Aquaphobia (Open)

[Ember]

With a sigh the girl untied another boat from the shallow dock carefully. Sometimes the boats were lifted up on shore but they were generally kept in the water for quick use. Nephele, being the smart but not super bright girl we all love, decided to simply wash the boats in te water. So much simpler that way. She was dressed in probably her skimpiest outfit. She wasn't entirely body modest but she did see the need to wear something while swimming...or at least being in the water. She had made edits to a skirt and a bra so that it at least covered her girly bits for the shy boys and fellow girls.

NepheleMine, NepheleMine! The girl blinked slugishly at her half grown green before grinning sheepishly. "Sorry Nuoth, seems I spaced out a bit." So I noticed! I was asking if you wanted me to help again? The green had been a tremendous help. When ever the girl flipped over a boat to scrub the bottom free of slime and general grossness an air pocket was formed that made turning it back over a bit hard. Having had a rather ingenous idea, Nephele had gotten her green to push down on one end with her superior strength. The boat easily lifted up on the other end, allowing Nephele to grab it and flip it. The end result was a clean, mostly dry (on the inside) boat.

It was also a point of safety that she have Nuoth always nearby, in case she wandered a bit too far out. Nephele could not swim for the life of her. For what purpose did a Benden woman need to learn to swim, after all? Nephele dragged the cleaned boat back through the water and retied it to the dock, humming a slightly dark tune to herself. A pair of higher pitched voices trilling along with her made the girl smile genuinely. "Come to play have you?" she called to her two brown firelizards who were putting on a lovely little aerial display. Silly creatures. Both she and Nuoth had become awfully fond of them. Suddenly Charming divebombed the water right next to her. The small splash made her giggle, and Misfit's splash right after amused her even further.

A break might not be a bad idea. She turned away from the boats and walked out to where Nuoth stood. The green extended a wing to assist Hers, crooning lovingly. Nephele hugged tight to her dragon and she shivered as she felt her feet leave the bottom. She trusted Nuoth but it was still a scary experience. I don't suppose the wooden carriers are supposed to leave without someone? "No..." Then you may want to stop that one. Just under the concern in the green's mindvoice was a slight amusement. Nephele turned to see one of the boats drifting along with the current. "Oh, wherryteeth."

The girl pushed off from Nuoth, using the momentum to carry her to a place she could walk along before going after the boat. Nephele reached the tips of her toes far sooner than she got to the boat. "Nuoth! I can't get it. Could you please?" The green crooned and began to swim after it, graceful form easily catching up to the boat. NepheleMine, you should learn how to swim. Then we could swim together and you would not have to make me get things that float away. "I know, I know..."

[Rowana]

Wheee! Peppeth charged into the water, throwing up more water than seemed logical give her size. Waves rocked the boats and soaked the nearby bank. Hello, little sister Nuoth! Peppeth's head popped up out of the water as she called brightly. Are you swimming today? The small green rarely went swimming herself, but she loved to do anything as long as it was with a friend. Hers never went swimming, hence why she rarely got the chance.

Farryl winced at Peppeth's antics. If she wasn't careful, she would ruin all of the weyrlings hard work. She trotted up the the edge of the river, very careful not to touch the water. "I'm sorry, Nephele!" she called. "Peppeth doesn't know the meaning of patience." She tried to hide the discomfort in her face. She shouldn't be nervous. It wasn't like she was in the water. Still, looking at them in it made her a little squeamish.

Hobbs crooned and nuzzled her. Was she upset? "I'm fine, silly," she patted him. "Now go play." Hobbs trilled merrily and splashed in next to Charming and Misfit by way of introduction. Surely his brown kin would love to play! Zellos raised his head for a moment to survey the scene. A pointless exercise and such unimportant people too. Not a bronze or gold among them. Deciding there was no one interesting, he went back to his spot in Farryl's hair. She didn't like the water. They should leave. He glared at the offending river. Bad water he hissed. Zellos protect mine. Farryl chuckled. "I'm sure you will."

