Chapter 51: Thunder Pool
Ducky looked out over the ocean at sunrise from her seated position at the back of the cove, her gaze lingered on another Swimmer taking in deep breaths of the salty air as he sat on the bank, his feet immersed in the cool lapping waters of the ocean. Ducky approached the dark green Swimmer, looking rather apprehensive but her presence was already know to him. "I used to love coming here, Dad would take me here all the time when I was young. The herd would stay under the trees while we would spend a few days here, camping in the cave. I loved it, I never really knew how much I missed it." He said looking out of the ocean, his voice contained an equal measure of joy and sadness. Joy from all the fun times he had once had here and sadness at how it had all been taken away from him.
Ducky sat down next to Swayer and put her hand on his shoulder. He turned to her as if only just noticing her, he gave her a look filled with envy. "The last time I was here my Dad told me we would go to The Great Valley for The Swimmer Trials. I was so excited, I didn't know I would be chosen for The Trial on my arrival."
"You did try hardest Swayer" said Ducky gently. She was rewarded with a sad look.
Swayer took a deep breath and looked down. "We are more similar then you realise Ducky' he said calmly.
"I know, we are both doing The Trial and-"
"That's not what I meant." Swayer's words were not yelled but the contained enough volume to make Ducky stop and watch Swayer curiously.
"I never knew that the day I took The Trial was the day you fought Sharptooth for the last time." He gave her a look that communicated not only his amazement but also his pity for what he knew Ducky had went through.
Ducky however trembled when Swayer spoke of Sharptooth.
"We both faced a Sharptooth" said Swayer solemnly. "But you survived and I didn't" he said with a lot of bitterness in his voice.
Ducky held onto Swayers hands tightly and said "I would not be here if it were not for my friends" she said as memories of that day poured through her mind and suddenly the scene changed.
They both stood on top of a relatively steep hill, a large cave opened up into the mountain side. A dark and ominous cavern containing any unseen phantoms in its depths. However the duo were not alone. A small light green Swimmer, younger than them both walked up to the mouth of the cave whimpering in fright.
Ducky recognised the scene instantly, except she was not in the same place she had once been as she looked upon her younger self, trembling with fear as she wandered as quietly into the cavern. Ducky grabbed Swayer's hand as they both walked into the cave. Swayer was watching the scene with great interest.
Then ahead they saw him. A tall, muscular Sharptooth with olive green skin that was so dark in the cave that it looked black, however the glow of that red eye seemed to light up like a beacon while the right eye, his blinded eye was held tightly shut. Sharptooth growled menacingly, in this cave he seemed to be in his element, in the dark he looked more like a monster, a leaf eater's worst nightmare hidden in the depths of the dark cave.
However the young Swimmer was creeping up silently behind Sharptooth looking utterly terrified. Sharptooth growled and appeared to turn his head. Ducky watched as her younger self hid behind a small rock, she lay there trembling and whimpering in a tight ball, she had her eyes tightly closed.
Swayer could not help at be amazed at Ducky's age, or at least the age of her very younger self as she prepared to confront Sharptooth, something no one had done before and lived to tell the tale. "Rather much like The Trial" thought Swayer as he watched the scene. Ducky was grasping his hand so tightly it hurt.
Sharptooth turned his back into the cave and younger Ducky raised her head to look over the rock and then did something that anyone in that situation would have thought was insanely foolish. Ducky let out a loud scream before ducking back behind the rock in the same position as before. Sharptooth gave a sharp growl and turned his head around sharply, Ducky had certainly caught his attention.
Ducky remained in that trembling form for a few more seconds before slowly peeking her head above the rock to find that there was no sign of Sharptooth anywhere, not even a growl or footstep, only the sound of a stream running somewhere deep within the cave could be heard, it was as if Sharptooth had disappeared into thin air.
"Where did he go?" said Swayer in surprise as he looked around for Sharptooth but his attention was brought back to young Ducky when she jumped over the rock as preparing to go deeper into the cave but she jumped back as she finally lost her nerve and started to slowly back away.
That was when it happened, there was no roar but there was a loud crash as Sharptooth's foot came down right behind Ducky.
