(Author's Note: Written for The_Weekend_Write-In prompt for this week, ''water." This effort is adapted from a story I wrote way back in 2014 for one of ScienceFiction 's SciFi Friday contests. For those who don't know, Europa is one of Jupiter's moons. And if anyone would like to read the original story you can click on the External Link.

The original story was just over 1500 words -  this one has been condensed :))

Vik swam through the dense patch of water, sampling the rich cocktail of phyllosilicates as he sped through. He could feel the heavy slipperiness of it on his skin, as well as the spicy taste of it in his mouth. Delicious.

If he hadn't been chasing his pod brother, he would have lingered to eat his fill. As it was, he filed the location away in his memory. It was halfway through Slow Tide, perhaps he would have time to come back later and find this patch again.

Pol was only just ahead of him, a shining blue in his sonar-ray vision. Vik forgot about the food and darted after Pol, he would catch him this time, he was certain.

Another click further and they reached the outskirts of the city. Vik glanced up at the huge circular buildings floating above them, checking for other traffic, before following close on Pol's tail. He skimmed past the thick metal cable which anchored the central sphere of the city to the top of the mountain. The tether allowed the city to move fractionally with the tides, without being swept halfway round the planet every day.

Vik looked up, just in time to see Pol flicking his tail in triumph. While he had been distracted, Pol had reached the goal of the Pod Brother's Twelfth House. Vik could just imagine the smirk on his face. Soon, he promised himself, soon he would be fully grown and then he would win their races.

Before they could get into an argument, two females poked their heads inside the entrance. "Hullo, anyone there? Oh, hi Pol, hi Vik. Fast Tide's going to be a big one this time. We're going to ride it - want to come too?"

Cal and Jai led the way, all four of them darting between the buildings in single file until they were clear of the city. Then they moved smoothly into formation, taking turns to lead and allow the others to save their strength in the slipstream. Soon they were travelling at high speed, forty clicks or more, revelling in their youth and power.

The Tide was nearing its peak and all four felt the push as they raced with it, diving and twisting at speeds now approaching a hundred clicks. Vik could hear high pitched whistles of excitement coming from all four of them. What could be better than this?

All too soon it was over and time to swim home against the tide.

"Have you heard the latest? The Council is thinking of exploring the rest of this star system!" Pol said excitedly.

Vik didn't understand. "What on Kaia for? All the other worlds are dry rocks - or made of gas like Mana."

"Not all of them. I've heard the third one from the star has water. Water actually on the surface, with no ice or Roof. Can you imagine?"

"That's just silly!" scoffed Vik. "How would the water stay on without a Roof to cover it?"

"We don't know yet, not for certain. There's one theory which says there is a layer of gas over the top, holding it down. Another, that there is some sort of magnetic field. It's fascinating."

"For some!"

"In any case, it's good to know there is another source of water in the system, just in case the worst happens here and we need more."

"What if there are people already living there?" teased Vik.

"Now who's being silly? Everyone knows it's way too hot, nothing could live under those conditions. Though some scientists think it's possible there might be something microscopic. We'll have to wait and see. Wouldn't that be wonderful, if there was?"