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"I think it was probably most of the clan," replied Tianara. "Because it's not something they do consciously, I think." Realizing how little sense that seemed to make, she flushed and added, "That is, I believe that living here for as long as I did, the magic...seeped into me, somehow, and made me more like them. I mean, I've been living here my whole life, surrounded by their magic - it's even in the walls by now, after they've lived here so long." She hesitated before saying slowly, "I've been taught some human scientific theory, by those who spend time on land. It's...I think it's like diffusion. Is that the word? Anyway, I just think it's like that thing where a lot of something - like the magic - seeps into a place where there's less of it - like in me - so that balance is maintained."

She smiled shyly. "Bad news is, it takes a really long time. Good news is, I think it could happen to anyone who spent enough time around the merfolk. But then, it is just my guess - really it could be anything."

"It doesn't mean it couldn't happen to you," said Tianara kindly. "If you spend long enough around Sorry and her family, and with all the other merfolk that you want to meet, it might happen." She smiled and shrugged a bit. "I don't see why it couldn't."

Katalina came towards them, smiling a little. "Tia," she greeted brightly. "Are you telling Joshua all about your life in the caverns?"

The girl giggled. "Yes," she replied with a shy smile. "I think he wants to know how I managed to start breathing water."

Katalina just laughed. "Well, Joshua, you'll have plenty of time to quiz her - I stopped by partly to get you some experience and partly to pick her up. Tianara's going to be staying with us at the cove for a while so that she can learn a little more about the world on the surface."

Tianara's eyes widened until they looked like saucers - apparently, she hadn't been clued in about this. "What? Now? Already?"

"Relax," said Katalina gently. "They aren't kicking you out yet. You'll just be spending some time living at the cove for when it's time. And you'll always be able to visit."

The girl's sombre face did not seem to give any hint that this was a comfort. "Okay," she said at last. Adamantia and Clirani, both of whom had apparently already known this, merely looked at each other sadly. Caralei gestured the two younger girls over and they went back into the caverns with a wave at Joshua, leaving Tianara with Joshua, Katalina and Nezik.

Katalina blinked. "A couple of weeks ago. I thought I'd told you - I guess it slipped my mind."

Her voice continued mentally to Joshua, But anyway, it doesn't really have to concern you if you don't want it to. She'll be staying with me. Just to get a feel for the surface. You won't be expected to look after her or anything, although I might want to borrow some of your clothes for her when Narcis takes her to the town - I've noticed humans don't usually walk around naked.

It had obviously been well-planned out. Unless, of course, Katalina was just assuming that Narcis would go along with it and hadn't actually asked him yet.

Tianara, however, still looked doubtful. "I don't want to be a burden," she said uncertainly. "I can figure it out for myself."

Tianara hesitated, then said slowly, "Well, if you're sure..."

Katalina smiled a little. Placing her hand on the girl's shoulder, she said firmly, "We're sure. Come on - Joshua, did you want to go straight to the other cavern, or do you want to go back and go see the others another time?" She asked mostly for Tianara's sake, because she didn't know how the girl would react to dealing with a clan outside her own right after finding out she was leaving her own for a while.

Also, she had to talk to Narcis about a good time to take Tianara to the town. It wouldn't be for a while - the Siren had to regain a lot of energy. But something ought to be settled.

Katalina watched the girl. When at last Tianara nodded, Katalina's smile brightened. "Good. Ready to see the sun, little girl?" Not waiting for a reply, she gestured to the three of them and struck off, heading for the entrance.

Tianara hesitated, then smiled weakly at Joshua and Nezik. "It's going to take me some time to get comfortable with that, isn't it?" she mused aloud. "Is it very bright out there, Joshua?" She asked it of him as though figuring that it was more likely he would know than Nezik - and considering Nezik's upbringing until a very few days ago, that was probably true.

Tianara looked hesitantly at Joshua. "Today? How bright is it today?" she asked nervously. She had seen daylight before, of course, and she knew that it hurt at first to go out in it after a long time in the caverns. She didn't want to start this new life blinded.

Katalina had reached the boulder. With what seemed really prodigious strength - but then the water probably helped - she placed both hands against the boulder and pushed, swimming a bit forward with every inch it gave until at last it fell against the ground outside, giving them space to get out. "Coming?" she asked, turning back to smile at them.

"She should be. Don't worry, we thought about that. We're going to stay deep for awhile, where the light doesn't penetrate so much," explained Katalina. "We'll go towards the surface a little at a time, to give her eyes time to get used to light."

Tianara smiled wryly. "Well then, what am I worrying about?" she mused ironically. "You have it all under control." Slowly, she exited the cavern. Naturally, it was impossible to both keep herself cloaked and swim normally, so she'd given up on using her hair as a sort of cover. Joshua could always not look, and Nezik and Katalina didn't care - they were used to this sort of thing.