Clearwater Tarn i've lost my way around

Any of CWT please

Strength was a lot like other things. It came and it went. Its limit was not easily weighed without being tested.  With the heat of the afternoon coming he found himself a little eager to see what else he might be capable of. Or if perhaps he was jumping the gun. There was only one way to find out.

Drawn to the lake, he stood firm on the shore, his fiery eyes stretching across the water. It was a sight to behold, and one he had not yet gotten tired of. But for some reason despite its beauty he felt like there was some other reason he couldn't resist it. There was something about the water, about himself. Despite thinking he was ready, he could not quite step into its cool touch. There was the familiar fear again. It cautioned him he must be careful. Even if he only waded in. Fear that had a little logic that kept him questioning his every action. He often thought it was why he was still tired. Why he still wasn't sure what he was missing. Was there a way to break from it?

"Hi! You gonna paddle?"

Arcus, for all intents and purposes, had been greatly enjoying her time at Clearwater Tarn (though she had no idea that was the name of this place) -- there were more pups to play with! It felt like it had been a while though, and she was sort of hoping she could go home soon. Which was actually why she'd wandered over, seeing this big, dark wolf. She thought it was Mama. But then she'd gotten close, it the wolf was too big and maybe a little too dark, and Arcus was distracted for the time being.

She missed Mama and Papa. She snuck off (which is how she'd landed in the current scenario), but never intended to be actually gone. But that was okay. Maybe she'd ask the Cloud Queen Beautiful Pie to bring her and Scork back down the mountain later. But a paddle seemed pretty nice right now.

"I know how."

@Triell -- sup meet ur grandbaby chillin in CWT! Hope this is okay!

EEEEeee super okay! :D thanks for joining!

He wasn't seeing the lake any more. Instead the image of a fast river came to mind. With its familiar song instead of a lullaby a parent ought to have sang. It had a name, but rapid, and quick were not it. Yet, he kept trying to decipher it all. If he could remember it, maybe the rest would fall together. There was definitely something about it...and his parents. Something that made him sad. A different sort.

Wrapped in his puzzle he didn't notice the girl until she spoke. Thankfully, he didn't flinch. Yet his head jerked in her direction, and he could only stare for a moment. There was something. The color of her coat.  It sparked a memory of a similar child who'd been happy to see him. But why? He didn't know her. He couldn't imagine having a family. Wouldn't they have found him? Your a curse, echoed from the dark recesses of his mind. It was not the thought he needed.

Realizing he was gawking, and his brows must be pressed too tight, he swallowed and attempted to smooth his dark face. But still he could not quite answer. It had been his intention, but here he stood. The least bit wet.

The bold child assured him she knew how. Something about that quirked the corners of his lips, ushering his cloudy thoughts away.

"I think I do, but it's been awhile," he replied. Trying to keep the fear out of his voice and instead add the warmth that existed. Even if it felt deep down now. Looking down to her, his smile widened. "Think you can show me how it's done?"

(This post was last modified: Jul 26, 2018, 04:42 AM by Triell. Edit Reason: table smable )

are you with me through it all?

...been awhile? It must have been a really long time ago for this Big Old Man to have forgotten how to paddle. Jenny showed her like...a few days ago -- which felt like practically forever -- and she still remembered perfectly well. After a few moments of consideration, Arcus decided he must be really old. Older than Mama or Beautiful Perfect Pie-tea, way older. That was okay though. He seemed nice, and the girl saw no harm in helping him out.

"Like this!" she announced merrily, marching right into the lake. Once she was at about her knees, she began to paddle in a very dramatic fashion, clearly more for show than anything even remotely practical. Big, fat puppy paws slapped against the water's surface and she laughed in delight as the water sprayed every which way. Her puppy blues snuck a glance up at the strange man. "See?"

She had total confidence he could do it, too.

Maybe no one had ever asked for her help. Or she was bewildered such an old wolf would make such a request. He couldn't help but feel she was giving him, and it all a good thought. His heart quickened at the thought she would reject it all entirely, and tell him what an idiot he was.

Before his thoughts could get carried further she entered the water ready to show him just exactly how.

It was now or never.

He forced himself to follow a lot quicker than he wished. His toes spasmed against the cold but the further he went the less they protested. It actually felt nice. Keeping the child in his sight, it was until her call he found his eyes swiftly moving to watch her preciously. Just like that she began to quite animatedly show how he ought to paddle. Getting him a bit wet in the process, as her movements were quite forceful. Leaving him little doubt how he should do it. His dark tail waved a slow beat, and he chuckled. Not minding how soaked he was getting.  Yes, if she could do it why not him?

Giving a steady nod, and folding in his breath, he walked just a bit further till the water was up to the white patch on his chest.  Someone had shown him this before, or had he shown them? Focusing on the gentle waves of the lake, he tried to let his body relax as he forced his legs to pull him through the water. He didn't like how the water now hit his neck, but kept up the steady rhythm finding it was easy. Not much different than walking. Still his motions were tiny, and it was evident he wasn't fighting against the water but something else. 

are you with me through it all?

If Triell was gawking, Arcus either didn’t notice or care. In truth, she rather liked attention, and the old stranger hadn’t said anything weird or mean. Nothing in the young Leigh’s life thus far had informed her that strangers could possibly be bad. Scork was fun, Miss Pie-tea was the nicest, prettiest wolf she’d ever met! Oh, and Jenny, she couldn’t forget Jenny, because her new friend was the one who taught her how to paddle in the first place.

As far as she could tell, this man would be her friend too!

Arcus continued her awkward paddling – to call it swimming would be giving her too much credit, though she did seem to achieve some movement through the cool water – and glanced up at her new student. “Good!” she encouraged, noticing he started. Perfect! See, she knew it. A friend.

“’m Arcus,” she told him, finally remembering this part of the friendship exchange. “Who’re you?”

@Arcus

His fear waned but only little by little. At least his mind and his body seemed to understand he wasn't in any danger. This was on the okay list. He was enjoying watching her cut through the water. Even if it wasn't exactly smooth and precise. A grin found its way to his lips. One that had been lost for some time.

It was even better as she gave praise. It was just enough to help him keep trying, moving through the lake as well. His motions becoming less rigid, and more smooth. He began working in a circle, keeping close to her. "Tree," he offered still wearing his grin. Despite the uncertainty of his mind, Tree was familiar and he would hold onto it. "How did you get to the Tarn?" She was not Piety's, nor the other woman's. One was dark, and the other a light silver. He guessed she had been found, and with the kind heart Piety had taken in just like he had been. He felt a little concerned wondering if it was because of the menacing coyotes, or if she'd been left alone completely.

are you with me through it all?

"Tree! Okay!"

That was a weird name. But she wasn't sure if it was any more weird (or any less weird) than Jenny. Or Skork. Actually, now that she thought about it, Tree was pretty easy to say, so it probably wasn't that weird at all. She beamed up at the shadowy adult, watching him with all the authority she did not have, when he asked her a much more difficult question. How did she get there... It was a long story!

"Miss Pie-Tea! There was...a Bad, and so we had to go. Mama and Papa not there, so... We came here!"

It all seemed very practical, as she thought about it. She continued to watch, doing her own splashing happily in between. "What 'bout you?"

It seemed likely that Miss Pie-Tea brought him too, but it seemed nicer to ask.