like a duck to water [ killy! ]

[winged]

To consider Laraph an odd personality had become like second nature - not just to her rider, but the Eyrie as a whole. The gray had blossomed (perhaps the better word was exploded) into a natural sort of elegance and grace, a perfect picture of serenity until that pristine depiction was shattered with endearingly childish reminiscence and faith. There were a great many factors that fed her constant current of curiosities, but perhaps none as illogical as the gray's love of water.

Whether it consisted of a faint trickle amidst scraggly terrain or a ponderous deposit such as a lake, the simourv held abject fascination for the liquid. She even went so far as to take a scandalous dip once in a while, followed up of course with a nice hot sunbath to dry her feathers and warm her bones. Such simple pleasures were the bread and butter of her time not eaten up with lessons and rudimentary tasks like eating and sleeping. It was always a bother to convince Hers to accompany her on these outings - once again, their paths split on the issue of just where their free time ought to be spent. I'dou had only unpleasant memories of that one time at the lake, and superstition (and a bit of recalcitrance for the hell of it) prompted her to argue and bicker until Laraph wore her down to a grumpy 'all right, all right'.

Which had been exactly the scenario they'd both undergone that morning, once it had been established that they had the time to do something, somewhere. The gray chick had become an excellent wheedler - a little pleading and a little bit of a mental nudge, and she could talk I'dou into many a good idea. In the gray's estimation every idea of hers was a good one, so the truth behind that claim was negotiable at times.

But not now! With the sun shining and the air warmer than it had been for months, Laraph was ready for another expedition into the lake. I'dou trailed along as proposed 'moral support', if an eyeroll and a grumble could be considered supportive. Laraph would take it as a yes, she'd quickly learned not to be picky when it came to forcing Hers to do things Hers didn't like. It's so warm out today, and the water will be so nice! You should come in with me![/b] Strolling leisurely to accomodate her rider's shorter legs, Laraph cooed in anticipation. They'd been travelling for a while, the lake should be coming up soon...oh, oh, there it was! With a delighted chirp Laraph tossed aside her composure for a romp towards the glittering surface of the lake.

"...it's too cold!" Even as she shouted, hands fisted and shoved into the pockets sewn into her trousers, I'dou eyed the lake with skepticism. No way was she going in; yeah the sun was warm, but the water would still be freezing.

Not even a wade?[/b] Deflating slightly at I'dou's obvious reluctance, Laraph shook it off quickly enough, as she shook off a fine mist of dewy droplets from her now dampened feathers. She'd dashed about in the shallows for a bit, much shallower now than they had been when she was littler...

"No...I'll sit." Cementing that notion into fact, I'dou selected a rather level boulder situated a short distance from the water's edge, settling cross-legged upon it and immediately relishing the warmth that had seeped into the stone. Oh yeah, this was nice, she eventually stretched out to soak in as much of the residual heat as possible, electing to sunbathe first.

If it suits you.[/b] Warbling with good humor, Laraph returned to her splashing and snapping at the darting fish in the shallows. They were so very colorful, and the sun gleamed off their scales! Just like the pretty female simourv that rose, that same brilliance that captivated her so.

[Kilnarak]

The weather had begun to grow warmer, the frost on the lake thinning and eventually melting clear away. Of course, the water was generally frigid, even on the warmest days, and near nightfall it only seemed all the colder without the sun's warmth to heat the air and stone around it. And while it was still, perhaps, a bit colder than what T'gan was used to, it was safe enough on warm days - around midday when the sun was bright and high. The young blue-rider had taken to coming to the pond on such days to swim, happy enough that the frost had finally melted and that such an action was possible - jogging was decent exercise as well, but it simply wasn't the same, particularly for a girl used to spending so much of her time in the water. Othokenph had even taken to joining her on occasion; the young blue was still uncomfortable with the idea of deep-water, but he understood His could swim well enough in it even if he could not.