"What the!?" yelled Swayer in jumping in surprise and falling on his back. Where had Sharptooth come from?! Older Ducky helped Swayer back onto his feet where they watched the scene in startled shock
Younger Ducky had also jumped but Ducky herself stood petrified to the spot as she watched her memory. She watched as her younger self ran for her life past Sharptooth but she hadn't even gotten out of the cave when Sharptooth dived for her. Ducky jumped forward, as far as she could and Sharptooth's bite missed her by a couple of inches but he continued to slide towards her, snapping fiercely. Younger Ducky was sliding down the slope from the cave on all the rocks and gravel that Sharptooth's attack had upheaved. "HELP!" screamed younger Ducky as she landed on Sharptooth's nose and the both plummeted down into the watering hole with a giant splash.
Swayer gasped in astonishment. "Okay, I can't believe you actually did that" he said as the scene dissolved and they were back on the beach.
"We got rid of him that day, we did" said Ducky sounding immensely weary. "But he still visits my sleep stories, he does"
"You can stop him" said Swayer gently, Ducky looked up and waited for Swayer to continue "All you have to do is imagine a cave when he comes, inside the cave is your mind, you can have any image there you want." Ducky nodded. "Then you say to Sharptooth that he is not welcome here and then you imagine the cave being sealed up by a huge rock that he can't get through, he'll never bother you like that again."
"I can do that" said Ducky and closed her eyes. The scene changed, there was a large cave that they stood in but inside the cave was an image of The Great Valley, of Ducky's nest, of her dear family, of her best friends.
"That's good Ducky, you're doing it" encouraged Swayer. All of a sudden a large rock fell in front of the cave sealing The Valley from the outside world. "You've done it!" cheered Swayer.
Ducky opened her eyes and the scene changed back to the cove, she smiled happily at Swayer.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" cried and grabbed Swayer in an embrace so tight that he couldn't breathe. Swayer coughed and managed to struggle out of Ducky's grasp.
"You should still be wary of him" he said gravely.
"Why?" asked Ducky nervously.
Swayer looked out over the ocean with a grim face "Because," he said slowly "I have a bad feeling you have not seen the last of him" he said.
"What does that mean?" said Ducky, fearing what those words might mean.
"I mean," said Swayer "that Sharptooth might try for vengeance on you and your friends, he died defeated by hatchlings, I don't think he has given up on his last hunt" said Swayer.
Ducky looked a little scared by the prospect of facing the vengeful spirit of Sharptooth. Swayer saw how scared she was and held her hand tightly. "Don't worry, you know how to block him out now" he said reassuringly.
Ducky noticeably calmed down.
"Um, Swayer?" she asked.
"Yes Ducky?"
"I was never told and I was hoping you would tell me" said Ducky.
"What?"
"What exactly are you supposed to do in The Trial?" asked Ducky curiously.
Swayer looked a little concerned. "No one's told you?"
Ducky shook her head. "No, no, no" she said.
"The Trial is simply to get through the underwater cave system and out again." explained Swayer "You start outside the caves but there is a finishing line that you must cross to successfully complete The Trial and that line is on the other end of the caves that you must swim through."
"But it sounds it so easy" said Ducky thoughtfully.
"Yeah I know" chuckled Swayer without any humour. He looked closely at Ducky and Ducky was surprised to see a tear fall down his eye.
"If I were alive I would have loved you to be my friend but you have one other friend and he is also a Swimmer but I just wish I could have had the chance-" he said sadly, stopping and looking down with closed eyes even though they didn't stop his tears from falling.
Ducky nuzzled him in a friendly fashion. "You will always be my friend Swayer no matter what, no matter where you or I are, we will always be friends yep, yep, yep" Swayer hugged Ducky tightly.
"Thank you Ducky, you're my best friend." It was Swayers last words as the scene turned white.
Sura woke from her slumber inside the cave and gave a tired yawn and got drearily onto her feet and took in her surroundings. She could see her mother sleeping beside Cyrest who was coiled around the nest where Jane was fast asleep. "Well it is still early morning" thought Sura, she walked out to the entrance and stood there at the dawn of the new day, the golden sun warming and pouring strength into her limbs. She looked down onto the sandy beach and saw Bluey coiled around two small Swimmers sleeping side by side in perfect harmony. Sura smiled and walked down to her sister and sat down beside her and watched Ducky sleeping beside Trough.
With a finger she softly stroked Ducky's back. "If only they could always be together" thought Sura, she knew that Trough had been told of The Trial and it had rendered him completely heartbroken but with Ducky's support of him and Trough's support of her they seemed to be holding the looming despair at bay.
Bluey stirred and woke up with a yawn.
