A/N: I'll explain one little bit in this chapter at the end.
The group started out early the next morning. Lloyd seemed even more excited than he had the day before, constantly swimming ahead with a quick flick of his tail and looking around him in interest. Raine noted he seemed very at ease in the water, especially for someone who had apparently been afraid of it for years.
Noishe also seemed to pick up on Lloyd's excitement, and swam around him, the two playing together. Genis also joined in sometimes, though he was still getting used to having a tail and would grow tired faster than the two of them. Kratos occasionally glanced at them, but mostly ignored them, while Raine tried to keep them in order and failed.
"Honestly, what is with you this morning, Lloyd!" Raine snapped finally.
Lloyd paused, as if considering, then shrugged. "Colette's waiting," he replied.
The others looked surprised, then Raine lowered her gaze. "Lloyd, I didn't want to tell you, but...you must be prepared that there is a high possibility Colette is already dead. She doesn't have tails like we do, after all, and Desians rarely keep their victims alive after they've been taken..."
"No, she's fine," Lloyd said with a grin, before swimming ahead a little. Raine watched him go, frowning, but didn't question it. Maybe he was simply in denial, though that was still a dangerous mindframe to be in.
Genis swam ahead, catching up to Lloyd, who had slowed when he noticed the half-elf swimming towards him. The two of them swam next to each other for a moment, before Genis looked at him.
"How do you know that she's okay?" he asked.
Lloyd considered. "I don't 'know', exactly. It's just a feeling I have. Plus...Before I woke up, I had a weird dream with Colette in. And when I woke up, she said, 'I hope you come soon'. So I just figured we shouldn't keep her waiting too long."
Genis looked a little hesitant, then shook his head. "Okay. If you think she's alright, then I'll believe you, Lloyd!" he said determinedly.
Lloys grinned, before suddenly looking up, expression serious. He scanned the water for whatever it was, but couldn't see it. He glanced around for Noishe, spotting the dolphin cowering on the floor.
"Genis, get back to Kratos and the Professor," he said suddenly.
Genis looked at him in confusion, but Lloyd turned to him suddenly. "Go now! And take this; it's for Colette," he ordered, slipping off his necklace and passing it over before shooing him. Genis hesitated then nodded, swimming back towards them. Lloyd turned and dived down to Noishe, floating infront of him.
"Noishe, we have to go! Come on!" he said.
Noishe looked up uncertainly, then attempted to bury himself into the floor. Lloyd gave an annoyed growl before reaching down, trying to lift him or force him back towards Kratos.
"Look, Kratos and the others are right there. You've got to go to them!"
'I'm not going!'
Lloyd stopped in surprise, staring at him. "What?" he asked.
"Lloyd!" Genis shouted, and Lloyd glanced up before looking back at the large waterspout quickly coming up behind them. He was soon dragged up towards it, barely having time to feel relieved as he saw Kratos push Genis and Raine to safety before the air was torn from him and he passed out.
'Are you alright? Hey!'
His whole body hurt. He opened his eyes slowly, attempting to push himself up and giving a pained gasp as he collapsed again.
'You're awake! Thank goodness, I was so worried...'
Lloyd lifted his gaze, blinking as he saw Noishe floating infront of him.
"No...ishe..?" he mumbled.
'I'm sorry...This was my fault. I was just really scared..'
Lloyd shook his head. "S'fine...Don't worry about it," he replied, finally succeeding in getting up slightly. He tried to move his tail, then gave a cry as pain flared through it.
'Stay still. We crashed into some coral, remember?'
"No..."
'Really? Oh...Well, anyway, just stay there a minute. A lot of it fell on you, and though I've managed to get most of it off you, I still need to get your tail out.'
"Alright," he sighed, lying down again. Noishe started pushing the large parts of coral which had fallen away with his head, though it was slow going.
'Oooh. Tasty.'
Lloyd looked up in surprise, blinking as he saw a shark. Noishe suddenly rushed over, headbutting it away.
'You can't eat him! Stay away, you big nasty meanie!'
'Oh come on. He's half dead anyway.'
'I'm not going to let you eat him!'
"Calm down little one. I won't let him be eaten," a voice said gently. Lloyd watched as another mermaid floated down, joining the shark. "And Corrine, don't be so mean. You shouldn't joke around like that."
'I know...Sorry Sheena.'
The mermaid shook her head, then turned to Noishe. "I'm sorry about that, little one. Are you alright?"
'Yes...But can you help Lloyd?'
"Lloyd?" she asked, and Noishe swam towards him. The mermaid saw him and gasped. "Are you alright?" she asked, swimming over to him. She had black hair tied back, as well as a lilac tail, and gazed at him worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he replied.
"Just hang on a moment. We'll have you free soon," she promised, joining Noishe and helping lift the rocks away.
It took a while, but soon Lloyd was free. He pushed himself up, ignoring the pain that throbbed through him as he swam forward a little.
"Thanks. I'm Lloyd," he greeted, smiling at her.
"I'm Sheena, and don't worry about it. It was my turn to help anyone who I found, anyway."
"Huh?"
"I live in a small village nearby. There's been an increase of underwater waterspouts recently, and a lot of the time the mermaids who get stuck in them end up dying. You're really lucky you survived, crashing into the coral like that. Though it was brave of you to protect this little fellow," she said, stroking Noishe.
"What?" Lloyd asked, confused.
'When we were thrown out of the waterspout, you put yourself behind me so that I didn't get hurt when we hit the coral. Don't you remember?' asked Noishe.
"No...I don't remember that at all," Lloyd murmured, frowning a little.
'Oh...Well, I hope the others are alright. I've been with Kratos for as long as I can remember...'
Lloyd considered, noting the odd, safe feeling he got when he thought of Colette. "They're fine," he said, smiling.
Noishe gave a happy click, swimming around him. Lloyd laughed, stroking him, then turned to Sheena.
"Anyway, thanks again. I should get going now, but it was nice to meet you," he said with a smile.
"But you're injured," Sheena protested.
"I'll be fine."
"You won't be if you don't rest. At least stay for tonight, so that we can help your injuries heal."
Lloyd hesitated, glancing at Noishe, then sighed. "Alright, but only for tonight. I need to find my friends."
Sheena nodded, motioning for him to follow before starting to swim off. Lloyd followed after her, Noishe helping him a little.
The four of them soon arrived at the village, Sheena leading the way to the largest piece of coral. She pushed the door open, letting Lloyd and Noishe head in first before following with Corrine behind her.
"Ah, Sheena, you've returned. And who is this young man?" an old mermaid sitting at the back of the room asked.
"Lloyd, Elder One. He's the survivor that crashed into the coral," Sheena replied respectfully.
"Really...You must be strong to have survived that, young man," the elder said to him.
"I think I was just lucky," Lloyd replied bashfully.
"It is still not a common thing for one so young as yourself to survive that type of impact. I also see that you are injured...Please, allow us to tend to you for the night."
Lloyd glanced at Sheena, who nodded, and looked back. "Thank you. I would appreciate it," he said with a smile.
A/N: Noishe - the master of comebacks. I think 'you big meanie' is going to go down in history.
Anyway, waterspout bit. I tried really hard to find something that would work, but although I found lots on stuff above water, I couldn't find anything in it. I read somewhere that what happens above the water would also affect below it, however, so I figured I could get away with using waterspout (which I know is something that happens above land).
On a sidenote, it makes me a little sad that no one's reviewed since the first chapter. I mean, it's not like I can force you, but I'm five chapters in and have 2 reviews... *sigh* Well, whatever makes you guys happy, I guess.