"Just out of curiosity, what did Gus do to make you angry?" Sire asked.
"He woke me up by splashing water at me," I mumbled. Sire sighed as I stopped by the pond's edge.
"O.K.," Sire said. "To start things off, I'm going to start you off with the basics of swimming. Why don't we try out floating on your back?"
"Floating on my back?" I asked. "That sounds a lot harder than it may look."
"Nonsense," Sire said. "All you do is quickly spin on your back and voila, you are floating." As he was explaining this, he was showing me as well. "So it isn't that hard. I'll even help you."
I was nervous as I slid carefully into the water. My paws refused to let go of the edge.
"Relax, Quil," Sire said as he swam by me on his back.
"Easy for you to say," I said as I quickly let go and tried floating on my back. At first I thought I was going to sink, but I found that I was really floating on my back. "I'm doing it!" I said. "I'm floating."
"Not just yet," Sire said. "Siren's helping you out at the moment. You have to spread out you arms and just relax your muscles."
I slowly spread out my arms and did just as Sire told me, relaxing my muscles.
"You ready?" Sire asked. I nodded.
Sire dove under water for a moment before resurfacing to watch me. I continued staying like that for a bit until I heard Sire say, "Good job, Quil. You've actually mastered it."
"I did?" I said surprised.
"Indeed you have," Sire said. I smiled as I floated. Next thing I knew, my whole body went under water, a pair of paws shoving me down. I squirmed in alarm, trying to break free to the surface. The paws suddenly released me as I swam to the surface.
"Damn it, Gus," I heard Sire yell as I reached the edge of the grass. I gasped for air and coughed a bit.
"You all right?" Siren asked me as she patted me on the back.
"I think so," I said, trying not to tear up in front of Siren, but failing miserably.
"Gus snuck up on us and plunged you under," Siren said. "He really is such a trouble maker. Be lucky Sire was there."
"I am," I said.
"But on a good note, you swam all by yourself to the edge," Siren said.
"I did?" I asked as I replayed the event. "Hey what do you know? I did swim. Sire was right. Swimming is easy."
Siren smiled as I let go and began sinking immediately. I quickly grasped fro the edge again and held tight as I pulled myself back up.
"You're supposed to move your feet if you want to stay in a section of the pond," Siren told me.
I began moving my feet before letting go of the edge. I felt myself float in the water as I continued moving my feet. The rest of my body seemed to not move. Not even my paws moved. It was a very exciting feeling.
"Very good," Siren said as she swam out a bit into the pond. "Now try come swimming towards me. Just lean forward and kick with your feet. And use your paws to thrust yourself forward."
I leaned forward just a tad bit as I began moving my immobile paws. I felt myself moving away from the edge and towards Siren. I picked up a little speed and got even faster as I swam all the way out to Siren.
"Good job," Siren said with a smile. "Now try swimming back."
The swim back was easy. Within minutes, I mastered swimming.
"Very well done," Sire said as he swam up. "I think I'm proud to say that you've mastered basic swimming. All except swimming on your back, but you'll get around to that eventually."
I took a look at Sire and noticed that his face was a bit bruised.
"What happened to your face?" I asked.
"Just got into a little scrap with Gus," Sire said. "Don't worry about a thing, Quil. This kind of thing always happens. I just wish Gus would behave better."
"So should I keep practicing my swimming?" I asked.
"You should," Siren replied. "You can play with the kits. Chasing them around should improve your swimming ability."
"But what if Gus comes at me again?" I asked.
"That's why I'll be keeping an eye out on you," Sire replied. "And Siren too."
I swam alongside Sire and Siren to the group of Quags who were busy jumping off from the waterfall and swimming around. Siren led me to where the kits were and I had a blast chasing them around in a game of tag. The day seemed to last forever, but I didn't mind. I got in my swimming lessons and eventually tuckered out as the sun began setting.
I reached the edge of the land and climbed out. I shook all the water off from as much as I could. My stomach growled hungrily. In all the excitement, I forgot to go and have lunch. But the good thing was that there were still a good pile of apples and berries left to eat.
After eating up, I lied down on the grass, exhausted. The Quags were starting to come out too, still making a racket, which hurt my ears a bit. I caught sight of Sire walking over towards me. But I didn't have a chance to do anything.
I was suddenly pounced upon by whom I thought was Gus at first, but then the tickling began, which indicated that the kits had ambushed me in a playful attack. I laughed, flailing my feet around wildly as the kits continued on.
Eventually they stopped. My laughter didn't stop immediately. I just kept on laughing, eventually calming down into a chuckle before sighing with relief.
"Did we get you good?" one of the kits asked.
"You got me," I replied chuckling.
"Come play with us some more," another kit said as I felt them all trying to drag me with them.
"Give Quil a break kids," Sire said, coming to my rescue. "He'll play with you later."
All the kids whined in disappointment as they walked away.
"Had fun?" Sire asked as he sat down.
"Helps take my mind off some things," I replied.
"Everyone needs to have something uplifting after a terrible incident," Sire said.
"Is it normal to have your heart burning afterwards?" I asked.
"I guess," Sire said with a shrug. "I haven't been through that kind of situation in my life. But in my guess, I'd say you're still hurting a bit that you're home is long gone. What do you plan to do now?"
"I'm not sure," I replied. "I'm supposed to be on my way to Violet City in favor of a friend I met in the Cherry City."
"Cherry Grove City," Sire corrected.
"Right," I said. "Cherry Grove."
"So I guess this means you'll be having to leave in the morning," Sire said, sounding disappointed. I was in the same state. I loved it here except for Gus' occasional annoyance. And the kits were fun to play with.
"Yeah," I said sadly. "I wish I could stay, but I can't go back on the favor."
"I understand," Sire said. "If you ever end up traveling this way, we'll always welcome you with open arms."
"Thanks," I said with a yawn.
"You'd best get some sleep," Sire said. "You're going to need it for a long journey tomorrow."
"O.K.," I said as I felt my eyes drooping. "Just keep Gus from waking me again."
"Oh I don't think he'll be bothering you tonight," Sire said, sounding quite happy.
I shut my eyes after that. Soon I drifted off to sleep.