We've got legends to write.

Across the lake, horns appeared on the surface, followed by the top of the Praepes’s head, stopping just below his eyes. Said eyes widened as they realised who it was. Quickly Ater swam over and pulled himself up onto the bank. “Welcome back.” He grinned.

Alexis jumped back at first. It looked like something from a horror movie. For a moment he though gut Ater was planning on attacking him. When he saw Ater’s smile, Alexis realized his mistake. “Sorry, you surprised me.”

The creature looked hurt, as he slunk backwards into the water and partially submerged himself. “You thought I would hurt you?”

“No! I just was surprised. The way you came up it reminded me of some old movies. I’m sorry. I know you would never hurt me.”

“Movies? Ah… never mind. So. What’s that?” Ater nodded to the item Alexis was carrying, tail back to wagging happily.

“Just a few books so I could at least try to teach you how to read. Er- if you don’t already know. It’s not that hard really, well I think I was really young when I learned to read and I don’t really remember it that well but- never mind.”

Across the lake, horns appeared on the surface, followed by the top of the Praepes’s head, stopping just below his eyes. Said eyes widened as they realised who it was. Quickly Ater swam over and pulled himself up onto the bank. “Welcome back.” He grinned.

Alexis jumped back at first. It looked like something from a horror movie. For a moment he though gut Ater was planning on attacking him. When he saw Ater’s smile, Alexis realized his mistake. “Sorry, you surprised me.”

The creature looked hurt, as he slunk backwards into the water and partially submerged himself. “You thought I would hurt you?”

“No! I just was surprised. The way you came up it reminded me of some old movies. I’m sorry. I know you would never hurt me.”

Across the lake, horns appeared on the surface, followed by the top of the Praepes’s head, stopping just below his eyes. Said eyes widened as they realised who it was. Quickly Ater swam over and pulled himself up onto the bank. “Welcome back.” He grinned.

Alexis jumped back at first. It looked like something from a horror movie. For a moment he though gut Ater was planning on attacking him. When he saw Ater’s smile, Alexis realized his mistake. “Sorry, you surprised me.”

“You know if I were drunk I would call those kinds of people wussies. But yeah, turns out when people get afraid that they spread rumors to others. Then rumors turn into dangerous false realities. I wouldn’t be surprised if an entire village saw me and my party passing through, then immediately putting a bounty on us because they were afraid we would eat them all.”

“How much was the bounty? You could’ve turned yourself in and just escaped. As long as you find someone who understands you, or at least has doubious morals, to help you out it’s an easy way to make some money. I’ve done that before a few times.”

“Well yeah, of course. You don’t get stories of people sitting around with a thumb up their bum. Not unless it’s part of a joke of some sort. Guess I should’ve stayed with that one creep anyway, I don’t think I’m doing my friends any good just travelling around and sight seeing anyway.”

“Travel is always a good thing. The more you see the more you notice. While now it might not change much, when you return to your friends you’ll be a different person. In my experience, travel often helps people understand one another better.”

“It’s just that when you’re travelling around living off money from one job to the next for food and water, it doesn’t do any good for the people having to do that, that’s what I think. I have new perspectives, but still a lot of contempt for humans.”

“Change is often gradual, especially when it comes to ones views on others, and most the time you need to meet just the right person to have a complete turn around on strong opinions. Though I can’t speak for certain, I bet one day you’ll find someone who changes a lot for you.”

“Man you really like speaking philosophically don’t you? I mean I might, but who’s to say I won’t die before then, or that I’ll even find them in the first place. Not that my hands are clean either, but I can’t really view almost all humans are kind people after they readily call for blood on something peaceful.

“Only one person has to be afraid in order to make a mob. And only one whisper to birth fear. I would avoid making judgments on people when they act out of fear, at least when you can help it.”

“Oh uh…” Alexis wasn’t sure what to do with the fish. He could probably cook it back home but just carrying a fish. He’d also need to figure out to clean it. But Alexis couldn’t be rude and refuse the gift. Especially when Ater has been so kind. He took the fish. “Thank you. I wish I had something for you. I’ll try to bring something tomorrow, in addition to the the books.”

“What no! That’s to repay you! You don’t need to pay me for the fish.” He sighed and sunk under water, in a bit of a huff, for a moment. “Just the books? Please.”

“You didn’t- fine. I’ll bring the books tomorrow. Until then.” As he was leaving he considered what to do with the fish. If he dropped it far enough from water something would eat it and Ater would never know. But he felt bad just wasting it. I’m the end he took it home and put it in the refrigerator while he figured out what to do with it. But before then, he’d need to figure out what books to bring Ater tomorrow.

