Putting aside my hangover, I agreed to go. Sawtooth grinned toothily and assured me I would not regret my decision. He led me to the western edge of the city, and strode boldly through the demarcation between air and water. Securing my mask, I more hesitantly followed.
The mask, however, performed flawlessly, and despite some brief discomfort I quickly adjusted to breathing the transmuted air that it provided. Accustoming myself to moving in the water proved more difficult, and my attempts to swim were awkward and ineffective.
Sawtooth rasped out a deep chuckle, the sound burbling oddly through the water. With a sweep of his powerful tail, he swam around me and I felt his forelegs tuck under my own, wrapping around my barrel. And then we launched forwards, with his strength easily managing to carry both of us along.
Travelling through the dark ocean bottom was frightening, but exhilarating. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, as well as the deeper, slower thrum of Sawtooth’s heart through his chest pressed tightly against my back.