An SOS to the world [Vix]

[Avu]

Tekivisk offered a rumbling purr, wiggling closer into the contact while it was offered. The green fell into step cheerfully after Konstask, humming her agreement. Even if it wouldn’t be easy, it would be fun. And oh, she would looove to be able to show their siblings. Teach them too, yes? The very thought of being allowed to teach had Tekivisk giving an excited little wriggle: It would be so much fun. She scooted after Konstask, content to follow just behind and a little to the left of her sister. It wasn’t like she knew where they were going, after all. Her wings flapped with each step, water dripping from the folds of membrane and down her sides, the green occasionally pausing to shake water off of her hide. Cold, but it wasn’t like anything so minor would deter her for long.

Vix’s eyes narrowed in response to Kostya’s smile, the younger tucking his chin in a little defiantly. It didn’t appear as if the other was going to say anything, though. Fortunately. For Vix, at least. He dropped his hand when he realized Mirage wasn’t on him anymore, sliding his hands into his pocket. Feeling Rook there, still about as responsive as a rock, was almost a surprise. Eh. Hopefully he wouldn’t wake up for awhile. Carefully retracting his hand from that pocket, Vix drifted after Kostya and the two whers, focusing more on Konstask and Tekivisk than on Kostya.

Especially since Kostya was apparently planning on swimming without clothes on.

Logically, it made sense. Wet clothes were bad. But still. It was kind of a public place. Well, his choice. Vix wasn’t going to be acting as a look-out for anyone but Tekivisk. He shrugged at the question, clearing his throat before he answered, not-very-subtly trying to edge around the question. “Um. Depends. How big, exactly, did you mean…and how deep…”

Which was basically a very roundabout way of saying no. It hadn’t occurred to him before that, yeah, guess what, if you want to rescue a wher from drowning, it’s probably a good idea to be able to swim. Perfect. He crinkled his nose, automatically defensive, as he explained, “Never had any reason to learn. Or a teacher.” Or time, or a place, or anything to swim in because he kind of wasn’t about to swim nude outside. Ever, if he could help it. It also didn’t make things any better that he hated the idea of putting his head entirely underwater.

Tekivisk, ahead of them, paused to turn her head back, barking in delight when she realized he’d followed. The green’s suggestion brushed across his mind: He could learn to swim with them. Not a wher, but surely the differences weren’t that great.

[rii]

Teach them? Konstask considered the idea. She would much rather be able to boast of her skills above all the others – make them envy her. She didn't mind sharing the skills with her sisters because, well, Tekivisk was her sister. It made her different than all the brother siblings. It didn't have to make sense – it just was. Konstask glided along, each of her prancing steps short and light against the ground. After a moment she agreed to Tekivisk's desire to teach the others. They could be like the mentors (only better).

Kostya paused mid-step, holding the position until Vix walked more alongside him than behind him. If asked he would of mused that it was difficult to have a conversation that way – but really Kostya just wanted to see the other wherling's facial expressions. Priceless were the little narrowed glares, even more so the words. Kostya's lips twitched, but he did his best to not out-right grin. The smile was kept simple and close lipped.

"How fortunate for you then," Kostya pivoted on the spot upon reaching the swimming hole some soul had thought to dig out next to a large boulder that was likely used as a jumping point. The vest was tossed over nearby rock, Kostya facing Vix as he pulled the pale long sleeve shirt off over his head. "Now you have a reason, and a teacher."

Shouldn't of said anything if he expect Kostya not to pick up on opportunity – and even as subdued the smile was, the dancing amusement in his pale eyes said it all. He had no idea that Tekivisk had offered the same solution. If he had he likely would have tried to use the wher to further try to subtly pressure Vix into the water. Instead Kostya arched a single brow at the younger male. Waiting to have the idea shot down – then burned for good measures. His fingers found the latched of his belt as he tossed a glance over his shoulder at the greens. "Go ahead and play girls, we'll be in shortly."