Under the water his long, scaled tail wagged like a dog, excited for what tomorrow would bring. Stories! Human stories! But it was yet another thing he needed to repay the bright haired human for. Damn…“ Once Alexis was out if sight he sunk to the bottom to sleep.

The next day was slow at the shop, which was good for Alexis. He spent most the time picking out books for Ater. He wasn’t sure what level Ater would read at or how quickly he’d catch on so Alexis decided on a variety from picture books to novels. Again, he left early to meet up with Ater.

Ater didn’t come to the surface when Alexis showed up, either still asleep or doing something in the depths of the lake.

Alexis wasn’t quite sure what to do. He set down his books and waited a moment. He stick his hand in the water, hoping that maybe Ater would notice. He took it out quickly realized how stupid it was.

“Oh uh…” Alexis wasn’t sure what to do with the fish. He could probably cook it back home but just carrying a fish. He’d also need to figure out to clean it. But Alexis couldn’t be rude and refuse the gift. Especially when Ater has been so kind. He took the fish. “Thank you. I wish I had something for you. I’ll try to bring something tomorrow, in addition to the the books.”

“What no! That’s to repay you! You don’t need to pay me for the fish.” He sighed and sunk under water, in a bit of a huff, for a moment. “Just the books? Please.”

“You didn’t- fine. I’ll bring the books tomorrow. Until then.” As he was leaving he considered what to do with the fish. If he dropped it far enough from water something would eat it and Ater would never know. But he felt bad just wasting it. I’m the end he took it home and put it in the refrigerator while he figured out what to do with it. But before then, he’d need to figure out what books to bring Ater tomorrow.

Under the water his long, scaled tail wagged like a dog, excited for what tomorrow would bring. Stories! Human stories! But it was yet another thing he needed to repay the bright haired human for. Damn…“ Once Alexis was out if sight he sunk to the bottom to sleep.

The next day was slow at the shop, which was good for Alexis. He spent most the time picking out books for Ater. He wasn’t sure what level Ater would read at or how quickly he’d catch on so Alexis decided on a variety from picture books to novels. Again, he left early to meet up with Ater.

“Well yeah, of course. You don’t get stories of people sitting around with a thumb up their bum. Not unless it’s part of a joke of some sort. Guess I should’ve stayed with that one creep anyway, I don’t think I’m doing my friends any good just travelling around and sight seeing anyway.”

“Travel is always a good thing. The more you see the more you notice. While now it might not change much, when you return to your friends you’ll be a different person. In my experience, travel often helps people understand one another better.”

“It’s just that when you’re travelling around living off money from one job to the next for food and water, it doesn’t do any good for the people having to do that, that’s what I think. I have new perspectives, but still a lot of contempt for humans.”

“Change is often gradual, especially when it comes to ones views on others, and most the time you need to meet just the right person to have a complete turn around on strong opinions. Though I can’t speak for certain, I bet one day you’ll find someone who changes a lot for you.”

“Oh uh…” Alexis wasn’t sure what to do with the fish. He could probably cook it back home but just carrying a fish. He’d also need to figure out to clean it. But Alexis couldn’t be rude and refuse the gift. Especially when Ater has been so kind. He took the fish. “Thank you. I wish I had something for you. I’ll try to bring something tomorrow, in addition to the the books.”

“What no! That’s to repay you! You don’t need to pay me for the fish.” He sighed and sunk under water, in a bit of a huff, for a moment. “Just the books? Please.”

“You didn’t- fine. I’ll bring the books tomorrow. Until then.” As he was leaving he considered what to do with the fish. If he dropped it far enough from water something would eat it and Ater would never know. But he felt bad just wasting it. I’m the end he took it home and put it in the refrigerator while he figured out what to do with it. But before then, he’d need to figure out what books to bring Ater tomorrow.

“Oh uh...” Alexis wasn’t sure what to do with the fish. He could probably cook it back home but just carrying a fish. He’d also need to figure out to clean it. But Alexis couldn’t be rude and refuse the gift. Especially when Ater has been so kind. He took the fish. “Thank you. I wish I had something for you. I’ll try to bring something tomorrow, in addition to the the books.”

“Well yeah, of course. You don’t get stories of people sitting around with a thumb up their bum. Not unless it’s part of a joke of some sort. Guess I should’ve stayed with that one creep anyway, I don’t think I’m doing my friends any good just travelling around and sight seeing anyway.”

“Travel is always a good thing. The more you see the more you notice. While now it might not change much, when you return to your friends you’ll be a different person. In my experience, travel often helps people understand one another better.”

