"Do you think we should be going?" Leo said nodding towards the waves.

"You ready?" Caspian asked me.

I wiggled my toes in the sand and let the cold water run over them.

"I think so." I breathed readying myself to start a new life amongst a different species.

"Let's go then."

---

"Here, drink this." Leomaris said handing me a small glass bottle filled with a green liquid that Marilla gave us on one of her visits.

"What will happen to us if we do drink it?" Bennett asked looking rather sceptical about the green substance.

"I wouldn't know how it feels but humans have drunk it before so it is safe."

"I'm scared,"

"Just drink it Kitten, I'll be with you."

"Okay..." I mumbled. I pulled out the stopper and lifted it to my lips and decided to get it down quickly because it didn't look nice. It tasted like saltwater but what can you expect from a drink mixed by sea creatures.

"That was disgusting and I don't feel any different."

"Give it a minute." Caspian said holding my hand and pulling me a little bit further into the water.

"Will it make me immune to the cold too?"

"Should do," Caspian said lifting me into his arms and walking out waist deep into the cold water.

"Casp, it's making me feel dizzy." I said resting my head on his shoulder.

"You should be ready to go under then."

I looked up to meet Caspian's sky blue and gold eyes. I nodded hesitantly and glanced in Bennett's direction and he was clinging to Leo shaking his head wildly.

"If you go first then you can convince Bennett it's safe, okay?"

"Yeah, I'm ready." I breathed.

My heartbeat rocketed and I was afraid that it wouldn't work and I would start drowning from breathing in water but I know Caspian would never let that happen.

"3, 2, 1..." Caspian dipped below the surface with me in his arms.

The water didn't feel cold though. My hearing wasn't muffled and everything was so clear. I had yet to breathe or open my eyes but I needed encouragement for that. I kept holding my breath and willed myself not to panic and swim back up to the surface for air.

"Breathe Kitten; it is okay I can feel it has worked." Caspian's voice was so clear! It was the like we were on land and I was hearing all the noises and movements of things around me but underwater.

My excitement got the better of me and I opened my eyes. The sea water didn't sting them and nothing was blurry. I could see crystal clear all around me and so far out. I heard Caspian laugh just like I would on land! I needed to see how it would affect me moving now.

"Breathe Jojo don't panic, you will be able to." Caspian encouraged.

I was in need of breathing again and if all my other senses worked then breathing should be fine, right? I relaxed and breathed.

"It worked!" I exclaimed. "I can talk like normal and hear and see and smell and everything like you can!" I gushed looking all around me taking everything in.

"I know Jojo; I can share my world with you now, everything you've wanted to know about it or anything you want to see, you will. Sharks, whales, seals, squids, anything I'll show you."

"Can I move around?" I asked wanting to know if it will be like regular swimming.

"Sure." Caspian let go of me and I just stayed still. I didn't sink down or rise up I just stayed in one place like I was standing on the ground.

"What's happening?"

"It's the same as if you were on land, just swim around and everything can be done at the same speed as if you were walking or running. However I will be faster than you." He smiled.

I started swimming and picking up speed as I kicked my legs faster. I could hear so much and see the sand and shells, the bits of seaweed along the bottom, the small stones and little fish darting out of your way as soon as you got too close.

"It's so amazing," I breathed out gliding along and spinning in the water. Caspian came up beside me and held my hand as he pumped his powerful tail. It shimmed beautifully in the afternoon sunlight and you could faintly see all the strong muscles under his scales allowing him to push through the water smoothly.

It reminded me so much of our first time swimming together and how magical that experience was. How he sang for me and how gracefully we moved next to each other. It was like dancing but in the sea.

"Do you like it?" Caspian asked swimming on his back with his arms stretched out over his head.

"I love it," I breathed turning on my back in the same position as him. "How long will it last?"

"About 2 days but then you will need more as the fluid will drain out of your body eventually."

"Jonah, look at me!!" Bennett shouted.

