37



A small change in the current wakes you up. As you stutter into consciousness, the current takes on a rhythmic pattern that you slowly recognize as breathing. Once you figure that out, you recognize the subtle irregularities as Tamru. You lie still a moment longer; it's been several days since you've seen him last, and now he's coming to see you. You can feel his approach hesitate. He must be trying not to wake you. That's sweet. You grab his attention by breathing in deeply, slowly opening your eyes, and then unhooking yourself from an anchoring pole.

Tamru stops and waits patiently, and you take the opportunity to look him over. He always keeps his hair cropped short: it's easier to maintain and hides the few white hairs that—never advancing, never retreating—freckle his dark hair. While his old clothes fell apart long ago, he maintains his sense of dignity with a wrapping made from woven seaweed, although you don't think he really needs it down here. Tamru bows to you. "Good morning. Hope you got a good rest, because with how crazy things are right now, I really need your help."

Tamru crackles with unbound nerves as he confides in you with his concerns. "The Eternity Orb was rescued and yay for all that, but I'm getting some unintentional fallout. I've been hearing some really weird things about Cinza. She's being held prisoner up in the air ballasts, and they're not letting me up there until it's resolved." His voice cracks a bit. "With everything going on, I could really just use some air in my lungs, and they won't let me do that." He exhales a stream of water.