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As the chill of the darkening sea surrounded him, Vael realized his plight. As he sank ever deeper he felt the waters crushing in on him but something compelled him to remain. Even as his lung ached, burning for air he was still, not fighting the pull of the currents which had already pulled him far from the cliffs; far from land. Finally it became too much, he had to breathe but instead of swim to the surface, he simply gasped. Every muscle in him fought the icy chill that spilled into his lungs, every instinct screamed at him, told he he would die but still he remained; somehow he knew death would not come.

It felt like an eternity suspended in the darkness, surrounded by the eerie calm of the sea, being serenaded by so many unfamiliar sounds from all around. Soon his paws touched ground, he felt the sands beneath his toes shift far easier here than on the land and something about the soft sensation brought a smile to his lips; something about this felt familiar. "Could it be?" came a voice from all around him, the sound echoing around him, even caressing his fur. "Have you truly come?"

Vael tried to speak but even as his maw opened, all he could manage was an odd gurgling. With the air long gone from his lungs only the water remained and he knew no way to speak in this foreign realm. "Such frail things you are, my siblings thought you beautiful." came the voice again, the soft, melodious tones once again carrying that soothing physical sensation. "I saw the greed in your kind though. Even now you take from my realm, devour my beautiful creations." something compelled Vael to look up now and what he saw left his jaw agape: thousands of fish of all different sizes and shapes, of as many colors as Vael had ever seen and twice more swam above him. Their movements entranced him, the swirling of vivid colors against what could only have been the light of the sun was more beautiful than anything he'd ever seen before.

It wasn't until he felt a familiar sensation that Vael snapped from his trance: the sensation of paws on his shoulders. Vael's gaze quickly snapped back, peering over his shoulder into a pair of vivid eyes, sparking with as many colors as the sea had to offer and more. He peered into a familiar face, saw the soft features of a slender fox. It took him a moment before he recognized the face he'd known for so long, it took him a moment before he recognized himself.

Almost every detail of this creature was flawless save two, for it's eyes sparkled unlike anything Vael had ever seen and it's fur - while white like his and even carrying the same ebon strips as his - carried an unmistakable hint of pale blue. Vael jerked suddenly, startled by this creature which so easily took his form but he could not look away from those eyes and something within them promised him comfort.

As much as his mind screamed at him to retreat as those familiar paws came to rest on his shoulders, their warmth relaxed him. "I wonder," the creature mused, a kind smile coming across it's maw. "Do you remember?" Those paws began to delicately stroke down Vael's arms, caressing over his chest, their warmth a welcome sensation against the harsh cold of the sea. "You know I held you once, when you were young. Perhaps you were too young to remember. It was so very long ago."

"Varren!" Vael gasped, the words coming as easily to him now as if he'd found his lungs filled with air once more. Varren nodded then, its arms wrapping gently around Vael's shoulders before it drifted around to face Vael. "So you remember my name," it said happily, it's paws once again continuing their exploring, tenderly trailing down Vael's abdomen slowly. "But do you remember my touch? After all, it's been so very long." It's paws stroked ever lower as Varren knelt in the soft sand, stroking Vael's thighs carefully and though Vael was dressed, he could feel it's every touch as if he stood naked before this wondrous and somewhat odd creature.

"It's strange you know," Varren said, it's voice once again flowing around Vael's body like the ever shifting tide. "To touch a creation ravaged by the Surface World. Strange, but exciting." Vael's heart almost stopped as he felt those warm paws move to caress his slit, the tender fingers carefully exploring every inch. It wasn't until he felt them slip in - until he felt their delicate touch delve deep into his body - that he finally jerked, pulling back suddenly and almost crying out: "I have a mate!"

Vael's reaction seemed to startle Varren and when he looked again into those vivid, colorful eyes he saw a look of sorrow and shame he never could have expected. "Please, forgive me," Varren said, it's voice soft, quivering like a rippling pond disturbed by some careless stone. "I only wanted to feel my creation again. Please, I meant no harm..."

Vael gave a soft sigh and knelt in front of Varren, leaning forward to gently nuzzle against it's cheek softly. "Then you can feel me in other ways," he said with a smile, pausing only a moment to look into those beautiful eyes before adding. "But that part of me belongs only to the man I love. Alright?"

A silence came over them both for a moment and in that moment Vael watched the sorrow drift from those wondrous eyes. Varren slowly leaned forward, gently nuzzling up under Vael's chin as it said, "I understand. I'm starting to see now, what my siblings see in your kind. I'm beginning to see the strength they so admire."

*****

The wind whipped passed Mina as she ran, the forest around her becoming a blur in her panicked dash for the town. Few things could truly frighten the feline mage but what she'd just witnessed, her close friend wreathed in mystical blue flames plunging over the edge of a cliff was more than enough. In her haste she didn't notice the roots protruding from the forest floor before her; she didn't notice them until it was too late.

Her frantic pace was enough to rip the root from the ground, splitting it in two and just as quickly as she'd been running, the forest floor rushed up to greet her. The taste of soil and blood mixed across her tongue as she pulled herself up once more, trying to ignore the waves of searing pain now rippling through her right leg. All that truly mattered to her right now was getting back to the town, back to the tavern; back to her friends.

When she finally burst through the tavern door, the startled patrons stared at her, staring at the blood staining the hem of her trousers which covered the wounded leg. Derius made his way to her quickly, a cup of water snatched up along the way to offer to her as he helped her to a chair. "What's wrong, lass?" he asked, easily seeing the panic in her eyes. "Vael..." she began, trying to speak though her violent panting, not bothering to catch her breath. "Vael... The cliffs..." but it was all she could manage before snatching the cup and taking a long drink.

Derius stared at her now, trying to think of what she'd meant to say. "Aye, Vael usually visits that place, lass." he explained with a chuckle. "Probably reminds him of his mother, she used to take him there when he was a pup." "No!" Mina managed at length, having caught enough of her breath to speak. "Vael walks off the cliffs!" The statement stunned Derius, leaving him staring with jaw agape and eyes wide for a few long, silent moments before he stood up and yelled, "Tavern's closed! Everyone out!" though by now everyone in the room had already expected it and were already heading for the door. "You stay here lass," Derius said over his shoulder as he leapt up the stairs, taking them three at a time, "Try'n stay off that leg!"