Nishiki
Westonand I remained around the lake for a few days, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. We needed a break after so much stress. But since reuniting with Nero and meeting my father, I was filled with calm relief. It felt like things were finally falling into place in my life. Father wasn't exactly the deadbeat dad I assumed he was for the majority of my life--it was a lot more complicated than that. Nero told me he was a powerful water spirit, but hearing it and seeing it with my own eyes were two totally different things. Meeting Nautilus made me feel small, but also like I was a part of something bigger. Something important.
And that wasn't all. I was going to be a father, too. The thought of it both thrilled and terrified me. I was excited, of course, but now that it was confirmed, I couldn't help the anxiety creeping through me. What if I messed something up? What if I couldn't be as good of a father as Nero was to Zakariel?
I sighed and glanced towards the tranquil waves. Even though I knew Nautilus had magically changed the water from ocean to lake, it still glittered as big and boldly as the sea. I vaguely wondered about all the mute animals living beneath its surface. How were they dealing with the sudden change? Maybe Father used his powers to influence them somehow. Since he reigned over them as a protector, I doubted he would harm them on purpose.
Weston's soft laugh pulled me from my thoughts. "Longing for the water, Nishiki?"
I smiled at him. "Yeah, actually. Ever since I awakened to my shifting ability, there's always a little part of me that wants to go in the water."
"Why don't you go ahead?" Weston stretched his long, dark limbs. His toned muscles glistened beneath the midday sunlight. "I could go for a shift, too. My osprey's been feeling active since we found out I'm pregnant."
"Sure. I don't think we've ever shifted at the same time, except for our very first meeting," I said, sticking out my tongue teasingly.
Weston chuckled. "That doesn't count. Come. Let me see you shift."
"Okay..."
I stood and approached the gently lapping waves. The water called to my soul, and like the pull of a tide, it was no longer content being ignored.
I closed my eyes and shed my human form. It was a strange feeling. My body shrank and lost the use of my limbs, but I didn't feel inferior in any way. I'd grown to appreciate my koi form. Just because my shifted animal was a fish didn't mean I was some kind of inferior being; I was perfect just the way I was.
I leapt and dove into the lake like a warm knife cutting through butter. Water streamed around my body as if it was welcoming me with open arms. Unlike when I was a 'human' child dunking my head underwater, there was no loss of sensation or that fuzzy roaring in my ears. My senses as a koi were sharp, perfectly suited to this environment. I felt the vibration of the currents, smelled potential food sources, and heard things lurking in the distance. The way I perceived things wasn't worse by comparison, it was just different.
I surfaced my head and looked to the shore. Weston stood there watching me with a smile.
"You're beautiful, Nishiki," he said. "Especially with the way the sun glitters on your golden scales."
I would've blushed, if I could.
"I want to see you, too," I said.
"All right."
Weston's calf muscles tensed as he lowered his body, then sprang upwards. His shape shrank, too, then expanded out as he unfurled his gorgeous wings. The feathers overtook his body in less than the time it took me to blink, blanketing him in a rich pattern of white and brown. He let out a high-pitched, shrill cry as he soared above the lake.
Weston tucked his wings and dove, then flared them out again before he hit the water. He hovered nearby. Even though his mouth was a sharp beak, I knew he was smiling at me. I hoped he could tell I was smiling back.
Wordlessly, we both began to move. I swam and Weston flew. It was like a silent, intricate dance, one not planned by either of us. It just happened. I guess magical moments like this occurred when you were with your fated mate.
I dipped below the surface, right inside of Weston's shadow. His osprey shape glided above me like a guardian angel. It amused me that this was how we met in the first place, but now, the shadow of the bird of prey didn't intimidate me at all. It was almost like Weston was protecting me.
Then Weston's shadow disappeared. I tilted my head, looking up. It was getting smaller, then rapidly grew larger once more. Instinctively, I flitted out of the way. A second later, Weston shot into the water like an arrow. He was underwater with me!
Weston's piercing yellow eyes met mine. I'd almost forgotten he, too, was aligned with water, as well as air. He seemed comfortable underwater, as he lingered beside me for a moment before he resurfaced. Beads formed on his oily feathers as he flapped his wings hard, returning to the sky.
I laughed--well, as well as a koi fish could laugh, which ended up being a few bubbles I released from my mouth. Weston floated down to hover above me again. His sharp beak was curved into a grin.
Neither of us needed to say anything. It was a moment neither of us would ever forget.
* * *
Eventually we began goofing off.I'd splash Weston with my tail fins and he would whip up a small tide with his wings to playfully make me struggle. When we needed to take a break, Weston found a thick branch sticking out of the water near the shore and perched upon it. I continued to lazily drift below him.
"Hey," I said. "I just thought of something."
"Tell me, my love."