Konstask was.. eying the large rock since she had caught the stray thought from her handler. Her tail coiled behind her, a clue to her rising dare-devil to do something amazing. No baby steps for her! With a deciding bounce, Konstask began to lope around the swimming hole to find a way to get to the tall rock.

[Avu]

Yesss.

The appeal of being with all of her clutchsiblings (or at least most of them) lay mostly in that they would be there, all together. Teaching them was secondary, really, even though that would be fun, too, Tekivisk was sure, being the one to help them. And they, the two greens of the clutch, she and Konstask, they’d be the first to learn how to swim, surely? The small green crooned quietly as her sister took off around the pool. Towards what, she wasn’t exactly sure, so Tekivisk flopped flat onto her stomach instead, wiggling forward until she could peer into the water, fascinated by the deepness. Of course, there were shallows too, but she’d never been in so deep.

The high, excited croon she offered, though, came out relatively muffled as she huffed her breath out at the water simultaneously, watched the ripples dance away from her. It was starting to get cold, wet and out of the water as she was; Tekivisk leaned forward a little more, her forelegs sliding into the water, and wagged her tail, glancing back over her shoulder at Hers and Kostya. Huuuurry, she wanted to swiiim. Her head tilted, jaws agape in a sheepish ‘smile’, and the little green thought to tack on to the end: Please?

Yeah, he’d so seen that coming. Vix stopped, too, and did not look at Kostya as the other male began to strip. Between Hold and Weyr customs, the Hold ones were still the stronger – nudity in public was one of the few things Vix was fairly certain would never quite sit right with him. Of course, Kostya was also possibly one of those things. He wet his lips, pressed them together. For Tekivisk, he would swim. And given that he was fairly certain Kostya wasn’t planning on spontaneously drowning him, his being the teacher wasn’t really a problem, either.

He still objected.

Vix kind of felt like he was expected to, and maybe if he didn’t object for once, he might actually cease to be as amusing or whatever it was to Kostya, but it was still habit. He crossed his arms across his chest, said flatly, “It’s freezing out. And I don’t – ” his cheeks darkened slightly “ – go around in public without clothes on.” And yes, the statement was faintly accusing. He glanced at Tekivisk, pawing at the water, and turned to pull himself up onto the rock to sit. “Get back to me in spring. Or summer. When people actually start to have things to swim in.” He hesitated, shrugged. “They’re waiting for you.”

[rii]

Kostya scratched idly at his bared collar bone, watching Vix's adverted face a moment before tossing the belt onto the growing pile. The faint smile didn't waver. Kostya never failed to be amused by something in any given situation. At the moment, Vix's determination to look elsewhere held Kostya's interest. Stubbornly turned to make sure Kostya was out of line of sight, even peripherals. Kostya humored himself with the idea that Vix was tempted to look, throw in a strong northern upbringing and thus the uncomfortable tone and stance.

See, there he went again, analyzing – but it was an amusing thought to bat around. A shame he couldn't see the blush from his current angle. Could imagine it well enough, but no, it went unseen. Of course, didn't stop Kostya from trying to playfully needle out that exact reaction in response to the accusing tone. "I'm not that terrible to look at, am I?"

After loosening the ties to the front of his pants, just enough to loosen his waist line, Kostya moved over to sit on the rock Vix's had claimed. Letting his back accidentally touch against the other as he leaned forward to take off his boot. "Not that cold," He shrugged – in his mind nothing could compare to that night spend drifting on wreckage in the ocean. "I've only been here about.. half a turn. Prefer this more than the heat. Besides.." One boot slid off, Kostya sitting up straight in the removal process – and leaning more against Vix's back. He half pivoted to glance over his shoulder. "You've never went skinny dipping in a lake under the moonlight?"

He already knew the answer to the question – just couldn't help himself really. Vix, despite looking beyond adolescent, struck Kostya as being very young. Among other things. "And they're waiting for us," The boot was tossed toward the other rock. "Live a little."

