Day At The Beach


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4 years, 11 months ago
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Summer is the time to swim, obviously. Or the time to hide from the all too bright sunlight. Many times during summer, I spend my time in my burrow near my log which always makes sure it’s cool and away from the sun. Or, I spend my time st the lake. However, today it was too crowded as it always is during the summer. I didn’t want to spend time forced to interact with other Esks. And so, I willed a special dome to appear.


The Conservatory. A special dome that takes the form of an esk’s pure imagination. Most of the time, I fall into a dome willed by another esk’s creative imagination rather than my own. It’s always interesting to see what other Esks interpret the dome to be like. Nonetheless, the conservatory appears when it wants to, unfortunately. It appears suddenly to us Esks, ensuring that no wandering human or poor unsuspecting rodent to be magically whisked away to a land of imagination. 


As a result, I was forced to wander aimlessly until I found the greenhouse like glass that indicated that I was at the conservatory. Most of the time, I find the conservatory in the middle of trees, hidden by thick bushes and shrubs. I wasn’t sure where I’d find it this time though. I crawled out of my burrow. For sure it wasn’t going to appear in a small hole such as that. I shook my fur until I was no longer drowsy. 


I took my first few steps outside my burrow towards the lake before remembering how crowded it was. I guess I wasn’t going there. I stayed near the edges of the forest that were still considered the mountain biome. My paws had a mind of their own. They seemed to want to go towards a cave I found not long ago. This cave had nothing special to it other than an underground lake. 


The walls were barren with the same rock that the mountain was made of. The rocks were grey with a hint of brown as if dirt had clung onto the walls but only the thinnest of layers. The cave was easily overlooked as large boulders blocked the entrance and it required some squeezing into just to get access into the cave. 


The ground outside the cave was usually scalding hot since the sun was always shining on it. You could probably bake or grill some food just by settling the meat or just about anything on the ground there. Even though I can’t get hurt from these things, I can still feel them and they hurt. The inside where the shade always remained was much more merciful. The air in there had a clear crisp coolness to it. However, this time, when I pushed through the boulders, I wasn’t greeted by the same cool walls. Rather, a sudden light blinded me. I was unable to see for a few brief moments that felt longer than they were. When I finally readjusted my eyes, what beheld me was well, unexpected.


It was clear where I was - the conservatory. However, it was hard to tell since this dome was so large in diameter that just finding out where the dome began and ended was difficult. I stared straight up. The faint glare of the greenhouse like glass reflected back and forced me to turn away. Whoever conjured up this place was well, not short on imagination. It seemed as if not even the dome was enough to contain such thoughts.


I was standing on the side of a mountain with a small ledge to most but a more than enough ledge for me and someone my size. I looked back from where I came from. It was impossible to see what was on the other side since shadows and the lack of light (even though I could have sworn that it was only a few footsteps away) ensured that I couldn’t see what was on the other side. Nevertheless, based on past experience, I knew that this was where I would have to leave if I wanted to go back home to the mountains. 


I look down from my cliff like place to gaze upon what was ahead. A sunny beach greeted me back. From me to the beachside, there was a large stretch of land primarily composed of large palm trees and smaller shrubs. I knew that the land would be even bigger once I actually got down from where I was though. I took another deep breath and forced my paws to allow me to go down. It wasn’t like anything interesting was going to happen up here anyway.


As I continue down my relatively easy path, cool breezes carrying the sea’s smell pressed against me. The sudden coolness was unexpected but all too appreciated since the sun had been baking me alive. I couldn’t wait to get to the cool waters. One of the joys of being an esk was that salt water didn’t bother me anymore since well, I really couldn’t taste the saltiness. My descent had finally reach its climax, or well, anticlimax since I had finally reached the bottom of the side of the mountain. 


I was faced with more bushes and trees. I broadcasted a large, annoyed sigh in every direction. My least favorite part about being small was the fact that everything took twice if not thrice as much effort than before. A walk that would’ve taken say.. Ten steps when I was a cat now took twenty or sometimes even twenty five. At the end, my legs would be worn out. However, I refused to let my negative thoughts hold me back (for once). Determination surged through me. The beach was calling me and I would for sure not let anything, especially a few measly bushes get in my way.


Turns out, there were more than just a few measly bushes. 


