Ikhulu nantathu

"Hold on tight, pixie," Riley said grinned at the beaming girl beside her. 

Melissa yelped and then let out a long and very exciting string of "yay" and cheers as their pod took a nosedive down into the watery depths. 

"Wow," Melissa breathed out. They were making their way through a valley with underground mountains of each side of them and gleaming emeralds that were littered with the majestic gems for as far as their eyes could see. 

Riley smirked at her reaction. She watched the green light bounce across her porcelain face and ripple over her lilac eyes like the webs of an aquatic spider. She was so pleased with her decision to take a detour. Watching her friend's reaction was well worth it. 

"I wonder what god or goddess thought this geological design," she breathed out and tossed the question out into the air but mostly for herself.