(I'm very sorry about my response times... I'm afraid they aren't going to get much better than this, as I'm kinda trying to get my act together for Finals, and final projects/papers. I have to give them most of my time and creativity.)<br/><br/>Aria, the large blue octogirl, gently begins swimming after Ivalice, her tentacles wafting the water behind her steadily... octo-girl's aren't swift swimmers over long distances... ambush predators are better at short sudden strikes.<br/><br/>"I've... lived near the city for many, many moons. Since I left my mother, i think..." she says at last, sounding awkward. "I don't spend much time in the farther cave... I can't see the city from there."<br/><br/>She stays close to the reef,  and seems to be resisting a very strong urge to hide away again. Even this kind of conversation is strange for Aria, but she tries. It helps that her pets- her children? her new friends, are within tentacle-reach. as they swim, one of Aria's tentacles strokes their head or side.<br/><br/>She takes care to keep Roxie, the tiny shrimp girl, very close: one hand is keeping her clasped between the octo-girl's breasts, but only loosely... the shrimp can slip free if she thinks she can keep up on her own.