Dragon Sauna -- Starmount
A dragonlength-and-a-half across, this sizable natural cavern into which the Bowl floor opens at about halfway up is filled nearly to the lip of the entrance by water, steaming gently. A smallish waterfall flows from near the top of the northwest wall, splashing into the pool below. A walkway has been erected from the entrance around toward one of the several tunnel-openings, allowing bathers a way to get to a dry area to lounge or undress. The entrance itself is quite large enough for any dragon's passage, and the pool for three or four at once, if they're cozy. The tunnels that wander off into darkness, judging by the heaviness and moisture of the air, don't open out anywhere else, and at least one loops back. Nothing covers the opening from the Bowl, but the chill air outside only manages to wiggle a finger or two into the cavern, held out by the damp warmth within.
 

O'kano floats in the pool, lazily paddling himself this way and that -- or, more often than not, getting sent various directions by Jharzeth's pushes of water. "Just not under that waterfall," Puo cautions the wallowing bronze; he quickly follows up his comment with a firm negative when Jharzeth apparently likes that idea a bit too much. "/No./ Not you can't. Don't even think about it."

Deinha walks slowly in, Sebayeth following, and glances about the cavern. One might even call the glance a bit surreptitious, but perhaps not. Young gold, however, looks straight to the water in what can only be anticipation. And then trumpets a bright greeting to the pair already there, which Deinha follows with what is definitely a less-than-happy, "Oh. You're here...Hello."

O'kano abruptly flounders, surprised by the entrance of weyrling and dragon. He regains his composure quickly enough, catching hold of a helpful, outstretched limb of Jharzeth's. "Hi." The response is equally displeased, although the bronze warbles his own reply in tones that are much cheerier.

Deinha blushes a bit as she hears her own tone, and gets it back, and then offers, "I'm sorry. That wasn't really quite what I meant...I just hoped nobody would be here. But it's okay that you are." This in a quick rush of words, as she moves slowly towards the water. Sebayeth, meanwhile, goes through a rush of her own -- physically, to get to the water. "I .. ah, you swim?" Of course, she knows the answer; she just saw him floating around, right? "I mean, very well?"

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth splashes blue thoughts your way as she moves rather smoothly into the water. <<I don't mind. Better that you're here, really.>> Rosey hues take over, draping warmth across <<She just felt ... private ... again.>> Murky mustard shades echo the privacy thought with distaste, and perhaps a touch of confusion at the concept. to Jharzeth

"Mm." Puo isn't impressed, although he manages to withold a none-too-nice remark; instead, he simply notes, "I was here first." He bobs his head affirmatively, then, releasing his hand from Jharzeth to tread water. "Yeah. I swim. I swim pretty good, too. We did a lot of that, in Boll an' Ista."

Deinha nods vaguely, then captures lower lip between her teeth a moment, as if debating something. Finally, she takes another step forward. "Would you.. ah...you don't think you'd be willing to maybe .. help me learn? I mean, you wouldn't have to, of course, but...it's really kind of embarassing not knowing how." She doesn't quite look at him as she makes the offer, eyes instead focusing on the water beside the boy.

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth contemplates, twining strands of watery cerulean and solid cerise knotting around in a web of complex, almost-understanding. <<Private. That's how mine felt, too.>> to Sebayeth

"You don't know how?" Surprise colors Puo's tone as he hears; brow knits, and he admits, "I thought everyone knew how to." And is that superiority, too, that accents his voice? But O'kano shrugs. "Eh. Sure. Might as well. After all," he boasts a bit pridefully, "I'm good, so you won't have to worry about drowning or whatever."

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth examines webbing a moment, then announces just as suddenly <<Today is special for us.>> Her own imitation web bursts apart, turning sugary and then dissipating. One errant strand is burned with brilliant orange in a fiery image as she plays with the colors, and then self-started distraction settles enough for her to continue <<Mine talked to another's. We may get .. presents.>> Pleasure at that, pink and lasting, supercedes the previous mind-play. to Jharzeth

Deinha shrugs, not seeming to mind her own inferiority in this case. She even goes so far as to smile -- gratefully? But the finishing boast does earn a quick, "Oh, I don't doubt it. I mean...I don't actually know how well you swim, but I didn't think I'd drown. And especially not with you helping." She shakes her head, "I was going to try by myself, but...this could be nice." She starts to unfasten the knots at her dressing-robe, then pauses suddenly, as something else crosses the girl's mind, "Please don't laugh?"

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth displays his curiousity with swooping, spiraling silvery rivulets which run haphazard. <<Special? Why? We've never gotten presents.>> A pause comes next; the following remark is rather bemused. <<Although there's probably reasons for that.>> to Sebayeth

"Laugh?" The weyrling looks blank for a moment before he shrugs his shoulders once more and rolls his eyes. "Really. I've seen girls before -- it's not a big deal. It's swimming." O'kano attempts to look bored, and fails. Jharzeth, meanwhile, wallows blissfully, making little movement.

