Thalina drifted through the coral forest, her fingers trailing along the swaying seaweed. The waters were calm, filled with the soft hum of the clicking of crabs on rocks, the faint swish of fins gliding through the current. It was peaceful here, but peace had never been enough for her. She tilted her head back, looking toward the surface. Light danced through the waves, a shimmering invitation that set her heart alight with longing. She couldn't remember the first time the surface had called to her, but its pull had only grown stronger over the years.
The elder's warnings rang in her mind: The surface is not for us. It is a realm of danger, of treachery. We belong below.
But why? What made the surface so dangerous? They never explained, only repeated the same stern mantra until it felt like a wall she could never scale. She sighed, propelling herself upward till she reached the edge of the forest. The coral thinned here, replaced by open water that stretched endlessly toward the sunlit surface. She hovered for a moment, torn between caution and temptation.
"You're wandering again."
Thalina turned to see Neris, his golden tail catching the light as he swam towards her. His face was a mixture of amusement and exasperation." Someone has to keep an eye on you," he teased, folding his arms."You're going to get yourself in trouble one of these days."
I'm just looking, "Thalina said defensively, crossing her arms in return." Looking always turns into doing with you," Neris countered. He glanced upward, his expression darkening. "The elders say the surface is dangerous for a reason, Thalina. It's not worth the risk."
"Don't you ever wonder what's up there?" she asked, her voice soft. What does it feel like to breathe air, to stand on land?" " No, "Neris said flatly. "And neither should you."
Thalina bit back a retort, turning away from him. It wasn't fair. How could they all be content to stay here, never questioning, never dreaming? She couldn't imagine spending her entire life beneath the waves, always wondering what else was out there.
"I'm not going to do anything," she said finally. Neris signed. "You say that now, but one day you're going to cross a line you can't uncross