You snap your jaws and another few flashes die. Somewhere above you the water moves. A bigger flash, moving in a strange way. Now you are full. Do you go back [[inside]] or swim closer to the [[surface]]?

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You stay below the surface, waiting for the dark shape to move away. Time passes. You lift your eyes above the surface. You are unimpressed. It is nothing [[special]].

You extend your neck to its full length, and come eye to eye with another creature. Strange new sounds, strange new sensations. You feel yourself leaving the [[water]].

Your blood is cold, but you feel warm and safe tangled up with your [[family]].

Your cave is deep and quiet and yours. And your family's. You aren't too hungry, but you could eat. Do you follow the [[flash|silver]] or stay [[inside]]?

It's not as dark anymore - gray, not black. Gray, and getting lighter. There are crevices all around, but the flashes are panicked, and don't hide. They [[swim]].

You have never broken the surface. There are stories - grandparents, aunts, cousins, but you never have. There are reasons, you know. Your lives here are good. Your harmonies ring out every night. But this is something [[new]].

Cold. Dark. Flash of [[silver]] past the opening of your [[cave]].

Crypto\n

Rachel Best

Bubbles, spinning, strange silver flashes. A large, dark shape above you. New sounds - new vibrations ringing the delicate bones in your skull. Are you [[cautious]], or do you take [[a closer look]]?

The flash looks delicious. Lots of flashes, actually. You catch one and crunch it between your teeth. The flashes swim away, but your fins are [[stronger]]. You churn through the water silently, quickly, powerfully.

Suddenly, bright lights. You submerge, deflating your swim bladder and sinking back down to the bottom. You are no longer [[curious]].