Pializtli, having finished his punishment, is out on another excursion with Niecalli.
"Nayeli. Where are you taking me this time?" He asks nervously. "I just got out of guard duty, just standing still for hours and hours as punishment. I swear if we get in trouble one more time, I'm never talking to you again."
"Relax will ya."
"Can you give me some peace of mind and tell me where we're going."
Niecalli stares at Pializtli and smiles. "I'm getting myself an orca." She squeals and swims away.
Pializtli grabs her shoulders and has her face him, staring into her eyes. "This is exactly the type of thing that gets us in trouble!" He shouts as he physically shakes some sense into Niecalli, wobbling her back and forth.
She ignores him and slaps his hands as she swam away excitedly, leaving Pializtli behind. He waits for her to turn back but she just keeps on going.
"Well wait for me Nayeli!"
Niecalli and Pializtli huddle behind a rock watching a pod of fifteen orcas hunting seals ways away.
"So what's the plan?" Pializtli whispers. "That's a big pod right there."
"I'll try to communicate with one while you distract the rest."
Pializtli stares at her incredulously. "That's a horrible idea!"
Talokanils have massive respect for the ocean and everything in it. It will be difficult for him to distract the rest of the pod while trying not to hurt them.
While Pializtli ponders over his thoughts, Niecalli swims towards the pod.
"Stop! You'll get hurt you-" Pializtli slips. " You idiot!"
"Hey! I'm your princess!"
"Yes! Doesn't mean it's not true!"
She agh-s. "Just come!"
Pializtli gives out a silent scream and follows suit. He claps his hands to create sound waves that catches the attention of the orcas. As they look at him, he slashes his arm to let blood out and swims away. The orcas swimming right on his tail.
Niecalli swims up in front of an orca at the back of the pod, halting it from the chase. It exposes its head above water and blows air out, breathing through its blowhole as it stares at her.
She stares back allowing intent to flow into the adult orca. Feeling a lot of push back but slowly breaking down its barrier. Niecalli's communication is strong enough to keep the orca calm throughout the whole ordeal albeit with intense concentration.
A blur passes by Niecalli's peripheral. She jumps from shock, disrupting her focus. Pializtli should not be back yet, he knows communing takes time. She breaks the stare-down and sees one of the seals swimming away, bleeding as she lets out a hum.
Niecalli looks back at the orca and rests her hand on its snout, silently petting it. It opens its mouth, showing off its teeth and bites her arm.
"Way!" She cries for Pializtli.
The orca lets her arm go and spins, facing its belly up with its tail under Niecalli. It flicks its tail up, flipping her tens of feet up in the air as she lets out a scream.
Niecalli shots up from a soft cot, her breathing heavy.
"Where's my orca?!" She exclaims as she looks around.
Beside her cot stands Namor, looking down at her in disappointment. He flicks her forehead and says, "Is that really the first thing you care about? After being orca-handled like that?"
"Yes! Where is it?"
Namor sighs. "Lucky for you, the work you did breaking down its mental barriers made it easier for Pializtli to commune with it. He led it back here with you on it, but it will take more sessions to tame it."
She squeals.
"You have other things to think about.
"Your arm was bleeding profusely. Talokanils are highly resistant to damage and it tore a part of your wrist. You would be hurt but not that hurt…" He trails off, staring at Niecalli vibrating in excitement. "You're not listening are you."
"Huh?"
Namor gives up and walks away. "Oh by the way, Pializtli is back on guard duty…"
"…and he is pissed."