Our comments gave me an idea!
Companion Gann carefully wrote the scientific paper after several months of reading up on Humans' relationship with water. He brought the report to his people with the shocking, incredible, revelation that Humans were, in fact, mammals that were semi-amphibious by their very nature! The scientific community in his world was in an uproar, many hotly debating it and demanding proof. Huge pools of clean water were set that were quite deep, safeties were placed, just in case, and Humans, a lot of them, were invited. The request was simple "Prove that humans are semiamphibious by their very adaptations," Which, to the humans, signals one thing! Pool party! The species wants proof of humans being adapted to survive land and water? Then the humans were going to be happy to oblige, and bring snacks!
@internutter/challenge-03062-h154-monkey-gonna-jump -- DaniAndShali
"...guys, this is Companion Gann and he has a little song to sing for you," Aura was grinning like a maniac as they pulled in their alien friend. "He lost a bet."
Gann was a cogniscent species new to the Alliance, a Saiginid. In the cam feed, he was mostly nose with strong undercurrents of exasperation. "Yes-I-have-a-song-to-sing," he grated, one hundred percent reluctance. To the tune of Yankee Doodle Dandy, he sang, "I'm a diddle daddle dum-mins... herp de derp de derp de dooo..." Then broke free proclaiming, "That is it! I did not vow to do the arm gestures!"
Aura laughed as they let him escape. "It's okay. My man Gann has a scientific paper to write and Humanity has a point to prove to the Saiginid. Gann's organising an empirical proof for a bunch of fellow xenobiologists who also believe that you can have amphibians, or mammals, but you can't have amphibious mammals. So invite as many friends and family as you like, we're throwing a scientific pool party on Aarenuk Three. Woo!" There was other business, but that was the chief portent of doom.
Big things start so small.
Date and time shared, with open invitation to bring friends and family. The only limit, in the end, was down to who could be there on time.
Lots of Humans could be there on time. Someone bought a spit roaster. Some bought barbecues. Many bought a plate of something. They all arrived in brightly-coloured Skins[1] and some came with zinc-oxide 'war paint'.
There was evident trepidation amongst the assembled Saiginid xenobiologists.
"Some of them are barely capable of walking... how--?" The question did not get time to be uttered.
"CANNONBALL!" One of the Humans ran directly towards the water, leaped, and tucked their appendages in to self-submerge with a giant splash[2].
The others set up foodstuffs or, in the case of Parentals, escorted their young into the water. A few, alarmingly, threw their young into the water. The Human young, for the record, found this highly entertaining and returned to their Parentals for another go.
One of the Humans, a native of Beach, was showing their webbed fingers and toes, "This isn't gengineering. We just altered ourselves to utter the frequencies of dolphins. This is what happens after -what- three millennia of travel by swimming."
Several xenobiologists were taking rapid notes as the Humans dived, swam, or just floated about in the water.
Then some humans busted out the water guns.
Later, they would learn several bizarre Human customs, like the "luau" and the "potluck".
[1] Once a brand of light armour underwear, "Second" Skins became rapidly adopted amongst assorted cogniscents as the least amount of clothing acceptable in mixed company. This consisted of skin-tight hip to knee pants, and rib to neckline with short sleeve tops. Technological advances have improved them significantly.
[2] There's always one.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / rudakova]
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