[Ember]

Nuoth ducked behind a wing as Peppeth threw up water in an energetic charge. Sure she was already wet, but it was instinct to block anyways. As the other green emerged again Nuoth fluttered her wings before folding them along her back again. Hello Peppeth, she responded, quiet mindvoice ringing with welcome. NepheleMine is cleaning the wooden carriers so I was swimming and watching. Watching because Hers was in danger any time she was in the water.

Nephele was surprised by the sudden rush of water caused by Peppeth's entrance. Having been precariously balanced on a rock, ready to push off so she could move a bit faster, the girl slipped and fell. Water rushed over her head and the girl flailed for a moment before she realized she could stand. Oops. Fail, much? NepheleMine, are you alright? I'm fine. Just slipped. Nephele walked closer to the shore and smiled a bit shakily at Farryl. "No problem at all Farryl. Its been a while. How are you?"

Charming fluted pleasantly at Hobbs. Playing was good and in such good company as himself and his girl's other brown it was even better! Misfit paddled in circles around Hobbs before paddling off in a completely different direction. Charming dove under the water, passing under Hobbs, before surfacing and following Misfit. A game of follow the leader, anyone?

[Rowana]

"Nephele!" Farryl couldn't hide the panic in her voice as the other girl went under. No no no! She should help! She should do something, anything! But the moment was past, and Nephele was standing. Farryl hoped she hadn't heard her scream. She felt silly. Of course the water wasn't that deep. Shards, it was only the river after all. Peppeth bowed her head and bobbed closer to Nephele in concern. I am sorry! she wailed at Nuoth. I did not mean to! Is Yours alright?

Hobbs whistled happily and started to swim after Charming. Then Misfit went another way, which way should he take. Where had Charming gone? Hobbs laughed in delight. He was underneath him! What a splendid game! Hobbs turned, splashing water with his wings at Charming before swimming after him. Where would they go next?

Farryl recovered from her breif panic and waved to Nephele. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. She walked around to the other girl and looked her over quickly. She was wet, but she looked ok. "And I'm fine," she added as an after thought. As long as I don't have to do that, she thought. Zellos just ignored them all, yawning and glaring spitefully at the river.

[Ember]

Just before she'd heard the rush of water in her ears, Nephele heard her name shouted. The girl reached out to give Peppeth a quick reassuring pat that she could dodge if she wanted to. She shook out her hair a little before heading even closer to shore with a tentative half-smile. She was a bit touched that Farryl would be so concerned over her. She waved dismissively (despite being a little shaken still) and said, "I'm alright."

Nuoth swam closer to Peppeth and reached out with her snout, comforting nature taking over. Be easy, Peppeth. NepheleMine is alright. No harm has come to anyone. The green then crooned very quietly. See? She is with Yours now. Land is safe. Poor Peppeth. It was not her intention to give hers an unexpected dunk. Nuoth could hardly hold it against her.

Nephele was indeed on land. She stretched upwards languidly as she approached Farryl. She hoped the girl didn't mind seeing so much flesh. It wasn't like she was completely naked...Aaaanyways. "What brings you here? Come to swim in the river with Peppeth?" The girl asked. She tilted her head to the left and proceeded to wring the water from her hair. Bleck. She'd really need a bath after all her aquatic activities. Really, rivers just weren't as clean as drawn water with sweetsand.

Charming trilled as he was splashed, which in turn made Misfit stop and look back. Ooh, water throwing! The second brown came in as Charming stopped swimming to splash Hobbs back. Whee! Both browns ruthlessly threw up water, chittering away the whole time in amusement. Misfit and Charming certainly were the playful two.

[Rowana]

Farryl's eyes flashed fearfully for a moment, but she recovered herself quickly. "Oh, no." She shook her head vigoursly. "I'm not much fun around water," she admitted with a sad smile. She knew it really was silly, especially now that Peppeth was around. Her green was a fairly good swimmer, despite not having much practice and the river wasn't all that deep. Still, she never could seem to get over her fears, built in from childhood. "Are you doing chores?" she asked, to change the subject. Boat duty had always been one of her least favorite tasks.

