Taken By The Shark

“Hmm, we need to find a gifted name for you,” he replied. “What about Aphrodite?”

“I think that name’s already taken,” Chelsea replied. “I’ll keep mine, if it’s all the same to you. Who knows, maybe I’ll be my own legend someday.”

“Legend of the quaking sea,” Mark intoned in an announcer-style voice. Then he mounted her and did his level best to make that legend become a reality.

“Yes!” Chelsea gasped hotly into his mouth. “Yes, just like that!”

They may not have made the station fall off its foundation, but they definitely managed to fall off the bed and onto the floor, giggling all the way.

*****

A couple of weeks had passed since the team arrived, and for Chelsea the time she spent with Sirenia was probably much more significant than the time in the observation lounge at the top of the station, where she tended to sit and document which sea creatures passed by. She had seen a few unexpected creatures here and there, but for the most part there were few surprises to record.

The best time she ever had up there was when Mark had joined her, but that was because it was such an amazing view while lying on her back and looking over his shoulder. Of course, since she was in such a heightened state of awareness at the time that probably had made it even better.

But her lessons with Sirenia were very intense and highly informative. She was now able to transform herself into a tiger or a mouse, or a few other air-breathing mammals. She couldn’t become a non-mammal just yet, but her tutor insisted it was all in her mind and she needed to stop thinking like a biologist and just do it.

Chelsea was alone at the moment, but the thought of becoming something like a reptile or a bird weighed heavily in her mind. She’d only recently convinced herself that size was not an issue when she’d become a mouse. Now that the size barrier was breached she couldn’t seem to wait for the next lesson before trying something else.

The next thing she knew, she was a thrush, flying around her room. Mark must have heard the sound because he stepped through the joining door soon afterwards. She returned to her own form and smiled excitedly at him.

“Chelsea, you shouldn’t do that sort of thing on your own yet,” he admonished her. “What would you have done if you’d gotten stuck in the other form and it was someone else who found you like that? Only transform with either Sirenia or myself until you are completely sure of your skills, okay?”

“Sure,” she sighed. “I was just so excited once I’d figured out how to become a mouse. It won’t happen again.”

“Good,” he said. “Now come along, my dear, you’re about to embark on a totally different adventure right now.”

“Really?” she asked. “What are we doing then?”

“Our first official outdoor walk,” he explained. “Most of the team is already assembled, but I guess I forgot to let you know as well.”

“Well, how nice is that?” she grumbled.

“Sorry, my dear, it won’t happen again,” he replied, mimicking her.

“Meanie!” she said, hitting his arm. “Come on then, let’s go.”

“Fine, let’s go then,” Mark laughed.