Submission (#8548) Approved

Thetis was a small, greyish black kittom with curly fur, soft green eyes and an itty-bitty welkin tail. He had joined Hebe on her journey, on their journey he supposed as he was never going to leave her unattended, and that had led them to Ealei. He looked at her, studying her pale purple fur with the spots and soft green eyes that mimicked his own but in a more delicate shade. He was glad to have her by his side and with him on this journey. Although apprehensive about trying new things, he was quite diligent once he'd decided on a task but it was still nice to have Hebe with him.

This had led them to this beautiful, large island of rock, stone and wood that sat in the middle of the ocean. The large elder tree that sat in the middle of the isle was vast, incredibly so, potentially bigger than anything the kittom had seen in his life. The spanning branches spread across the island for the tree canopy villages to form. That was where the kittoms were staying but that's not where they would remain today. They had fun to do on the island, and things to see!

He grinned confidently at Hebe, or perhaps more charmingly so, and began to lead her down the staircase that took them around and around the length of the tree from the top of the village to down to the beach. She followed suit and the two were like small blurs of colour as they went around and around and around and around until they had to stop at one of the tree levels to get his barring.

"I'm getting dizzy," he said, rethinking his plans to explore the island with Hebe before he leaned against the wall of the tree to reassess. She leaned up beside him, and his back straightened a bit as she laughed softly beside him with a grin on her face.

He offered up a laugh of his own and the two laughed until they began running again, watching the levels of the village disappear above them as they got closer and closer to the bottom.

In the distance, Thetis could see the puffy white clouds coming to view in the sky as they met the horizon and sea. He could see the rocks all around the island like a barrier, jumping out of the water with the waves. Below them, he could see the roots entangling the island and going into the ocean around them. He was pondering his choices when Thetis looked over the edge curiously and then slipped.

His scream could be heard followed by a splash as he hit the water.

There was a pause, and then Thetis saw Hebe jump off the edge and join him in the water. She splashed him, laughed and Thetis whined softly but his little welkin tail waggled under the water softly.

"Look," he whispered, looking down at the shells below them. "Maybe we could get them? They don't look too far down."

He used one of his paws to cover his nose and then tried to dive down. He didn't make it very far, his little welkin tail bobbing at the top of the water. He shook his ears vigorously as he came back up, wiping the water out of his eyes.

"That was new," he said as he pouted, laughing a little but his focus doubling down as he tried again.

And again.

And again.

He didn't personally want the shell but every time he got to the surface again, he saw Hebe's face. He wanted to give her the shell! He noticed Hebe joining him on his attempts but she was able to collect a few shells before he was able to get the one he had set his sights on.

Eventually, he was able to get down and grab one of the shells and the two kittoms swam out of the water, climbing up to root to the overlook above. From there, he smiled sheepishly and gently put the shell into her paws. It was rounded on the top with a delicate pearlescent shimmer.

"Do you like it, Hebe?" He asked, and the smile on her face was enough of an answer.