#so the pod was very shocked to hear him 'baby babble' basically. They couldn't make sense of his vocalisations

[muppenthings]

I saw the colored keiki interaction!!! That’s so cute!!!!! So keiki uses different nonverbal sounds/ body language to calm someone above water, but what about another (little) mer?

He'd make the same sounds! Merfolk in Aurea are able to communicate as easily underwater as above due to their anatomy! They produce sounds that are similar to toothed whales and they don't release air while communicating (circulating the air between the lungs instead). Instead of vocal cords they have a special syrinx to produce the chirps and whistles!

So unlike a landdweller that likely doesn't understand the mer language, the mer certainly would. But mers are very alert and quick to flee/hide around large creatures (crucial for survival in that kind of environment). So Keiki would have to pull all of the soothing words and body language to calm them down (reaching out before calming is a big No-no!) and assure them that he's not going to harm them.

Success! They're still a little nervous tho.