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Malta was going to have a talk with Roshon about the order in which their Orakoi would learn things. Today, he had gotten the idea in his head that he would teach them all basic healing. Now. Immediately. She had tried to explain that just because Rthyin was happy learning healing next to his sire didn't mean that the others would be, and that perhaps they needed to learn basic things first, like how to summon ones magic, or how to ask when they wanted food in dragonic.

But sometimes there was no arguing with Roshon and in the interests of winning her next argument with him, Malta let him attempt his lesson (which was probably going to be way over even a grown Orakovan's head – she would know, he was her teacher). She had other things to do... like bust out at least one of her orakoi from the boredom that would be inflicted upon them.

With the excuse that she needed someone to help her retrieve ingredients from the lake, she managed to extricate Kuasu from the rest of the clutch, carrying him on her back up the steepish and winding path to the lakeshore. Finally, she stopped, her claws sinking into fine lake sand. “Look, Kua! Doesn't the water look like silver in the sun?” she chirped, lowering her body to let him down. This was the first time she had taken one of her orakoi up to the lake, and she intended to take them all there at some point as it was a lovely place... and perfect for teaching them to swim.

“Oop!” Malta yipped as Kuasu fell. She followed close by her son, ready to help him back up if needed it – she certainly had, at that age – but apparently he did not need her help. “There you go!” she cooed, finding his successful attempt to recover from his fall absolutely precious. Then again, anything her babies did was wonderful, and it was hard to tell her otherwise.

She hovered over him, tail waving pleasantly as she watched him inspect the water. He seemed to like the idea – and why should he not? He was, after all, peisio. “Go on, sweetness,” she cooed, making a little nudging motion with her nose, though she didn't actually shove him in – she didn't think that would have been very nice. “Do you want to go in the water? Go in.” She gave him a nuzzle before wading out into the water herself – best to be already out there before he jumped in, just in case.

“There you go!” Malta chirped at her son, guiding him close to her, her wings outstretched as she carefully guided him deeper. Just because he was peisio didn't mean he automatically knew how to swim, and she was there to hold him up if he needed it. “It gets a little deeper...” She swam, primarily, with her wings, awkwardly keeping her lower body and tail beneath Kuasu as she gently floated out, “Go on...” she cooed, “Mama's here.”

Malta was pleased to see that he picked up on swimming so fast. It was honestly a relief – she had worried about it so much, probably more than she needed to... definitely more than she'd needed to. But that was normal for her, and she wondered if worry was such a bad thing if she felt so relieved afterwards...

“Kua,” she said, once she felt he had his bearings, “Do you want to see something nice?” she guided him out towards the center of the lake, and ducked beneath the water. There were freshwater pearl-bearing animals there, and their shells were colorful and shimmered in the sunlight. She surfaced, “There are pretty things under the water, Kuasu” she explained, staying close just in case, “Do you see them? Do you see them, Kuku?” she gestured towards the creatures, one of whom indeed had a pearl embedded in its fleshy inside, “Mama needs the pretty things for potions... do you want to help mama find the pretty things?”

Malta watched her son dive under the surface, poking her head down under the shimmering waves. She was not particularly concerned – he was a peisio after all, and she was still riding the wave of relief at seeing him swim... and then he decided to breathe in. She quickly shoved her head beneath him and lifted him out of the water, trying to still the panic in her heart. He was ok. He was okay. Reluctantly, she moved, letting him swim under his own power, her claws ready to assist him if needed. She had to let him swim, though – it was the only way he would ever be safe.

“Yes, yes – Kua will help mama...” she smiled at him, her voice wavering a little. “But maybe later, when Kua can swim a little better.” she added. After seeing him breathe in water and hurt himself, she wasn't sure she wanted him to dive down to the shells just yet... “Come and swim with mama a little more!” she called, trying to be cheerful despite her scare as she led him slowly back to the shore...

~~~

It was the first of many little visits to the lake, and when she was sure he could do it (very sure, despite her nervousness, this being Malta) she started to let him help her gather pearls and shells and all sorts of lovely things from the lake floor. He was able to do it far better than she could herself, and she was able to make all manner of wonderful and useful potions well appreciated by the Settlement. She was happy for the time they spent together, and proud of how adept he was getting with his magic and his element. Still, she couldn't help but worry as he started to grow up. Worrying was her nature, and she didn't know what the future would bring.

But those days at the lake, she could stop worrying for a little bit and just enjoy his company.

[End]