Wheeling Gull Isle become the light in the sky

*writes a novel*

The dawning of Undersea is upon them and where it leaves the leviathan is uncomfortably uncertain but for now he does not worry. The deciding day will come and regardless of where it leaves him he will persevere as he has done time and time again. Atlan has not yet steered him wrong and even if They do perhaps then it isn’t wrong to the Sea but wrong to him — simply an easy misinterpretation. For now, he bides his time, he tends to duties he has taken upon himself and that are left to him. The sky darkens rapidly and it falls out of notice: as does the first falling star that streaks across the velveteen sky. And then one shoots down from the heavens, reflected in Atlan’s murky surface as a particularly hard and high wave breaks across the surf, grasping greedily for him but misses him just by a few inches. Axolotl’s steps cease and for the first time glacial gaze lifts to the sky.

The sky and Atlan have always been closely related but none has ever mentioned the heavens as being a deity. There was such a story told by the oldest of the priests that the sky had once been Atlan’s lover and that They, in their unpredictable nature angered the Universe — creator of worlds — and Their punishment was to always be out of the Sky’s embrace but that they are still intimately intertwined with one another despite that They can never touch. It’s a sad story but whether there is credibility behind it Axolotl doesn’t know. It would make some sense as to why he’d never heard of any Atlantans taking mates or having children: a choice to aid Atlan in carrying the burden of Their punishment so that They are not so alone. Yet, the leviathan had taken no such vows of celibacy his thoughts turn to Maera. As if on some kind of cue, her howl for him rises into the night.

Without preamble the leviathan makes his way towards her and only when she comes into his view: a brilliant smudge of flame against the dark of the night does his approach slow. She appears as a personification of a shooting star fallen to earth and he already knows he personifies the Sea and all of it’s attributes the good and the horrible. It was Atlan’s gift to him both times he was nearly drowned by Them. Twice he had taken in a part of the Sea …once is rare enough for not many survive the final initiation into becoming an Atlanian (and twice is all but unheard of!). Perhaps he is blessed or perhaps he is cursed, regardless he does not focus upon it for long — for how can he when his glacial gaze is focused upon such rare and captivating beauty! In completion of his previous poetic thoughts he thinks that surely if she is to be the flames of the sun or a fallen star and he is to be the Sea then together they are (or rather have the potential to be) what Atlan and Their lover are forever denied.

The leviathan almost speaks her name. He wants to, to let it fall from his lips in a caressing murmur but thinks, at the last second, that the moment requires no words as he slides up alongside her, and presses his nose to the junction of her jaw and neck before he (boldy!) lets a trail of fiery kisses along her jaw in greeting.