Peppeth watched Nephele anxiously for a moment until she was sure the girl was alright. Oh good! Very good! Yours is not upset? she swam back and forth with nervous energy. Farryl-mine gets very upset near water. She titled her head curiously. Maybe not all Mines can float? she suggested thoughtfully.

Hobbs shrieked playfully. Now he was covered in water! Well, he had been wet before, but that wasn't the point. He wanted to make Charming and Misfit just as wet as he was. Hobbs reared a little in the water and flapped his wings, sending little waves of water at the browns. Take that! He trilled mischievously. He could be playful too!

[Ember]

Nephele's smile grew slightly at Farryl's words. She wasn't very fun in the water either. It was kind of annoying how much her mindmates liked it and yet she couldn't enjoy swimming with them. She nodded at the question, glancing at the boats with a bit of paranoia. She really didn't want one to float away again. "Yeah, I was. Almost done cleaning them finally. I can't say its one of my favourite chores." She shook her head and sighed. Probably the worst chore for the girl. It was bad enough having to use the boats..but cleaning them? Horrible chore!

Nuoth was relieved to see Peppeth calming down...somewhat. Such an energetic green! Nuoth admired her energy and drfited backwards politely. NepheleMine is not upset because of you. The green doubted very much that the other green could annoy Hers at all. NepheleMine is uncomfortable in the water too. Hers did not hide this fact from most people, so Nuoth saw no harm informing Peppeth of this. Nuoth nodded appreciatively at the suggestion. That did seem to be the case for Hers.

Charming and Misfit burst into excited squeaks at the return splashing. The latter dove under the water and swam underneath Hobbs to splash him from the other side while Charming started to splash the blue in order to distract him from the other brown.

[Rowana]

Farryl chuckled. She was relaxing now that the threat of swimming was over. "Boats were my least favorite chore," she agreed with a shudder at the memory. Being a weyrling had certainly had its ups and downs, siege not withstanding. A sad, distant look appeared on her face. Most of her weyrling class were gone now. To think that only a turn or so ago they had all been together, laughing over chores or their weyrling master. Farryl shook herself and smiled at Nephele. "How's Nuoth doing?" she asked. "She must be almost ready to fly now."

Peppeth slowed her swimming down a bit and flicked the water with her tail. She watched the ripples in amusement for a moment, before looking back at Nuoth. Would you like to play? she asked hopefully. The fire lizards looked like they were having fun. Peppeth sent an experimental splash Nuoth's way. Hobbs was feeling a little resentful. Two on one, that was so unfair! Hobbs squawked and dove under the water. Ha! They couldn't splash him here! With a twist, he shot under Charming and popped up on the other side. Let's see if they could catch him!

[Ember]

Nephele tilted her head ever so slightly at the suddenly distant and sad expression on Farryl's face. Her brow creased slightly in worry before it cleared at the other girl's smile. The change of topic was very welcome and the young woman turned to glance at her green. When she turned to Farryl to answer she had a bit of a rueful smile on her face. "She's good. Her eating has settled down, thank Faranth. I thought she'd never stop eating so much!" Of course Farryl would be able to understand what she was talking about. They'd both gone through it, after all.

As for flight...Nuoth was what...almost 7 months? Nephele considered it for a moment before smiling and adding, "Yeah, flight lessons musn't be too far off." Nuoth was getting pretty big. The girl had made some silent comparisons with the other greens in the weyrling class and Nuoth seemed to be a bit on the large size. It was a bit hard to tell though, since every dragon grew at slightly different rates. Some matured sooner than others too. Nuoth was still a ways off from maturity though. She still often thought like a child ought. So naive and so very sweet.

Said green was busy considering the idea of a game. She didn't want to refuse and it honestly seemed like fun. A game sounds like a good idea, Nuoth informed the smaller green. The small wave of water that hit her made her eyes whirl a bit faster. She sent a return splash, realizing they were copying the firelizards. Or had been. Now it looked like they had shifted games. Both browns chirped in near unison when Hobbs popped up behind Charming. They swam towards the blue while chattering with amusement.