I trudged through the seemingly dense forest (although to most esks and creatures, it was only low covering shrubs). Many times, my foot was caught in the roots of the bushes, or I just tripped over air. It was quite troublesome to say the least. Most of the time was just me internally screaming (and silently apologizing to all the esks who heard my screams) in frustration at how time consuming it was to just get past this stretch of land. I frowned at the thought that I had no idea how long it would take to just navigate through the vegetation. 


More agitated thoughts bubbled in my head as I pushed my way through yet another bush. I opened my eyes and was met with a magnificent ocean. The ocean shimmered from a vibrant blue to sea green then to a blinding white due to the water reflecting the sun’s rays before shifting back to the same blue I saw before. Esks of all shapes, colors, and kinds were projecting their laughter. Just hearing this would’ve made any esk want to join in and laugh along. However, I knew I didn’t belong. Social gatherings just weren’t my thing.


I turned around to head back, maybe there was a quieter, less crowded beach elsewhere. However, I didn’t get far before I heard a voice calling me back.


“Hey! Where’re you going! Party’s just started!”


I turn back around and was faced with.. More white? Wait no, that’s fur. Oh. This was a big esk. I looked up. Nope, even further up. Dang this esk was huge! By the time I finally met eye contact with the esk, my neck was craned so far back that it was beginning to grow numb. The esk’s eyes beamed with delight at the prospect of seeing another possible creature to join the summer beach party.


“Hurry up! Water’s awesome! C’mon!” The esk hurriedly urged me. He seemed abnormally peppy for someone of his size. I was more concerned of the fact that he’d be having too much fun and then accidentally step on me like a little bug. The esk blinked, “Oh right, I’m Makoa! This is my conservatory though, whatever that means. I thought it up and whoop! Here we are! Are you gonna get in the water anytime soon?”


I nodded, deciding that it was better to just obey this esk than to argue, get nowhere, and then go into the water. The other esk seemed to smile happily. It ran back to the shore line, creating mini earthquakes along the way and forcing esks around it to part way or else they’d be trampled. Makoa yelled and whooped before jumping into the royal blue ocean, creating a mini tsunami that swept the nearby esks back to shore. The esks caught in the tsunami like wave laughed and giggled as they were pushed back to the sandy beach, cheering for Makoa before diving right back in. 


From my vantage point, I was finally able to tell that Makoa was primarily a black and white esk, quite literally. His large front feet were white like the foam that was created when waves brushed against the sand. Dark blue, almost black, covered the top half of his back and head and as well as his tail tip. The marking was that similar to whales that I had heard of from others. On top of his forehead was a little horn like structure that was actually his nature feature. Salt crystals that looked like condensed and hardened white sand baked in the sun decorated his body. A stripe of white covered his face where his eyes were, it looked sort of like a blindfold really. He looked like an esk with a killer whale’s markings and a narwhal's horn and the nature of a newly transformed esk. All the esks around him seemed to be radiating the same intense enthusiasm.


I was padding to the edge of the beach when a brightly green colored esk and two other esks came my way. My first instinct was to avoid them, but then I thought against it. I was already here, so I might as well get to know some new esks.


The brightly green one noticed me first and gave me a bright, “Hello! I’m Nerou!” I observed this esk for a brief moment, careful not to make it seem like I was staring. The esk wasn’t completely green and it was clear that this esk was a male based on the way their voice was. It wasn’t a strange low voice, but rather, a normal sounding one but he just gave off the impression that he was a male. His entire body was comprised of various shades of green. A light green, a minty one, was the color of his upper back and head which slowly faded into a darker leafy green. His tail tips slowly faded to another pine green which was almost mistakable for black. Small spider like legs were what supported him and I couldn’t help but wonder how an esk could make use of such legs. Bright pink water flowers (which I soon came to learn were called water shields) decorated his back, forehead and throat. Each place only had a flower and they all varied in size, the one on his back being the largest. The flowers were almost a bright magenta with little spindle like structures in the center shaped like little red claws. I had finally also noticed the same flower petals emerging from where his tail began, similar to a crown of petals protruding outwards. Small clouds lingered near his body as if he was going to be covered in fog. However, these clouds were the kinds you saw when dawn broke through, light and fluffy.


He continued, “These are some of the esks I met here! This is Coco and Song! I’ve never seen you here before, you must be know! We’d be happy to show you around and —” okay, tone it down with the words please I can’t handle them all — “hang out and do all sorts of fun things together.” He finally paused for a breather.


