Namora stands on shallow waters with Niecalli, touching the underbelly of a dolphin with her right hand, holding it in place. Her left hand stroking its head to keep it calm.
"This is a young dolphin tamed by our people." Namora explains. "One of many."
It is always easier to communicate with a juvenile than an adult. Resistance in an animal's mind keeps one out when communing with them. Essentially, not a barrier but more stubbornness. So, a juvenile with a malleable mind is simpler, albeit mischievous. When it comes to different species, producers, like zooplanktons, small fishes, or crustaceans are the easiest to connect with while carnivorous predators are the hardest. The higher up in the food chain one wanted to commune with the harder it gets. For beginners, it is better to find a young sea life in the low, middle level of the food chain to start with.
Communicating does not mean taming the animal. It takes multiple sessions of communing with the animal to truly tame it. An untamed animal still follows orders but with great resistance. And a lot of concentration and intent is needed to break down the barriers in an animal's mind. The more often one does it, the easier it gets. Once an animal is tamed, there is no resistance on its mind and follows instructions willingly. An animal needs continuous communication to remain tame. Although, even if the sea life reverts to being wild, it is so much easier to re-tame it when needed.
The juvenile dolphin chosen by Namora is already used to communicating with Talokanils, and is somewhat tame, which makes it more receptive to amateurs, and since Niecalli has experience communing with an Octo-Squid at the top of the food chain, a dolphin is chosen for her to train with.
"Ease your mind into it. There will be pushback but once you feel a sliver of presence in your mind, you can start directing it." Namora describes. "After that, make it move. Command it to swim out of my grasp."
Niecalli eases her mind into the dolphin, feeling something pushing her back. She creases her brows and takes a deep breath, staring into its eyes for better access to the mind. A slip of presence is felt in her mind, tickling her slightly. As she tries to reach for it – it connects. She breathes heavily and relaxes slightly. The excitement builds in her, heating her skin to blush.
"Excitement later. You did the first part right." Namora reprimands. "You don't necessarily tell it to move but more your intent. Now command it."
"Ok." Niecalli whispers, never taking her eyes off the dolphin while Namora was speaking. She steels herself and carefully commands the dolphin. Flap the tail first, out of the lady's grip, then come to me.
The dolphin starts flapping its tail, flailing in Namora's grasp and accidentally slapping her in the face with its tail, throwing her off balance. The action causes her to let go while the dolphin circles around her and swims towards Niecalli, stopping right beside her.
Once Namora steadies herself, she places her hand on her face and looks up, giving a hard glare to Niecalli.
"Oops."