Claws could be heard scraping along the rocks as Konstask struggled to find a way to the top of the larger boulder. Her frustration could be heard as her tail angrily smacked the ground after each failed attempt. It was trumped, however, but the sudden wide broadcast of images of Vix eating little salamandyrs. There was one in his pocket and it wasn't moving. More images of Piden eating salamandyrs followed. See, see, those two must be related. The white's thin tail could be seen flicking back and forth from inside Vix's pocket – where she had tried to sneak inside to find the music box. Instead she found the sleeping Rook.

"Er, what is she talking about..?"

[Avu]

“Hnn?”

Eloquence, thy name was Vix. The sound was accompanied by a glance at Kostya, the instinct to look overcoming his conscious decision not to. He caught himself a minute later, late enough that averting his gaze would’ve just looked awkward, and huffed out his breath in irritation at himself. “Stunning,” he replied dryly, because sarcasm was easier than trying to figure out the truth. It wasn’t like he was exactly familiar with what was supposed to be attractive in other male’s body. Vix pulled his legs up onto the rock, crossing them loosely. And resisted the temptation of shoving back against Kostya when the older decided it was a good idea to get so close to him.

He did kind of shove when Kostya leaned on him even more. Although it wasn’t really much of a shove, more of a slight jab with his elbow against Kostya’s ribs, Vix automatically arching away from the contact. His nose crinkled at Kostya’s words, and he barely managed to keep the stammer out of his voice when he replied, torn between indignation and embarrassment. “’Course I haven’t!”

Probably would’ve come out better if he’d sounded appropriately scandalized instead of uncertain, but it was the thought that counted. It also would’ve come out better (at least to himself) if he hadn’t actually been considering the merits of learning to swim, chances of freezing to death be damned. Vix offered a hesitant hum in response to Kostya’s words, narrowing his eyes in the whers’ directions, and – winced at the images being shoved into his head. One hand lifted to his forehead, his first and middle fingers pressed lightly against one eyelid, the pad of his thumb against the other.

“Ngh,” he replied, and automatically looked down for his Salamandyr. The little white tail proved most enlightening, and Vix scowled slightly. “She’s talking about Rook. He eats sugar, bounces off the walls for awhile, and crashes. He’s dead asleep and I like it better when he is.” Vix hesitated, glanced once more at the water, and Tekivisk chose that moment to pull at his mind hopefully from where she was wading in the shallows. “And fine. I’ll swim. Or try to. I’m not swimming naked, though.” He’d just…swim in his underwear, go commando back to the Barracks. That’d be fine. Kind of.

“How’re we gonna dry off?” he added belatedly, halfway through pulling his shirt over his head. The question came out distinctly muffled. Folding the shirt mechanically, Vix reached into his pocket to pull Mirage out so he could take his pants off, dropped a still-sleeping Rook onto the rock, and then wiggled the music box out of his pocket, too. Emptying his pockets was relatively easy. Actually taking his pants off in public? Not so much.

[rii]

The elbow was taken in good stride. It was better than having Vix storm off to the other side of the swimming hole. Kostya knew he was pressing his luck. Although didn't he start doing that months ago by convincing the wherling to share a bed – belated thanks owed to Tekivisk. And now to strip. Kostya was fairly sure Vix wasn't picking up on the origin of his playful teasing. Seemed to be utterly oblivious. It was cute.

Kostya pulled off his other boot, squinting curiously at limp blue dumped like random pocket junk on the rock. If it was anything like Marsayis's nonsensical brown then he too had no desire to wake the creature. By the looks of it, the music box got more tender love and care. Kostya rubbed the side of his nose, half hiding the smile he directed at Vix "Fair enough." It was more than Kostya expected in the first place – Vix agreeing to get in the water.

Should he mention that he hadn't thought that far through with the impromptu decision to swim? It wasn't the grandest of ideas – he knew this. Kostya didn't believe in making plans. Doing so set himself up to be disappointed when things went awry. He got ideas at times, but still held to the belief it was better, and more fun, to just go with the flow. Taking advantage of Vix's blinded state, Kostya let his eyes pass over the other's exposed torso before adverting to Tekivisk in the shallows. His shoulders raised in a care-free shrug. "The bathhouse isn't too far away. They've towels. Would offer there, but the pools aren't very deep and people don't take well to whers swimming in the — break that and I'm removing your tail."

