Kala returns

"Got it!" Kala gives you a friendly wave as she jogs back down the beach, board in hand, interrupting you from your internal musings.

The board itself is longer than your used to, but not by much. 'Maybe, I can make this work. I only need to catch a few of the smaller waves out there and then...well, I can come back in and turn on the old Connor Doe charm.' You give yourself a small, pregame pep-talk.

You paddle out together, swapping stories and sharing small tidbits about yourselves. Kala mostly asks about what life is like on the mainland, whereas you are more curious about what it was like to grow up in a palace. You seem to be doing well enough if Kala's laughter was any indication. She seems to find your jokes a lot more entertaining than your old crew used to. Things were looking good.

Your swollen confidence soon deflates though as you venture out of the calm shallows and into deep water, in and amongst the towering breakers. It takes almost all of you meager experience just to keep your position in the water, let alone catch any waves. Kala takes a couple after some time but you hold back, looking for the perfect wave to match your skills.

"Are you planning on taking any waves today? Or are you leaving them all for me?" Kala teases, paddling once again into place next to you.

"J-just looking for the right one!" You answer back, your knuckles white as you grip the edge of your board.

"What about this one coming up?" Kala completely misses your distress, looking past you to the approaching roll of a wave. It wasn't going to be a small one either.

"Yeah...a-all right!" You reply. You had to ride one eventually to keep face and so you begin to paddle, picking up speed and lining yourself up for the drop in.