“No, I’ve made my peace with it. It was a long time ago, I just didn’t want to make you feel bad or anything. I, er never mind. I bet it’s interesting down there, part of me has always wanted to live underwater.”

“You want to live underwater? Funny that… I want to live on land… do you know… if you have a spare pool laying around…” He chuckled. See if you dud I could help out in your shop. Tell people where books are and things. And we could talk. That would be nice"

“That would be great, but we don’t really have much space. Even if we got a pool I don’t know where we would be able to put it. It would be great to have you nearby.”

“Just a padding pool? Deep enough for me to breathe in occasionally.” Ater chuckled to himself. “If only. I suppose we will settle for here. I don’t want to risk streams again.”

“This’ll be fine. Might not be the easiest place, but it’s plenty safe. This, uh, this sounds kinda weird considering how shortly we’ve known each other but i enjoying being around you.”

Smiling Ater dipped his head. “I enjoy your company a great deal as well. I just hope what you said about ke err ping this to yourself is true… other than that I’m enjoying taking to somone new for once.” Feeling a spot of rain Ater looked towards the sky. “Ah… lovely… perhaps you should leave?”

“Oh, Yeah. Do you want to meet here around the same time tomorrow? I’ll bring some books and such.” Started walking away. “Oh, and I assure you no one will ever hear about this. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“No, I’ve made my peace with it. It was a long time ago, I just didn’t want to make you feel bad or anything. I, er never mind. I bet it’s interesting down there, part of me has always wanted to live underwater.”

“You want to live underwater? Funny that… I want to live on land… do you know… if you have a spare pool laying around…” He chuckled. See if you dud I could help out in your shop. Tell people where books are and things. And we could talk. That would be nice"

“That would be great, but we don’t really have much space. Even if we got a pool I don’t know where we would be able to put it. It would be great to have you nearby.”

“Just a padding pool? Deep enough for me to breathe in occasionally.” Ater chuckled to himself. “If only. I suppose we will settle for here. I don’t want to risk streams again.”

“This’ll be fine. Might not be the easiest place, but it’s plenty safe. This, uh, this sounds kinda weird considering how shortly we’ve known each other but i enjoying being around you.”

“No, I’ve made my peace with it. It was a long time ago, I just didn’t want to make you feel bad or anything. I, er never mind. I bet it’s interesting down there, part of me has always wanted to live underwater.”

“You want to live underwater? Funny that… I want to live on land… do you know… if you have a spare pool laying around…” He chuckled. See if you dud I could help out in your shop. Tell people where books are and things. And we could talk. That would be nice"

“That would be great, but we don’t really have much space. Even if we got a pool I don’t know where we would be able to put it. It would be great to have you nearby.”

“No, I’ve made my peace with it. It was a long time ago, I just didn’t want to make you feel bad or anything. I, er never mind. I bet it’s interesting down there, part of me has always wanted to live underwater.”

“I could do that for you some time. I also might be able to teach you to read better. You probably couldn’t go under with them but once you learn you could read for yourself.”

“If you would do that for me that would be fantastic. Thank you Alexis. I’d really like that. Please.”

“Next time we see each other I’ll bring a few books for you. If you don’t mind I have a few questions for you. I’ve never seen a uh a praepes before, or even heard of one to be honest. Are you guys rare or just really good at hiding?”

“Bit of both. Not so many of us here but in the right conditions we are very good at hiding. The last thing we ever want is for a human to see us.”

“Yeah, i doubt most people would be friendly to you guys. Don’t worry though, I won’t tell anyone, even if I had someone to tell. Do you live with others if your kind? What’s it like down there?”

“I lived with a relative of mine but recently they passed away so… I decided to explore. And it’s nice. We have a nice cave full of bits and bobs and decorated nicely. See they studied humans and taught me how to speak your language.

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. I, uh, I’m sorry I’m not good with this stuff. I’m not sure if this really helps you feel better, but I lost my father when I was young so I kinda know what it’s like. Er, you probably don’t want to talk about it, I’m sorry.”

“I could do that for you some time. I also might be able to teach you to read better. You probably couldn’t go under with them but once you learn you could read for yourself.”

“If you would do that for me that would be fantastic. Thank you Alexis. I’d really like that. Please.”

“Next time we see each other I’ll bring a few books for you. If you don’t mind I have a few questions for you. I’ve never seen a uh a praepes before, or even heard of one to be honest. Are you guys rare or just really good at hiding?”

“Bit of both. Not so many of us here but in the right conditions we are very good at hiding. The last thing we ever want is for a human to see us.”

“Yeah, i doubt most people would be friendly to you guys. Don’t worry though, I won’t tell anyone, even if I had someone to tell. Do you live with others if your kind? What’s it like down there?”