"Morning Bluey" said Sura.
Bluey greeted her in turn before she turned to smile at the two younglings sleeping beside her. "They are so beautiful" she said as she watched them sleep.
Sura turned to her looking more serious. "There's going to be a meeting today" she said.
"Don't worry Sura, Rarlap is supporting you and he is good of heart, I'm sure that we'll be fine." Said Bluey, trying to reassure her sister.
"What do you know of him?" asked Sura with genuine curiosity.
"He was not the son of the leader" said Bluey to Sura's surprise. "The old leader was childless and he chose out of the young children who he could train to be as leader and Rarlap was an orphan with only one brother who was better at just about everything but was not at all nice, he thought he would be chosen but he broke into a fight with his brother when he was chosen instead and left" explained Bluey.
"Do you know how he became orphaned?" asked Sura.
Bluey shook her head "He never talked about, but the old leader was worthy of the title and he basically took him in and he became leader when he died of old age" said Bluey.
Sura sighed "I'm still worried if anyone in this herd knows of Sculra and has allegiance to her" said Sura.
"We would never let anyone harm Ducky" said Bluey boldly.
Sura gave Bluey a warm smile "I can always count on you to watch my back" she said.
"Always" chuckled Bluey.
A playful laugh erupted behind them and they both turned to see Jane hurrying down towards them with Cyrest and Grandma Swimmer struggling out of the cave after her. "Come back here Jane!" called Cyrest sounding very agitated, he still had a little black under his eyes at his niece's unexpected wake up call, she was just so full of energy.
"Oh no" chuckled Bluey "The little ones are about to have company" she said a little loudly but that failed to wake up the two children but they both woke up with surprised exclamations at having Jane jump on top of them.
"Ohhh" moaned Trough but Jane kept jumping up and down on his and Ducky's back until she had prompted them to get up, rather slowly.
Ducky yawned and rubbed her eyes while Trough messaged his back. "You could have warned us about Jane" he said accusingly at Bluey though he still appeared drowsy.
Bluey laughed "and ruin all the entertainment?" said Bluey mockingly.
"Oh you horrid girl!" groaned Trough.
"If it is any consolation she did try to wake you before Jane got here but you were both still asleep" said Sura in her sister's defence.
"I think I would have likeded a dunk in the spring rather then that" said Ducky as she got to her feet.
"Or The Big Water" added Trough.
"That can be arranged" said a sudden squeaky voice.
SPLASH!
Ducky and Trough both yelled out in astonishment as they were both blasted with cold water. Everyone laughed while they ducked behind Bluey's body in order to escape the unexpected jet of water. However a high jet of water still managed to drench them there.
The two emerged. Behind Bluey's body to lots of laughter from all the Swimmers of both land and water.
"Mo!" cried Ducky in an indignant but almost playful tone.
"Morning Sleepy head!" he cried jumping up and going a back flip in the air.
"Oh you guys!" said Trough.
"What?" said Cyrest innocently "We're only having a little bit of fun, you two lovelings" he added with a playful grin.
"What you stop calling us that?!" said Trough sounding very annoyed as he glared at Cyrest. "We are not lovelings oh no, no, no" said Ducky.
"Oh really?" asked Cyrest, scratching his chin in contemplation "then I must have been hallucinating when I saw two Swimmers kissing on the beach in the sunset, what a romantic set up" he said his smile growing wider as his comment had the intended effect of making both Ducky and Trough blush in embarrassment.
"What do you mean?" said Trough trying to sound innocent but it was already plain obvious to everyone.
"Did you really think that after yesterday's events we would not be keeping an eye on you?" asked Grandma Swimmer rhetorically.
"She does have a good point, she does, she does" thought Ducky.
"Hello everyone" came Noon's voice.
"Ah" said Sura turning back towards The Big Water to face Noon and Mo. "I'm glad the storm didn't hurt you" she said sounding relieved.
"We knew some sheltered places where we could wait it out" responded Noon "It's nice to see you are okay too" she said and leaped out of the water and diving back down while spinning. Ducky meanwhile was in the process of introducing Trough to Mo.
Trough had never met a Big Water Swimmer and was hence a little cautious but that quickly changed when he and splashed him with his fins. That put a smile on his face as he splashed back only to have Ducky splash him. "Oh ganging up are we?" said Trough and dived under and came up underneath Ducky and catapulting her out of the water with a surprised cry as she landed back in the water, laughing merrily.