Today was yet another day when the bluepair chose to visit the pond for a swim - the skies were clear and the weather warm enough. They jogged mostly in a companionable silence, the growing form of Othokenph bounding ahead of his bonded now and then, playfully racing forward and doubling back to His' side. Nearing half a year since his hatching, Othokenph had grown quickly, however he remained on the skinny-side - he was easily taller than his rider, although he still pranced about as he had as a hatchling (of course now he awkwardly bumbled into the walls - in his opinion, the Eyrie was steadily shrinking!

The blue dashed farther ahead of his, racing his shadow toward the pond. His pale blue feathers offered a stark contrast to the reddish walls of the canyon, and he whooped as he bounded out into the clearing housing the pond. He was a bit startled to see others there, Laraph and Hers! And he projected his surprise as well as a sense of excitement to His, where she jogged along a ways behind him. Mine! Laraph is here! And Hers! He barely waited to inform His before he warbled a sing-song greeting to the graypair, Hello! Are you swimming too? The young blue began to move again, practically skipping toward the seated I'dou to bump his muzzle against her shoulder in a friendly greeting, and then toward the water, trilling at Laraph. He stopped at the edge, however, eyeing the shifting blue-green surface somewhat cautiously - as if it might leap out at him.

And then, deciding it wasn't going to attack, the blue splashed into it and bounded toward Laraph. When he finally reached the gray, the water was easily up to his belly - of course, to Laraph it was not so deep. He trilled up at the larger simourv, rocking back onto his hindlegs and flaring his undersized wings out before splashing back into the water. Laraph! Look! I can swim as deep as you did, the other time! Of course, he wasn't actually swimming, more wading, but still it was close enough to swimming!

While Othokenph was busy greeting Laraph, T'gan finally made her way out into the clearing. A broad, easy grin sat on her lips - happy and amused by her bond's antics. She slowed her jog to a smooth walk as she near the young gray-rider, turning her grin down to the other girl. Usually, I'dou was a bit intimidating, but for now Othokenph's good cheer was enough to keep her from feeling too intimidated by the often dour grayrider. "Hey! Afternoon, I'dou! Are you out here ta swim too?" The blonde girl offered the greeting as she dropped to sit upon I'dou's stone - not too close, hopefully not in the other girl's personal space - and kicked off the light sandals she had worn out. The bare edges of the damage Teimoph had done to her legs so long ago was visible at the edge of her knee-length breeches, although she didn't seem particularly self-conscious of the ugly scars. "Or just here ta sunbathe? It's a nice day, isn't it?"

[winged]

The conspicuous thump, thump of taloned feet alerted a drowsy I'dou to incoming company. Lazing for just a second longer in her lounging position, the rider reluctantly stretched muscles gone pliant in the warm sun, before sitting up and glancing over her shoulder with contented resignation. Her placidity stirred into something reminiscent of pleased surprise when she recognized the individual speckling on the blue's feathers, and then T'gan herself.

Laraph responded with more enthusiasm, warbling a tremendously happy hello to her clutch brother while wading along the shoreline in expectation of his inclusion in her playful trawl for fish. Hello Othokenph! Her soggy tail swished excitedly, spraying fine droplets over her rider, who threw up an arm in a delayed, half-hearted attempt at shelter, along with a spluttered cry of fleeting annoyance.

Oops, sorry. Placid voice now infectious with poorly contained giggles, Laraph considerately tucked her tail neatly to one side, liquid brown eyes watching T'gan and Oth both in eager anticipation.

"Oof!" The blue's gentlest nudge still managed to rock I'dou backwards a good inch or so, although the young woman took it all in good stride, patting the blue's beak affectionately while affecting a wave in T'gan's direction. She was much more forgiving of simourv than their riders, and as she happened to find the blue's rider more pleasant company than most, the chick was afforded a great deal of leeway. He didn't mean harm by it - he was already bounding off in Laraph's direction, and the gray was more than thrilled with this change in plans.

"Hey." Responding to the friendly greeting with something along the same lines, I'dou's face scrunched at T'gan's question. "Swim? It's freezing!" Although now that she was active once more, she did feel a little overheated - still, as she sheepishly massaged the back of her neck, she wasn't going to pretend to swim in someone else's company. Her strokes were more like halpless flails.