I turned my head to the left and saw Bennett trying to make his way towards me but he wasn't a great swimmer so kept getting pulled by the current and rolling onto his back. However Leo helped him up the right way and gave him a push towards me.

"I can't believe we can actually do all this underwater!" I said excitedly as Bennett reached me and clung onto my arms steading himself.

"Me neither, swim with me!" He said after he regained his breath and started kicking his legs and attempting to pull me through the water.

Bennett and I swam for around 10 minutes playing various chasing games like we were kids again or swimming to the bottom and collecting 'treasure' as well called it whilst Caspian and Leomaris watched us amusingly, both looking stunning with all their muscles and tails on show. Leo's was a royal blue that had the same sheen of gold over the top like Caspian's really making it eye catching. But in my opinion Caspian's was the best.

"Bennett, Jonah, come here." Leo called to us.

We swam over and Leo immediately pulled an exhausted Bennett into his arms and looked down at him with soft eyes. Caspian wrapped his arms around my waist and started his deep rumbly purring noise. These two put forward the strong, tough act but at heart they're really big softies.

"It's time to go. We don't want to risk our chance here in case any Zambiezis are waiting even if there is no scent it may not be safe." Caspian said.

"Are we going to your kingdom now?" Bennett piped up.

"Well we're on the way but we will have to stop overnight in a cove to rest as we won't make the journey to the Atlantic Ocean in one day as we have started late afternoon."

"Okay," I yawned leaning into Caspian.

"You tired Kitten?" Caspian chuckled.

"Yeah, swimming is making me tired."

"Come on I'll carry you, we will get there faster." Caspian said whilst ducking under me and letting me lie on his back. I dropped my head down so it was resting in the middle of his shoulder blades and wrapped my legs around his waist and let my arms wave through the water freely.

Leo swam alongside us with Bennett in the same position as me. His eyes lit up at the speed we were flying through the Ocean, everything whizzing past us like we were looking out of a car window.

As time went on and the sun set, the sea got cooler and everything got darker. Caspian and Leo were still swimming pretty fast but were starting to slow. We saw less and less colourful fish as we ventured deeper into the sea and when you looked down all you could see was the inky blackness below. I squeezed Caspian tighter as we seemed to be losing light very quickly the deeper we went and now I knew Mer people existed, what other big predators were out there?

"We're almost there now Kitten, relax." Caspian said softly making me nod against his back.

Everything was scarily quiet and still. I looked upwards and could make out the moon. I thought back to mine and Bennett's house and how I won't ever live there again. I won't sleep in my bed again or go to the shops along the seafront again or be able to go back to art collage, see my few friends or family that much. I'll have to tell my family sooner or later where I live and why I've moved and ditched collage. I definitely want that house on land like Caspian promised. I will give his world a go though, like he did with mine.

"Caspian, look," Leomaris said holding up the crystal. It was diffusing the colours again and making my palms warm up. Oh no, please, not now.

I had tried to hide this for a few days and figured out it was when my emotions got out of hand. Things would happen like the glass smashing and things moving were when I was angry, scared and worried and I could sometimes keep it in but it had to come out sooner or later.

"Why is it doing that?" I asked trying to keep my distance and not look at it.

"Keep Jonah away, I don't need him passing out here." Caspian said letting Leo swim on ahead a bit.

"Casp, I don't like it here." I whimpered pressing myself further into him.

"I know Jojo; it will pass in a minute just keep calm."

I couldn't see anything now. All around me was darkness with the exception of Leo's tail glowing slightly and the crystal emitting light in his hand. I could also make out the silhouette of Bennett's legs but that was it of him.

"Caspian," I said as an uneasy feeling prickled over me making me feel hot.

"Calm down Jonah, we're safe." He told me sternly but something didn't feel right.

Something darted by me which made Caspian start moving. I could hear them. Whatever they were they made whispering and humming sounds as they got closer.