Cyrest was keeping an eye on Jane as she entered the fray but kept his ear on the conversation Sura was having with Noon as she introduced her mother and sister.
"Nice to meet you" said Grandma Swimmer.
"So what are you doing here today?" asked Bluey.
"Now we come to that" said Noon and got straight to the point "I have a proposal that will certainly help Ducky if she completes it." said Noon, though Sura did not like the hesitation in her voice, likewise her eyes also appeared more fatigued, suggesting to Sura that she had really thought this over.
"What is this challenge?" asked Sura, she already knew it was another test but this one was different…..very different to the first test.
"I've been thinking of taking you and Ducky to swim at Thunder Pool." said Noon.
The name had an ominous ring which made everyone feel weary and a little bit fearful. A long silence followed that statement that nobody seemed to notice.
"What is Thunder Pool?" asked Cyrest slowly, his attention completely focused on Noon instead of Jane. He didn't notice however that Mo, Ducky and Trough were also listening to the conversation intently.
"It is a huge whirlpool that I think-" Noon never got to finish her explanation when she was interrupted.
"No!" said Sura firmly. Everyone turned to her agitated form. "I will not sent my daughter into a whirlpool even if it is to prepare for The Trial it is way too dangerous, she never even managed to swim all the way down the local rapids here so how the hell do you expect her to beat a whirlpool!" said Sura her voice steadily until she was almost shouting.
"I agree" said Bluey as her mother also nodded, they both thought the risk to be too great.
Cyrest quickly intervened "Sura it-"
"No!" shouted Sura decisively over Cyrest. "I'm not going to risk my daughter like that, do you hear me! I will never-"
The next words seemed to throw the entire world into silence.
"I will do it"
Her voice cut through Sura's rant like a knife as everyone gazed at Ducky. Noon in surprise, everyone else in numb shock, even Jane stopped playing and watched the scene as for a moment everything, the cool wind, the powerful waves and water, even the dinosaurs heart beats seemed to stop in utter astonishment at Ducky's unexpected pronouncement.
Sura was totally petrified in horror at what Ducky had just said, so shocked was that atmosphere that it took about a minute for everything to resume its normal pace. Finally the silence was broken. "Ducky," It was Sura "It's too dangerous." Was all she could say as the shock hadn't quite warn off yet.
"I know I can do it yep, yep, yep" said Ducky trying to sound confident through inside she was frozen in fear at the very thought of battling a whirlpool. "And it will help me prepare for The Trial, yes it will"
Sura was utterly speechless, she had never expected Ducky to take up the challenge in a million years yet she just did. "Why?" she asked, it's just as dangerous as the Trial in my opinion and I can't let anything happen to you dear" she said.
"I must do it, I must be ready for the Trial even if it means" Ducky gulped "going into a whirlpool." She said, the fear was present in her voice for everyone to hear but despite that fear Ducky had still accepted it.
"Ducky" said Trough walking up to her looking very frightened "Please don't do it" he said.
Ducky locked eyes with Trough. Her beautiful blue eyes contained the fear but also a grim determination and also a plea for understanding and in that moment Trough understood why Ducky chose to do it. He placed his hand on hers and declared. "You can do it and I will be there to see it" he said in an encouraging tone.
Everyone looked surprised at Trough but Noon quickly spoke "You can all come and support her" she said.
"I have to watch Jane" reminded Cyrest.
Noon nodded "Okay we'll take you to Thunder Pool and tell you how to win a battle against a whirlpool." Sura was about to protest but Ducky gave her little choice in the matter as she dived into the water and grabbed hold of Mo's fin "Swim Mo, swim" she said.
Sura quickly followed and Trough grabbed a ride on Noon's back while Bluey got into the water and they set off while Cyrest and Isira stayed behind. Cyrest had to grab Jane in order to stop her from swimming after them. She protested vigorously to Cyrest's hold but he did not relent and brought her back onto dry land. While Isira watched the group of Swimmers leave.
"Good luck!" she called, though she was still very nervous about this little venture however there was nothing she could do now except wait until it was over and maybe see her beloved Granddaughter again.
The journey seemed slower than usual and less exciting, if anything the atmosphere was rather tense as the group of Swimmers headed for Thunder Pool. Ducky was holding on so tightly to Mo's fin that he actually told her to loosen her grip, it did not help Ducky but she complied. Now that she was on her way to Thunder Pool she shivering on the inside yet on the outside she seemed like a pale statue, it was true that as they continued on and getting ever closer to the whirlpool Ducky became paler and paler until she almost looked like an albino Swimmer.
