Totoka River It’s Not Much, But It’s Honest Work

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Okay, okay, okay. Eleuthera was inclined towards rest these days, but only because at times it was ungodly hot in the heat of summer and there was nothing to do but rest and retain one’s energy. This was not the current case. In reality, she was hungry, she wanted to be in the cool waters, she had plenty of spare time and she desired company. It was time to relent, to give in, because there was no reason not to.

Plus, Eleuthera could not neglect to notice, this stranger — whom she had so unceremoniously deterred from his intentions — was being more than lenient with her. In fact, he was being downright kind! He was willing to teach her a skill she didn’t have, giving her genuine instruction even when it was clear he saw through her puny attempt — perhaps a skill that would one day save her life. If she was her mother, she might have said the universe placed this man in her path to equip her with the tools that might alter her fate. Had she known that this man was the leader of those who were colonizing the mystified bleeding woods to the south, she would have believed this even more.

Eleuthera looked up at him, grateful for his persistence. Then she stared back at the fish, speaking into the surface of the water. “No, no — I got this.” and she was sure she would, if it was truly as easy at Donovan was saying. Eleuthera tried to channel the sway of the water in her limbs, and saw the plumes of lilac fur around her ankles as sea weed and lake moss. She felt the rushing through her veins not a warm lifeblood, but as cold fresh water pumping through her. She was one with the water — she was…

and alas, the fish did return! But Eleuthera did not know what to do with them as the congregated around her legs of seaweed. It seemed random chance that she would get one of these things between her jaws — so she left it up to instinct. The moment there was a flash of silver beneath her nose, she plunged herself into the water and thrashed her teeth wildly. Unsurprisingly, when she resurfaced, her jaws were empty and her expression was totally wild from the spontaneity of the whole thing. Such intuitive movement felt good, even if it didn’t result in a catch.

Eleuthera looked up at her tutor, wondering how he was going to critique that!