I instantly seized this moment to relieve him of talking. “Yeah! That sounds great. I’m Seizon by the way. I’ve actually always wanted to visit beaches but never could. I guess this is as good as it gets huh.” Nerou nodded happily. Song, a relatively dark esk, stepped forwards in front of the other two. She peered at me curiously as if she wasn’t used to seeing esks of my size and color where she lived.


Well, that was probably true. Based on my past experiences, Song was an esk with a marine morph. A morph that made their body abnormally well.. Flat. They looked similar to furry stingrays. However, Song was different than the majority of the marine esks I had met before, even if they had the same morph. The bottom of her fur that was closest to the ground was the color of a dimly lit seafloor. It was like a muted blueish greenish grey. Her back and everything facing the sky was practically black with a few hints of blue here and there. Bright blue spots littered her fur like glowing blue pearls carefully down between her delicate fur. She reminded me of the glowworms I had once found in an underground lake. Some spots seem to glow more than others so that it wasn’t all uniform. I liked it. Her false ears were curved and the tips were dyed black, the same black as her fur. Even more interestingly, she had multiple nature features. Well, they looked like nature features, however, I soon realized that the sponge on her back was actually a familiar rather than a nature feature. I hadn’t expected this since most familiars move and are very proactive. Her nature features were a variety of stones and pebbles. One of them was arranged so that it looked like a necklace found in an underwater ruin. She tilted her head towards me and inquired, “So, what brings you here? Esks usually don’t just stumble here for no reason. They’re usually looking for some fun or a party.”


I replied, “Well, I actually came here to get away from the esks at a lake back at home. Looks like that didn’t work so well, huh.” I quickly added in case I had offended any of them, “Well, not like it was a bad thing or anything. I think I might enjoy it here. Makoa seems awfully happy here so I thought I might join in.”


Song nodded approvingly. “Makoa is very hyperactive.” We took a glance at him, who was making more tidal waves and drowning esks in what he considered “small splashes”. Song giggled a little. “I think I’ll go and hang out with him, I’ll see you soon, Seizon. Maybe we could even explore the ocean later!” With that, Song ran off, inviting Nerou to come and play. I was eventually left with Coco. Although the thought was appreciated, I don’t think I would dare venture out that far into the ocean especially when I wasn’t a strong swimmer. 


I turned my attention back to the esk in front of me. Coco was a very tropical esk. She was the same sandy color as below with a little more hints of brown near her back and more white towards the stomach. Her light and natural coloration gave off the impression that she was a relatively calm esk who prefered observing rather than interacting. Brown coconuts emerged from the sides of her head, chest and where her tail appeared. Behind these coconuts (it was now that I realized her name came from the word coconut) were bright, large green leaves. They provided a good amount of shade for the esk all while continuing the calm aura that the esk gave off. Coco didn’t say much to me. She seemed rather shy and prefered to go play in the waters yet she didn’t know how to tell me so. I internally agreed that I would help this esk out by inviting her with me. Ever since my last interaction at the conservatory, I had grown quite attached to esks that could have the possibility of being a new friend or some other variation.


I nodded at the sea, “Do you want to some with me. I don’t like going alone and well, you seem like you’d like to go there too.”

Coco seemed surprised that I had picked that up, but she quickly tried to cover that up by nodding vigorously. “I love the sea, let’s go. Oh, but be careful of Makoa, he’s nearly drowned half the esks here with his splashes.” I nodded before realizing that it was a small joke.


We walked until we were half way in the water before Nerou and Song called Coco over. She looked at me apologetically before making her way towards them. The three eventually began their own little water fight with Song winning because of her obvious advantage. She used her large yet flat body to maximize the amount of water she splashed on the other two. I watched as Coco was suddenly attacked by a small wave created by Song before being attacked with smaller splashes from Nerou. The three of them laughed and continued their activity.  

I turned over a little too late because I was met with a wave created by none other than Makoa and another esk playing around. The wave pushed me underwater all while forcing me back to shore. I felt like a grain of sand being tossed in the large body of water. Thankfully, I finally regained by balance and made my way back out to sea. The esk that Makoa had been messing around with looked like a whale. It was even bigger than Makoa. It whacked Makoa with its large tail, sending him falling and creating more waves. However, this time I was prepared and rode on the wave rather than under it.