Mirage frilled in alarm, making the music box rock as she bolted away to perch on the far edge of the rock. She effected a cower, not liking the sharp quality of his tone. Images were sent, of a gnashing fanged Kostya glaring at her. Scary scary – don't yell at her like that. Kostya let his narrowed eyes linger at her small frame before shifting the attention to his.. preening wher.

She did strike a magnificent sight though – didn't he agree? Konstask admired her reflection on the water's surface from where she poised on the large rock. Her tail made slow loops through the air, dancing to it's own song while Konstask hummed – so very pleased with herself. In his distraction, Kostya too had adopted something of a stance; even if it was subtle adjustment of angling his body to best use the available moon light.

Oh, but he was watching now. Konstask drew her head up, sounding a bark to get the attention of the others. With only the smallest hesitation, the green leapt off the rock. Her belly splash was followed with the movement of Kostya shedding the last of his clothing. A shiver shook his body as he slid fully into the water, treading out to aid his wher that was 'swimming' - if floundering in the water with frantic paddles could be called swimming. All the same, Konstask was damn proud of herself.

[Avu]

His hands had stalled near the fly of his pants, Vix, perhaps subconsciously, trying to put off actually stripping down to his underwear. So not comfortable without clothes on in public. Going without a shirt wasn’t unbearable, but pants were. “Bathing house has people, though,” he objected absently, before he twisted to see what, exactly, Mirage or Rook or whatever had done. “I don’t care if she plays with it. Doesn’t break that easily and I can fix it if it does.” Kind of liked Mirage, anyway – weird images aside. Wished, at least, that Rook showed even some passing interest in music boxes instead of candy, the infant.

He took advantage of Kostya’s inattention to actually strip out of his pants, pulling himself onto the rock to pull them off, and dropping them unfolded next to Rook and the music box. Just…in case he had to get redressed very quickly. And if Vix took a minute longer than was necessary fussing at his discarded clothing, nobody was going to notice – Kostya was, he hoped, busy with the whers. He approached the water slowly, and, unlike Kostya’s smooth entrance, started by dipping one foot in the water to test the temperature.

It came out again pretty quickly.

“Cold,” he complained to Tekivisk, who had padded over to him, mostly submerged. She blew a bubble in his direction, eyes bright blue. Had he seen Konstask’s entrance? So pretty, so daring. And now she was swimming, too – kind of. Vix teetered at the edge of the pool, still eyeing the water mistrustfully. “Yeah, I saw,” he replied grudgingly after a moment, and then sat down, deciding it’d be better not to just jump in…easing in would be better. Of course, it’d be better if it wasn’t just as cold out of the water, too, but…“Don’t watch me,” he muttered at Tekivisk, who pawed at his leg underwater, and crooned. “Go swim. Shoo. I’ll be in. Just…slowly.”

Very slowly, Tekivisk replied teasingly, the green practically bouncing in slow motion towards Kostya and Konstask. It wasn’t long before her paws couldn’t reach the surface and she went under for a moment, more out of surprise than anything else, and bobbed back up like a cork. The green flailed her paws, wings splaying out and splashing in the water. Her head was tilted up to keep her muzzle out of the water, a gurgling half-croon emerging from her throat. She wasn’t really…going anywhere…but she wasn’t drowning, either! Look!

Half-way in the water, Vix exhaled in relief. And then shivered. Again.

[rii]

Kostya resisted the temptation to look back over his shoulder – given he didn't care to be snapped at to not look if Vix got up the nerve to finish stripping. "Normally, yes, not so much at this time of night." An eyebrow arched, the smile on his lips but the expression was all to himself given he kept his back turned to the younger wherling. "I'd trust you don't bathe fully clothed."

Perhaps Kostya should have a touch more modesty than he did – but a person didn't travel around with Marsayis and not get use to seeing skin. In turn, the theory should work that hanging around Kostya would make a person get use to physical contact. It didn't seem to work that way. He wasn't complaining. Kostya enjoyed it far too much when they squirmed..

