((It's okay. XD))

"What? Water beats fire, remember?" He said, smiling and took the cup of water. Drat. How'd he get across the river? If that's how he was supposed to get to base... But then he spotted a batch of stepping stones, oh yeah. He could just...walk across, considering he didn't fall and bash his head against the other rocks and drown. Which would not be good. Not good at all. Then he'd have to be extra careful, since when he woke up from his coma, he had discovered he was quite a klutz. He'd have to gain his balance. Amazing how he didn't trip yet since he met Velvet. Shrugging, he quickly ran to the rocks. D@mn it... Slippery rocks. Exactly what he needed. Perfect. Yeah right. Cautiously, he put one foot on the first stone and slowly out more weight on it. Now a bit more sure of himself, he stood on it with both feet. Though he was still extremely nervous. Again, he slowly stepped onto the next rock. So far, so good.

"Well, I know that. But you don't like water. I can tell." Velvet said, suddenly appearing right out of the river behind him. "Do you want some help?" Velvet asked, uncertain that he would make it across. "I can fashion a water twister for you. Or you can swim across. I can make it so that you can swim across and you won't get wet, and you'll be able to breathe under if you'd like?" Velvet offered. Stepping on top of the water, Velvet walked across easily and arrived at the other side.

Avery turned around surprised and lost his balance. "Uh, well, greaaat!" He yelled as he stumbled backwards and splashed into the water. First thing he did was hold his breath. How could he trust her about the breathable water?! He flailed around. He couldn't swim! Why would a Dioteain want to know how to swim? They don't! He started panicking. He'd probably have to trust the girl. He let out his breath and prepared for the water to choke him, which it did not, surprisingly. He sighed. Drat. He felt himself starting to get pulled by the current. And he was also sinking. Darn it. He hoped the girl would get him out the water. 'Cause he didn't feel like spending the rest of his life underwater.

Laughing, Velvet flicked her wrist and an air bubble surrounded Avery so that he could breathe. Another flick and the water became a twister, pulling him out of the water and carrying him to shore. Another flick and he was dry. One snap of her fingers, and he was sitting on a rock on the shore, being dried by wind. Walking calmly over yo him, she said enthusiastically, "Well that was interesting." After thinking for a minute, she suggested, "Want me yo teach you how to swim? I won't always be there to save you you know. Next time, you'll really drown. There won't be any water twisters or breathable air bubbles that you are floating around inside."

Why should I since I never want to swim ever again in my life! He thought, but instead he nodded and answered. "Yeah. I wouldn't mind." Uh huh. Of course he wouldn't mind...being soaked and cold and everything he hated! Though she was right. And swimming could be useful. But what would the other Dioteain say? Insulting stuff. That's what. But Avery was a cool guy, no temper. So he didn't mind. But he still hated the thought of water.

"Okay ! Do you want yo start now or wait a little while? I mean, I'll start you off with the water helping you swim and all but after that, you'll have yo learn like normal people do. I mean, I didn't gave to learn how to swim since i can breathe underwater and control how the water reacts to my presence, but you can't." Velvet explained. "I need to go for a real swim now anyways." She did a somersault into the river and dove right to the bottom. Swimming all around, when she was done, she was still completely dry. "Ugh. I wish I could be wet for once." Velvet complained. With a move of her pinkie, she was soaking everywhere except on her clothing and hair. "Ah, that feels better. Now for the wind." Stepping on the water top, she lifted her arms and a huge water twister sprang up, enveloping her and lifting her hundreds of feet into the air above the river. With a flick of her wrist, the water surrounding her joined the water she was left standing on, about 1000 feet above the river. Her hair flew into her face and she dried in an instant. Frowning, she snapped her fingers and the water she was standing on fell away a bit quicker than expected. She fell backwards, her arms flailing, but she caught her balance right above the water and flicked her forefinger so the water would catch her. She landed on the water with a thunk and she rubbed her back. "Ouch." Sitting up, she stood on her feet and walked across the water to where Avery was still sitting.

"How're you gonna teach me if you-? Never mind." He said, shaking his head. "I-I think I'll start now." He said. Better get this over with, before he changed his mind. He glanced nervously at the water. Gosh... How deep was the river anyways?!

"Ok." Velvet said. "First, get in the water. I'll have the water hold you up so you don't drown. We'll start with the basics." Waiting patiently for Avery to get in the water, she saw his nervous glance at the water and explained, "The river isn't very deep. Only 20 feet deep. It's actually quite shallow. For a river atleast."

Avery was surprised. Only 20 Ft... That wouldn't be too bad. He sighed and dipped a foot in. Yikes! Cold! But he could fix that. Fire=Warm. He sighed. Well, he couldn't always make the water perfect. Now, if this were lava, oh yeah. That'd be awesome. But this wasn't. This was cold, wet, water. He put in his other foot quickly, ignoring the coldness and wetness.

"Yeah yeah, I'm coming," Sakura grumbled, noticing that the others were constantly checking to see if she and Caldwell were tagging along. "Calm down," Caldwell quipped back at her, still rather on edge. He dragged his feet along the ground as he walked, making more noise than he intended too. "What's your problem?" Sakura asked him in a disgusted tone. She knew from his lack of response that she should leave him alone. She quickened her pace, leaving the usually quick Caldwell behind her. "I suppose we should go to the cave," she called to the others. "Um... where is the cave?" she quickly included, not trusting her sense of direction at all.
~~~~~~~
Caldwell gradually let himself get further and further away from the others, until they were a fair way into the distance. He veered to the left into a clearing. Was it just his imagination or did the air seem colder here? He shivered and stared around, slowly seeking out what he was looking for. "You need to leave me alone," he said once his eyes settled upon it. Rusalka slinked out of the shrubs, her eyes glistening. "How could I stay away from you?" she practically purred back, making a pouty face that would put Sakura to shame. Caldwell took a deep breath and ignored her. "Seriously Rusalka. What do you want?"
"Oh I've already told you what I want Caldy. Stop trying to act cute." Caldwell continued to play dumb, using any chance to piss her off. "You can't keep coming for us Caldy," she said, playing along with him, but her voice suddenly becoming icy cold. "How are you gonna stop me?"
Rusalka grinned nastily, pacing slowly around him. "There are plenty of people in your group now aren't there Caldy. You seem to like them..." she paused, staring intently at her nails as though he was the most boring person on the earth. "Wouldn't it be a shame if oh, I don't know, they were attacked by a bear in the night?" Caldwell froze but tried not to let her see his reaction. "I don't care about them. take them," he casually replied, lying through his teeth.