Delta had grown so accustomed to the ice that the lack of it was almost...uncomfortable. It had been like a shell, protecting him beneath the water from whatever hungry land-beasts tried to fish for him. Without its cover came the familiar fear of being watched, and the little cat hesitantly poked his eyes above the water's surface to glimpse his strange new surroundings.
The land east to the cove was unfamiliar to him, filled with broad leaves and warm mist even in the coldest of winter months; only the thinnest of ice could form on the river's shallow edges, and the water as a whole was temperate--a far cry from the frigid temperatures he'd swam from. He ran his tongue around his fangs nervously before diving beneath the surface again, lazily flapping his fins against the muddy riverbed and letting himself be pulled along by the current.
It certainly was pretty here, both above and beneath the water. Aquatic plants and shiny little fish wove around his fur, dappled sunlight falling through the canopy above and glittering against their iridescent scales. Ancient trees that had toppled and long since absorbed into the bank provided an intricate maze of roots and algae to wind through, and Delta allowed himself a moment to play among the foliage as he chased little black crabs and diving beetles. It was a strange place, but it was nice. A secret little sliver of spring in an otherwise winter wonderland.
Eventually he abandoned his play, continuing to follow the current as the sun rose higher and brightened the clear green water. He could feel the water changing against his whiskers as he swam, recognizing a dull vibration followed soon after by a distant rumbling in his ears. Waterfall, he recognized, but his flash of fear was short lived. It felt like the waterfall was pouring into the river he swam in now, and the tingle at his whiskers further told him that the river would be widening into a basin soon. He had nothing to fear, he was swimming towards it, not down it.
Sure enough, Delta's whiskers were correct. The riverbank dipped harshly and the current widened, feeding into a massive lake filled with cool, emerald water churned by the force of twin waterfalls tumbling down the impressive cliffsides. He poked his eyes above the water and blinked rapidly to adjust to the light, taking in the gorgeous view with awestruck fear.
Delta had never seen a place like it before. It was beautiful, and so many more of those strange summer plants and twisted trees wound their way around the scenery. Though the mist shrouded his little face, beneath the surface he tucked his paws to his belly and dove again with a pump of his wide fins, resembling nothing more than a strange little fish as he explored the green water.
The land east to the cove was unfamiliar to him, filled with broad leaves and warm mist even in the coldest of winter months; only the thinnest of ice could form on the river's shallow edges, and the water as a whole was temperate--a far cry from the frigid temperatures he'd swam from. He ran his tongue around his fangs nervously before diving beneath the surface again, lazily flapping his fins against the muddy riverbed and letting himself be pulled along by the current.
It certainly was pretty here, both above and beneath the water. Aquatic plants and shiny little fish wove around his fur, dappled sunlight falling through the canopy above and glittering against their iridescent scales. Ancient trees that had toppled and long since absorbed into the bank provided an intricate maze of roots and algae to wind through, and Delta allowed himself a moment to play among the foliage as he chased little black crabs and diving beetles. It was a strange place, but it was nice. A secret little sliver of spring in an otherwise winter wonderland.
Eventually he abandoned his play, continuing to follow the current as the sun rose higher and brightened the clear green water. He could feel the water changing against his whiskers as he swam, recognizing a dull vibration followed soon after by a distant rumbling in his ears. Waterfall, he recognized, but his flash of fear was short lived. It felt like the waterfall was pouring into the river he swam in now, and the tingle at his whiskers further told him that the river would be widening into a basin soon. He had nothing to fear, he was swimming towards it, not down it.
Sure enough, Delta's whiskers were correct. The riverbank dipped harshly and the current widened, feeding into a massive lake filled with cool, emerald water churned by the force of twin waterfalls tumbling down the impressive cliffsides. He poked his eyes above the water and blinked rapidly to adjust to the light, taking in the gorgeous view with awestruck fear.
Delta had never seen a place like it before. It was beautiful, and so many more of those strange summer plants and twisted trees wound their way around the scenery. Though the mist shrouded his little face, beneath the surface he tucked his paws to his belly and dove again with a pump of his wide fins, resembling nothing more than a strange little fish as he explored the green water.