Cold was right. Kostya kept his head above the water as he moved further out to slide a hand under Konstask's chest to help her stay afloat. Her panting gasps met him, along with frantic paddles. "Slow down lovely.." He wasn't quite sure how to go about teaching the whers how to swim (or Vix for that matter). Teaching was never his thing. Kostya was more of the type to shove someone off a dock and let them figure out the 'swim' thing on their own.

A sharp rake of claws against his extended arm drew a growl from Kostya. "Stop. Flailing." Konstask huffed, sending a ripple of water away from her muzzles. She delved into his mind, commenting that he wasn't be very helpful before plucking out the needed images from his memories. Memories of how other four-legged animals swam. Working from this, and the helpful lift of Kostya's hand, she worked her paws in a slower fashion to paddle the water instead of slashing at it.

Sputtering from Tekivisk drew Kostya's attention – the other green wher too far for him to reach. "Oye, get your girl." Konstask half squealed her joy at her sister. Look at them both! Try this sister. Konstask shared the feeling of her own legs sliding through water, cupping the water the best she could with two toed feet. Experimentally Konstask added a sweep of her wings, barking in marvel of how it propelled her forward and away from the guiding hand. Sister, this worked wonderfully — and too caught up in her excitement, Konstask lost the rhythm of her pattern and disappeared under the surface.

.. oh, it worked under water too!

Kostya snorted as this thought, drifting over to pull his girl up by a spine on her neck. Konstask's head appeared, maw parting in glee and half-panting. Swimming was tiring work! "Only if you keep trying to run in the water.." He let her go again, pushing her haunch to send her on a course for her sister and Vix. "What about you," His eyes were on Vix once more. "Too cold to learn or.. "

Here he extended his hand, above the water, as if to invite Vix out to deeper waters.

[Avu]

“That’s different.” The response came out more defensive than Vix meant it to, and his voice actually broke on the last word embarrassingly as a full-body shiver slid down his spine. Actually, he wasn’t exactly sure how different bathing was from swimming, other than the fact that you had to actually stick around for a while in order to swim, whereas he bathed as fast as he could while still being thorough and then bolted. Communal bathing was not something he planned on getting used to and he probably looked pretty idiotic, but oh well.

Vix chewed at his lower lip as he eased himself a little further into the water, unable to stop another shiver as the water hit just above his hips. The waves that Tekivisk was producing (and Konstask, though most of those were barely ripples by the time they reached him) were not helping. The order to grab Tekivisk, though, was more than enough prompting – his wher didn’t feel like she was drowning, but if she needed help…he managed not to actually whine in disapproval as he lunged forward, almost missed his footing, and slid chest-deep in water.

His arms caught Tekivisk around the middle, though, the green burbling an excited greeting at him as she continued her indiscriminant flailing. The bottom of her foot caught against his thigh, and Vix automatically thrust the wher away from him, crinkling his nose in annoyance. Tekivisk crooned, tongue lapping warm against his wrist, and then attempted to mimic the feeling Konstask offered her. It probably would’ve worked better if Vix had been inclined to let her go. She squirmed, licked his wrist again. Let gooo, she could dooo it, she cooould…

Reluctantly, Vix eased his grasp on the green, and Tekivisk flailed for a moment before she managed to catch onto the pattern. She swam slower and more careful than her sister, head remaining above water as she paddled her way steadily towards Konstask, tail slithering like a rudder in her wake, her wings occasionally assisting with a push that sent her gliding forward smoothly. This was fun, so fun! Why hadn’t they done this sooner? And look, you could change directions with your tail, loooook…

Watching Tekivisk paddle her way through a wide circle, Vix snorted at the question, and shivered again. “Too cold to stand still,” he answered after a second. He’d just be even colder out of the water, dripping wet like he was. Might as well keep putting it off. He splashed out further, until he was within an arm’s length of Kostya, keeping an eye on Tekivisk and Konstask. “What…do I do?”

