You spotted the hippocampus when you were young, and have since made an effort to befriend it. With time, you've maneged to gain the animal's sympathy, perhaps too much of it.

The hippocampus has continuously demamded your attention whenever you come to check up on it.

Every time you glance away from it for too long it splashes you with water, and once you turn to leave it nips at your clothes and blocks your way, trying to get you to stay in the shoal.