Submission (#6177) Approved

Greywind and Cinder had spent weeks in Ealei now. By this point, they both felt comfortable; the locals have been very welcoming and Cinder already made new friendships, while Greywind was a lot more reserved - but he enjoyed living in a giant tree nonetheless. It was like the complete opposite of his experience in Strynhalde. He wouldn’t wanna live here all the time, for but for a while… it definitely had its charms.

His training has been going very well so far, and without any further issues… after his first failure of Cinders parkour of horrors. Eventually, he managed to build up his stamina quite substantially and he was able to run across Ealei without any issues. Now it was time to move onto the next part - training to hold in his breath. This one he actually looked forward to, because he was planning on holding his breath underwater - and Ealei was perfect for that, with its warm waters and the colorful coral reefs at the outskirts of the shallow waters. Greywind loved swimming; something that definitely wasn’t as fun in Strynhalde, that was for sure.

As the early morning sun bathed the giant island in golden light, Cinder and Greywind made their way to the rocky shoreline. The ocean stretched out before them, its waves lapping at the colorful coral reefs that beckoned beneath the surface. Greywind had been practicing for days, taking deep breaths and diving beneath the waves for a short period, but he wanted to improve his skills. Today, he was going deeper!

Cinder, ever the loving and supporting partner, couldn't resist bickering as Greywind prepared to dive, stretching his long body and clawing at the rocks. "You really think you can hold your breath longer this time, darling? Last time, you barely stayed down for a few seconds."

Greywind, his white fur shimmering in the morning light, shot a friendly glare at the smaller one, while throwing the little hourglass towards him. Cinders Pomu popped out of the shadows and caught it, before it would crash on the rocks.
“Hey, would you please be careful with that, it’s not ours” Cinder scolded the older one and carefully took the hourglass from his Pomu. “Lenore is never gonna lend us things again if you break her belongings.” The dark elnin grimaced towards Greywind, who just grinned with his sharp teeth.
“Then don’t tease me, and we won’t have any issues.”

With that, Greywind nodded towards Cinder and they both jumped further down, right where the waves crashed against the rock and seafoam lingered in the air. The rock was wet, from the occasional higher wave and Cinder carefully sat down, his notes and the hourglass next to him on a higher rock, outside of the reach of the ocean. Greywind asked him to keep protocol on the times - to check for improvement, and eventual downfalls.
“Ready?”, Cinder asked softly, and his tail swayed slowly from side to side. “Remember to put your safety first, don’t try to be a hero. You can slowly work on improving your times. And don’t underestimate the current. This is the open ocean.”
Greywind chuckled and rolled his eyes a little; Cinder was always too scared about everything.
“Don’t worry about it, I have you right here, ready to save me…don’t I?”, he smirked with a low voice, which made Cinder blush and the smaller one swiftly swiped his paw through the water and splashed Greywind with salt water, who just laughed.
“Oh real mature, love, real mature…”
He just shook off the water - before dunking his tail into the ocean and whipping the water towards Cinder, who gasped in surprise.
“YOU!”, he growled, but Greywind laughed again and escaped whatever revenge plans Cinder plotted by leaping into the ocean, letting the clear waters swallow him. As the sunlight danced on the waters surface, Greywind had stood at the edge of the serene lake, feeling the allure of the deep beckoning to him and with a deep breath, he took the plunge. The initial chill of the water sent a shiver down his spine, but it was invigorating.

Cinder perched himself on a nearby rock, watching Greywinds every move. He knew that tracking the time was a crucial part of the challenge, but right now he really wanted to get back at Greywind. “Oh just you wait, Sir… I’ll get you…”, he mumbled to himself and set the little hourglass,while grabbing the notebook.

Underwater, Greywind marveled at the mesmerizing world below. It was so different from the world above. As he descended below the surface, the world above seemed to slip away. The sounds of birds and the distant laughter of the Elnin nearby became muffled, replaced by a gentle underwater symphony. Bubbles rose around him, creating a mesmerizing backdrop as he ventured deeper. Everything was more peaceful down here. The white elnin could hear his own heartbeat amongst beautiful silence. It reminded him of the snow covered valleys in Strynhalde.
He felt weightless.
It was as if he had left behind the gravity of the land and was now floating in a dream. His limbs moved effortlessly, guided by the natural buoyancy of the water.
Colorful fish darted among the vibrant coral formations, and the ocean floor seemed to stretch infinitely. He swam deeper, his sleek body slicing through the water. As he explored the endless beauty of the coral reefs, he could feel the pressure in his chest increasing, and the urge to take a breath intensified. He knew he had a limited time, and each breathless moment became more precious. Despite the rising urgency, a profound sense of clarity and calm enveloped him. Time seemed to slow, and his focus narrowed to the immediate underwater world.

Up on the rocky shore, Cinders' patience was wearing thin. "Greywind! How long are you planning to stay down there?!" He already had to turn the hourglass once - 30 seconds had passed. He could barely see Greywind through the clean waters down below, next to the coral reefs.

But Greywind was determined. He wanted to prove himself and return to Cinder with newfound confidence. Minutes passed, and Cinder kept count, occasionally sending exasperated glances towards the ocean. The villagers passing by couldn't help but chuckle at the spectacle unfolding by the rocks.

Greywind was acutely aware of the intricate play of light through the water, the swaying of aquatic plants, and the elegant dance of fish. Their colors, shapes, and movements became a mesmerizing spectacle, captivating his attention. But the need for control was paramount. The white elnin pushed his bodys limits, knowing that the choice of when to return to the surface was his and his alone. It was a personal challenge, an exploration of his own capabilities in this serene underwater realm.

Finally, with the pressure in his chest demanding his attention, Greywind began his ascent. As he neared the surface, the anticipation grew. The world above rippled and swirled with distorted light. And then, he broke the surface with a triumphant look on his face

With a gasp, he filled his lungs with the crisp, life-giving air. The transition from the underwater world to the surface was exhilarating. It was a rush of oxygen, a feeling of being reborn. He had ventured into the depths, and now he had emerged, alive and invigorated

Cinder, who had almost lost count of the time, could only sigh in relief as he saw his beloved safe and sound. “Geez, I thought you drowned-”, he mumbled and took a final look at the hourglass, before he wrote down the time.

Greywind clambered onto the rocks, water droplets glistening on his fur. "How long was that, Cinder?"

Cinder, grimacing, responded, "Too long for my taste." But then he finally calmed down, and looked over his notes. “Almost 4 and a half minutes. That is amazing work, Greywind!” He looked at the other cheerfully now; he knew Greywind was probably proud of the time, and the white elnin nodded.

“Sweet. .. ready for round Two?”