Post by Solana on Aug 22, 2019 15:40:01 GMT -5
Solana pulled herself out of the Shrine's training pool with a satisfied smile. For those who could handle it, they had added a training pool to sharpen combat skills underwater. It was deep enough to satisfy an Atlantean and two mermaids, and tricky at times even for a Water Guardian.
To make things more interesting, Solana had begun trying it with her beloved mermaid tail on. The first few times had been... instructive, in that swimming in a tail versus her Atlantean form was quite different. But once the bruises had faded, it was fun, and a good excuse to spend more time in her favorite element.
As Solana (reluctantly) removed the tail, she noticed a yummy smell in the air. Curious, she walked over to a counter and spotted a plate with a single fish cookie on it, a note, and a basket.
What on Merna?
Solana picked up the note first and read it quickly:
"A wonderful birthday treat awaits
A Guardian who protects her seas endlessly.
Follow the delicious arrows
to the real treasure of the sea."
Solana smiled, recognizing the cookie as an arrowtooth fish. Was this one of Ambrienne's delicious cookies?
She bit into it and almost moaned in delight as wave after wave of flavor cascaded over her tongue.
It was!
And there were more cookies! Solana scooped up the basket and began following the cookies, adding each one as she went.
The trail eventually led to the dining room, where the other Shriners waited to yell, "Happy Birthday!" Aryn and Eziban stood next to the table, beaming in pride as Solana saw her cake.
Aryn had obviously filched her new copy of "The Mermaid's Cookbook", as she recognized the wave and mermaid's purse layers of the cake. Waves on top, a blue mirror layer below, and a coral reef layers on the bottom. Homemade rock candy formed the seabed, along with brown sugar sand.
Then she noticed the figures on the cake, figuring out that each Shriner had crafted one. A mermaid mother and daughter for Reika and Maria. A tiny pirate for Caesar. A two-tusked narwhal for Roas. An archerfish for Techno. A three-eyed Blinky for Rune.
The one that made her laugh was a sculpted Aquaman on the very top- obviously DarkKnight's work.
"How am I going to eat this? It's too pretty!" she protested.
"We took pictures," Caesar assured her.
"This is the rest of it," Kalia added, handing her an envelope. Inside was a receipt for a donation made for ocean cleanup efforts, signed by everyone.
Solana's eyes watered in joy, and she took the time to hug every one of her pod-mates, her friends, her family.
Best. Present. Ever.
Kind of a nice, low key day today. Since I went to DC for visiting last weekend, (including Baltimore Aquarium!) I worked today and we're going to have a nice quiet evening. Our family celebration will be later, because so many of us have August birthdays. I do enjoy donations to wonderful charities as presents, to give and receive.
To make things more interesting, Solana had begun trying it with her beloved mermaid tail on. The first few times had been... instructive, in that swimming in a tail versus her Atlantean form was quite different. But once the bruises had faded, it was fun, and a good excuse to spend more time in her favorite element.
As Solana (reluctantly) removed the tail, she noticed a yummy smell in the air. Curious, she walked over to a counter and spotted a plate with a single fish cookie on it, a note, and a basket.
What on Merna?
Solana picked up the note first and read it quickly:
"A wonderful birthday treat awaits
A Guardian who protects her seas endlessly.
Follow the delicious arrows
to the real treasure of the sea."
Solana smiled, recognizing the cookie as an arrowtooth fish. Was this one of Ambrienne's delicious cookies?
She bit into it and almost moaned in delight as wave after wave of flavor cascaded over her tongue.
It was!
And there were more cookies! Solana scooped up the basket and began following the cookies, adding each one as she went.
The trail eventually led to the dining room, where the other Shriners waited to yell, "Happy Birthday!" Aryn and Eziban stood next to the table, beaming in pride as Solana saw her cake.
Aryn had obviously filched her new copy of "The Mermaid's Cookbook", as she recognized the wave and mermaid's purse layers of the cake. Waves on top, a blue mirror layer below, and a coral reef layers on the bottom. Homemade rock candy formed the seabed, along with brown sugar sand.
Then she noticed the figures on the cake, figuring out that each Shriner had crafted one. A mermaid mother and daughter for Reika and Maria. A tiny pirate for Caesar. A two-tusked narwhal for Roas. An archerfish for Techno. A three-eyed Blinky for Rune.
The one that made her laugh was a sculpted Aquaman on the very top- obviously DarkKnight's work.
"How am I going to eat this? It's too pretty!" she protested.
"We took pictures," Caesar assured her.
"This is the rest of it," Kalia added, handing her an envelope. Inside was a receipt for a donation made for ocean cleanup efforts, signed by everyone.
Solana's eyes watered in joy, and she took the time to hug every one of her pod-mates, her friends, her family.
Best. Present. Ever.
Kind of a nice, low key day today. Since I went to DC for visiting last weekend, (including Baltimore Aquarium!) I worked today and we're going to have a nice quiet evening. Our family celebration will be later, because so many of us have August birthdays. I do enjoy donations to wonderful charities as presents, to give and receive.
I'm glad it was low key. I generally do that on my own birthday and do the family get-together later on another day. Less stressful that way.