No one said anything for the rest of the journey. They travelled down the shore past the Swimmer herd and the cliffs and the enormous archway and continued swimming until they could all hear a light rushing in the distance, as if there was a waterfall nearby however the foreboding at what they were going to find was growing and Ducky was now starting to shiver.
As they swam on the sound grew louder and louder till it felt like it was bursting her ear drums. Everyone realised that they were on the boundary of Thunder Pool, the safest distance they could possibly be to the pool without getting caught in it. The shore was lined with cliffs and coves, it was to one of these coves that Noon headed for with everyone following close behind.
The water was relatively shallow here and had a small rocky beach and some natural stairs carved into the rock of the cliff led the way to its crown. "Take a look from up there" said Noon when she relieved herself of Trough who quickly made it over to Ducky's side. Sura and Bluey both took the two youngsters in their arms and climbed up the steps.
They were panting by the time they all got to the top but what they then saw completely took their breath away.
A large fast flowing river was arriving at the sea, a few cluttered islands were abound in this area but they were positioned as such that three different currents one being from the river and two oceanic met right here and that meeting was marked by the massive whirlpool Thunder Pool.
Thunder Pool lived up to its name not only was it a whirlpool but the sound of these three currents coming together so violently was simply deafening. The whirlpool itself was simply huge, its circumference expanded to nearly fifteen longneck lengths and the current inside looked like it could grind meat better than any Sharptooth. It was a very intimidating sight, even more so for Ducky.
When Ducky first took sight of Thunder Pool her mouth dropped, it looked absolutely amazing but her stomach quickly dropped as she remembered that she was going to swim willingly into the mouth of that behemoth. Ducky looked even greener than usual, she was on the verge of fainting.
Her feeling was shared by her companions. Trough was looking at Ducky with wide eyes filled with fear as he silently but vainly protested what she was about to do.
Sura gestured to Bluey and they both made their way back down the stairs though they both appeared to sway on their feet for a moment as if they were sick or dizzy, such was the prospect of even thinking about trying to take on that whirlpool. Sura herself felt an old fear return of the whirlpool that she had nearly drowned in when she met Ruphus. Her breathing increased.
"Mama, I am scareded I am, I am" whimpered Ducky and held onto her mother's chest for comfort. Sura could only keep a firm hold of her daughter as she was utterly devoid of the right words at the moment. Trough was also whimpering while Bluey comforted him. The icy shaft of fear had touched each one of their hearts, they all thought that no sane person would even think of doing what they were about to do.
It was in this manner that the Swimmers arrived back down in the cove where Noon and Mo were waiting for them. When Noon say the looks on her companions faces she said "I see you've seen Thunder Pool" she said it in a tone so grim that Ducky was astonished that she was usually so playful, fun and friendly. This only reaffirmed to her of how dangerous this place was.
"I am not going to let Ducky do this!" said Sura with firm conviction, Bluey nodded in agreement but Trough was watching Ducky closely, he had a feeling he knew exactly what she as going to do.
"Sura if-"
We're going!" ordered Sura.
"No"
Once again Ducky's voice cut through Sura like a knife, she stood there staring in disbelief at Ducky. She shook her head firmly but Ducky jumped free of her mother's arms and into the shallow water.
"Ducky come here" said Sura sounding both agitated and worried.
"I must do this to prepare for The Trial I must" said Ducky with brave conviction in her voice, if she was scared at the moment she did not show it.
"Ducky I am sorry but this is far too dangerous for training and I can't risk losing you" said Sura gently, taking a step forward but Ducky backed away and to Sura's immense alarm she suddenly ran to the edge of the deep water where the current of Thunder Pool swept past.
"Ducky what are you doing!?" said Sura in alarm, running forward toward her daughter.
"Mama Stop!" yelled Ducky holding her hand up. "Or I will dive in"
Everyone froze at Ducky's announcement. This was so uncharacteristic for her that it was not funny, Sura was confused why was Ducky willing to do this? She did not know of Ducky's dream with Swayer and how it really motivated her to try this extreme form of training. Ducky was more determined than ever to be prepared for The Trial for she knew if she was prepared then she would survive.
"Ducky please come back here dear, its dangerous there" said Sura very, very gently and crouched in the water to show Ducky that she would not go for her.
