Swift Swims with Dolphins

Writers: Jane, Vix
Date Posted: 25th March 2007

Characters: Swift
Description: While admiring the dolphins, Swift gets an opportunity to swim with one.
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 3, day 8 of Turn 4

Swift was the child, the husband, the father, and the grandfather of dolphineers. He'd grown up around the creatures; he loved and admired them. He wouldn't for a moment consider moving away from them. But mostly he felt like a spectator around them. He swam in the same waters they inhabited; sometimes they took an interest in his water antics - more often he took an interest in theirs.

This was such a day. He trod water and watched a pod zip across the bay
- this way and that, each pass involving more and more complex manoeuvres. It was an impressive thing to watch.

A lone dolphineer approached the beach and dove into the waves, strong strokes taking him quickly to depths well above his head. As he slowed, he raised his head above the water and whistled in the direction of the pod. A single dolphin detached himself from the group and sped toward the young man.

Swift watched the dolphin head toward the man and smiled. Such a wonderful relationship. A friendship between people and sea creatures to the benefit of both.

The dolphin leapt into the air, diving straight down only a few feet from the dolphineer, but creating only a small splash of water in his descent. He swam under the younger man and resurfaced next to him, rubbing his snout against the dolphineer's chest. With a laugh, Jaimon rubbed his knuckles across the dolphin's melon in their familiar greeting, evoking the traditional dolphin clicks of joy.

Suddenly the dolphin disappeared from sight, dropping into the water, the dolphineer whirling in the water to watch his partner swim in a wide circle, faster, then faster still. Suddenly the creature resurfaced on the far side of the older man, shooting into the air and down again, this time landing with a hefty splash.

"Meel, no!" the dolphineer shouted out as he started swimming toward his partner.

Coughing out the unexpected breath of seawater, Swift kicked around to watch the dolphin's progress. He knew the splashing was playfully meant and wished he could do something as spectacular in return but, as good as even dolphineers were in the water, people didn't have very many skills in the water.

The dolphin closed the distance to the older man, bumping against his side gently, the large head easing under Swift's arm.

"Not everyone wants to play, Meel!" Jaimon swam to Swift's other side. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Just -" he coughed again, "- getting the last of this water out of my lungs." He smiled at the dolphin and reached out a hand to pat the nearest bit of skin. "Thank you."

"Fine now." The words Meel uttered had the non-inflection usually heard from dolphins. "Play."

Swift glanced at the dolphineer. "Would you mind?"

"Not at all," was Jaimon's reply, "though I'll warn you that once he starts, he doesn't want to quit."

The dolphin shoved backwards from the two humans, mouth open as he uttered a series of clicks before turning and slapping his tail in their direction.

"Do I have to swim after him?"

"You can try." The dolphineer sounded amused, his strong legs scissoring together in regularly timed strokes to keep himself afloat.

Meanwhile, the dolphin had thrown himself onto his side and lazily circled the pair.

Swift turned to swim back toward the circling dolphin, knowing he couldn't fool the creature but willing to give Meel - was that the name the dolphineer had called? - a chance to come up with something that would amuse himself.

As the dolphineer watched, Meel continued to circle slowly, allowing the man to approach him, waiting until a space of about two dolphin-lengths separated them. Suddenly he increased his speed, shooting away from his pursuer in ever-widening circles.

Swift realised the chasing game could go on forever and instead put his head down and his feet up, swimming as straight down into the water as he could.

Seeing his playmate disappear, the dolphin turned his circling into an arrow-straight swim toward Swift. Meel poked at the man with his long, narrow snout, edging Swift toward the surface.

With a splash Swift came up out of the water, laughing. "Somehow I think I'm outclassed."

"Ok? All ok?" asked the dolphin.

Jaimon laughed as he swam closer. "When you went down, he thought you were in trouble."

"Okay!" Swift said, smiling at the dolphin's determination to save him from himself.

"More?" Meel again sped backwards from the older man.

"Well, not today. Finished now? Another day?"

"'Morrow!" announced the dolphin.

"Meel!" Jaimon shook his head, still treading water, as the dolphin approached him. "You'll just have to settle for me as a playmate for now. But thank the nice man for playing."

"Thanks!" The dolphin rose out of the water, shaking off his partner's hand - and shaking water on both men as he tail-walked around them.

"_That_ I'd love to be able to do," Swift said with a laugh. "Thanks for the opportunity."

"Anytime!" replied Jaimon, gripping the dolphin's fin.

"Anytime!" echoed Meel, and dipped into the water, taking his partner with him as he sped away from the other man.

Last updated on the March 25th 2007

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Swift Swims with Dolphins