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth continues to beam mentally -- as evident in shimmers of confectionary pink, glittering yellow, and the heightened mindscent of wildflowers and sunshine. <<She's older now.>> Vague at best, but it's what she was told. And so it is. A warm touch of lemon follows, briefly, before the promise <<Everyone should get presents. I will speak to mine about it.>> to Jharzeth

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth slips in confused strands of lavender which flail about with no logical order--indeed, he doesn't find any logic in those phrases as he mulls over them. <<Everyone ages. Mine's older each day. What's special?>> to Sebayeth

Deinha blushes at that response, then abruptly laughs, "That's actually not what I meant, either!" The lingering smile fades, "Though I wouldn't like that, either. But, I just meant," utter sincerity here, "I know you'll swim a lot better than me, right now, and ... try not to laugh if I sink." That finished, she, too, attempts nonchalance as she finishes freeing herself from the thicker robe and lets that fall to the ground. Perhaps she has a bit more success at that, but the success does not survive once she's standing there in a slender scrap of mahogany swimming suit, with the robe pooled at her feet.

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth waits a moment to respond, perhaps consulting elsewhere, then returns with typical cheer. <<She hatched 18 Turns ago. It's a special kind of older, because it's even.>> Still vague, but that's what she knows. to Jharzeth

Deinha is spared just a moment of that brief awkwardness as she turns to Sebayeth, who's puttering around a bit in the water, "It's called a Turnday, darling." And her lips quirk in amusement at something else as well, though she doesn't bother to correct her lifemate.

"Oh." Puo may be a bit embarrassed, but it's not something that resides long upon his countenance. "Right." He doesn't make any promises, however, on not laughing; ducking his head under the water, O'kano absently smoothes back soaked blond locks and peers up towards Deinha, tone professional. "You'd probably want to start by getting in the water," he advises.

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth flickers cerulean understanding. <<Ah. I get it now.>> He pauses, pondering, and finally adds, <<I don't think mine has hada hatch-day. Or maybe he just hasn't said anything about it.>> to Sebayeth

Deinha laughs again, just a bit nervously perhaps, and strides forward to do just that. Nevermind the faintly pink cheeks or the hurried edge to long-legged steps. With just a bit of splashing, she makes her way towards O'kano, going from calf-deep to mid-thigh before she stops. Looking expectantly towards him, she ventures just a little bit closer, then pauses again with the water about waist-high. "I can't go out there," comes the soft explanation, echoed a bit by the water. "I wouldn't be able to touch the bottom."

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth nudges orange hints of curiosity -- echoed by a gentle splash of water, as she moves physically closer -- your way. <<That is too bad. They seem like fun.>> The colors lighten suddenly, as the thought strikes <<But it must happen eventually. If he is always getting older.>> to Jharzeth

Again, O'kano responds, "Oh. Right." A touch reluctantly, he leaves Jharzeth behind to wallow with content; a few crisp strokes bring him back to where feet can once again reach the bottom, and he wades further out. "Where do you want to start?" he queries. "You should probably learn how to float, first. Makes things easier, later on."

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth idly splashes an azure wave of thought while he echoes the motion physically with a brief sweep of his wings. <<I'm sure it is. We'll find out about it soon enough.>> to Sebayeth

Deinha tilts her head to the side, the end of her braid dragging in the water behind her, then nods. "Whatever you say." It doesn't sound quite as dismissive as the words might seem alone, given the faintly obedient tone of voice. But an annoyed furrow of brow is the only warning before she dips, much as Puo had done earlier, long enough to wet the rest of her hair. And then, blinking, she asks, "Do I just ... breathe in really deep and hold it?"

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Sebayeth quiets, receding mentally to just the faintest touch of peachy awareness, and focuses on the water instead: floating about, dipping her muzzle down now and then to breath ripples into being...generally enjoying herself. to Jharzeth

"Breathe in deep, but keep breathing," O'kano responds. "It works better. And you can stay afloat longer, too. And you arch your back some. Like this." He demonstrates, flipping onto his back and absently sculling water with dangling hands. "It's not that hard."

<*Jharzeth*> Privately, Jharzeth fades away, too, concentrating on his own watery indulgence; he soaks in the water's warmth, eyes lidded and whirling the slow, lazy blue-green of contentment. to Sebayeth

Deinha shrugs just a bit, then takes in a deep -- very deep -- breath of air. Chest expanded almost comically, she slips backwards, then ... *whooof* expels all the air in a rush, and leans forward just in time to keep water out of her eyes. "Hmm..." Frowning to herself, she takes a slower breath, then lays back again, more slowly. Her feet stay planted on the ground so that she's doing something of a backbend for one brief moment, then she pushes off, legs straightening until her knees just touch the water's surface. Her head turns. "Like this?" She sinks.

O'kano masks a small, amused chuckle with a sputtering cough. "Hmm. Yeah. Like that." He straightens, resting flat-footed upon the stone bottom, and remarks encouragingly -- or as close to encouraging as he's ever come --, "That was better. Try moving your hands and feet around a little, maybe. Works for me. Or..." he hesitates a moment before blithely continuing in his role as swimming instructor, "I can help you stay up until you get more used to it."

