The Deep One

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The world beneath the waves was a far cry from the world above of them. Aside from the obvious differences that moving and interacting within water posed, there were numerous smaller changes that added together into a much grander experience. Even though the sun was shining bright above, it could only penetrate so far through the dense waters. The light of the sky was quick to fade with depth. But, just as they were promised to do, the amphibellies adapted the divers' senses and sight to work well in the ocean. Though the light faded, they could still see clear as day. Sounds were richer in the water, as it carried sound waves more efficiently than air, and sounds could be felt as well as heard. Smell was changed to the greatest degree. Scents were a much more subtle occurrence in water, and most of the divers would be unable to smell the delicate changes that Lelei and Analu could. The water was cold, and growing colder as they went deeper, and it was thanks to the amphibellies once again that they could barely feel it.

All in all, diving into the realm of the sea was a visceral experience. Everything felt closer and more intimate as the water clung right to their skin and transmitted everything it held in its global grasp. It was also serene and beautiful in its own right. The water cradled the body, freeing it from some of gravity's hold, which many found relaxing if they took a moment to simply float in the water. The colors of the fish and the corals astounded the eye. The landscape was vast and massive in every way. In the water, creatures could grow huge or thousands could cluster together in a small space. Great canyons and pillars could exist without fear of ever being touched, staying as testaments to an ancient world. This was the world as it had been thousands, millions of years ago.

"Heads up. We're almost there."

Lelei took a sharp dive into a huge canyon and pointed ahead.

Ahead, nestled at the end point of the canyon, were many pinpoints of light, as if they were flying over a city. And indeed, it was a city! As they approached, the lights were coming from a multitude of glowing, floating lanterns littered about a city made of stone and coral. The structures crept outward from a central point along the walls of the canyon and the ground, sprouting upwards and outwards to form the main the buildings. The city seemed more "grown" than built. It was colorful and wondrous, and populated by many other shark people that quickly came into view as they got closer. J

ust like Lelei and Analu, they were humanoid with shark characteristics. Unlike Lelei, however, most seemed to be on the slimmer and lean side, like Analu. Their body types and colors were nicely varied, and obvious since no one wore clothes. They too simply wore jewelry and a variety of accessories draped on their bodies. Tattoos only seemed present on a scant few, and mostly on the ones carrying weapons as they approached.

"Welcoming party is here. Everyone smile and make nice!"

Analu swam out from behind everyone to Lelei's side.

"Don't worry. The weapons are a formality."

Fortunately for Berlin, none of the approaching guards held their weapons at the ready as they approached. They did, however, start slowly circling the entire group, including Analu and Lelei, in a way that would be familiar to shark movie fans. At this close range, and without being tugged by Lelei, the grace and ease by which this race of people moved through the water became even more evident. Their lithe bodies seemed to move with the slightest pushes of their tails, like ghosts floating through the air. They hardly needed their limbs to maneuver, and were free to carry their weapons and move their heads while their tails carried them along.

Lelei himself brought the group to a gradual stop just beyond the city limits. From there, the students could get a better look at the bustling life within the city, and the shark people therein could get a better look at the students. Small groups of shark people started forming beyond the circling guards, quite obviously intrigued by the presence of humans.

"Just remain calm everyone. You are under my protection, and my responsibility. And these used to be my men."

Lelei crossed his arms over his broad chest and seemed to flex his shoulders and neck intimidatingly at the guard in front of him, who more jewelry then the others, signifying rank. Lelei's gills and jaw moved subtly, indicated by the movements beneath his skin, but the only sounds that came from him was a low rumbling noise that was "felt" more than it was heard. The head guard seemed to be doing the same. Analu put his hands on his hips and watched, before glancing back at the students.

"Probably wondering what's happening, huh? They're talking in our native... tongue, as you would call it. Don't worry, they only said the word 'intruders' once~"

Analu seemed to enjoy teasing the students and went back to listening to the shark conversation. The head guard seemed strict and kept pointing at the students, but Lelei's "talk" would always have the guard standing straight and respectful. After a few moments, the head guards solemnly nodded and motioned to the other guards, whom stopped circling but remained surrounding the group.

"We have the go ahead. They're going to lead us to where we need to go, but everyone needs to remain in the group. No one wanders off, understood?"

"We should be swimming slow enough for any of you to swim on your own, but if you want, Lelei can still tug you along."

"And if you have any questions, ask me. Analu has to leave."

"Yup! You all are no longer my problem, bye~"

And with that, Analu drifted off with a few of the other guards, while the rest started guiding Lelei and the group through the city.

((Feel free to PM me with questions, about anything regarding the city, people, or whatever. I just couldn't fit it all in this post.))

"Apologies. I nearly forgot about your inquiry."

Lelei slowed his swimming down enough that he could be closer to the group, and Berlin. He heaved a gentle sigh and looked over at Berlin and some of the other students, somewhat apologetically.

"I've requested your presence...s because I need help in quelling the Deep One, an ancient trench beast that my kind has both feared and admired for as long as we can remember."

Just at the mention of the Deep One, a few of the bystanders following the group out of curiosity stopped and swam away nervously.

"We consider it to be the ultimate Alpha predator, and we are its lineage, as are the many feral sharks that swim in the oceans. Though we idolize it in a manner similar to your surface progenitor Adam, we also see it as the only thing that can see US as prey. This balance of praise and dread is central to our way of life down here, where the ocean is a much less forgiving world than the surface.

The balance only held true so long as the Deep One remained in its slumber in the trench, and that leads to now.

There have been signs that the Deep One is stirring, and my people are in fear of becoming prey..."

The architecture of the city changed as they swam further inward. The buildings become more crowded and dense as the walls of the canyon began to converge. Where they met, a large and impressive arch was carved into the wall, depicting coral and plants at the bottom, fish and sharks going upward. The keystone of the arch was a humanoid figure with a tentacled face.

As they passed under the arch, the group entered a cavernous cave beneath the ocean floor where even more buildings were located, built directly into the walls. The lights in this area were brighter and more dazzling with varied colors.

"My people have never known much of fear, for as are Alphas ourselves. So most are paralyzed by the very idea of the Deep One awakening. Which is why they called me.

I'm the only one who has even come close to seeing the Deep One in recent memory. I've faced fear itself in the eyes of my people... But it's what drove me to... to what to seek the... comfort that got me exiled to the surface."

Lelei looked a little regretful admitting that to everyone.

"But they are still too scared to face the Deep One, so they called me. The see me as fearless and as expendable. I need your help because I can't do it alone."