Chapter 377 Chapter 377
“My turn. My turn again.” Kole yelled when Terah broke the surface of the water. He swam toward her quickly.
Lillee laughed and pushed away from Terah, “I can’t believe how high you get.” She pushed the hair back from her face.
Terah smiled; her heart felt like it was going to burst with joy from playing with them in the water. “I am used to small pools, so it is easy.”
Nolyn rested against the edge of the pool, grinning at her. “I can’t even do it, which is crazy, I’ve been swimming my whole life.” She tilted her head to the side, “I can’t wait to see how fast you can go in the lake,” she glanced at Nakisa, “bet she’s faster than your dad.”
“Or Konner,” Lillee nodded, “he the fastest one.”
Kole tread water beside her without issue, but she didn’t want to leave him there too long, he was quite small still. She moved over so he could get on her back and placed his arms where she had instructed him to the last time. “Konner swims much looking for others like us.”
Nolyn nodded, “Auburn used to look too, but not since,” she glanced at Nakisa, “Konner found Olanna, now he won’t risk leaving his family.”
“That is wise.” Terah agreed. “Did he find you?”
Nolyn shook her head, “No, well, not that way.” She looked at her webbed fingers beneath the surface, “when I got separated from my clan,” she glanced at the children quickly, “or whatever, you know?” She nodded, “I knew there was another clan close to us, so I made my way to them.”
“How old were you?” Lillee asked her, a sad expression on her face.
“Not much older than you, Lil.”
“You are very brave.” Terah felt the need to put her at ease.
“So yeah, other than me, Konner has found, Malachi, Olanna, Reeves, and now you.” Nolyn smiled at her.
“He is going to find more.” Terah nodded, “they know where to look now.” She smiled, hoping that settled the darker mood.
“Is that what he said?” Nolyn pushed from the edge of the pool and glided toward her.
“Yes. He was talking to Calum, and they have locations,” she nodded, “that is what they said.”
Nolyn’s smile was slow, her eyes looked glossier, “that’s great.” She sucked in a breath and then turned to Lillee and splashed water in her face, “back up to the edges so Kole gets his chance to fly.”
Terah grinned and patted Kole’s hand, “hang on tight.”
“I’m ready.” his grip tightened.
Terah started for the far end, not moving too fast. “Use your legs, I’m going under.” She made sure to use a playful tone as she turned and faced the other end. Diving down, she felt the bottom brush along her front with a whisper of a touch. It wasn’t as easy as she had told them it was, but if she were to get strong enough to swim with the others, it was worth the effort. As the far end grew closer, she pushed off from the bottom and parted the water, using all the strength her legs had to launch her body into the air above the pool. Twisting, she spun herself around, once, twice, and then they plunged back down into the water. As Kole let go, she turned to make sure he wasn’t disoriented and made it to the top.
He spit out water and laughed as he treaded above the surface. “I want to do that in the lake when the snow is done.” He grinned at her.
Terah turned to see Nolyn wasn’t watching them but was looking behind her. Letting her body turn, she saw that Konner was standing at the side of the pool.
“Konner.” Kole shouted and swam toward him, “did you see that? Did you see how high Terah can go?”
Konner squatted down beside the pool he held out his hand to the child. He lifted him right out of the water. “I did. You were flying.”
Kole gripped his neck and nodded, “it was so much fun.” He looked at him, eyes wide, “can you do that?”
Konner made a face like he was thinking hard, “I don’t know, but I will have to try it sometime.” He set him down. “Go get dressed, we’re having lunch in the common house.” He glanced at Nolyn, “a meeting afterward.”
Nolyn nodded and swam to the end of the pool.
Lillee got out and wrapped a towel around herself. “She can even do it with me, and I’m a lot heavier.” She walked by him, “so I know you can do it.”
Konner grinned at her, “I guess we’ll find out once you can go in the lake again.”
“Yes.” she giggled and ran over to the door.
Nakisa didn’t speak to him, but she was giving him a big smile as she followed Lillee.
Nolyn picked up her clothes and book and went over to him, she glanced from him to Terah, “it was my idea.” She waved a hand around, “safe indoor location.”
Konner nodded his head but was still looking at Terah.
Terah trod the water and watched the door close. Not sure why the mood was suddenly heavier. “It was fun to swim with children.” She moved over toward him, “I would never hurt them.”
Konner squatted down and looked at her as she got nearer. “I didn’t think you would.” He motioned to the water, “as fun as it was, I can see you’re exhausted now and that’s what I want to avoid.”
“I am okay.” She smiled up at him.
He blew out a breath, those lines appearing above his eyes, “I guess we checked one male off the list.”
“The list?” Terah put her hand on the edge of the pool, so she could look up at him.
“Of possible mates.” His tone was very low.
Terah looked at the door everyone had gone in. “Kole? He’s a little boy.” She frowned, “I would know before his change?”
Konner nodded, “you would know.” His eyes had darkened, and it bothered her to know that something she had done put that look on his face.
“I did not know. I am sorry.”
His eyes moved around like he was memorizing her face. “I know. Nothing would have happened, at his age, but it was still risky, Terah.”
Terah rested her forehead against the cool stone and looked at the water moving against it. “I am sorry, Konner.” she lifted her chin and looked up at him. “I wanted to swim and play with the children.”
He didn’t speak, but after a few breaths time, he nodded and held his hand out to her. When he stood up, he pulled her from the water without trouble. Still holding her hand, he looked at how she was dressed.
Terah looked down at the suit with the flowers on it. “Less suit was more comfortable.”
Konner licked his lips and released her hand, “I’m sure it would be.” He cleared his throat and motioned to the door. “I’ll wait here while you get changed.” He put his hands in his pockets, a somber expression on his face. “You may not be steady on your feet after the energy you just burned.”
Terah looked down to see her feet had changed back, “My feet feel fine.”
His mouth twitched, “I’ll still wait and walk back with you.”
“Okay. I will go put my clothes back on.”
He nodded and then turned to look at the pool.