<Well... yeah, of course! I'd love to go!> Jennifer answers enthusiastically. Suddenly, the prospect of being a fish person isn't looking as dreary. A whole city of fish people like her? Sure, she lost what she had as a human, but at least now she has a chance to gain new friends, a new life! Maybe even find love and start a family some day! The prospect of her life not being over causes Jennifer to swim a quick loop around her new friend and laugh excitedly, even though it comes out underwater as a gurgled bubbling.
<You're a pretty good swimmer... for a land-dweller,> Mala teases, folding her arms at her chest.
<Hey, who you callin' a land-dweller? Do I look like a land-dweller to you?> Jennifer pouts, sticking out her tongue at the girl.
<No, but now that you mentioned it, it's kinda obvious you used to be one. You've got alot to learn, ya know.>
<And I'll learn it. I'll learn more than I need. I'm just so happy that my life doesn't have to be over anymore. I thought I was going to live lonely for the rest of my life. I don't have to do that anymore, do I?>
<Well, that depends on one thing...>
Jennifer's stunned for a moment. Depends? What does she mean depends? <Wh... wha...>
<Depends on if you can catch up, slowpoke!> And with that, Mala turns around, kicking a massive amount of bubbles in Jennifer's face as she swims along, blindingly fast. Jennifer's not sure, but she swears she can hear Mala laughing in her mind.
<No fair!> Jennifer calls out, and kicks through the cloud of bubbles to give chase.
Mala is, true to her suggestion, faster than Jennifer, and clearly in better shape too. Jennifer does her best to keep up with the native, but finds it difficult and straining. But she won't ask for mercy. She won't ask for Mala to slow down. She's got to prove that she's worthy of this, that she's worthy of being allowed into Mala's city, and she - will.
She pours on the figurative steam, and picks up her pace considerably, and surely enough, bit by bit, she starts to catch up. She's got Mala squarely in her sights now, and is unsurprised and prepared when the other woman takes a quick dive into a chasm. Jennifer follows with ease, taking mental notes on how the other woman swims, mimicking her movements with ease.
The legs kick in unison as opposed to alternatingly, up and down, up and down, up and down. Her arms are pinned flat against her sides, and she flicks her wrists periodically, fingers spread, to add a little extra speed boost. Jennifer adjusts accordingly, and soon finds herself keeping up with Mala quite easily.
<I'm impressed, Jennifer,> Mala says as she swerves to avoid a pillar of rock jutting out, <I didn't think you'd manage to catch up to me so quickly.>
<I didn't either. We almost there yet?>
<Soon enough. Why? Need a rest?> Mala's tone is clearly teasing, but Jennifer doesn't mind.
<Hell no! I'm fit as a fiddle!>
<A what?>
<A fid... never mind. I'm in good shape.>
<Whatever. It's just around this corner.> And sure enough, Mala turns a corner, with Jennifer close behind. The city of Soria lay before her....