He watched in amusement and growing excitement as she copied him, mirrored his movement and held up a leg before stepping out onto the water. "Oh!" Her pretty eyes went wide as his did, their delighted gazes meeting at the same time before they ventured further onto the water. It lapped and waved around them, but not once did they lose their footing.
"The water doesn't call her," she answered in response to his comment on Mother. He nodded in agreement. Mother didn't seem to care one way or the other about the water, but Kylin had always been so drawn to it. So often, he would catch her looking out to the sea if they were still on land and playing or spending time with one adult or another. Or sometimes two, if it were Mother and Reilly together.
But he got worried that maybe she hadn't wanted to go as far as he took them. She reassured him quickly though, her smile and eyes so bright, and the crease of concern in his little brow smoothed away as he smiled back easily. She nestled into his side again and he tightened his wing around her in reflex, hugging her close and brushing his cheek into her neck. When he pulled back, she pressed a light kiss to that same cheek, and asked, "Shall we run?"
Of course, he was thrilled at the idea and nodded emphatically.
Without warning, he took off at a gallop as quick as he could! Racing, racing, racing. But Kylin had always been the swifter of them and it didn't take long for her to catch up and even pass him if she wished. He had to stay a distance away from her side though, his wings flapping reflexively though he had yet to learn to fly. He told himself he was still too small, but he wasn't sure if it were true or not. He was the only one in the family with wings. There was nobody to teach him. That reminder lowered his spirits, shortened his gait and dimmed his speed and enthusiasm.
He slowed to a stop and turned around to see how far they'd gone. They must have raced pretty fast, because the land was just a sliver of vibrant green on the horizon. A big sliver; their strides weren't all that big just yet. He didn't feel like going back so soon though, and didn't feel much like running anymore either. So he lowered himself--
And sank below the surface!
Gray eyes flew wide and he gasped, choking on seawater and spluttering noisily. His wings quickly drenched and weighed him down as he panicked, trying to get his feet above the surface again. For a brief moment, he held on before slipping and sliding under again. The salty water stung his fearful eyes and reddened them, masked the tears streaming down his face as he fought and fought to reach the surface. But it felt thick as quicksand, as though the harder he tried, the more his wings dragged him down. He pinned them tightly to his side and tried to focus on using just his legs.
Kylin, help!! his mind screamed. No, she wasn't strong enough. His wings were so heavy and his weight too much, what if she fell in too!?
DAD! DAD!! ohnoi'mgonnadie. Hadn't meant to send that part, but legs. Legs. Kick, just kick. He managed to get his nose to the surface, sucked in a huge breath as he kept fighting. Both water and air swept into him and he choked more. Tears poured uselessly from him, his nose and throat burning and stinging from breathing in water. God, his wings weighed so much. He was getting tired. Daddy, hurry! Just a silent whimper, a quiet prayer that he could reach him in time.
Great. Awesome. :| Love it when my chars randomly decide to try and get themselves killed. Stupid boy.