There was once a mortal named Dolphinian. He was the only one in his family who wasn't the best or first at something. he was always saying, "I want to be as strong as an ox, like my father, Deterous. Or as swift as a deer, like my sister, Dondilan. Or I wish I could be as agile as a cat, like my mother, Denilia. I want to be good at something!"
His mother always replied, "You'll find your talent someday, Dolphinian. You'll find it someday."
(Time elapsing...)
Then one day as he was strolling by the coastline, by which his house was built, he heard cries for help. He rushed down the beach toward the sound. He saw a person floundering in the bay. Automatically he jumped in and pulled the person to safety. when he had recovered from the shock, he introduced himself. "My name is Krolian. I’m sure glad you heard me. I was a floundering fish. I would have died without your help."
"Don’t mention it. My name is Dolphinian. Boy, you’re ice. You must be freezing. Come with me to my house to stay while you recover."
"Well, that sounds like a good idea, Dolphinian. I think I’ll take you up on your offer."
As they walked along they spoke of how Krolian had got out there in the first place. He told Dolphinian that he had been sailing and his boat capsized. He panicked and lost all control of his thought. If it hadn’t been for Dolphinian, he would have drowned.
As they neared Dolphinian’s house, Krolian suddenly said, "You know, you have a real knack for swimming. all the grace and beauty of a seal. Do you swim a lot?"
"No. I haven’t ever really tried. You really think I have talent?"
"Yes, I do. You should develp that talent. You’d be extrememly good at swimming and diving."
With that Dolphinian had found what he was good at and vowed to be the best at it. He would swim around the world, he felt so confident.
As time passed Dolphinian grew more and more able to swim, dive, and do acrobatics in the water. he grew vain and egocentric. One day one of the gods grew angry at him for showing off. He had been sympathetic with him until he had said, "I’m the greatest swimmer ever born. I could even beat any god who challenged me. Even Decladarus himself."
As soon as Decladarus heard this he flew down to earth and disguised himself as a mortal. He challenged Dolphinian to a race.
"I accept your challenge, you poor fool, for I know I’ll win," Dolphinian answered.
Decladarus then said, "You are good at swimming, but you cannot be the best."
Then the race was under way. A crowd was gathered to watch this spectacular event. Not surprisingly, Dolphinian won. Everyone cheered.
Decladarus was boiling mad now. He transformed back into his former godlike self. He roared, "You have won! You are a good swimmer, but self-centered and thick-headed. Since your love of swimming is so great I’ll forever bind you to a life permanently lived in water." With that he turned Dolphinian into a finned mammal; the first dolphin. Dolphinian swam away into the ocean in shame, squealing in high-pitched tones only he could hear.
To this day the dolphin is still around and has the in water acrobatical talent that Dolphinian possessed. You can still hear his high-pitched wails of shame if you listen closely enough. He is forever doomed to live eternity bound to a life in the water.
finis
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