Two days following introducing the boys to Ocean for the first time, it was now my time for my test with the Sliquifier.
The Sliquifier had already entered the water and was monitoring me from offshore. I'd only given Eyarr some insight into what my plan was to prove myself. But what I was intending to do was challenge Ocean and test my endurance.
I'd only done this a couple of instances before as a teenager with my mom's supervision. It was risky, but it was a true test of endurance; learning to tread water and not to fight the current. I also learned how to hold my breath for longer periods of time. I built my strength in and on the water, so I felt ready.
I made my way to a short cliff where there were no sharp, dangerous rocks below, so it would be safe to dive in. I spied the shift of Ocean, knowing it was ready for me. I sent my prayers to Tangaroa and Te Fiti, and with a deep breath, I dove feet first.
I felt the rush of the chilly water envelop my body, and my heart rate shifted. But once I started swimming, I knew my body would warm up. I slowly opened my eyes to dark water, there was just enough light that I could see the refractions of water on my extended hands. I kicked myself forward, feeling no resistance.
After a minute or so, I caught the sound of something approaching me from my right. I slowly arched my body just in time to see the Sliquifier swimming up.
We made eye contact, and then he swam off. I quickly resurfaced and took another breath, and then dove back in.
The Sliquifier then began creating underwater riptides, forcing me to swim along with it, not trying to force myself into it. Every couple of minutes I would resurface, but soon he began making it more of a challenge, giving me less time to resurface for air. He soon began a game to see if I could catch him, and I eventually figured out it was a challenge to see if I could get on his back.
Alright, that's how you want it? That's how we're gonna do it.
With a surge of adrenaline, I swam as fast as I could after him, ignoring the drop of the ocean floor. It didn't matter.
He was faster than myself or any other ocean creature I'd seen before, except for tuna and sailfish. His maneuverability was astonishing, using his wings and tail to control his speed. And when he extended his wings out in the water, his movement reminded me of a manta ray. The graceful, elegant flap of his wings was mesmerizing.
As he led me through the underwater chase, I suddenly felt the current grab hold of me and surge me forward. Ocean was helping me!
Ocean practically fired me onto the Sliquifier's back. When he realized I caught up to him, he suddenly breached the surface, the rush of air chilling me to the bone.
"OH GODS!" I shrieked. I craned my neck back to shore and spied the small figure of Eyarr on the beach. I couldn't make out his expression, but I knew he did not expect this. He bounded over to Cliffire, but I screamed at him to stay, I didn't need his help. Yet.
The water made the Sliquifier's smooth scales even slicker, and since I was only in my undergarments, I was gripping onto his shoulders with the bare strength of my thighs, praying for the best. I tightly wrapped my arms around his neck but avoided grabbing his neck fins, as I didn't want to hurt him.
"C'mon… c'mon…" I quietly uttered, squeezing my eyes shut as the Sliquifier performed a corkscrew maneuver into the sky, arching back down and taking a sharp nosedive straight back for the water.
He was testing me on if I jumped off his back before he hit the water or if I trusted him to slow down in time. I knew he was powerful, and if he wanted to kill me, he would've while I was in the water with him. I allowed myself to be vulnerable in his natural environment, and so this was my final test.
The wind lashed at my skin harshly as he got closer and closer to the surface of the ocean, and I braced myself for what could be the last thing I saw, or a gentle dunk.
Next thing I knew, I was frozen in place.
But not dead.
"LAELI!" I heard Eyarr call from shore. I carefully opened my eyes, and once I came back to my senses, I realized I was comfortably sitting on the Sliquifier's back as he floated in the water. He angled his head around to face me, watching me closely. I was still breathing deeply, but I could feel my body relax now, with the fear of the Sliquifier wanting to hurt me long gone.
As if by instinct, my right hand lifted, holding it up to the Sliquifier's snout. I was going to do it.
I closed my eyes again, breathing steadily, hand outstretched, trusting the Sliquifier to meet my palm.
And he did.
It felt like time slowed down. Every sensation running through my body was heightened. The skin of my palm felt every scale and bump on the Sliquifier's snout. I could feel the heat of its body radiating, the flare of its nostrils as he watched me with the same wonder.