[rii]

She couldn't really look, per say, but Konstask grasped the feeling behind Tekivisk's message and promptly began experimenting on her own. Tail audibly smacked against the surface of the water – useless. She tried again, this time trying to wag her tail (which surprisingly took a good deal of effort on her tiring body). It did turn her – back and forth – but further attempts proved more successful. That is, if turning around in a circle could be labeled as a success.

Konstask reached out when Tekivisk nearer, laying her muzzles on her sister's back and instantly pulling back in alarm when it caused the other green to dip under the water. Oops. Konstask lowered her head to the water, burbling some form of apology – or just attempting to send the bubbles toward Tekivisk. Her tail struck then, coming out of the water to send a splash at the other wher. Ha-ha. Konstask attempted a turn and tried to swim away. Her progress was too slow to be called a get-away, but try she did.

Vix's question was expected, but Kostya still didn't have an answer. Showing had the same problem it did with the whers. The waters too dark in the night to be able to see the motions, and teaching Vix the another way would require touching the younger male – something Kostya assume would not be well received. He eased away from Vix, foot slipping on rocks to send an arm flailing and him nearly sinking under the surface.

He pushed off with the other foot, grinning widely at the little slip-up. "Well.." he ventured, gliding into the deeper water with a small kick and sweep of arms. "I think it would start by trusting yourself to float.. where you can still touch.. just.. lean forward.. let your legs drift up.. hands cupped.. pushing water from in front to the side... although if that's too nerve wracking can just learn to float on your back. It's relaxing.. people.. naturally float.. like that.."

If his voice was trailing off, Kostya wasn't noticing. Pale eyes were focused on the surface of the water, watching the pale skin of his own arm pass just underneath the water. A disquieting image drifted through his mind. Dead people floated like that to – but remember, she looked so.. "Peaceful."

[Avu]

Tekivisk burbled an excited greeting to Konstask as soon as she reached the other green – a chirping excitement cut off when she bobbed under, unable to compensate for the foreign touch. Startled, the green flailed, cutting off the steady rhythm that she’d fallen into, and snorted as she popped back up like a cork. Wobbling, she flapped her wings, and then crooned at Konstask again, sneezing out what little water she’d inhaled. She wobbled comically again when the other green sent a wave of water at her, tipping and falling with the ripples, and was momentarily content to bob up and down.

That amusement passed quickly, though, and Tekivisk blew a stream of bubbles in Konstask’s wake before she paddled out again, trying to go faster this time to catch up with her sister. She twisted her wings, using them to scoop at the water like paddles, and half-glided and half-swam until she could reach out and mouth at Konstask’s tail, tugging playfully before the idea came to mind. Pull her? They could take turns if her sister wanted to, just…like…thiiis…she reached out to catch at Konstask’s tail loosely again. She wouldn’t normally suggest such an idea – it would hurt – but the water made her light, yes?

The contrast in his feelings from Tekivisk’s was getting very, very difficult to figure out – the green was broadcasting, shard her, whether she knew it or not (likely she didn’t). Vix narrowed his eyes in her direction, but she didn’t look and he didn’t have the heart to flail at her, even mentally. When he’d started fretting so much about her emotional well-being, he didn’t know, but…

It was good, actually. It was. Made it easier to trust the water, because she liked it and she wasn’t afraid. Of course, Vix wasn’t sure whether Tekivisk even knew how to be afraid, but…it was still good. It lessened some of his apprehension, in any case. Cautiously, he settled himself a little lower in the water, eyes on the undefined blob that was a Kostya. And he tried. He really did. Being able to swim was a good thing, something he probably would need sometime, and he wanted to be able to. Especially if Tekivisk was going to – he hated the idea of her swimming without him. The mental image came with a big red flashing ‘DANGER’ sign.

The feeling of water closing around his neck and chest was unexpectedly tight. His breath hitched, caught, something Vix very dearly hoped would be put down to the coldness. For a moment, he did float, not really going anywhere, head keeping his head as far out of the water as he could, concentrating more on being able to draw his breath than on the rest of his body. The moment passed fairly quickly, and Vix instinctively sought the bottom with one foot, curling his toes into dirt and stone, arms ceasing their motion and drifting back to his sides.