Taking the kicking of T'gan's sandals from her feet, the gray rider followed her natural assumptions, and responded in kind. "You're going to be an icicle when you come out." Teasing the other girl, I'dou feigned indifference and stretched out on her rock once more. One eye remained cracked open to observe, however, as T'gan prepared to head in. "Yeah...it's a real nice day." The perfect combination of sun and fresh growth. "Glad Lara talked me into coming out here."

Laraph, meanwhile, was now quite busy with the energetic Oth. I like to swim! Cooing encouragingly when the blue hesitated at the water's edge, she flicked her tail playfully at the smaller male, spraying him with water in an attempted ploy at drawing him in. The blue soon charged in regardless, and Laraph chattered in pleasure. Oh, the water's much smaller now! I bet I could reach the bottom in the middle! The bravado she adopted faltered as the gray gazed truculently at the exact center of the lake. Or well...maybe not. But she could enjoy the water right here, at least! Is Yours coming to swim with us too? Spotting T'gan stripping herself of excess clothes, Laraph trilled in welcome to the girl. I promise I won't fall on top of you this time! Oh no, she was much more balanced now!

[Kilnarak]

Continuing with the idea that she had come out to swim, T'gan followed the removal of her sandals by unselfconsciously shucking her shirt and knee-length breeches - she still wore an undershirt and other underthings, for modesty's sake, of course. While it had been warm enough on their previous excursion here with the grayrider, now with the cooler temperature the bluerider found it best to leave herself dry clothing to return to. She laughed as she set the garments and her sandals aside upon I'dou's boulder, the sound high and amused. "That's what th' sun's for, isn't it? Feels nicest ta bask in it when you've cooled off, you know?" She grined at the grayrider, her hazel eyes sparking a warm amber-green as they caught the sun. "You should come with! It'll be fun, yeah? An' your Laraph says she won't knock us under this time. We can stick to the shallows, if you don't want ta get too wet."

T'gan wasn't entirely sure why she suddenly felt the desire to have I'dou come out with her, but now that the idea had sparked it refused to leave. She had come here planning to swim alone, just Oth for company, but now she found the couldn't begrudge the added company of I'dou and Laraph. Perhaps part of the desire stemmed from Othokenph himself.

The young blue splashed in the water, awkwardly prancing a floundering circle about the much larger gray. A sense of pride radiated away from him - proud and pleased that he was swimming and he was so deep, and that he could swim with His and with Laraph, and how much fun it would all be now. He chirped brightly at Laraph, flaring his white and black-dappled wings again to spray water droplets at her. He tried to follow the motion with another pounce-hop, dancing how Canph had showed them prior, but he stumbled and floundered with a startled squawk, splashing up a small wave in the process. It took him a bit of flailing to right himself, but he seemed uninjured, and he nestled up against the larger simourv's side, chattering.

It's still big for me! But maybe it will get smaller again! He paused, ducking a bit and peering around Laraph toward the middle of the lake thoughtfully. After a moment his ears flicked back flat against his head, and he resumed cuddling the larger warmth that was Laraph - much too deep for him! He didn't want to swim that far yet! I can't swim that far, but Mine can! Maybe she can teach me better, and I'll get bigger and then I can catch fish! He finished, pricking his ears forward again and sounding very excited with this idea, as it just occurred to him. Certainly, he could catch little fish now, but wouldn't bigger fish be better? His had said something about much larger fish in the ocean - she said it was bigger than this pond, but it couldn't be much bigger! Certainly, Laraph would one day be large enough to wade through that, as well!

Oh! Yes, yes she is! She said we'd swim today! Maybe yours can swim too? Othokenph trilled, craning his head around to peer at the two humans. On the shore, T'gan had extended a hand to I'dou - offering the other girl a hand up, asking if she would join her. A broad grin spanned the girl's lips, hopeful. "Cold'll wake you up, an' maybe after we can sunbathe a while, or go ta a nice heated bath, yeah?"

