Though those that made their homes under the water lived in a far different environment than those above the surface, they still had valuable insights and shouldn't be discounted.

Glow, Whiteout, and Ambergris were visiting Sapient's tribe that lived in the depths of the ocean, and both Comet and Mistwatch had begged to come along. Glow was fairly sure they only wanted to look at the fish, but giving them a trip couldn't hurt.

As their colony didn't have a dock as it wasn't on the edge of the water, they were waiting on another tribe's dock. Whiteout was wrapped up in a winter coat despite the temperate weather, and Ambergris looked like ae had lost a fight with a tornado while Comet and Mistwatch picked bits of leaf out of ae coat.

Glow snorted at ae. "Have a nice trip?"

Ambergris huffed. "These two dragged me through a bush on the way over. Sure we can't just leave them on the dock?"

Comet and Mistwatch looked suddenly hopeful, but Glow dashed their hopes. "No. Gotta keep an eye on them."

Ambergris grumbled and Whiteout pointed towards the water.

"Look - I think that's Sapient's pod."

Sapient had told them to go to a dock where they could land the pod. They said that their tribe lived too deep for those who made their lives on the surface to survive, and it would be easiest to bring them in a vehicle. Ambergris' pride had stung at that, but Glow had answered for everyone, especially since Comet and Mistwatch were coming along.

The smooth pod, looking almost like a giant egg, pulled up next to the dock and a hatch unsealed seamlessly to reveal Sapient. The aquatic nodded at them, and gestured them onboard. Most here already knew each other, but Glow introduced Comet and Mistwatch to Sapient. The youngsters started hounding them with questions about what life was like underwater, while Ambergris, Whiteout, and Glow got settled.

Eventually the youngsters were corralled into seats, and the descent began.

The water outside the windows darkened from a rich blue, with rays of sunlight shining through, to a deep cerulean, and then deeper and deeper into a navy nearly indistinguishable from black. Occasional animals flitted by, small fish and stranger things as they got deeper, and soon a light appeared ahead. It coalesced into light shining from windows of a structure built into the seafloor, sprawling off into depths concealed by darkness.

"Welcome," Sapient said, and gestured, "to home."

Comet and Mistwatch ooh-ed and ahh-ed appreciatively as they disembarked through the airlock, and even Ambergris seemed to be reluctantly impressed.

Sapient nodded at someone standing in front of them. "This is Bohtz. He'll be your guide today, and explain things."

Glow and Whiteout exchanged nods with him, while Ambergris inclined aer head. Comet and Mistwatch were too fascinated by one of the windows and the creatures that flitted through the lights beyond to pay attention. Glow started introducing everyone, and Bohtz nodded along, committing their names to memory. Sapient bid them farewell, and an awkward silence fell for a moment.

Seeing an opportunity as Sapient headed off to their own tasks, Glow nodded at the glass. "How do you get away with having windows so deep underwater? Isn't the pressure extremely high?"

Bohtz perked up and began to explain, Comet turning to listen with interest while Mistwatch tried to eat an octopus that had glomped on to the other side of the glass. Whiteout wandered over to listen, while Ambergris frowned up at the air ducts in the ceiling.

Glow nodded thoughtfully at the explanation of the technology. "Do you think it would work to withstand impact as well?"

Bohtz tilted his head. "It depends on the force of it. The force outside is constant - but an impact… well, it depends."

Whiteout, seeing where Glow was going, started talking about the rockfalls Rekes experienced sometimes. "Maybe it could help with that?"

"Maybe."

"How do you circulate your air?" Ambergris asked, motioning at the ceiling. "It's not like you can pull in more from outside."

Bohtz started to explain, while Comet inchwormed over to Whiteout and started hiding in her coat. Whiteout made an amused noise but let the draconic hide in its folds while Mistwatch tried to have a staring contest with a fish. Glow made an amused noise at that.

Perhaps the youngsters would gain from something from this trip, as well.