“I can’t,” he said, had to pause because he knew it sounded dumb, crinkled his nose and finished with some resignation, “breathe. Like that.” Another pause, this time Vix doing his best to make out what Kostya was doing in what little light there was. “Um…?”

Eloquence, thy name was Vix.

[rii]

Konstask's forward momentum paused with the tug on her tail. A confused mix between a growl and a bark rumbled in her throat. Her feet frantically paddling to get back into motion, only to have her tail seized again. Konstask did her best to regard her sister while still remaining afloat. Pull? She didn't know how that was suppose to work, but might as well give it a try. Putting as much steam as possible into her swimming, Konstask slowly built up momentum to tug Tekivisk behind her (I think I can, I think I can.. ) The whippy green wasn't going to lie, it was tiring work, and with growing heavy breaths Konstask steered herself toward the shore..

Absently Kostya drifted back to where he could touch. Thumb and forefinger worried at the silver ring adorning his neck. Remove from reality and living in his thoughts in those few moments. His pale eyes darted over the water, toward the shore, then ended finally on Vix. There was something dark, cold about the calculating look before Kostys forcefully turned his gaze toward the whers.

"Konna is tired," He stated in a soft tone while slowly wading toward the shore. "And you're right.. it's too cold.. makes it hard to breath submerged." Kostya didn't even glance back, continuing on to climb out of the water and pull on his pants as he spoke. "If there is no one in the bath houses whenever you go, I suggest getting use to floating on your back there.. " He made a motion with his arm to suggest a stroke without putting it to actual words. Who know if Vix was even looking since he had gotten out of the water. "Maybe when it gets warmer we'll try again."

He'd leave it at that maybe.

Mirage appeared on his shoulder, frill opening in closing in silent question – soft concern. He ignored her. "You going to be alright getting back, or.." Could he just gather his clothes and go. Right at that moment he wanted to get away if only to avoid giving in the temptation of his thoughts.

[Avu]

Tekivisk allowed her sister to pull her, keeping her wings just above the water with an occasional sweep to make it easier for Konstask, but at the sound of her sister’s breathing growing heavier, she gave a low chirp and released her grasp on Konstask’s tail. For a moment, losing the rhythm, she flailed, almost dipping under, and managed to propel herself with her wings, awkward and flailing, just enough to be able to grab at the ground with her claws. Floundering, the green’s mouth fell open, torn between panting and just barking in delight, because this wasn’t hard. They could swim (albeit not for long periods of time).

She didn’t pull herself entirely out of the water, though. It was warmer under than out, so instead she crawled into the shallows, sprawled there, and attempted to submerge herself in mud and water. Mm. It was nice like this.

Even with the very-recent panic of not being able to breathe, of drifting and of being out of control, clouding his mind, the change didn’t go unnoticed. Vix’s eyes narrowed in the semi-darkness, teeth tugging at his lower lip. The words had his eyes closing off, shuttered again. He didn’t know what he’d done – if he’d done anything at all, except fail at the whole concept of ‘swimming’. Tempting though it was to outright ask, Vix was too stubborn to allow that kind of…what, vulnerability? It shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t. He was being left alone, wasn’t he? What he wanted.

No response as Vix waded back in to shore, too, just a nod that he knew Kostya didn’t see. You kind of had to be looking in the general direction of people to see motions, after all. He stopped next to Tekivisk, brushed his fingers lightly down her upraised head without consciously thinking about it. “Fine,” he replied, biting off the word. He didn’t know why he was annoyed, bordering on angry, but he was. It wasn’t even the implication that he couldn’t manage to find his own way back to the wherhandlers’ apartments.

It was just…natural response, maybe, to being cut off like that. He hadn’t really been trying not to be, but it was still frustrating. He shivered, swallowed, and then forced himself out of the water, murmuring, “’ki…” to draw the green out of the water. She followed, whining softly, questioning, her muzzle bumping against his hip lightly as he grabbed at his pants. What was wrooong…? Why wasn’t he happy…

Yeah. This was definitely why he preferred to avoid people. All of them.

