Take A Deep Breath

And Jump Right In

   The lake that Kristi had taken them to was the calmest body of water Callum had ever seen. Even the lakes in Xadia were incredibly beautiful. Kristi and Rayla had already equipped their swimsuits and Callum had to sum up all of his willpower not to stare at Rayla too much.

   The lake was located in the bowl of a basin surrounded by trees and shrubbery. Private from all disturbances. Kristi was nothing short of ecstatic to jump right in. "Che-hooo!" She dove in from a nearby high rock and left a series of splashing ripples in her wake. She surfaced seconds later. "C'mon, ye lazy melodaisies! The water's really niyce."

   Callum spread a towel and removed his satchel that contained the primal cube and his journals. He unwrapped his scarf too and placed it on top of the small bag. "We'll be in soon."

   Rayla had busied herself with a series of adoraburrs that showed up nearby. Callum's small group of the strange little balls of sticky had opted to stay in his satchel so these ones were probably here for a drink of the water. Rayla had arranged them into the shape of a little elf and they seemed to be coordinated enough to walk around. "Hey, Rayla. You ready to try this swimming thing?"

   "Hah! No," she said with fear in her voice.

   Callum rolled his eyes. He'd figure this out somehow. He shed his blue jacket and removed his red shirt by pulling it over his head. Rayla nearly choked. She had not dreamed he would look as hot as he did. He had put on his swimming shorts underneath his pants so he unfastened his belt and unbuttoned and unzipped his denim longpants, pushing them down his legs. His brown swimming shorts were somewhat short and left only a bit to the imagination, and Rayla's worked very fast. To say she was red as a moonberry would insult some fruits. She was coated in nearly pure scarlet.

   Kristi giggled and chanted out in a singsongy tone, "Red and stiff, her fists clench. She knows she is in love. Rayla, Rayla, Ray-Rayla!"

   "You shu' up, or I'll chop yer horns off!"

   Kristi giggled mischievously and dove under the water to escape Rayla's gaze. Needless to say, the latter was furious. Callum cautiously tapped Rayla's shoulder, hoping to get her attention without her anger. "Wha'?"

   Callum raised his hands in defense. "Whoa! Do you wanna get in or not?"

   "Shor! Why no'?" Her accent seemed to thicken with her anger.

   "Well, then. Come with me." Callum managed to take Rayla as far as the edge of the water. Here, she stopped and refused to move. Callum shoved her lightly but she still wouldn't move. "Oh, Rayla. Come on!"

   "Mn-mmm," Rayla grunted as she resisted Callum's pushing.

   Callum sighed and folded his arms.
Kristi swam up next to him, keeping low in the shallows. She tapped Callum's leg. "Hey," she whispered, "scoooop!" She made a motion that matched her word. Callum was confused at first but seemed to slowly catch on. Not warning her, Callum swept Rayla's feet up with his arm and put his other one under her head carrying her in the human, and he assumed elven, bridal fashion.

   "Ay! Dammi' Callum! Put meh doun!"

   Callum kept his face as far away from Rayla's punching arm as he could. "Rayla, you need to learn how to swim..." she landed a hit on his cheek, "Ow!... One way or another."

   "You pu' me doun righ' now or I'll rep yer ahrms off!"

   "Ok." And Callum dropped her. Straight in the water.

   Kristi stood in the water next to him. "Hah! No' bad. I nev'r would 'ave though' you could be so nahsty. Normally, I'd be more th'n 'appy tah help yeh with 'er bu' she's bound tah be angrier than a' ambler with a verruca. Goo' luck." And Kristi swam off.