[winged]

The callousness with which T'gan shucked her outer layer of clothing was far less a shock to I'dou than her former self would have liked to admit. There came a certain, arbitrary acceptance of privacy and the lack thereof in the Eyrie - one person's business often snowballed into the collective business of the entire compound. It was just the natural order of things, and even stiff-necked I'dou had been rubbed off on. Demonstrated quite easily by her continued observance as T'gan essentially stripped, her gaze intense for all of the inherent laziness she displayed now whilst basking in the sun.

The blue rider's laughter did catch the gray rider slightly off guard. Heavy eyelashes fluttered as she blinked a few times in disgruntlement, before the infectious chuckling inspired a goofy and entirely awkward smile on I'dou's face. Her lips curved in a tilted sort of smirk, she chuffed in response to the other girl's humor, surprised at the pleasant thrill of sharing in another's amusement. Her stomach even made the ponderous effort of a flop, enough motivation to push I'dou into sitting upright once more, flash suffused with color.

"...I suppose." A dawdling sort of response, as the gray rider gazed out towards the two simourv, now nestled closely and sociably in one another's company. It was clear that the woman was still hesitant about 'diving' into the situation however. Levity was once more beginning to settle in, an always steady counterpart to gleeful ambition. It wasn't really punctuated which statement she was responding to - perhaps one, or all, or even none. She continued to muse thoughtfully to herself for a good stretch of time following, however.

Laraph had watched and cheered Othokenph on from her comfortably stationary position, content to slosh about the shallows and watch the smaller male canter excitedly about. You're very good! I wish I could hop like that... She cut a lean figure, poised and positively elegant at the best of times, but still some of her youthful clumsiness shone through. The gray did manage an experimental hop of her own, and quickly concluded that the rocks were just too slippery and slimy under her talons to provide much purchase for such endeavors. And besides, it was a very big effort to heave all of herself up in one pounce! Flight seemed a technical impossibility still - how did the big ones launch themselves skyward?

Her wandering thoughts were quickly reined in as her sharp eyes picked up on Othokenph's wild flailings, a concerned chirp and an intervening step forward proved unnecessary as the blue righted himself once more, and then proceeded to splash up to nestle into her feathered side. An entirely maternal impulse spurred the gray to nuzzle her smaller brother, and tuck him under one still underdeveloped wing. She very much liked Oth - he was silly, but he had a big heart, and he loved everyone too! Be careful not to fall! It hurts. She knew, from experience. Those pebbles left lots and lots of little bruises.

Yours is a good swimmer, isn't she? Laraph was absolutely impressed with the fact that T'gan could swim out so deep, and she was so tiny, too! Tiny like her own rider, which was maybe not so small to them, but to a fully grown simourv most humans were squishy little pink things. The mention of fish brought a fresh rush of excited babble to the forefront, however. Oh I LOVE fish! It's tasty, and it's fun to catch too! A very nice treat, for when she managed to come out here.

As a matter of fact, the gray subconsciously scanned the disturbed surface of the shallows, searching for the wriggly shadows that gave away the fish skirting their scaled feet. Oh, I don't think so...I'dou doesn't swim. A little sigh belied her lament over just such a fact. If only!

Back on shore, I'dou still straddled the fence on the issue of swimming. With T'gan's hand stretched so invitingly before her, the young woman worried the inside of her cheek as she stared inscrutably at the fingers beckoning her. It'll be okay. Some inner devil still defiantly argued for just the opposite, but a wisp of good faith finally gave her the nudge she needed, and with a gusty exhalation, I'dou grasped T'gan's hand gamely, smirk splitting into a slanted grin. "Yeah." She didn't have to go anywhere near the deeper waters, after all. It could just be a quick dip, no harm in that...

Assisted off the boulder, I'dou began making tracks toward the lake, before realizing that she, too, should leave some traces of clothing behind to warm up in upon her return. "...heh." Sheepishly, she released her hand from T'gan's own, before yanking off her own tunic, leaving on the shabby slip of a shirt she'd worn underneath. The pants, however, remained. Tossing her shirt, bound to become wrinkled for its neglect, alongside the other girl's articles of clothing, I'dou finished off with a perfunctory nod. "Okay, NOW I think I'm ready."