Fidget stared at the water before her. It looked warm and friendly, all sparkly in the sun. But the other water had been sparkly too, and pretty, and all sorts of nice right up until she fell in. Then it was cold and dark and just absolutely horrible... the putti shuddered, backing up a few short steps. She ought to go back though. She didn't thank that striped stranger for saving her... he hadn't been happy. He'd been so angry with her for being in his lake, even though she hadn't meant to and didn't want to be in the water even before she'd almost drowned.
Tentatively, Fidget crept towards the edge of the lake and, slowly, dipped just one hoof into the water. It was cold where it brushed against her fur, though not quite so cold as the icy, dark water below the mountains. It had tried to swallow her up, it really felt like the lake had tried to eat her and then she'd been so sure that big, finny Soquili had been going to eat her and it had all just been so scary! But Kali didn't think hiding from a problem was a good answer, though the healer had been quick to prescribe a good batch of snuggles and cuddles for her scared friend. Fidget felt a bit better now, with the sun shining and all that. And the lake water... it really was sort of pretty. Kali loved water, but Kali had pretty rainbow fins. Things with fins belonged in water, things with wings did not, or so Fidget had said. And then Kali pointed out ducks, and Fidget had agreed to at least try to go in the water a little because... well... ducks.
It was just really hard to get more than her feet wet, and even that was making her nervous. Just a little wetness on her hooves wouldn't hurt her, but she was still nervous about putting more than just the one in the water. Even if it was shallow, and calm, and very near the shore. Maybe she should have asked Kali to come with her... but she hadn't wanted to disappoint her friend if she couldn't do it. Fidget drooped, it was hard to be all cheerful and smiley when she felt this sad...