"Stay together." Caspian told Leo quietly once we were side by side with him again. The crystal seeped out more vibrant colours and I'm sure we could all feel the heat radiating off it, in turn making my palms hotter. I could feel the tingles and hot shooting pains through my veins as something bubbled inside of me. I tried to stay calm and not panic like Caspian told me to but when whispering things whizzed past you it was hard. Their noises got louder and Caspian and Leo swam faster. Their whispering echoed in my ears ringing through my head and making me dizzy along with the humming noises.

I could feel their presence and more joined flashing over the top of me. I heard Bennett scream and that's when everything went wrong. The things screeched and started hitting into us hard. Their claws scratched down my leg making me cry out as the burning of my skin started. Caspian pulled me around so I was under him with my chest pressed against his. I could hear Bennett crying and from the light the crystal was giving out I could see a trail of blood in the water. What confused me the most was why no one was speaking? If we were being attacked we should do something about it not just take it.

"Caspian?" No sooner had I spoken the slimy creatures were hitting into us again. I gasped and wiggled around trying to stop them. It didn't help as their hits got more aggressive and one dragged its claws down my back. I screamed in pain thrashing around to try and get this thing off me. What was going on? Why weren't we doing anything? The craw marks on my back burned like the ones left on my leg but these were worse. They felt deeper and the pain was almost unbearable.

"Leo I can't. Fight, now." We stopped dead still and Caspian clutched me into him. The noises around us stopped for a few seconds before the strange whispering continued. It got louder and they were closing in on us. I had to do something. Caspian and Leo were doing their best to push them back with the help of the crystal as their kingdoms element is air, but it wasn't going to work forever. I had to use this power somehow but I don't know how to work it on command.

If I do Caspian, Bennett and Leo will all know. They will know I was hiding something so big from them. Caspian will know I've been lying to him.

"They won't hold forever!" Leo strained to say.

I concentrated on the feeling following around my body. All the energy I had that makes this power work, I imagined it draining to my hands. I kept my breathing steady and turned around facing whatever was out there.

"Jonah. Stop, get... behind me." Caspian said trying to swim in front of me.

That little movement from Caspian did it, the wind that was pushing them back, broke. I could feel the water current change as the creatures rushed forward screeching desperately. They swarmed us and tore at my skin but hearing Bennett's screams of pain made me push all the energy I had out of me in anger and an attempt to save my best friend, his mate and mine. I was not letting them die if I could help it.

A ball of bright white light shot out from up hands bursting above us in the water. Everything went quiet and the water stilled. I opened my eyes to see huge eels with long sharp yellow teeth and completely black emotionless eyes. Their bodies were long and dark green but they had strips of yellow down their slimy backs. I was in shock as there were so many of them but they all were mesmerized looking upwards at the light. The energy sparked inside of me wanting to come out to finish this, but I knew if I let it out then these things would die. But how could I kill them if I knew nothing about them. They could have been protecting young or defending their territory and had a reason to attack us.

The more unsure I got about what was going to happen and the more the fear started to creep back into me and little by little the light started to fade. And as the light faded each creature one by one dropped its head and stared right at me. The light got weaker as I feared these things more. The light dimmed to almost nothing before each eel's eyes glowed white and zoomed at me, wiggling their long bodies through the water straight at me. I pushed my hands out to stop them and the energy shot out like before without any control. This time it felt different though, it felt stronger and more powerful than the last. I imagined a wall surrounding us and protecting us keeping out those creatures. The water shifted around us and a force field shielded me from the attack. The creatures bounced off the protective wall screeching as electricity zapped them and ran through their bodies making them curl up in weird positions.

I made sure to keep the power surging through my body and out of my hands to keep the protective wall up as their attack carried on. The last of them hit against the force field before  sinking lifelessy into the depths below. I heard Caspian calling my name softly and Bennett's cries and Leo comforting him as I drifted in and out of consciousness. Caspian picked me up started licking my back probably trying to stop the burning pain from the wounds that coursed through my veins.

I let my mind and body relax and drift off knowing I had done everything I could to protect them and knowing they'd do the same for me.