It was so weird, it almost felt like the water was a long lost relative that was welcoming me home after a long absence. I had never felt such warmth that was the sea’s embrace.
For a long moment, I reveled in the feeling before a tap on my cheek made me open my eyes. I was pleasantly surprised when I didn’t feel the familiar sting of the salt on my eyes. It was also clear, so very clear, and brighter than the surface. In the water, I could clearly see the guys as they surrounded me.
I blushed at their shirtless forms. At least they had kept their boxers on, even if it didn’t leave much to the imagination. Especially when several of them were hard.
In front of me, Hip was smiling. “There’s no need to hold your breath.”
His voice was clear, not the garbled sounds I was expecting.
He pointed to the gills on his neck which were open. I watched as they widened and then narrowed as he breathed. I touched my own throat and felt the little slits which were my own gills. I could breathe underwater with these.
Hesitantly, I opened my mouth and inhaled.
Water rushed into my mouth and down my windpipe, making me panic. My mind screamed that this was wrong! I shut my mouth and rushed to the surface, my frantic mind becoming a jumbled mess.
My lungs burned, demanding oxygen, but there wasn’t any, there was only water.
I felt something grab my leg.
It was keeping me from the surface, from sweet air!
I kicked and thrashed.
“Atalanta, calm down. Breathe, I know it's weird, but just breathe.” Someone said. I couldn’t recognize the voice.
Arms grabbed at my sides and I screamed, releasing the last reserves of air that I had in my lungs. “LET ME GO!”
My lungs were on fire, and the edges of my vision were beginning to go hazy.
Someone gripped my cheeks, and I caught bright gray-blue eyes before hearing a beautifully alluring voice say, "Atalanta, open your mouth and breath normally. Trust us, it's going to be okay.”
I couldn’t tell if the fuzziness in my head was from the voice or my brain blacking out, but regardless, my body obliged. I opened my mouth and sucked in a lungful of water.
Chapter Five
Atalanta
Nothing happened.
Well, not completely nothing, but I wasn’t drowning. My brain, which had been blacking out, cleared. My lungs, though aching, were pleasantly happy with the water that was currently filling them.
Needless to say, I was shocked.
Exhaling, I felt the water rush out of my mouth and was surprised by the sensation of it flowing out of my gills. Cautiously, I took a deep breath in, not only feeling the water rush in through my mouth, but through the slits in the side of neck as well. It was similar to how I imagined a can of beer felt after you stabbed it in the side.
Focusing, I realized that Theseus was floating in front of me. He had been the voice which commanded me to breath. I didn’t know if I should hit him for stealing my free will by using his ability on me or hug him for saving my life and keeping me from suffocating myself. I decided hugging him was the better choice, since he had only been trying to help.
“Thanks,” I croaked out, my vocal cords feeling a bit strained from using water instead of air.
“Feeling better? Less panicked?” Theseus asked, trying to sound comforting.
I nodded and looked around at the other guys, feeling awkward at my freakout. Ajax, who was at the edge of the circle the guys were making around me, drifted closer and patted the top of my head.
“Same,” was all he said, which I took to mean that the first time he had shifted he had panicked as well.
I gave him a weary smile, grateful for his attempt to make me feel less ridiculous. Of course I could breath underwater. I knew I had gills, but that didn’t stop my once human brain from thinking water equals no breathing.
No longer panicking, I took a deep breath in and explored our surroundings. We were in open water, with not much around besides the occasional fish and the shifting sand. I spied color off in the distance and swam towards it. The webbing on my hands and feet acted like snorkeling fins, only better because it didn’t feel like clunky plastic and rubber weighing me down.
Swimming much faster than I was used to, I almost zoomed right past the reef I had seen.
Coming to an awkward halt, I tumbled through the water and stared upside down in awe at the colorful swarm of fish and coral.
I had never been diving, but if this was the sight they got to see, I envied divers. The fish had their own little world down here. Multiple breeds swam in little pods or alone, weaving in and out of the coral and sea grass. I could watch them for hours.
A tiny red fish broke off from its pod and actually swam up to me, stopping in front of my face. Slowly, I righted myself and studied the fish as it studied me. I wanted to reach out and pet it, but I didn’t want to break the magic that was happening.
I felt an odd sensation at the back of my head, similar to the feeling I got when someone was behind me. Swirling around, I didn’t see anyone. Brow scrunching, I remembered that I was here with the boys, and scanned the water for them. I spotted them floating together on the opposite end of the reef from me.
I turned back to the tiny red fish to see it swimming back to its pod. Somewhat disheartened, I swam over the coral to meet the boys on the other side.
“This is amazing,” I whispered.
They didn’t say anything, but several of the boys grinned, bringing a smile to my own face.
An undercurrent came out of nowhere, shoving me towards Hip. He caught me in his arms, grinning. I almost thought he was going to kiss me, but instead he let go and actually slapped me on the ass!
“Race you!” He challenged before taking off.
I glanced at the other four before taking off after him, not giving them a chance to overtake me. A bubble of energy urged me forward. I wouldn’t let Hip or any of them win this time!
I don’t know how far we swam, but I came dead last.
I pointed at them. “Okay, but I’m new at this. Just you wait, I’ll win next time.”
“I’m sure you will,” Hip sniggered, floating through the water, his arms behind his head like he was lounging on a couch.
Theseus gave me a comforting smile. “You still gave us a run for our money.”
“I mean, I am the swim team captain. If I let you win, I could never live it down.” Jason laughed, patting me on the back.
I sighed, exasperated. My body relaxed and I stopped treading water. My clothes were heavy from being waterlogged, and the moment I stopped moving I sank slowly down to the ocean’s floor. The sand puffed up in big clouds as I landed against it.
I stared up at the surface above me. Now that I could see clearly, I noticed the night sky through the shifting water, and it was breathtaking. Small flickers of light from the moon peeking from behind the clouds in short spurts twinkled against the water, almost like the sparkling stars. I could only wonder what it looked like when the sky was clear, or maybe during sunset.
All of the guys—who had been watching me—began to settle beside me, with Jason close to my left and Theseus to my right.
I took the time in their silence to adjust myself, to get used to the feeling of breathing water and seeing everything in a near supernatural focus.
After a while, I popped up, feeling ready to learn.
“Okay, teach me how to grow my tail.”
The guys chuckled.