Ducky shook her head. "Mama I must do this, please, if you come with me can I do it?"
Sura was dumbstruck, here was Ducky asking like a child who wanted to stay up playing a little longer when it was already bedtime but what Ducky was proposing here was out of the question.
"No Ducky" she said quietly. "Neither of us can take on that thing!" she said pointing out to Thunder Pool to emphasise her point. It was at this point that Noon interjected.
"I have made it through that place before Sura, I can guide your daughter and I know the secret to working these currents, I swear on my life that I will not let your daughter come to harm while she is out there."
Sura looked hesitant, her mind in ferocious conflict about this decision. She understood the overwhelming and compelling need to train Ducky so that she would be ready to face her Trial but she also knew the dangers of whirlpools all too well, she had almost drowned in one and so had her son, Spinner when he was younger "It's a good thing he is not here" thought Sura or he would have gone straight in regardless of the danger.
Sura also understood the risks, the worst case scenario was that she and Ducky could lose their lives and what would that mean for her family? She couldn't let that happen but Noon knew these waters and if she could get them through safely then Ducky would really benefit and it might make a difference in The Trial.
Sura had come here to train Ducky, she knew she couldn't just stand in front of everyone when they put her in dangerous situations when she knew he daughter had been through plenty before. Cyrest's comment about her babying Ducky came to the fore front of her mind.
Closing her eyes tightly Sura, after almost a minute of silence finally nodded her head. "Okay dear, we will do this together" she said quietly.
Ducky's expression softened and she walked back to her mother and sat down on the rocky shore beside her while Noon swam in front of them. Sura put her hand around her daughter and waited for Noon to begin her lesson.
"Okay now that I know that is settled let us begin" she said and took a deep breath. "So you know how to feel where a current is coming from?" she asked. Ducky and Sura nodded.
"Well that is the key here, forget about battling the current its way too strong even for me. You both must take a deep breath before going under because it is not a shallow place." The tension seemed to rise between the Swimmers.
"Now when you start just follow the current into the Pool you must stay on course or you will be knocked out of position, you must follow the current that goes down and stay within it or you will be in dire trouble" Noon was very serious about this. Even Mo had never heard her speak so grimly and seriously before.
"Keep in that current, it will take you to the bottom but be weary, other currents will try to pull you out, but you can resist them by staying in the down current and you'll be able to tell if you need to stabilise because all the currents have different strengths to the one we will follow. Understand?"
Ducky and Sura nodded. A thought passed through Sura's mind and she voiced her concern to Noon. "What is the sea floor like here?" she asked thinking about how the current will act at depth.
"It is rather rocky so you will be dodging rocks when you get down there and I should warn you that there is little light at the bottom, because of all the sand which is stirred up." Ducky looked at her mother in alarm but her mother put a comforting hand on Ducky's back, reassuring her that she would be there for her.
"Now the current gets stronger as you go down and that means you will go faster. When you get to the bottom you must move a little further outward into another current and it head upwards but it is not as strong as the one going in so you will have to use your strength here, it's fast when down deep but it slows as you get toward the surface and that is where you will need to use your strength" explained Noon.
Sura nodded and asked "Is that current weak enough for Ducky?"
"I believe so," said Noon "but you must be careful not to get swept back into the down current."
"I will be careful I will, I will" said Ducky, though she was starting to sound scared again at the giant prospect facing her, one wrong move here could mean certain death and that really scared Ducky.
Noon gave her a warm smile "I'm sure you will, now when you reach the surface you will be close to this cove so you can head back here"
"Right" said Sura and Ducky at once.
"I suppose that is all you need to know" said Noon bluntly ending her lecture.
"Okay" said Sura and looked down at Ducky "Now I will be right behind you dear and Noon will be ahead, we won't let anything happen to you" Ducky nodded and hugged her mother while taking in deep calming breaths.
"Ducky" She turned and saw Trough walk to her side where he hugged her tightly. "Good luck and please come back safely" he begged.
"I will Trough," said Ducky as she broke off. "I will."
Bluey nuzzled her and said "You can do it Ducky" in the most encouraging voice she could muster, though she too was scared half to death.
Ducky walked into the water with her mother and Noon and prepared to take the plunge.
Noon led the way while Sura swam behind her daughter who was swimming between them. Ducky could not believe she was actually doing this! Her whole body was trembling with anticipation, her nerves fired adrenaline through her system, heightening her senses as she suddenly entered the periphery of the massive Thunder Pool.
