Pongo darted downward, ever downward when suddenly a dark shadow moved below him. In an instant the water went from calm to a threshing, roiling chaos. Pongo dipped below the lunging sea lion, using his downward momentum to avoid the sudden attack. 

As the sea lion banked a turn, Pongo was spiraling downward towards the thermal vents, the grey spotted sea lion behind him. It was a decidedly deadly game, one that Pongo had managed to win for nearly a thousand years as keeper of the frost key.  Spotting a gathering of squid, Pongo drew his right fin in and stroked mightily with his left, yanking him around and towards them. 

In a flash he was among them, grasping one in his beak he continued downward, the other squid scattering behind him as the sea lion, like a torpedo, followed him towards the thermal vents.  As the heavier animal gained ground, Pongo in a quick movement arced upward, avoiding the scalding water and toxic fumes being released into the water. The sea lion was unable to change direction in time and soared through the column. 

The sudden warm water, coupled with the toxic gasses, forced the sea lion to gasp, releasing some of his precious oxygen. Instinctively the sea lion inhaled the toxic fumes. The sea lion blanched, and raced towards the surface to bring in clean air. 

Pongo, whirled down, heading for a pile of slightly glowing stones at the base of the vents. Tapping them with his squid filled beak, the key guardian began his swim upwards towards the island.