[rii]

Konstask shivered on the shore, closing her wings tightly and wrapping her tail around her feet as a breeze drew forth a tremble. It was tempting to slip back into the water where it seemed warmer. She would have too, if not for the strong tug from the bond. Huffing in indignation, Konstask made a series of refusing sounds at her handler. If he was so keen on leaving then he could carry her.

Not a chance.

Konstask grumbled to herself about the implication she was too big – which in turn only set off Mirage with images of the ballooning green wher. Kostya ignored the every constant feud between his two females. His feet were already into his unlaced boots, his shirt, vest and belt flipped over his shoulder. Vix's single word halted his actions though – although it was more of a pause, a moment to ponder the tone that spoke of so much in that one syllable, then moved on as if noticing nothing out of the ordinary.

Pivoting on heel, Kostya strode right up to Vix as the younger male was pulling on the pants. That playful smile back into play as he approached. "So slow," He teased lightly – intent on showing nothing of his earlier turmoil if it was going to end up making Vix revert back to a clam. "Said yourself it's cold, so stop dawdling, take your music box –" Here Kostya stepped past, quickly swiping the small object off the rock along with the limp Rook. See, nothing had changed – Kostya was still a prick.

"– and your little friend, stuff them in your pockets and we can get out of here." He made a half-hearted reached for Vix's pants pocket. "Why'd you let me talk you into the water. It's freezing out here." The grin he gave was shameless. "What would I do if you caught a cold?"

All the while he edged closer and closer, until the invasion of personal space was obvious. Kostya shivered, leaning in toward Vix's body heat. "Sooner we get inside, sooner I stop thinking about how warm it would be if I were to..." Purposely trailing the words off, Kostya turned his head aside to look at the whers. "Y'know girls if you race back, it'll warm you up."

Konstask shivered, not wholly trusting the suggestion but turning her head toward Tekivisk to see if her sister would agree.

[Avu]

Vix tried his best not to look too cold at the faltering in Kostya’s step, just in case the older had actually looked back him. Stupid, of course, but shivering while he got his clothes on wasn’t how he chose to be walked away from. Of course, clenching his teeth together didn’t make him look any less like he was freezing to death, especially as it preceded a shiver sliding down his spine. Kostya coming back, though, had Vix straightening, fumbling at the fly of his pants with fingers almost numb from the icy water. His (failed) attempts slowed at the playful note returning to the other greenhandler’s voice, suspicion flickering in his gaze as it slid back up to Kostya’s face.

He made a halfhearted swipe for Rook and the music box, worming the latter into his pants. It’d get soaked, of course, but that was okay. Rook he kept cupped in his palm, the Salamandyr’s body warmth leaking into his hand. And…too close. It was, for some reason, preferred to being…ignored, or whatever that had been…but it was still too close. For a moment Vix lifted his chin, as stubborn as he could be while shivering as hard as he was, held his ground, but he jerked back a step involuntarily at the implications in Kostya’s words, scowling again.

Of course, the scowl was more of a default expression than an actual disapproval. Just because he preferred to be alone most of the time didn’t mean Vix didn’t occasionally appreciate that he existed from someone other than Tekivisk and Rook. The green wher in question had plastered herself as close as she could possibly manage against Vix’s pants, but Kostya’s suggestion earned a thoughtful chirrup. “Go,” Vix muttered at her through teeth clenched against shivering, before he flicked his gaze back up to Kostya, absolutely refusing to find his proximity uncomfortable.

Tekivisk crooned at Konstask, wings tucked tight against her sides, and brushed a playful challenge across her sister’s mind. Bet she was faaaster…her start was a little slow, the green nearly slipping in the mud that the water dripping from her body had created, but that was okay…

“Inside, then.” The words came out close to snapping. He’d been angry a minute ago. He had. Vix dropped his head, sidestepping Kostya to snatch his shirt and shoes off of the rock with his free hand and wiggling his fingers absently against Rook’s sides before he started in the direction Tekivisk had taken. And he was resolutely not looking back.