Sarit
Times like these, I looked at the world in awe. There are so many seas I haven't seen. The water so clear, up here so loud and crowded.
I wonder how there are so many more of them up here; On land. In the water we either stay alone or in small groups, small hide outs and homes. Only a few come telling us of bigger waters far from any land or humans in which many reside. I wonder if that could ever compare to the world I see before me on the small land. Humans may think us used but we truly know more than them hence why we avoid them and learn their ways.
My mother once told me that only 29% of the world is land. That most of our water is enexplored to their kind. It seemed to me that maybe more of my kind learned how to walk on land and blend in; exploring more of land than they have our seas. Maybe their lack of understanding about it is why they harbor such animosity.
I accidentally bumped into Chada while staring at the bustling around me. The city was bigger than it looked from the shores I knew. "Ow, my head" I said complaining. I didn't want to make yet again more contact with him after this morning. He just gently smiled and said "be careful" why was he being so nice to me today? I looked at him skeptically. He certainly was quite toned and larger than I by a lot. Yet looking at him, I couldn't help but think he just looked like a big teddy bear.
"Is this what you're wearing inside" I said pointing to his thin top with no sleeves.
I don't even know why I said that as it's not like I am a land fashion expert. I don't care if people wear clothes or don't. I scowled though, seeing his skin so exposed. Making even harder for me to clear my mind.
"Yes, I'm not the one here to work" he said nonchalantly. "I'm just a fisherman" putting his arms bent behind his head.
I pulled out my key card and put it to the scanner as Chada instructed. The three of us walking into the building. I wondered if I should use my voice again to get through but it seems it was not necessary. This time we were welcomed in smoothly by the receptionist.
The building today was quite bustling. So full of so many humans. So many people. My head started to spin a bit but I kept walking.
We were dragged to some sort of room with chairs where we were to be given a run through of our job before heading to the practice room. "Please sign some final documents before we get started" a man said.
I stared at the paper not really knowing what to make of it. It's not like I couldn't read altogether, mother tuaght me some. The creatures that traversed onto land would bring with them trade of such words. It influenced our languages and cultures even in the depths. At least mine anyway.
However, it was like Portuguese to Spanish. I could make out parts and some I could not. I looked at Abyss to see if he had a better idea of the contracts we were signing. He looked confused before breathing out some magic discreetly, his kind are such adaptable creatures. With his brain and magick combined he could translate the gaps in his mind.
Fortunately for him, his kind interspersed with Nagas and alike regularly enough this was a simple task. For me though it felt daunting. I felt he was too busy to ask him for assistance. I'm supposed to be the reliable strong one after all. Chada sat down by me and to my surprise, calmly started teaching me bit by bit what each term was and how to fill out the forms.
When it got to the signature part I puased not knowing all that I was to fill out. He looked at me before gently taking my hand and guiding me on how to write it, including his surname on the paper.
I blushed a bit feeling a spark like electricity pulse through my skin at the touch. Glancing at him and his big eyes. I came from a place that need not for surnames usually as there weren't enough in my area for it to be relevant. However I did remember how we'd take on these surnames after entering land.
My mother's human love had one, but I refused to even be associated with that man. I wasn't even his son so what be it to take his name.
We were lead to a practice room and someone began briefing Abyss on his job as my manager. I was glad I would at least have him by my side. They said that Chada could stay with us as a cultural translator after he put a word in. They made it clear he wouldn't be hired though and they want him to stay outside the company during working hours after our first week.
Finally, this room has a smaller number of people, maybe 15 to 20 other 'trainees' I took a deep breath, using my mouth, trying to acclimate myself to this place. "Everyone follow the rhythm" the instructor called out at the front of the room by the mirrors.
Suddenly a loud sound of music I was not accustomed to started blaring through a box like thing. I felt my hairs stand on end and the room started to spin again. This world was too much, too intense. I tried to tune it out and focus on isolating the sounds. I couldn't feel the vibrations in my bones as well up here.
Everybody was dancing so fast paced and for the first time since I entered land so brazenly I had not a clue what to do.
I started backing away from the group. Stumbling a bit as I did. I tried to cover my ears as my world spun. My breath starting to quicken. "I want to go home, I want to go home" I repeated a few times in a weak voice.
As I backed up I hadn't registered that I was being held by arms, two very steady arms.
I started to curl into that, becoming a ball. This 29% of the world was one I had never seen before. One I wish I never had. I don't know how Abyss did this. This world is scarier than the tales of krakens or Goblin Sharks.
"Sarit" called a voice a few times. I hardly registered it now. It was too overwhelming. Now this body holding me together with sheer will turned me around so I was facing him. He cupped my head in his hands forcing me to look at him. The room had gone quiet. In front of me were the wide worried eyes of Chada. Why did his face look like that? It was just a little stressful that's all. Nothing I'm not used to.
"Breathe with me okay, can you count how many lights there are in this room?" He said looking at me.
"...12?" I replied, my breath slowing a tad. He looked a bit calmer himself. "And the color of my shoes?" He asked. "Blue, like me" I said. He said "deep breath in for 3, hold for 4, and exhale slowly for 8" I scoffed at him "I'm not doing that" he looked at me grabbing me tighter "just do it 3-5 times okay"
Begrudgingly I complied, feeling my breaths calm a bit. He offered me some water which I accepted.
"You can a panic attack" he said. I looked at him puzzled. Now what strange new term was this that humans had coined?
"I'm not that weak for whatever it is you're talking about. I'm a powerful being" I said.
He looked at me with a slight smile though it was a tad pained. "It has nothing to do with your strength. It is not a disease. Though, like one, it plagues even the best of us"
Now I just needed to know what he was referring to so I asked. He replied "panic attacks make you feel like the world is ending; Or you're dying. Sometimes you don't feel that, just more like you don't know how to live in the world that you are in" he said sitting criss cross by me now.
He continued, "it feels like you can't breathe or think straight; You just want to run or freeze." I looked at him silently feeling as if he was spot on. For a human he has some rather strange insights.
"But, there are ways to calm and navigate them. I can teach you if you'd like" he said.
I turned to him, thinking for a moment. Then I slowly nodded.