Almost instantly she was pulled along by an almost alarmingly fast current. It was faster than anything she had ever been caught in prior to this but Ducky knew she would be no match for this current and was completely at its mercy.
Suddenly ahead she saw Noon diving into the water, Ducky took this as her cue to follow, taking a last deep breath of fresh salty air she closed her mouth and dived. After diving Ducky realised that if she was not in that position at that moment then she would have been swept down by her feet as it was the current here was simply phenomenal, it pulled her down so fast that she had trouble equalizing. The resounding splash at the told Ducky that her mother was following right behind her.
Thankfully after a short while she became used to the tug of the current, it pulled her in an ever tightening circle descending down deeper and deeper all the time. Noon swam on ahead of them and she followed one certain current that could actually be seen. It was like a large tube of bubbles that she was inside, it brought her down into darker waters. Ducky and Sura followed suit it was at least easy to see where the current was but like Noon said it was often disrupted at points by other currents sweeping in from the sides, those could also be seen too but thankfully they were not nearly as strong as the main down current and Ducky quickly got used to its features.
Down they went further and further into the dark, there speed increasing every cycle of the whirlpool. However Ducky was more surprised than anything else, the whirlpool didn't seem as dangerous as she had been told. She couldn't help but think of her brother Spinner "What he would give to do this" thought Ducky as she swam on course.
Sura was also surprised at the ease of their journey down but she knew that would soon change, she couldn't help but feel afraid after almost drowning in another whirlpool, the thought kept her alert and she was keeping a sharp eye on both Ducky and Noon so should trouble arise she would be ready to react.
The ease of passage did not last as the all got down towards the sea bed, that's when the rocks appeared. Huge tall rocks dotted the sea floor and the taller ones finding their way up into the current the three Swimmers were following. Now it became dangerous. Everyone took evasive action to avoid slamming into the rocks and being rendered unconscious which in the place they were in was a death sentence.
The rocks were easy to dodge it was just reacting in time that was the trouble because the visibility was so low here so rocks just appeared out of the blue, the current helped them to manoeuvre but the sheer speed in which they were traveling meant that they barely avoided the rocks but an inch.
Ducky's heart was racing faster than ever before as she turned on her tail left then right then right again in order to avoid the rocks. She had tried to sniff them out but there was so much sand here that she couldn't distinguish what was ahead of her. However she knew she could do it. Trough believed in her and so did Bluey…and so did Swayer.
They were swimming so close to the bottom now that they sometimes skimmed its bare rocky surface. Suddenly Noon was heading towards her!
Ducky swerved barely avoiding her. However her relief was short lived as she had to dart past her mother as the circle tightened. "I am going to crash!" thought Ducky in horror. Suddenly Noon broke off into another current on the outside periphery of the inside current. "This must be the up current that Noon spoke of." However Ducky's momentary distraction took away her awareness from the surroundings so she did not notice the rock ahead of her until it was too late.
Ducky swerved but her tail hit the rock sending her spiralling off course. Her mother was quick to react, grabbing her tail in her beak and pulling her into the up current when suddenly Ducky was torn from her grasp by an unseen side current.
Sura tried to turn but the current held her in place, she was too deep to fight it too deep to help her daughter. Sura realised with horror that she might be responsible for dooming Ducky. She headed upwards where the current was weaker she would be able to go back down there and save Ducky then.
Meanwhile Ducky was being flung all over the place with no frame of reference, all that she knew however was that she was in big trouble, if she failed to get to the surface then she would be doomed. Ducky kicked hard in any direction when she was flung into a nearby rock. The impact knocked must of the air out of her lungs in a gurgle of bubbles but it did manage to right her orientation so she could get into the up current but now the fight began.
She would have to fight to the surface with hardly any air left!
With her heart pumping wildly Ducky swam up toward the surface as fast as she could but the further she got the more tired she became as her body responded to the lack of oxygen by shutting down its less important systems. A light headedness fell over Ducky and her vision became increasingly blurry. However she was aware of all the bubbles around her…..
Gasp!
Sura gasped for breath as she surfaced on the rocks of the cove after Noon and looked back into the water in horror.
"DUCKY!" she yelled.
Bluey and Trough ran to the water's edge and gasped at what seemed to happen. Mo stared open eyed and mouthed and sank in numb shock.
