To, and fro. To, and fro. The waves came lapping over the sand. Kaimana watched, no expression on her face. Such a sound was a drone in her ears, a forever thrum in her heart, ingrained in her very being. And she hoped it could be the same for her child-to-be.
The serandite was hidden somewhere safe, somewhere out of storm's reach. Kaimana had set anchor wherever she kept her stone. She visited the beach daily. She still had so much to prepare... now that she knew something was arriving, something that was a part of her own
self nonetheless, she couldn't help but be excited, and try to do better with her introductions than she had before.
Soon, she felt it would be appropriate to start looking for some fishies. But for now, she would just enjoy the salty, fresh air. She had...
some time. Not sure how much, but certainly
some.
@Comet
Surprisingly, Kaimana's oft lonesome musings managed to be interrupted! By a
newcomer! Oh, this was new! A child, it seemed, with their gemstone replacing an ear. Kaimana smiled kindly, like a peaceable grandma sitting out on a porch during a lovely summer day.
"Hello there! I'm Kaimana," she introduced herself first. Introductions were important!
"Rhymes with... drama, I suppose. Who are you?" But there wasn't really much of that going on around her, or in her life, besides you know, the preparations for a child to come and all that.
"I am rather familiar with this place, yes. You want to learn to swim? Wonderful!" She could teach the child how to swim. For a price.
"If I helped you, could and would you help me?" Transactions. Cycles. Everything happened in them. A trade, a deal, those were fun to make! Fun to negotiate. She began thinking of forms of 'currency' she could ask of the child. Nothing to hard, nothing like a fish or a pat on the head, no. Maybe something to help her prepare... maybe they had some skeletons or stones lying around somewhere? Knowledge for knowledge also seemed like a fair trade. Then again, it also seemed like just... how normal conversations were meant to work; an exchanging of what creatures knew.
Well, it would all depend on the child's decisions. Kaimana was excited for an opportunity to teach-- or, well, to
try to teach.
@Comet
So the child was named Comet? Comet! A lovely name. Kaimana considered the offer of a good nose. What could a good nose be used for...? Hunting, yes. Smell-testing. Huh? Well, maybe that actually wasn't worth much. Sniffing out something, but what? Perhaps Kaimana could just save that favor for later, when she thought of something.
For now, swimming!
"Not to worry, Comet." 'Rhymes with... wow that's a hard one,' she added in thought.
"A good nose is great thing to have! How about I ask you of a payment later, when I've thought of something. In the meantime, you can't really swim on land, can you? Follow me!" Kaimana would attempt to lead Comet down to the waves. She'd take a step in, if Comet followed, letting the water handle the obstacle of her paws in their path.
"I've found that I've got an instinct for swimming," she would declare.
"We should check and see if you've got one too. Just go ahead, into the water, far enough to be submerged, and try to swim. I'll be here to drag you back to shore if you have trouble." Occasionally, when she'd fallen into water, her body had panicked and tried to handle it. Maybe that was a bad way to begin the basics of swimming, but how could she know? Kaimana had never taught this before.
@Comet
Kaimana watched, calm yet eager, as Comet tried it out. Fortunately for them both, it did seem as though Comet had a kind of instinct for swimming. Something about it didn't look right though. It was kind of finicky, panicky, disorderly. Yeah, one could swim like that if they intended to get out of the water as fast as possible. But if they intended to stay in the water for longer, they'd have to ease up some more.
The jaguar smoothly slid into the water, experienced strokes keeping her afloat as she attempted to swim around to a spot where she could nudge Comet towards the shore.
"Okay, you're getting there!" Words of encouragement flowed with ease, hoping to fill up the young one with confidence. It wasn't a lie! Comet was swimming!
"Your instincts are good for getting you out of the water. Try to get to shore on your own, then take a deep breath and I'll tell you some more." It was hard to keep talking while swimming, seeing as most of Kaimana's concentration was being focused into keeping her head above water.
@Comet
Comet made it to the shore. That was good! Kaimana was already starting to feel a soothing kind of pride. As Comet got ready to try again, Kaimana would think of what to say next. Panicky. Comet's swimming was panicky; most instinctual swimming was for land animals. What could one do to not be so panicky?
Okay, got it.
Kaimana stood in the shore, still sopping wet. When Comet professed readiness, Kaimana would give further instructions.
"Alright. Your swimming was a good start! It is more tiring to swim in a disorderly fashion. Your strokes were erratic. You have to be calm, trust that the water will hold you up! Swimming normally is a lot more like walking. Watch me." And with that, Kaimana would reenter the waves, paddling around in a way that made soft ripples, and kicks that didn't cause splashing above the water. She was sure in her stride.
"You have to make sure you're not making a big splash."
When she felt her demonstration was enough, Kaimana swam back up to share and shook her pelt off.
@Comet