“My name’s Hightide.” he said before letting out a satisfied belch. He had never realized fish tasted so good this fresh, and in a sudden surge of high spirits he twisted and turned around the other kelpie, laughing as he went. The other kelpie, slightly larger, didn’t seem to mind and continued making his way across the lonesome bay.
“Hiya, Hightide. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here before,” said the green kelpie. He spoke with a laid back drawl in an accent Hightide had never heard before. “My name is Argyle by the way, from the Hossback. So what part of the ocean did you swim out of?”
For a moment Hightide flinched, not knowing what to say but not wanting to tell the truth. Fortunately a lie was easy enough to fabricate, or at least he hoped.
“Caprona. I’m from the Caprona Cay.” Hightide hoped there was no noticeable waver in his voice.
Argyle’s jaw slacked as he slowly nodded. “Oh, A Caspak, ey? I’ve been around that place once or twice, warm waters, full of fish, only the occasional catastrophic storm,” he paused for a moment. “But you don’t sound like one.”
“I’m hardly ever there.” Hightide spoke quickly. “And I’ve got this habit of picking up local accents, you know?”
He looked away, trying to find something else to talk about. He remembered that this was his fourth day away from home. He wondered just for a moment, who might still be looking for him, while hoping Argyle wouldn’t ask specific questions.
“I know what ya mean ‘tide,” Argyle nodded slowly. “It’s alright if I just call ya ‘tide, right?”Hightide grinned. “Sure! No problem!” Internally he sighed, relieved. With that, Argyle was mostly silent besides a comment on the weather or a passing ship far off in the distance as the two swam in leisure together in and out of the shafts of sunlight that penetrated the depths. This world was still new, and different but for now at least he wasn’t lonely.