Bro Druid: Cloud Diving

Bodhi walked out of the portal carrying his blue longboard. Immediately, the sea otter felt out of place in his blue aloha shirt with a white floral pattern and green board shorts. Everyone on the ship was dressed so differently, with top hats, goggles, and accessories made of gears. There was no water here to wow everyone with his surfing skills, so Bodhi decided to talk with the nearest person.

 

“Hey! Bro! Name’s Bodhi,” the brown otter greeted the nearest person. “I just arrived and am looking for something fun to do.” Awkwardly and mechanically, the person turned to reveal a blank metal face on a metal body.

 

“This unit’s name is RW-4A not bro,” the mostly humanoid-shaped construct answered in a monotone voice through a speaker in its chest. “For fun and recreation, visit Soujel to watch races, shop in the market, or many other fun activities for tourists and locals alike.” Bodhi examined the metal being as it talked to him. He had never seen anything like it back at the cove.

 

“Thanks for the ideas RW-4A bro,” the surf otter pulled a flowery pink lei from his bag and threw it over the construct. “Here, have a lei.”

 

As Bodhi ran off for the nearest transport, RW-4A voiced his objections, but the otter disregarded them. A short trip on a smaller airship later, and Soujel, the informal capital ship, was in sight. The ocean druid approached the airship and raced on the red and gold airship. From what he gathered from the passengers on the transport, it was quite the dare-devil spectacle to behold. A scream caught Bodhi’s attention, causing him to turn towards the rail.

 

“My daughter fell off,” a tan-skinned, green-haired elven woman screamed. 

 

There wasn’t a moment of hesitation as Bodhi dove off the ship with his surfboard in hand. Carefully, the otter navigated around the smaller airships as he fell, using small bursts of air to alter his course. A blast of sky magic accelerated Bodhi towards the child. They both breached the cloud cover with the mountains coming up fast. One last bit of magic propelled the Lutrinae within reach of the child.

 

“Don’t worry! Lifeguard is on duty,” Bodhi shouted as he grabbed the girl. With one smooth motion, the windsail on the surfboard shot open as the surf druid slid his talisman underfoot with the girl on top. Immediately, their descent halted as sky magic channeled through the board, making it hover a few hundred feet over the mountains. “My name is Bodhi. Don’t worry, little bro, we’ll find some way to get back up there.”

 

“My name is Idril, not little bro,” the small elf girl nervously said as she shook aboard the board. She looked up, and even through the clouds, the lights of the Soujel were still visible.

 

“Well Idril bro, we are going to be in a hover pattern for a bit until I can build some magic back up,” Bodhi informed the girl as he pulled some rope from his hip bag. Carefully, he made a makeshift harness to keep his new rescue from falling again. With that complete, Bodhi retrieved some cookies and passed one to Idril.

 

“Are you sure you can get us back up to the ship,” the elf girl nervously asked as she nibbled at the cookie.

 

“Honestly, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure I could catch you when I dove off the ship, bro,” Bodhi laughed as he ate his cookie. “Sometimes you just act on instinct and figure the rest out later, dudette Idril.” That statement elicited a groan from the small elf.

 

Bodhi held the windsurfing board in a lazy circular hover pattern for half an hour as he let his power build back up. It did feel a little weird that a rescue ship or something wasn’t looking for them, but the otter assumed they didn’t fly beneath the clouds. With a deep breath, Bodhi started to build up magic around himself. A nod to Idril told her to hold on tight. Another breath and the Lutrinae sent his board, shooting straight up as sky magic rocketed through the wind sail. Idrik screamed at the rapid climb, holding tight to Bodhi’s leg.

 

As the pair rocketed through the clouds, a platoon of airships scanning the clouds became visible. Bodhi angled his windboard at the nearest airship using every bit of magic he could muster. Idril was in tears and close to passing out from fear as the board skidded across the deck, stopping safely.

 

“That’s one for the highlight books there,” Bodhi laughed as a blond-haired human in a white shirt and green plaid pants ran across the deck to them. “Hey, sailor bro! Thanks for the assist.” With all the energy he had expended all at once, the sea otter passed out now that Idril was safe.

 

A few hours later, Bodhi woke up on a cot below deck on the airship. Looking out a port hole, the lifeguard could see clouds racing by at rapid speeds. Slowly, the sea otter climbed out of the bed and went to the deck.

 

“Just in time, my furry friend. Welcome aboard the Caelus,” the human captain yelled from the ship controls. “My name is Haruka, and don’t worry, I dropped off the girl with her mom. Didn’t think you’d mind tagging along for a race.” All around, other airships were following the same course through the clouds.

 

“Name is Bodhi, sailor bro,” the druid introduced himself as he excitedly ran to the rail. Watching the clouds race by as the airship maneuvered around was a thrilling ride. The high-speed turns around mountain tops almost felt like surfing. In a thrilling neck-to-neck race, the Caelus crossed the finish line in first place.

 

“Well then, my otter friend, is this where I see you part my ship, or are you up for another race,” Haruka asked with a hint of a flirt. Bodhi was about to grab his board and depart but stopped to consider the offer.

 

“I think I could go for another go-round sailor, bro,” the surf druid laughed as he took his place on the railing. “Show me how fast this thing can go!”