<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">WHAT?!</span></span> Alannah couldn't hold back a shocked outburst, loud to her ears even though it was muffled by the water. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">How did he know? Does he know? Is he okay?</span></span> She reeled, immediately turned and sped away from the shore as fast as her whipping tail could carry her. She finally stopped after a few hundred meters.  She had held her breath without even realizing it, and took a few deep, shaking gulps of water. What kind of freaky Disney coincidence was this? People talked to animals, sure, but not to fish. What kind of weirdo talked to fish? She ran a hand through her hair, and irritatingly discovered that her wild flight had torn out her hairband. <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #4080FF">Ugh, I'll never be able to brush my hair again,</span></span> she allowed herself to think before returning to much more interesting matters. <br/><br/>It took her forever to decide. She argued back and forth that no, of course he's nuts, but yes, maybe he knew and so what, but no we can't let him see if he <span style="font-style: italic">doesn't</span> know. A few jellyfish bobbed lazily around her like eerie lanterns. Finally, she made up her mind. No harm to get back again. She could keep a certain distance so that he at least couldn't see her face and wouldn't know if it was her. Swimming back towards the beach at a much slower pace than before, she stopped a few hundred meters from the shoreline, took a deep breath to mentally prepare herself, and finally rose above the surface, using her strong tail to stay upright. Her grey-skinned lower body was just visible, but she was sure that Dimitri wouldn't be able to know her face.<br/><br/>Alannah braced herself for whatever outcome, and waved.</div>