Kadense fiddled with her with her mask. She watched as Kel helped Kya put the oxygen tank on her back. He kept fiddling with the straps, probably making sure they were snug. He had done the same with hers and Alexanders. Tolly, being a reef Tark'ee had no need for air tanks and masks over by the door talking to another Reef Tark'ee.

"You ready, squirt." Alexander said. The mask he wore made his words sound stuffy. "Remember your swimming lessons we had before we all came. You got this." Alexander said encouragingly when he noticed that Kadense was still playing with her mask.

Alexander gently took the mask out of her hands and placed it on her head. "Besides, think of the fun we can have and all the fish and caves we can see. It will be awesome." He then leaned over her and hooked up the hoses that lead from her mask to the tank.

"You good?" Alexander asked. Kadense gave him a half smile and a thumbs up.

They entered a small room after the green and blue reef Tark'ee had checked their gear. The door behind them closed and sealed. Slowly the room started to fill with water. Kadense found herself taking deep breaths until Kel touched her.

"Remember, breathe just like you always do. Just relax. Everything will be fine." Kel said.

Kadense nodded then forced herself to relax. Soon the water was over their heads and another door opened and they swam out.

Tolly was the first out and right behind her came Kya. Kel was not too far behind. Alexander swam out next. Kadense took a deep breath and let it out. A stream of bubbles rose above her and she pushed off the wall and floated out.

The scene before her was breathtaking. She had never seen so much color. The coral reef was teeming with life. Lightning blue fish swam in schools and darted in and around bright yellow coral. A lone Green eel looking fish swam leisurely through a small forest of blue, green, and red coral. And she spotted more of the orange and black fish swimming around a bright pink feathered looking coral.

Kel and Kya swam to one part of the coral and began taking pictures with a waterproof camera they had purchased just for this. Molly indicated that Alexander and Kadense should follow her and she took them all across the coral reef. They spotted several more species of fish and brightly colored coral and another one of those green eel-like fish.

Soon Tolly was waving to them to come closer to her. It was time to go. Alexander and Kadense followed as Tolly swam around to find where Kel and Kya had gone.

They found them at a point in the reef where the coral grew thick and Kel had the camera as close to the reef as possible. Tolly had to swim up and touch the two of them to get their attention. She then indicated it was time to go. Kel gave a thumbs up and he pocketed the camera and they all swam back.

As soon as they were back inside the city Kadense removed her mask and started working on the straps that held the now near empty tank to her back. "That was just awesome!" All those colors and the fish!" She said excitedly.

Alexander was also divesting himself of the gear. "I will never forget this. I wonder if all the reefs are like this one. Are there others farther out?"

"Yes there are others farther out. But you would need a special suit to get to those as they are deeper. But I am sure the library has books on them. " Tolly answered Alexander.

"Are you going to put your pictures in our library?" Kadense asked Kel as he removed the camera from its pocket before placing the scuba gear on the bench.

"Oh that is a fine idea. We should make a traveling book so that others can enjoy our trips as well." Kya said as she neatly placed her mask on top of the tank.

"I think we should take pictures of the things at home too. Like the caves with the crystals hanging from the roof. And the crystal bones growing out of the ground." Kadense said.

"You have crystal bones? Tolly asked.

"Oh yes. They are all over the place." Kadense answered.

"I would love to see them." Tolly said.

"Well if you have any vacation time you should come visit. We would love to give you a tour of our home." Alexander piped up.

"I might just have to take you up on that." Tolly said.