Tide RiderSeeing the whale shark crusing so effortlessly through the water gave the totoma buck an idea. Growing up near the Cres tribe, he'd seen kin swim out into the ocean and ride the waves back. Sure they were usually sleeker than he was, had more fins, and were probably lighter too if we're really going there, but he was totoma. He could do it too and he could do it better.
Joined by the whaleshark gifted by his mother the totoma crashed into the surf. Churning hooves dug deep into the water as his head ducked under each oncoming wave. He needed the biggest! The most impressive wave to ride back. Further and further he swam, eyes straight ahead on his goal of reaching the heavy swells he could see rising from the horizon. This wasn't hard at all! Swimming out into the deeper ocean was a lot easier than he'd anticipated. Bolstered by his perceived ease with swimming the totoma paid no mind to the whale shark that bumped insistently against him. This was going to be awesome. He'd definitely earn a name from this for sure. Something impressive!
Finally, the swelling waves began to test even his endurance and he turned to look toward shore while he imagined what kind of awe inspiring landing he'd make once he rode the right wave back in. But... the shore... was a lot farther than he'd thought it was. And it continued to receed as he struggled to put two and two together. He could see at a distance a couple of kin, heavily finned, swimming out towards him with shuppies in tow. The whaleshark at his side leapt out of the air and splashed back down over and over again to signal his location.
"Freaking totomas." The kimeti grumbled once he reached the buck, a tentacle sprouting from their neck wrapping itself securely around one of his horns. The other kin that reached him clamped onto his other with strong teeth, both anchoring him high enough to keep his face out of the water. "What kind of crazy has you charging straight into a riptide? You can't headbutt the ocean you know." The kimeti's chastisement continued the entire swim to shore. Neither of them letting go even when he struggled against their grip. "You're lucky someone with a bit more brains between their horns saw you. If we hadn't been called you'd have riden that tide right off to the motherfather themself!"