I squinted a little to get a better view. I had a feeling it’d be better if I didn’t go too close to the esks in that vicinity. The whale like esk was massive. A dark sea green color covered the top half of his back and face and all of his tail. The color shimmered in the sunlight due to the water trapped between the fur. White was the bottom of the esk. The same white dappled onto the esk’s face a little like sponges growing on the seafloor. I had almost overlooked a small detail near the whale like esk’s face. A yellow marking, similar to eyeliner, bordered the esk’s eyes giving them a seemingly glowing nature. With every twist and turn, the esk shimmered from dark green, to black, and then to a light pink which was completely unexpected. Bright pink nature features grew all over the esk’s back. From my spot (which was constantly moving due to the shifting waters), I wasn’t able to tell what they were, but they looked like little pink sponges. Even stranger, the esk seemed to “talk” but not at the same time. The esk made loud whale like moaning noises. It seemed as if no one but Makoa could understand them.


I decided that I had spent enough time observing the esk and that I should take advantage of my short time here to enjoy the warm waters. I dived down, using my paw like feet to propel myself forwards. I found myself enjoying myself until I felt myself step into, well onto, something. Or someone. I hopped off the stump like feeling below me and observed what it was. The water all of a sudden seemed to move. Water can’t do that can it? Or were the waters here different? The water moved until it broke the surface, well I guess that’s not possible since water was the surface. It took me a moment to realize that it wasn’t water but rather, an esk looking at me. The esk was the same color as the water, hence my completely valid and reasonable misconception. Bright yellow like fireflies dappled the esk in mainly the main portion of the body. The esk had seaweed emerging from its mouth which gave the false interpretations of whiskers or even a mustache. A golden yellow tail flicked from under the water. At first, I had also thought it was seaweed, but it was just fur although strands of the same yellow seaweed could be seen in between the fur. Branches grew from the esk’s head as if they were horns. In general, this esk’s looks gave it a sense a wisdom that could only be gained from age. I immediately felt guilty.


“Sorry,” I spluttered. “I didn’t see you there.. You blended in too well. I’m Seizon, and you?” I continued to move my paws to stay afloat. However, the other esk didn’t seem to have this trouble. It was big enough to reach the floor with ease. The esk gave a small sigh as if it didn’t want to talk unless it had to. “Lumos.” He flicked one of his paws, showing the spurs that were on the back of his paws. “It’s fine. It happens a lot. Just.. make sure it doesn't happen again okay? I usually spend time down there relaxing or saving drowning esks who stray too far.”


A long moment of awkward silence passed between us. Makoa and his friends could still be heard loudly laughing though. I forced out the words, “well, er. I’m sure there’s lots of saving to get to. I’ll.. see you later?” I quickly swam away. What a strange esk, I couldn’t help but wonder. Then again, I doubted that I seemed open to conversation, I seriously needed to work on that. 


I continued on my way. Eventually, I had swam too far out to the point that Makoa and well, everyone, was back at the shoreline while I was in the middle of the water. I really should get back. I hurriedly swam back to shore. It would obviously be less than preferred if I drowned out here. Would Lumos save me or something? However, it was difficult to swim back since Makoa and his large friends continued to create waves that made the journey more difficult than it should’ve been.


I eventually messed up one of my paw strokes which led me into a tumble and eventually losing my balance. I felt myself getting crushed by the large waves formed by the group. Everytime I resurfaced, I felt myself go under again, but this time a little deeper into the depths. Is this really how it ends? Pathetic. The light from the sun grows weaker as I get down deeper.


Suddenly, I feel another creature (or multiple creatures?) suddenly dragging me back up to the surface. It’s impossible to see what they look like due to the light being in my eye and shining on them so that all I can see is a silhouette. It’s strange how even though I don’t have a mouth, I’m still perfectly capable of drowning. Had no one come to save me, would I just be wandering the sea floor… forever? The thought gave me shudders.


We finally broke the surface of the water. Never have I been so glad to breath in the fresh air again. I turned to than my savior. It was to be expected that my savior be an esk since we were in a place that only Esks can enter.