Either ignorant of, or ignoring, the true reason for the cough, Deinha waits patiently for the next bit of advice. A hint of a frown graces her lips, as much from thought as anything else, before a slow nod is given. "Maybe that would help. I seem to be having trouble balancing..." So she says, and with a bit of chagrin. "It makes me feel rather like a newborn, hardly knowing what's up or down, or how to move myself."

Sebayeth turns to glance, eyes whirling a muted green, at Deinha before heading out for a deeper part of the water. Red-grained wings spread slowly outward, legs moving gracefully beneath the water's surface, and she plays. Left wing drawn in just so, she turns, circles. Now that wing is extended fully, and the right one drawn in just a bit. Gliding smoothly along, she seems considerably less awkward than her lifemate.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's hard to learn for the first time," O'kano allows. Not that he's ever had any trouble with that scenario himself. He gestures towards the water as he steps closer. "Go ahead and try floating again -- I'll just put my hand under your back. It'll help you stay up."

"Okay." Deinha spares another frown as some thought crosses her mind, then shuts her eyes for just a moment, concentrating. Another slow, deep breath, and she leans back in the water. Again, it's only after a quick delay that she pushes off enough to raise her feet.

"Good," Puo approves as he moves to stand by her side, inserting his hand beneath her back for support. "Yeah -- good. Just...breathe." Jharzeth looks on lazily, lolling about in the deeper section of the pool.

Deinha tenses faintly at the touch, then relaxes again, peering up and blinking. Arms held rather stiffly, which doesn't help her floating much, she is quiet. A tentative breath is taken, released, and then she tries to talk. "How...do...you...keep....your feet...up?" She wiggles her legs, which keep sliding down in the water, just a bit. She blinks.

O'kano, bemused, peers down towards her legs and mulls a moment in silence before he advises, "It's not too much of a problem. Kick a little--gently--and you won't sink so much. But it's not a big deal if they're underwater some." He pauses. "You ready to try it on your own?"

Sebayeth continues curving through the water, circles and figure-eights and other shapes created and washed away. <<You're trying too hard.>> And then, amused, her contented gaze turns to O'kano <<She is ready, if she would relax.>>

Jharzeth is quite content to stay in place, wings spread as he mimics Deinha's efforts and tries to float. His attempts are in vain, however, and his blackened sails do little to support his considerable body mass--he sinks.

Deinha smiles, "I must ... seem ... like such... a child." Although her breathing is still carefully measured, words timed carefully, the girl nods. Of course, all that does is cause little splashes of water to get in her eyes, but she squints, wrinkling her nose, and ignores that. Keeps floating, even. "I think ... so. Can't ... hurt ... to try." Determination flicks into her soft voice, covering earlier embarassment.

"Everyone has to learn sometime. Just think how much worse it'd be if you tried to learn when you're forty Turns." O'kano steps away in time to his remarks; hands find their way to hips, and he watches with an air of detachment. Almost. "You're doing great," he comments: one of Puo's rare compliments.

Deinha giggles at that, or almost does. She's still a bit too worried about sinking to really let loose. Her arms drift out a little as impromptu instructor steps aside, testing. They stay, fingers waving a bit for the simple pleasure of feeling water glide over them. The second comment earns another smile, the tentative turning of her head toward him, and a quiet: "Thank you." After a moment of balancing -- staying afloat, even -- she licks her lips, still watching O'kano, and asks, "What's next?"

"Well, how about swimming?" O'kano suggests. "You've seen it done, right?" He doesn't wait for a response, launching right into his lecture. "Hold onto the edge of the pool and kick your legs, maybe. 'Cause when you swim, you've gotta kick. Makes you go forward."

The smile twitches briefly at the question, but Deinha's too interested -- not to mention polite -- to interrupt. "Just ... kick?" She leans forward, letting her legs sink this time. Hands going to her hair, soothing back the wet strands, she tilts her head to the side. "Like.." she kicks forward in the water, which doesn't really work as expected: instead, it turns into more of a slow-motion ballet. Deinha frowns, "No...that obviously wouldn't do." Another frown. "Oh...oh! You mean those tight choppy kicks, like ..." Her smile reappears, this one full of chagrin, "When I've seen people swim before."

O'kano just nods. "Yeah. Tight and choppy. Fast." He watches critically. "Try again. It's really not that hard." Jharzeth whips his tail about, interested in the turn of conversation, and sends waves of water across the pool. Puo rolls his eyes. "Another time -- I don't want to be swamped," he advises the bronze.

Deinha 'mmmm's, then stands there watching Jharzeth for a moment. Giving herself a sudden little shake, as if she'd been lost in thought for a moment, the girl nods again. "Shouldn't I float on my stomach, then? Or is swimming on your back easier -- I haven't seen it as much." She brushes back her hair again, fidgeting, and adds, "Then again, I obviously haven't seen people swimming all that much, altogether."

O'kano confirms, "Stomach. Although it's not really floating. You kick, and move your arms in the right way, and so you're /moving/. Not floating. Floating's harder than swimming, when it's on your stomach." Puo thinks so, anyways. He demonstrates, flopping onto his stomach and slowly strokes across the pool, kicking with his feet and pulling his arms through the water. "Like this."