For several weeks after the incident with the seabeast, Liam found himself worrying about it's health. He'd done what he could, but was that enough?
Liam hadn't told anybody about the encounter. He didn't think they'd like it. Seabeasts were...well, beasts. Weren't they?
Liam took to swimming on his days off. He'd go out away from the fishing grounds and dive as deep as he could, picking up pretty pebbles and making designs with them on the sand. He'd done this since he was a kid. He'd gotten pretty good at holding his breath- he could stay under for almost three minutes.
It was a warm and sleepy afternoon when he fell asleep on the beach. Liam would probably have woken up horribly sunburned, if not for the apparent blanket of seaweed that he woke up in instead.
Obviously he was rather confused. Then the seaweed tightened around him and began pulling him, and things got even more confusing.
"Um, hello?" He said, trying to wiggle out of the cocoon he was in enough to see what was happening. He heard a low hum and was suddenly yanked underwater. For a frantic moment he felt panic well up in his chest. Was it trying to drown him?
No, this felt different. Liam held his breath, and the seaweed began letting go of him. He saw the familiar face of the seabeast loom in front of him.
Liam wasn't really sure what to do. He waved awkwardly, and the seabeast waved gently in response. A low humming noise came from its chest, one that Liam could feel down to his very bones.
Was it trying to communicate? Liam couldn't possibly understand the meaning behind the noise. But it felt vaguely friendly.
He looked around, and nearly inhaled some water when he realized how deep he'd been taken. This was far deeper than he'd be able to get by himself, and Liam wasn't sure if he'd be able to reach the surface before he drowned. He instinctively put a hand over his mouth and nose, now a little more afraid of this predicament.
He felt something soft brush against his cheek, and a small trail of bubbles passed his eyes. The seabeast moved it's hands to either side of Liam's head and slowly, a little globe of breathable air formed.
Liam was wary of the bubble for a moment, inhaling cautiously. It smelled a bit fishy, but it was fresh.
"...so," he said, his voice sounding muffled, "We meet again."
The seabeast hummed in response, making Liam grin.
"Can you understand my language?"
He got a nod.
Liam felt bubbles of excitement in his stomach, and he kicked his feet to swim closer to the seabeast's face. Under the water, he could see how large this being really was. The humanoid half alone was massive, just it's torso the same size as Liam's entire body. And the mass of tentacles and ribbons of seaweed that made up the lower half was nearly twice the size of the upper.
"Did you need something from me?" he asked, "Why did you bring me down here?"
The seabeast daintily took him by the arm and began pulling him deeper, until they reached the seabed. The pressure wasn't bad enough to hurt Liam yet, but he felt his ears pop on the way down.
It was dim here, like twilight. The seabeast guided Liam's eyes towards a collection of rocks in the sand. They were a range of sizes, from tiny to the size of a watermelon, and each was brilliantly colored. A few were arranged in a pattern, a sad attempt at a spiral.
"Oh!" Liam said, realizing, "Do...you want me to..?"
The seabeast settled on the ground, drawing in the sand with his finger a few circles and spirals, like the ones Liam did on the beach.
"I'm flattered," Liam said, grabbing a few rocks already, "I'd be happy to decorate your front garden. Now, let's see..."
Liam was glad to discover the seabeast had collected plenty of rocks to choose from. There were even some bits of old jewelry, the metal rusted away an the precious cut gemstones left behind. The seabeast watched from the sidelines while Liam swam about, placing stones and digging ruts in the sand. It seemed anxious, but didn't interrupt until he announced he was finished.
"Here, how's that? I did swirls that remind me of your" He wasn't sure what to call the seabeast's lower half as a whole, "...swimmy bits."
He waited patiently while the creature examined the design, almost purring with approval and looking to Liam with what he hoped was a smile.
"Lord, those teeth are sharp," Liam chuckled, "I'm glad you like it. Now I'm not sure how sturdy it is long term but- hey-!"
He was suddenly swept up in a mass of seaweed and the creature's large arms. He was quite abruptly launched out of e water and back onto the beach, sopping wet and a touch slimy too.
"Well...that was fun," he said, watching the ripples from the seabeast fade away into the deep. He was a bit disappointed he had been cut off for a second time, but for all he knew the poor thing just didn't know how to end a conversation.
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