“T-thank you,” I stuttered. The esk in front of me was a beautiful black and sandy yellow one. The black was primarily along the back of the esk and face as weak as the front of their feet. There was no gradient or slow change between the two colors. Everything else that wasn’t black was the sandy yellow with a faint hint of green. The esk also had a single lone spot along its forehead and where its eyes were. Many of the Esks that lived in the ocean here seemed to look like whales. Even though the esk looked normal, that was, until you saw its tail. It’s tail was abnormally short, shorter than most esk’s tails. However, tidal waves surrounded the short, stubby tail making it seem more elegant and longer. It was clear this esk was designed for the sea with its ever changing wave elemental propelling it further and faster than any non elemental esk would ever hope to swim. 


Bright green and blue fish swam inside the esk’s waves. The fish seemed as if they didn’t want to leave the elemental of the esk and swam happily in there. Their movements were graceful, just like my savior’s. This esk’s figure was amazing. Their nature feature were sharp rocks that floated around their neck in a circle. Sometimes they rotated and other times they remained still. It was as if they had a mind of their own and wouldn’t listen to anyone. The esk nodded at me. “You shouldn’t be this far out. Let’s get you back to shore.”


I clung onto the esk’s back which was quite difficult with my paws and the esk’s relatively short fur. The esk used its small tail and waves to push us both forward at an ever accelerating pace. It was odd, but the color of the waves were slightly a few shades greener than the rest of the ocean. Odd, but beautiful. The esk turned to Makoa and the esks around them to scold them gently for not being careful about those around them. “Honestly, it’s like you’re children.”


With that, the esk pushed me onto shore. “Even though they’re like children, they’re pretty amusing to be around. Be careful now, I might not be near you next time.” With that, the esk left to interact with Makoa and his friends. I watched as they whacked Makoa with their water tail. Instead of being upset, Makoa laughed and send a large wave at them. The esk slipped in and out of the water, coming out only to attack Makoa with friendly splashes that seemed all to rough for me.


By now, Makoa had somehow gained more friends to play with. One in particular was a bright red esk with the marine morph. The esk’s entire body was the same shade of red although some of it was lighter due to the sun with the exception of the tail and under the esk. Even though most marine morphed Esks have a common shape, being flat shaped and all of that, this one was slightly different. The esk’s “arms” were fanned out and wing shaped, similar to the wings of a butterfly. Neon blue lights see, to surround and follow the esk like bright butterflies covered in a layer of light. The esk had a light sandy yellow tail with the same blue stripes as the lights around the esk. The stripes weren’t that build however, it was as if they were slightly faded but not at the same time. However, the most notable thing were the esk’s false ears. They were long. They must’ve been at least half the size of the esk themselves. It was as if only a few strands had grown that long to give the impression of ears. 


I could hear the occasional laughter and mentioning of this esk from Makoa’s group. However, all I could pick up was the word “Red” which must’ve been a nickname for the bright red esk. Whenever the esk jumped out of the water like a dolphin but fanned out their body like a manta ray, a little swarm of lobsters followed. At first, I was afraid that the lobsters might try to snap at the esk before realizing that these were the esk’s familiars. It suited the esk, bright red familiars for a red esk. However, out of the three, one was bright blue and stood out like a gem.


Nearby the group was a small rainbow esk with rocks along its neck. It was almost unnoticeable since it didn’t make any attempt to create waves like Makoa and his friends did. It seemed to be surfing the waves that were produced by both nature and the esks. Its rainbow colored back shone against the sun as it used its bright red somewhat webbed feet ensured it stayed above the surface. Brilliant orange and bright blue fish swam with the esk and jumped around out of the waters like small dolphins. The esk seemed content with its own activity, even if no one else was performing it with the esk. The esk raised its bright red and orange face to the sky as if it was enjoying the sun all at the same time. Its small purple tail wagging excitedly as it continued to ride the waves. I was tempted to go back to the sea and join the rainbow esk in playing with the waves rather getting thrown around by them, afterall, it couldn’t be that hard if a small esk such as that was able to? 


However, I had decided that I had enough. After my last incident of being rescued, I didn’t want to jump right back into the water. Perhaps it was best if I went home and took a little break. I was sort of tired anyway. I turned away from the sunny beach where all the esks continued their carefree attitudes and headed back to the mountain I had come from. Right before I entered the tunnel, I could already feel the sun beginning to bake me again. The water on me had already dried in such a short time span. As I walked through the tunnel I found myself thinking of the mountain lake, my home. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to go back to the water, but this time maybe some waters that weren’t as rough.