He was still flailing a little as Soh caught him, but feeling his feet on solid ground beneath the chilly water helped to mitigate the panic down to a mere surge of fear and adrenaline. He coughed again and then wheezed, trying to pat her shoulder in distracted reassurance as his nose streamed river water. "Uh, hck, yeah, 'mfine," he managed to get out before he gave his chest a good couple of thumps and sneezed once. Shaking his head, he grimaced and took a deep, clear breath and then glared at the water.
"So, uh... how long was I floatin' for?" he asked with all the prickly dignity of a cat that had just missed a jump and was now grooming itself and pretending it hadn't happened. He snuck a sideways glance at his swimming instructor, a little embarrassed and a little hopeful that it had been for more than a few seconds. On the shore, Boreal watched with fond amusement, sunning herself on a large rock and not bothered at all by her companion's lack of composure.
"So, uh... how long was I floatin' for?" he asked with all the prickly dignity of a cat that had just missed a jump and was now grooming itself and pretending it hadn't happened. He snuck a sideways glance at his swimming instructor, a little embarrassed and a little hopeful that it had been for more than a few seconds. On the shore, Boreal watched with fond amusement, sunning herself on a large rock and not bothered at all by her companion's lack of composure.
