Swim Lessons|Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

"This is going to be so much fun!" Luminous enthused as she crouched at the lake's edge, reaching down to splash her hand in the water.

"Are you certain she should be dressed this way?" Lya asked Cascata, looking at her daughter in some concern. Luminous had been made to dress in one of her heavier slips. It was still fairly loose and light, but it wasn't so flimsy as to be seen through, unlike her summer slips. Beneath that she wore a pair of flying trousers that had been selected for her not more than a month ago in anticipation of her upcoming flying lessons.

All in all, she seemed very scantily clad to Lya. But Luminous seemed giddy in her freedom from clothes, even as she did blush and shy away from Lucid now and then.

"She's perfectly well dressed for a Rondian girl her age," Cascata replied. "I know you mountain folk are a little more strict, but she can't be wearing anything fine or heavy in the water. She'd sink like a rock. This will do nicely."

[Devon]

Lucid was wading in the water, he didn't have his shirt on as was common for most Rondian boys his age, but he wore his pants instead of shorts like he usually would have. "Mother when do you want to show her how to swim?" he asked his mom in regards to Luminous. "And don't worry Your Majesty, the Princess is in the hands of the best swimmer in Ronduin!"

[Northen Light36]

"I'm sure she is," annouced a voice.

Shadow smiled as he dismounted from his horse - not Lightning, since the old horse really was too tired to carry his master. While Shadow had been in Fira, Ann had insisted on Shadow selecting a new horse and letting Lightning live out the rest of his days with the herds in Fira. Shadow had selected a charming black stallion with a white blaze down his nose and four pretty white socks. The horse's youth and engry almost made up for it's rider's appearent sorrow and tiredness.

"Flash told me you'll all come up here for a lesson," Shadow said, smiling despite himself. "I'm glad I didn't miss it. And relax Lya, love. Lumi would likely be wearing a lot less if she was having this lesson in Fira." He chuckled as he teased his wife.

[Kender Bard]

"Shadow!" Lya exclaimed in surprise and hurried to greet Shadow with a hug.

"Father!" Luminous called out, waving, before beginning to wade out in the water. "Teach me now, Lucid!"

Cascata wore her swimming clothes, as she never left home without them, even on planned trips to places like Maelstrom. She swam around the lake, apparently blissful to be back in her element.

[Devon]

Kalian joined Cascata in the water, slowly circling around her, but keeping an eye out for Luminous and Lucid.

Lucid swam over to Luminous quickly and decided for her lesson she should stay in the shallowest part of the water for now. "all right we can start with the basic motion," he said taking her hands. "Relax your body so you start to float, I'll hold your hands and you practice kicking her feet." he told her.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow hugged Lya back tightly and quietly murmured in a soft, almost sobbing voice, "I love you, I love you, I love you... I don't say that anywhere near enough." After a moment, he pulled himself together and forced a smile. "I hope you didn't miss me too much, love?"

Despite the false smile, pain, sorrow and a trace of anger were still visible in his eyes. The expression seemed to age him and leave him tired. It was a far cry from the usual healthy and joyful look a visit to Fira usually gave him.

[Kender Bard]

Lya held Shadow tightly during his murmurs and her look was one of deep concern at his expression. She stroked his cheek softly, her eyes searching over his face. "I missed you terribly, my dear," she told him. "And I'm glad you're home."

---

"This feels a little silly," Luminous told him, squealing when she got waist deep in the water. But she did as he bade, thrashing about like a novice but in no danger. "Like that?"

Cascata smiled and playfully splashed Kalian, even as she watched over the children as well. "This was a good idea. Every child should know how to swim."

[Devon]

Kalian dove under the water, when he came up again he wrapped his arms around Cascata's waist from behind. Hugging her he replied,"Yes they should and I must say they do look awfully cute in their lesson."

"It is at first," Lucid admitted with a smile. "But it helps to learn the form, try not to thrash about, calm down and move your legs gently," he told her. "You don't want to fight the water, no one ever wins, you have to relax and go with the flow of it," he explained.

[Kender Bard]

"But I'll sink," Luminous replied nervously, even as she tried to do as he said. As soon as she did start to sink, a little, she squealed and planted her feet back down. "Promise you won't let my head go under," she demanded.

[Devon]

Lucid giggled at her softly. "I promise Luminous, but if you don't want your head to go under you have to keep moving your legs. When you can keep yourself up with your legs, then I'll show you how to use your arms as well."

[Kender Bard]

"All right," she agreed and began to kick in the water, splashing around with her arms a bit whenever she started to bob downward. "I-is this good?"

[Devon]

"Yes you're getting better at it," he told her. After a while of her kicking he decided he'd move on to the next step and show her how to move her arms through the water. "all right, stand on your feet Luminous, we'll move our arms and then put the arms and legs together in the water."

[Kender Bard]

Luminous stood and mimicked the movement of his arms, giggling. "This feels silly," she admitted. "How long did it take you to get really good at swimming?"

[Devon]

"It didn't take me too long," Lucid admitted. "But I'm a Water so I guess it's just easier for me to swim," he told her. Lucid looked over to his mother and shook his head at his father's open display of affection. "Adults," he muttered. "Mom, am I missing anything in Luminous' lesson?" he asked her from afar.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow smiled tiredly, watching his daughter and Libre. "Looks like they're having fun," he murmured softly. He leant against Lya, just a little, drawing comfort from her presence. "I've missed you too, love," he murmured softly. "But at the same time... I'm glad you were here, not in Fira with me... We may end up having Flame as a guest, by the way. I hope you don't mind?"