"By Na-maka-o-Kaha'i…" I gasped out. The Sliquifier made eye contact with me and gave me a gentle nudge. By this point, I'd completely forgotten about Eyarr and Cliffire on shore. But as the Sliquifier and I swam back, Eyarr was utterly speechless. He gave me a blanket to dry myself with, but he was still at a loss for words.
"Gee, thanks for the congratulatory speech." I teased him. He shook his head to refocus, and I swear he started breathing again.
"Laeli-" …
"Gods, that was incredible!" He grasped my shoulders, "I've never seen anything like that before." It was evident that too many thoughts swirled in his head for him to say anything coherent. I thought it was sweet, though, seeing him so excited for me.
"So what's next?" I asked. He paced around as he thought, hand on his hip and the other raking through his messy blonde hair.
"Well, you have to start developing your bond with him more, doing things together, a test drive. Oh! I gotta make you a saddle first. Then we have to see how well he takes the saddle, and then you have the test drive-..." He continued rambling for a few minutes, ideas jumbling together as he developed a game plan for me.
"Oh, am I going to make a dragon rider out of you!" He boasted, practically bouncing on his feet. I just stared at him in awed bewilderment. In the months I'd started getting to know him, this was probably the first time I saw him this excited. He had a new energy in him, and it suited him well.
In glancing over at Cliffire, I could've sworn I saw him crack a smile in whatever way a dragon could. This was also probably the first time he'd seen his rider this happy in some time. I had to admit; it was quite adorable. But now I had a new appreciation for how strong the bond could be between a dragon and its rider.
That evening, Eyarr and I were lounging by our campfire, relishing in the exhilaration of today's events. Meanwhile, Cliffire and the Sliquifier were by the shore, interacting with each other. As I watched them, I had an epiphany.
"Look at Riptide," I said with a grin. Eyarr turned to me, his brows raised slightly.
"Riptide?" I lightly tossed my head toward the aquatic dragon. Realization dawned on him, and he returned the grin.
"That's a really good name."
"Fitting, eh?" He nodded in agreement.
"You've come a long way." I chuckled.
"So have you. You're a completely different Viking than the one I met on the pier." I saw color flush across his freckled cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck, the muscles of his chest flexing as he did so.
"I suppose you could say that. But, let's not forget you still held a dagger to my face." I pursed my lips before I chuckled. He really had to mention that.
"You did deserve it."
"You made it easy." We shared a laugh. I found our banter to be fun, relaxing even.
Suddenly the Ocean reared up, greeting us.
"Ocean! Have fun with Riptide?" As if to say 'yes,' Ocean plopped water on my hair, pulling it up, swirling it around.
I briefly looked over at Eyarr in mild embarrassment, I saw something different on Eyarr's face. His eyes were wide, and his cheeks were red, different than anything I'd shown him that I knew blew his mind. I quickly looked away, and Ocean pulled back, allowing my soaked hair to drop around my face, wet strands slapping and sticking to my cheeks. I heard Eyarr's deep laughter next to me, and I couldn't help but laugh as well.
"So, what now?" I asked. Eyarr shrugged.
"Well… maybe it's time I show you something. Something I haven't shown anyone else." I raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, to begin it, I am fully aware of how I come across to people. Cold, withdrawn, and private. But… there is a reason for that." Wait, was he going just to tell me about his past? Right here? Before I had a chance to ask, he continued, "Considering the fact that you're the first person I've allowed to be this close to me…" he mumbled something under his breath that I didn't catch, "I think it's time I both show and tell you why."
"Okay…? Can you give me more insight? I wanna know what I'm allowing myself to know."
"To make it brief, I have a very shattered relationship with my family. If you can even call it a relationship. My upbringing left a lot of scars, and not just physical ones," he reached up to graze his fingers over his facial scars, and I felt dread slowly creep into my heart. What did they do to him?
"So… what're you saying?"
"I want to bring you to where I grew up, so I can confront my past and finally put it behind me. I've been running from it for long enough. And I think it would help me if I had someone like you there." My heart skipped a beat when I realized what he was asking of me. It was a heavy task to take on; that being said…
"Oh-... of course. If that's what you need, then I'll help."
"I trust you." He finished. It gave me a new kind of assurance of our friendship, but I also think that was a way for him to say thank you.
And all I could say back was;
"I trust you, too."