path, and it was tempting to lit them up as I pass; it would build a great pathway with the dancing flames; but as I didn't know yet what kind of creatures were around here I hold myself off.

I follow Leo's smell, which goes up the wooden path, until I reach a two store wooden cabin, a mixture of wood with a thatch roof, palm trees and a sense of tropically unique and different from mountain cabins, with a lot vivid colored mixtures, especially green and yellow.

The door was open and I could hear steps inside on the squeaky damp wood. I enter only to see Leo pushing two bamboo sofas with a cushion on top closer to the fireplace of the side room.

There is already firewood inside, and while I'm dry from my own warm body Leonel is still dripping wet. Hump, serves you right, payment for the lack of help in the water.

Not that I couldn't take care of myself, of course.

But I'm not thaaat bad, so a lit the fireplace with a simple breath, watching the flames crack and consume the wood.

"I'm going to have a look around, why don't you search this place up?"

I do not wait for his answer, going around the front door; since I came from the back door; and into the main path.

Then I stop in my tracks when I don't hear him move and peek over the window, seing him staring out into nothing, deep in thought, yet somehow… sad?

Sigh, maybe I went a little too far, but totally his fault, he deserved it…

Ok, I'll try not to be as meany, as my brother would say.

I checked around the place in an efficient way, moving my ears as I looked for predators, claw marks, strange smells, until I found a swing close to a lagoon that stood actually in a type of backyard from the house, which would be perfect as a source of drinkable water.

The swing hung from a tree that curved beautifully over the small lagoon, the big trunk giving away its age far before the height, though after the elven trees this was a mere baby in comparison.

The blue light from the fake sky was reflected over the crystal clear water of the lagoon, so clear and steady that beyond that reflex of the light you almost couldn't tell there was water there at all.

I dip my little toes in the warm water, wiggling them underneath as I refused to wear shoes and didn't need to take them off; they took away my feeling of the floor, it just… felt weird, wrong somehow.

I look at myself then, still in human form, those limbs, fingers, the hair, the lack of fur, and at the same time feeling strange yet nostalgic somehow.

Leonel could be taller than I, and older as well; I think he said 13?; but even with my 5 hound years I looked almost the same age as him… though not as tall.

Guess animals grow faster than humans and elves hum…

I went a little deeper into the water, feeling the rocks from the deep rasp against my skin, the water rising almost nothing when I reached its middle only to discover that there were little fishes going about, nibbling at my feet and tickling, stealing some giggles from me as I splashed my feet around.

I hear a sound than to my side, and I quickly turn only to see Leonel there, his angelical figure illuminated by the blue-silver light, his golden eyes warm as he smiled down at me, making me blush a little for my childish behavior.

"I got a present for you."

That got my attention, perching my ears up and making the tip of my long tail wiggle. He continues, showing a leather bag filled with something.

"I was quick to collect, and after what you said about me not letting you attack I thought it would compensate a little. Sorry that I was so selfish… and sorry for always apologizing."

Well, at least he was sincere, I'll give him that.

I narrow my eyes and pout, thinking; is not like I can forget what I saw, like if a person just took of the "polite mask" off and showed what was behind it, but he didn't want or made any harm to me, just… acted weird.

Well… that's something I can shrug it off, after all, I'm not very normal too, hehe.

"Well, thanks."

I walk up to him to grab the bag and see what was inside, but once I step closer I trip with those stupid two legs and as I curse under my breath I feel him move and stop my fall, staying on the side of the lagoon and holding my stretched hand.

I look up to him, his face framed with a background of stars, and as quick as I decide a smirk grows on my lips, making him widen his eyes.

And then I harden my grip of his arm and pull him in the water.

With a loud splash we ended up with our buts underwater and wet clothes. His surprise face, however, was totally worth it.

I look at him smugly, my eyebrows raised, as his brain is still trying to figure out what happened; and that was the part that was missing to bring a giggle out of me, which turned into a laugh and grow into a slapping my knee laugh.

I hold my belly when tears misted my vision, almost out of breath from so much laughing.

"… It wasn't even that funny…"

"Pff, it was, believe me."

My laughter turns into a giggle, but then it builds up back gain and I start to laugh all out.

"… Really, it wasn't that funny…"

"N-no, t-that's not i-i-t, the fi-shes" I said between the laughs.

I was to focus on laughing my tears off and holding my stomach to realize how fast he moved until he was bringing me up, out of the water, holding my armpits like a ragdoll.

The fishes were still in my clothes though, so I was still holding my laugh and curving my legs, trying to get them out of my clothes, when Leo simply held me with one hand and with the other brought my pants all the way down.

I froze in place as I felt the wind passing my private parts slightly covered by my shirt, and at the same time that a blush started to go up my neck into my cheeks, I reacted by slapping him in the face, and wiggling out of his grip while he was still stunned.

I picked up my now totally wet pats and run behind a bush like a scared squirrel and quickly put them on. I hear his splashy footsteps get closer, but now I was madder them ever.

"Thilgon, I…"

I get out of the bush and walk past him without looking or acknowledge him, stumping my feet and going inside the cabin, closing the wooden door loudly behind me. And you know the worst? My slap didn't even faze him, not even reddened his face! He probably was just surprised that's why I got out of his grip!

I go to the sofa, not in the mood to chat or even eat, so I just pick the blanket up and make a cocoon out of it, strangling yet another pillow victim with both my arms and legs.

He goes back up slowly, opening and closing the door as silently as possible with the creaking of the damp wood, and before sitting in his on sofa he puts the leather bag close to me, and says:

"I gathered as many stones from the creatures of the last floor as possible, even more from the last fight. I forgot the snake one, I was mad at her so I simply…"

I can hear him passing his long fingers on his hair and signing. He mumbles something that probably I wasn't supposed to hear, but did nonetheless.

"I'm terrible at this… Good night Thilgon."

He lays down then, the only sound coming from the tropical woods and the cracking of the fire in the fireplace. I once again take a long time to sleep, this idiocy syndrome of always having to have company while falling asleep, which made my mind wander and overthink.

Have I been too harsh on him? But he deserved… didn't he?

Ok, least make a list of his sinful acts: He started to act weird, evolved fast, and didn't tell me why. He… dropped my pants. He stole my kills. He…

Now that I think about it, there are not many bad things if I consider the good ones, like, cooking, cleaning my clothes, finding me clothes, helping me in general… So what was bothering me, really?

I think… the lack of trust. Yes, he didn't want to tell me why, and for the way he acts is something important, that affects me, and yet he chooses not to share, why?

It was a secret? I could keep a secret. He didn't trust me then…?

No no, it wasn't that either, after all I didn't know him for that long as to expect him to trust me; hell, I shouldn't trust him as much as I have until now. But there was a… sense of familiarity…

That's it, I thought, as my mind slipped into a deep sleep, making me almost forget my last thoughts and conclusion.

I was bothered because he was a stranger, I was bothered because I wanted to know him more, but holding onto his secrets was a barrier that kept me from knowing who he was, who he really was, after all the change of masks he had until now.

Leonel, Leonel, still holding onto your masks aren't you?

Have to do something about that…

~~~

Appraisal Completed:

White Perv Fishes: They may look innocent at first, but that's all part of their illusion; once they bring you close enough they try to enter your clothes and make you giggle like a little girl.

Heheh

Author: Good one fishes *high five with his fin*

MC:…

ML:…Good One. *thumbs up*

MC:*preparing another slap*

~~Updating once a week, feels like a healthy amount too me~~