Moving around with these 4 limbs of mine I find myself able to lift myself on the floor some what and do little hops. Getting higher up is difficult and when I do get higher it feels as if I'm coming apart. The darkness I'm living in is my normal environment and comforting but annoying as well. Illuminating constantly to see unless others are about to illuminate my area gets tiring. 'perhaps only using 1 limb at a time may help conserve my energy a while longer' "it is time little one" 'what the!' startled i flip myself over as I was mid jump attempt. "hahaha, sorry little one It seems i picked a bad time to speak", carefully the owner of this new softer voice nudges me until I am back upright and flattened out again. "thank you great one, you are an Eclipsa like me yes?" brushing out the wrinkles in my soft flesh wondering at the differences."the reply I get is soft and apparently amused, "indeed little one, Eliysiah is my name, you have earned a name also. Auraelish you shall be called. Congratulations.".
"thank you El-iy-sha? is that correct?", "perfectly welcome little Auraelish,that politeness is appreciated, and my name is- El_iy_si_ah, try it out". That seems a bit helpful as little Auraelish learns to say these new names instantly after having them pronounced in broken down syllables by the larger and patient Eliysiah. "come it's time to begin our climb." after telling the new life of its new name and its new guardians name. A shimmer in the dark depth with its guardian escorting it up a slope gently encouraging it to continue upward as it tells of the basics of being a shimmer and a shimmer-guardian.
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Some time passes as Auraelish learns that it is a shimmer or little light among the Eclipsa species, and this Luminari Tribe who are known experts in use of light and navigation in this ocean. " are we all born to be good with light, and finding our way around?" , "not entirely little one, there are some who have not the gift of light or navigation, yet others who never learn to speak and so on. not to worry about them they still serve the tribe" 'but if...' as if answering my forming thought " They serve in many ways, some stay in the territory we protect, others venture out into the unknown, or go to other tribes if the opportunity prevents itself. Sometimes there are tribal exchanges as well, these help the tribes stay in touch with each other and share valuable skills and such between the tribes. Some say it is as some god or great spirit guides us." nodding his center like a head..? 'wait what's a head?' Strange thoughts break Auraelish's stride and then he sees something strange indeed.
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A massive shadow gliding through the water, slight side to side movement as it slips along unbothered by anything apparently. "what in the ocean is that? that great shadow, sleek and graceful, so large." in response the shimmer-guardian waves a limb at both Auraelish and this great silent shadow "These great shadows are mysterious even to us, but there sleek form is no danger to us Eclipsa. Other tribes have more experience with them and others similar to them, but for us they usually just slip on by and leave us be." nodding again, "somehow that's...comforting." imagining a warm cloudy creature within that sleek form Auraelish laughs deeply as he picks up the pace and moves up the slope. " I suppose it is" ponders Eliysiah with her own nod.'there's those words again, he and she, head and nod.what is that stuff I'm thinking of suddenly'---"look Auraelish we are nearing the next challenge for you"
a vortex of strange water rising up from a spiky looking thing, that looks much like sand somehow, comes into view. "now what could this be guardian?" a quick reply"we call it a pressure spout, there are many of them around this ocean. These can be unsettling and dangerous to little shimmers, But you are ready to tackle this hazard now more closely. Simply follow me at some distance and let us have some fun". Charging ahead Eliysiah circled into the vortex and simply hopped into it spinning with the force of the turbulent water as she rises effortlessly off the floor,"ok that looks fun indeed". Following suit Auraelish finds himself tumbling uncontrollably under his escort, 'hmm, now what?'. on Que the Larger Eclipsa pulls herself out of the vortex core and glides around in the gentler water. Auraelish copies what he sees and tumbles out of the vortex, in a confused tangle and begins to settle down towards the floor again. "spread your limbs out little one, and pull yourself in the direction you indent to move" a simple enough command, spreading out and relaxing a moment Auraelish is flung out of the vortex completely, but slows down greatly. "well that's interesting", pulling toward the vortex outer edges Auraelish gently touches down and celebrates by spinning in place before tangling up in his five limbs.... "what the' "since when did i have five limbs?". "your new limb sprouted as you landed so gently, magnificent you figured out how the glide on your first try, Perhaps you are destined to become a swimmer among the tribe.
"so swimmers are a rarity amongst our kind?", gyrating slightly in response " amongst our kind no, amongst our tribe yes. Swimmers in the Illuminati Tribe are few and far between, most are quite busy and mysterious amongst the rest of us.", "hmm I see", 'I wonder how long it will take to learn swimming'. "shall we continue our journey now, or take another launch with vortex?" Eliysiah asks with her limbs tucked together. 'her version of a crooked smile perhaps.'... 'and again why do I keep thinking of strange words like these?'