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Thorn perked up immediately, "I don't suppose the lake would be warm enough to swim in, I like stretching out in the water, and I like swimming too." He looked at her with hopeful eyes, willing to risk his deep voice with cold water. "Its not frozen is it?" He asked dreading the answer.

He shook himself. Turbid emotions were just not his thing. He relaxed into his usual self and smiled warmly at Ime. Holding her eyes he sidled closer and kissed her soundly. "I feel better now."

"Sounds good to me, you want to race? Or I could piggy back you there if you don't mind my rough crystals?" He grinned at her, joy flowing again out of every pore. He knelt before her offering a strong back. He would barely notice her tiny weight. Like the most beautiful and cherished backpack.

Thorn smiled to himself any angst starting to relax as he fell back into the grove of mostion. She wasn't heavy but she was warm so he knew she was there. Not to mention the adorable giggling was enough to make him giggle too. This was fun actually. He could go pretty fast and still take her along with him. "Over here you said?" He joggled her up a little bit playfully. He loved this woman, and he was happy because he felt she was safe, right here attached to him. He felt like his heart was opening more letting her into it where she ruled.

This made him somewhat vulnerable but he was happy. Soon the lake came into view and Thorn turned, reluctant to let her down but they couldn't very well swim like that so it had to be done. He knelt so she would land on her feet. "Ime, it's beautiful here, I love it." I love you, is what he wanted to say but he wasn't sure he quite had the guts yet.

Thorn watched until he realized what was happening then blushing he turned and stripped too. Immediately his large body was peppered with goosebumps. He turned back and they were both in skivvies. He opened his mouth to say something...smiled and shut it. He tiptoed down to the water and dunked a toe in. It was chill but bearable besides the water would stop the wind. He turned to Ime and grinned. "Its been a long time since I swam don't let me sink." He held out his hand to her so that they might enter the water together.

"Ime... I." He stepped closer to her partially for warmth and partially from the import of his next words..if he could get them out. "Ime I ...love you." He looked at the ground afraid of his reaction. They hadn't been together very long and if she didn't love him yet that was fine. She obviously trusted him and traveled with him and well some people needed more time then he did to fall in love. But he hoped that at some point she would return the emotion. He shivered...from the wind perhaps.

"That is how I feel as well, in my family love is broader then for most people and I would rather be here in this moment then anywhere else on tendaji." He turned and jumped into the water giving a heartfelt screech when he was immersed in the cold. It was best that she know part of what he felt now with the threat of the alks looming over them. He was different from most people, from most leaf people even because of his upbringing, those closest to you were all you had and he had never been taught to guard his heart or hold anything back.

He felt exposed but then again, they were both in their undies now weren't they?

Soon enough his body went numb. "Am I supposed to not feel anything? Is that normal?"

He giggled "No its not normal?" How was she not freaking out surely she had been warmer then freezing when she had jumped in. Well she had felt warmer to him. "Brrrr." he said, paddling around her. Well her efforts warmed him a little..not a lot but it was the thought that counted. Maybe her mother would have a nice fluffy blanket back at the house for him to burrow into later that was a good though. The pull of swimming on his muscles felt good and when he was a little warmer he inhaled a deep breath and tried to float motionless wondering what she would do.