Closed [Waterpark]Paddle,Paddle!(I'sona)

[Elem Bree]

14th of Fall, AV 512

Elem had hurried through his chores, anxious to get things done so he could get on with the real business of the day. he felt a slight pang of guilt for feeling that way. After all, Kavala was paying him well to work, feeding and boarding him. Still though, riverfall was full of adventure and learning, so sometimes he wanted to just get what he needed to do done and get on with it! The animals were ornery as it was. Aweston had said there was a fire in the grasslands and it made the horses especially jittery.

Elem moved through the barns, shoveling out old hay and their poop and replacing it with new hay. He would do his best to calm them by caressing their flanks and channelling Rak'keli's Gnosis to them. It seemed to work in most cases, though before long they were at it again. He suspected that their instincts and the smell of fire was more powerful than his simple mark, but he at least felt that he had tried. Maybe the horses appreciated it. He couldn't really tell. Once he was finished, he told the groom what he had done and hurried out, thinking to fill a bucket of water before leaving to head down the road to the City.

I'sona, his Charoda friend, had arranged with him earlier when they had met to meet a few days later at the waterpark, a place Elem had only heard of, though he passed it every day. It didn't look like much from the outside, but he had heard it was full of pools and slides inside. He hurried along the road toward Riverfall, the bucket sloshing at his side and occasionally spilling along the way. He had dressed light, just linen pants and a green linen shirt, though he had thought to wear a loincloth since he couldn't very well swim in his clothes. As he neared the city, the sky was a dingy grey, the crackle of flames an ambient sound out toward the grasslands. Plumes of smoke could already be seen. This is why he had brought the water, fearing the heat and dry air might have an adverse effect on I'sona.

The guards seemed to raise a blue eyebrow at Elem's bucket carrying, since it seemed to be in the wrong direction. As the young man was often coming and going though, they didn't mention it. Their attention was on the direction of the fire, no doubt. He was watching each step very closely as he navigated the long curving stairwells down to the lower tier where the Blue Gem resided, the bucket and its spitting no help at all. He was sweating from the walk, the smoke and the steps by the time he descended into the lower areas of the aquatic inn. He had just put the bucket down, now easily half full, when he saw her.

" I'sona!" Elem waved, leaning against the counter, happy to be somewhere cool and stationary for a moment.

[I'sona]

There had been loud whispers of a fire. The Charoda may not be familiar with matters of the land but she knew what fire was, had seen it from afar and up close and didn’t care for it at all. It was as if Syna had made her light touch Mizahar. It burnt her skin, stole the air and left her feeling as if she couldn’t find the sea. Now she had come to find it was burning the lands around her new home and she was both frightened and curious. Today was her ‘swim day’ with Elem and she didn’t know what exactly the fire meant for them. Anxiously she paced her room for a few moments before simply scurrying out and hovering around the desk. Yet the moment she seen Elem she found his calm contagious, relaxing slightly and looking curiously at the bucket. Looking him over carefully she smiled widely, “Elem! You are going to swim in bucket?” Her voice was teasing and she gave his arm and little 'hello' squeeze. She had almost expected something to be in it but it was only halfway filled with water which only served to make her more curious. “You are looking…sleepy, is you needing a drink?” she didn’t question what the bucket was actually for, Elem had obviously brought it for a reason. “We can both be carrying it to the park so it being easier.” Taking up the full measure of Elem she smiled wider and mirrored his stance against the desk gestured back the way he had come. Excited to go but nervous to actually leave the Blue Gem with the knowledge of the fire. She wondered if it could spread to the city itself and what would happen to the things that burnt. But it didn't entirely quell I'sonas' excitement. She could only imagine how much fun Elem would have learning to swim and she would enjoy teaching him. She remembered fondly his love for water and could echo it gladly. Still... “It is not very goodly outside, is it?”

[Elem Bree]

Elem could not help but laugh heartily at 'swim in bucket'. He actually coughed a little from laughing, but shook it off and shook his head. "No, no. The bucket is for you. Although I am pretty sure I can't drown in the bucket, at least." He continued to chuckle as he imagined himself upside down with his head in the bucket, arms flailing. "I am happy to carry it. I brought it, after all." In its current state, it made for a nice weight to keep his arms working. He could even do reps as they walked. No, that was a bit too much. Would make it look like he was showing off.

"I knew that the fire and the dry air would feel bad to your skin. I am not completely sure how yourskin works, but I thought we could bring it along and douse you on the way to the waterpark if necessary. I wouldn't worry about the fire, though. It is on the other side of the river from us and seems to be in the grasslands. Short of discomfort, you should be fine." He smiled and looked at I'sona, happy to see her again.

Elem was ready to go and wanted to make sure the pair could make it past the guards, should the fire become larger and more dangerous. Once they were on the other side, it really didn't matter so much. "Are you ready to go? We should probably head that way. I know where we are going. It is near where I live and work." He waited patiently, should she need anything, but once ready, they could depart and head back up to the top of the falls.

[I'sona]

For a moment she felt a spike of fear. Elem had brought her water but she couldn’t even thank him with the knowledge they were going so close the fire. Shaking herself she smiled at him, “That it a goodly idea. If the air is dry I will be like a fish on the shore!” “Yes, I am being ready,” she took up step beside him as the headed back up, vaguely wondering how far it was. Outside the city but she had never been that far inland. She wondered if she would still be able to see the sea from there and what things the park would have to do. “You is not living in the city?” It surprised the Charoda, she assumed everyone lived in the city. She followed Elem closely, as they walked wiggling her toes at the feel of the ground. It was fluid like water and it was always strange, clinging persistently to her feet. But she didn’t truly focus on that, her eyes zeroed in on the towers of rising gray that stood ahead of them. Towers they were headed towards. “That is where the fire is being?” Her eyes widened. It must be very large if she could see it from the city. But the swish of water in the bucket returned her to her sense and she smiled over at Elem, purposely looking away from the spirals of smoke. “Has you ever gone swimming before? In the sea I am meaning. I know some humans is not liking the salt in the water, they is saying it stings.” I’sona couldn’t really understand what they meant by that, water was water to her. The only real different was the temperature and how far down she went.

[Elem Bree]

Elem smiled and patted I'sona's shoulder, glad that his idea to bring the water was not in vain after all. He really wasn't totally sure that it was relevant and felt better knowing his intuition was right. As the pair began to climb the steps up the tiers, he responded to her question. "No, actually I live and work at a healing center called the Sanctuary. It is down the road toward the waterpark and I will be happy to show it to you afterward. We heal animals, Kelvics and occasionally, even people there. It is owned and operated by a Konti named Kavala, a very strong and generous woman."

By now they were on the upper tier, the roar of the falls inside and the fire outside making conversation a little difficult. Raising his voice as they headed toward the main gate, it suddenly dawned on Elem that I'sona had never been outside the gates since she had come from the ocean. "The fire is on the other side of the river." The two arrived at the ferry and waited for it to cross the Bluevein. Elem pointed down the road away from the fire and the city. "We'll be going that way, so the fire shouldn't be a problem once we get down the road a little ways."

As the ferry landed on the other side, Elem placed the bucket on the ground. "No, actually. I have never been in the ocean, even when I lived next to it for so many years. I saw many strange things come from it and heard tales from the sailors. The ocean is saltwater, but this water is fresh. Will that make adifference to you? I don't want to injure you if you need saltwater. I hadn't thought that far ahead." The heat from the fire was palpable now and he thought he might douse himself if she didn't. He was definitely ready to get away from it.