"No" whimpered Trough in horror as tears started to fall. Bluey picked him up and held him tightly as she too started to cry.
"I going back in" panted Sura. She was out of breath and exhausted but she had to save Ducky she just had too!
She made for the deep water but Noon swam in front of her. "It's too late Sura" she whispered.
Sura gasped and began to tremble.
"I'm so sorry" whispered Noon closing her eyes tightly, She knew that Ducky would have run out of air by now since they were down there for quite a while and the fact that Ducky had not surfaced yet only supported that.
Sura was frozen as she looked out over the waters and closed her eyes in pain, tears fell and her heart wretched. She had failed. Ducky was gone and she had let it happen. That realisation broke something in the poor Swimmer who keeled over and shouted out in pain.
SPLASH
GASP!
Everyone turned to Thunder Pool and saw to the joy and relief. Ducky swimming towards them in exhaustion, she struggled over to the shore and fell down on the rocks coughing violently and shivering.
"DUCKY!"
Everyone shouted at once and ran to meet her. Ducky suddenly found herself scooped up in her mother's arms where every inch of her body was vigorously nuzzled. "Never ever scare me like that again Ducky!" she yelled, tears falling down her eyes. "I thought I lost you" she sobbed as she held on to Ducky tightly.
"I made it mama" said Ducky in exhaustion but the triumph in her voice was not lost on Sura, who looked at Ducky in amazement. "How did you do it?" she asked.
"I breathed some of the bubbles going up I did…" Ducky broke into a fit of coughs as she vomited up a whole loud of water and shivered violently in her mother's arms.
"Oh my brave little one, you'll be okay now" said Sura patting Ducky's back and letting her down into the water where she was bowled over by Trough who hugged her so tightly she couldn't breathe.
"You're the most stupid girl in the world!" he yelled out as he held on to her.
"I know" was all Ducky could say.
"But I still like you" he said breaking off from her hug.
"And I you yep, yep, yep" replied Ducky.
Splash!
"Mo knew you make it!" trumpeted Mo as he breached, drenching both Ducky and Trough with water and knocking them over on top of each other as the resounding wave hit them. Trough was beneath Ducky as she tried to untangle herself from him but accidently falling onto his stomach and knocking the air out of Trough in more ways than one.
"Trough!" cried Ducky as a large set of bubble rose from his tail. Trough could only blush in response. "Has anyone told you how disgusting you are?" teased Ducky with a cheeky smile on her face.
"No, but like your one to talk hatchling" he emphasised the last word so Ducky knew what he was getting at. Ducky couldn't help but chuckle as she pulled Trough out of the water. The two smiling at each and holding tightly onto each other's arms.
Grumble!
"Ohh" said Ducky holding her stomach.
"Are you sure you won't make tail bubbles now?" joked Trough.
Ducky ignored the joke and said "I am sooooo hungry I am, I am".
"Try this" said Noon. Holding a large pile of green seaweed on her beak. Sura took the seaweed off Noon and lay it in a large pile on the ground. "I don't know if we can eat this" she said.
"You won't know unless you try" said Noon optimistically.
Sura took a strand of the seaweed in her mouth and chewed. She gasped the taste was salty but the flavour of this underwater green food from The Big Water was just marvellous. "Oh my!" she cried and took another handful. Noon laughed at Sura's reaction as Bluey, Ducky and Trough joined her in the feast which the both found very enjoyable after such a close scrape with death.
Ducky was eating one stand of seaweed, but it was a rather long piece so she pulled more of it into her mouth and continued eating, she pulled out more and more of the long seaweed strand and suddenly found herself beak to beak with Trough who was feasting on the same strand.
For a second they were both surprised. Ducky giggled and blushed as Trough presented her with the rest of the strand which Ducky gladly ate. "Oh I wish Spike could be here, he would love this he would, he would" said Ducky.
"Then we'll just have to bring some of this stuff back" said Sura to Ducky's delight. "Now come along dear, we'd better get back to the cave, we have got a meeting at the herd today and we best not be late"
"Yep, yep, yep" agreed Ducky as she jumped and Mo's back with Trough holding onto her from behind. "Let's Get Out Of Here!" he cried out in eagerness. The Swimmer dived into the water and left Thunder Pool but on the way back Sura was so was so glad that Ducky was successful she felt sure she could do The Trial and succeed now but she secretly worried about the herd meeting to come.
