All the Stars and Teeth(71)

I hold my breath, keeping my eyes clamped shut as we sink deeper and deeper into the water. Only when her hands lift from my shoulders do I breathe, steadying myself. And though it stings a little, I open my eyes to find the murky water is much clearer than it should be. Alarmingly so. Vataea didn’t just give us breath—she gave us a glimpse of what it’s like to live in her world.

It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. Far below me, fluo rescent green eels conceal themselves between jagged rocks, waiting to strike. Small schools of strange flat fish swim in the distance, traveling east of us. Something monstrous in size lurks in the shadows deep within the darkest depths of the sea, and I know in my gut not to venture anywhere near it. The Lusca isn’t the only monster in these waters.

Though the colors of these creatures are sharper and their outlines clearer, I don’t only see them—I feel them, as though I were the ocean itself.

I whirl to Vataea, who stretches her hand out to me. A knowing smile plays on her lips, like she understands exactly the awe I’m feeling. I have to wonder if this is what she felt when she stepped onto land for the first time—a sense of otherworldliness. A sudden understanding that there’s so much more out there than we ever could have realized.

I take her hand as she pulls me along, knowing there’s no time to be distracted, but wishing we had all the time in the world to simply explore.

Vataea is three times as fast as the rest of us. I swim as quickly as I can, following behind her, but by the furrow of her brows and the twitchy annoyance of her fin, it’s clear we’re not moving as fast as she would like. With every smack of her fin against the water, she spurs at least four feet ahead while the rest of us struggle with each foot.

Though I’ve always thought myself a strong swimmer, wading around in Arida has little comparison to deep-sea diving. While Vataea sports only her fins, the rest of us are fully dressed and armed, and we’re slower for it.

I’ve no idea how far below we are, but the pounding in my ears and skull tell me it’s probably best not to think about it.

Surprisingly, Ferrick is the quickest of us three. Even with the weight of the extra clothing he’s tied around his belt for Vataea, it’s clear he’s slowing his movements in an attempt to keep closer to me. And though I would have thought Bastian to be quicker than he is, he clearly spends more time atop the ocean than within it. He’s struggling as plainly as I am, biceps straining as he forces himself to swim faster.

Though exhaustion’s already setting in, I do the same, trying to use my legs more than my arms. But as a shadow passes and cold water grazes my back, I throw myself against Bastian and make a grab for my new weapon. He grabs my waist in surprise, steadying me, and we both glance up.

Above us swims a fever of giant zapa rays. And if I wasn’t already holding my breath, I would’ve surely lost it at the sight of them.

They move with a grace impossible to replicate, their fins like delicate wings that fan through the water, making their bodies glide. Each one is at least triple my size, massive and beautiful, with bodies outlined in a vibrant blue that sparks as they swim. It makes them look as though they’ve got electricity coursing through them, though in reality they’re one of the sea’s most peaceful creatures.

Ahead of us Vataea waits, worry wrinkling her brows. We need to move faster, but there’s no way Bastian and I are going to be quick enough. At least not as we are.

I grab hold of Bastian’s wrist, yanking him up. His forehead crinkles, head shaking in protest, but there’s no time to argue. I yank on him again, this time until he begrudgingly follows.

No matter how hard I kick, my two feet will never have the strength of a fin. If we’re going to get through this, we’re going to need to borrow some.

The zapa rays have no fear as I approach. Rather, some of them swim a little closer, tilting and circling us curiously. I press my hands gently against one’s back, flattening my fingers against its rubbery skin.

Still, it doesn’t pull away, fearless.

When Bastian catches on to what I’m doing, his eyes light with surprise. He slows to move to the one behind me, lowering himself down upon the ray until he can get a gentle grip on it. Slick as their bodies are, it takes a moment to find a way to safely latch on.

I sink myself onto my ray, smoothing my fingers against its skin.

Still below us, Vataea’s lips curl into a grin. She pushes Ferrick up, goading him to join us before she swims ahead of the zapa rays. She spins to face them, eyes a molten gold as she parts her lips.

The song she sings this time is a soft one, light and gentle. The zapa rays swish their fins slowly in response to it. She motions to the right, moving slowly at first, and they follow her.

They may not be the fastest beast in the sea, but as we’re weighed down by too much clothing and heavy weapons, they’re faster than we could ever be. And by Cato’s blade, they’re glorious.

All the years stuck in Arida, and this is what I’ve been missing.

It doesn’t feel like we’re swimming; we’re flying. Gliding through the water as if it were light as air. Every yard we travel brings a new wave of colors. The sense of new creatures somewhere nearby. A rush of adventure that I cling to.

Vataea leads the fever, navigating the waters with a finesse I can’t help but envy. As large as these creatures are, and traveling at twice the speed I could manage, we cover the distance swiftly. It’s clear we’re approaching Zudoh when the water darkens to murky navy, and bundles of seaweed smack me in the face and attempt to wind around my wrists and ankles. We hit what looks like a wall of dead fish—some of them float to the top while others are still sunken in the water, their skin peeling from their bodies. Only then does Vataea stop singing. The zapa rays halt, all of them twisting away like a synchronized dance. I push myself off the ray’s back and stroke a hand along its smooth underside as a silent thank-you. One of its massive fins grazes my cheek, and then they’re gone, heading east toward Suntosu.