Koleyn woke to a sound like rapids. He looked over to Oriel, knowing that the blue one would have something to do with it. Oriel was satting near the fire, hunched over with its arms around its knees, and crying.

It took the elf only a moment to move to the sea creature's side. He hadn't known that Oriel was able to cry - as a creature of the deep it didn't seem likely, but it ws happening.

Wordlessly, Oriel held out an arm. Koleyn was at a loss to what was distressing the other. Oriel's arm looked the same as it had the previous day. Sensing his confusion, Oriel forced itself to speak. "Touch it."

"It's skin," Koleyn said after a moment, confusion not lessened.

"It's DRY!" came the shrill response.

On closer inspection, Koleyn found that this was true, the skin feeling like thin paper and in need of moisture. He wondered briefly why this was only just becoming an issue. Sense would think that this would have happened before, but the extended time in the cold, and the close contact with the fire... between the two Oriel must have been sapped.

While Oriel continued crying, Koleyn pitched a blenket over the fire, staking it into the ground as tight as he could. It was rough, but it held in enough heat and after the cold they'd been through both soon started sweating lightly.

"What are you doing?" Oriel asked, voice soft once more.

"It's sort of a sweathouse, only not good," the elf answered.

"This will all go away," Oriel answered, running its fingers over its arms to feel the moisture on them. "You waste our time." Without another word, it stood and pushed the blanket away, letting the cold stream in again.
 

"How do you stand it?" The question was so soft that Koleyn almost didn't hear it. "How can you stand feeling yourself disolve like that?"

"Most would ask you the same," the elf replied.

Oriel seemed not to hear. "To lose so much touch and become rough and hard.... No wonder they all envied me."

Koleyn sighed, wondering how often he put up with the lack of response from the sea creature, and wondering why he did. He helped it over another snowbank, noting that it was much smaller than the ones they'd blundered through the previous day. Within two or three days, they'd be at the sea.

"Do you envy me too?" The soft tone brought him out of his reverie. "Then why do you help me?"

"Tell me your name," Koleyn countered, feeling the ceremony of the questions although they'd only been asked a few times. His reasoning was his own and Oriel's true name was it's own and no matter how often they asked, neither could tell the other.

Oriel smiled acknowledgement. "You are strange, my gentle one. But at least I know my name, even if it is taken from me by your sky."

It lapsed into silence again, seeming to be contemplating life without moisture. Would it be able to return home if it got too dry? Surely it would. But perhaps not. And what was its meaning? He knew why he was helping it. Just because he didn't say it didn't mean it was unknown. Right?

Koleyn scowled. Oriel made everything seem complicated. When it was gone.... When it was gone, there would be nothing left.

Putting that out of his mind, Koleyn concentrated on thoughts of the sea. Next to him, Oriel smiled.