Ohnis and Osaya

A Yahgahn Fable

On Traipah, there are several different races of Trelli. There are the “normal” Trelli, who live on land; there are the “Too-tall” Trelli, who live on land and are much taller than the “normal” Trelli; there are the Guiimin, who live on land and are very short; there are the Lacking, who look like Normal Trelli but lack a zaen nervous system; there are the Changeling Trelli, who can change colors at will; there are River Trelli, who can live on land, but prefer to live in rivers; and lastly there are the Sea Trelli, who can only live in the ocean.

A “Normal Trelli” adult named Ohnis had been seeking a mate for a very long time, but had not had any luck. Finally, she said to the Universe, “I will stop looking and maybe the one I seek will find me instead.”

Several weeks later, she was swimming in the ocean, relieved to have the water flow over her body after living so long on the land. She relaxed and let the water caress her. As she was doing so, a head popped out of the water in front of her, startling her. It looked like another land Trelli!

“Hello. My name is Ohnis. What is your name?”

The other looked at her curiously and finally said, “I be Osaya. Where you from?”

“I am from the Severnorae Swamp. Where are you from?”

Osaya smiled and giggled. “You be land Trelli. I be Sea Trelli. I live in salt water.”

Ohnis’ eyes went wide. “Wow! I’ve never met a Sea Trelli before!”

“Maybe you never be in sea before, that why?”

“Probably.” Ohnis laughed.

“Want play?” Osaya asked.

“Play what?”

“Come, we play good game. Deep dive.”

Ohnis shrugged and followed Osaya out into the ocean. When they got to the spot that Osaya wanted them to, Osaya spoke again.

“This deep much. Play deep dive game here. Race to bottom. One who get there first get kiss. Want play?”

“Sounds fun,” Ohnis said, smiling.

First they prepared for a deep dive, which for Trelli of all types means simply that they had to get their muscles ready. When they were both ready, Osaya said, “Ready? All set? GO!” and they were off!

It was a long way to the bottom, and the farther they got, the darker it got, until finally even Ohnis’ keen Trelli eyes couldn’t see anything. She tried to speak, but found out why her new friend spoke the way she did. To speak underwater, one had to speak loudly and with as few words as possible.

“Can you see? I no see. How we know where we be? I want no lose you.” Ohnis said.

“I see,” said Osaya. “No worry. I see you even at bottom. I stay near. No worry.”

It seemed to take forever, but finally they reached the bottom. It had taken a whole hour to reach it, too!

“Now we hurry,” said Osaya, “For we have hour of air left. Lest you want be one who breathe waste air too? I can. Long ago I stay under too long, got changed. Now I no worry.”

“I swam in river once,” Ohnis said, “and same thing. Down too long. I no worry.”

“Good. We tied. We both get kiss when get up again. Race to top? Winner get another, longer kiss?”

“Sure. Race.”

When they finally got to the top, after finishing with their laughing and giggling, they kissed each other once quickly, and a second time for a long time. They had fallen in love.

But Ohnis had forgotten something. Months after they met, Ohnis suddenly remembered that something. She pulled gently out of the latest kiss they shared and said, “I… I don’t know if I can… we can’t… I mean… I haven’t left my family, really. I went out to find a mate. But you’re… you can’t leave the ocean! How am I supposed to show my family that I found a mate? And how are they going to take the news? It will be strange, my family will argue about it, wondering how to go about it. It’s… it’s awkward.”

“Yes can!” Osaya said. “Go get your family, bring here, and tell them. If they not know what do, then I tell them. I tell them that we can make it work. What you say?”

Ohnis thought about it for a while, reviewing her feelings, and deeply contemplated the situation. “I’ll… I’ll just have to tell them. I love you, Osaya. I must tell them.”

“I wait here by big rock for you. If you need find me and cannot, no worry. Swim in ocean and call for me. Or ask other Sea Trelli. I be here.”

With great physical and mental difficulty, Ohnis pulled herself onto shore and struggled to stand up again, for her body had gotten used to being in the ocean all the time. Sadly, she walked back to her home in the Severnorae Swamp.

Another month passed, with the time of separation making both Ohnis and Osaya sad. Yet one happy day, Ohnis returned and found Osaya eating some food while leaning against the rock. Just where she had said she would be. They joyfully screamed when they saw each other, and embraced, crying with joy.

“What they say, Ohnis?”

“They said that we have their blessings. My siblings also blessed us. We will always be in their hearts, and they will visit when they can, for I gave them directions to this place.”

And they both smiled, and embraced yet again.

The moral of this story is that love knows no bounds. Nothing can stand in the way when people are joined together in love.

The End